How To Make Heart Cinnamon Rolls With Your Kids

Last week, Luke and I walked through the baking aisle at the store on a specific hunt for sprinkles. He had his shopping basket on one arm, like always, and carefully inspected each container.

"Hmmm... I fink we should get this one!" he said, pointing to a large canister holding six types of pink and red sprinkles. He triumphantly transferred them from the shelf to his basket, and was ready for checkout. I impulsively threw some conversation hearts into the basket, mainly because they now have phrases like, "on fleek."

This great confectionary quest was for one mission: decorating our heart cinnamon rolls!

Since the days have been colder and rainy, we've been doing more quality activities indoors. The number one thing on our list is baking. This time around we decided to take our canned cinnamon rolls up a notch by forming them into shapes AND adding toppings.

We opted for heart cinnamon rolls with Valentine's Day approaching. They were quick, simple and fun! I totally suggest this activity if you're looking for something to do indoors and are fresh out of ideas and energy.

Here is how to make heart cinnamon rolls with kids:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Open a can of Pillsbury™ Grands! Cinnamon Rolls, and let your little helper pop it open with the spoon. Remove them and form each one into a heart by pinching the bottom into a point, and using your finger to make an indent at the top to form the two ridges. (Take note that they do puff up and rise significantly, so they will lose a bit of their form once they are baked.) Place them on a greased baking sheet and bake for 22-25 minutes.

3. Remove from oven and ice them while warm. Add desired sprinkles and toppings and enjoy with a big glass of milk. Don't forget to cheers!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by General Mills through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Pillsbury™ Grands! Cinnamon Rolls, all opinions are my own.

10 Valentine's Day Treats To Make With Your Kids

I'm 90% sure my favorite holiday after Christmas and Thanksgiving is Valentine's Day. And not for the commercial aspect where it is another lame excuse to spend money and buy cheesy gifts like those horribly awesome stuffed bears that sing Elvis Presley songs. And I definitely don't think we need a specific day to tell others we love them—we should do that every day!

BUT. I do love it for the colors, and fun activities for little kids. Pink and red is a color combination that makes me happy. And who doesn't like to splatter hearts on every surface? Okay, a lot of people, but this lady lives for it.

You know what else is awesome about Valentine's Day? The treats! Now, if you don't agree that it is the best holiday for baked goods, you are definitely off your rocker. Nothing is cuter than heart-shaped cookies. NOTHING.

Naturally, I wrote a blog post roundup of 10 Valentine's Day treats you can actually make with your kids. No overly complicated recipes and instructions in sight. And they are all guaranteed to be delicious. Check out the post here!

Also, add my food blog, The Butter Half, to your reading list for more Valentine's Day goodies ideas this month. I have a heart pie I am posting later today. It's adorable and I think you all should make one.

Bon appétit, mes amours!

Image from my Swig sugar cookie recipe on the Butter Half

5 Cheesy Christmas Movies To Watch On Netflix This Week

1. A Christmas Kiss.  This one has a four star rating! It's so cheesy, it's fabulous! I hope you enjoy the awkward smoldering stares and smirks from the main character dude as much as I did. They deserve at least four stars!

2. 12 Dates of Christmas. My go-to Christmas movie with Amy Smart is Just Friends, but since that's not on Netflix, this one is a superb second option. And Zack Morris (I will never acknowledge him by his real name—don't even know it is is, and too lazy to Google) is an excellent second option to Ryan Reynolds!

3. I'll Be Home for Christmas. First things first... JTT! (This is quickly turning into a 90s teen celebrity fan club, for which I am not at all sorry. In fact! YOU'RE WELCOME. Also, this is a great update on JTT should you be wondering to where in the world he disappeared.) Second, this is one of those corny classics Christmas movies you watch as a tween, thinking it is, like, so totally awesome! And then you watch it 15 years later and have this expression plastered on your face the entire time...

4. The Mistle-Tones. Okay, this isn't even funny anymore. Apparently your only option when you are a washed-up 90s teen star is starring in marvelously awful Christmas movies. (I hear ABC Family is the studio preference, but Hallmark isn't a shabby option either.) And sometimes we get lucky and score two stars in one show! Tia and Tori are the dream team!

5. Holiday Engagement. I haven't watched this one yet, but based on the picture above and the terrible acting I just witnessed in the first 30 seconds, it's bound to be a winner!

Have the Merriest Christmas, everyone!

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How To Prevent Baby Fever This Holiday Season

Christmas card photos are officially complete, and that means I've spent my evening editing and comparing photos from past years. How do I have two HUGE boys already?! It's not fair. No way, Jose.

