Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars

As you may already know
{or maybe not}
I like to cook, bake or
whatever you call
'messing around in the kitchen.'

Yes that actually happened.
If you are me... {you might need one two eggs for this recipe}

I typically don't cook just for myself
because I find I don't eat it all
&& it goes in the trash. ugh.

So this leaves me
cooking for others I care about.
--which I don't mind at all.

One of my favorites
really likes toffee.
so after much research online
I found a recipe for
Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars.

C A U T I O N : {These things are deadly}

You will need:

No-Stick Cooking Spray

2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup butter or margarine

1 large egg, slightly beaten

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

1 cup coarsely chopped nuts {I left these out}

1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 (8 ounce) package toffee baking bits, divided {I used almost 2 packages}

A couple Heath bars for toppings. {I only used 1}

                              
                                 First preheat your oven to 350 degrees, &&
                          spray a 9x13'' pan with your non-stick cooking spray.

                        In a large bowl you'll need to mix
                               2 1/2 cups flour + 2/3 cups {packed} brown sugar

                                                   Cut in the 3/4 cup butter

                               Then mix the butter till it resembles coarse crumbs.

                         

                                                         Add your 1 egg & stir

                                           {I used a mixer for this step

                                                 to make sure I got everything mixed up well}

      Stir in 1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips

                             & nuts {if you prefer, I didn't}

                          I added more toffee bits instead

                                      

            Now it's time to make the crust--

                     Reserve 1 1/2 cups mixture for the topping

                && press the remaining crumb coat

                                into the bottom of your pan.

                Bake the crust for 10 minutes

                                  & clean up your mess in the meantime.

                                     When your crust is done

        add the whole 8 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

                    to the top

                               Be sure to spread it around

                                               to get an even coat

            It's time to add your toffee bits

                       && reserve 1/4 cup for the topping

              {I opened my new bag of toffee bits for this part

                       I also added a few more toffee bits from the other bag}

                                        Sprinkle the rest of your
                                crumb mixture on top of the toffee

              Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips on top

                   {I didn't want it super chocolatey so I only added 1/3 cup}

                             Look at these wonderful
              sugary, fattening layers!

              It's oven time!
                    Bake your toffee bars for 25-30 minutes
                               or until golden brown.
                      && use the rest of your 1/4 cup toffee bits to the top
                         when done baking.

                               Let these babies cool before cutting - I put mine in the freezer.

                  && remember try not to eat too much!

                                   They incredibly rich, sweet && yummy.

                    {I also added a mashed up heath bar

                                                        to the top for decoration}

MMMMMMM........

A Noodle Game

Tonight I made pasta for Baby Bella
she's a very picky eater
who most of the time doesn't eat enough
and drinks too many "baba's" aka bottles.

I placed the noodles on her tray
hoping she might dig in.
{normally pasta is a safe choice}
and not very messy.

Baby Bella started off well
eating them bite by bite.
her small hands
working their way towards her mouth.

                                        After a few minutes
her tastebuds could care less about noodles.

Baby Bella's hand gripped the pasta
        lead it towards the side of her tray
    && with the floor in sight
her little fingers let her pasta drop to its unexpected destination.
again.
     again.
         & again.

Untill her dinner,
was no longer dinner
                      ...but a noodle game instead.

My Lettuce Wrap

Baby Bella tends to fall asleep in the car
a lot.

Sometimes this keeps me from getting things done
because I feel bad for waking her up
But this time
I really needed to get groceries
&& I couldn't put it off any longer.

Being as careful as I could
&& thinking of every possible thing that could potenially
wake her up -
I went for it.

I wrapped her in my puffiest jacket,
{so she wouldn't know a temperature difference}

walked her to the store entrance
{so the cart wouldn't rattler her on the pavement}

pulled the cart inside first
{so it wouldn't bang on the doorstep}

layed her down gently
{so she didn't wake up after making it this far}

added extra paddng -aka my hood- under her head
{so she would be comfortable on the metal cart}

&& tucked in her sides.
{so she would think I was still holding her tight}

Being in a grocery store
I guess it's appropriate to call her
my little burrito
a taco
or maybe a lettuce wrap.

Yes...
a very healthy, happy and loved
wrap.

The Day we Conquered Big Mountain

Every morning I wake up
& start brainstorming
trying to decide
what I should put on the agenda for the day.


Some mornings I'll craft while Bella wakes up
other mornings I'm gearing her up for the day ahead.
Lake time, a hike, a shopping trip or a long stroller ride.
It doesn't matter she's ready for anything...
and on August 12th, 2011-- I was too.

