Easy Cadbury Mini Egg Easter Dip

We turned our clocks ahead this weekend, which means Spring is in the air, Easter is around the corner, and Cadbury Mini Eggs are available at your local store! Absolutely one of my favorite chocolate treats that I look forward to every Spring! Unfortunately, they are only around for a limited time, but one blogger decided to use these sweet chocolate eggs in a simple recipe. Check out the recipe I found for Easy Cadbury Easter Dip! Think cheesecake filled with Cadbury Mini Eggs, but easier to make!

Thank you to https://lemonpeony.com/ for sharing this recipe on Pinterest! Thank you also to Cadbury and Hershey for creating my favorite chocolate treat. It was a big hit with my family.

Easy Cadbury Easter Dip
Recipe compliments of http://www.lemonpeony.com.

Ingredients: 1/3 cup Brown sugar, 1/2 cup Powdered sugar, 1/8 tsp Salt, 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla, 1 Stick Butter, 1- 8oz Package Cream cheese, 1cup Cadbury Mini Eggs

Directions:
1. Mix butter and cream cheese until smooth.

2. Add brown sugar, powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla to the butter and cream cheese.

3. Chop Cadbury Eggs and save some for garnishing.

4. Fold in Chopped Cadbury Eggs.

5. Garnish top with Cadbury Eggs.

6. Chill until ready to serve.

7. Serve with Graham Crackers, Vanilla Wafers, Pretzels, or Fruit as recommended by lemonpeony.com.

Tip: We served our’s with Teddy Grahams (Honey flavor) and Snyder’s Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks

Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet Recipe

A favorite and common restaurant dessert in my family is the Warm Chocolate Chip Skillet topped with vanilla ice cream. As I attempt to copy many of the local restaurant dishes we have been missing, I searched for a copy cat recipe and landed on this sweet and simple recipe on www.pillsbury.com. Thank you to Pillsbury for their amazing cookie dough and always sharing recipes!

Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet

Ingredients: 1 Roll of cookie dough (we used Pillsbury Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Dough), 10 inch cast iron skillet (we found 1 for $5 at Home Goods!), vanilla ice cream (or preferred flavor) or whipped cream

Directions (from Pillsbury.com):
1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Press dough in bottom of ungreased skillet .
3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Cool 15 minutes. Cut into 8 wedges.
5. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Blogger’s Tips:

An easy recipe that even little kids can help you with.

For a sweet birthday treat, let the cookie completely cool and decorate with frosting, candles and write a sweet message with gel writer (or decorating bag).

Create an Emergency Car Kit for Your New Driver

We all know our children will grow up and eventually begin to drive… but when it actually happens, it is almost imaginable! My daughter turned 16, more than 5 months ago, and is about to embark on a day that she has been dreaming of for years… taking her driving test!

Since I try to be the queen of safety and being prepared, a trait my kids are always thrilled about 😏🙄, I put together a special gift for her this past Christmas… An Emergency Car Kit.

Check out my tips below on how you can build your own kit for your 16-year-old, or any driver in your family.

Gather a variety of safety, hygiene, weather and convenience items to be added to a plastic travel tote and your new driver will be prepared for almost anything! Most hygiene items can be found in the travel/trial sizes at your local convenience or big box store. Most of the safety, weather and convenience items items can be found on Amazon.com.

Emergency Car Kit Suggestions:

-flashlight/batteries
-first aid kit (Band-AIDS, tweezers,etc)
-umbrella
-snow brush
-fleece blanket and emergency blanket
-phone charger
-phone battery pack
-pen/pencil/Sharpie marker
-Post-it notepad
-reusable tote bag
-disposable face masks
-hand sanitizer
-sanitizing wipes
-tissues
-disposable hand warmers
-common OTC medication to treat headaches, stomach issues, allergies
-self-care items, such as lip balm, hand lotion, deodorant, face wipes, mouthwash, gum, mints, dental floss, hair accessories, feminine hygiene products
-bug spray and sunscreen
-car air freshener
-gas gift card
-AAA membership card
-emergency cash ($20)
-Laundry items: such as Shout wipes, lint brush, Static Guard
-emergency escape and safety tool, such as Armor All Emergency Tool
-mini screwdriver/tool
-tile Mate -for keys

You can never be too prepared… now, I need to build one for myself! Stay safe and happy driving :)

How to Create Your Own “Garage Lodge” this Winter

Due to the pandemic, quarantine requirements, state restrictions and most ski lodges being closed to visitors, my family and I are missing our annual ski trips this year. As most of you know from previous blog posts, my family skis and snowboards, but I choose not to ski. Instead, I hang out in the lodge, sitting by the warm fire, enjoying a good book and hot cocoa!

