Christmas Cookie Series - Chocolate Chip

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

We had friends over last night for a craft date. We made Christmas ornaments and cards for their dads. Honestly, it was just nice to see them. We have been so busy since we moved last month, that was our first play date. On to the cookies...

Besides Oreos, chocolate chip is my husband's favorite cookie. I mean, who doesn't love a warm chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven?? Mmmmmm just to think of it melting in your mouth. I'm convinced, it's easily America's favorite cookie. So let's start our delicious, mouth watering, edible gift segment right there.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
8 Tablespoons of salted butter MELTED
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 of a 12oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips

Yields 12 cookies

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: You want the butter melted, but not hot. Approximately 30 seconds in the microwave should do the trick. Cream butter and sugars.

Step 3: Add vanilla and egg. Only mix long enough to incorporate the egg. Do not over mix.

Step 4: Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until crumbles form. Use your hands to kneed into one large ball of dough.

Step 5: Pour in the chocolate chips and use your hands to incorporate.

Step 6: Roll the dough into 12 balls onto a greased pan or baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Step 7: Let them cool to room temperature (about 20 minutes) before placing in an airtight container. They should stay soft and fresh for a few days...if you can make them last that long!! If you need to keep them fresh longer, then you should freeze them in an airtight container. **For a fresh out of the oven taste, pop frozen cookies into the microwave for about 15 seconds**

Pop Up Camper Remodel - Galaxy Curtains

It took one summer of camping in a tent with 2 babies to realize I may not be up for tenting anymore. On the other hand I love camping so much, I probably would have just sucked it up and over prepared. However; we were so blessed to find a 1986 popup camper for a steal at the end of last season! We set it up once at the end of the season and my brain started storming with ideas. Ideas for slipcovers and paint colors, but also ideas on what should be fixed or cared for to last us another 20+ years of family adventures.

Closed it up. Covered it. Stored it for the Winter. Warmer weather was moving in and when I saw the first week of sunny skies in the forecast I got motivated! Pulled it out and opened it all up. Woah! Time to dive in! The first step was to clean EVERYTHING. I'll dig into that later. 

I wanted to start with these Galaxy curtains I made. 

I had tossed the idea back and forth of sewing new curtains, but aside from a few stains I couldn't get out, they were in really good shape and they are thick sun blocking curtains *BONUS*

Most galaxy inspired projects are done on a black background. The curtains were already blue and I knew it would be a time saver to leave the strip of clips sewn on the back of each one.

Supplies:

Bleach

Spray Bottle

Dish Sponge (cut into 4 pieces)

Scissors (to cut sponge)

Fabric Paint Colors (3 of your choice)

Glow Fabric Paint (optional)

White Fabric Paint

Step 1: Cleaning

I simply stain treated them and threw them in the washer with Borax. Dissolve 1/4 cup of Borax into 4 cups of warm water. Add to washer basin with curtains and wash on Normal. Dry in the sun. Stains and smell came out!

Step 2: Bleaching

Fill spray bottle with bleach. Spray curtains heavy in some areas, lighter in others. You can make designs by twisting, folding, or scrunching the fabric. When finished, run the curtains through a COLD rinse and spin cycle to set the bleach at desired effect.

Step 3: Sponging On Color

I used basic dish sponges and cut them into quarters because the curtain area i was painting was so large. Add center color of fabric paint to a tray, cardboard, etc. and dip sponge. You want enough to paint, but not too much to make it leave blobs. The order of colors I added was blue, pink, purple, dark pink, glitter purple. I may have stuck to 3 colors, but Michaels had fabric paint on clearance so I paid between .24 and 1.24 for my bottles of paint. Add one color at a time, but you may need to go back and blend some of the colors. Use actual galaxy images for inspiration

Step 4: Glow in the Dark

I added glow in the dark paint on top of all of the blue designs. Two coats worked perfect. The glow is easily noticed.

Step 5: Stars

Once the colors are dry, you can add the stars. White metallic fabric paint like this, is what I used. It comes with a pointed tip which makes it easy to add stars. Paint them more concentrated toward the center of your galaxies and further apart into the darkness. I added some shapes to mine and changed the sizes as well.

