We all have those days. Murphy’s Law seems to be in full swing, and nothing is going right. And not only is nothing going right, but everything is going wrong.

Some of you have noticed that I haven’t been blogging as much recently. Ok, so I’ve barely been blogging at all. It’s not because I don’t love writing, because I absolutely love writing. It’s one of the things I do to remind myself that I use my brain for more than keeping track of where the kids’ shoes have gone, whose turn it is to pick the music in the car, and which day my daughter is bringing snack to preschool. Writing is a release for me, and it’s something I really enjoy. However, other things are demanding my time these days, and I rarely have the luxury of sitting down to write (not to mention the mental energy).

Not only are we expecting baby number three, but we are also moving across the country – in two and a half weeks. So, just as morning sickness subsides, I find myself running around trying to get my home and my life in order to move us several states away. This may sound stressful, and it is. There are kid clothes strewn all over the stairs, boxes to be sorted through, dirty dishes from several days ago, and Easter basket grass all over the playroom.

The thing that I find, though, is that these days are quite different than one would expect. If someone had told me that I would be running around trying to get all of this done in just a few weeks, I’d assume that I would be a ball of stress. I would think I’d be quite anxious, and worked up over the little details. Knowing how much I love control over my environment, and how much I dislike chaos, that sounds about right. However, the strangest thing is happening: I am not the crazy ball of nerves that I thought I would be. In fact, I’ve never been happier.

Not only is this a move that we have wanted for some time, but I feel great these days. Morning sickness is more or less over (thank you, Zofran), and I’m in that wonderful second trimester. I have energy, and I need every ounce of it if I’m going to get it all done before the movers show up. I am so happy right now just to be on my feet and resuming normal life again (even if “normal” means crazy busy with way too much to do…) because it wasn’t too long ago that I was flattened to the couch for those first few weeks of pregnancy. Is today going to be busy and filled with crazy moment? Probably. But I would much rather have it this way than be stuck inside during a blizzard for a week, and bolting to the bathroom several times a day to go throw up.

I found myself laughing yesterday, mulling over why I wasn’t upset over a few things that were happening (which I’ll get to in a moment, if for no other reason than sheer entertainment). I kept running around, exhausted and way too busy, but I was smiling like I’ve never smiled before. Life is good.

Here is a snapshot of an hour from yesterday afternoon, just before I sat down to write this:

My house is messy, so I’m hurrying around attempting to clean it up. As I’m running around dealing with stinky dishes and other things that are low priority right now, I remember that I have about fifty emails to respond to that are related to Freecycle. Thinking about this reminds me that I’ve set out several things for folks to pick up. Then I look outside and realize it’s pouring down rain. I bolt outside and grab the bags of baby clothes and old board books that I set out for someone to pick up. The bag splits in half. I am bent over, soaked, trying to pick up the drenched baby books. As I am drying them off with a towel, I look over and realize that I left the windows rolled down in my minivan (all the while, my kids are asking for a refill of their sippy cups, which I keep replying “hold on” to). Wanting shoes to run back outside, I grabbed the only shoes by the doors – high heels. I just hope that none of my neighbors watched my pregnant sprint to the minivan, clad in high heels, in the rain. I came back inside, and the DVD that my girls are watching is suddenly broken. After I’m done fixing the movie, I sit down and start writing. (My afternoon is shot anyway, so why not take a few minutes to relax?) At this point my older daughter announces that my toddler has peed on the couch.

As I’m editing this, my two year old throws a temper tantrum. And I’m on the phone with my husband who just called. Also, I am meeting a friend for coffee in an hour, and my family hasn’t eaten dinner yet (by the way, there is no food in the house). This means I need to run and pick up Sonic, so my kids and husband can eat something tonight. I have been running around too much to even think about dinner. But once again, I’m just glad that my taste for Sonic has returned, and that I have the energy to run around like this. It really could be worse.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Life with children is like that! I used to let it really get me stressed, but after the past few months I’ve realized that perspective is a truly wonderful thing. No one is happy when our plans are derailed or when these annoying little things come up, but the important thing is to try and take it with a grain of salt and remember it’s not the end of the world. Honestly, I’m just glad not to be throwing up all of the time! Give me a soaked minivan, splitting bags all over my walkway, and pee on the couch any day. I’ll take it – because I know that these things happen, it could be – and HAS been – worse, and because there is always something to be thankful for in a situation. Even if life is crazy, I am thankful for my health and for my family – and for being up for this busy time of life right now.

