No Bake Chocolate Eclairs

Dessert has been on my brain lately. You may have noticed by all of the recipes I have pinned lately. I love to bake up an extravagant dessert, like our Raspberry Bliss Cupcake but sometimes, I just don't have enough time to do that. So I go with what I call a "cheater dessert". Cheater because it is totally a quick way of making something similar but not at all the same. Still totally delicious.

Today's cheat? A No Bake Chocolate Eclair. I've been making these babies for years and they are always a hit.

Ingredients:

Graham Crackers

Instant Vanilla Pudding

Milk

Whipped Cream

Chocolate frosting

Instructions:

Prepare your pudding according to box instructions. Once it is set, spray the whole can of whipped cream in and whisk together.

Now you are going to prepare your eclairs kind of like you would a lasagna. One layer graham cracker, one layer pudding mix. Back and forth until you have hit the top of your pan. End with a layer of graham crackers and then spread the frosting on top. Done. It's that simple. And so yummy.

For those who love chocolate as much as I do, on your very first layer of graham crackers, put a layer of chocolate frosting and then continue as described above.

Note: Refrigerate for about an hour before serving. This will help soften up your graham crackers.

Come Learn with Me

When it comes to homeschooling, one of our biggest challenges so far has been keeping the younger kids busy while I work with Rhiannon. For a while, handing the boys coloring books would keep them occupied long enough for me to get Rhi situated and then I could keep them playing while working with her whenever she needs me.

We came to the point recently that Talon just wants to learn with her. He knows that a coloring book is not the same way. I can't complain. I mean who can complain about a child simply wanting to learn. I just had to get creative. He is too distracted to sit and do workbooks or any type of curriculum. We have a few manipulatives already that he could work with, such as patternables, but adding to our collection to keep him busy all day would get expensive.

Our solution? Dollar store items turned into learning tools. Our main focuses right now are fine motor skills, colors and letters. Here are some of the fun ways we are learning. 

For our fine motor skills, I have Talon use tongs to move cotton balls to and from different cups and bowls. Some of them are easy, simply squeezing the cotton ball and lifting it out of a bowl. Others are a little more challenging, having to close the tongs to fit into a cup before opening and closing trying to pick up the cotton balls. We also do this activity with tweezers and smaller items.

For our colors, I have Talon and Little Man find items around the house to put into the properly marked muffin tins. We start off with basic colors and move onto different shades. Talon is only allowed to bring me items small enough to fit into the tin. This is helping him with recognizing not only the colors but size relativity too. This activity also keeps him busy during times that I really need to focus on helping his big sister.

When it comes to letters, our main focus, we have a lot of activities, like using our fingers to write in rice. Our favorite activity as of lately is using pipe cleaners to make letters. We have pipe cleaners that are full size, cut in half and some cut in fourths. Talon simply has to manipulate them and make them fit onto the sheets that I have written on. 

I know this picture is not relevant to the post but he's stinkin' cute.

We are having a lot of fun with learning around here. Even little man, who is almost two is able to get in on some of the learning. He is pretty good about just playing while we work though. Now if I can just find something to keep this one occupied. You know when he's not posing for pictures.

Mommy and Me

I have mentioned here before how important we find it to have one on one time with each of our kids. Especially now that there are four of them. We make an effort daily to spend a little time together which each of them. Every now and then we will even take them on little dates.

This month, I got some time to take Talon to his favorite place. Pretend City. I think I have told you all about this boys love for Pretend City. Being able to run around, explore and use his imagination is where I see him thrive. I can not express how much I love seeing his face light up and his brain work. Is there anything cooler than being able to see the wheels turning in their little heads?

Pretend City just opened their new Bayou Cafe and so it was a perfect time for my boy and I to stop by and have some fun. To top it off, they had a little Mardi Gras celebration for the opening. We were able to have our usual fun and also get some extra crafting in while making floats and masks. Ritter's Steam Kettle Cooking served us up some amazing food and we were able to just sit and talk to each other about the day.

As usual, Talon's favorite part was fishing and shooting the water guns. It's always where he spends majority of our time and he made sure to tell me all about it over lunch.

After punching in his time card at all the different areas and cashing out at the Pretend City ATM, we hit up the sand one last time (close second to the water) and headed back to the rest of the kids.

He told Rhiannon all about everything he had done and that they had a new place for her to be a cooker. The Cafe is her favorite part of Pretend City. She has insisted that she gets the next mommy date and we head there to check it out. I won't complain.

