Confessions of a Mom

Wax paper and crayon fall leaves

2011-10-02T19:57:00.002-05:00

I love fall. while growing up in NY it meant you got to bring out pumpkins, got to cook with pumpkin, cinnamon smells were in the air, the air would turn a crisp wonderfulness and some of the leaves would turn a really pretty color. Then I moved to somewhere where there's no REAL seasons. I love the colors of fall leaves and since I don’t have any in my back yard, I decided to try this project out. I think they turned out beautiful.

These leaves were made just like you used to make those stain glass windows with wax paper and crayon shavings.
You can hang them, you can place them anywhere to pretty things up, and you can just place them on your windows as well.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
- wax paper
- scissors
- iron
- towels (so that you don't ruin your ironing board)
- paper towels (so you don't ruin your iron)
- fall colored crayons that have seen better days
- leaf template (right click hit save as and then print off, make sure you make them fit your picture screen so it doesn't cut off any of the leaf)

Cut out wax paper approximately letter paper size with scissors and then start shaving your crayon onto the wax paper. Not too much we want it to be a pretty thin layer of crayon melt.

These are the colors I chose...
- yellow and magenta
- orange and yellow

When you have your two colors shaved on, place the second piece of wax paper on top making a sandwich.
With an iron set on a warm setting, place a towel first down onto your ironing board. Then your wax paper and crayon sandwich. Then place a paper towel in between your iron and the wax paper sandwich.

Slowly melt your crayon shavings and push the "liquid crayon" around so it's thin and covers a larger area (be careful of spilling the wax, don't push it too far out or it will seep out the corners of your wax paper sandwich)

Once they are cool take your print out leaf, and your wax paper creation. Place underneath, it should be clear enough for you to be able to see your lines. With a pencil trace your leaves and then cut them out.

Now you can admire your pretty leaves.

If you would like to hang them, just get a needle and thread and thread it through the leaves and make a big knot at the end of the thread. Then you can hang them where you like. I ended up hanging them in our back door window.

2011-08-24T20:19:00.001-05:00

Click here for Crest Complete sample

Click here for John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo

Click here for Bioré® Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser

Click here for Shout Color Catcher sample

Click here to get a coupon for a free Dannon Oikos yogurt

Back to school treats.

2011-08-23T21:22:00.002-05:00

Marshmallow Peanut Butter Dip

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup marshmallow creme
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsps. water
- Fresh fruit or graham cracker sticks

Directions
Combine first four ingredients in small bowl. Whisk until blended. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.
Serve with dippers such as fresh fruit, graham cracker sticks and pretzels.

Peanut Butter Apple Rings

Ingredients

- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter spread or crunchy peanut butter

- 4 teaspoons honey

- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1 large red delicious apple, , cored and cut crosswise into 6 rings

- 1/2 cup granola cereal with raisins

Directions

STIR peanut butter, honey and cinnamon in small bowl. Arrange apple rings on serving plates. Spread rings evenly with thin layer of peanut butter mixture.

LIGHTLY PRESS granola cereal into peanut butter mixture. Serve immediately.

Just today I tried this recipe and it's definitely a keeper!

Apple Streusel Muffins

Ingredients

- 2 cups all-purpose flour

- 1 cup sugar

- 1 teaspoon baking powder

- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1 teaspoon cinnamon

- ½ teaspoon nutmeg

- 2 eggs

- 1/2 cup butter, melted

- 1-1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract

- 1-1/2 cups chopped peeled tart apples

STREUSEL TOPPING

- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar

- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1 tablespoon cold butter

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. In another bowl, combine the eggs, butter and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened (batter will be stiff). Fold in apples.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm.

2011-08-23T20:42:00.001-05:00

Well, the girls are officially back in school. Naomi has started 4th grade and Jordan 2nd...where has the time gone? We have decided that Olivia will be home preschooled this year. I did this with both Naomi and Jordan and things went really well. Sending Olivia to a preschool around here she would just mainly be going for social interaction, and she doesn't really need that, she's a pretty sociable little girl. Not to mention the fact that I'm just not ready for her to be gone all day, all week:) Naomi has also had her first school project. She had to decorate her reading journal. She did an awesome job (with some help from dad too)!

S'mores!

2011-08-10T15:33:00.004-05:00

Today is National S’mores Day!

Double-Stack S'more
Just sandwich toasty marshmallows between Granola Thins. The chocolate comes with the granola bars.

- Large marshmallows

- Nature Valley dark chocolate granola thins

- Chocolate-flavor syrup

Spear 2 large marshmallows on long-handled fork; toast over campfire coals or over grill on low heat.

For each s'more, place 1 toasted marshmallow on chocolate side of each of 2 granola thins. Place 1 additional granola thin between the marshmallows, and press together. Top with 1 teaspoon chocolate syrup.

If campfire or grill is not available for toasting marshmallows, place marshmallow on microwavable plate; microwave 10 to 12 seconds or until marshmallow doubles in size.

