Blogmas 2017 {Favorite Family Recipe}

Hi Lovelies!

Today's post is all about a favorite family Christmas recipe. This is an easy one for me!  Our all time favorite Christmas recipe is a Nutella cheesecake that I make every year.

Ingredients

Crust

2 cups (264g) Oreo crumbs (leave filling in Oreos)

4 tbsp (56g) butter, melted

Filling

24 oz (678g) cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup (104g) sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (470g) Nutella

3 tbsp (21g) cocoa powder

8 oz Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream)

Nutella Ganache

1/2 cup (157g) Nutella

1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream

6 Ferrero Rocher, chopped

Instructions

1. Combine Oreo crumbs with melted butter.

2. Press crumbs into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Set in refrigerator to firm.

3. Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, Nutella and cocoa powder together in a large bowl until smooth and well combined.

4. Gently stir in the Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream).

5. Pour filling into crust and smooth the top.

6. Refrigerate for about 4-6 hours or until firm.

7. Remove cheesecake from springform pan and place on cake plate.

8. To make the ganache, place the nutella into a medium bowl. Bring the cream to a boil in the microwave, then pour over the nutella. Whisk until smooth.

9. Let the ganache to cool slightly and thicken before pouring over cheesecake.

10. Sprinkle chopped Ferrero Rocher over the top of the cheesecake.

11. Refrigerate until serving.

What is your favorite recipe to make during the holidays?

Top 10 Christmas Facts You May Not Know

After a quick search on the interwebs, I found some interesting facts that you may or may not know about Christmas. 

1. The Germans made the first artifical Christmas tree out of dyed goose feathers .

2.  Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the US alone.

3.  All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts.

4.  In AD 350, Pope Julius1, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ.

5.  Christmas trees have been sold in the US since 1850.

6.  Christmas trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.

7.  Alabama was the first state in the United States to officially recognize Christmas in 1836.

8.  Christmas wasn't declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870.

9.  Oklahoma was the last U.S. state to to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1907.

10. During the Christmas season, nearly 28 million sets of Legos are sold every second

Favorite Christmas movies Part Deux

Christmas is in full swing at our house! Decor is up (Christmas and tree and stockings), Christmas music playing (when the husband and big kid will let me), my favorite candle is burning (who doesn't love vanilla?), and thanks to my hot chocolate corner in the kitchen, we are knocking it out of the park in the calorie category of the season as well! Another thing that goes hand in hand at our house is movie nights filled with our favorite Christmas movies. And sometimes movie afternoons and even some movies mornings.

Let's dive into the list!!!

What Christmas without the classics? I love these movies and I watch them every year!  Some cartoons just never get old. I am not ashamed to admit that I watch these movies with or with out my kids.

My daughter loves these two movies! I think we watch both of them two or three time a week starting on Thanksgiving until New Years.

The Hubby and I love these three movies! Our Christmas isn't complete until we have watched these cuddled on the couch under a nice warm blanket and drinking hot chocolate. It't the ultimate winter date night in my opinion.

There's nothing like a fun Christmas movie to put you in the mood for the holidays!

Do you and your family have a favorite Christmas movie that did not make onto m

Blogmas 2017 {Pot Simmer Recipes}

Hi Lovelies!

Today's post is all about pot simmer recipes. Let's be honest, this is a foreign concept to me because I had never heard of them before until now. From what I understand, you begin by bringing water to a boil  and then adding your favorite ingredients and letting is simmer all day. As the water simmers away, you add more water. This not only leaves a pleasant fragrance throughout your house it also puts some moisture in the air.

So here are 4 recipes that I have found and that I would like to try:

Recipe #1
Cinnamon sticks
Apple peels
Orange rinds
Whole cloves


Recipe #2
Apple juice
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves

Recipe #3
Vanilla (a few drops)
Orange peels

Recipe #4 – Christmas Potpourri Simmering Pot
3 sprigs evergreen or handful pine needles
2 cinnamon sticks
2 TBS whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 pieces orange rind
2 pieces lemon rind

What is your favorite recipe?

How to Create a Self Care Routine

This is such a busy time of the year, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, and family visits. That's why having a routine in place for self care and "me time" is so important. Otherwise, we all get a bit run down and out of sorts. So, today I am sharing how to create your own self care routine.

