Monster Magic Cookie Bars

Found this on facebook and wanted to add it to my blog so I could link it to Pinterest :)

 

Monster Magic Cookie Bars

Ingredients

9 full graham crackers
4 tbsp. butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
approximately 3/4 c. oats
approximately 3/4 c. M&Ms
approximately 3/4 c. chocolate chips

In a zip top bag, crush the graham crackers using a rolling pin.
Once crushed, add the 4 tbsp. butter to the bag.
Place in the microwave and heat up for about 30 seconds.
Remove from microwave, let out the air and make sure the bag is sealed (maybe let it cool for a second or two!), and “mush” the butter and graham crackers together until fully incorporated.
Press the graham cracker crumbs into a well-greased and parchment lined 9×13 baking dish.
Evenly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the graham cracker layer.
Sprinkle the oats, M&Ms, and chocolate chips evenly over the sweetened condensed milk and gently press in a little.
Bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until browned and pulling away from the edges.
Let cool and serve.

Heavenly Chocolate and Peanut Butter Reese's Cupcakes

I have an obsession with chocolate and peanut butter concoctions, and this is my latest that I made for a get together tomorrow night :)

Here's the recipe:

1 Betty Crocker Super Moist Triple Chocolate cake mix (You don't HAVE to use THAT cake mix, you could use any chocolate, but I found this to be the yummiest :)) Make 24 cupcakes as directed on box.

Peanut Butter Frosting:
3c powdered sugar
1/3c milk
1/2c smooth peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
blend for 3 mins, until fluffy

I put the frosting in a large ziplock bag and cut about 1/3 inch slit in the corner to apply frosting, looks so much prettier (and easier!) than spreading with a knife.


Toppings:
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tbps peanut butter
5-6 Reese peanut butter cups fun size

For the toppings I melted about 1 cup of chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave (in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth, I found that adding a tbsp peanut butter with the chocolate chips makes them melt smoother) and spooned into a sandwich size ziplock, cut a small slit in corner and drizzled it back and forth across the cupcakes.

Then I chopped up about 5 or 6 Reese's and crumbled them across the cupcakes.

DIVINE!! ENJOY!!

Best Days and Time to Buy the Cheapest Flights

Have you ever wondered why flights change price about as often as the price of gas changes? Why did the price go up or down in a matter of days, or even hours? Do you wonder why you paid $100 more than the person sitting next to you on your flight? How far in advance should you book a flight to get the best price? Here are some answers and tips that I found awhile ago and keep handy whenever I'm thinking about flying somewhere!

The best time to Buy Airline tickets is Tuesday at 3pm Eastern (which ironically right about now as I'm posting this! :P)

Here’s why:
An airline will typically kick off an airfare sale late Monday.

• Other airlines join in to stay competitive
• Price matching is usually complete by early Tuesday afternoon
• Newly discounted airfares hit reservation systems by 3pm eastern

(Source http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/when-to-buy-travel-advice/)

How soon should I buy my tickets?
Don't buy your tickets too early or too late, or you'll be paying too much. If you buy your tickets more than 3 1/2 months in advance, the prices haven't been "managed" yet and you will likely pay too much. Don't wait too long either, prices will shoot up around 14 days before a flight to take advantage of last minute planners or business people who must travel and are willing to pay higher prices.

What day of the week should I fly?

Flight prices also depend on what day of the week you fly. Since people want long weekends and want to get the most out of their vacations, Fridays and Mondays are the busiest days to fly, and the most expensive. The most unpopular days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, which make them cheaper as airlines lower their prices to fill these flights.

For more information on buying airline tickets to get the best price, check out these resources:

http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/when-to-buy-travel-advice/
http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/tips-from-air-travel-insiders/

Hello I'm back!

I know I have not blogged in a while, it's been a SUPER busy Summer and honestly I haven't been sure what to blog about. I'm really one to spill my guts to the entire world...sooo I've decided to use this blog to share deals, recipes, ideas etc. I know when I search for some info on google, I often run across it on a blog. So I figured I could share some good things I find on my blog for others to find :) I'm about to do a post about the Best Days and Time to Buy the Cheapest Flights.

