How Can I Create When I'm Hungry?

This SNICKERS® snack #WhenImHungry shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions and hunger-driven experiences are mine alone. #CollectiveBias

How do you act when you're hungry?

Okay, I'll go first... I am definitely Medusa when I am running on empty. Bad temper, and my glare could turn even the most well-intentioned to stone. I don't like to get to that point, but as a a busy Mom facing toddler tantrums, 100 questions and 200 issues that require a, "Mom!", I can run out of energy fast.

And there is no way I can create new recipe ideas or make new crafts to share here when my inner monster is running loose!

Yes, hunger can bring out the worst in us. SNICKERS® understands that at times we may act like divas, curmudgeons or even babies when we are hungry. They created a fun meme generator where you can show off who you become when you get a little "hangry". 

Enter the SNICKERS® "Who are you when you're hungry?" contest by uploading a personal photo or video from your Computer, Facebook, Instagram or use the SNICKERS® Meme Generator to create something new! Voting begins at Noon on 5/11/15 and ends at 11:59:59AM ET on 7/15/15.

I tend to not realize I'm hungry for a while, but my family sure understands the signs! I created this little .gif to show how I feel inside when I finally take time to grab something like a SNICKERS® bar.

Of course, making a .gif was only possible because I wasn't hungry...

SNICKERS® is one of my favorites and I just recently learned that my favorite snack comes in 3 other great flavors.  I picked up the SNICKERS® Extreme, Peanut Butter Squares, and SNICKERS® Almond on my last trip to Walmart. I wanted to have these stashed away for those moments when my family looks at me like I'm Medusa.

And since I often don't feel like myself in the late afternoon, when the kids are napping, I created my own little SNICKERS® Almond Berry Hungry Parfait.

SNICKERS® Almond Berry Hungry Parfait

You Will Need:

• 1 SNICKERS® Almond bar, chopped
• Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt
• Frozen Blueberries
• Cajeta to drizzle on top

Alternate layers of yogurt, chopped candy and blueberries, then drizzle with a little cajeta. 

This little treat is cold, creamy and sweet! This calms my inner Gorgon in no time!

You can pick up all the great SNICKERS® varieties right in the check-out aisle of your local Walmart. See more great SNICKERS® recipes and fun stories on the SNICKERS® social hub.

Now you know what I'm like when I'm hungry, what about you? Who do you become?

Prepare for Easter with HERSHEY'S #BunnyTrail and a Giveaway

I received a variety of candy from HERSHEY'S and a stipend from Global Influence to create my Easter post. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Seeing smiles on my kids' faces and getting the chance to watch them dart around the yard hunting for eggs makes me happy. Oh, and don't forget the chocolate. I like to think that I make it special for my kids every year.

Are you ready for Easter? There is still plenty time to bring a little of the #BunnyTrail home to your family and create a day filled with great memories. In fact, I get started on my to-do list months ahead of time. It isn't a long list, but if you have 3 or more kids, it is a must to do it early!

Here are my 4 Tips for a great Easter with my kids.

Think Pictures
I love getting a family picture of my kids all dressed up for Easter. I will also snap some candid shots during the Easter Egg Hunt, but I also make time for a few posed shots as well. To ensure you can find all the sizes you need, shop early. Most clothing stores already have their Easter line available. I turned to Etsy this year and for around the same price I had my daughter's dress (above) and coordinated ties made for the boys. Most shops require 2-4 weeks to create something handmade, so there is still time.

Stock Up on Candy
The stores are starting to put out their Easter candy already. Grab an assortment of flavors and types for all the candy-lovers in your life. I make sure to grab some with chocolate, some without and some nut-free options to cover all our friends and a wide range of dietary needs. I love the JOLLY RANCHER Jelly Beans for my children that can't eat chocolate.

Grab Plenty of Eggs.
There are so many shapes, sizes and colors of plastic eggs these days. Despite memories of dying and hiding real eggs as a child, I prefer to hide plastic eggs. They don't spoil! I grab an assortment  to fit the wide range of treats we will be giving out this year.

These larger plastic eggs make a great final egg hunt prize. I am going to cut vinyle to adorn each with the kids' names.

Then I get a bunch of the smaller eggs for the smaller candy. The tiny eggs are perfect for a few ROLOS CANDY or HERSHEY'S KISSES MILK CHOCOLATE. I even have  golden eggs for special surprises like money.

And those suckers? Don't miss out on the chance to give out their favorite lollipops. Just poke or drill a hole in the bottom of your plastic egg to push the stick through. My kids are hugs fans of the JOLLY RANCHER lollipops and keep their eyes peeled for them during our egg hunt.

