Cranberry Mimosas

I love a good mimosa! They are a brunch staple and a great way to kick off the new year! If you have a big New Year's Day celebration it might be fun to serve up Mimosas, and I thought instead of the typical OJ I would use Cranberry Juice instead! It is YUMMY!

I also think it's fun for the kiddos to get a fancy drink, so I made a Cranberry Mimosa Mocktail! 

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

Remember if you do drink, drink responsibly!

Enjoy!

Christmas Season at Disneyland

The week after Thanksgiving we went to Disneyland. We had originally thought about going for Christmas but financially we just couldn't swing it. Disneyland and Disney World both have great discounts for Military but there are some blackout dates and Christmas is one of them. So we decided to go a little earlier and save quite a bit of money!

It was great because we still got the atmosphere of The Christmas Season, but saved a ton! It also is a low crowd time! With the exception of the new Radiator Springs Racers that we waited roughly 90 minutes for, we only waited at most 20 minutes for every other ride. We only used fast passes a few times and had such a great time.

It was our first time at California Adventure, it was so fun! California Screamin' is an awesome roller coaster, and I LOVE the boardwalk feel of the place! We had tomato soup and broccoli cheddar soup in bread bowls that were so good! 

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. It was beautiful! We were in the adventure tower and we got upgraded to a bigger room! We love staying at Disney Hotels and if you can afford it I totally recommend it. The convenience to the parks is awesome. If you have little ones it's a quick walk back to the hotel for a nap, if you're like us with older kids it's a quick walk back to take a break in the pool! It's also wonderful service! 

We had a great trip, and we are already planning our next one!

Enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2nd Annual Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt

Last year I posted about a  Scavenger Hunt that we did at Christmas. It was really so much fun! Our little family loaded up in the car, and we drove around looking for the decorations on our list! It got a little competitive and the Hubster was driving around trying to find his last one, a Mickey Mouse and he kept thinking he'd spotted one only to have it end up being a penguin. The last few times he saw a penguin instead of a Mickey he said "Damn Penguins" we were laughing so hard! We even ended up getting him Penguin PJs for Christmas last year!

It's become such a joke whenever we see anything with penguins we have to show him! I love it when something so little becomes an inside family joke! I was even trying to find us all matching penguin PJs this year but unfortunatly I couldn't! 

So of course Penguins made the top of the list for our Scavenger Hunt this year!

PENGUINS     ALL BLUE LIGHTS      SANTA

FROSTY the SNOWMAN   GIANT ORNAMENTS

MICKEY MOUSE     RED LIGHTS    SNOWFLAKES

NATIVITY    CHRISTMAS TREE IN A WINDOW

SLEIGH    ALL WHITE LIGHTS    REINDEER

MANGER    RUDOLF    CANDY CANES

SNOOPY    PRESENTS    SNOWGLOBE (INFLATABLE)

THE GRINCH    ICICLE LIGHTS    STAR

CHRISTMAS TREE     SANTA ON THE ROOF   WREATH

I hope you'll take the time to do this with your family! Add your own spin to it make it fun! Enjoy your time together, it really is the little things that make the best memories!

ENJOY

Chocolate Peppermint S'more Cookies

When we were in Disney the Ghirardelli Chocolate store in California Adventure was passing out Peppermint Bark Chocolate Squares, YUM! They were so good!  I was trying to decide what I could make with it for a yummy Christmas treat and I decided to make the S'more Cookies into Peppermint S'more cookies and changed it up a bit by using Chocolate Graham Crackers!

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup Butter

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1/2 cup Sugar

1 Egg

1tsp Vanilla

1 1/3 cup Flour

3/4cup Chocolate Graham Cracker Crumbs (I used Teddy Graham's because I couldn't find the graham crackers)

1tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt

2 large Peppermint Bark Chocolate bars

1 1/2 cups Marshmallow Fluff

Here's how you make it:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 8inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined. Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. The 2 bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer. Spread chocolate with marshmallow cream. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small squares and laying them together).Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars

Enjoy

DIY Christmas Star

I've wanted a wreath or something to go above our garage every Christmas since we moved into this house. I love Stars and thought that a star made out of evergreen would be really nice. But I also wanted it to last more than one season. So I decided to use the garland that you buy at the store. This project is simple and inexpensive. I got the Hubster to cut the wood for me and nail everything together. Then I wrapped the garland all the way around.

