{Gluten Free} Mini Snack Bars

Hello All!!  Its been so long since I've posted that I hardly know what to start with! How about, Happy New Year! Its still technically the new year and I think its still allowed right? Since just before Christmas, things have been crazy around here with two boys in hockey,  a major holiday, school commitments, etc. Its sometimes hard to come up for air! So I apologize for my blog neglect, and I hope that this doesn't happen again (at least for a long time...).

I'm excited to share this amazing recipe! It happened because I messed up another recipe and didn't realize until I had half of the bars pressed into the Perfect Petites mould. So then I thought, rather than scoop it all out and start again, I'd just give it a go and see what the results would be. Well I'm thrilled to report.... they. are. DELICIOUS! And for a gluten free treat (especially a homemade one) no one else even noticed! They are the perfect consistency, kind of like a granola bar with a soft centre. How EXCITING!! So then I thought to myself, "YAY! Lunch treats!". Except then I thought to myself, "you DOPE! You put pecans in the recipe!". So I'm making the pecans optional and saying use either that or double the dried fruit for gluten free, nut free yumminess!

Hasbro Monpoly Junior Review - Game Night Fun

Well it's been a while since I've had a chance to get on here and actually write something! I did start this post one evening 2 weeks ago and forgot to save it so that was sad. 

We've been really enjoying the new Monopoly Junior game that I was sent by Influenster! And I just love receiving free & relevant items to review! This one was a hit!

DIY Father's Day Photo Gift

Looking for a last minute Father's Day gift? The boys & I made this great gift in no time at all (well maybe like 8 minutes). Quick & reasonably easy, this is perfect for and Dad or Grandpa. 

Bright Flower Cupcakes

Some of the most fun parts about being a Mom are the silliest. I love making treats to send to school. I love how happy it makes the boys. I love when they tell me things like, "You're the best Mom ever because you make the best cupcakes!". Like really, this is truly true in their little hearts. You're score on the scale of Mom-Awesomeness immediately jumps if you make the best cupcakes.

The last class celebration was Easter, and I decided to make a double batch of these cute cupcakes and send some for both of their classes... (what else do you spend the night doing when 39 weeks pregnant?)

10 Easter Crafts for Kids {Perfect Pins}

After a couple of weeks off from Thursday's Perfect Pins, I'm excited to share this week's awesome finds! With everything that was going on in my pregnancy, I slacked a bit...

So, are you getting ready for the Bunny's big visit?? Here are a list of 10 of the very cutest kids' crafts I could find for Easter! I am excited to try a few of these on the upcoming weekend (we'll have a backup plan in case the weather is rainy).

I'm totally loving the handprint/footprint ones that would be perfect keepsakes!  There's quite a few of them in various forms.  Hope you enjoy these and find something to do with your own little ones!

10 Craft Space Organizers {Perfect Pins}

With all of the nesting that I've been doing over the past couple of weeks, I decided to start looking for ideas to organize my craft space. Its likely just going to be the closet in my downstairs spare bedroom, but I'm excited anyway to eventually have an area for crafting & sewing, instead of using the dining room table.  

Here are 10 of the most awesome ideas I have come across so far. There are at least a few that I will be incorporating into my craft closet!  Just have to wait until the baby comes and I'm feeling well... then baby and I will head down there and set things up!

10 St. Patrick's Day Treats {Perfect Pins}

St. Patrick's Day is a school day this year!!  YAY!!  I hope that I'm going to be able to make one of these treats below to send with the boys to school.  It will be an exciting day as its the first day back from March Break.  I can't believe how fast this week is going by. Its almost over & I'm sad!

I'm thinking that maybe Sunday I will try to get treats made, and maybe make it a team effort and the boys can help...  It will be a fun way to end the weekend and they will (hopefully) be just as excited as I will be to send some fun treats to school!

10 Shamrock Crafts for Kids {Perfect Pins}

I'm always looking for crafts for my boys. I especially love doing holiday & special occasion themed activities with them. This winter has been long and cold, and its always nice to have a stash of ideas ready and waiting for the days that are too cold for a lot of outdoor play.

Here are the very cutest shamrock crafts I have come across for St. Patty's Day that's fast approaching (Who else CAN't believe its already the first week of MARCH?!?!)

10 Free Character Crochet Hat Patterns {Perfect Pins}

As I'm (finally) getting some crochet projects finished, I thought I would share with you 10 of my favourite character crochet patterns! I have tried all of these patterns and they turn our FABULOUS! (Two of them are mine... I'm allowed to toot my own horn from time to time... Right?!) Check out some of the projects I've done here.


These are all easy to follow and quick to make. I hope you find something you love and share what you've made here in comments!

Valentine's Day Treats: White Chocolate Bark

This is a quick and fun DIY that looks fabulous and takes very little time to prepare!  I had so much fun making it!  The boys were really excited to see how this White Chocolate Bark turned out, and they couldn't wait to share it with their classmates!!

Valentine's Day Treats: White Chocolate Pretzel

They boys' class parties are today and I was busy last night helping them get ready!  Middle guy wasn't himself last evening and so he didn't feel much like it, but the Biggest and I sat down and got at it!  (And Daddy too... I think he likes Washi Tape almost as much as me!!)

I love sending in treats so I made two different kinds to send for the parties...  Here are the White Chocolate Pretzel Treats!  Y'all ready for this?  So easy to make and they look so wonderful!!

