It’s hard to have a true camping experience, without the deliciously, gooey, chocolaty, graham crackery goodness of campfire s’mores. But, what if you’re like me and truly love the taste of s’mores all year round, and in the comfort of your own home? Well, this recipe is ones of life’s best kept secrets; with its combination of chewy cookie heaven + fudgy gooey deliciousness, it’s going to be your #1 go-to comfort food. So pull out your camping baking gear, because we’re going on a taste bud adventure!

What You’ll Need:

• 11 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 3 regular sized Hershey’s bars, broken into pieces
• 1-2 packages graham crackers, broken into squares

Baking Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon to combine. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter with white and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
3. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixer and combine on low speed.
4. Fold in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Chill dough in refrigerator for 1 hour to overnight (I did one batch right away and another after chilling overnight and found there was no difference.)
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line baking pans with parchment paper. I used one 11×17 pan and one 9×13 pan but you can really use any sized pans you want.
6. Lay out graham crackers side by side on the pans as close as possible (they should be touching). I used 16 graham cracker squares on one pan and 10 squares on another. You may have to add or remove graham crackers according to how much dough you have. If you want your cookies thicker you will use more dough and less graham crackers.
7. Place tablespoons of dough on graham crackers about 1 – 1 ½ inches apart. I averaged about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough per graham cracker square as seen in the picture above. Press down slightly with fingertips.
8. Bake for 5 minutes then remove from oven to press Hershey’s bar pieces on to the top. You can place as many pieces or as little as you want depending how much chocolate flavor you want.

Bake for an additional 5 – 7 minutes or more if your cookies are thicker. They will be done when the edges begin to turn golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool. For clean cutting make sure cookies are completely cool and cut with a sharp knife.

Recipe Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything

I had a wonderful day yesterday. The whole family headed out for a late afternoon trip to the beach. We got there with 2 ½ hours left of daylight, and thankfully, by that point it wasn’t too crowded, so we were able to enjoy ourselves at a slower pace. My eldest daughter, who just turned 4, had never been in the ocean before, and was very excited to jump in the waves. That was until she actually SAW the waves. Well, I can’t exactly blame her for being a little nervous, they were HUGE. Anyhow, after a little convincing and sand-play time, I got my daughter in the water with me, and it was awesome! We spent an hour or so, jumping into the waves and having a blast, at which point she ever so cutely said,  “Daddy, this water is sooo sugary”  It was so cute I decided not to correct her.

There is nothing like that burning feeling all over your body after a great swim in the ocean. Well, as we were coming out of the water, that’s when the “salt” really started to burn.  You see, I put my hand into my bathing suit pocket and what do you know? There was my leather wallet, (a motif from my grandfather) soaking wet. Ok, breathe, I can deal with this. Then, I realize my iPhone had been in that pocket too, and must have gotten washed away.

On any normal day I would have “freaked out” and let the stress ruin everything, but today was our family day and I wasn’t going to let that happen. Instead I took the “losses” in stride and made sure to double down on my gains.

My wife and I took our two little ones to get washed off, no easy task as any beachgoer knows (I mean how was there still sand in my daughters diaper, I changed it 4 times!!!) Anyhow, we ended the night with a delicious picnic and the sun setting behind us… The drive home was spectacular, taking in the summer night breeze and having the kids drift off to sleep in the back seats. During the drive I was thinking about everything that happened, and realized my daughter’s comment didn’t need any correction; the water really was sugary! Life has plenty of “salty” experiences, but we have the ability to turn that salt into sugar.

Ever wonder what the big hype is around coffee?

What is it about coffee that enamors most adults?

Is it the delicious smell and taste?

Is it the soothing feeling of a warm drink that has been slightly cooled with milk? So unlike tea,we can sip it immediately, and not have to wait 3 hours before daring to touch it to our lips?

Is it because it’s so easy to make, but always looks impressive?

Is it because it’s a great low calorie substitute for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast?

Or is it really all about the energy boost?