Pretend City

29 Hubble

Irvine CA 92618

949-428-3900

Hours:

Monday: 10AM - 1PM

Tuesday - Sunday 10AM - 5PM

Adults & Children: $12.50

Infant to 12 months: FREE

Fawn Over Baby Blogiversary

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I recently stumbled upon Fawn Over Baby and fell in love. You can find her over there on our Right Sidebar----> Her blog is full of beauty and inspiration. Today Melissa is celebrating her One Year Blogiversary and it is quite the party. Four different prize packs to win. I am so excited to show you what's up for grabs and to be a part of it. Check it out and enter to win!

Prize 1 & 2: Baby & Nursery Product Package

Courtesy Of The Following Shops:

Winner 1 will receive:

• Aly Paige - Raglan Tee w/Shorts
• Birch Baby Boutique - Two Bibs
• Indie Nook - Tee (Winner's Choice)
• Unexpected Knock - Hand Drawn Alphabet Wall Art
• Deerie Handmade - A Pair of Moccs (Winner's choice)
• Mama Case Prints - "Love Your Guts" Raglan Tee
• Odarling Handmade - "Jur-Aztec Park" Leggings

Winner 2 will receive:

• Vonbon Apparel: $30 Store Credit
• Truly Sanctuary - Tee (Winner's Choice)
• Dette Cakes - Pallet Wall Arrows (Winner's Choice of Color)
• Bare Blooms - 3 Hair Accessories (Winner's Choice)

Prize #3: $50 Paypal Cash

Courtesy of the following Blogs:

• Moons & Junes
• The Ashcraft Bunch
• You Can Have Your Cake & Eat It Too
• Lovely Little Fawn
• Sunlight After The Rain
• A Modern Commonplace Book
• Two Places At Once
• Vessel Handmade

Prize 4: A Bella Lulu Ink Blogger Template

Courtesy of Bella Lulu Ink (Fawn Over Baby's Official Blog Designer)

Giveaway Entry Form

Now that we've seen all the wonderful prizes, here is your chance to win them!! Please Follow Entry Instructions Below:

1. You must first leave a comment letting us know which prize you have your eye on! (First Entry..Done!)
2. For Extra Entries, you may fill out the lovely rafflecopter form below.
3. Giveaway will end Thursday, March 20th - 12PM EST. 
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and announced, Friday, March 21st!
5. All Winners' Entries Will Be Verified (If Entry Action is not complete - prize will go to next randomly chosen contestant)
6. Feel Free To Share With Family & Friends!
7. Have Fun & Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Casual Style

For the past week, I have been in a funk. I'm so stressed out. And worn out. I want to lounge in yoga pants. All Day. Err Day. Not an option though. Mama's got things to do.

I have settled for comfy clothes and hanging around the house. Okay, so hanging around the house is more of an obligation than an option at this time but the comfy...that's all me.

Here's an example outfits that I am wearing in order to be comfortable but still feel semi-put together.

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack

Jeans: G-Stage

Cami: H&M

TOMS: Boardwalk

Necklace: Sassy Lemonade

Also, putting a braid in your messy hair gives the illusion that said mess was on purpose. Go with it. And while you're going with that, ignore the lint in my hair...

Do you ever have days, weeks ...months like this? What do you wear? How do you feel put together and not hobo-ish. 'Cause I feel a bit of a mess.

Irish Nachos

To get into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to whip up something Irish. Have I mentioned here that I have four kids in my home? What does that have to do with food you ask? Well, three of them eat. When I say eat, I mean complain about what I am serving for ten minutes and then pick at it until, if I'm lucky, they realize they in fact like the meal.

Serving something Irish could be a huge meltdown risk. What is a determined mama to serve? Irish Nachos. It has Irish in the name, so it counts, right? It works for me.

I love Irish Nachos but wanted to make sure we weren't just eating a pound of preservative loaded, who knows what's really in it, nacho cheese. So I made my own. These were delish.

Ingredients:
Cheese Sauce:

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

1 heaping cup fresh shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

a few dashes red pepper flakes, optional

Everything else:

5 Large Potatoes

1Tbsp Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp dried Thyme

1 tsp Seasoned Salt

Sm. Package Sour Cream

Green Onions

Bacon

Instructions:

We are going to start with our potatoes since they take the longest. Preheat oven to 425. Cut potatoes to desired size. I use a handy dandy gadget for this. {Tip: to make cutting potatoes easier, first microwave them for about 45 sec per potato. Let them cool and BAM!} Once cut, rinse some starch away. Pat dry. Coat in oil. Cover in seasonings and pop them in the oven for 30-45 min depending on your thickness and how you like your fries. Make sure to flip them at the halfway point of baking.

Now the sauce. Melt your butter over medium heat. Add milk. Whisk in the flour. When all mixed in, whisk in the cheeses. Continue whisking until it is all melted and well blended. If you are adding in your pepper flakes, do so now. Let simmer until you are ready to drizzle it. Make sure to stir often so it doesn't stick or burn. 

While you wait for your potatoes to finish up, fry up your bacon and chop the green onions.

