Peppermint Hot Chocolate at Home & on a budget!

I don't know about many of y'all, but being a single income family, on a sole first responder income, we are definitely on a budget.

This was a huge adjustment (first world problems, I know!) going from being able to do much of anything I cared to do to not being able to (& I was never a big spender).

One of my favorite treats in the winter months are hot chocolates from either Panera (because of their chocolate chip marshmallows!) or Starbucks. But, at upwards of $3-4 dollars for a cup, that just wasn't happening anymore!

I've been experimenting with new recipes at home.

 My favorite so far:

- 2 packets of Swiss Miss ($1.04 for a box of 10 packets at Target!)
- 10 kraft jet puffed french vanilla snowman marshmallows
- 3 mini peppermind candycanes
- hot water

(I want to get some hot fudge to mix in with it!)

Salted Caramel Pumpkin Seeds

So, I'm not a fan of much spice but am big on SWEET... and while I love the pumpkin spice smell, I'm not big on how it tastes.

BUT, I wanted to do SOMETHING with the pumpkin seeds from our pumpkins this year. I googled a few different recipes and combined a few for these salted caramel pumpkin seeds!

(cooking times may vary depending on your oven/stove!)

~pre-heat oven to 300 degrees

line baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with a little no stick cooking spray

Then:
~2 cups pumpkin seeds (rinsed & patted dry)
~4 TBSP granulated sugar

Mix the pumpkin seeds and sugar
- Pour spread out on the parchment paper covered baking sheets,

Bake for ~20-30 minutes (I'd start checking on them at 20 minutes, and if they aren't done keep a close eye out every 2 minutes or so!)

STORY & ACTIVITY TIME: In My Heart

This summer one of the shops that carries Bay & Bee's had this awesome story & art time.  The activity was mommy & me based (& I LOVE mommy & me activities!), included a story, a related art activity and a (usually related) snack.  We attended pretty much all summer & had an absolute blast. Our story & art weeks came to an abrupt end when one of my friends needed me to watch her littles during our usual story & art time. So on one of our first days as a new little self made playgroup of 4, I decided to do our own.

We read the book "In My Heart" by Molly Bang (a book my dad had given to us, he had gotten it as a sample in a military child related activity that he runs as a DOD social services contractor). It seemed perfect with our new play buddies being in a new place and with school just around the corner for the big sisters in the group. 

It was a pretty easy concept to come up with for this book as the book is all about helping a child be comfortable with being a way from mom & dad. It talks about how mom/dad carry the child in their hearts all day long and vice versa, so its like you are never apart. SO...what we did (after I totally FB stalked my friend's page for family pictures ;)) was cut out faces of moms, dads & baby sisters, draw hearts on a piece of construction paper & used some cute washi tape to affix the pictures inside the girls "hearts". They were so excited while working on the project and the book really seemed to "speak" to both of them (ages 3.5 & 4.5). There were two very proud faces showing daddies that afternoon!

Supplies:

Book- In My Heart (MSRP:

Construction paper

Marker

Washi Tape/regular tape/glue

Scissors

Pictures

Here is the book & a photograph of the project:

Crafty Mom: melted crayon art!

I wanted to make some art for the littles playroom.

This one was a lot of fun to do & didn't cost much.


Materials:
I got these adorable "Very Hungry Caterpillar" Themed crayons out of the dollar section at Target.
Then I picked up a stapled canvas at Michael's (on sale- it was only a couple of dollars)
I already had a hot glue gun at home (or ok, I might have swiped it from my parents house...)
Old newspaper
Hair dryer

Steps:
hot glue the crayons to the top of your canvas in whatever order you want them in
set out newspaper on the floor
set out canvas with attached crayons on top of the newspaper
turn on hair dryer & point it at the crayons
watch the crayons melt!

Keep Calm & Nurse On!

So I did something unusual- for me anyway. And something I never really thought I would do.

I breastfeed my daughters and truly (in my heart and thru my research) feel it is hands down best for baby (but my views on life & pregnancy/birth/baby years are for another post). But I'm more of a to each their own, and am absolutely very modest (for my own comfort) when breastfeeding in public (& even just at home). 

But I felt surprisingly drawn to participate when a local photographer put out a request for "models" for a series she is doing on breastfeeding.

I am currently tandem nursing my girls. My oldest is almost 3 (and has started weaning) and my youngest is almost 6 months (who knows how long she will nurse). It has been an incrediblely rewarding and bonding experience, I just had to jump at a chance to have it captured.

So, without further ado:

(credit and infinite thanks to the talented Hannah of HVW Photography in Hampton, VA!)

Home office- before...

So, as I'm doing more crafting as a work at home job and really trying to grow my little business, I decided I needed an office space. Kinda hard to figure out when your house is 100 years old, only 1700 sq ft and has a lot of awkward wasted space.

I think I found the perfect little spot (at least until my renovation dream of master suite come true ;-))

(Note to self- insert photo here - eventually...)

UPDATE!

So, an update is more than in order.

This past year has been pretty crazy. Almost one year ago (next week) we found out we were expecting baby #2! A few months before we figured it would happen- (just like with baby #1!) It seems our formula for having a baby is as follows:
- have a conversation of "hey, when do you want to start trying for a baby? maybe in a couple more months?"
- & for me to decide "hey, i want to run a half marathon this year!"
- & yea- we all know what the last bit of this trifecta is ;)

We went to {sweet home} Alabama for my little sister's wedding. My Bird's Nest Pendents were picked up for consignment at a seasonal pop-up shop in Hilton Village, I was only "in the show" for the last 2 weeks and just over half my inventory sold! I ran/walked in 2 races: the CHKD Run/Walk for the Kids & The Sparkle Run 5K. And my oldest Daughter started preschool (pretty sure that was harder on me than her!) The biggest event of the year being the birth of my youngest Daughter (who was born via a VBAC!) After my youngest was born I got going again with my jewelry making and started doing metal hand-stamping on cuff bracelets. I absolutely love it! My bracelets were picked up again at the seasonal pop-up shop, a pop-up shop at a local mom & pop marketplace & at a handmade/handcrafted shop!

To say I've been busy is DEFINITELY an understatement. And my "things to do before I'm 30 bucket list" from January 2013...well...yea. I'm entering my 29th year this month, so I better get moving. My goals have changed slightly- stay tuned!