Mini S'Mores Cups

My neighbors were having a cookout and all I could smell was the delish, perfect summer smell of a fire on a summer night.

I started craving smores but I felt silly going outside to cook just one smore.

Plus, we had a family cookout the next day so I wanted to figure out something quick, easy and delish, to both satisfy my craving and taste awesome to wow Dave's family. 

Enter Mini S'mores Cups.

I found the recipe on Pinterest via My Recipe Magic!

Ingredients

1 cup finely crushed graham crumbs (approx 7 graham crackers) 

1/4    cup    powdered sugar 

6    tablespoons    butter ( melted ) 

4 bars milk chocolate candy - Hershey's

12    marshmallows 

Directions

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350°F. (If using crackers- Place graham crackers into a large resealable plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs). Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter in a small bowl.

Step 2:

Using a spoon, place a small scoop (about a tablespoon) of crumb mixture in each cup of a Mini-Muffin Pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups. Bake 4-5 minutes.

Step 3:

While the crust is in the oven, break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup. Put into the oven and bake for 1 minute.

Step 4:

Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using shears dipped in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from oven to a cooling rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan. Cool completely.

Step 5:

Break remaining candy bars and place in amicrowave safe container. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute-1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds. Drizzle chocolate over the top of marshmallows, using a spoon or toothpick.

Makes 24 cups.

I absolutely recommend doubling the recipe!

My smores cups were gone within minutes!

The Fairy Patch Boutique #Giveaway

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.  I was offered product in exchange for a review and giveaway.  Sponsor is responsible for prize distribution.

Do you have a toddler fashionista?

My child is insane.

Lots of dresses, skirts, dressup high heels, necklaces... a true girly-girl.

Case in point:

She's big into dressing herself, picking out her own clothes, putting on her own shoes, and of course, picking out a bow to go with her outfit.

I love bows and thankfully, so does she! We're constantly buying more at the store.

When I was on Etsy, I stumbled across the most adorable shop, The Fairy Patch Boutique!

The cutest, right!?

As much as I love the cutesy, sparkly, girly accessories for my daughter, sometimes I want a more subdued approach to cuteness.

Enter my favorite bows in the entire shop:

CHEVRON BABY HAIR CLIPS.

I'm dying over here.

The greta thing about The Fairy Patch Boutique is that you can get clips done on snap clips or alligator clips!

My daughter prefers alligator clips and won't go near the snaps so I love that you can customize your custom clips even more!

Head on over the Fairy Patch Boutique's facebook page, say hello, and then come back and enter to win your own set of Chevron Hair Clips!  I heard there may be a giveaway happening on Facebook soon too! ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win a years' worth of #Fabsmile supplies from FlossandBrush.com!

This is a sponsored post from FlossandBrush.com as part of their #FABsmile campaign. As a member of Mom It Forward Blogger Network.  I was given the products in exchange for my honest opinion. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

I was never really great at brushing my teeth.

Gross, I know.

But I've gotten better.  I brush everyday and include Emmalee so that I know she develops good oral hygiene.

So now I just have to remember to buy new toothbrushes every 3 months!

Did you know that the American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months?

 FlossAndBrush.com makes it easy to always have new toothbrushes every three months. 

How? 

By paying just $1.00 per month, per person in your family, FlossAndBrush.com will ship a box of fresh, quality toothbrushes and floss to your home – one for each member of your family.

Legit, a dollar. And these aren't any cheap yucky toothbrushes that are going to deteriorate in a week and a half. They're made by G.U.M!

FlossAndBrush.com’s toothbrushes are top quality, age-specific, and dentist approved.

