Brownies... Homemade, but just as good as boxed!

I have been on the lookout for a brownie recipe that is just as good as the boxed kind for a long time! Most recipes I have found for homemade brownies left me with bricks... dry and super heavy baked goods. I was not a fan. However, I came across this recipe on Pinterest and decided to give it a try.

My hubby actually made them for me, as I was in the mood for something chocolate, but didn't feel like making them. The perk of being pregnant I suppose! (He actually completely forgot to put the brown sugar in them and they were still very good, however, they would have been fabulous with that little bit more of sugar!)

Etsy Shop Spotlight: Waterpath Designs

I wanted to share with you an Etsy shop that I've recently come across called Waterpath Designs. It's run by a mother-daughter duo from Oklahoma who both grew up sewing their way through life.

They make the most gorgeous, vintage modern, clean-looking clutches and bags! I love their style and choice of fabrics. They even sell them in sets for weddings so you can give them as gifts to all of your bridesmaids- I love that idea!

You can find their website HERE

I have this one on my wish list. I love the colors and the way they've sewn the clutch to highlight the different patterns in the fabric- gorgeous! I highly suggest checking out their shop... a girl can never have too many clutches!

Jell-O Frosting Cupcakes

I came across this recipe from Coleen's Recipes on Pinterest. I was very intrigued by the fact that someone found a way to use Jell-O as a frosting... hm. I decided to try it because, if it was good, I would be able to make some pretty cool combinations of cupcakes and frosting!

Jell-O Frosting

Ingredients:

3 ounce pkg. of Jello (favorite flavor)

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 egg white

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions: 

Place the above ingredients in a large GLASS OR METAL mixing bowl (OF A STAND MIXER). Turn the mixer on high just as you add ½ cup of boiling water. Whip on high for about five minutes. The result will be a beautifully whipped, smooth frosting. 

MY OPINION: The flavor was truly that of the Jell-O of your choosing. It was very odd to me to eat what I usually have as a gelatin treat on a cupcake. But, I figure the kiddos would probably love it. 

I was thrilled with the texture of the frosting when I first piped it onto the cupcakes. However, the next day, when these pictures were taken, you can see all of the little air bubbles that appeared throughout the frosting. I hadn't been a huge fan of the flavor combination to begin with ("strawberry" Jell-O and vanilla cupcake) so the next day, when the texture went from smooth and creamy to air bubbly I had lost all interest. These literally sat in my refrigerator for over a week. That NEVER happens with baked goods!

My husband picked at them throughout the week, he seemed to like them more than I. I think kids would love them, but I just couldn't get my pallet wrapped around the gelatin Jell-O and cake combination!

Try them out on your family and see what they think!

Belly Bump Update- my lovely lady lumps... or was that a foot?

32 weeks 6 days

There she is... Everleigh Kate has certainly taken up residence inside of my belly! I can't believe I am just 5 weeks away from maternity leave, and 7 weeks away from meeting our little girl!

BELLY BUMP: I swear, my belly is growing by the hour at this point! I feel like I could be rolled around from place to place. How do people who have multiples do it? You are all my heroes! I am proud to report, I have yet to have any stretch marks. I think it's thanks to this wonderful Bella B Tummy Honey Butter.

I have been using since about 10 weeks. I found it on Amazon and read lots of reviews looking for the best option. It does leave quite a greasy feel, but I usually put it on before bed, so I don't mind... and clearly it's for a reason! I usually use it every other day and a regular cream, like Curel in between. Everligh is still moving a lot. She tends to be most active after my morning snack, my lunch and right before bedtime. Sometimes I think she tries to do a complete 360- that can be painful!

SWELLING: I thought, just as I did with morning sickness, that this was going to pass me by. However, I went to put on my riding boots today after work and I couldn't zip them up. GASP. Now, I think I tend to have larger calves, so there wasn't tons of room to start with, but still. I was like... hmm... I guess I do have some swelling! Welcome to the end of pregnancy.

BRAXTON HICKS: I still am trying to determine if I've had these yet or not... I would say, yes, I have. My abdomen gets super tight for 10-20 seconds and then slowly releases. However, I thought I would have SOME pain, but I have none (at least not from Braxton Hicks). 

CRAVINGS: I haven't really had any "cravings" lately, however, I have been eating a lot more desserts. I really tried to keep this under control in the beginning because this was my downfall pre-pregnancy. In the beginning of my pregnancy I gained five pounds from one appointment to the next, four weeks apart. At that appointment, my doctor pointed out that 20 pounds was considered to be "healthy" now-a-days for a pregnancy. I had always read, and been told, 25-35 pounds was average. Clearly he was a little concerned I had gained five pounds in one month! However, I am happy to report that as of this morning, at week 33, I have gained 19.6 pounds. I don't quite think I'll be able to stay at the 20 pound mark my doctor had mentioned, but I'd say 25 should be feasable!