I can actually say, as someone who is allergic to caffeine, and therefore a decaf drinker, that I too get that excited feeling when I’m offered a coffee.  I really don’t believe that caffeine is what makes coffee so attractive, although there definitely is a certain awakening feeling when one drinks a cup of coffee; whether decaf or regular. Not because of the caffeine per se but because we have all be trained to believe that coffee is something that wakes us up and keeps us alert.

Being a coffee drinker is like being a part of an unspoken elite club. The club is exclusively for adults and there is something grown up about being a part of it.

There are often mornings when my husband and I allow our children to have a coffee with breakfast. When one of my friends learned about this, she was completely horrified. She felt it was a boundary that shouldn’t be crossed. When I tried to understand the reasoning behind her reaction. She said, “Coffee is mine, I would never share it with my children.” I totally understood her point. This is exactly one of the attractive points of coffee, it’s exclusivity for adults.

It is interesting because there are definitely many adults who do not drink coffee at all. It is almost like another club; the club of “non- coffee drinkers”. These adults are often greeted with shock when they announce that they do not drink coffee. Coffee drinkers cannot understand that someone could not like coffee, and would voluntarily choose not to drink it. It just doesn’t make sense.

There are those who say coffee isn’t healthy, but then there are those who say coffee is very healthy. So this is just unclear, like it is with many things. For example: Too much sunlight is bad for your health but too little is equally unhealthy.  Milk products may not be good for you, yet it is so important to drink milk and it is essential for bone health. Same goes for animal products. I think the only thing agreed upon that is completely good for us is exercise and of course it requires lots of effort and hard work.

My boss always says that he must make sure to be well stocked on coffee because, “No coffee, No work.” There is something about coffee in the work place. If you walked into an office and smelled freshly baked chocolate chip cookies you would probably think that aroma is out of place. But if you walked into an office and didn’t smell coffee you wonder what’s missing from this office? Is this a place where I would be comfortable working?

All in all I think it’s certain that coffee is a universal staple beverage very much enjoyed by most adults around the world. My Mom doesn’t even consider herself awake in the morning until she’s had her “first cup”.

What’s your take on the hype about coffee?

I’ll check back in to see your responses once I’ve gone to make myself a cup 🙂

Summer is here! It’s time to vacation. Let’s make all the calls, book the place, pack up the car, and be on our way!!!!

During the drive there, we’ll play traveling games, stop for a picnic, and then make sure the kids nap so that we can all arrive refreshed and ready to go….

We’ll quickly unpack, and call our new place home. Jump in the pool, and get the grill going. Dinner and baths and tuck the kids in to bed. Then it’s time for Mom and Dad to relax and have some quiet time.

We all sleep till 8, and then start our new day with a healthy breakfast and a quick swim. Then we pack up and out for some hiking and fun. Another great day on our summer vacation!

This all sounds like a dream! Perfectly planned and played out. I didn’t even hear about any kids fighting…..

Well, that’s because it IS a dream. It’s not real. It’s fun and ideal, but almost impossible. Let’s take a look at what a real summer vacation with the kids looks like.

Summer is here! It’s time to vacation. Let’s make all the calls, and then keep making calls, and then make some more calls. This place is too far, and this price is not right. This place seems so weird, and this one doesn’t have a pool!!! So let’s keep making calls while the hours slip by. The kids are all bored, they have nooothing to do! They’re screaming and fighting and complaining too.  After 3 days of investigating, we’ve finally found a place. It doesn’t sound perfect, and doesn’t fulfill all of our requirements, but we just gotta get out of here already before somebody loses a leg!

Next morning at 7 we pack up the car; each kid trying to be helpful and offering lots of suggestions. We’re holding it together, and keeping it cool, and by 11:15 we’re pulling out; not bad considering last year it took us 5 hours to pack up and out. Trying to look at the bright side here!

We attempt to play I spy, over the baby’s wailing. It’s semi-successful. We make an emergency bathroom stop, and figure we’ll eat lunch once we’re already pulled over. So what if it’s in a crowded gas station, with no seats to be found?