While getting them ready for bed tonight, I dressed Wes in Luke's Christmas pajamas from last year. I remember putting them in the closet a few months ago thinking, There is no way he will fit into these by Christmas! Sure enough, he fits them—and fills them out. Like a tank.

Needless to say, the baby fever is STRONG tonight. (<<< All caps and italics. That's how bad it is, people.) Looks like I better take my own advice in this article I wrote for What to Expect. You hoping the baby fever will skip you this year? You struggling to stay immune? I've got you covered, girl. Grab your how-to guide here.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes for you! ;)

10 DIY Holiday Ornaments Kids Can Help You Make

It's almost that time of year to pull out all your Christmas decorations and deck the halls like you're Buddy the Elf. Unless you're Costco, and in that case Christmas came before Halloween. But that's neither here nor there!

The true meaning of this post is to share some great ideas for making Christmas crafts and ornaments with your kids. We have all sorts of fun activities planned to keep us busy and creative. I'm mostly excited about making these DIY clay ornaments!

Come see the entire list of DIY ornaments in my article on Parenting.com! Happy crafting, kids.

Image via Kelli Murray

Cute Personalized Christmas Gift Wrap

One of the nine million reasons why motherhood has made me a better person is the necessity for being organized and staying on top of things. Procrastination is something I am alarmingly good at, (if there are any talent shows spotlighting that attribute, let me know so I can snag the blue ribbon!) but I have made huge strides in changing my ways. My biggest area of achievement is tackling the huge Christmas to-do lists.

Playing Santa is no joke, and we have been busy in our Amazon workshop making toy orders. We've also started our Christmas card planning, and I aim to have those printed and ready to go by Thanksgiving. (Don't worry, I won't be one of those people who mails them out promptly on Black Friday, though. I have the decency to wait until at least December 1.)

I've already been perusing Pinterest for cute gift wrap ideas, and I was so happy when I found this personalized Christmas gift wrap. I'm going for more of a neutral theme this year, and it fit perfectly. The color is soft and natural, the quality is great, and I love how it looks dressed up with a sweet red bow! The process to order and personalize items on the Tiny Prints website is simple, too. (Like, so simple my mom, who doesn't have a cell phone, could do it.) I highly recommend it!

As for our Christmas cards, we bought personalized postage to top it all off. I think it adds a charming finishing touch to the whole look. I can't wait to send them out this year. (And stay tuned to see how ours turned out!)

Are you already prepping for Christmas, too? (Or am I the only crazy one?) Be sure to check out Tiny Prints for your holiday cards and greetings!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Tiny Prints through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Tiny Prints, all opinions are my own.

5 Halloween Movies To Watch On Netflix This Week

1. Sleepy Hollow. This is a Halloween classic, and with Tim Burton as the director and Johnny Depp as the awkward and skittish Ichabod Crane, it's a no-brainer. Watch it, get creeped out by it, and love it!

2. The Addams Family. Oh, the beloved Addams family! If I had to choose a dark and sinister family to be adopted into, it would be this one. They are hilarious and don't take themselves too seriously. It's one of my favorite shows/movies, and it makes Halloween that much more spectacular... or should I say spooktacular? P.S. What's with Christina Ricci being the creepy movie golden girl? (She's in Sleepy Hollow, too!)

3. Corpse Bride. And we are graced with another Tim Burton film yet again! (You can watch The Nightmare Before Christmas on Netflix as well, FYI.) And Johnny Depp! But you already knew that Tim Burton is practically synonymous with Johnny Depp/Helena Bonham Carter—what a bunch of fantastically zany weirdos. I want to hang out with all of them... in the Addams Family Mansion! Wouldn't that be wonderful?

4. Wuthering Heights. So, I bought a vintage copy of this novel with a beautiful teal hardcover and detailed gold lettering, but didn't get around to actually reading it before watching this. I knew it had supernatural undertones and a dark plot, but I was genuinely freaked out in a couple of scenes, so I don't know if I can handle reading the book. I do most of my reading at night, and I am obviously easily spooked. Pretty sure my dreams would turn into nightmares and I would start convincing myself the shadows on the walls were ghosts. But it is a great story. I will get around to reading it one day, however the movie will suffice for now, and it is perfect for Halloween. (And I now see why Ralph Fiennes was cast as Voldemort—I am pretty sure Heathcliff is just as evil, if not more.)

5. Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest. What better way to end this list than with a happy and adorable Halloween movie? We watch this at least three times per week, and it is so cute! I've always loved Curious George, which is apparent since we dressed up as George and the Woman in the Yellow Hat for Luke's first Halloween! Add it to your list, even if you don't have kids! ;)

Happy Halloween!