FlossAndBrush.com offers four packages:

Adult Floss and Brush Package ($1.00 per month per family member):

• Made in America

• Micro Tip

• Compact Soft

• Dome Trim Bristle Design

• Micro Feathered Bristles

• Interdental Bristle Design

• Floss is made in America, Mint, Waxed, 60 yd, Shred Resistant, and Clinically Proven

Youth Floss and Brush Package ($1.00 per month per family member):

• Made in America

• Micro Tip

• Compact Soft

• Dome Trim Bristle Design

• Micro Feathered Bristles

• Interdental Bristle Design

• Floss is made in America, Mint, Waxed, 60 yd, Shred Resistant, and Clinically Proven

Kids Floss and Brush Package ($1.00 per month per family member):

• Made in America

• Micro Tip

• Compact Soft

• Dome Trim Bristle Design

• Micro Feathered Bristles

• Interdental Bristle Design

• Floss is made in America, Mint, Waxed, 60 yd, Shred Resistant, and Clinically Proven

Adult Brush and Whitening Gel Package ($2.00 per month per family member):

• All the perks of the adult brush

• Gel made in America

• Same high-quality sold in dental offices

• Uses carbamide peroxide

• Fast results

• Gel contains potassium nitrate, which helps eliminate sensitivity

* Only $1.00 shipping per person. Orders of three of more brushes ship for free.

My favorite part? I mean, other than the $1 per person, is that since they arrive every 33 months, there are no guesses as when to switch your toothbrush out!

Go say hello on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!! Then come back here and enter to win!

The giveaway is valued at $107 and includes the following:

• 1 Free Annual FAB Membership (every three months, a new toothbrush and 3 month supply of floss will arrive at your winner’s doorstep)

• 1 Free Annual FAB + White4Life Membership (this includes not only a toothbrush and floss every three months but each shipment will also include FAB’s professional grade whitening to be used in custom whitening trays)

Only open to US Participants.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!

Capron Zoo & The Country Store

Emma's favorite thing in the whole world, is the world "zoo".

There are days where she'll wake up and the first words out of her mouth are "zoo" and "peeeeease".

We live relatively close to Buttonwood Park, and go (a lot) so I am always looking for new places to bring her.

A coworker mentioned Capron Park Zoo in North Attleboro and it looked like the perfect place to go on a sunny afternoon.

Capron Park Zoo is a great little zoo, perfect size for my princess.  

It has kangaroos, alligators, goats, boars, lions, lemurs, and more but is small enough for Emmalee to walk around on her own.

There is an area to feed the goats, complete with hand sanitizer for after, just make sure you bring quarters for the food!, and another feeding area for the pond that is full of ducks, baby ducks, fish and turtles!

There's also a bubble machine that just constantly blows bubbles.  I think Emmalee chased bubbles for a good 15 minutes at one point!

After we walked around the zoo, we went back outside to have a picnic on the playground.

This is the smaller of the two sets, but it was a great size for Emmalee.

They stamped our hand so we could come back in no problem!

After lunch and playground time, we wnet back in for some water fun at the new splash pad that Capron Park Zoo had put in.

It's small enough to be able to see your child at all times, but with a couple of "camp groups" there, it was a bit crowded.

When she was all done playing in the water, we walked over to the concession stand for a popsicle., and at $1.25 for a rocket pop, I think the prices are reasonable.

As we were leaving, I realized we were by a super great penny candy place that my mom used to bring me to.

The Old Country Store in Mansfield has a whole wall of penny candy!

Emma filled up a bucket for less than $3!

I love having such fun things to do with my daughter so close to home!

Have you ever been to either place?

Barely There Bras : The Perfect Luxury

Disclaimer: These items were gifted to me.  I was not required to do anything in exchange but I love these and you need to know how great they are!

As a mom, most things I want, I consider luxuries.

Sadly for me, bras often fall into this category.

I mean, as long as my bras are holding up and holding in, they're working right?

Gone are the days of pretty, lacy, bras that you want to peek out from your shirt for me.

I usually grab whatever sale priced bras I can find.

Don't believe me? Check out the 6 bras still with tags on them from when one of my favorite stores was going out of business... I'm rationing them, whatever.

Now, it's not the bras themselves that are luxuries... it's the time it takes to pick up 18 different bras that are "in your size" and then try on all of them, only for 2 to actually fit and be comfortable.