-Grace

Related posts:

1. Tips on Incorporating Fitness Into Your Life
2. My Toddler is a Fashionista – In Her Own Mind
3. “Should I Be Doing That, Too?”

It starts when you’re pregnant. You waltz into the store, and can’t help cooing over the onesies and the teeny tiny little hats and socks that are on the shelves. You’ve been to baby showers or seen your friends’ babies, and you know how cute those baby clothes can be. So finally – you have a reason to buy these adorable little articles of clothing! Of course it only gets better. The baby is born, and the fashion show begins. Family is coming over, pictures are being taken, and you secretly hope that their diaper leaks so you can justify changing them into yet another cute little outfit.

Like everything with kids, this stage passes all too soon. You go from having total control over their little wardrobe, to suddenly finding yourself with a toddler who has an entirely different sense of what “pretty” or “handsome” means. That sweet dress your mom brought over? Forget it – she wants to wear her Tinkerbell shirt (again). Asking your son to put on some clothes so you can go to the park? He comes back wearing his Spiderman costume from Halloween.

All of us moms know that children have a way of putting together the craziest outfits imaginable. My two year old has insisted on wearing sunglasses at night, a sundress in December, and likes to pair bright pink cowboy boots with fluffy skirts. If only we all had her courage and lack of self-consciousness! And with this sense of independence and wanting to dress themselves, comes a new parenting question. When do you insist on having it your way, and when do you let them get creative?

Although all young children tend to gravitate towards a free spirited fashion sense, not all moms are happy about this. I have had many moments where I cringe at what my toddler or preschooler has picked out. And of course there are those occasions when we, as moms, really should step in. Dressing for the weather, ensuring they dress modestly, and making sure my kids look appropriate for various events is part of my job as a parent. Even if it’s cute around the house, letting them wear their swimsuits or pajamas when it’s time to do family portraits wouldn’t be doing anyone any favors.

Every parent falls into some sort of grey area on this subject, and really there is no right or wrong approach. The goal is to make sure your kids are wearing something when they leave the house. If you’re one of those moms who thinks dress up is cute at the grocery store, go for it. Or, if you want to make sure that their hair bows always match their skirts, more power to you. There are, however, a few things to consider. Whether you are free spirited or more structured with your children’s wardrobe, I think that it’s important to remember the following basics when it comes to kids and their sense of style:

• Pick your battles. If you let them “win” here and there, they may be a little easier when you do insist on having them wear a certain thing. No one likes to be told what to do 100% of the time, and letting them have their way sometimes can often set the stage for winning another clothing battle down the road. And if your child is old enough to compromise with, this may be a good opportunity to demonstrate that. “Well Logan, you can wear your Transformer dress up and rain boots to Grandma’s today, but I’d like you to wear jeans and a t-shirt to the park tomorrow.”
• Even if you want to be easy going, consider practicality. Weather should always overrule a child’s desire to express their fashion sense. Even if my four year old looks devastated when I say “no” to her request to wear a short dress in two feet of snow, I know I’m doing the right thing. And of course there are issues like going out for sundaes in white T-shirts, wearing a brand new pair of pants to a finger painting party, or pulling out a favorite T-shirt when it’s clearly filthy (because your two year old insists on wearing it). There are certainly times when common sense needs to reign, even if they have other ideas. You are the parent, and sometimes that means drawing a line on what they shouldn’t walk out the door in.
  
• Kids are kids. Remember that! I once listened to a mom explain that she would never want her daughter to wear clothing with characters on it, because she felt it was tacky. Minnie Mouse T-shirts or Barbie sneakers? Forget it – this mom was all about having her kid dressing top notch. Now, I can’t blame her for wanting to continue to play “dress up” for as long as possible with her daughter. After all, her sweet little girl looked adorable in every outfit her mom carefully chose for her. However, kids need to be kids. They love Little Einsteins, Disney Princesses, and Cars. It would drive my daughters crazy if I never let them wear shoes and clothes with their favorite characters on it, and even if I am not crazy about Hello Kitty, my four year old daughter is. I consider this falling into the category of “let it go,” and accept the fact that they aren’t going to always want to look like the kid on the front of the Hanna Andersson catalogue. And you know what? It’s part of what makes them who they are, and it’s part of being a kid.
  