We all know cold weather and the Covid-19 virus do not mix. Not letting it take over our lives, my husband and I decided to get creative to still see some of our family and friends this winter in a safe setting. We created our own ski lodge. It started with keeping our garage door opened with 3 patio chairs and a space heater for beer with the guys, to bringing all of our patio furniture inside our garage. This created a space to safely host a small Christmas dinner and now, a cozy “lodge” space to gather with a few friends or family for the rest of the winter.

Here are a few tips to create your own “Garage Lodge” this winter:

• Use patio or deck furniture to create a space to sit and chat with visitors. Other suggestions include beach or camping chairs.
• Provide fleece throw blankets to add warmth.
• Encourage visitors to dress warm and in multiple layers including hats, gloves, jackets, long johns…as if they were going skiing or sledding!
• Provide a basket of instant foot and hand warmers in case visitors need a little extra warmth to add to all of their layers.
• If possible, buy a space heater to take away a little bit of the chill. 
• For a little extra coziness, add fairy lights, string lights or Christmas lights to the seating area. Add other ski lodge feels, such has evergreens, lanterns, and candles.
• As an extra bonus, offer hot cocoa to keep everyone warm and toasty or make it BYOB.
• Individually wrapped snacks are the best option, if you chose to offer food to visitors. 
• For those homes that already have one, light a fire pit and offer s’mores for a nice touch, just like they offer at ski lodges.
• To stay safe, offer hand sanitizers, disposable face masks and anti-bacterial wipes. 

Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day 2020

Mother’s Day is around the corner! If you are having a hard time coming up with gift ideas this year for those special women in your life, check out this list of ideas I have come up with to share with you. Whether it is for your Mom, Mother-in-Law, Godmothers, Step-Mom, Grandmothers or anyone in between, I have included a variety of ideas at different price points. We are all hoping that we can soon celebrate together this year when the stay-at-home orders are lifted, but these gift ideas are all available to purchase and ship online. The ideas came from gifts I have given and/or received over the past year. All of the opinions are my own and I was not compensated for the items or to write this blog by the companies or brands.

Enjoy and Happy Shopping! Happy Mother’s Day!

For The  Reader:

Sisters First By: Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush https://www.barringtonbooksretold.com

Becoming By: Michelle Obama https://www.barringtonbooksretold.com

For The Historian:

Ancestry.com Genealogy Test 
https://www.ancestry.com

LegacyBox.com Memories, Photo and Video Transfers to DVD and USB
https://legacybox.com

Shutterfly Memories Photo Book

https://www.shutterfly.com

For The Wine Lover:

Bottle of Wine or Prosecco

https://www.reservebar.com

Insulated Wine Tumbler (various brands)
https://www.thepaperstore.com

For The “Home” Spa Seeker:

Hooty Snowy Owl Lavender Scented Heating Pillow

https://www.thepaperstore.com

e.l.f. Beauty Shield Magnetic Mask Kit

https://www.target.com


Nailtiques Formula 2+ Nail Protein
https://www.target.com

Himalayan Glow Himalayan Salt Lamp

https://www.amazon.com

Clarisonic Mia Smart Skincare 

https://m.sephora.com

Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover

https://www.target.com


Cosmetic Bag by Red Staggerwing  https://redstaggerwing.com/

For The Traditionalist:

Luca and Danni Birthstone Bracelet

https://www.thepaperstore.com

4 Seed Herb Garden Kit by Buzzy Seeds https://www.target.com

Bouquet of Tulips

https://pwa.www.1800flowers.com


Caramel Chocolate Covered Pretzels or Sea Salt Caramels 

https://www.sweenorschocolates.com


Love Perfume by Victoria Secrets 

https://www.victoriassecret.com

For other Mother’s Day Gift Ideas, visit blog posts from previous Holiday Gift Guides:

2018 Holiday Gift Idea List for Women

A 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Women

Holiday Gift Guide: For Women

 

My Birthday Morning Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

It’s my birthday today! What a better way to wake up with “stay-at-home” orders than fresh home-baked Chocolate Chip Muffins by my daughter.

Here’s recipe I posted on my blog a while back, but still one of my family’s favorite muffin recipes, especially on lazy Sunday mornings (or quarantined birthdays!)

I hope you enjoy these muffins as much as I did!
Click here for the original “Snow Day”  Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe post she used. (Note: to make them gluten-free, substitute King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure to Measure Flour, that is what my daughter used this morning).