Here's what you'll need:

5 yard sticks, cut into 10,12in pieces (you could use,12in pieces of wood or rulers we couldn't find any)

50 feet of Garland

Nails

Staples

Hammer

Staple Gun

Here's how you make it:

Lay the 10 pieces into a star shape, placing the ends on top of each other. Place 2-3 nails in each point. Then take the garland and staple the end to one point. Wrap the garland around the wood, stapling every few inches. Continue until garland is wrapped all the way around. Now your star is ready to hang!

Enjoy

Crock Pot Spiced Ham

Do you make ham for Christmas Dinner? We don't if it's just us, we usually do a Prime Rib. But if we have a big group of Soldiers coming over or lots of Family visiting, we will do a Ham. I wanted to try cooking one in the Crock Pot. You know how it is during the holidays always juggling around what can fit in the oven. If you can get something cooking in the Crock Pot it would free up some of that precious oven space. So until I get my dream kitchen with a double oven I am always on the lookout for good Crock pot recipes.

Here's what you'll need:

Ham, precooked

1 cup Sugar

1tsp Onion Powder

1tsp Cinnamon

1tsp Nutmeg

1/2 tsp Ground Ginger

1/2 tsp Paprika

10-12 Whole Cloves (or 1/2tsp ground cloves)

2-3 TBSP Water

Here's how you make it:

Cut diamond shapes in the top of the ham and insert the cloves. Place in the Crock-Pot with 2 cups of water. Meanwhile in a sauce pan combine the rest of the ingredients. Adding just a little water, heat until the sugar thickens into a thick syrup. Spread over the top of the Ham, and then turn the CrockPot on to low and cook for 3-4 hours until heated through. Remove from the Pot and remove the cloves, slice and serve.

Enjoy

Grown-Up Hot Chocolate

Do y think of wrapping presents as a chore? Or is it something that you enjoy? Me, I enjoy it! I love giving people beautifully wrapped presents. I love the paper and bows and everything! But sometimes around Christmas it gets to be a bit of chore, ALL those presents, and sometimes, ok all the time, it's late on Christmas Eve and I am still wrapping presents! But there is one way to make this a little more festive in my opinion! It's Grown Up Hot Chocolate! What makes it grown up? BUTTERSCOTCH SCHNAPPS! So put on the Christmas music, get your wrapping paper out, make a cup of this coco and before you know it all the presents will be wrapped!

Here's what you'll need:

A cup of Your favorite Coco

Butterscotch Schnapps

Whipped Cream

Here's how you make it:

Into your favorite Coco, add a shot or two 😊 of the schnapps! Top with whipped cream and serve!

If you wanna make it "virgin" use butterscotch syrup! 

Enjoy

Make-up Box Gift

For my oldest Neices this year I decided I wanted to get them a cute little make-up/hair bow box. My sister and I had caboodles when we were kids and I wanted something like that. But the ones I found weren't quite what I was looking for. I found these boxes in the sports section they are actually fishing tackle boxes! For one of the Neices I decided to glitter the entire box.

First I covered it with Modge Podge and then sprinkled glitter everywhere! I then covered over the glitter with more Modge Podge, to set the glitter. Let it dry and it's ready to gift!

Of course I was doing this as we were getting ready for our trip and so that means that I forgot to take a picture of it all finished! So after it gets opened on Christmas morning I will post a picture!

Enjoy

Crockpot Beans

Every Thursday night growing up we would go to my grandparents for dinner. We didn't always know what were having until we got there. There were lots of things that we had that I loved but there were a few that I was always disappointed to find out we were having. One of those was a pot of beans! I don't know why I didn't like them but I really didn't. Since I've grown up I love beans, it's a simple affordable and filling meal. And it tastes great! Making them in the crock pot makes them perfect especially this time of year when we are all so busy, with School Programs and work parties and shopping, which I am not even close to be done with yet!

Here's what you'll need:

1lb pinto beans

Water for soaking, and cooking

2 pieces of cooked bacon, or ham

Salt & Pepper to taste

Here's how you make it:

Sort and rinse the beans. Soak the beans over night. In the morning drain and rinse the beans again. Place them into your crock pot and cover with water. Water should be about 2in above the beans. Cover and cook on low for 8 hrs until beans are tender. Add the salt and pepper before serving.

