Organizing your way in to 2014

How do you feel about the New Year? I think there is a spectrum of excitement- from "a new year is like a blank slate, anything is possible" all the way to "it's just another Wednesday, folks".

I'm somewhere in the middle of this excitement spectrum. I like starting new calendar's but it annoys me when I write the wrong date on something- if you received gifts for New Year's I'd ask for white out.

Regardless of your feelings about ringing in the New Year, a little organization can help you ring in 2014 calm and collected.

Here Jess and I are sharing our top 5 organizing posts of 2013! Happy organizing, and happy New Year!

1. This tip from Jess will get your kids toys organized and encourage them to pick up. Picture Toy Storage

2. Speaking of kids, now that the school year is almost half over, does anyone else have a countertop and fridge covered in kids art? I will be working on this project this week! Kids Art Photo Book

3. It's no secret that Jess and I love Erin Condren products. Here's our favorite weekly planner... Oh What a Week Planner

4. And here's our favorite way to stay organized all year long! My Life Planner

5. Some times the New Year comes with the resolution to eat healthier, or maybe to eat together as a family. Here are 2 posts to help you do just that! Monthly Meal Planning & Meal Planning Week by Week

For more organizing posts, click the word "organizing" below!

Friday Favorite: Christmas Gifts

Who's still on a Christmas high? *raises hand*

We have our last family Christmas dinner and gift exchange tonight. I love that our holiday lasts a little longer :)

I got some great goodies this year- I must have been good this year ;)

I wanted to share with you all my 2 favorite gifts that I received as a way of making everyone's holiday cheer last a bit longer!

First up, this nifty little gadget:

It's a Topper Chopper! How great is that? Now, I know that there are other ways to chop toppings for hot chocolate, ice cream, brownies, whatever, but this thing makes it a breeze! Seriously, you can put together a hot chocolate bar in 5 minutes. And it's fun.

It can even transform to be a dispenser. So cute.

I whipped up some candy cane sprinkles and some mint M&M bits for our Christmas hot chocolate!

Secondly, I'm super excited about getting PW's holiday cookbook!! Jess got one, too!

I'm already planning to make her New Year's Eve party recipes.  Whether or not I have a party... we'll see.

What was your favorite gift?

Happy Friday!!

Merry Christmas!

We hope your Christmas is full of family, love, laughter, and blessings! 

We're taking a few days off from blogging to enjoy the holiday- see you next week!

Jess & Lynns

Tip for Tuesday: Wrap Up Your Table!

Earlier this month I hosted a Cookies & Cocoa party, and we had lots of kids getting messy creative with their cookie decorating.

Let me tell you my secret to this clean-up being a cinch-

I wrapped the table with leftover wrapping paper from a year (or two, or three) ago. It was pretty and all I had to do was rip the paper off and throw it in the trash.

So simple, right?

What do you do during holiday gatherings to make clean-up or prep easier? 

Always Ready Hot Chocolate Bar

'Tis the season for... lot of things! I love this time of year because of the friends, family, traditions, and all of the love the holidays bring with them.

One of my favorite things is having friends and family over. Whether it's a fun party or just a quick visit, it's so great to be able to talk and enjoy each other's company. Another one of my favorite things are holiday movies. White Christmas was on ALL DAY on Saturday and I was lovin' it!!

Whether it's snuggling on the couch watching a movie or sitting around the kitchen table chatting with family, hot chocolate is the perfect compliment!

Here's my mommy machine secret to always having hot chocolate ready to go:

I keep hot chocolate essentials in mason jars on my bar top. These are my current faves:

• hot coco mix
• peppermint marshmallows
• candy canes
• Andes Mint chips
• white chocolate chips
• colored sugar

It blends right in with my Christmas decorations and I'm always ready to make hot chocolate- one cup or ten, I'm ready! Whipped cream is always in the fridge so the only thing I have to do to prep is warm some milk. It doesn't get easier than that.

