Cookie Monster approved...

   I present to you 2 different cookie recipes, my 2 favorites. One is healthy, one is not. But both are approved by my picky toddlers (but the last one is actually OK for them to eat for breakfast.)!

   THE best Monster Cookies:  

   From: Mrs. Schwartz's Kitchen -found on Pinterest

 -1/2 cup (or 1 stick) of butter (room temp.)

 -1/2 cup brown sugar

 -1/4 cup white sugar

 -3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

 -1 egg

 -1 tsp. vanilla (after taking 2 years of Spanish in high school, my brain now reads the "ll" sound as a "ya" sound - so, vaniya. Useless fact about me for you.)

 -1/2 tsp. baking soda

 -1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

 -1/2 cup quick cooking oats

 -3/4 cup m&ms (mini are the BEST)

 -1/4 cup chocolate chips

 -1/4 cup peanut butter chips (I actually haven't ever put these in, simply because I didn't have any in my pantry.)

    

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

   

   -Start by combining the butter, brown and white sugars in a large mixing bowl using a hand/stand mixer...or you have the option of grabbing a spoon and showing the mix who's boss...that works too.

   -Then, add the peanut butter and stir. Followed by the egg and stir again.

   -Measure in the baking soda and flour and stir until combined.

   -Stir in the Oats, m&ms, choc. chips, and pb chips.

   

  -Plop desired cookie size onto greased baking sheet and then smoosh them down since they don't spread on their own.

   Bake 9-10 minutes but no longer!

  -Let cool 2-3 minutes.

  -Now turn on Netflix and grab a big glass of milk and enjoy! 

  *Note: Cannot be held responsible for your guilt or weight gain after consuming these cookies.

  OK! Now to the cookie that may not be quite as delicious (but pretty close, in my book.) These are Gluten Free and Guilt Free! I ate 5 of these bad boys with coconut almond milk and still lost a pound!  

   Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies:

   This is my own version from a recipe in the book 'Trim Healthy Mama" (which I highly encourage you to read.).

  -1 Cup of Peanut Butter

  -1 Egg

  -Add 1 tsp. of cocoa, a dash and a half of cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and about 1/4 cup of Stevia (add more or less to desired taste).

 

   -Mix all ingredients (it will seem kind of watery when you first start stirring but keep going until it gets to a nice, thick, smooth dough.

    Preheat oven to 330 degrees F. (adjust if your oven cooks at a higher or lower temp.)

   -Place parchment paper on cookie sheet and plop about 1 inch balls onto sheet and then smoosh them down. 

  *Additions: Feel free to add dark chocolate chips (my kids like mini m&ms). Also, I like to sprinkle a little extra Stevia on top, before I place them in the oven.

      Bake for 13 minutes.

     -Place them carefully onto a plate and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

     

    And again, turn on Netflix and enjoy (but without the guilt)!

   I'd love your feedback on what you thought of either of the recipes! Have a lovely weekend, one that is hopefully filled with cookies!

   

   

Positive > Negative

I don't know about you, but I often have days where I'm just done. I get so weary of the day to day beat downs. If  you're a mom, or have co-workers that act like children, you know what I'm talking about. Every conversation is a battle of sorts over one thing or another and somehow you feel as if they're talking circles around you.. You knew at the beginning of a particular argument what your point was and had facts to back it up, you started out confident and sure of yourself.... and by the middle of this conversation, they've asked their "why"s and their "how"s and they've made it very clear that they do NOT want to do what you have told them.... and before you know it, you find your self grasping at "because I said so"s and probably a raised voice that matches your raised eyebrows...and suddenly, you've become your mother! Then you're stuck on that thought, and, if you're a woman, most likely a thousand other thoughts like: "I need to defrost chicken for dinner", "I forgot to call so and so", "Did I even brush my teeth today? *sniff sniff*", etc... And then you realize, wait! I'm still trying to convince my 2 year old that it's not OK to be naked in public and for the LOVE of all things, please put on your shirt! So the battle continues. This ONE instance in itself just drains you of all you have. Now, if you're not a parent, I'm positive that you can think of someone in your life who resembles my 2 year old I described, in one way or another. It's draining! As a parent, especially as a stay at home mom... 24/7 of disciplining, correcting, encouraging them NOT to belly flop off the couch but to hop off a pillow instead, directing their attention away from the bakery section at the store, and so on and so forth... is so mentally taxing some days, that by the time I finally get the kiddos into bed (for the 7th time), I have absolutely nothing left. I'm grouchy, I want to have 2 seconds to myself, I don't want to be asked any more questions... and typically, this exhausted attitude is, unfortunately, taken out on my poor husband who just wanted to hug me, just wanted to be my friend...and I turn on him like a wounded animal and bite his head off. Then I feel like an ABSOLUTE jerk and spend the rest of my evening beating myself, or him, over the head about how dumb I am. And so, I go to bed saying "tomorrow will be better", but it mostly never is. Why? Because my attitude sucks! Yes, these instances happen with our children or other people, yes life is difficult, yes we all struggle with finances, our health, and should I have posted that status on social media? Daily, we all race to get somewhere. To be someone. To just get to......not here. Not today. Because "tomorrow will be better"....right? Wrong. Tomorrow will not be better... if you don't fix your attitude! Where ever you are...you have the potential to bring life and love to that conversation, to that person, to that circumstance. You may not have the same religious beliefs as me... but an attitude adjustment towards the positive is a universal truth, not just a biblical Truth. Focusing on the positive and BEING positive (not just 'trying' to) are going to change your day so much! It is something I have to work on daily, and I'll be quite honest with you, I still fail. A lot. But I don't let that stop me. Your kind gesture, smile, or encouraging words could be just what someone needed that day. Don't wait for the positive to happen in your life, be the positive... it's like a magnet. -Those are my deep thoughts for today.

That all being said, if you're still reading at this point, thank you! My goal for this blog is to bring positive into your life and even into mine! I hope to post encouraging stories, funny stories and pictures that happen in our life but probably mostly about my sweet kiddos, recipes will probably be posted simply because...food is wonderful and sometimes food is just needed for comfort, and any other random things I deem positive will be blogged. Check in often!