Snow Day Chocolate Chip Muffins

And here’s a little Throwback Thursday photo of me on my 2nd Birthday!

 

Send a Little Love – An Art Project for Younger Kids

Missing loved ones? Looking for activities for your little ones? Have you run out of craft ideas? Looking for a new way to teach good deeds?

Check out this art idea I shared about 5 years ago. I felt it was fitting for what we are going through now.

Encourage your kids to send cards to grandparents, friends, and family members that may be self-isolating or quarantined. This small gesture can help cheer them up! (Let’s hope mail delivery remains active.)

Celery Rose Art For Cards
https://homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com/tag/celery-rose-art/

*NEW* 4-Ingredient PB Cookie Recipe

As promised, here is a NEW  recipe idea to share with our followers. My daughter found this recipe on TikTok a few weeks back. Sweet, simple and will not use many of your stock-piled quarantine pantry items! (p.s. they are gluten free too!)

 

*NEW* 4-Ingredient PB Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup PB 

6 tbsp granulated sugar

1 egg

Chocolate Chips (eyeball amount to your preference)

 

Directions:

1. Set oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. First, Beat egg in a separate small bowl. 
3. Then, combine sugar, PB and egg and mix with fork. 
4. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
5. Scoop 1 tbsp of cookie dough onto cookie sheet.
6. Using a fork, press down onto unbaked cookie, both vertical and horizontal.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Yields 24 cookies. Store in seal tight container to maintain freshness. 

 

Thank You to TikTok! My daughter did not save the post, so apologizes for not giving credit to the original creator. This recipe has been shared by memory and we just baked them to confirm it is correct 😉! Enjoy! 

Mom’s Classic Muffin Recipe: Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

 

We recently ate an amazing Sunday Dinner at my Mom’s, and then she treated us to tea and an old-fashioned recipe from our past… Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins. I grew up enjoying these muffins, so I indulged in a huge muffin (a little gluten-cheat treat for me on this particular day, I couldn’t pass it up!) This recipe has been shared and published for many years. We also recently enjoyed them at a small bakery countertop located at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon, MA .

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins (Recipe compliments of Jordan Marsh)

Ingredients: 1/2 cups softened butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar plus 3 tsp sugar,  2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups flour, 1/2 salt, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups blueberry (washed and drained),

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line muffin pan with liners.
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time.
4. Beat in the baking powder, salt, and vanilla.
5. Add the flour alternately with the milk, beating gently. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
6. Mash 1/2 cup of the blueberries. Add the mashed and whole berries to the batter, stirring just to combine and distribute.
7. Scoop the batter into muffin pan.
8. Sprinkle extra sugar on each muffin.
9. Bake the muffins for about 20-30 minutes, until light golden brown on top.

Here’s a photo from my mom’s recipe book collection.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – You’d Be Fooled!

These Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies could have fooled anyone! I have been visiting a new cafe in my town and indulge in their gluten-free baked good items. The owner shared with me that she uses King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Measure to Measure  Flour for any gluten-free baking recipes at the cafe. I was craving her cookies one day, searched Pinterest, and came across this Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. You would never even know they were Gluten-Free… I even fooled my own kids! Here is the recipe from Pinterest and it is pretty close to Latte Love Cafe’s cookies!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (Compliments of lifeslittlesweets.com, inspired by Latte Love Cafe and some of my own minor preferences. Thank You for sharing!)

Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Measure to Measure Flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together butter, both sugars, and vanilla extract.
4. Add one egg at a time and beat well.
5. Add in flour mixture 1/4 cup at a time.
6. Add in chocolate chips.
7. Scoop 1 tbsp of dough onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.
8. Bake 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

A Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

I recently hosted our family over to celebrate my son’s birthday. Much to my surprise, one of our guests attempted a new recipe for a Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake, as a surprise for me and my new gluten restrictions. It was such a kind gesture and so sweet and moist, I just had to share the recipe that she used on my blog. So, for all of my gluten-free followers, here is a great recipe to use at your next birthday party for Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake compliments of King Arthur Flour.

Recipe can be found at https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/gluten-free-chocolate-cake-recipe

French Meringue Cookies Recipe… An A+ Recipe

Parlez-vous français? My daughter decided to take French this year as her foreign language. One of her assignments this past quarter was to share a french-inspired food with the class. She decided to bake French Meringue Cookies, and trusted her go to brand and website at http://www.wilton.com. Much to her surprise, the other students liked them, especially how professional they looked! Needless to say, I wanted to share this simple, yet elegant, recipe with my followers. Thank you to Wilton for always inspiring my daughter to bake their tasty creations!