REESES CAKE!!!!!!!!

My sister in law LOVES Reeses (and so do I!) So I thought I'd try to concoct a Reese's cake for her Birthday yesterday. I used a Betty Crocker Super Moist Triple Chocolate cake mix. The first cake I tried to make was with 2 round pans for a layered cake. Once I frosted it, 1/2 of it collapsed, I'm not sure if it was because its such a moist cake and not very sturdy or if the PB frosting was too dense. So for take #2 I took the safe route and just made a 9x13 pan cake. Here is the recipe for it! :)

1 Betty Crocker Super Moist Triple Chocolate cake mix - bake cake as directed. (You don't HAVE to use THAT cake mix, you could use any chocolate, but I found this to be the yummiest :)) Let cake cool.

Peanut Butter Frosting:
3c powdered sugar
1/2c milk
1/2c smooth peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
blend for 3 mins

If it's not thick enough for your taste, keep adding more powered sugar until it thickens up, or refrigerate for a few hours.

Toppings:
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup Reese's peanut butter chips
5-6 Reese peanut butter cups fun size
8 Mini Reeses (for middle flower, optional)

For the toppings I melted about 1 cup of chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave (in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth, I found that adding a little peanut butter with the chocolate chips makes them melt smoother) and spooned into a sandwich size ziplock, cut a small slit in corner and drizzled it back and forth across the cake. I did the same thing then with the Reeses peanut butter chips.

Then I chopped up about 5 or 6 Reese's and crumbled them across the cake. I finished by placing one whole Reeses and 8 mini Reeses around it for a flower in the middle.

LOTS of compliments all around, everyone loved it! Except for my brother in law who didn't even try it because he doesn't like Peanut Butter! :P

Memorial Day Weekend Mega-Post: Children's Musuem, Cottage, Pool and Home improvements!

DISCLAIMER: There are ALOT of pics and videos on this MEGA post, so it may take a while to load - sorry! :P

The last few days have been busy and lots of fun (and crazy weather). Thursday night after work I brought Addelyn to the Children's Museum for family night (Thursday nights are only $1.50 to get in). I thought it would be super busy but wasn't bad at all and she had a blast :)












She wanted to push this grocery cart the WHOLE time! Definitely her favorite :-P




Giant Lite Bright


Attempting to get a pic together





Joel also did a ton in the yard!



Saturday and Sunday we went up to my inlaw's cottage.
Rebuilding the dock








All finished :)


Joel wanted to teach Sara how to ski by using the canoe...on land :P



And he wanted to show her himself....HA!!





Campfire :) Did I mention we left baby with Gramma and Grampa!? A nice little break :)



Canoeing with my love :)








Sunday was CHILLY. We kept waiting for it to warm up, the forecast was 92 and it only reached 65 and rained most of the time, but we got the boat out in hope of some sun, but it ended up raining just as we were coming in, and then cleared up as soon as we went inside :-P We went home early and was in the 80s in GR.




Joel braved the cold and got in the water to ski anyways




Memorial Day Monday was nice and HOT, got close to 100! Spent some time playing outside and in the pool











What a little stinker!! ;)



And then a sweetheart ;-)

She also had her first fudgescicle ;)










AND last but not least we got a NEW sink! SO happy to be rid of the nasty old one! :D

"Summer" Weekend

The calendar may not say its summer for over a month yet, but it sure felt like it this weekend! Temps in the high 80s and even low 90s today and lots of sun and water sure made it seem like summer!

On Friday, Addelyn and I spent the day playing outside in the pool and in the backyard...






I said, "Addelyn, look at the little flower!" and she got down to smell it, ha! (you cant even see it in the pic she was so close :P)


She kept running from me to Joel touching her nose to ours and giggling :)




Saturday we went to Grand Haven beach, she absolutely loved it!








Playing with Auntie Alyssa


Love her face! :P



So happy in the water!


Then we got home and grilled out


And grampa and gramma came to visit




And even had our first bonfire complete with smores!


Overall an amazing (and exhausting!) weekend! :)