My next task is to put the last touches on the nursery. There will be some things that will have to wait. I just can't figure out what to do with one of the walls (decor wise). I also need to pack my hospital bag! We're headed towards the home stretch now. I have to be honest, I'm starting to get a little anxious about labor!

A Great Blog... That You Should Most Definitely Visit!

I am always looking for new blogs to read, and although working full-time, and far from home can eat up a lot of my time, I love to visit these creative little niches as much as I can. I usually find new blogs, via blogs I already read, links on Pinterest, or websites I frequently visit. One of my new favorites is called "Six Sisters' Stuff". It's a blog that was started by six sisters as they grew up, and were no longer living under the same roof. They used it as a way to share recipes, craft ideas, entertainment ideas for the kiddos and just a way to keep in touch.

I have always wanted a sister, so I thought this was about the greatest thing ever... blogging, sisterly love and all of the other things I love under one web address... SCORE! The website is absolutely amazing. It is packed full of goodies and it so visually appealing... it's just pretty to look at... don't you think?!

Six Sisters' Stuff

By the way... I will be making these pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies shortly... I can just image that they are to die for!

I think you should all go check out their website... I can get lost there for hours finding all sorts of good ideas!

You can also find them in other places, like:
Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook

Happy Monday, I hope it's as gorgeous where you are as it is in Skippack, PA this fall-like evening!

Four Cheese Chicken Naan Pizza

Looking for a quick and delicious weeknight meal? These Four Cheese Chicken Naan Pizzas were my husband's idea one night we had a last minute change of heart for dinner. We didn't know exactly what we wanted, but we also knew, whatever it was, it would have to come from our own refrigerator and pantry!

We basically just threw whatever cheese we had left onto a pizza, along with some leftover chicken and were pleasantly surprised by the absolute deliscousness of it!

Check out the recipe below!

S'mores Bars

These s'mores bars are ooey, gooey good!

I came across this recipe last summer, and it has become a favorite of everyone, especially my father-in-law! On our trip to New Hampshire this year, I knew these would have to be on the menu. This is basically a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, with graham cracker bottoms and topped with Hershey's chocolate bars. The recipe is below... they're super simple to make!

S'mores Bars

recipe adapted from: The Girl Who Ate Everything

Ingredients:8 Tbsps unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp  salt
1½ tsp. cinnamon
2 ½ cups flour
3/4 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
3 regular sized Hershey’s bars, broken into pieces
2 packages graham crackers, broken into squares

Instructions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon to combine. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and vanilla.


Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and combine on low speed.

Fold in the mini chocolate chips and marshmallows. 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line baking pans with parchment paper. I used one 12x17 cookie sheet, and that worked pretty well. 

Lay out graham crackers side by side on the pans as close as possible (they should be touching). You may have to break the graham cracker squares into smaller rectangles, depending on the size of your pan.

Place tablespoons of dough on graham crackers about 1 – 1 ½ inches apart. They don't have to be perfect, or centered on each graham square, as they bake they will all run together anyway!

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 5 – 7 more minutes or until dough is beginning to turn golden brown at the edges.  For clean cutting make sure cookies are completely cool and cut with a sharp knife.

Bump Update- Is there room in there?

30 weeks, 6 days

We FINALLY finished all of the big projects for the nursery this weekend! The only thing left is some decorating, storage solutions and an ottoman that we're refurbishing. I hope to have an update for the blog in a few weeks!

BELLY BUMP: It is growing every day. Every day I become more uncomfortable and less able to move. Everleigh is moving ALOT, and her movements are much stronger and more forceful... she spent most of her Saturday with a hand or foot in my right ribcage. I can't image the next nine weeks and the discomfort I will finally share with all Mommas.

CRAVINGS: I am back to craving KRAFT blue box. I just get so much comfort and joy out of eating it...especially the first bite! I also was craving belgian chocolate milkshakes and bolognese sauce in the last couple of weeks.

MORNING SICKNESS: Interestingly enough... my "morning sickness" has somewhat returned. However, as before, it is more like mid-morning, afternoon sickness. It only lasts for a very short period of time and is usually cured by eating something. It's also much more tolerable than it was in the first trimester.

Only 9 weeks left... I can barely believe it! I am so excited to meet our little girl!