French Meringue Cookies (Recipe compliments of Wilton.com)

Ingredients: 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 cup Meringue Powder, 1/2 cup water, 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, food coloring ( your choice)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place parchment paper on cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, whip meringue power and water with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. While still mixing, gradually add sugar. Whip until stiff peaks. Add vanilla and coloring and whip until combined.
3. Fill a decorator tip of your choice and decorator bag of your choice (she used Pampered Chef’s Easy Accent Decorator for this recipe). Pipe 2 in circles  or swirls onto the parchment paper (She used the markings on the Reynolds Wrap Brand Parchment Paper for spacing).
4. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until meringues feel crispy. Cool completely.

For more French-inspired recipes, visit our other blog recipes at An Easy and Unique “Steak and Frites” Recipe and Nutella Crepes

DIY “Thankful” Centerpieces for less than $4 each!

I was getting ready for our Thanksgiving Day Dinner plans today, and I realized I hadn’t really thought of table centerpieces. While out on errands today, I decided to stop in at Trader Joe’s for their amazing flower selection. After picking my fall-inspired flowers, I went home and put the centerpieces together using items I already had at home. I was so happy when it all came together so pretty, so cheap, so simple!

What You’ll Need:  mason jars ($1 each at The Dollar Tree), baker’s twine ($1 per spool at Target and Michael’s), handwritten “thankful” word tags ($1.00 for 20 Target and Michael’s), sunflowers ($4.99 for 5 at Trader Joe’s), 2-3 variety of flower sprigs ($1.99-2.99 per bunch at Trader Joe’s), pine tree branches (FREE from my backyard landscape!)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Home Sweet Mama Mia Blog followers… I hope we inspire you to be creative, adventurous and organized!

2018 Holiday Gift Idea List for Women

2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Women 

It’s November, and if you have been to the mall or stores over the last week, you will have seen Christmas decorations and Holiday sales that have already started popping up. As much as I want to avoid it, planning ahead helps make my holidays less stressful. I usually keep a gift ideas list throughout the year, especially before Thanksgiving arrives.  If you are struggling for gift ideas this year for those special women (including tweens and teens too!) in your life, check out the list of ideas I have shared with you. I have included a variety of ideas at different price points. The ideas came from gifts I have given and/or received over the past year. All of the opinions are my own and I was not compensated for the items or to write this blog. Enjoy and Happy Shopping!

O

The Winter Street Series by Elin Hilderbrand

http://www.barnesandnoble

Uncommon Goods  Shades of Blue/Green Sea Glass Necklace

http://www.uncommongoods.com

Bed of Roses Snoozies Slippers

http://www.paperstore.com

I’ve Been Thinking by Maria Shriver

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Red Envelope Inspire Cross Bracelet

http://www.gifts.com

Succulent Potted Plant

http://www.proflowers.com

Stitch Fix Gift Certificate

http://www.stitchfix.com

L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream

https://www.loccitane.com

Gift Ideas for Tweens and Teens

Ivory Ella Tshirts and Hoodies

http://www.ivoryella.com

FujiFilm Instax Mini

http://www.target.com

Pura Vida Bracelets

http://www.puravidabracelets.com

Firefly Photo Clips

http://www.rue21.com

Bath Bombs

http://www.lush.com

For other gift ideas, visit my blog posts from the past couple of years: A 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Women and Holiday Gift Guide: For Women

Back to School Recipes: Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches

Do you kids have the after-school munchies and friends coming over? Surprise them with these quick and easy Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches, using ingredients you already have at home!

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients: vanilla or chocolate ice cream, mini chocolate chips, chocolate chip cookies (store bought or homemade…the recipe I use: Chocolate Chip Cookies – Back to School Treats

Directions: Simply scoop ice cream in between two chocolate chip cookies and roll ice cream sandwich into mini chocolate chips. Wrap sandwiches in plastic wrap or sealed-tight container and freeze until ready to serve.

To all parents and kids…Have a great school year!

Back to School Recipes: PB Muddy Mix

PB Muddy Mix…a tasty after-school and on-the-go snack for kids’ activities and sports! A Peanut Butter Lover’s Classic Recipe with a little extra added protein…see the recipe below, compliments of Chex “Muddy Buddies Recipe” at https://www.chex.com/recipes/?muddy-buddies along with my little recipe twist! Thanks Chex!

