Going Green

I'm celebrating the Irish way by going green and having a milkshake from McDonald's today!




Happy St. Patty's Everyone!

Christmas in the Kitchen

It's starting to look more like Christmas around here. (I'm going out of town for Thanksgiving dinner so I don't have to worry about cooking at my house.) I can start to begin making candy treats for family/friends. It's never to early since my days ahead are jam packed full of other holiday activities, works and school. Any chance I can get to get a jump on my homemade gifts saves me a lot of stress.

Treat bags of muddy buddy mix. They are great anytime of the year, but we made them for Christmas this time.



Pretzel Hugs ready to be a gift for someone.



In the candy dish, more holiday favorites.



And if the sugar treats don't keep up my energy, a Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks will! Yum!



What homemade treats do you make around the holidays?

Hot Chocolate & Coffee Station

In my house we drink a lot of hot beverages. So much so that I wanted to create a place in my kitchen that was set up for a quick cup of joe or hot chocolate. My kids love this idea. In the morning if I don't do it, they can make themselves a hot chocolate to go. I put out travel cups, packets of chocolate, sugar packets, and flavored creamers. All they have to do is pour in some hot water from the tea kettle. I decorated penny jars that I found at Walmart with some Halloween ribbon. I think I'll keep changing it for the season. I've filled one with single serve creamers and the other with hot chocolate packets. It's the pefect solution for the Fall weather and cold mornings we wake up to.





Pumpkin Spice is back! It's my favorite holiday flavor. Found this flavored coffee the other day. I have the creamer too so it's even twice as good.



These hot chocolates are for more special occassions but I'm loving them. If I want my hot chocolate served with a kick, I add coffee instead of hot water. My own little Starbucks cafe. Ha!

Rainbows and Pumpkins

The other day I walked outside and saw this...



What a pretty rainbow!



This is the view from our front deck.



On another note, here is my Secret Agent Son. He thinks he's a spy or something lately. LOL He likes to dress up in a nice shirt and tie to go on his missions he calls them. He says, the ladies love it. What a little heart breaker.



Well, in this picture he was actually going to school. He wore this for picture day. The teacher must think I wanted him to dress up, but I tried to talk him out of it. He insisted on wearing the tie so I said okay, whatever? This year I'm all about whatever is easiest. He does look cute I have to admit.





Lastly, my love is back in town. My Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte & Fraps that is. It is Fall again so all my favorites are back on the menu. Yeah!



That's my week so far. I'm working on a few new crafts and I'll be posting the pictures here soon. Check back.

~Stacy

Smoothie Time

In the Summer, my kids and I LOVE fruit smoothies.



Since we don't have any Jamba Juice's where we live we have to make our own. I buy lots of fruits, juices and ice-creams to make these.



I try to copy their drinks as close as possible. Here's some of my favorites I make.

Mango A Go Go
Passion fruit juice
Pineapple sherbet
Frozen mango's
Ice

Aloha Pineapple
Pineapple juice
Pineapple sherbet
Strawberries
Banana
Ice

Caribbean Passion
Passion fruit-mango juice
Strawberries
Peaches
Orange sherbet
Ice

Peach Pleasure
Peach juice
Peaches
Banana's
Orange sherbet
Ice


Pick a recipe and just blend together.



Yummy and healthy!

Pregnancy Cravings!

Everyone craves something when they are preggers. Mine happens to be "Peppermint and Chocolate." I haven't heard of anyone needing this like me. I guess I'm weird. I did however need this with my last pregnancy so I don't know what it is about this combination. Right now I can't get enough of peppermint patties and peppermint Orbit gum. One word....YUM!



I'm also been wanting more pasta sauce like on a meatball sandwich. OMGosh, I would love one right now speaking of which. Throughout this pregnancy though it's been all about chicken. Anyway I can get it, chicken, chicken, chicken is my meat of choice.


Of course my love for Starbucks Frappuccino's hasn't died either. I go there just about everyday. Isn't that terrible? I know it is for my wallet. These lil' frapps are not cheap but I just gotta have one. I can't get them off my mind if I don't.

Here I am enjoying a Carmel Frapp.


If I can't get to a Starbucks I just go to my freezer and reach for Starbucks Ice-Cream. Have you seen the pint size ice-cream they sell in the store? Oh, it's good. Coffee flavored ice cream with added chocolate chunks or caramel.

New Favorite Starbucks Drink

Has anyone tried the new Vivanno blended drinks at Starbucks? They are pretty yummy! They remind me of a smoothie from Jamba Juice a little. It's full of fruit & vitamins which is great for me since I'd rather drink my fruit then eat it. :) This is the Grande Chocolate/Bannana with a shot of expresso I was enjoying today. I'm sure to go back for more real soon.