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Father's Day Barbecue Surprise

This weekend we're doing a double whammy and celebrating Matt's birthday and Father's Day with a family barbecue. We're going to grill hot dogs and patties, eat a huge chocolate cake, and swim until our hands are wrinkly and our hearts are full.

It’s going to be perfect.

The best part will be getting personalized Share a Coke bottles made for Matt. Let me tell ya, this guy is a diehard Coke fan and comes from a long line of Coca-Cola lovers. It adds that special touch to top off an amazing day. We plan to mix them in with the other bottles as a little surprise. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he reads all of his nicknames on the bottles! Priceless.

When we were in Spain a few years ago, one of our favorite things to do was sit in the plaza and drink a bottle of Coke. Still to this day whenever we enjoy a chilled glass bottle, one of us will say, "Man, this reminds me of Spain!”

Needless to say, there will be all sorts of emotions mixed in with those personalized glass bottles of Share a Coke bottles.

This year, Coca-Cola offers the ability to personalize and purchase eight-ounce glass “Share a Coke” bottles on ShareaCoke.com. You can't go wrong with the glass bottle (we love to serve them at our Christmas parties), and it is guaranteed to make your celebrations so much more heartfelt.

Hope you all have a wonderful Father's Day!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Coca-Cola through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Share-A-Coke, all opinions are my own.

Painted Easter Egg Balloons

We made painted easter egg balloons for tot school yesterday. It is an incredibly easy and pocket-friendly kids craft (inspired by this post), and these balloons are perfect for playing the balloon pop game during your Easter egg hunt! Do you remember that game from the birthday parties of your childhood? It usually ends in tears for some and bruised ankles and shins for others, but it is a classic!



To make these adorable painted easter egg balloons and to play the balloon pop game you will need:

-Balloons in the color of your choice
-Paint and brushes
-Markers
-Washi tape
-String (about 2 feet for each kid)

Directions:

1. Blow up two balloons per kid, or however many you would like. Paint your balloons in any patterns or colors, doodle all over the surface with markers, or get creative with the washi tape.

2. Allow the painted balloons to dry for an hour or two. You can accelerate the drying time by using a hair dryer on the cool setting if you so desire.

3. Tie a foot of string to each balloon end and securely tie around your child's ankles.

4. Line everyone up and count to three. Let the kids run like crazy animals and attempt to pop the other balloons while keeping their balloons intact. The child with the last balloons standing wins!

I would like to note that I think this game is appropriate for kids ages 3 and up. I also feel like this game isn't only for kids. I could actually see this balloon pop game being more fun for the adults at an Easter egg hunt, or anytime for that matter! 

If you need more ideas on how to ramp up your Easter egg hunt, be sure to check out this list of creative ways to supercharge your hunt this year! 

Happy painting and popping!

P.S. This is what the painted balloons look like after they have been popped. I think they are so cool! Also, please be sure to keep a close watch if you have little ones playing around the balloons. They can be a joking hazard and should be removed if they try to bite the balloons or put them in their mouth.

Delicious Lasagna Soup Recipe

For Valentine's Day this year, Matt and I are staying in and making our own dinner. What's on the menu you ask? Why, lasagna soup, of course! It's all about the comfort food. Matt and I tend to keep things mellow on Valentine's Day. I can get a bit Charlie Brown-like and go around shouting, "It's gone commercial!" So, we like to celebrate by making something special for one another at home.


If you decide to stay in this year too, you are in luck because I have teamed up with some awesome gals to bring a smattering of Valentine's Day dinner and food ideas. Here is the brilliant list for your viewing pleasure:

• Camille is going with a French theme and making crepes and creme brulee for dessert. Yum!
• Kayla has a rich panang curry served with rice, and then chocolate croissants and hot chocolate to indulge in after.
• Deidre is making is going south of the border and making mouth-watering smothered ranch chicken burritos. 
• Alex is whipping up tortilla soup and cheddar and chili cornbread. (Give me all the cornbread!)
• Jen is doing a romantic brunch, which includes Leige waffles with all the toppings, bacon, and eggs.
• Janssen is making a hearty Valentine's Day breakfast with her family and they are having baked croissant French toast with lemon cream cheese.
• Amberly is giving awesome tips for a romantic night at home, which includes pork chops, drop rolls and roasted broccoli with parmesan. Yes, please!

You hungry yet? All the bases are covered with these breakfast and dinner ideas for your Valentine's Day, and I can't wait to try each one. But first, let's get to my delicious lasagna soup recipe!

Lasagna Soup Recipe
Yields 4 servings
Cook time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

1 lb Italian sausage
1/2 chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can chicken stock
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried basil
1/2  tsp garlic salt
8 lasagna noodles
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese


Directions:

1. In a large pot, break up Italian sausage and cook over medium heat until brown. Add in onions and garlic until the onions are soft and translucent.

2. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chicken stock and all of the spices to the pot. Bring to a slight boil and then reduce the heat to allow it to simmer.

3. While the soup is simmering, cook the lasagna noodles separately until al dente. (Cooking them separately ensures they do not overcook and become too soft.) Once they are done, ladle yourself a bowl of the soup and add 1-2 of them per bowl of soup.

4. Combine the cheeses in a small bowl and mix well. Then add 2 heaping tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto your soup. Serve with small slices of sourdough bread.

5. For dessert, be sure to make these yummy cinnamon rolls. They satisfy the sweet tooth and make for an excellent breakfast the next day! Enjoy!

Christmas Morning 2014

On Christmas morning at 6 am on the dot, Luke marched his way into our room just as he does every day. I didn't need to worry (and I never do) about setting an alarm to make sure he didn't go down without us because his sleeping schedule is like clockwork. (These are the joys of Christmas morning with little people. It's still predictable and easy to wrangle them in without running downstairs and spoiling all the fun.)

"Good morning, mama!" he chimed. I rolled over with a sleepy smile on my face and replied, "Merry Christmas, Luke! Guess what? Santa came last night!"

His face lit up and then we had a lengthy discussion (more like an interrogation because you know how 3-year-olds are with all the questions) about the affairs of sliding down the chimney and eating cookies and drinking milk. 

About 45 minutes later, Wes was chirping from the other room signaling his grand entrance for the day, and off we bounded down the stairs to see what tricks Santa had up his sleeve this year! 

(By the way, can we take a quick second to let that picture of Wesley's face sink in? It's the face he pulls when asked to smile. The kid is a ham with a side of goober berries.)

The looks on their faces were priceless. It's the kind of thing you wait to see your whole life, but you don't know you were waiting for. Does that make sense? I was more excited this Christmas than I have ever been, and had actual butterflies flitting around in my stomach as we sat out the toys on Christmas Eve. Their reactions didn't disappoint. There were sounds of crisp, ripping paper and those terribly annoying, plastic, wire doodads littered everywhere. But the best were the grins and gasps as each present revealed itself.

That right there is my excited face.

This is Wesley's. (Too freaking cute to handle.)

This is Matt's. (So much joy radiating from that handsome mug!)

And this is Luke's. (Disney movies will do that to ya!)

We need to talk about this present. This may seem like a boring, old picture of some horribly wrapped present which looks like Christmas barfed all over it. While that is true, this is going to be one of those pictures I look back on in 10 years and have a good chuckle over. You see, Luke was watching me attach all of the gift tag stickers to the gifts under the tree about a week before Christmas. The next day when I came downstairs after taking a shower I found this present covered in gift tags. He's found a serious, new love for stickers and he thought he was being the most diligent helper in all the world. He used the entire pack and then some, leaving none for the other gifts we still needed to tag, but I didn't even bother to buy more or care. All I could do was laugh and admire his handiwork.

And then this is what he did when asking him to "smile like an elf!"

Let us take another minute to coo over yet another picture of Wesley being ADORABLE. He finally got a mimi (what we call blankies at our house) just like his big brother and this was the very first thing he did after we unwrapped it. And they haven't parted since. Such a beautiful love story, is it not?

Santa ate all the cookies and drank all the milk! This was actually the first thing to be inspected upon coming downstairs Christmas morning. Luke approved of Santa's efforts.

Ahhhh, my favorite part—the food! The very first year Matt and I were married we started the tradition of making the most ridiculous and grand Christmas breakfast. Or more like a Christmas break-feast. It has evolved over the years to include FIVE beverages. One for every dish, as I like to say. The french toast goes marvelously with the chocolate milk, the hashbrowns work nicely with the orange juice, the bacon pairs well with the sparkling cider, the sausage complements the grapey undertones in the grape juice, and the eggnog takes the edge off the churizo and eggs. Stay thirsty, my friends.

After we recovered from our food comas, we tried on Mr Potato Head's glasses, but decided they didn't go with any of our face shapes. We built car tracks looping from the stair railing, which launched into the new toy barn. We attempted to skateboard, but decided on boarding the Death Star instead. (But it's basically the same thing since I already wiped out on the skateboard in an attempt to look cool. Fail.) Oh, and Luke and Wes nearly finished off an entire bag of Butterfinger bells.

Christmas 2014 was a wonderful success, and I am overflowing with love and gratitude for my gang of boys. Hope you all had the most merry of Christmases, and here's to the happiest new year!

P.S. Here are our Christmas mornings from 2011, 2012 and 2013!