Cupcake Party + Hot Chocolate Recipe {GIVEAWAY}

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeInTheFun #CollectiveBias

How fun are the holidays?! I definitely try to do as much as I can as far as getting in my holiday baking. Today's post is just that! Ideas for decorating cupcakes, a delicious hot chocolate recipe, AND you can enter a giveaway to win one of eight KitchenAid® mixers! All you have to do is vote on your favorite photo of recipes that haven't been entered.

Holiday #BakeInTheFun

I went out to my local Walmart to pick up these great products from my baking needs. I grabbed a gallon of 2% Great Value milk, M&M's® Hot Chocolate, M&M's® Holiday Milk Chocolate, Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Cake Mix, and, Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Vanilla Flavored Frosting. Here is a COUPON to save $1.00 on ANY TWO (2) M&M's® Chocolate Candies, 8 oz or larger. I'm so excited to share these ideas with you because everything was just so yummy!



I first followed the instructions to make cupcakes with the Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Holiday Cake Mix. One of my favorite smells is when cake is baking in the oven. Mmmm.

I got everything out and ready to start decorating!

Here are three ideas to decorate your cupcakes. I've got a Christmas tree, an ornament, and a wreath.

Now for the HOT CHOCOLATE! I love sitting on the couch curled up with a blanket, watching a Christmas movie, and sipping on a cup of hot chocolate! They have a limited kind M&M's® Hot Chocolate that I used to make the hot chocolate.

I first put 1/2 cup of them in a food processor to grind them down as much as I could. It's ok if there are some larger pieces.

I added 1 cup of milk and added the M&M's® Hot Chocolate and let it heat up and melt down the rest of the larger pieces. Stir often.

Pour into your favorite mug! This hot chocolate was so good. I will honestly be making it this way again. It was very rich which I really enjoy.

Recipe

-1/2 cup  M&M's® Hot Chocolate

-1 cup 2% Great Value milk

Part of this season is to give back. When you purchase 2 bags of M&M’s® at Walmart (9.4 oz bags or larger) up to a gallon of milk will be donated to The Great American Milk Drive. When I think of  donating to a food drive I think of giving canned or boxed items, but one of the most asked for items is milk. A lot of children and families are missing out on the essential nutrients that's in milk. You can also make a small donation HERE.

What would you make with these items?! Here are some more ideas and also HERE is an idea for a M&M's® Holiday Snowflake Cookies recipe.

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareTheJoyOfPie #CollectiveBias

The Holidays are here! I know for me that means a lot of time spent with family and friends and a lot of food! Especially dessert. Pie is one of my favorite desserts. I will even ask my dad to make me a pie for my birthday and trust me it doesn't last very long around the house. Another pie I have always been a fan of as well is Marie Callender's® Dessert Pies. I'm telling you, they are so delicious!

We recently hosted a Friendsgiving at our house. That is where you invite your friends over for a Thanksgiving dinner! We had a lot of fun and we made it pot luck style. Along with other food items I also provided a Marie Callender's® Dessert Pie and some Reddi-Wip® to go on top. I went to my local Walmart to pick up both items. It was very convenient to get from the store and very simple to prepare.

A lot of people say that leftovers are always the best part of Thanksgiving. I do agree it's one of my favorite parts as well! I want to share how to make a delicious pumpkin pie milkshake with your leftover pies during the holiday season.

First you prepare your pie as directed on the box and share with your guests. Or you can make milkshakes right away.

Get your leftover pie! For us I made this milkshake the day after we ate the pie.

For one milkshake, put 1 cup of milk in your blender.

Scoop about 1 cup of vanilla ice cream in as well.

Add a slice of leftover pie!

Once it is all blended together, top with some Reddi-Wip®.

And there you go! A yummy alternative to your leftover pie.

What would you do with your left over pie?! Share the joy of pie at your holiday party and share your ideas! Here are some more ideas and go here for some coupons!

Mini Frozen Pumpkin Pies

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EffortlessPies #CollectiveBias

This time of year is my favorite! Mostly for the delicious treats and yummy goodies ;) We try to watch ourselves with how much dessert we are eating, but it can be difficult when people are dropping treats off at the house, when someone brings lots of sweets to your work, or all of those holiday get togethers. These pies are a great healthier option that is so simple to make. These effortless mini pumpkin pies are perfect to serve at one of those get togethers or to drop off to your neighbors. You may find yourself making them several times!