Valentine's Day Treats: DIY Gift Bags

With Valentine's Day right around the corner we are still doing preparations for the boys' parties at school. I'm having so much fun finding ideas and doing the prep!  We have yet to make the Valentines for their classmates, that's on the agenda tomorrow if everyone is healthy.  My middle monkey is sick with a bad case of the barfs since the middle of the night and so we've pretty much been sticking to the couch today.  I made him a "Sickie Station" on the little couch and he hasn't moved much since.  I'm pushing the water and chicken broth to him while he's awake... and waiting.  Oh, and I also have a very sparkly bathroom that I cleaned top to bottom in an attempt to prevent everyone else from contracting this yucky bug.

Meanwhile, lately I have officially gotten into my Washi Tape stash, and I now want to use it for EVERYTHING in my whole life! (Oh if only it could cure this little boy!) It is so cute & happy! So today while my sick middle boy napped, I made these sweet little gift bags to use for the DIY Teacher Gifts that we made last week.

The supply list is short, they take almost no time to make and they are really cute!  And, BONUS, they match the gifts!

Valentine's Day Treats: DIY Teacher Gifts

There are two things that I am really into these days:  DIY projects & Washi Tape.  Did you see the Washi Tape Shelf I made last week??  Anyway, I'm enjoying a hot, quiet coffee this morning and I decided that I would sit down and make some little teacher gifts for the boys to take in on Valentine's Day.

I am also a Pick Your Plum addict, and so I had these lovely little notebooks that I was saving for just this kind of occasion.

Aren't they so cute??!!  I love the craft look, and I knew that my new Valentine's Washi Tape would make them absolutely adorable!  The ones on the left are just plain note paper inside.  The ones on the right have little sticky notes as well as plain note paper.

There you have it!  Short and sweet!  These took only minutes to make and they look great!

Shared at:

A Life in the Balance

Feautured at:


 

Valentine's Day Treats: Gluten Free Chocolate Cookies

Today I'm sharing these delicious and adorable Valentine's gluten-free treats that are perfect for sending in to the classroom with the kiddies.  They are easy to make, fun to decorate, and they look super cute!

I used a cheater method for the cookies.  You can use any recipe for chocolate cookies.  I chose to make mine with a gluten-free cake mix.  Very simple.  6 ingredients.  Bake.  Go.  

Here's the recipe for the cookies!

Middle Man Turns 5 - DIY Skylanders SwapForce Birthday Party

This weekend we had a blast celebrating our middle son's 5th birthday.  He turns the big 5!  Can you believe it?  I am still wondering where the time has gone and how my little boys are growing up so fast!!

His dream was to have a Skylanders Swap Force party theme, and he's been asking for this since last year when he saw the previews for the game that wasn't even released yet!  He has repeatedly asked for this theme over the last year and I knew that was my only choice for party theme.  

DIY Family Organizer

As part of my mission to conquer the house, I spent very little time and money making this organizer for some of the paperwork, books, homework, etc. that clutters our kitchen island regularly (permanently). The boys both bring home loads of papers almost daily.  We have no real space for keeping track of what's on the go, what's due soon, etc.  

I picked up this 5-drawer organizer during Boxing Week sales so it was half price.  I was pretty excited about that... When I was driving home from the store I was thinking of ways I could label the drawers for easy use and also to give it a nice visual.  Then I got the best idea to put the vinyl I've been desperate to use to great use!  

Meet Stewie! Our Little Elf ~ Elf on the Shelf Ideas Inside!

I am getting super excited about the holidays!  Its absolutely my favorite time of year for many, many reasons.  First of all, I love the decorating!  I'm starting this weekend and I just love pulling everything out of the bins and getting ready!  I also love the time with family, the visiting, the food & drink, and the special memories.

Last year we added a little Elf named Stewie to our Christmas tradition, and I am having a hard time staying patient for his return!!

Here is a recap of Stewie's antics from last year.  He will be returning around November 29 or 30 to keep an eye on our little guys!

Little Man's 6TH Birthday - DIY Circus

Today was a super exciting day.  Well actually, this whole weekend was super exciting!  Yesterday, my first born turned 6!  WHAT?!  When did this happen? The last six years seem to have flown by.  Yesterday I was reflecting on how much he's grown and all the things that I am proud of him for.  He's well-mannered.  He's polite and smart.  He's a keen learner.  He's excelling in school.  And I think to myself... I'm the Mom of this fabulous 6 year old!!

Today's party was a complete success!!  

Here's a peek at the party!  

Happy Halloween!!

Good Morning!  I know its still been quiet around here... but I'm hoping to get back next week!  Until then, I'd like to say a big Happy Halloween to everyone!  My boys have been counting down the days, and they are so excited for our plans this evening!  

Here is a little preview.  The older boys chose different costumes for the day at school and insisted that little brother wore his today all day as well! 

Have a safe and fun day with your little ghouls!  

10 Homemade Halloween Treats {Perfect Pins}

With the two boys in school this year, I have been giving a lot of thought to classroom parties and ideas for sending themed treats.  With Halloween just around the corner (As my middle guy said, "just at the end of the days" --month--), I've compiled some fabulous homemade treat ideas.  These would all be great for classroom parties as well as for all the special little ghouls in your life.

I'm partial to the gloves filled with various treats.  Its hilarious!