Every year my family has a fall cook-off and this year’s theme was Oktoberfest! In honor of our German roots and cook off theme, I decided to try making a beer stein cookie, complete with decorative icing. I love making sugar cookies, and I love eating them even more, but I’ve never attempted to really spend time piping the icing to make them look cute. On the one hand, why spend more time than it takes to open a can…
Nothing like the smell of chili wafting through the house to remind you that 1) it’s fall, and 2) dinner is ready and waiting! Mmmm! Everyone seems to have their own recipe for chili, but if you’re looking a simple no-fuss recipe, look no further than what I like to call “Noah’s Ark Chili” – the ingredients go into the crock pot two by two 🙂 I like to make my chili in the morning and put it in the…
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t eat as many vegetables as I should, so when I find something that advertises as easy way to retain as many vitamins and minerals as possible, I give it a try. Might as well get the most out of my veggies when I eat them! Introducing my favorite little gadget for STEAMING broccoli and cauliflower…and I’m sure it would work great for carrots, too, if I actually ate those 🙂 This basket…
A personal goal of mine is to be a “yes mom” as much as possible for my kids, so that when I say “no” to something, it makes my kids stop and think about what they are asking and why I said no to it, rather than just ignoring me because they hear it all the time. It may not be as important right now, but I’m looking at the longterm goal of when they start making more significant requests…
If you haven’t read the first part of this discussion on bikes, be sure to check it out here. Otherwise, get ready to be wowed with the latest and greatest invention to get kids riding bikes at an earlier age and with greater ease – the balance bike!! It’s exactly what it sounds like ~ a bicycle for little ones without pedals so they balance on it as they kick off the ground with their feet. So simple and so…
Sam and I have always loved biking, and after having kids, we knew it was something we would continue doing as a family. Which meant researching the best way to haul around the kiddos on long rides, and the best way to introduce them to riding their own bikes. I decided I didn’t want to put the kids in the seats that sit directly on my bike just incase they got a bit wiggly and it threw me off balance,…
Ava’s birthday is quickly approaching and this soon-to-be 4 year old loves all things princess. Naturally, her birthday theme is “Disney Princess” and I have to admit, I’m having a ton of fun with this theme. We bought a few decorations from Party City, but I LOVE making homemade ones. First up are Disney princess paper pom poms! If you’ve never made a paper pom pom, they are super easy and very festive additions to any party decor. Plus, they…
I love reading. My mom says I was reading books to myself before kindergarten. I can remember packing for vacation and my suitcase would be full of books, with a couple clothes thrown on top. My mom always had to check my suitcase before we left the house 🙂 So, it’s no wonder that our house is currently overflowing with children’s books in every room (my childhood books are in boxes in our basement that Sam labeled “Colleen’s Junk”) and…
S’mores happen to be one of my favorite fall treats, so naturally whenever we are going to be around a bonfire, I always volunteer to bring the fixings for them. In my younger more naive days, I brought a box of graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows. Classic s’more. But in recent years, I have seen the s’more light and our s’mores have evolved into masterpieces! It seems each bonfire we go to, someone says, “Have you tried….” and a…
We had the best night yesterday hanging out with our dear “country friends.” They live on 5 acres of peaceful bliss, where the sky is dark enough to see stars and the surrounding area quiet enough to hear crickets. Sam is always sending me real estate links to houses in the country, but while the kids are in school, dance class, soccer, and anything else they decide to try, and I’m the primary taxi for them, I can’t think of…