I first went to my local Walmart and picked up a Dannon® Greek Yogurt; Oikos® Pumpkin Pie Greek Yogurt, a Keebler® Ready Crust® Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crust, and a Reddi-wip® Original. I also used some pumpkin pie spice and Fall sprinkles.

Depending on how many you want to make, for one pie I scooped around half of the Dannon® Greek Yogurt; Oikos® Pumpkin Pie Greek Yogurt out and put into the bowl. Then a couple sprays of the Reddi-wip® Original. Also a dash of some pumpkin pie spice into the bowl.

Next I mixed everything and started spooning into the Keebler® Ready Crust® Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crusts. Put in the freezer for about 30-60 minutes. Keep an eye on them because they will freeze faster since they are smaller in size.

Lastly, top the pies with some more Reddi-wip® Original and sprinkles of your choice!

Three main ingredients, effortless, and delicious!

How would you make your effortless mini pies?!

Blackberry Jam Recipe

So the new area we are living in is quite rural. Lots of open fields, tobacco farms, and deer. I'm not used to it, but I love it so far. The quietness of it all is so relaxing and all I want to do is sit on my porch in my rocking chair everyday. A couple weeks ago Dallin and I went down the street to a farm to pick some blackberries. It was quite the experience. Trying to find the big ones while fighting off june bugs. They don't do anything to you, they're just big and make a loud zipping noise. Uhh I just get the shivers thinking about it. Overall it was a lot of fun. I will face the big bugs to get some fresh fruit :)

Anyways, the day after I decided to make some homemade bread and to go with it we made some homemade blackberry jam. Soooo good. I probably could have eaten the whole loaf by myself. I wanted to share the recipe because I miss sharing recipes that I enjoy on here. Honestly I use the internet ALL of the time for recipes so maybe someone will use this one! 

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups of blackberries(or another type of fruit)

2 tbsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup sugar

dash of vanilla(optional)

Directions

Mash the berries in a saucepan with the heat on.

Add the sugar and wait for it to melt and become like a syrup.

Add the cornstarch.

Bring it all to a boil. Make sure you stir so it doesn't stick to the bottom.

Add the cinnamon and stir until it has thickened up. 10-15 mins.

Place in a container and put in the fridge.

So I didn't add the vanilla only because I didn't have any, but for some reason I feel like it would make it taste really good. I'm definitely going to try it next time. I also put my jam in a mason jar with a lid and it did just fine. Try this sometime and I hope you enjoy!

Bright + A Fall Recipe

Hello blog. It's been awhile. Last week was all sorts of crazy. Even though this weekend wasn't too busy, it still seemed like I was busy. There was the LDS Conference this past weekend. Which was so good. There are two sessions on Saturday and two on Sunday. Both filled with amazing talks from the leaders and Prophet of my church. It seems to always have the perfect talks that I need to hear. 

Dallin's family was in town so we were able to spend time with them. Other than that things were pretty chill except for the fact that I have so much I have to do today in preparation for this week.

For this Fall look I brought in a brighter color. Yellow isn't my usual go to color in the Fall, but this worked and I like it! Also! Check down below for a DELICIOUS pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe :)

Sweater- c/o Oasap

Scarf- Forever 21

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I made these this past weekend and they are soooo yummy!

Ingredients

-2 2/3 cups Sugar

-2/3 cup Shortening

-1 can Pumpkin (15-16oz)

-2/3 cup Water

-4 eggs

-3 1/3 cups All-Purpose Flour

-2 teaspoons Baking Soda

-1 1/2 teaspoons Salt

-1 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

-1 1/2 teaspoon Ground Gloves

-1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder

-1 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips (I like the mini)

Heat oven to 350. Mix the sugar and shortening. Then stir in pumpkin, eggs, and water, Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Then stir in chocolate chips. If baking in muffin tins-20 mins. If baking in a loaf pan-1 hr 10 mins. Grease the pans!

Staying Healthy with SAM's

"This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Sam’s Club. All opinions are mine alone." #TrySamsClub #CollectiveBias

I'm constantly trying to be healthy. Trying to be good at things such as exercising, getting enough sleep, and eating right. My parents got into green smoothies a couple of years ago and I quickly followed along. My dad actually lost around 35 lbs. in two months by eating naturally and drinking green smoothies. My mom has had a SAM's Club membership ever since I was little and that is what they use to buy their ingredients to make smoothies. I've shared my recipe down at the bottom!