Ingredients: 9 cups of Corn or Wheat Chex Cereal, 1/2 cup Nuts ‘n More Chocolate Peanut Butter (has 12g of protein), 1 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate chips and stir in vanilla. Pour over Chex cereal.
2. Add to a large Ziploc plastic bag, add powdered sugar, seal bag and shake bag until well coated.
3. Spread cereal out on parchment paper (or wax paper) on a cookie sheet to cool.
4. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes: combining two favorite treats… cookies and cupcakes!

One of the tasty treats I recently baked for my family is Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes! It was an inspiration of combining two of the best old time treats… Chocolate Chip Cookies and Buttercream Frosted Cupcakes ! After I had the idea, I found a recipe in a cupcake recipe booklet I had saved from Food Network Magazine’s May 2015 Edition. Thank You Food Network for the cupcake recipe and Wilton for the buttercream recipe!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes 

Ingredients: 11/3 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 stick (softened) butter, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 cup milk, mini chocolate chips (for batter and topping), mini sized chocolate chip cookies (for topping)- store bought or a homemade recipe (see the recipe I use below) vanilla buttercream frosting – store bought or homemade (see Wilton recipe below)

Directions:

1. First, compliments of The Food Network, bake their Vanilla Cupcake Recipe, as follows: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Beat softened butter in a separate bowl with a mixer until smooth. Add sugar and beat until creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture in three batches alternating with milk. Beat until combined. Add 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips to batter. Divide batter into cupcake liners and bake for 20-25 minutes.

2. While cupcakes are baking, use Wilton’s Buttercream Frosting Recipe  http://www.wilton.com/buttercream-frosting/WLRECIP-41.html  or use storebought vanilla buttercream frosting.

3. Let cupcakes cool completely. Frost cupcakes using a swirl decorating tip, sprinkle mini chocolate chips and top with a mini chocolate chip cookie.

Suggested recipe for homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Cookies – Back to School Treats

It’s Almost Super Bowl Time… New England Patriots Cupcakes

Our New England Patriots made it to the  Super Bowl again! Check out these simple and festive football cupcakes my daughter recently made for her Dad’s Birthday in December. Go Pats!

Ingredients: chocolate cupcakes, green cupcake liners, “grass” decorating tip, buttercream frosting (additional ingredients needed include butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract, shortening, milk), green food gel or coloring, Tootsie Rolls, small round decorating tip, mini plastic football  helmets

Directions:

1. Prepare cupcakes according to package using green cupcake liners and let cool completely.
2. Make buttercream frosting following Wilton’s Buttercream Frosting recipe at http://www.wilton.com/buttercream-frosting/WLRECIP-41.html
3. Divide frosting and add green food coloring and add to a decorating bag with a grass tip and then plain white frosting in a small round tip (for the football).
4. To make mini footballs, unwrap the Tootsie Roll and place in microwave to soften slightly (if needed) and then shape into the shape of a football with your fingers. Then using the white frosting, pipe the football’s stitches. Let dry.
5. Pipe the grass on top of the cupcake, place the football on top of the grass along side the plastic football helmet.

GO PATRIOTS!

Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Recipe

Christmas and cookies go hand in hand in our family. This year, my daughter and I were looking for something new and different for us to bake. I had saved this recipe clipping from The Food Network Magazine’s September 2015 edition. It was shared by the winner of The Food Network’s Kids’ Baking Championships, Hollis Johnson. The royal icing was key because we had never decorated cookies with anything other than homemade buttercream or store bought frosting.  Although our original designs were much harder than we thought, we ended up with some cute cookies! Here is the recipe for us to share with you.

From the Home Sweet Mama Mia family, wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!

Basic Sugar Cookie and Royal Icing Recipe (compliments of The Food Network Magazine, September 2015)

The recipe can be found at https://www.google.com/amp/www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/basic-sugar-cookies-3363929.amp

DIY Snowman Mug (Gift Idea for Under $5!)

One of my new favorite mugs to drink my morning coffee from is this sweet DIY Snowman Mug that my daughter made this past weekend. It makes for a great gift for that special someone under $5! Fill the mug with hot cocoa packets, mini marshmallows, and a peppermint stick. An easy DIY craft, check out the steps below. Thank you to crafters that post these ideas online and on Pinterest and always inspiring my daughter’s creativity.

What you will need: plain mugs (The “cheaper” quality the mug is, the better, because it will have less glaze on it. She found these Room Essential mugs at Target for $2 each), sharpie paint markers (work best), oven

Directions:

1. Draw on mug to create your desired snowman face and message (see photo above for suggestions).
2. Place mugs on a cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Note: Hand wash only. NOT dishwasher safe. Photo shows front and back of mug.

