I have a confession...

There is a place I go to daily...

Where I can look at many different items...get many different ideas...

I can also go to this site and be uplifted, laugh a little...

And I am not the only one...

Do you want to know where I go to daily?

PINTEREST

Hello, my name is Traci, and I am addicted to Pinterest!

If you have not checked it out...you should!

So Go...check it out!

I'm back...it's been awhile...

I just realized tonight that I have not posted anything on my blog since August...wow!  

For the few people who read this, I am sorry...

An Update on our family...

Aspen has really been enjoying the first grade, but boy is she tired at the end of the day...

During the first quarter of school she took part in Science club and also gymnastics.  She is learning so much...she is reading at around a second grade level and LOVES math!  We also just recently began going to a different church and she has been memorizing scripture like crazy, and each time she recites verses to Zac and I it brings a smile to our face (and her little brother is even catching on).

Big news too...she accepted Jesus as her forever friend...something that Zac and I have been praying for since she was born. We love our little girl so much!

What's going on with our little red head?  He is still a mama's boy, does not want to leave my side and always tells me that I am his favorite!  He loves coming to work with me (and I love it to) and has made some really great friends there.  He is talking so much and LOVES cars!  We are working on potty training and we hope that it clicks soon...because sooner than later he will be turning 4 (I still cannot believe that)...my little man is going to be 4...WOW!  We love our little boy so much, he has a contagious laugh, full of energy, and is just so much fun!

Zac and I...this September we celebrated 7 years of marriage and we feel so blessed by all that God has given us.  He has brought the two of us together, he has blessed us with two beautiful children, a home, jobs, wonderful friends and family, we just cannot thank Him enough for all that He has done and all that He is going to do.  We are looking forward to many, many, many, more years together!

And here we are...the four of us!  We have been enjoying the beautiful fall MN weather...spending lots of time outdoors, going to the zoo, the park, spending time with family and friends, enjoying the crisp fall air, the perfect fall temps, and just enjoying EVERYTHING!  

Keep looking back at my blog...I promise you that I will be better at updating!  In the meantime with Thanksgiving around the corner, please take time each day to jot down what it is you are thankful for!

Last but not least...I need to give a shout out to my beautiful friend MISTY who took our pictures...she just did a wonderful job and PLEASE check her out on facebook under LiveLaughLens Photography!

Yum!

This summer I have had a lot of fun getting together with a fabulous group of women for a cooking club.  This is not a cooking club where we make food together, rather it is one that we bring our yummy recipes that we've made, eat together, and enjoy conversation.  Super fun time!  

We meet once a month and each time we meet is centered around a theme.  We met last night and it's theme was, "Appetizers and Desserts"...there were some AMAZING treats to indulge in...here is what I made...

With the MN STATE FAIR here I thought it would be fun to make something that you can get at the fair, I made...

Salted Nut Roll Bars

So yummy and so easy to make!

Here is the recipe:

1 jar of dry roasted peanuts (16oz)

12 oz peanut butter chips

3T butter

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 to 3/4 bag of mini marshmallows

Over low heat melt together the chips and butter.  Stir in condensed milk and marshmallows.  Keep on low heat until marshmallows are soft but still whole.  Grease 9x13 pan and put half the jar of peanuts on the bottom of the pan.  Top with marshmallow mixture.  Then add the rest of the peanuts.  Refrigerate.

Then ENJOY!

Easy right?  Let me know if you try and make these and if you enjoy them as much as we do!

Some other fun recipes that we had last night were...

*Frozen Strawberry Dessert 

*Dill Pickle Dip (served with crackers)...if you love pickles...you must make this!

*Kahlua Coffee Brownies (Oh my word, DELICIOUS!)

*Tomato, Brie and Basil Salad

*Texas Sheet Cake

*Cranberry-Pineapply Apple Dip

 

(I will post these recipes on here SOON!)