• Consider your motivation. One thing I’ve learned since becoming a mom is that there is a certain level of “look what a good job I’m doing” that goes along with even the smallest little decisions we make. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, given that we all want to show our family and friends that we not only can handle being a parent, but are doing a pretty good job at it. Of course I want my parents to be proud of me, and my friends to think I have it (sort of) together. However, I am not about to battle my toddler on clothing just to show up at playgroup with a matching, coordinated and perfectly groomed princess. Frankly, it’s just not worth it. The important thing to have a happy, healthy child – and if anyone is going to judge you for showing up at library story time with a kid in mismatching clothes, let that be their problem.
  

The bottom line is that you are the mom, and they are the kid. Let yourself have the freedom to say “no” when you need to, but also let them have the room to express themselves and be creative. Children are only little for a short time, and soon you will be looking back fondly on these days. And remember this – if you think that clothing is an issue now, just wait till they become teenagers!

-Grace

Related posts:

1. Drawing the Line Between Sweet and Not-So-Sweet
2. 5 Reasons to Host a Clothing Swap
3. How To Be A Fantastic Parent (Guest Post)

We have all read the books and the theories behind how to get your baby to sleep through the night. There are many tricks, theories, and heated debates about getting a good night’s sleep when you have a newborn at home. But what about when that baby’s still in your body? Getting an uninterrupted night’s sleep isn’t as easy as you think when you are dealing with morning sickness, heartburn, or a huge baby in your belly.

If you’re pregnant and having trouble sleeping at night, consider the following:

• Don’t drink fluids late into the evening. Try drinking as much water and other fluids as you can during the main part of the day, and try to taper off as evening approaches. Personally, I try and avoid drinking anything past 7pm, which I find helps me get a better night’s sleep. Downing a bottle of water right before bed is only going to result in you hopping up at 1am to run to the bathroom.
  
• If you find yourself struggling with heartburn, eat a few Tums right before you turn out the lights. Peppermint Tums are easy, especially if you have morning sickness. Try munching on a few throughout the day, but especially remember to eat two or three right before you climb into bed. Keep the bottle on your nightstand, for those times you may wake up in the middle of the night with heartburn.
• Let yourself wind down emotionally and mentally – not just physically. Not only should you avoid exercise late at night (assuming you actually have the energy for vigorous exercise!), but you should also let your mind be restful as well. This is a season in life when your thoughts may be racing 24 hours a day, and so it’s no surprise if you find yourself laying awake at night. There are so many questions, decisions, and plans to be made that it can be overwhelming and intimidating. Rather than letting yourself get worked up when you should be falling asleep, try to find a routine that promotes a quiet, calm mind. Warm baths, lavender scented candles or lotions, and soft music can be very calming. Personally, I find that just sitting with my husband watching a TV show while he rubs my feet is enough to get my thoughts off of everything that’s on my mind these days. (Note: while certain teas can be recommended to promote a restful night’s sleep, just remember that it may be one more thing for your bladder to use against you at 1am!)
• Let your husband take care of your other child (or children) at night. For example, last night our four year old daughter came into our room after having a nightmare. Yes, my instinct was to jump up and console her, but I fought that instinct and let my husband take care of her. First of all, she came in to see him. Not only is she absolutely in love with her father, but it’s so sweet and heartwarming to see how he is with her. He took great care of her, and soothed her after her nightmare. I laid there and (though I felt a bit guilty) more or less pretended to be asleep. I knew that he was doing a great job with her, and if I were to wake myself up any further it would only make it harder to go back to sleep. Remember that dads can do just as good of a job as we moms can, so rest easy and go back to sleep.
• Invest in a body pillow during your third trimester. When you are approaching the finish line, it can be hard to find a good position to sleep in. I usually make due sleeping with three pillows (head, belly and between my knees), but also consider a body pillow or some other pregnancy support pillow. There are plenty of products designed specifically for pregnant women, and it’s worth looking into. The Boppy Pregnancy Comfort Cuddle Pillow looks so comfy, I’m pretty sure I’ll be picking one of these up once I hit my third trimester.

