Friday, February 27, 2015

Friday Favorites



Good morning! I am grateful that it is Friday, and I am happy that March will be here this weekend!

The boys and I are quite stir crazy (and getting over being sick), so I am hoping this weekend will be more exciting and joyful!



Several months ago, I ordered the NoseFrida “Snotsucker”, and it has been one of the BEST purchases. Nolan is only now learning how to blow his nose, so it’s not just for babies. You just place it up against the nostrils (not all of the way in), and use the red mouthpiece to vacuum out their snot. It works effectively in getting the snot out, and it’s easy to clean. I feel like I’m being proactive in helping the kids get more comfortable. And don’t worry, the snot does not get in your mouth :)
 





On Wednesday, I wrote a “What I Wore” post about my new Firmoo.com glasses! Steve got new glasses this week as well. His eye doctor told him he needed special “prism” reading glasses to help his eyes to focus more easily together. I had never heard of prism glasses before, but I’m glad he has them now for all the computer writing he does!

DSC_5747

Yesterday, I shared these FAVORITE new cookies—Flourless Fudge. They have a smooth, crispy outside—and the middle is rich and moist. I am planning on making them again soon!


Let’s talk TV for a minute. Downton Abbey is one of Steve and my absolute FAVORITES, and we are bummed that the season finale is already on Sunday! The seasons fly by, and then we have to wait ten more months for new episodes. We are pulling for Mary and Tom to get together. It just makes sense, right?! :)

This week, we watched the HBO mini-series John Adams (from 2008, I believe). It was amazing. The intensity of Adams’ love for his country was incredible. And his marriage with Abigail was inspiring. There were three or four scenes we had to fast-forward due to graphic content (think amputation in the 1700s), but the rest of it was so well-done. I now want to plan a trip out east to see Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the Adams’ home!


Today is the last day to sign up for our Spring Cheer Exchange! If you love snail mail, and would like to send someone a box, please e-mail me today! Racheljulia31@gmail.com. Details are here.

If you’ve already signed up, look for an e-mail from me on Monday with your recipient! :)



On Monday, I shared some of my FAVORITES from Target.com. I feel like I always have a tab open to Target. You just can’t beat the free shipping with a Red Card!



Okay, so this is not really a favorite, but I am done with the snow! On the left are the icicles in our upstairs windows. And here is Nolan in my mom’s driveway with snow way taller than him. We need to get some warmer temps so it can melt soon!

What are you up to this weekend?

Follow our family’s adventures on Instagram @floralandfudge

Linking up for Friday Favorites with Erika, Andrea, & Narci.

 

I’m an affiliate for Target.com, so a purchase made through clicking a link in this post could result in a small commission for me. Thank you!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Flourless Fudge Cookies

Flourless Fudge Cookies

Yesterday I had a few spare minutes while Ephraim was napping and I decided to make a quick cookie recipe. They were some of the easiest cookies I’ve made because there are so few ingredients (no flour, no baking soda, no butter). The recipe calls for a whole tablespoon of vanilla extract, but I didn’t realize I was low on vanilla until I had already started the baking process! Because it was a dry batter, I knew I was going to need all the liquid I could get, so I substituted almond extract. My cookies ended up with a strong almond flavor—which is pretty delicious—though vanilla may have been preferred. The cookies have a smooth outer crust, and a fudgy brownie texture inside. You’ll love them!

Flourless Fudge Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa, and salt in a large bowl until well-combined.

Mix in the egg whites and vanilla extract until all of the dry ingredients are moistened.

Stir in mini chocolate chips.

Flourless Fudge Cookies

Drop by tablespoons onto parchment-paper-lined baking sheets. Leave enough space for them to spread.

Flourless Fudge Cookies

Bake 8-10 minutes until they are glossy, slightly cracked, and not a darker color in the middle.

Allow them to cool completely before removing them from the baking sheet.

Flourless Fudge CookiesFlourless Fudge CookiesFlourless Fudge Cookies

Based on this recipe from IHeartEating.com (which claims they are only 68 calories each!)

See you tomorrow for Friday Favorites!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

What I Wore Wednesday || Firmoo

Floral scarf, Jeans, Firmoo specs

I have had glasses since I was six years-old. Every time I went to the eye doctor, my prescription got stronger, and now I’ve ended up with some pretty terrible vision. I tend to only wear my glasses around the house, but I was on the market for a pair that I would be comfortable wearing out and about. Needless to say, I was excited when Firmoo contacted me a few weeks ago to review a pair of their glasses. Their site is really neat—you can upload a photo of your face and automatically see what you would look like in about one hundred different trendy frames! I phoned my eye doctor for my prescription, and it was really easy to enter in the information on Firmoo’s site. The glasses arrived in no time at all, and I am really impressed with how comfortable and well-fitted they are for my face.

Floral scarf, Jeans, Firmoo specs
Floral scarf, Jeans, Firmoo specs
Floral scarf, Jeans, Firmoo specs

Jeans | American Eagle Artist
Cardigan | Mossimo boyfriend cardigan (Target)
Scarf | Bon Ton
Glasses | Firmoo

Floral scarf, Jeans, Firmoo specsFloral scarf, Jeans, Firmoo specs

And my little man was dying to get in front of the camera, so he froze alongside me for a few minutes :)

Floral scarf, Jeans, Firmoo specs

Maybe I should think about another pair? :)

 

I’m linking up with Lindsey, Alison, and Shanna.