PB & J S'more

- Large marshmallow

- Nature Valley dark chocolate granola thins

- Peanut butter

- Strawberry jam

Spear 1 large marshmallow on long-handled fork; toast over campfire coals or over grill on low heat.

For each s’more, place toasted marshmallow on chocolate side of 1 granola thin. Meanwhile, top chocolate side of 1 additional granola thin with 1 teaspoon peanut butter and 1 teaspoon strawberry jam. Press marshmallow and jelly sides together; hold a few seconds to melt chocolate.

Old Faithful S'more

- Large marshmallow

- Nature Valley dark chocolate granola thins

- Chocolate square filled with caramel

Spear 1 large marshmallow on long-handled fork; toast over campfire coals or over grill on low heat.

For each s’more, place toasted marshmallow on chocolate side of 1 granola thin; top marshmallow with 1 chocolate square filled with caramel. Top with another granola thin, chocolate-side down; press together and hold a few seconds to melt chocolate.

Glacier S'more

- Large marshmallow

- Nature Valley dark chocolate granola thins

- Chocolate-hazelnut spread

- Fresh banana slices

Spear 1 large marshmallow on long-handled fork; toast over campfire coals or over grill on low heat.

For each s’more, place toasted marshmallow on chocolate side of 1 granola thin. Meanwhile, top chocolate side of 1 additional granola thin with 1 teaspoon chocolate-hazelnut spread and 3 slices fresh banana. Press marshmallow and banana sides together; hold a few seconds to melt chocolate.

Rocky Mountain S'more

- Large marshmallow

- Nature Valley®dark chocolate granola thins

- Honey-roasted peanuts

Spear 1 large marshmallow on long-handled fork; toast over campfire coals or over grill on low heat.

For each s’more, place toasted marshmallow on chocolate side of 1 granola thin; top marshmallow with 2 teaspoons honey-roasted peanuts. Top with another granola thin, chocolate-side down; press together and hold a few seconds to melt chocolate.

Brown bananas?

2011-08-10T14:46:00.000-05:00

Don't throw out your brown bananas, use them for homemade banana bread or muffins!
When I buy bananas I usually leave out 3 just to make banana bread. And as my mother say's the browner they are the better.
I always use my great grandmothers recipe and they always turn out delicious.
If you'd like to try out my recipe here it is...

Banana Bread/Muffins
- 3 very ripe mashed bananas
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 pinch of baking powder
- 1 tablespoon of shortening
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or mini chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease bottom and sides of bread or muffin pan with shortening or use cupcake liners for muffins.
Mix all ingredients together.
Pour mixture into bread pan (or spoon into muffin pan/liners).
For bread - Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
For muffins - Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
For mini muffins - Bake 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Free samples:)

2011-08-09T16:06:00.001-05:00

You get 3 free samples! Click here for suave samples

Click here for John Frieda Root Awakening sample

With the free samples from walmart you do not have to enter your email address when filling out the form.

Who doesn't love free stuff!

Free??

2011-08-07T12:41:00.004-05:00

I love free things and I'm going to start posting all the free things I find on here to share with you all!

Free Kindle books:

You don’t need to have a Kindle to read these free kindle books! You can use your PC to read them. You can also read them on your iPhone, Blackberry, iPod Touch, iPad or Android. I have a digital reader but I also have quite a few free books on my iphone.

**Please keep in mind that the Free offers usually only last a day or two, so if the price jumps back up that means it’s no longer available.**

Click here for Special Delivery by Lia Fairchild

Click here for Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

Click here for Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

Click here for Craving God: A 21-Day Devotional Challenge

Click here for Circle of Friends Cookbook - 25 Dip & Spread Recipes

With the last one, I have to say I love recipes from Gooseberry Patch.
I found these and thought I'd share them as well!

Click here for recipes

^^These are just regular downloads for your computer.

Trying something new!

2011-08-06T13:07:00.001-05:00

After a lot of practice I think I have become quite good at crocheting. I actually taught myself. It is time consuming, but it is also something relaxing and fun. I started out just wanted to try a few hat patterns for my girls, but that also led me to try new things as well. I have made a few cute crochet bags for my girls and their friends. I also made a beautiful baby blanket for a dear friend who had a baby boy! I love looking for new yarn and patterns. I haven't made anything new since I made the baby blanket but I have a few patterns I'd like to try and have a very beautiful soft gray yarn that I haven't used yet as well as some really cute buttons. Now that my two oldest girls will be starting school soon I will (hopefully) have a little time during the day to try something new!

It's been awhile...

2011-08-05T21:07:00.000-05:00

Yes, it has been awhile since I've blogged. What can I say though life get's busy! I've tried some new things and it's taken some of my time as well as my 3 girls and my husband. I'm going to try my hardest to keep this thing updated with life, crafty things, and recipes! Check back soon!!