Step 6: Constellations

This step is optional. I added them to spark some interest and learning in our daughters. I simply added stars in the pattern of the constellation and painted glow in the dark lines to connect them. I also painted the constellation name under the image.

Let them dry and hang to enjoy!

Tasty Strawberry Kiwi Pops

The hot weather has arrived and little miss A loves nothing more than a pop to cool her down. Cutting up some fruit for snack time inspired this simple and tasty idea.

Strawberry Kiwi Pops

Ingredients:
Popsicle molds (or small cups)
1 Kiwi diced
4 Strawberries diced
3 Cups coconut milk
Popsicle sticks

Yields 6 pops

Step 1: Peel and dice kiwi. Slices also work if you prefer.

Step 2: Wash and dice strawberries.

Step 3: Add fruit to cups.

Step 4: Fill cups with enough coconut milk to cover the fruit.

Step 5: If using a popsicle mold, simply attach the tops and set in freezer. If using popsicle sticks,  freeze for one hour before inserting the stick. This allows you to set the stick halfway through the pop instead of resting on the bottom of the cup.

Step 6: Freeze overnight and enjoy!!

10 Things I love about New Hampshire

I am fortunate to have visited quite a few states and lived down south as well, but there are some really amazing things to love about New Hampshire. 

                                               

1.Lilacs - My favorite time of year is that one week, during Spring, when the lilacs are in bloom. Everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE smells incredible. You will see them planted at every house in a neighborhood and in the middle of the city. I can't deny the beautiful colors of Autumn everyone talks about, but just imagine an entire state smelling like a single fragrant flower. I get excited every year when the bushes start to bloom.

2.Santa's Village - A Christmas themed amusement park in North Country sparks some of my earliest memories. I still have a collection of nail rings made to fit my tiny 6 year old fingers. My parents have a collection of photos of us behind the gingerbread cutouts and standing tall next to the igloo. Although smaller than some great amusement parks, the magic is endless. Who wouldn't want to visit Santa in the Summer? Now as a mom of two toddlers, I'm counting down the days till we bring our girls up to meet the reindeer!

3.State Motto - Live Free or Die. Be honest. Have you ever heard of a cooler motto? I think not.

4.Hampton Beach - Mmmmm be sure to roll down your windows when you're reaching the end of 101 to breathe in the salty air. Then, start at the bottom and drive North up the coast in search of parking. Once you find a space enjoy countless activities in addition to a fun day in the sun. There's concerts in the seashell stage, fireworks on Wednesdays, a sand castle competition, an Easter egg hunt on the beach. Head across the way to grab some good eats or obscene T-Shirts and check out the vintage Coppertone clock at Rexall Drug.

5.Vanity Plates - Getting a new car? Are you thinking of gas prices? Learning how to check your oil? If you live in NH, you're usually spending a few days thinking what awesome vanity plate you're going to get. What better way to spend your time at a red light, than to figure out what this guys plate is trying to say, without all the vowels?

6.Driving - It is such a beautiful state with minimal traffic. Hop in the car, on any given Sunday, and just drive. You're likely to end up at a random park, country store or delicious pizza place. Even if you don't, I guarantee the views are not to be taken for granted.

7.Maple Syrup Cotton Candy - Did a more delicious creation ever exist? No. The answer is no. I walk into the Deerfield Fair every year and make a direct route to the maple house.

8.Fritz Wetherbee & Chronicle - There's something really nice about watching a show after dinner that gives you the inside scoop on places, people, and events in your state. It's a great resource for learning what's available in NH and no one can beat Fritz's history lessons. 

9.Red Arrow Diner - The original in Manchester is the tiniest, friendliest diner I have ever been to. The second location in Milford is larger, but I love them for the same reasons. Good food at great prices served by friendly staff. Open 24 hours, with a full menu, it's perfect any time of day. Stop on by and check out the celebrity pictures on the wall or enjoy a "Stan the Man" named after Adam Sandler's father.

10.Connecticut River - I've taken many Summer boat trips up and down the river, but as soon as I first took a kayak I was hooked. When my husband first moved here, I took him kayaking and now it's something we look forward to when summer comes. Last year we took baby A out with us and she loved it! We already have two trips planned for this year! Plus, it's cool to have a natural divider between NH and VT.