This would make a super fun Christmas gift too! Wrap some ribbon around the mason jars and pack it all in a cute basket and you've got yourself a very thoughtful and yummy gift to give!

Kids Cookie Decorating Party

On Sunday I hosted a "Cookies & Cocoa" party for some of our friends and their families; it was so much fun and really got us into the holiday spirit!

Hosting a holiday party can get kind of stressful- so much prep work, cleaning, and last-minute details to complete. Not to mention, after the fun is over, you get to clean your house again. :)

Here are a few ways I prepped ahead and made clean-up a little easier:

I baked cookies earlier in the week and stuck them in the freezer. This was a game-changer because I wasn't spending my entire Saturday before the party baking cookies! Just stick your completely cooled cookies in a freezer bag- so simple, right? All I had to do on Sunday morning was pull them out and let them thaw a few hours before our guests arrived.

 Sprinkle Bakes has the most amazing chocolate cut-out cookie recipe. You must try it! 

Semi-Sweet Designs roll-out sugar cookie recipe is my favorite! 

I prepped our cocoa bar toppings in advance. I had a few different toppings for our hot cocoa bar that I kept in mason jars. Super easy to pull out and serve, although I did opt to put them in holiday containers for this party.

I set a treat box at each kiddo's spot at the table. These served as "to-go" boxes for all the cookies they decorated, and it worked out great! I didn't have to run around looking for containers for everyone's cookies at the end of the party.

I wrapped the cookie decorating table with wrapping paper. Super easy clean-up!

Gift it Tuesday: My Special Needs Kiddo

Buying presents for my special needs kiddo has always been a challenge. He doesn't play with a lot of toys and can easily become fixated on certain parts of toys- especially toys with flashing lights or spinning parts.

I never thought I would have to think so hard about toys and presents for my kids- I guess it just comes with the territory of being a special needs family. :) I happily accept the challenge though, because when I do choose the perfect gift for Little Dude, it makes my heart smile!

Many of the toys I find for Little Dude are online or aren't even in the toy section at all! Here is what I've come up with for him this year:

1. Body Pillow- this kid loves pillows! This would be great for a kiddo who loves hugs or having objects wrapped around his or her body. LD likes to put pillows on his lap while playing his iPad, or he likes to put one on top of his body when he's sleeping.

2. Ikea Swivel Chair - I think I really nailed it on the head with this gift. LD loves to be in small spaces and he likes to spin. This chair meets both of those needs. He can also pull down the hood and "hide", which he also loves to do! The price tag is $89.99, so this was his "big " gift. He is going to love it and I think it will trump any other kind of toy I could've come up with!

3. Go Go Smart Wheels Train Station - Many times, kids with Autism have a difficult time using their imagination. It doesn't make sense to them, so as they get older and the toys become more imagination-based, it can be really tough to find toys they will understand how to play with and enjoy. This train station set is awesome because it is a cause-and-effect type toy and the train moves on it's own by pushing down on the front of the vehicle. There is a clear purpose and my kiddo won't be left wondering what the heck he's supposed to do! 

Do you have a special needs kiddo you are buying for this year? If so, what are some of your gift ideas? I'd love to hear all about it! 

Stocking Stuffer List

It can be hard to think of stocking stuffers- here are some of our ideas!

For the Little Ones
rattles
little taggies
teether
teether biscuits
fruit and veggie pouches
fabric/soft sided books
bibs
pacifier
baby mittens
sippy cup


For the Toddlers and Preschoolers
kaleidoscope
play-doh
bubbles
craft kits (Target dollar section!)

finger puppets

window markers/crayons

coloring book

toothbrush

bath toy squirters
bracelets/dress-up jewelry
freeze-dried fruit
crayons
flash cards
bubble bath
stickers
paint brushes
little people
cars



For the Older Kids
ornament
mad-libs
nail polish
lip smackers
notebooks
books
gift cards
iPod case
elastics to make rainbow loom bracelets
batteries
gum
watch
jewelry
sunglasses
hats
gloves
scarf


For the Teens
ornament
iTunes gift card
ear buds
smart touch gloves
earrings
chapstick
nail polish
nail files
wallet
key chain
$5 gift cards for coffee or fast food
phone case
cash
watch
sunglasses
scarf
socks

Homemade Mocha

I'm the kind of person who needs coffee to kick start my morning. The problem is I don't like coffee. At least not black coffee, or even coffee with cream... No, I need a mocha to make-ah my morning.