Barely There has taken out all of the guesswork!

After I attending Blog Better Boston Style Summit, I received an amazing package in the mail:

So adorable and so ridiculously comfy!

One of the bras they sent is an active bra. Let's not be silly, I have a big chest and I looked at this soft, flimsy, girly looking bra and laughed a bit.  There was no way this was going to keep up with my Body Pump class but I tried anyways.

Oh. My. God. 

Great support but so lightweight...
And since the rbas are only sold as XS, S, M L, and XL - It's never been easier to get the right size on the first try!

Custom Fit Flex Active

And I am completely amazed that the bra size I usually wear was a perfect fit.
I didn't have to try anything on.  I just told them my size and they're bra fit. Perfectly.

I wear the Invisible Look Underwire bra... umm.. pretty much every day. Don't judge me.

Soft, girly, great coverage and so ridiculously comfortable!

 Invisible Look

I love how perfect their sizing is.

And they are super convenient to find: Macy's, Kohl's and Target!

How great is that? I'm already shopping at those stores and I won't need to waste spend time trying bras on- I know they'll fit!

15 Shades of Sephora Giveaway!

I am so excited to be a part of this and share this with you but since I'm not the expert I'll let Angie of My So Called Chaos take it away!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Coconut lick worthy lipstick has me dreaming of the beach. I feel it is a perfect time to giveaway 15 Shades of Sephora. Enjoy from LeChateauDesFleurs:

 

What it is:

A collector’s edition of iconic lip colors spanning 15 years.

What it does:

This lip library includes everything from rich reds to natural nudes all in Bite’s lick-worthy Lush Fruit Lip Gloss formulation. Instant nutrition for lips, this formula contains the same healthy ingredients you’d find in a pure fruit smoothie: real coconut, mango, and strawberry infused with seven nourishing fruit oils for a tropical concoction delicious enough to eat. Rich, vibrant, and juicy, this modern formula is highly pigmented—what you see in the container is the color you’ll see on your lips.

This set contains:

- 15 x 0.06 oz Lip Gloss 

Rain Shadow Labs

Rain Shadow Labs provides the highest quality wholesale cosmetics. They offer lotions, washes, cremes, candles, soaps, gels, essential oils and so much more. http://rainshadowlabs.com/

I want to highlight an amazing moisturizing product this week from Rain Shadow Labs the ARH Hyaluronic Acid Serum, 98% natural/72% organic (whole foods).

Hyaluronic Acid makes up fifty percent of this high quality formulation. Holding up to 1000 times its weight in water and drawing moisture out of the environment and onto the surface of your skin, there is not a more effective moisturizing agent on the world market today. Non-comedogenic, penetrates deeply, and activates collagen production for a fresher, younger, firmer, brighter complexion.

The giveaway is available for both US and International entrants.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please see official terms and conditions in above Rafflecopter.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Amazing, right?!

Make sure you enter!

Smores Treats

I LOVE the summer. The heat, the humidity, the firepits at night... all of it.  But my favorite part of summer is making s'mores.

There's just something about gooey marshmallows, warm chocolate and crispy crackers! 

My mouth is literally watering right now.

But it's not always convenient to start a fire,bake the s'mores, etc so when I found an easy s'more treat on Tasty Kitchen, I had to try it out! But I did make a couple of modifications.

You'll need:

• 1 cup of mini chocolate chips, freeze for about 15 minutes before starting
• a 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows
• 6 tablespoons of butter (I use margarine, works just as well)
• A little pour of vanilla
• a 12 oz box of Golden Grahams cereal
• Grease or cooking spray to coat your pan

How to:

Place mini chocolate chips in the freezer about 15 minutes before you begin and chill well. This will keep the chips as chips, and not as melted chocolate streaks.

Spray or grease or butter a 9 x 13 pan.