A 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Women

The holidays are here… I cannot believe it! If you’re like me, I try and make my gift shopping list before Thanksgiving arrives , so I can shop for the best deals. If you are struggling for gift ideas this year for those special women in your life, check out the list of ideas I have shared with you.I have included a variety of ideas for many different ages and price ranges. The ideas came from gifts I have given and/or received over the past year. All of the opinions are my own and I was not compensated for the items or to write this blog. Enjoy and Happy Shopping!

Holiday Gift Guide for Women

Joy Susan Mini Crossbody/Wristlet Cluctch ($39, 67 colors available) https://www.joysusan.com

MantraBand Bangle ($25, various colors and messages)  https://www.mantraband.com

Charter Club Double Knit Robe ($39 http://www.macys.com)

Giani Bernini Sterling Silver with 18k Gold Platted 1 1/2 inch Hoops ($80, http://www.Macy’s.com)

Bath and Body 3-Wick Peppermint Candle ($24.50 http://www.bathandbody.com)

The Wisdom of Sundays by: Orpah Winfrey ($27.99, http://www.barnesandnoble.com)

Vera Bradley Fleece Throw  ($49.99, http://www.verabradley.com)

Vera Bradley Toilettrie Bag ($58, various designs available  at Vera Bradley Outlet Stores for discounted prices)

Bliss Body Butter ($12.99, http://www.bliss.com and various retailers including Nordstrom Rack and TJMaxx)

L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream ($12 1oz., various scents, http://www.loccitane.com)

Hand Painted State to State Ornament ($12, http://www.etsy.com Sold by Kathy)

Charcuterie Board Acadia Wood Plank (approx. $10-30, various prices and sizes available at various home decor and kitchen retailers)

A Date Night Gift Basket (various gift card amounts for movie tickets, dinner at restaurant and Movie Sized Candy wrapped inside a popcorn container with yellow shredded paper that looks like popcorn). This was an anniversary gift from my kids to my husband and I this year!

Essential Oil Diffuser and Oil Set (approx. $20-40, available at various retailers)

For other gift ideas for the special women in your life, check out the Guide Guide List I shared during the 2016 Holiday Season. Visit Holiday Gift Guide: For Women

Exploring Chicago … A Girls’ Weekend

I recently surprised my daughter with a weekend getaway to the beautiful city of Chicago to celebrate her 13th birthday! My sister-in-law and I planned the trip with her cousin, who also just turned 13. A girls’ weekend for sure filled with shopping, good food, tourist attractions, broadway plays and laughs and giggles that could be heard from far, far away! Check out our fun-filled 48-hour adventure of exploring Chicago!

A Weekend in Chicago

Take on a Broadway Play! Chicago is known to offer awesome and popular Broadway plays. We enjoyed Disney’s Newsies at an intimate playhouse in Lincolnshire, IL. An intimate display of music, comedy and history was enjoyed by all ages.

Capture endless photographic city skylines. Chicago is known for its magnificent views. Every photo we took had a city skyline in the distance. The size and color of Lake Michigan was beautiful! Check out these views at a number of different locations within the city including the Willis Tower, John Hancock Center and Navy Pier’s Sky Wheel.

Endure thrill rides in the Windy City. Who knew that a big city could offer so many thrill ride options! Check out TILT at the 360chicago in The John Hancock Center. TILT literally tilts your whole body in a glass window to view the city from 94 floors above the street. Visit http://www.360chicago.com/tilt/ . Navy Pier’s Centennial Wheel allows you to capture aerial views of the city’s skyline and Lake Michigan in a peaceful, yet thrilling ride on this ferris wheel. Visit https://navypier.org/explore/cultural-attractions-rides/centennial-wheel-pier-park-attractions/ . The Ledge at Willis Tower also gives  you a unique opportunity to stand off in a glass box into the city skyline on the 103rd floor (this attraction will be added to our next Chicago trip!) Visit http://theskydeck.com/the-tower/facts-about-the-ledge/

Enjoy being a “kid” again at an imaginative playground! Maggie Daley Park is located in Grant Park near Lake Michigan. This amazing addition to the city community offers a playground, enchanted forest, walking paths, a rock climbing park,  and ice skating park. Visit http://maggiedaleypark.com .