We finally arrive at our hotel a la dump, and try not to let the excited kids in on the fact that we are majorly disappointed. We head to the pool after hours of unpacking and getting everyone into bathing suits.  We enjoy being in the water, even if it’s only for a half hour; the pool closes once it gets dark out.

It’s too late to barbeque so we eat PB&J sandwiches for dinner. Bathe all the kids and tuck them into bed. Now for some quiet time for Mom and Dad to relax…. actually, change of plans, the baby just woke up with a rash all over her body, oh well, there goes relaxation time. 🙁

The next morning all the kids are up at 6, jumping on our heads! We decide to skip the swimming and just head out. We give each kid a chocolate bar in the car for breakfast. My husband and I decide to pass on the chocolate and on breakfast all together. At this point it’s just easier. We’re headed out for another exciting day of kids screaming, arriving late to places, and getting very little accomplished!

After our week of “fun” we arrive home and are the talk of the town for the next few days. All of the neighborhood kids wish they could go on vacations as great as ours. After all, we give our kids chocolate bars for breakfast!!

With its tender, delicious, & sweet BBQ goodness, this recipe is a winner for the whole family. We’re cooking this in a crock pot so it’s great for summer days when you’re heading out for a family trip! Set it up in the morning, before you go and when you get back, dinner is ready! Not only is this simple, it’s also a huge hit with kids. Trust me, your kids will ask for it again and again.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 -2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 (18 ounce) jar of your favorite barbecue sauce (I love K.C. Masterpiece!)
• 1 medium sweet onion, sliced
• 4 -6 hamburger buns

Cooking Directions:

1. Remove all visible fat from the chicken and toss it in the crock pot.
2. Place the onion slices on top of the chicken.
3. Pour the barbecue sauce over top.
4. You may not need the entire jar, just enough to cover the chicken.
5. Cook it on LOW for 8 hours or until the chicken is nice and tender.
6. Shred the chicken with a fork and knife; scoop the mixture onto the bottom buns and top it with the top buns.
7. You can also leave the breasts whole and eating it that way.

Serve with coleslaw or salad & Enjoy!

Recipe source: Food.com

It’s so hard to juggle it all!

I wake up every morning at 7. Not sure if I’m hoping that at least some of the kids are up so that I don’t have to spend the next 15 minutes trying to drag them out of bed or if I’d rather the house be silent so that I can have a few minutes of quiet before the mad rush begins.

Either way, it eventually gets crazy. “I can’t find my socks!” “Casey’s taking forever in the bathroom and I need to get in there already!” “Where’s my math book?” “I can’t be late again today!” “Mom, you know I hate tuna sandwiches!” The loudness and complaining continue until…. they’re all gone 🙂 I can’t believe that I have witnessed this open miracle once again. Somehow I got all of the kids out to school! They were fed, dressed, had lunch and snacks all packed up, each got a kiss, and…. a late note. Well, at least they all got out, even if it was a few minutes, or hours late!

Ok, now it’s time to straighten up the house, jump on the treadmill, shower and get dressed, make a few calls, throw in a load of laundry, do the breakfast dishes, pack my own lunch for work, and get out the door in…..exactly 27 minutes, darn!” Is my clock broken? How could it be so late already?” 38 minutes later I am running out the door after quickly straightening up, making one of my calls, throwing in a load of laundry, and putting on the closest outfit I can find. “Didn’t I wear that yesterday?” Oh well. No time for clean clothing. Gotta run!

I make it to work only 12 minutes late, not too bad! Make myself a cup of coffee, and throw myself into my work. Hoping that all is well with the kids, and that I’m not gonna get any phone calls saying, “Hi Mom, I forgot my English report at home, and today is the last day to hand it in.” or, “Hi Mommy, I’m not feeling so well, my belly is making funny noises.”

On the days that I receive such a call, I quickly call my husband for help with a solution. After taking many deep breathes, I get back to work. Next thing I know, it’s time for me to finish up what I’m doing and run to do pick up.