Being a part of this club has been not only fun meeting new people and enjoying fun conversation...but I have discovered some new and fun ways to cook and bake...I always love new recipes and this has given me an outlet to taste and try new things! 

So much fun!

GoGo Squeez

I know in my previous post that I would inform you all on how to make a Tie Dye Cake...however, this is something that has to go before that....

Here is a product that my kids just LOVE, let me know if your kids like them too!

So they have these at SuperTarget (and other grocery stores) in many different flavors - appleapple, apple strawberry, apple cinnamon, apple banana, and apple peach (my kids love the apple cinnamon) and here is what I love...

I LOVE that they are 99.9% all fruit...seriously, the ingredients in the apple cinnamon are, that's right...APPLE AND CINNAMON...they are all natural and no sugar added...

The also love that my kids do not have to dirty a dish to eat these and if they choose not to finish the applesauce (which rarely happens) you can just put the cap back on!

The only downfall...they are kind of pricey...for 4 it is $2.49...and I have not seen any coupons for this item (most of you know how I love my coupons)

If you haven't tried this product for your kiddos...just try them!  If you happen to come across a coupon for these...PLEASE let me know!

If your kids have had these...what is there favorite flavor?  If you try them for the first time, let me know what you think!

Where have I been?

I know that it has been awhile...

OK...a long while...

For the few of you who read my blog, I apologize for not having a posting in so long...for some reason I was unable to sign in and FINALLY I figured out what was going on and am now back on to the blogging world. 

I am now working on changing things up, trying to figure out what to post on here and I have decided to just post things that I love, my family, recipes (because I love to bake), deals that I find, and fun places to go on a budget.  

I will get better with posting more often...in the mean time, be patient...a post is coming soon to tell you all how to make this...

Inch by Inch

Hello to the few that read my blog, I know that it has been awhile and really there is no excuse as to why I have not been blogging, but thought it was FINALLY time to post...

Tomorrow is the day...

A BIG even happens...

For tomorrow I am no longer the mom to a kindergartener...

For at the end of the day tomorrow...my little girl, will be a 

FIRST GRADER!

I cannot believe it.

This year has gone by so fast.

So many things she has learned this year, the knowledge that she is holding on to.

She is such a great reader, communicator, creator (she loves art).

She is full of imagination.

Full of energy.

Excited about learning (let's pray this stays)

She LOVES school!

She cannot wait until first grade...although it makes me sad because that means she is gone all day long next year.

As sad as I am about her getting older, I love watching her grow up.  

She has been through a lot in her 5 1/2 years (she turns 6 next month).

God has definitely been by her side in everything that has happened.

Zac, Titus and I love her so very much and are blessed by having Aspen in our lives.

We love you Aspen, CONGRATULATIONS on completing Kindergarten!

Looking forward to celebrating with you tomorrow!

 

I will leave you with a saying a friend left on my facebook page yesterday when I posted that Aspen was almost done with Kindergarten and it will definitely stick with me as both of my kids get older...

Little by little, inch by inch....By the yard it's hard, by the inch what a cinch.....Never stare up the stairs, just step up the steps.....Little by little, inch by inch.

Time sure does fly by...

I cannot believe it....

Starting next week my little girl...will be going to school all day....

That's right...

ALL DAY...

At Aspen's school the last 4 weeks of the quarter everyone goes to school all day to get them ready for first grade, which I think is great and definitely what will help Aspen out in her transition to First Grade.

I can't believe that my little girl is going to be a First Grader soon...

However, Titus is sure going to be lonely without his big sister around to play with during the day

These two sure do love each other and I know that they are both going to miss each other starting next Monday...

So, if anyone wants to get together and meet us at the zoo, a park, the library...let me know because this little boy of mine...

and his mommy will definitely want to get out and do more things to pass the time!

By the way...

It's another beautiful day here in MN!  I love the sun shining and the PERFECT temperature!  Time to get out and enjoy!