Enjoy

Thanksgiving in a Sandwich

Thanksgiving is over and now it's onto the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Season. Maybe you are out shopping today or maybe you are already back, or maybe you didn't go out. Whatever you did today or are going to do, you might be like us and have lots of Thanksgiving leftovers! A great way to use them up is to make Thanksgiving in a Sandwich! We saw this on a tv show a few years ago and we've been meaning to try it ever since. I finally got around to doing it this year! And it did not disappoint!

Here's what you'll need:

2 slices of Bread or leftover rolls of you have them

Whatever Thanksgiving leftovers you like best! That's the beauty of this sandwich it's completely customizable!

I used, Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce and a little gravy! Man-Child had the same and the Hubster ate it sans Cranberry sauce!

Here's how you make it:

Layer everything onto a slice of bread, top with the other slice of bread, cut in half and YUM!

You could say we liked it!😃

Enjoy!

I am Thankful

I love Thanksgiving. I mean what's not to love, good food, family& friends. And a time to remember all that we have been blessed with. I really enjoy everything about the day! Ok maybe not the dishes part so much but you know does anyone really enjoy that part? And if you are out there saying I love to do the dishes please come help do mine! But seriously I have so much to be THANKFUL for this year.

My Husband made it back safe and sound from his 4th Deployment. As did our entire Battalion!

I've accomplished more in my weight loss journey in the last year than in the last 13 years combined! 

My Son is healthy and thriving in what I know can be a tumultuous time. The teenage years YIKES! 

Our family had some personal loss this year and that's been a struggle for a lot of us, but at the same time I am Thankful for the time I got to spend with them, and the memories that we made. 

I am Thankful for the things that we have that we take for granted every day. We truly are so blessed, so many have so much less than we do, and are more appreciative. 

I'm Thankful that I get to "stay at home" 

I'm Thankful that I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing and different people by being a Military Spouse.  

I'm Thankful to all the Service men and women who paid the ultimate price defending our Country. And to their Families for the sacrifice they have had to endure. 

I'm Thankful to those of you that read this blog every week! Keep reading! Let me know what you think, post comments! 

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

What are you most Thankful for this year?

Enjoy

Crock Pot Turkey Breast

Have you ever made turkey in the Crock Pot? Neither had I. I've heard of people doing it and seen the pins on Pinterest but never actually tried it myself! It's a great way to cook a turkey or a Chicken though. And if you are having a small Thanksgiving this year it will free up some oven space! I like to use turkey breast for our sandwiches instead of buying lunchmeat at the store. This is a great way to get the meat cooked and keep it moist and flavorful!

Here's what you'll need:

1 Turkey Breast (you can use a whole Chicken but I wanted Turkey and we only like white meat)

1 stick of Butter

1TBSP Poultry Seasoning

Salt & Pepper to taste

Here's how you make it:

Place the Turkey in the crockpot, sprinkle the Seasonings over top. Place the butter on top of the Turkey. Turn the Crock Pot onto low and cook for 6-8 hours or until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F. Remove from the crock and let sit for a few minutes then slice and serve.

Enjoy

Chocolate Cupcakes With Peanut Butter Fluff filling

I've had this recipe for awhile now and I'm just getting around to posting it. I made it for a BBQ that we went to earlier this fall. I asked everyone what kind of dessert they wanted and they all said you an t go wrong with Chocolate! Which I happen to agree with! I decided on cupcakes with a peanut butter fluff filling. I mean not much goes together better than Peanut Butter and Chocolate, in my opinion!

Here's what you'll need:

1 box chocolate cake mix (Follow the direction on the box for cupcakes)

1 jar marshmallow fluff

1 cup of Peanut Butter

Frosting:

1 stick of Butter

1tsp Vanilla

3 cups Powdered Sugar

2/3 cup Cocoa

1/3 cup Milk

Here's how you make it:

Make the cupcakes according to the package directions. When cool cut off a small piece of the top of the cupcake.

For the filling:

Mix together the marshmallow and peanut butter until combined, you may need to add a little milk to loosen it up just a bit. When it's completely mixed together, add it into a ziplock bag to be piped into the cupcakes. Fill each cupcake with the peanut butter filling and replace the top of the cupcake. 

For the Frosting:

Melt the butter, stir in the cocoa, and add the milk and powdered sugar alternating between the two. Beat until it is ready to spread then add in the Vanilla, stirring to combine. 

Spread or Pipe onto the cupcakes.

Enjoy