I’m back at home with the little ones, and trying to come up with a plan for dinner. “Think, what is yummy, healthy, easy, and something everyone in the family likes?” Answer number 1- Nothing, Answer number 2- Nothing, and answer number 3- Nothing.

I end up making meatballs and spaghetti, and a big salad. Is it yummy? Well I think it is. It’s relatively easy, and the big salad covers healthy. So what’s left? Does everyone in the family like it? For the most part, yes, and for those who don’t well that’s just too bad. Yeah, too bad on me, right? I either have to listen to them complaining about how hungry they are and there’s nothing in this house to eat, or I have to spend time making something else for them.

Once dinner and homework are out of the way its bath and bedtime. Yet another busy and crazy time at home. Somehow, it all gets done, even if there are some crying spells, and tantrums. What can I do? I just can’t hold back my tears or control my meltdowns!

Finally, the house is all quiet. I sit down with a cup of tea and breathe a sigh of relief. Ahhhh……. I made it through another day. The second open miracle I get to witness each day. When my husband gets home from work he goes in to kiss each kid while they’re sleeping. I follow him in to their rooms and see those precious souls angelically sleeping. There’s nothing like children when they’re asleep. They’re so innocent and loveable. In all seriousness, as challenging as the life of a mother may be, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Here’s an easy and fun snack for the whole family. It’s a great project to do with the kids on a quiet Sunday afternoon. This recipe is traditional, as opposed to the wacky new “Comet Corn”, or futuristic caramel corn made with liquid nitrogen, appearing at this year’s Minnesota State Fair, and it’s best served warm!

Easy Caramel Popcorn

What You’ll Need:

• 10 lg. marshmallows
• ½ c. butter
• ½ c. brown sugar
• 4 qt. popped corn

Cooking Directions:

• Bring marshmallows, brown sugar, and butter to a boil.
• Pour over popped corn.

Let cool and Enjoy!

Recipe Source: cooks.com

It’s so important to go on vacation with my friends.It’s my time to step out of my reality for a few days and relinquish all my usual responsibilities.

As full time mothers and wives, we need a special time and place to be able to get away and unwind.  We look forward to it all year!

We stay at a resort on the water, and alternate sitting by the pool and sea.  We spend our days tanning, swimming, eating, laughing, playing games, chatting, and laughing some more. There are no pressures and time is elusive.

No dishes, laundry, appointments, or phone calls, just relaxation and quiet. It is truly a dream come true!

When I go away I can be totally selfish and do whatever I want. If I want to sleep in, I can. There is no one counting on me for anything, nowhere I need to be, and no noise!

When I go down to dinner I only have one person to worry about, ME 🙂

I can relax with a book by the pool. I can take in the view and feel the sun.

I can exercise whenever I want. I can go out whenever I want. I can even be in a bad mood, whenever I want.

I find it to be a wonderful experience for the family back home as well. They are forced to function without Mommy. They usually rise to the challenge beautifully and feel proud of themselves. It surprises them to learn just how capable they are on their own (with Dad’s guidance of course). It helps them to become more independent and take on even more responsibly.

I highly recommend going on vacation for any Mother who can swing it. I look at it as a great investment for the whole family. Because after all, when Mommy gets what she needs, everyone gets what they need!

Who doesn’t love a day at the beach?

To tell you the truth, there are people who don’t enjoy going to the beach.  Usually, the main reason is because they don’t like getting all sandy, and having to deal with trying to clean up at the end of the day.

I can really understand this. It is nearly impossible to get every single grain of sand off your body after a day at the beach.

I recently watched my ten year old son trying to get his feet clean enough to put his shoes and socks back on while still at the beach. He laid his towel down at the point closest to the water where it still wouldn’t get wet. Next he dipped his feet in the water to clean them off, and then proceeded to hop back to his towel. He dried his foot while trying very hard to stay balanced. Next he put one sock and one shoe on. He repeated the process for his other foot. As I proudly watched him independently taking care of himself, I realized that the process of cleaning off ones feet at the beach must be an inborn one, almost an instinct. Even active ten year old boys can figure it out.

