Week 3***Day 4

I made these with my youngest, but alas, I forgot to take pics :( They were fun!

Materials •Paper bowl •Tissue paper or crepe paper •Poster paint or watercolor •Paint brush •Scissors •White glue • Thin string •Paper clip or button •Wiggle eyes (optional) Steps 1. Punch a small hole at the center of a paper bowl using a pencil. 2. Paint the outside of the paper bowl with poster paint or watercolor. Jellyfishes come in various colors. The most popular ones are pink, blue and purple but you can always paint your jellyfish the way you like. 3. You can even paint on some jellyfish spots. Allow your painted bowl to dry completely. 4. Cut string to a length of about 6 inches or more and insert the string through the hole on your paper bowl. 5. Tape the lower end of the string from inside your paper bowl. It would be even better if you can tie the end of the string onto a small object such as a paper clip or button. Glue the paper clip or button onto the bowl. 6. Cut at least 8 tissue paper or crepe paper strips to make the jellyfish tentacles. 7. Glue the end of a tissue paper strip onto the center of your paper bowl. 8. Continue gluing the tissue paper strips from the center of your bowl to form a radial pattern. 9. Once the glue has dried, unveil your jellyfish by gently turning your paper bowl upside down and holding your jellyfish by the string. You can make your jellyfish swim in the air by moving your arms from side-to-side. 10. Oops and don't forget to draw a funny face using crayons, markers or paint. You may also glue on a pair of wiggle eyes if you like.

Week 3***Day 3

These are delish!!!! And super easy :) Easy Cake Batter Truffles Recipe source: The Girl Who Ate Everything 1 ½ cups flour 1 cup yellow cake mix ½ cup unsalted butter, softened ½ cup white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/8 teaspoon salt 3-4 Tablespoons milk 2 Tablespoons sprinkles Truffle Coating: 16 ounces (8 squares) almond bark (or white candy melts) 4 Tablespoons yellow cake mix Sprinkles  Beat together butter and sugar using an electric mixer until combined. Add cake mix, flour, salt, and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add 3 Tablespoons of milk or more if needed to make a dough consistency. Mix in sprinkles by hand. Roll dough into one inch balls and place on a parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet. Chill balls in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up.  While dough balls are chilling, melt almond bark in the microwave in 30 second intervals until melted. Stir between intervals. Once melted, quickly stir in cake mix until incorporated completely. Using a fork, dip truffles into almond bark and shake of excess bark by tapping the bottom of the fork on the side of your bowl. Place truffle back on the cookie sheet and top with sprinkles. Repeat with remaining balls until finished. Chill cake batter truffles in the refrigerator until serving. Makes around 24-30 truffles.

Week 3***Day 2

We had this yummy pasta dish for dinner.

Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 20m| Total Time: 20m Ingredients 12 ounces rigatoni (about 4 1/2 cups) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, sliced 6 ounces fully cooked chicken sausage links, sliced 1 small head broccoli, cut into florets and stems sliced 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (1 ounce) Directions 1.Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain. 2.Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion, stirring often, for 3 minutes. 3.Add the sausage and cook, stirring, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. 4.Add the broccoli and 1 ¼ cups water and simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, 5 to 6 minutes. 5.Toss the pasta with the sausage mixture, including any remaining liquid, and the Parmesan.

Week 3***Day 1

I made this cute cupcake for a swap on Swap-bot. I hope she likes it!!

Day 5***Week 2

Some cat goodness I found on Pinterest-

Day 3 and 4***Week 2

I made this wreath, but took me 2 days. I'm going to put it on the front door. I, of course, saw it on Pinterest.

Cookie/PB cup/brownie recipe

Here is the recipe for the delish brownie/cookie/pb cups. **Super easy!!! I totally cheated with already made or boxed products. **Refrigerated cookie dough- already portioned type. Boxed brownie mix- I used chewy fudge brownies. Sub applesauce for the oil. Peanut butter cups or Oreos or whatever your fav chocolate is. **In a muffin tin- push one cookie into bottom, then put the PB cup on and add brownie batter on top. Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes. Cool on rack, use butter knife around edges to remove. I made 24. Enjoy!!!

Keeping track!

I joined fitnesspal.com and I've been tracking my food intake and exercise. I'm doing good!!

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

Day 2***Week 2

I made Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Cup and Brownies for dessert on Sunday. I saw them pinned, but forgot to pin it. This was the closest I found. Instead of Oreos, just add peanut butter cups. I also made some with dark chocolate raspberry Dove chocolates.

Day 1***Week 2

I made avocado egg salad for myself today. It is very yummy!!

Day 4****Week 1

We had Tortellini Salad for dinner last night. We subbed cucs for the zuc, but otherwise left the recipe the same. The kids had seconds, so 2 great meals in a row. Go Mom!!! http://realmomkitchen.com/2766/summer-tortellini-salad/

Day 3***Week 1

I saw a cute cupcake keyring and did this for a swap on Swap-bot. Here is another version I made into a necklace. I did this one on the 3rd, but knew I be busy on the 4th. http://pinterest.com/pin/229050331018706873/ My cupcake necklace-

Day 2***Week 1

Roast Beef and Cheddar Wraps. We had these yummy wraps for dinner on Tuesday. The kids grubbed down, they are a hit!!! I mixed it up a little and didn't add cream cheese or cheddar. I used muenster and let the kids decide what sauce they wanted. Red/yellow/orange peppers were available to add. Plus lettuce and tomato. A fast, light and delish meal! http://pinterest.com/pin/257197828689787561/

Our newest feline :)

Here is Clarence. He was abandoned and my Dad found him. We were to take him to the shelter, but alas, he is a fine member of our family now. We named him after my Dad...hehe!

Pinterest- 5 days a week

I'm going to try and do something that was pinned on Pinterest 5 days a week.) It may be a craft or recipe or some other fun thing I find. Here is my first- Spoon rings http://pinterest.com/pin/226165212507329404/ Here are my 2 rings-

Happy Tuesday!

Just a quick post to say HI!!! Hope everyone is having a great week :)

I'm back!! I can't believe it :)

I'm happy to start blogging again after such a long break. I am going to make it a weekly thing...so you will be seeing me once a week!!!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and New Year!

My oldest, Nick, is in his second semester of college. He is attending Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Alex is in 5th grade and doing great.
Jill is in 2nd and a fashionista.
Tater is home with Mom.
Dad started a new job in December and is still working on enjoying it.
I've opened my Etsy store- Beck's Bits.
All is good in our crazy household.

We did lose Wilbur in October to a heart attack. The little guy was only a year old. Jill and the whole family was heartbroken.



We let her determine when she was ready for a new kitty. We went to the local shelter and she chose Benny-Bing-Bing. He is 2 yrs. old and could be Wilbur's twin in behavior. He's 99% grey with a small patch of white on his chest. How lucky we are to have him as a member of our family.