Mmmm Mmmm Monday: Easy Oreo Truffles

Hooray for the holidays! I am going to post my all-time favorite holiday recipes every week in December.

Yes, I know that it's not December until tomorrow, but I am too impatient. Plus, Mmmm Mmmm Tuesday just doesn't flow. So if you are a November purist, don't read this post until tomorrow.

First up is a recipe that I stumbled on in Walmart last year. You know, those recipe sheets that they have in little clear holders on the side of their holiday baking displays? Yep...it's one of them. I actually grabbed the sheet for the other recipe on the page, but made this one instead. And let me tell you what...it was a HUGE hit! My hubby & my kids are always my taste testers, and I got RAVE reviews. They almost ate the entire batch before my parents, sisters and grandma could get here for Christmas and try them. They were that good.

Anyway, here you go!
Easy Oreo Truffles
1 package Oreo cookies, finely crushed, divided
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
2 packages (8 squares each) Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Mix 3 cups of cookie crumbes and cream cheese until well blended. Shape into 1 inch balls. I found that a regular size cookie dough scoop is perfect for these!

Dip balls into melted chocolate. Place on wax paper covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs. (We used red & green sprinkles for Christmas).

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store any leftover (haha, yeah right. Leftovers. That's funny.) in tightly covered container in fridge.

*I will be making some of these babies this week, so check back for pictures!*

Christmas Pictures

Today we got the kids dressed in their Christmas outfits and headed out to Azalea Park in Summerville so that I could take some pictures for our Christmas card. It was a little chilly, but not nearly as bad as last year, so the kids were much more cooperative. I got alot of cute shots...taking pictures of my kids is definitely one of my favorite things to do!

I'm not going to tell you which one we're using for the Christmas cards....you're just going to have to wait and see!

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is the day that we give thanks for all of the things in our life. Why it's limited to just one day, I don't know...we should be giving thanks every single day. I am guilty of being a pessimist more often than not, but I am making a concious effort to change that.

Anyway, here is my list of things that I am so grateful for.

• My husband. He sacrifices so much for this family, and does everything he can to give us anything we could dream of. I don't tell him enough how much I truly appreciate him. He is everything that I could've imagined when I was envisioning my soul mate and I'm so thankful that God gave him to me.
• My kids-Noah, Jonah and Sophia. They are all so different in their personalities, and even though I get stressed with them from time to time (okay, ALOT), they each know what little things to do to make me smile. They truly are gifts from Heaven and I have such a huge responsibility to ensure that they grow up fearing God and loving others. While that sometimes seems very daunting, there is nothing I would rather be doing with my life than being a mother to my three precious children.
• My extended family. We are so lucky to have a supportive family. We may be seperated by a few states and lots of miles, but whenever we need anything they are just a phone call away. My parents have raised me to be the person that I grew up to be and I couldn't have asked for better ones. My in-laws are as involved in my kids lives as they can be and we are truly blessed for that as well. My sisters and my husband's siblings are the best aunts and uncles around, and my kids worship the ground they walk on. Hubby and I each only have one grandparent left on earth, and even though we don't get to see them nearly as often as we'd like to, we couldn't be who we are without them.
• My husband's job. Yes, I complain about the military alot. There are so many thins that I wish that I could change. But we are so fortunate. He has job security, which in this day and age is a blessing in and of itself. We are currently in a non-deployable slot, which means we are some of the lucky few (for the next 6 months or so) who are guaranteed to have the head of our household at every family function imaginable. And for those of you who are in the military you know that is the best gift of all. I could choose to look at the downsides, like the fact that if we don't get an assignment by next summer my hubby will be deploying for 6-9mos late next year. But instead, I am going to focus on the here and now, and soak up every minute of togetherness that we have. And how can you not be thankful for the opportunity to help other less fortunate that we are...the military is needed and I am so proud to call myself a military wife.
• My friends. Living far away from family for so much of my married life (all of it actually), friends have become so crucial to my well being. The people who have so readily welcomed my family into their own have touched my heart and I will never be able to thank them enough. Recently, some of our non-military friends here in Charleston invited us over for Thanksgiving. We accepted but asked them if they were sure they wanted non-family members over at their house when they'd be having their own mothers and fathers and siblings and neices and nephews at the house that day. They told us that yes, they did want us to come because we were extended family and it wouldn't be the same without us. That brought tears to my eyes. I am also incredibly thankful for having friends that, even when months (sometimes even years) go by without seeing one another, as soon as we are reunited it's like we were never apart. True friends are so hard to find these days, and we are so blessed to have so many people, both military and civilian, like that in our lives.
• Trials and hard times. I know what you're thinking- "Why in the world is she thankful for hard times?" But it's the hard times and the trials that make me reach deep down into myself and remember that everything happens for a reason. God gives us these trials to bring us closer to him, and closer to the people who mean the most to us. Sure, life would be so much easier if everything went my way. But it is when things don't go that way that I realize that I am stronger than I think I am. I will get through, I will persevere, I will survive. I have to keep reminding myself that "this too shall pass" and that God won't give me more than I can handle. Sometimes I think that maybe He forgets that I'm not Superwoman, but in the end I always get through it and I am even more aware of the good times that follow.

