Introducing...Tasty Tuesdays!

I am joining in a new blog hop this week. I was going to start my own Tasty Tuesday feature, but found it already existed here so I thought I would participate. Makes less work for me lol!

This week we have something I found a while back, not sure where, but they are sooo yummy! I think they were named after a very popular gourmet coffee chain, but we call them Heath Bar Brownies.

Heath Bar Brownies 

In a large bowl combine the following ingredients:

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup margarine
1-1/4 cup white sugar
1-1/4 cup brown sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. vanilla
3 eggs
 
Then add:
4 cups all purpose flour
Mix well. 

Finally add:
12 oz. pkg chocolate chunks
12 oz. pkg white chocolate chips
8 Heath bars, coarsely chopped

Mix well and spread in a greased 15X19 pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes
(I do not have such a large pan so I use a 9x13 pan and an 8x11 pan).

I let them cool for a few minutes, then I cut them and put them in the fridge because I like them COLD! But they are also really good warm with a glass of milk or vanilla ice cream. Mmmm! I just made these last week and they are already gone, but now I want more just thinking about them!

Enjoy!!

Click the button above to discover more mouth watering recipes!

Thankful Thursday

Wow, I can't believe its Thursday again already!! These weeks are just flying by!

I am sooo thankful to some very special, very talented friends who sent some goodies for the baby. You know who you are!  Here are some photos of everything:

Some really cute burp cloths. I just love the jungle pattern, it goes well with our Rainforest baby gear.

A couple adorable bibs & a cute hat (again, jungle animals, you ladies are on the ball!), some bodysuits, and some yummy smelling soapy goodies for me!

And another pic (I posted a similar one not long ago) of Matthew sporting one of his hats a friend sent, and laying on an afghan from another friend. So cute!

Thank you ladies for taking the time to create such special things for Matthew, you are so kind and thoughtful, we really appreciate it so much!! We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends in our lives!

CSN Stores $30 GC Winner!

The winner of the $30 coupon to csnstores.com is:

Domestic Diva!! I am emailing you right now. 

If I do not get a reply within 48 hours, I will have to choose another winner. 

Thank you to everyone who entered!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my mom while she lived on this earth. She passed away 4 years ago this past June. Today would have been her 60th birthday. I am so thankful for all that she taught me in the 24 years I knew her.
I miss you mom and love you so much! I know you are walking with Jesus now and are having the time of your life! I can't wait until the day I get to see you again =)

CSN Review and Giveaway!

I was recently contacted by CSN Stores to do a review and giveaway. When I looked at their website, I was a bit overwhelmed by the over 200 stores with just about everything you can think of for sale. Did I want a baby item since we just had a new baby?  Something for the kitchen? For the pets? But then I saw the link to the Developmental and Educational Toys and knew I just had to get something for Jimmy for Tot School. They have so many awesome activities and games that I had such a hard time just picking a couple. I will definitely be ordering more!

I ended up choosing the Melissa & Doug See & Spell and as I was looking through everything else, Jimmy saw this fishing game and begged for it so I got that too. Ordering was super easy and shipping was quick. Jimmy just loves the Melissa & Doug See & Spell and has been playing with it almost every day.

I love how educational it is. Jimmy has been doing so well with his letters and now he can practice spelling words with the Melissa & Doug See & Spell. It does state that it is for ages 4 and up so keep that in mind, but I decided to get it for Jimmy since he can really use it and learn from it now. By the time he is 4 I think it will be a bit too "young" for him. The letters are a bit small (hence being for ages 4 and up) so Jimmy is under constant supervision when using this to make sure he does not put the letters in his mouth and/or choke!

I love how colorful the 2-sided boards are and how the letters are different colors, providing even more opportunity for learning. The Melissa & Doug See & Spell is a hit!

The edushape Tub Fun Deep Sea Fishing Set was also a hit with Jimmy. Here he is "cheesing" with it before we took it out of the box.