A few days later I actually learned that my son is from the group of those who do not love the beach. I really believe it has a lot to do with the clean up. No matter how hard one tries, there is always sand stuck between our toes when we get home. The car is left sandy for weeks on end, and I find myself sliding across my house on grains of sand for the next week or two.  Let’s not forget the “sandy bed”; the tiny grains that turn your silky sheet into sandpaper. Sand is just one of those things that miraculously gets spread everywhere. It’s really unbelievable, and messy!

Ever try eating a sandwich at the beach? There’s a reason it’s called a SANDwich.   😉

But putting all the hardships aside, the beach is one of my favorite places to be. Watching and listening to the waves rumble is so relaxing. Sitting in the warm, soft sand is deliciously comforting. Witnessing one of the wonders of the world is incredibly inspiring. Realizing the enormity of it all, and the seemingly endless ocean is humbling. All in all, going to the beach is an incredibly therapeutic experience.

Sometimes, when I feel like I need a dose of beach, but can’t get there, I take a minute to close my eyes, see the waves, smell the sea, hear the seagulls, feel the wind blowing through my hair and across my face, and for a moment I am there.

I grew up in sunny, Hollywood, Florida and went to school in Miami Beach. We could walk five minutes after the school day ended and get to the beach. But, even if I hadn’t grown up with the beach in my backyard, I would imagine that I would still have a special connection to the beach and great yearning to be there as often as possible.

I went shopping yesterday with all of my kids. I know, sounds crazy. The truth is that I actually enjoy going shopping with my kids. Yes, it is hard, but I figure that I have to shop anyway; I may as well make it a bonding time with my children.

It actually works out pretty nicely. I can run to the bathroom, while my kids guard the cart. I have four little helpers, willing to get me the sugar that I forgot to pick up in aisle 3, and the granola bars in aisle 300. The older ones keep an eye on the younger ones, and we have a great time together.

Yes, I do usually wind up spending more money when I bring them along. “Mommy, we must buy these new amazing chips. They’re so spicy; they almost burn a hole through your tongue. All the kids in school have them.” “Oh, wow, sounds irresistible!” And even though you feel like a totally irresponsible parent for agreeing to buy such a hazardous snack, you can’t let your child be the only one without them in school. “Okay, sweetie, throw them in the cart.”Or you may hear, “Mommy, we must stock up on chocolate for the next ten years. We’ve been out of it for two days, and it’s been horrible. Plus you never know when there’ll be an emergency chocolate craving!” Trying not to laugh, and not wanting to get into it, you simply say, “Okay, Judy, throw a bunch of chocolate bars in the cart.”

For me, the most challenging part of taking the kiddies shopping, is dealing with my youngest. You see my three older children are the chilled out type. They always sat nicely in the carriage or shopping cart, munching on their treat, and looking around.  Kid number four came along and is a totally different breed. She likes to stand in the shopping cart while every onlooker gives me nasty looks. She figured out how to get out of her stroller buckle even before she could walk. These days she knows how to get out of her car seat, yikes! One treat is never enough for her. She finishes it in seconds and cries for another. She has no problem lying on the floor in any store, taking off her shoes and socks, running up and down the aisles, or screaming on the top of her lungs in the middle of a big crowd. Raising such a child has definitely been a humbling experience. It’s a good thing she’s gorgeous, friendly, and loveable.

With all the hardships of taking the kids shopping, there are so many benefits. When my kids help unload the cart, bag the groceries, pack and unpack the car, and drag the packages into the house, they are gaining a lot. They are learning how to take responsibility, and what it means to work together as a team. Each person helps to the best of their ability, and everyone is thanked and appreciated for their capabilities and help. Things don’t always go so smoothly, but by the time we get home, we have usually learned something new and valuable, even if it’s what not to do next time. We also feel very accomplished after completing such a task. The best part about it though, is that we just spent 2 hours together, chatting, laughing, deciding, helping, dragging, laughing, sweating, packing, unpacking, and laughing some more!