Making a baby is hard work. Rest up, and do what you can to get a good night’s sleep during this time in your life. And remember, once the baby arrives, you’ll be researching a whole different set of sleeping tips!

-Grace

Related posts:

1. 15 Things I Wish I Had Known During My First Pregnancy
2. Lose the Baby Weight – 10 Easy Tips
3. 10 Great Etsy Gifts for Pregnant Friends

Motherhood is truly one of the most rewarding (if not THE most rewarding) experiences out there. We give birth to this amazing little person who captures our heart the moment we lay eyes on them, and our love continues to grow throughout their childhood. Even in the midst of sleepless nights, temper tantrums, and preschooler attitudes, our love for our child only grows.

As amazing as bringing a child into this world is, what about the process of actually carrying that child? While some of us sail through pregnancy with mild queasiness in the beginning and a bit of a backache towards the end, there are many of us gals who seem to draw the short end of the pregnancy stick. “Morning” sickness? Ha! Try “all day” sickness. Then of course there’s heartburn, extreme fatigue, weird skin discolorations, and gaining so much weight in your face that the guy at the pool gate can’t recognize your pool pass (yes, that happened to me. Sigh.).

The good news, of course, is that we get a baby out of this nonsense. Now that I look at my children, there is nothing I wouldn’t go through for them. Morning sickness seems like a small price to pay for the two little girls who now run around my house giggling, curls bouncing up and down, pretending to be dinosaurs from “The Land Before Time.” I’m very thankful for this perspective and reminder that it’s worth it, considering the past few weeks I have had. The good news is that we are expecting our third child. The bad news? Morning sickness hit early, and with far more fury and ferocity than I expected.

Now that I’m going through morning sickness for the third time, I feel like I’ve really learned quite a bit when it comes to managing it. That being said, it’s still something that can be unpredictable and uncertain. Some women swear by ginger ale or cola syrup, while others find no relief from it at all. B vitamins have been known to help some expectant mothers, but I personally felt even sicker after taking mine. It really does depend on the individual, but I think it’s good to have a variety of tricks up your sleeve to try if you are having a rough time during that first trimester.

These are some things that I’ve learned along the way, tips that my girlfriends and I have picked up during our many collective pregnancies. I hope some of these work for you!

• If it doesn’t smell good, don’t eat it. Just trust me… if it doesn’t smell appealing, it won’t taste appealing. Even if it’s something you would normally enjoy, trust your nose! Smell and taste are very closely related, and you need to go with your gut on what to eat.
• Don’t be afraid to try remedies that your friends recommend, even if at first it doesn’t sound like a good idea. For instance, my best friend recommended peppermint tea. The thing is, I have never liked tea. I’ve always been a coffee person, though these days it smells and looks rather disgusting to me. Well, I decided to go out on a limb and try the tea. As it turns out, apparently I now like tea! Not only did it taste good, but she was right – the peppermint really did settle my stomach, and the warm aroma was very comforting and soothing.
• Just a rundown of things to try: Ginger (ginger ale, ginger snaps, ginger tea, ginger root capsules), cola syrup, B vitamins (ask your pharmacist), “Preggie Pops” (found at Motherhood Maternity), tea (peppermint, or other pregnancy teas) and bland foods. Stay away from things that are spicy, or strong in flavor and smell.
• Be honest with your doctor. During my 8 week checkup, I almost started crying when I tried to explain that morning sickness was significantly worse this time. I felt desperate, but still a bit embarrassed to bring it up. For some reason, I had it in my head that I should just smile and endure whatever first trimester fun awaited me, and do it with as little complaining as possible. Well, as my husband put it, “Don’t be a pregnancy martyr.” I explained to my OB what I’d been experiencing, and she immediately wrote me a prescription. After a couple of different medications and varying doses (and lots of communication with the nurses) I think I’ve found the right meds to help me through the rest of my first trimester. Now, I’m not suggesting that every pregnant woman requires a prescription to manage morning sickness (I didn’t the first two pregnancies), but if you are experiencing very severe morning sickness, let your doctor know. They know where to draw the line, and they know at what point to call the pharmacy. The bottom line is communication.
• Trust your instincts. If macaroni and cheese is the only thing you can eat, that’s ok! Don’t feel pressure to eat all of your fruits and veggies – especially if they’re just going to come right back up. Take your prenatal vitamin, and do the best you can about what to eat. You can worry about a balanced diet when you have more control over your gag reflex.
• Try taking your prenatal vitamin at night, or try Flintstones. There’s no rule that says you have to take your prenatal vitamin first thing each day. In fact, that may be the worst thing you can do! At my 8 week checkup, my doctor suggested I take my vitamin at night, so that if it did cause an upset stomach (which it always does) I would sleep through the nausea. So far it’s worked well, and I’m thankful for the suggestions. Also, if your regular vitamin is upsetting your stomach, try taking two Flintstones vitamins instead. My doc recommended this during my first pregnancy, and it worked really well for me.
• Always keep something on your stomach. Letting yourself get too hungry is a recipe for disaster. Do what you can to eat small meals throughout the day, even if it means eating every two hours (which I do). Nausea is always worse when your stomach gets empty, so try to be proactive and keep something in your tummy at all times.