Shop until you drop! Chicago’s Magnificent Mile offers a wide variety of top brand name designer stores and shopping malls for any style and budget. Leave extra room in your suitcase to take your style finds back home! Visit https://www.themagnificentmile.com/shopping/

Stay centrally located. Find a hotel on or near the Magnificent Mile. This area was very close to everything we wanted to visit.  Uber and taxi rides are easy to access, along with other forms of public transportation, including subways and buses. We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard Chicago/Magnificent Mile on East Ontario, which did not disappoint with updated accommodations and a friendly staff. Visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chimm-courtyard-chicago-downtown-magnificent-mile/?pid=CORPYLP&scid=45f93f1b-bd77-45c9-8dab-83b6a417f6fe

Treats at your fingertips! Take a stroll to Sprinkles for a delicious cupcake. What a unique experience at the Cupcake ATM. Make your selection, pay with a credit card and out comes a freshly baked cupcake of your choosing, in a cute little gift box. We highly recommend the Pumpkin Cupcake with Cream Cheese frosting! Yum!  Visit  http://sprinkles.com For extra sweet treats, stop by Dylan’s Candy Bar and indulge in all of your favorite candy treats! Fun fact and an extra tourist attraction…This candy shop is located in Chicago’s Tribune Tower, Home of the Chicago Tribune, but even more interesting is imbedded in the walls of the building are rocks from famous landmarks and buildings, such at the Alamo, Pearl Harbor, Great Wall of China, and the Berlin Wall to name a few.

A little education never hurt anyone! Visit the Museum of Science and Industry , which was conveniently located near the campus of The University of Chicago in Hyde Park. Great hands-on exhibits and demonstrations for any age student.

You’re definitely a Chicago Tourist when you visit The Cloud Gate at Millennium Park! “We have to visit The Bean!”  This is what my daughter said to me when we surprised her with the Chicago trip. The Cloud Gate is an art structure made of metal that is shaped like a bean and is a social media and tourist’s favorite photo opportunity!

You’ll never go hungry in Chicago! Chicago has so many dining experiences to offer. Our favorites included Gino’s East Pizza and Eataly. Gino’s is known for its infamous deep dish pizza and graffiti walls by restaurant visitors. Visit http://www.ginoseast.com . Eataly Chicago is an Italian food and specialties dream, with a variety of food, drink and dessert options to offer in an Italian marketplace setting. Visit https://www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/chicago/ .

 

DIY Motivational Mirror…great for teens!

So, over the summer I officially became a parent of a teenager…it hit me harder than when I turned 40-years-old last year! There is just something to be said about those infamous teenage years.

My daughter recently came home from a Mall trip with a full length mirror to hang in her room. Simple and white, which she found in the dorm decorating section at Target…it cost $5 (perfect!). A nice addition to her bedroom. After she hung it up using 3M Command Strips, she took out a dry erase marker and the next thing she did with it, to make it her own, was what I wanted to share with my followers today. She wrote motivational quotes on the mirror, so each time she looks in that mirror before school, she can be reminded and influenced by these wonderful  and inspiring quotes. She changes the quotes often and finds them on social media and Pinterest. I even add a quote or saying that I think could be helpful to her for a particular event or day. A quick and easy DIY Motivational Mirror for any teen in your life…for $5!

DIY Motivational Mirror

What you will need: fun length mirror, 3M Command Strips, dry erase markers (or window markers), various motivational and inspirational quotes

Directions:

1. Install mirror using 3M Command Strips.
2. Write motivational quotes using a dry erase maker. ( See some suggestions below).
3. Inspire yourself or someone!

Suggested Motivational Messages:

“Don’t change yourself so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.”

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m Possible.

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”

“Every day may not be good, but there is something good in each day.’

“Stay humble. Word hard. Be kind.”

“Be awesome today.”

“Be the reason someone smiles today.”

Cinnamon Roll Muffins : A sweet morning treat

Weekends are usually when my daughter has extra time to make breakfast for the family. What a special treat I woke up to this past weekend… Cinnamon Roll Muffins! Of course, she found the delicious recipe on Pinterest. Thank you to Pinterest and http://somethewiser.danoah.com/2015/12/cinnamon-roll-muffins.html  for sharing this “keeper” of a recipe!

Cinnamon Roll Muffins (Compliments of Some The Wiser blogger with some ad libs by my 12-year-old daughter! )

Ingredients: Muffins – 2 cups flour, 3 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tbsp melted butter (cooled), 1 egg, 1 cup milk Topping and Filling – 1 cup brown sugar, 3 tsp cinnamon, 3 tbsp melted butter Frosting – 2 oz cream cheese (softened), 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk, 1 dash of vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners (for an easier clean-up!)
2. Combine muffins’ dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together muffins’ wet ingredients. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Combine together until well blended.
3. In a separate bowl, combine ingredients for the topping and filling and gently fold HALF into the muffin batter. (Save the other HALF for the topping.)
4. Spoon the batter into the muffin tin and the add the topping to each.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
6. Whisk together the frosting ingredients and drizzle over the tops of the muffins.