For some reason I got this great idea
to hike to the summit of Big Mountain.
Yes, that's what it's really called.
I phoned a couple good friends of mine
and we all met at my house at 9am

I figured that should be plenty of time to get to the top
however they were unaware of my decision to go
to the summit.

{We'll see how things go on our way up}
type of thing.

After stopping at {two} different grocery stores
to purchase our coffee and kombucha,
we finally arrived at the Danny On trailhead.

Four miles up,
&& knowing the chairlift wasn't running...
four miles down.

During the first mile up we passed a wonderful tourist
who kindly asked to take a picture of
Baby Bella and I.
I accepted and I'm so thankful I did

                           {A big thanks to the Flemming couple
                                   for e-mailing this to me after our hike!}

That's the picture.
Perfect. I love it.

Then we kept hiking up...
about three miles up
Bella fell asleep & the gals
started asking how I was doing.

With my thirty pound backpack
and just a little breath left
I said, "Good... just don't stop!"

Like the great friends they are,
watching out for my best interest
they thought I'd like to turn back
because secretly
{they wanted to}

Nothing is gonna stop this Momma though.

The last leg of the hike is a straight climb to the top
and boy did that kick my butt.

After stopping four times to catch my breath
we made it to the top.

This is what life is living for.

Crisp, clean air
pushing yourself when you've had enough
making something you want - happen - despite your circumstances.

exploring your potential
taking advantage of the world you live in.
&& last but not least --
doing the things you love
and doing them often.

I may be a young, single Momma
who works full time
but who said that has to be an excuse?

Becoming a Mommy means
switching your priorities
taking on more responsibility
and learning how to manage time effectively.

It doesn't mean you cannot do the things you love still
you just do them differently.

&& with those precious thirty pounds on my back
we started our decent

was it easy? no.
did I want to stop? maybe a little.


was it worth the
eight blisters on my bleeding feet
sore shoulders
and swollen knee?

Of course.
&& it will be everytime.

Grocery Shopping will Never be the Same

A couple weeks ago I was browsing through the Android Market on my smartphone
&& decided it might be worth while to look under the "Heath & Fitness" category.

Boy did that pay off.

Five minutes later I had downloaded a "Butt workout" app which included 10...
yes ten excersices targeted to firm your behind.



Of course I figured it would be just another silly app
butt this little routine really works
not to mention takes a whole five minutes.

I figured it would be inappropriate to post pictures,
but just from me to you - this is my little secret.

The second app I downloaded was "Fooducate"



I figured it might help me straighten out my diet
or at least learn a little bit more about
those ugly things called
carbs. sugars. & fats.

I curiously clicked on the little icon and the app started running
the next thing you know
I'm in my pantry scanning e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. that has a barcode.

{What the heck Chels... your crazy!}
Yes I know.
           But...



This handy little gaget scans the barcode on food items
mac and cheese, peanut butter, dressing, drinks, etc.
then rates the food on a scale from
A+ being the best & F- being the worst.
                         {just like highschool}

In seconds I know what foods I shouldn't buy again
& what foods I need to buy more of.



Let's just say today at the grocery store
this little app was my trusted sidekick.
Up and down the isles we went
scanning products I would normally buy,
but ended up putting right back on the shelf.

My typical reaction was {Uhmm what!? GROSS.}
... but on a few occasions I was pleased with my food choices.

thirty minutes later and with three bags of groceries all rated B- or above
I walked out of SuperOne a happier, healthier momma. 


                        Blog link: Fooducate

Grocery shopping will never be the same.  Ever.

Little Miss Model

                                             I'm always crafting something
                                         from baby quilts
                                               to pillows   {rings}
                                                        && necklaces.

                             { Most of everything I make is availalbe at my shop: Bella 406}

                              but today I created one of my first headbands.

                                 I think it turned out really cute
                                                 and I decided I must make more.
                                     I also listed it on my Etsy shop
                                             Chloe Headband (White/Pink)

                       After brushing Baby Bella's hair, and putting a pretty dress on
                         she was ready to model my new headband.

                      ...but only if she could eat her ricecake at the same time...

                                    

                                  She was such a good little model.

                       besides wanting to chase the dog across the street.

                    Then it came time for the light lime headband.

                         ... And this was all I got.
                              She had enough of modeling for today.

Baby Bella's Grill

I love when I'm at work
and my most amazing babysitter {Courtney}
sends me a picture of Baby Bella on my cell phone.

Most of the time I know what's coming...
but other days I never know what I'm going to get.

Normally she's making a cute face,
hugging something,
smiling, laughing, or dancing.

But not this time.

This time... she was showing off her grill.
                      You know. Nelly style....