If you’re going through morning sickness right now, my heart goes out to you. It can be a rotten experience… but with an unbelievable reward. Just remember that in a few short months, all of this will be worth it beyond your wildest dreams. It won’t last forever, so hang in there!

-Grace

Related posts:

1. 10 Things Never to Say to a Pregnant Woman
2. 15 Pregnancy Perks
3. Pregnant? Tips on How to Sleep Through the Night

This is the best breakfast casserole I’ve ever had! This recipe is from a friend, which she modified to make some healthier changes. It takes a little extra time, but it’s well worth it – and perfect if you’re hosting brunch or bringing a dish to a breakfast.

Egg, Sausage and Sun Dried Tomato Casserole

1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed)

½ cup diced green onions

2 garlic cloves, minced (or 2 tsp minced garlic)

½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil packed or dry packed)

4 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley

8 eggs

1 cup fat free half and half

1 cup low fat ricotta cheese

2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

½ cup fresh mushrooms (if desiered)

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish.
2. Sauté sausage over medium heat until cooked (about ten minutes), breaking up into smaller pieces as you cook.
3. Add green onions and garlic – sauté another three minutes.
4. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and parsley – sauté one minute.
5. Spread sausage mixture in baking dish.
6. Whisk the eggs, half and half, ricotta, and 1 ½ cup mozzarella cheese. Pour over the sausage mixture.
7. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and parsley on top.
8. Bake about 30 minutes, until knife comes out clean.
9. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

-Grace

Related posts:

1. Vegetarian Pasta in a Light Cream Sauce
2. Chicken Gyros
3. Corn Casserole – Simple but Delicious

By Sherri Kruger, with Zen Family Habits

Diets don’t work. At least that’s been my experience. I’ve never been the type of person to be overly concerned about my weight or physical appearance. What I am concerned about is having a healthy body through the foods I consume.

It’s difficult to eat well and be healthier overall if you are disorganized, misinformed or simply don’t know what you don’t know. Here are 7 things you can do to get you well on your way towards establishing healthy eating habits that are sustainable for the long run.

1. Educate yourself. This doesn’t mean you need to know the composition or origin of every fruit, vegetable or grain that you consume. Here are a few things to consider educating yourself on:

• Learn what foods are actually good for you and in what quantities.
• Learn about food substitutions if you have known allergies.
• Learn how to cook different dishes especially if you are stuck in the meat and potatoes or pasta rut for dinner every night.
• Learn how to prepare food to get the maximum nutritional benefits from it.
• Learn about healthy snack alternatives

2. Start small. You are less likely to see big life altering changes through to the end.  This is why it is important to start small when establishing any new habit. When it comes to eating healthier, start with changing one meal, one day or one week. Try this change for a few weeks and see how it works for you and your family. You shouldn’t be afraid to admit when something doesn’t work. It’s unrealistic to expect a perfect change the first time around. You should be willing to look at what doesn’t work and try something else. Think of one of the obvious eating habits you currently have that you want to change. Do you drink too many soft drinks? Do you eat too much junk food or processed food? Do you rarely eat fruit or vegetables? Whatever it is choose one or two things and begin making a change. Add 2 vegetables to your dinner plate tonight. Drink water, herbal tea or green tea at lunch today instead of a soft drink.