An Italian Mother’s Day Panettone Recipe and Boston Day Trip

This past Sunday, my Mom, sister, sister-in-law and I took an Italian-inspired day trip to Boston, MA. We all wanted to visit and indulge at Eataly, Boston’s newest attraction for Italian food, dessert, wine and bread lovers! We also decided to experience the Botticelli Exhibit (a famous Italian painter from the Early Renaissance Era) currently at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.

We had such a wonderful day, I thought I would share our agenda for anyone else that may be interested in visiting Boston’s Eataly this Spring (both perfect for a rainy day activity!) ! I also included my Nonna’s Panettone Recipe for a special Italian sweet treat to make this Mother’s Day, using an ingredient from a visit to Eataly.

A Visit to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts

• Estimate approximately 2-3 hours to tour the museum. Most importantly, we wanted to visit the Botticelli exhibit, so we ventured to that wing first and then made our way to other visiting exhibits, such as Matisse, and many other major art attractions in the museum. Parking was available next door to the museum and cost under $23 (price varies per length of visit) for our visit. Visit http://www.mfa.org for more information on hours, admission, parking and directions.

A Visit to Eataly Boston

• Getting here. Head over to The Prudential Center and park in the Prudential Garage (we spent $14 with a validated ticket at the Eataly Kiosk). Visit http://www.eataly.com for more information on hours. directions, classes, tours and parking.
• Make lunch plans. When we arrived at Eataly, it was lunch time, we got on the wait list at one of the restaurants, called La Pizza & La Pasta,a “cafe style” sit-down restaurant, and had a 30-minute wait, which was not long for a Sunday.
• Appetizers anyone? While we gladly waited for our table, we visited the Bakery & Foccaceria and ordered two varieties of focaccia bread. We also order an Italian speciality drink, Aperol Spritz, at the bar, La Enoteca. We sat in an open-seating area,  La Piazza, to enjoy our focaccia and drinks until we received our text for dinner.

• A sample lunch menu. At La Pizza & La Pasta, we wanted to sample many of the menu options, so we ordered a few dishes to share. We ordered the Fresh Mozzarella, Parma Prosciutto, Basil Pesto and Broccoli Rabi Pesto board, along with their fresh homemade bread to start. Then, we ordered the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli, Fettucini Bolognese, and Vendura Pizza, which was a white pizza, with prosciutto, arugula, and fresh mozzarella.
• Got coffee? We then visited Caffe Lavazza for an after lunch espresso.
• Shop until you drop. We headed out into the Mall and shopped at both The Prudential Center and at Copley Place.
• I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! We returned to Eataly and enjoyed homemade gelato at Il Gelato… the Nocciola (Hazelnut) was fabulous!

• Make a market run. We shopped in Eataly’s Marketplace, which sold a variety of Italian specialities, including not ony fresh meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetable and breads, but pantry items such as pastas, tomato sauces, olive oil, olives, baking items, cookies, chocolates and souvenirs.
• To-Go, please! We had indulged in so much amazing Italian food, we did not have room to stay for dinner !To go, we each purchased treats to bring home  including more focaccia breads, cookies, rolls, and cannoli.
• A plan for visit #2! Next time, I would love to space out my day more and visit one of their full service restaurants either Terra or Sabbia (Opening Soon), in addition to taking a cooking class at La Scuola.

• Need a plan? If you decide to visit  Eataly, and feel overwhelmed, they mapped out a suggested visit route …

One of the baking items that you can find at Eataly is Lievito Pane Degli Angeli. It is a vanilla flavored “baking powder” that my Mom would usually bring back for me when she goes to visit her Mom, my Nonna,  in Italy. I use it when I bake my Nonna’s Panettone recipe. Below is the Panettone recipe, and if you venture to Eataly (or Italy) and purchase Lievito Pane Degli Angeli, you will need 2 packets for the recipe, but omit the baking powder listed. If you use only 1 packet, cut the recipe in half, bake for only 40 minutes and omit the baking powder (1/2 recipe is photographed below).

Nonna’s Panettone Recipe (with Lievito Pane Degli Angeli)

Click here for recipe  Traditional Italian Recipes: Nonna’s Panettone

Buona Festa Della Mamma… Happy Mother’s Day!