In an effort to save time and money spent hitting up Starbucks every morning, I've crafted a recipe for a homemade mocha. If you don't like strong coffee flavor, this is for you! If you do like coffee flavor, just ease up on the amount of half and half you add.

The ingredients:

K-cup (I make a 10oz cup)

Homemade Hot Coco Mix

Half n half (or milk)
Homemade Peppermint Whipped Cream

The process:

Brew a Kcup.

Add 2 tsp. hot coco mix to your mug.

As the coffee comes out, start stirring! This helps the mix dissolve better giving the mocha better flavor.

Add half n half as you like it- I usually add a couple of tablespoons to further mask the coffee flavor.
Top with a dollop of whipped cream, I prefer peppermint. Yummy!

Now, just sit back and enjoy!!

Have a good morning!

Homemade Whipped Cream: 2 Ways!

Yesterday I shared my favorite homemade cocoa mix, and you can't have hot cocoa without a lot a little whipped cream, right?!

I have been making my own whipped cream for a while now. It's so much better than the canned stuff, and honestly, you can make it in less time than it takes to go to the store and buy a can of pre-made whipped cream!

Whipped cream is yummy as-is, but why not jazz it up a little bit for the holiday season?

Chocolate Whipped Cream
This is for the chocolate lover in your house- in my house, that would be me. 

Use my basic whipped cream recipe, but omit the sugar and vanilla.
Add in 2 tbsp. of hot cocoa mix.
Whip until peaks form.
Store in airtight container for about a week.

Peppermint Whipped Cream
Peppermint drinks mean the holiday season is here! 

Use my basic whipped cream recipe- omit vanilla.
Add 1/2 tsp. - 1 tsp. of peppermint extract. Start with a 1/2 tsp. and add if you like a stronger taste.
Whip until peaks form.
Store in airtight container for about a week.


How 'bout that? I think these are going to be a huge hit at my Cookies & Cocoa party this weekend. Can't wait to share more about that next week!

What is your favorite whipped cream? Have you ever made a flavored whipped cream? I'm always looking for new ideas! *hint hint  :)

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

My sister makes the best hot chocolate. Actually, the best part about it isn't necessarily the hot chocolate itself, but the huge mound of whipped cream and sprinkles that she piles on top of it that really tugs at my sweet tooth.

Her hot chocolate has always been a special "thing" around the holidays and I'm sure this year will be no different. I envision us taking a picture with our drinks and posting on instagram with hashtags like #hotchocolate, #sistasista, #wouldulikesomehotchocolatewithyourwhippedcreamandsprinkles, #jinglebells, #sprinklesmakeeverythingbetter,  etc. :)

Since I can't have my sister's hot chocolate every day (total bummer!), here is the recipe I use to make my own mix. No preservatives, chemicals, or junk!

If you double the recipe you'll probably have enough to last you most of the winter, depending on the size of your family and how often you make a cup o' hot chocolate.

CLMM's Hot Cocoa Mix

1 3/4 C. Sugar
1 1/4 C. Unsweetened Cocoa (I use Hershey's)
1 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

Directions:
Whisk it all together and store in an airtight container in your pantry.
Heat 1 cup of milk until hot. Add 1 1/2- 2 tbsp. of cocoa and mix into milk until dissolved. Top with some yummy whipped cream- try my easy 5 minute recipe- and sprinkles to make it fun!

*Sometimes I mix in chopped chocolate mint candies or crushed peppermint to 1/2 of my mixture make a quick peppermint hot chocolate- so yummy! Just be sure to label your containers! 

What's your favorite way to have hot cocoa?