I thought it was a cute idea and liked the idea that hooking the fish would help with fine motor skills. The only thing I was a little disappointed with was that the fishing "line" is molded plastic so it doesn't really move much. It does swing back and forth a little from the pole so it takes a little more practice to hook a fish. And the reel makes clicking noises when you turn it, a cute effect. Overall the edushape Tub Fun Deep Sea Fishing Set is a cute product that Jimmy really enjoys and always asks for the "fishies" when its bath time or if we go out in his kiddie pool.

Giveaway!
Now, for the part you all have been waiting for! CSN Stores has provided a $30 coupon for one lucky reader of my blog to use in any of their 200+ stores!

Here's how to win:

Mandatory Entry:
Leave me a comment telling me you want to win the free $30 coupon to CSN Stores.

For an optional extra entry visit CSN Stores and come back here and in a separate comment, tell me what item you would love to have.

Please make sure to leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Details:
This giveaway will end Saturday, August 21st at 9pm EST and is open to the US and Canada.
Winner will be chosen by random.org and announced by Monday, August 23rd.

*Shipping charges and international fees may apply and be the responsibility of the winner.*

**The $30 coupon for this giveaway was provided at no cost by CSN Stores. They also provided me with the products mentioned in the review. Thoughts and opinions expressed on my blog are my own and are not influenced by any monetary or product compensation.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for my sweet baby Matthew who is a month old today! He is doing so well. He is getting to be more alert and aware of his surroundings, he is starting to coo and make sweet baby noises and he is holding his head up better. He is also starting to want to roll over. He is growing like a weed and is wearing mostly 0-3 month clothes now, pretty much outgrown newborn clothing and XS cloth diapers. And speaking of cloth diapers, we are almost to the point of full time cloth diapering with him, yay!

Here is a photo of Matthew from today, wearing a cute hat that a friend (and wife of a childhood friend) of mine made for him. And the afghan behind him was made by that friend's mother in law, it is actually a car seat cover. So cute!

Also, remember this post? Well, I was able to do a review along with the giveaway so be on the lookout....maybe tomorrow (Friday)? ;-)

Whoa Time, Slow Down!!

Matthew turned 3 weeks old yesterday, unbelievable! Time just needs to take a little rest. I wonder if it goes by faster with each baby you have? I know it seemed to go quickly when Jimmy was born, but this time around just seems a lot faster. Maybe since it is summer instead of winter this time, maybe that makes it go faster too...because I am not as "bored" and house-bound. I know I definitely like having a baby in the summer better than in the winter, just for my sanity & happiness sake lol. Winter just depresses me because its so cold and dreary, not as much sun, shorter days....ick. I wish I liked it more, but alas, I just....can't. I'll try again this winter though!

Anyway, Matthew is doing great, sleeping a lot and nursing very well. He had a dr. appointment today and weighed 10 lbs. There is an area of slight concern and that is he has a sacral dimple. When we go back in 2 months, we will see how it looks and decide if we should get an ultrasound done. Please pray that everything is fine and there are no issues with his spinal cord or anything else.

As for me, I am feeling tons better and I even want to be able to start working out! I am going to be a good girl though and take it easy until my 6 week follow up appointment. Three weeks left, wahoo!

That is all for now, I leave you with these pics of our little sweetie:

Just had his first bath at home

Jimmy showing Matthew how to have tummy time

Ahhh nap time!

9 Months Old

I haven't posted any pics of Luke for a while so here are a couple. He is such a sweetie, growing so quick. I can't believe he is already 9 months old!

We took a nice walk around our corn field and down by the creek. Luke had a blast sniffing every little thing. I am sure there were a lot of coyote and deer scents.

Happily bounding back to me, what a good pup! (of course, the excitement could have been more focused on getting the treat in my hand....lol)

Happy boy done with our walk.

Next on the agenda, taking Luke AND Bo out together....they haven't gone on a walk together yet so it will be interesting to see how they do! So stay tuned.... =)