So simple a child could do it!

Hello all.  I just had to share some cute pictures of Monkey making Mrs. MacRae's Marevelous Muffins yesterday.  They turned out just perfect.  I did notice that there were far fewer chocolate chips in the actual muffins than in the cup I had measured with. Go figure.  In case you missed the recipe you can find it right here
Mrs. MacRae's Marvelous Muffins

Grandma Hick's Creamy Maple Candy

It makes me feel very connected to my grandmother when I make this recipe every Christmas.  She used to make it and give it out to neighbours and friends over the holidays as well.  My Grandma passed away when I was only 3 but I still have such vivid memories of her.  The way her cold cream smelled and her thick lipstick.  I like knowing that I am keeping her tradition alive.  What traditions are you passing on?  Who did they come from? Challenge yourself to dig up an old family recipe this week and enjoy the trip down memory lane.


Grandma Hick's Creamy Maple Candy
4 Cups Brown Sugar
1 Cup Cereal Cream
3 tbs butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of baking soda

Cook sugar, cream and butter to a soft ball.  Do not scrape the sides of your pot during cooking.  Once heated add a pinch of baking soda and the vanilla.  Beat on high speed until spoon leaves a mark in the mixture.  Pour into lined baking pan. Try to resist sampling until it is cooled...just kidding it is so yummy when it is warm why wait.

Injoystampin Card Challenge

Go to check out this cute birthday card challenge. I want to make a card and send it just because I think it would be amazing to receive hundreds of cards in the mail!

Gooey Cheesy Goodness

Ok, let's face it I am no health nut. In fact I am not even close.  I admire those of you that can relish the flavour of fruit and vegetable faire but its just not me.  I am the comfort food type girl (as witnessed by my rapidly increasing skirt size.  I think it comes down to you just have to know who you are and who you are not.  I repeat, I am not a health nut.  So that being said I want to share with you one of the most fatty, non-healthy recipes I possess.  It was given to me from a man I used to work with, though I am suspecting perhaps his wife made it and he just arrived with it and accepted the compliments.   This was his potluck hit at every social event we attended.  I finally got the recipe from him just before he transferred to a new position where he was not longer going to be attending the same potlucks as me.  He passed away a couple years ago and I think he would be ok with my sharing it with just my closest friends like you:)  Please enjoy this oh so yummy dish but remember if you are attending the same potlucks as me....bring another dish as this is my all time favourite.

Ted's Tasty 4 Cheese Shells

Whizzpoppers?

I just finished tucking my munchkins in for the night and I am still puzzled by the allure of body humour to boys.  My children are on a Roald Dahl kick right now.  I know its a bit foolish but if it keeps them interested then I am going to keep running with it.  We are currently reading The BFG and we just completed the chapter with the WHIZZPOPPERS! Only upon reading this story can you truly  appreciate the masterful use of imagery for this particular subject.  Monkey was literally snorting with glee each time I said the word.  Princess, trying hard to pretend that the subject was beneath her dignity could barely contain herself as the chapter progressed.  What is it about body humour that boys find so absolutely hilarious.  The infectious laughter of my son could coax even the most prudish of Moms into a guilty bout of giggles. If you want a truly heartwarming silly adventure with your children, though it is a bit of a tongue twister with all the gibberish words, I highly advise reading the BFG.  We just finished Witches last week and we read the The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (which admittedly I did not like at all).  The children were begging me each night to read just one more chapter (which I did) but I had to limit it to two or they would have eagerly stayed awake all night hearing the story.  Chapter books are such a great way to wind down the day and also to build anticipation for hearing how the story progresses.  What are your family's favourite chapter books?

Life's Little Moments

Well I just had to share a cute family moment from our brunch this morning.  Our little man is one of those nibbler sort of eaters and he is always the first to be excused from the table.  This morning he took advantage  of his captive audience by entertaining us with his magic skills. OK so he is 4 this week so you can imagine.  He had a makeshift wand constructed of Kinnex and one by one he was changing our family members into various animals and characters.  I was of course immediately turned into an Alligator. The Princess herself was turned into a frog,  Monkey was turned back and forth between a Alligator and a Frog.  When he came to my husband he paused thinking carefully and said "Make Daddy a King". My husband who is usually not as active in our imaginary play did not miss a beat and replied "Thank you, Thank you very much" in his most Elvis like voice. I killed myself laughing, partly because of the voice and partly because I knew the kids had no idea what the reference was to.  The kids were beside themselves laughing because we were laughing, and Tiger was so proud of himself for causing the entire thing.  An ordinary family moment became magic.  A memory that will be stored in all our hearts for a long time.  What ordinary magic is going on in your house today?

Mrs McRae's Marvelous Muffins

Here is a link to my friends amazing banana muffin recipe.  It is so easy and so good you just have to try it.

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3942318595151040919#editor/target=page;pageID=7058712507011089902

A Freebie For You

Here is a link to my tear bear pattern enjoy:)
http://mygrandmasteacups.blogspot.ca/p/crafty-ideas.html

A Birthday Card for Cody

Good afternoon ladies.  I made a quick tutorial for a card that I made for my Godson Cody.  It is just a really quick video (again don't mind the messy backdrop, its on my to-do-list.) Tear Bears are allot of fun to make and my kids just love them.  My husband even wants me to make him a panda bear. (I think he thinks they are cool ever since Jack Black voiced Kung Fu Panda,) Papercrafting is an excellent way to teach children the importance of measuring and being able to work with mixed fractions. My daughter hates math, but she will gladly sit and work out the dimensions she needs for a paper project she is working on. The idea is to find fun ways to engage the children in their learning.  What can you make with your child today to reinforce math concepts? Post your ideas and links.