Find the time that works for you: This is different for everyone. For me, it's when the kids are finally in bed for the night. Now, this doesn't always happen when I want it too, my 2 year old usually goes to bed around 730pm and my 7 year old is usually in bed my 830pm, but some nights is bit later for both of them. I have learned to stay calm with them and they will eventually go to sleep even thought it might 10 to 15 minutes past their respective bedtimes.

Grab your essentials: For me the esstentials include; warm pjs, a good book, and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. All of this is enjoyed in the living room, sitting on the couch, curled up in a warm blanket.

Ask for help: Ask your parents to watch your kiddos for a bit so you can have time to yourself, tell your husband you need him to handle the kids or the laundry so you can get out for a but, or hire a baby sitter, Just ask for help when you need it to ensure you get the self care that you need.

Make it part of your routine: Now that you have asked to help, carved out the time, and grabbed your essentials, make it part of your daily routine. Even if it's 20 minutes!

How do you create your own self care routine?

Blogmas 2017- {Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe}

I love baking any time of the year, but I go cookie crazy in December. I love baking up a storm and sharing my cookies with everyone. Today I am sharing my all time favorite cookie recipe and I invite you to please share your favorite Christmas cookie in the comments below.

 

Classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 egg

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Additional granulated sugar

About 36 Hershey's® Kisses® Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped

 Steps

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder until dough forms.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. On ungreased cookie sheets, place about 2 inches apart.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Immediately press 1 milk chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack.

Blogmas 2017- {The Christmas Tag}

Hello Lovelies!

I found this little tag on Youtube and thought it would be fun to share some of my answers.

Holly Jolly Christmas Tag:

1. Favorite Christmas movie

Elf. This is such a cute movie. I love watching it throughout the holidays.

2. Are you on the naughty list or the nice list.

I would hope that I'm on the nice list.

3. Have you ever had a White Christmas?

Yes, in fact the most recent once was about 8 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter and we were in a blizzard and were snowed in for Christmas.

4. Do you start Christmas shopping on Black Friday or do wait until the last minute?

Black Friday

5. Name all of Santa's reindeer.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, and Rudolph

Blogmas 2017- { Favorite Christmas Movies}

 Hello Lovelies!

Tonight's post is all about your must watch Christmas movies. You know those movies that you have to watch every year, without fail.

Here's my list.



Christmas movies on the must watch list

Now, this doesn't make up my entire list, but these are the movies that I have watch every single year.

What's on your must watch movie list?

Blogmas 2017- {December Goals}

December is finally here and than mean 2017 is coming to a close. So, that means it's time to share one last goals post for the year. I still have to review my goals for November and I will share that with you later. This month's goals are going to be short and sweet.

1. Read at least 2 books this month.
2. Work on my editorial calendars for January, February, March
3. Finish working on my 2018 planner
4. Drink more water
5. Eat healthier
6. Exercise 3 times per week
7. Enjoy the holidays with my family


What your goals for the December?

Welcome to Blogmas 2017!

Hello Lovelies!

December is finally here! This year I have decided to take part in what seems to be a tradition within the blogging community, Blogmas. I'll be posting every day on this blog from now until Christmas day. The posts will be a mixture of Christmas themed posts and then some regular posts thrown in.  Hopefully you will join me for the ride!

To get us into the Christmas spirit I thought I would share a few of my favorite things about Christmas!

Five Christmas Favorites

1. Christmas music. I'm on one of those people who starts blasting Christmas music in Halloween. I gotta have my Christmas music.

2. Christmas movies. I start watching these around Thanksgiving and I always always start with a viewing of  The Family Stone (my favorite).

3. Christmas Lights.  We love looking at Christmas lights! On Thanksgiving we start driving around town looking at Christmas lights. It's always been a tradition and I hope we continue it for years to come.

4. Hot Chocolate. You gotta have hot chocolate during the Holidays! For me it's a must since I am not a coffee drinker.

5. Gingerbread houses. This is one tradition that I absolutely love to do with my girls. It's messy but oh so much fun!

There are my five Christmas favorites. What are some of your Christmas favorites? Please share in the comments below!