happy new year

Our dark winter days call for soft candle light.  I have a drawer in my kitchen that is filled with votive candles.  I must have bought a bag of 50 at some point thinking that I needed them and didn't because now I have a ton.  Covering these plain tea lights with patterned tape takes just a matter of minutes.   Perfect-cute and easy!  Bundle them in a clear bag and they make a perfect little gift for a girlfriend for Valentine's Day.      Hope you all are staying warm!  brrrrrr�...

Trapped inside with four kids in the dead of winter will make you try crazy things.  School was out once again, and today we had Chocolate Spa Day at our house.  With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I found it necessary to celebrate the month of chocolate and slather it all over our faces.  You know if the fanciest spas offer chocolate services, then we too can indulge in this special treat!  For the kids-pure chocolate bliss and for me a skin treatment that left me with silky smooth skin.  Check out our Chocolate Spa Day, featuring the chocolate facial and then go give yourself one! Chocolate Facial  1 Tablespoon cocoa powder 1 teaspoon sugar 2 teaspoons honey 2 teaspoons plain yogurt 1 teaspoon coconut oil-melted Mix honey, melted coconut oil and yogurt in a small bowl.  Slowly add cocoa powder and sugar and continue to stir well.  Spread on a clean face using a small brush.  Let sit 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Y...

This winter has been relentless.  We are enjoying our 3rd day off of school this month due to the extreme cold temperatures and we just got word that we are off again tomorrow.  We are taking pajama day to the extreme!  We did spend the weekend going from hockey practice to batting practice to dance shows and evenings with friends.  But we are in today and nothing says cozy like a hot cup of tea, a warm blanket and a great book.   Now that the kids are getting older, I find myself wanting to read again and by that I mean a book without large print and pictures.  I have spent most of my time as a mom reading to and for my kids and not for myself.   My relaxing time was spent watching mindless TV trash, which isn't so bad when your exhausted.:)  I have resolved to read more and I'm making a shift from book club member who doesn't read, to book club member who reads every page!   Our club is 11 moms and we all live in the same hood.  Our ki...

I've been searching a long time for chocolate chip perfection.  Some days we make cookies and they turn out too crispy.  Some days the batter magically flattens out on the sheet and they turn out like pancakes.  I follow the recipe on the Toll House bag but yet never really know what I'm going to get when they come out of the oven.  I know that each person has their own personal preference-thin and crispy, thick and chewy, well done, crumbly, or doughy in the middle.  Personally, I like thick cookies that are a bit chewy.  I think I have found the perfect recipe that delivers every time.     Chocolate Chip Cookie Perfection 1 cup butter 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla 3 cups flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 bag chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350.   Combine butter and sugars in a Kitchen Aid mixer and beat until creamy.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat again until well combined.  In ...

I can't tell you the last time hubsy and I slept in.  It's been years and years and years-seriously so long I can't even begin to remember when.  We dream about the morning when we roll over and look at the clock and it's 830 and the house is quiet. -It's just seems impossible to have all four roosters sleeping past 7.  Well it happened this past weekend � .our dream.  We rolled over and it was 830!!!  Glory Be!  Our children were quiet and we were completely rested!  What a way to start the day.  I was seriously giddy and for a moment thought to myself � . today is the day I won't need my eye concealer. Ha-that would be a real dream!  I do have a very basic everyday eye make-up routine.  I don't try too hard but feel like as I'm getting older I need help to achieve the non-surgical wide-awake look.-Chime in Katy Perry!  These are my favorite basics for just that-minimal everyday eyes for tired moms. So I begin by using Smashbox ...

This winter we've had no shortage of snow.  Although, when we're stuck inside these 3-D paper snowflakes are fun for the older kids to make while the young ones enjoy the traditional folding and cutting.  Sometimes it's necessary for the older kids to spend an afternoon away from the ipads and ipods and kick it "old school"-makin' crafts.  So we grab some paper and let it snow. Materials for 3-D Paper Snowflakes 6 sheets of square paper Scissors Pencil Tape or glue gun  Ruler For each snowflake you will need 6 square sheets of paper.   These 3-D snowflakes were just the beginning of some major snowflake making.   Who knew folding and cutting could be so much fun???  I mean, they were so serious and the level of concentration was off the charts.   My "flakes" loved making their own flakes! I'd love to hear what you are doing inside on snowy days.

Some days I wake up and need a bit of a pick-me-up.  My green tea isn't gettin' it done-not because I was out partyin' late night (those nights are few and far between) but I just need an energy boost that will get me going.  Some days it's hard to get motivated to organize closets and wipe baseboards.  Do ya hear me?  Also, with winter crashing down on us it's important to stay active and be healthy so those-gasp�..germs don't find us! I feel that it's important to keep our immunity up-none of us want to bite the dust especially with all that cleanin' that needs to get done:) I am definitely the mom that likes a great drink!  And I don't mean a margarita at 9a. -Tee Hee So we're making green smoothies in the kitchen today-ones that don't taste like grass.  Yummy ones that taste great and are good for you too.  The best combination!!! I'm thinking seasonal produce works best for this one and you can't taste the spinach.-Yay for all th...