When I started making smoothies I was going to regular grocery stores all of the time to get what I needed. Last year I finally got myself a membership at SAM's club and I love it. This is where I go all of the time to get my fruits and veggies. The greens I buy is the best part! It's a mix of kale, chard, and spinach for only $4! It's amazing. I use it for my salads as well. I usually buy their frozen fruit for my smoothies, but I love stocking my fridge with fresh fruit as well that is all decently priced. Trust me it's the best ever! SAM's saves me so much money buying these items.

Being the good friend I am, I like to share things like this with my friend ;) Lauren and I actually love to share recipes we love with each other so I brought her to SAM's Club with me so she could get her kale medley and some yummy fruit. I would have to say that she is addicted now as well.

SAM's Club honestly helps me when buying food that is healthy for me. I go there about once a week and it's completely worth it!

Green Smoothie Recipe

-1/3 water

-1/3 greens

-1/3 fruit

Pretty simple right?? For a more detailed way..I put about 2 cups of water in my blender, then 2-3 big handfuls of the kale medley, and fruit. I will add the blueberries and strawberries for sure and one apple. Sometimes changing it up is nice, for instance adding pineapple makes it taste so good! Try it!

Make sure you look into SAM's Club and their membership deals. There are a lot of ways to save money there other than their food. They have cheaper gas and even offer health screenings. SAM's Club with be offering a open house this weekend starting on the 12th so it's the perfect time to drop by and see what deals they will have without having a membership!

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Eating Healthy for the Busy

Sorry for being MIA last week. Sometimes life gets super busy and you need to play catch up. Yes that was me all last week. Life has been quite busy lately. 

Eating healthy is a difficult thing. I've been so much better at it the last few months. No I'm not perfect. Yes I mess up, but for the majority I'm doing pretty good. My biggest problem with eating healthy is the "social aspect" of it all. Anytime there is a family get together or we have friends over it is not very healthy. Snacks, soda, and sweets. The evil S's! But hey, one can only do their best.

I wanted to share some things on how I eat healthy.

Source

1. Plan ahead. Have veggies cut up at the beginning of the week and bagged. During the week you can just grab what you want. It makes the choice of grabbing crackers or carrots much easier.

2. Stay busy. If I'm continually doing something, i.e. homework, housework, gym, I'm more likely to not sit on the couch and eat junk. Especially going to the gym. I go to the gym every night during the week and it really helps with not having those sweet cravings at night.

3. Green smoothies. Green smoothies are SO good for you. They will keep you full and that way you are getting tons on fruits and veggies and not bad carbs and fat. Again, go ahead and have the greens and fruits bagged, that way you can just dump them in the blender and call it a day.

4. NO PROCESSED FOODS.  I stay away from the frozen meals and anything that has to be microwaved. Go with natural and go with plant-based!

5. Be adventurous. Haven't tried a green smoothie? Try it! Haven't roasted veggies in coconut oil? Try it!

6. House cleanse. Go through your house and throw away everything that you don't consider "healthy". It's much easier to keep away from those unhealthy treats and snacks when they aren't readily available!

What are some ways you stay healthy???

Healthy Christmas Road Trip Snacks

Christmas is next week!! Yahooooo!!!!! Anyone else traveling?? We are! I get excited for road trips. Listening to my favorite music the whole time, playing the alphabet or license plate game, and eating. Did you ever get excited as a kid to go on road trips, solely for the purpose of stopping at fast food?? I know I did. Even now I love the thought of just a quick stop at Chick-fil-a to get some fuel before a long drive.

Today I have come up with a healthier ideas to eat on road trips. Perfect for the road trips coming up this weekend. These are very simple and easy snacks to pack on your road trip! What makes these easy for me, is that I have this stuff around the kitchen all of the time, so why not bag it all up for the car?! What are your favorite road trip snacks??

I've even got a sweet alternative on here! :)

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies

Do you have a treat or a certain food item that you look forward to every year around Christmas?? These cookies are what I get anxious for every holiday season. My dad started making these a few years back and the family fell in love. They have always seemed to be a crowd pleaser as well! Anytime I have a work party or a Christmas get together, this is my go-to recipe that I whip out. They are super simple to make and so delicious!

Ingredients

-2/3 cup sugar

-2 cups all-purpose flour

-1 cup butter

-1/2 teaspoon almond extract

-1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

Glaze:

-3/4 teaspoon almond extract

-1 teaspoon milk

-1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Directions

1. Preheat over to 350.

2. Cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour really well.

3. Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet. Use finger to make small holes. Fill in with jam.

4. Bake for 15-18 mins.

5. For glaze: mix together sugar, milk, and almond extract. Drizzle over warm cookies.

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