3. Make a plan. Going in cold and flying by the seat of your pants is no way to establish a good eating habit. If your goal is to completely overhaul the foods you consume then it will be infinitely easier if you start with a plan. Creating a meal plan doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be done using something as simple as a recipe card, notebook or a spreadsheet on a computer. Start by making a list of all the meals your family enjoys. Include healthy mains, sides, desserts and snacks that you became aware of during the education part of this process. Next you can pick and choose what meals to have on which days as well as healthy snacks  to ensure no binge eating.

4. Remove the friction. This is a big one for me. Friction here, is all those little things that make it just a little more difficult to eat healthy. To remove as much friction as possible consider:

• Pre-wash fruits and vegetables and leaving them on the counter for easy access.
• Package snacks into individual serving sizes to grab as you’re running out the door.
• Cut vegetables into manageable pieces.
• Keep water in the fridge.
• Do as much of the food preparation the night before so you can quickly whip up a tasty healthy meal for dinner when you really don’t feel like it.

Once you have removed a few of the mental hurdles it’s easier to stay on track. After a while these things will become second nature and you won’t have to think about it.

5. Be flexible. You should avoid making a plan too rigid so as not to allow for deviations throughout the week or month. Decide what flexibility means to your family. Is it pre-cooking a variety of ingredients at the start of the week and using them in diffierent combinations throughout the week? Or is it planning a different meal every night and skipping one if you’re invited out or substituting if you decide to have people over? Whatever it is you shouldn’t get too hung up on the details. Allowing flexibility in your meal planning will reduce stress and make it a lot easier to stick with in the long run.

6. Have a cheat day. This is one thing that can really help sticking to healthy eating over the long run. Choose one day a week when you can eat whatever you like, within reason of course. If you’re really wanting pizza, ice cream or donuts have them on this day. In the beginning, transitioning to a healthier eating habits can be trying. However, it’s easier to eat healthy during the week when you have that one day, your cheat day, to eat your guilty pleasures. If you choose a day try to stick with it. After a month or so you’ll likely notice the “need” for your cheat day will diminish and you’ll find eating healthy your new way of life everyday.

7. Many things in moderation. One of the reasons diets don’t often work, is you feel you need to eliminate “everything”. Everything that tastes good, everything that’s fun and all that you really enjoy eating. The problem is that as soon as you eliminate these foods from your diet you crave it even more. Saying I will never eat chocolate or no more ice cream really doesn’t work. When you do eventually have some, which is entirely expected, you aren’t likely to eat a small portion are you? No, you’re likely to binge and eat a whole chocolate bar or an entire tub of ice cream. Everything in moderation.

Establishing healthy eating habits can increase your energy levels, get you feeling better about how you look and feel and just make you healthier overall. Start small and implement changes gradually. The key is to start. Now.

7 Steps To Sustainable Healthy Eating Habits [Zen Family Habits]

[Editor's note: Thanks to Sherri Kruger for her post on learning to eat well. These are some great tips, and I especially like her tip regarding a "cheat day." Eating well the other six days doesn't sound so bad if there is a bowl of ice cream waiting at the end of the week!]

Related posts:

1. How Motherhood Can Help You Build Healthy Habits
2. Shopping For Healthy Foods – On a Budget
3. Are Coupons Mostly for Junk Food?

For Christmas this year, I decided to try my skills at making truffles. I’ve always enjoyed baking cookies, bars and cakes, so I hoped that this wouldn’t be too much of a challenge. Well, not only was it easy – but the truffles turned out incredibly well!

This is the easiest recipe, and you’ll be amazed at how well they turn out. In fact, I’m wincing at the thought of telling friends and family just how easy they were to make… I’d almost rather have them think I’m some sort of gourmet in the kitchen!

Truffles:

1 – 1/3 cup chocolate chips*

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

3 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla extract **

1 cup vanilla or white chips*** (these can be found at most grocery stores, in the baking aisle next to the candy making supplies)

1. Over low to medium heat, melt the chocolate chips, whipping cream and butter. Stir together until smooth. Add the vanilla, let cool. Refrigerate for about 1 hour – until almost solid.
2. Microwave the vanilla chips according to the directions on the package, stirring to make sure the chips are smooth and melted.
3. Shape the truffle filling (from the refrigerator) into balls. Dip each ball into the melted vanilla chips. Place on wax paper to cool.
4. If desired, sprinkle topping (like chopped almonds or other sprinkles) on top of truffles. Make sure and do this right away, since the vanilla candy coating cools a few seconds after dipping the truffles in it.