Pour entire box of Golden Grahams into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally. Add in the entire bag of marshmallows and keep stirring.  The mixture will start getting smoother as it keeps cooking.  Once the marshmallows have melted, add vanilla, stir well. Remove from heat once all mixed.

Immediately pour mixture into mixing bowl with Golden Grahams cereal.  Mix until the cereal is coated in the marshmallow mixture. Mix in 3/4 cup of mini chocolate chips.

Press mixture into prepared pan. 

Top with remaining mini chocolate chips.

Put the pan in the fridge.  Let cool for about an hour then cut into squares and serve!

Aren't they just the yummiest!?

Ps. always have a taste tester on hand...

Win Story Land Passes and Cross it off your SUMMER BUCKET LIST! #giveaway

Disclaimer: I was offered a family pack of tickets in exchange for this posting, however, as ways, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Have you seen the super cute Summer bucket lists that are popping up everywhere?

I think they are such a cute idea and we decided to make our own!

We made a list of places we want to visit that would take a whole day trip, rather than things like "going to the movies" or "painting rocks to look like bugs"; these are things we already do! 

Everything on our list is an easy day trip, within a couple hours of Boston!

The one I am most excited about is a trip to Story Land!

I haven't had a chance to go since I was little and I cannot wait to bring the princess!

It's located in Glen, NH. super close to all the great shopping in North Conway!

The park says it's designed for ages 2-12 but at 27 I'm excited to go!

The park ticket is all-inclusive, including free parking.  All you pay extra for is food and souvenirs.

Can't imagine a day without your precious pup, Story Land has FREE kennels as well.

Story Land will even give you let you re-enter later in the day if you need to leave, as long as you get your hand stamped on the way out!

But my favorite thing is that if you purchase a full day ticket within 3 hours of closing and you can go back any other operating day of the season for FREE! What a great value!

So what are you waiting for?

Enter to win in the Rafflecopter below!!

Tickets can be used until October 14, 2013.

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Happy 4th of July!

What to Wear on the THIRD of July!

Growing up in Manomet, a small part of Plymouth Ma (you've heard of it?!), we always did our fireworks on the THIRD of July because the FOURTH was for the tourists!

This year, we're starting some new traditions at our own home and will be going to fireworks on the THIRD in Assonet, the next town over!

I'm excited to continue start a new tradition with our little family by going to fireworks on the third!

And how adorable would these mommy and me outfits be?

Where will you be for fireworks? And what night will you be watching them?

Harvard Sweet Boutique Inc #sponsored

Disclaimer: I was given product in exchange for my review, however, as always, thoughts and opinions are my own!

I've been trying to lose some weight/get fit but I could not turn down the opportunity to review some of the delish looking desserts from Harvard Sweet Boutique, Inc.!

When the package arrived, I was amazed at how gorgeous the presentation was! What a perfect little gift to send in the mail to someone!

Clockwise from top left: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie, Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookie, Peanut Butter Snack Brownie, Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee, Chocolate Toffee Cookie, and a Ginger Molasses Cookie.

I love that each cookie is individually wrapped so if you have any allergies, you're still good to eat! Speaking of which they offer gluten-free and low carb options! What's better than eating cookies and not feeling guilty about it after!?

I wish I could say that they lasted more than a day but I'd be lying.  Between the 3 of us, they were gone in less than 2 hours.  My huband's favorite was the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, but mine was the Chocolate Toffee cookie.  The princess was just excited for sugar! 

You can tell that each batch is hand baked... they were just delicious!

Even better... Harvard Sweet Boutique is donating all the net proceeds from their Boston Strong Cookies to the One Fund.

Living just a half hour south of Boston, this means a lot to me.  A coworker was standing between the blasts with her husband, a friends husband works in the building next to the blasts...  I love any brand willing to be that self less and I plan on ordering more from Harvard Sweet Boutique!

Go like them on Facebook, tweet them a hello on Twitter, or repin their amazing cookies on Pinterest!

I can think of about 18 different people I want to send these to!

Which is your favorite?