There are, of course, so many other things that I am thankful for (like running water, my car, my computer) but when I have all of the things I listed above, those things seem so small and almost insignificant. All I really, truly need in my life are my God, my family, my friends, and my country.

Thank you Lord for all that you have given to me. Help me to realize how blessed I am each and every day, not just on Thanksgiving. Remind me daily that I need to look for the positives in my life, instead of dwelling on the negatives, and that every day is a blessing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day-late Mmmm Mmmm Monday: Oven Ranch Chicken

Made this one for the first time last night and it was a hit with the whole family. Usually the hubby suggests that "next time" I add this spice, or that dressing, but there was no corrective criticism this time. He loved it how it was. It's super simple, and very tasty.

Oven Ranch Chicken
1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
1 pkg (.4 oz) ranch dressing mix *I used a 1oz package becuase that's what I had*
1/3 cup reduced fat sour cream
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts *I used 5 becuase of five family members. The amounts of other ingredients yielded enough without having to increase*

Heat oven to 375*. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. In a shallow dish (or pie pan), mix bread crumbs and ranch dressing mix. Place sour cream in a seperate dish (pie pan).

Dip chicken into sour cream, turning to coat. Roll in bread crumb mixture and coat both sides evenly. Place chicken on cookie sheet. (Discard any leftover sour cream and bread crumbs)

Bake uncovered 30-35 minutes or until internal temperature is 170*.

Craft Show Debut

Tomorrow I'm going to be in a craft show! It's the first one I've done since I started my Etsy site. I'm excited and nervous and stressed and anxious all rolled into one.

So if you're in the Charleston area (or know someone who lives down here) spread the word and stop on by the Hoiday Bazaar at Stratford High School in Goose Creek, SC from 9am-3pm tomorrow (21 November).

And please wish me luck!

Oy.

Today, my little "princess" reminded me that she defnitely fits in this family.

I was standing in the kitchen and she came up behind me and smacked me right on my keester. I turned around and said "Sophia, it's not nice to hit."

Without skipping a beat she grinned at me and said "I not hit you, Mommy, I high-fived your butt!"

Heaven help me, my 2.5 year old is as smartassed as the rest of them.

I haven't forgotten you. Honest.

Hello? Anyone still follow this blog? I wouldn't blame you if you didn't...I've been a bad blogger.

It's been pretty crazy around here. Seems like from October through March my house is always in upheaval. Not only are we in the middle of the holiday season (can you believe that Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK? I can't!), we are also in the middle of hockey season. Hubby coaches a squirt travel team (8-10 yr olds), assistant coaches a high school varsity team, and also helps out with the coaching of Noah & Jonah's termite house league team. In case you're wondering, the answer is yes, he is at the rink almost every day of the week.

But there are fun things going on for me right now too. I am busily preparing for a craft show on Saturday. THIS Saturday. The 21st of November. I found out about it just two weeks ago. So I've been sewing and crafting my butt off. My kitchen counter is covered with ribbon, hair clips and hot glue sticks. The dining room table holds my sewing machine and piles of fabric cut for skirts. Our bedroom, which now doubles as my craft room, has all of the finished products laying around ready to be put in the Rubbermaid for transporation Saturday morning. My hubby is counting the days until this show happens. He wants his house back.

Anyway, if any of you blog-readers are in the Charleston, SC area, come to the Holiday Bazaar at Stratford High School in Goose Creek on Saturday 21 November from 9-3. I'll be there with bells on!

Ok, not really with bells on, but maybe if you're lucky I'll have some bells somewhere...it's a Christmas show afterall!

Principal's List

Today my little man was awarded a medal and a certificate for making the principal's list at school.

Good job, Noah! We're so proud of you!

Check me out!

One of my onesies was featured in this blog today. Go take a peek!

Let's go shopping!

Today is the day that I start my Christmas shopping!

Well, technically not start, as I've already bought a few stocking stuffers here & there.

But today is the day that I start buying the big ticket items! Both boys want a Nintendo DS, so the plan is to get one today, and then get the second one after the next paycheck. I have three kids to buy for, plus nieces & nephews, so spreading out the expense is key.

I'm super excited for Christmas this year, too. We're going to be heading down to FL this year. December 23rd and 24th with the in-laws, and then Christmas Eve and Christmas day/weekend with my family. A few more days in Daytona with hubby's family and then it's back to Charleston to unpack, do laundry, and repack to go to a hockey tournament over New Year's weekend.

Okay, maybe I'm a little un-excited for that last part.

I am so tempted to bring along my Christmas cd's in the car today to get me in the spirit, but I will try to show restraint since my friend is coming along with me and I have already been teased about listening to Christmas music way too early. That's usually something I do when the kids are in school and the hubby's at work and no one is coming over to the house. I'm a closet "early Christmas music listener."

Hey- at least I'm not donning red sweaters with reindeer and Santa knitted into them!