Disclosure: I was gifted a pair of Firmoo glasses in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. I am an affiliate with Target, which means a purchase through the links in this post may result in a commission for me. Thank you for supporting this blog!

Friday, February 20, 2015

Friday Favorites


These weeks are just flying, though I will say on the same hand that March can’t come soon enough! We have had a freezing February, and the mounds of snow make every outing into a big adventure. My cousin and her kids were going to come over this morning (they just moved to our state!), but Nolan got a bout of  food poisoning yesterday, so we have to postpone the playdate. I guess we won’t be returning to our favorite Chinese buffet in the near future. Ephraim has been learning so much this week. I can tell that he understands many words, he is signing for a few things that he wants, and he is getting more daring with walking. I am praying that God will help me to slow down and truly enjoy this stage of motherhood.

On to my FAVORITES:



Last Saturday, we had a very nice, low-key Valentine’s Day. We started off with some cherry flavored heart-shaped donuts and mini donut towers. After breakfast, we took Nolan to Lowe’s “Build and Grow” workshop where he made a little heart-shaped photo holder. MorMor and Papa Don came over to deliver some Valentines—and they brought us heart-shaped Peep s’more kits. :)


On Wednesday, I shared my favorite new shirt—this mint/turquoise tunic with lace bottom. Thank you for your compliments on it. I am so glad I snagged it on GroopDealz!

S'mores Candy Bars

In case you missed it yesterday, I posted a 3-ingredient recipe for S’mores candy bars. They bring back the taste of summer! You may have to get yourself a candy mold. . .
sommar (60)

On Tuesday, I loved sharing one of my favorite stories—Steve's and my love story. This guy has changed my life in a million different ways since I met him almost nine years ago. It was so fun to learn more about my blogging friends’ love stories as well!



Today is the last day to enter my giveaway for “The 5 Love Languages for Men”! You’ll want to snag a copy for your husband.

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I am dreaming about spring, and while I was browsing TheBouqs.com, I fell in love with this floral arrangement called “Sweet N Cuddly” with a succulent right in the center. I should start thinking ahead for what I want to plant in my garden, study up, and maybe start some seeds in the basement!

I had an “Aha” moment about curling my hair recently. It takes a lot of effort to prep, curl, pin, and spray my long locks to make them hold some waves. But I finally feel like I’ve got a grasp on it! To make it even better, I was watching this YouTube channel, and came across some amazing curl advice! “Nay Danger” went to college with me, and a friend suggested I watch some of her hair and makeup videos. This particular one explains that if you curl your hair one day, you can twist it up into a bun at night and be surprised with lasting curls the next day—and the next day! Even for my hair that doesn’t hold onto curl at all, it really works! Check it out.

 

Have a warm and cozy weekend!

Follow me on Instagram @floralandfudge

Linking up for Friday Favorites with Erika, Andrea, & Narci.

Did you remember to sign up for our Spring Cheer Exchange? We’d love to add more friends to our package-sending endeavor!

Thursday, February 19, 2015

S’mores Candy Bars

S'mores Candy Bars

I saw these S’mores candy bars on Pinterest long ago, and as a S’mores enthusiast, I knew I had to make them! Unfortunately, the recipe calls for a candy mold—so I saved the Pin for later. When I was buying cupcake wrappers on Amazon for Ephraim’s party, I noticed the same store also carried these chocolate bar candy molds! I added them to my cart, and yesterday was the day to finally give them a try :) Talk about AMAZING! You end up with graham cracker and toasted marshmallow crème sandwiched by two layers of thick chocolate. And the best part is that all of the layers are stuck together—no shifting or oozing. They bring about this wonderful memory of summer while we’re in the midst of zero degree February weather. These s’mores will be gone fast in my house!

This is one of those recipes that could get messy real fast, and it could possibly fail because melting chocolate is not the easiest science. I varied from the recipe a little bit (simplifying it), and mine ended up perfect, so I’ll just tell you what I did. . .

First, I bought this mold from Amazon. It has three candy bars, with twelve sections per bar.

S'mores Candy Bars

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pound chocolate (8 ounces) DIVIDED.
    I sent my husband to the store for “milk” chocolate to mimic classic Hershey’s, but he came home with a darker variety of Baker’s brand chocolate, which is obviously still delicious.
  • Three sheets graham crackers
  • 7 ounce jar of marshmallow fluff
    (I used only about half.)

Directions:

S'mores Candy Bars

Melt 4 ounces of the chocolate in a double boiler, or in small increments in the microwave, careful not to overcook it.

S'mores Candy Bars

Pour the chocolate into the mold, and smooth it out with a spatula.

Let the chocolate harden in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.

S'more Candy Bars

Scoop marshmallow fluff into an oven-safe bowl. Put it in your broiler for 1-2 minutes or until it is slightly browned and toasted. Spread the marshmallow fluff over the hardened chocolate.

S'more Candy Bars

Place sheets of graham cracker over the marshmallow fluff.

S'more Candy Bars

Next, melt the last 4 ounces of chocolate in the double-boiler or the microwave. Pour enough to cover the sheets of graham cracker. It will look super messy, but should turn out just fine!

Place in the fridge for 15-20 minutes, or until hardened.

S'more Candy Bars

Flip the mold over, and carefully peel the candy bar out of the mold.

And then pretend like it’s summer, and indulge!!

S'more Candy Bars

See you tomorrow for Friday Favorites!

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