Okay, now that our potatoes are ready, let's turn them into nachos. Put them on your plate and go to town layering on your ingredients. Cheese, then sour cream, bacon and a little green onion. I use a ziplock to put the sour cream on and make it pretty. Enjoy with the whole family.

Living Room Transformation

The definition of Living Room, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is:

living room: noun

: a room in a house for general family use

:  a room in a residence used for the common social activities of the occupants

According to this definition, to our family, Living Room is simply translated as Play Room. So as soon as our kids came along, that is what it became. I never really took the time to transition it to that though. We kind of just let the "play" take over the space. 

This year for Christmas, we made the kids a few things and turned the space into an actual play room. Hubby and I had so much fun working together and making it a space that the whole family would enjoy. 

We painted a chalkboard accent wall. I change out the little sayings about once a week. The kids are allowed to draw all over it too.

Bookshelf was $20 at an estate sale, we covered the wood in white paint and painted the hardware black.

Steven made Rhiannon's dress up storage with very specific directions from his very picky wife. Sorry babe...

Both the toy and art storage were found on the curb for FREE. The toy storage is an old top of a hutch that we painted with my favorite spray paint. We filled them both with IKEA bins. On top of toy storage is a ball bin (Hobby Lobby) and a suitcase (Land of Nod) that holds baby toys.

Play table. Yup, another free item, found on a street corner with a free sign. This one took some scrubbing but it works. And as I mentioned, Free.

The fabulous couch and chair were a yard sale find...they found us really when we went to visit my sweet friend Natalie at a yard sale she was having. The family rules sign that hangs above is Hobby Lobby.

Steven and I teamed up and made a giant teepee. It is about 5ft x 5ft of fun. The kids love it and we had a blast making it. A little birdie told me that if you e-mail VesselHandmade@gmail.com, there will be two custom order spots available at a time. And they are only $150 for this size + shipping (or you can pick it up). The rug was IKEA. The bean bag and poufs were Target clearance, along with the lantern garland hanging above.

I am so happy with the overall look of the room. It was so important to me to make this room be a spot I liked to look at, it is where we do life. 

Where do you spend most of your time? What is your favorite room in your home?

Linking up with Shabby Nest and 504 Main

Shop Update: Passion Project

Today we are launching a new product. One that I think of as my passion project. One that will help kids with special needs. One that will give to charity. One that I have anxiously awaited sharing until I knew that it was exactly as I envisioned it.

I'd like to introduce you to the Vessel Handmade Weighted Blanket.

Beyond the pretty fabrics on this specific blanket. Further than the lush minky backing. This blanket serves a purpose. Weighted blankets have shown useful in helping kids with autism, sensory disorder, ADHD, as well as babies that have been drug exposed. For those of you who know our story with Little Man, you know how dear I hold this product.

We will be starting out with two general sizes and varying weights. As interest or demand grows, we will move on to other sizes as well. Weights will be decided on by you, according to the person using the blankets.

As far as fabrics go, we are calling it Semi-Custom. Custom because I will allow the buyer to give ideas, color schemes or themes. Only Semi because as much as I would love to promise exactly what you are envisioning, it can be very hard to locate fabrics to fit everyone's dream design.

The layout, I will work with you to an extent on a style of quilt you would like. More extravagant layouts may require additional fees but in the same sense, if you want something more simplistic, I will work with you on pricing in that regard.

As I said, the blankets listed for now will all be semi-custom. I am however working on a way to do some cost effective blankets. We have seen first hand the difference a weighted blanket can make but they can get expensive. I will be finding basic flannel fabrics and doing one fabric on each side to offer a more inexpensive option for those who need it.

To sweeten the blankets just a little more, a portion of all proceeds will be donated to TACA (Talk About Curing Autism). To learn more about TACA, visit them at tacanow.org

If you are interested in purchasing a weighted blanket of your own, simply click here to get started.

Protein Smoothie

Lately I have found myself in a weight loss rut. With only 10-15lbs left to lose, it has been a little discouraging to see the scale sit still. Instead of pouting over pounds, I have changed my mindset to toning. In other words, add muscle. Not bulk up, just go from flab to toned muscles.

After a good work out, I seem more and more drained. I decided to add a tasty protein smoothie. With chocolate. Because, it's chocolate. Of course I am using dark chocolate, as to not defeat the purpose of working out. Oh and oats, to keep myself feeling full.

This smoothie has quickly become my favorite after workout evening snack.

Ingredients:

1/2 - 1 Full Banana

2 Tbsp Peanut butter

3/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

Handful of spinach

1/8 cup cracked oats

1/4 cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Ice

Simply put all of the ingredients into your Nurti-Bullet, Ninja, Blender or whatever you use. Then, enjoy!