And the last item on my list? Dessert, of course.

Get Creative. Not Complicated
Every Easter I try out a new sweet treat and this year I am going to make more of these adorable bird nest cupcakes topped with WHOPPERS ROBIN EGGS or CADBURY MINI EGGS There is no need to do anything special, the candy already comes colored and speckled like birds' eggs.

You can find even more inspiration on the Celebrate With HERSHEY's site. I also want to make these marshmallow treat bird nests with my kids.

Bird's Nest Cupcakes

You Will Need:

• 1 batch of your favorite cake to make 24 cupcakes
• Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
• Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (make it stiffer than usual)
• 1 cake decorating bag
• #3 decorator tip
• 1 bag of either WHOPPERS ROBIN EGGS or CADBURY MINI EGGS

Bake your favorite cupcake recipe, we went with classic yellow, then create your vanilla and chocolate buttercream (I suggest using HERSHEY'S Cocoa), and frost the top of the cupcakes With a pasty bag and a size 3 tip  mound up little nests to hold in the candy. Don't worry about being perfect, bird nests are not uniform. Top with either WHOPPERS ROBIN EGGS or CADBURY MINI EGGS. Enjoy!

Giveaway Time!!!

Would you like to win your own assortment of HERSHEY'S candy? Giveaway ends 3/12/2014. Just comment on this post with:

What is your favorite Easter tradition?
AND What is your favorite Easter craft/recipe on Celebrate With HERSHEY'S?

Grab additional entries using rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spooky Brain Brew and Spider Treats for your Halloween Celebrations

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. Counting down to Halloween I was able to get in some Halloween baking and whipped up this spooky Halloween punch for my family. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.  #SpookyCelebration

Halloween is my favorite occasion for baking and decorating. As a child I not only looked forward to dressing up each year, but I was also excited to sample all the Halloween baking and Halloween punch available at October parties. The chance to get creative and make my kids smile motivates me to find new treats and concoctions each year. Are you ready for your #SpookyCelebration this year?

This weekend we started off the month by spending a family day on the farm. I love to stretch our Halloween fun out over the whole month. My kids try to get out to the market every chance they can. They just love the hay maze and corn maze. My husband puts a lot of thought and pride into setting them up for the local kids, but it is also fun to enjoy with our family.

The kids had a blast. Set up in a spare greenhouse, the hay maze is fun regardless of the weather outside. My husband made it more difficult this year and it was fun to watch other families enjoying it as well.

I knew my family would be building up an appetite and working up a thirst on the farm, I had some spooky treat ideas up my sleeve. I found a brain mold last year and have been waiting for the perfect chance to try it out. Using plain gelatin, evaporated milk and Hawaiian Punch, I created a wiggly brain for everyone.

I just adore gelatin molds.

After spraying the mold with non-stick spray, I filled it and set it in the fridge to chill for about 4 hours. I couldn't wait to show off my creepy creation to the kids.

My son is a the age where "gross" is becoming cool. I must admit it is a pretty fun part of having little boys and fits in perfectly with Halloween fun. Give him bugs and gelatin brains and he's thrilled.

Hawaiian Punch Gelatin Brain

You Will Need:

• 5 packets of unflavored gelatin
• 5 c. Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 5 oz. evaporated milk
• 1 brain mold
• non-stick spray

Wash and dry the brain mold before using. Lightly spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.

Pour two cups of cold Hawaiian Punch into a medium bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let it sit for 2 minutes.

Add 3 cups of hot juice and sugar until gelatin and sugar dissolve completely. Let the mixture come to room temperature and then whisk in the evaporated milk. Place the mold in a small baking dish so it won't tip. Pour mixture into the mold and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Unmold gelatin onto a plate immediately before serving.

I also wanted something that would appeal more to my daughter. She loves decorated cupcakes, but when I saw these little toothpick legs I was thinking doughnut spiders. Paired with candy eyes and topped with all our favorite chopped Mars candy, I knew these would be a runaway hit.

I started with a simple vanilla bean baked doughnut. They do require a doughnut pan, but I love that they aren't fried or greasy. You could substitute with vanilla cupcakes as well. Topped with simple vanilla buttercream, I decorated each spider with M&Ms or chopped mini Mars candy bars. The perfect way to use up leftover candy, don't you think? I love both Milky Way and Snickers so had to use those. Then I added on on two candy eyes and put leg toothpicks on each side to look like a spider.

Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnut Spiders 

You Will Need:

• 1 c. pastry flour
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. buttermilk powder
• 2 large eggs
• 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla bean paste
• 1 buttercream recipe
• chopped Mars candy (Snickers, Milky Way, Twix or 3 Musketeers) or M&Ms for decorating
• candy eyes
• toothpick legs
• cupcake papers

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the doughnut pan generously.

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Beat the wet ingredients together in a different bowl and then add to the dry mixture all at once. Stir till combined then divide between the 6 doughnut pan wells.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until a toothpicks comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes, then use a spatula to help ease out any stuck doughnuts. Let them cool completely before frosting.

Set each doughnut on a slightly flattened cupcake paper. Frost the top of each with a favorite buttercream recipe. Top with candy and then put candy eyes on each one. Put toothpick legs on each side of the doughnut.

Gobble them up before they skitter away!

The last trick up my sleeve was a classic punch. Aren't they the best? This one is a throw-back to my childhood parties. Hawaiian Punch is a classic all on it's own, but for Halloween I dressed it up with a bit of 7-Up, pineapple juice and dry ice.

Be sure to use plastic containers, wear gloves and handle the dry ice with tongs. I placed a cup inside my punchbowl to hold the dry ice. Just keep it weighted down in the middle and pour the punch ingredients in the bowl. Once a little water is added to the dry ice, it will begin to fog over the top and create a spooky effect for the table.

Since both featured Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red, I dubbed my punch, "Brain Brew" to go along with the gelatin brain.

Hawaiian Punch "Brain Brew"

You Will Need:

• 1 gallon Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red
• 1 liter 7UP
• 1 quart pineapple juice
• dry ice
• water

Use a large plastic punch bowl. Place a cup or tall container in the middle of the bowl and while wearing gloves and using tongs, place a large piece of dry ice inside it. Pour the Hawaiian Punch, 7UP and pineapple juice around the cup and stir. When your party begins, pour a small amount of water into the cup with dry ice. It will start to fog over the punch bowl and spill over the sides. If the smoke starts to lessen, add more water or a new piece of dry ice. Be sure to dish up the punch with a plastic ladle and take care not to touch the dry ice.

Grab a coupon for Mars Halloween candy, you know that will come in handy this month. You can also find more spooky inspiration on the Bright Ideas site.


What spooky things do you make for Halloween?

It's So Sweet to Share - See's Candies Has Many Gift Options + Sweepstakes

The holidays always bring out my sweet tooth!

Whether giving or receiving, a box of candy, truffles or other sweet treats, See's Candies is a brand name I grew up with and love. So many options, so many different flavors to try the gifting possibilities are endless.

I was contacted to do a review of See's Candies for the holidays. Whether you have a favorite in mind, or just want to browse their large selection of Christmas Gifts, Hanukkah Gifts, Hostess Gifts or Stocking Stuffers, you will be impressed with the options. It used to be a tradition in my husband's family to receive a box of See's Candies Peanut Brittle every holiday. We could always look forward to that sweet and salty treat. Since our home is already bursting with "stuff", I always appreciate a gift that can be savored, but also doesn't take up more room in our home.

I opted for three different candy assortments; Victoria Toffee, Eggnog Truffles and the Holiday Fancy Gift Box - Snowflakes. First let me introduce the creamy, rich Eggnog Truffles...

I love eggnog, so this one I just had to try. Rich and creamy filling wrapped in white chocolate did not disappoint. These little beauties were rich enough that I couldn't have more than one in a sitting. The small box would make a lovely stocking stuffer or gift for a coworker.

When I think of See's Candies I think about boxes of assorted chocolates, a real exploration for my tastebuds, so I had to get a gift box. The box didn't come with a flavor key, but the chocolates are in See's best-loved flavors with something in there for everyone. White chocolate, milk and dark, soft or crunchy this pregnant mama is keeping them all for herself. Well, I might share one or two with my husband.

Each box of chocolates arrived in the mail packaged beautifully and in great condition. So, if you don't have a local See's Candies store near you, be sure to take advantage of all the great options available to order online.

Last, but not least I sampled the Victoria Toffee, which has become my new favorite. I love the crunch of the buttery toffee, almonds and milk chocolate. Yum! I think this has replaced my beloved Peanut Brittle and satisfies both my need for something crunchy and sweet.

With so many great options for gift baskets, business gifts or even the kids in your life, be sure to check out See's Candies website. Be sure to also check out the 'custom mix' boxes of chocolates you can hand select to please that person on your list.

Sweepstakes Alert!
See’s is currently running a sweepstakes thru 12/24. Enter to win prizes daily & a chance to win the Grand Prize – 1lb of chocolate a month for 30 years! Good luck. 


*Disclaimer - I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and experiences are my own.