*Try substituting white chocolate chips for regular.

**Try substituting either peppermint or almond extracts instead. White chocolate peppermint is a great combination! I recommend reducing the extract to ½ tsp peppermint, rather than 1 tsp vanilla. Also try chocolate almond truffles, and use ½ tsp almond with ½ tsp vanilla, using semisweet chocolate chips as well.

***You can dip the truffles in whatever candy coating you find – you can usually find vanilla, but other times there are chocolate ones available or even colored chips. Have fun and be creative!

Enjoy!

-Grace

Related posts:

1. Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
2. Delicious Pumpkin Cake
3. Corn Casserole – Simple but Delicious

As a stay-at-home mom, I know that there are things I’m giving up. Rather than heading off to work in my smart business casual attire, I wear the same jeans and yoga pants day after day. Meeting coworkers or friends for lunch? Nope – I’m making PBJ with my girls. And yes, I have been known to buy my kids new clothes and shoes while overlooking something that I need myself.

I know that if I were to go back to work, we could afford much more. With two incomes, we could have a bigger house, nicer cars, and take more vacations. But you know what? It’s not worth it to us. My job may not be glamorous, but I’m doing what I have always wanted to do: devote my days to raising our kids and enjoying their childhood. Like many choices we make in life, this is a decision we made that we felt was right for our family, and though it comes with a price, it is well worth it.

The Simple Dollar had a fantastic post today that I wanted to share. Regardless of the choices we make in life, it’s important to set our priorities and make sure we are living for what makes us fulfilled, rather than just trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Our Towels Don’t Match Our Bathroom Curtains [The Simple Dollar]

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2. Do You Save Money by Shopping Around?
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This is a dessert that is easy to make, impressive, and best of all – yummy! This is great for showers, lunches, pot lucks, or just having friends over.

Fruit Pizza Crust:

1 cup butter, softened

¾ cup sugar

1 egg

2 Tbsp milk

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp almond extract

3 cups flour

1. Mix dry ingredients, then add the remaining – mix well.
2. Flatten the dough on a baking sheet, as if it were pizza dough.
3. Freeze crust for 1 hour.
4. Bake for 12 minutes at 375F.

Fruit Pizza Icing:

1/3 cup sugar

8 oz cream cheese

½ tsp vanilla

1. Mix together until blended.
2. Once the crust has cooled, spread icing.

Fruit Pizza toppings:

This is where it gets fun. You can use any fruit, in any proportions, and make any designs. It’s good to use a variety of colors, to make a prettier dessert. Some of my favorite fruits for this include strawberries, kiwi, blackberries, red raspberries, and blue berries.

Enjoy!

-Grace

Related posts:

1. Pumpkin Cookies
2. Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
3. Peanut Butter Cookies – Soft and Chewy

As I write, the snow is falling outside while my family visits in the living room. My husband is home from work and playing his guitar, while my kids are discussing which movie to watch. Snow days are wonderful – filled with togetherness, hot chocolate, and playing in the snow.

Speaking of snow, my friend Susan passed these two recipes along to me, and I thought I’d share them with you. The first is from Paula Deen, and the second is one of her family recipes. So if it’s snowing where you are right now where you are, be sure and go outside and scoop some of it up!

Two Snow Ice Cream Recipes

Paula Deen’s recipe:
Ingredients
• 8 cups snow, or shaved ice
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Place snow or shaved ice into a large bowl. Pour condensed milk over and add vanilla. Mix to combine. Serve immediately in bowls.

SNOW ICE CREAM:
1 GALLON CLEAN SNOW
1 CUP WHITE SUGAR
1 TABLESPOON VANILLA EXTRACT
2 CUPS MILK (do not use skim milk)

When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.

Enjoy!

-Grace

Related posts:

1. Vegetarian Pasta in a Light Cream Sauce
2. Delicious Pumpkin Cake
3. Baked Potato Soup