New Traditions

     This Christmas I had such lofty intentions of doing many Pinterest projects.  Welp... I started two :(  Hopefully I will get to it during break.  Anyway...

We did (and by we I mean Renata) did bake a few new recipes.

First up are Oreo Truffles.

Oreo Truffles

·         1 package Oreo Cookies

·          8oz brick cream cheese softened

·         12oz package of chocolate chips

(or any flavor melting chocolate of your choosing.)

Crush Oreos (using a food processor is the easiest way, but you can also put them in a large zip lock bag and smash them with a rolling pin.)

Mix Oreo crumbs and cream cheese, either by hand or using a mixer

Roll dough into 1 inch balls

Refrigerate for 1 hour

Melt chocolate of choice in a double boiler

Dip truffles in melted chocolate

Decorate

Keep refrigerated

     The next delightful addition to our Christmas Cookie Line-up was Peppermint Crumble Bars found 

on Something Swanky. 

Peppermint Crumble Bars

Ingredients

·         2 cups flour

·         1 cup butter, softened

·         1/2 cup sugar

·         2 cups white chocolate peppermint candy (like Andes peppermint bits)

·         1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

·          

Instructions

1.     Preheat oven to 350º.

2.     Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter, sugar, and flour together until crumbly.

3.     Press a little more than half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 lined baking dish.

4.     In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix 1 cup of the white chocolate peppermint candy and the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Pour over the crumb crust in the dish.

5.     Sprinkle the remaining crumble and white chocolate peppermint candy evenly over top.

6.     Bake for 20 minutes or until edges begin to just barely brown.

7.     Let cool completely before cutting into bars

I don't "do" Halloween

I have never liked Halloween. Ever since I was little, I always felt awkward in costume. All it took was one person to ask, “What are you supposed to be?”, and I wanted to go home.  When my older girls were smaller, we didn't do Halloween.  Between me just “not liking it” and the pagan and witchcraft history I learned over the years, we just (ok, I just) didn't want to do it. 

Well I have mellowed over the years I guess; It doesn't really bother me anymore.

This year I went down to Tucson to visit Ren and Tessa, I spent almost the whole week sewing costumes for their Disney themed Halloween party. Renata was Ariel and Tessa was Esmeralda.  It was a lot of fun and they looked amazing.

Last year, after Halloween I picked up this cute Rapunzel dress for Sophia. I gave it to her for Christmas to put in her dress-up box.  Well it fits so perfectly this year.  It was Ren’s idea to make my own wig from yarn.  It too, came out adorable. 

So I guess I now “DO” Halloween.  

My life is messy... but fun.

I have been a stay at home mom for about 19 years.  A few years ago I decided to go back and finish my teaching degree.  Now I am almost done, and I am so excited. 

It has not been easy, I was used to being a mom, just a mom.  Now I am a full time college student, sill a full time mom and I work part time.  The hardest part is getting organized, I haven't been very successful at it.  

I thought maybe starting a blog would help me connect with other busy moms and teachers and get organized.  :)  

Wish me luck...