This time of year when the temperatures are below freezing my skin becomes dry like the Sahara.  I love the spa splurge but when there's no time for an appointment-create a sense of luxury in your own shower.  Don't think that's possible????-try this body scrub � .. Nourishing Milk and Honey Body Scrub 1 cup whole milk 1 1/2 cups raw oatmeal 1/4 cup honey 1tablespoon olive oil Whip up a scrub for your next shower.  Every mom needs a little pampering this time of year.  Simple ingredients and fantastic body exfoliating results! It will leave your dry,winter skin feeling soft and smooth.  Mix the ingredients together in a bowl until they form a thick paste. Apply the mixture onto clean skin and massage for a few minutes with your fingers. Rinse the scrub with warm water and a washcloth and pat dry. Apply your favorite body lotion. These few ingredients are pure and readily available.  Milk contains high levels of vitamins A, D, E, which is why dairy products ...

It's so important to start the day off right with a healthy breakfast.  One of our family favorites during the school week when we are short on time is what we like to call Yogi and Granola.  It takes 1 minute to prepare, the kids love it and it's super healthy as well.   Yogurt and Granola  Great Start Breakfast Ingredients  Favorite Granola Cereal-ours is Vanilla and Almond Favorite Vanilla Yogurt-ours is Chobani Vanilla Blended Greek Yogurt  Favorite Fruit Topping-ours is fresh raspberries Other options  any vanilla yogurt (doesn't have to be Greek) fresh blueberries fresh strawberries fresh peaches fresh pineapple Begin by choosing your favorite vanilla yogurt.  Add granola cereal and top with fresh fruit. Voila!   Super fast and a perfect healthy way to start the day. 1 serving of Chobani Vanilla Yogurt 120 calories 1/4 cup Vanilla Almond Granola 120 calories 1/2 cup Fresh Raspberries 30 calories Total= 270 Calories So try it for br...

Working out is always much more fun when you have some new gear-that's what I tell myself!   It took me a long time to figure out what I liked to workout in. When I first started years and years ago I felt as though there  weren't  many options so it was a cotton t-shirt and basic running shorts.  But now exercise wear is one of my favorite things to shop for.  I like to chose things that are multipurpose.  I am drawn to tanks and leggings that I can wear on a long run as well as spin, yoga and barbell.  I like gear that breathes and is able to manage sweat.   I buy new kicks every six months or so and typically like the feel of A sics and Nike.  I love the weightlessness of my Nike air max shoes and how supportive they feel on longer runs.  I have chosen some of my favorite looks that are great for the gym during these cold winter months but will be just as great for hitting the trails come spring time. Nordstrom  has a great selec...

Hitting the gym again doesn't mean that we can't indulge in a little winter yum, especially when it's skinny winter yum!  This incredible hot chocolate made with chocolate almond milk is so belly warming good and 1/2 the calories of the regular stuff.  Most importantly it doesn't taste like it is! Did you know that  cocoa has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times those found in green tea.  I�ve made this delightful drink a little skinnier by replacing whole milk with chocolate almond milk.  So go ahead and ditch the water and tasteless packet and make this instead�after all, it�s good for your health.  Go get your favorite mug or check out these ! I f you want to jazz it up a bit check out  these  homemade marshmallows. (which are not skinny ) Skinny Hot Chocolate 2 cups chocolate almond milk 1Tbsp unsweetened cocoa 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract In a small saucepan  add the milk, cocoa, and vanilla.  Mix together and...

Today was the first day back to school for the kids and the first day back to the gym for me. With everything that has been going on around here in the last month I have not been the dedicated gym rat that I once was.  We have been baking waaaaaay too many sweets-our oven has had the workout! So fun of course, but not good for the waistline.  And whoops, those skinny jeans are entirely too skinny!  So it's time to saddle up-I mean lace up those running shoes and hit the treadmill.  I find that I enjoy running 3 or 4 days a week and training with weights 1 or 2 days and taking 2 days off.  For me, that's a good balance and I won't get burned out doing the same thing every day.  Health and wellness has become the true motivator for me-well and the leather leggings of course!!!! So it's a new year and my leather leggings are hanging in the closet-time to hit the gym!

Brrr� it's been so cold the last several days.  Yowzas CO-HOLD!!!!  The kids had an extended winter break and we embraced the time that we had together indoors by playing games, watching movies, baking cookies, and bringing the outside in.  No need for hats, mittens and scarves when these snowflake sugar cookies make it look like it's snowing inside too! Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe 2 sticks unsalted butter 2/3 cup sugar 1 large egg 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 2 1/3 cups all purpose flour In your Kitchen Aid mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter and sugar.  Add egg, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and flour.  On slow, stir together ingredients just until combined.  Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick between 2 pieces of parchment paper and let it rest in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.  Cut shapes and bake in 350 degree oven for 6-8 minutes or until the edges begin to turn light brown. Remove and cool...