I Scream, You Scream

Ultimate Ice Cream (it's vegan, too, but you can't tell...I promise!)

I had a list of a couple of things that I wanted to blog about tonight but after trying this recipe, I had to move this to the top of the list!

This is just about the easiest dessert I have ever made and the greatest thing is that it can be made with ingredients that most people already have in their homes.  I found the original recipe on Pinterest (it was from this site:  http://www.neverhomemaker.com/2010/06/ultimate-vegan-ice-cream.html) so you can check it out there but I made one minor adjustment and added some vanilla.  It is A-MAZING!

Ingredients:
2 Bananas, chopped in 'coins' and frozen
1 Handful Chocolate Chips
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

THAT IS IT!  Here's what you do:
1.  Put the frozen banana coins in a blender or food processor (I used my mini Cuisinart that I blogged about a few months ago and it worked perfectly); chop into pea sized or smaller bits
2.  Add a handful of chocolate chips, 2 tbsp. peanut butter and 1 tsp. vanilla
3.  Continue to blend until smooth, airy and creamy; add more peanut butter as needed

This is one of the most delicious homemade desserts I have ever made and I have done quite a bit of baking over the years!  It is ridiculously easy and so good for you.  My kids and husband devoured this healthy treat which made me, and them, very happy! 

Hanging Up

Hanging Up

I am slightly obsessed with organizing.  I love to rearrange the pantry, the refrigerator, my desk, the kids toys, my closet and on and on.  I also love to organize other people's houses and, since my mom isn't too much of an organizer herself, I love visiting them and spending some time cleaning out her cabinets and drawers. 

I think I have always been a fan of organization but my true obsession began when my husband and I made our first cross country move with an 8 month old.  We had SO much stuff that I believe I was permanently scarred and vowed to never move again.  My organization went into overdrive and I spent hours throwing things away, recycling and making trip after trip to Goodwill.

My desire to never move again was relatively short lived and four years after our move to North Carolina we had to pack up and head north.  Thankfully this move was only for a year but, unfortunately, we tremendously downsized.  In the move we lost a number of rooms...and a number of closets.  For a girl who loves clothes and shoes, this was a nightmare.  I made a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond and found a few things that would help me out.

1.  The Wonder Hanger by Hampton Direct:  LOVE!  I prefer the metal kind over the plastic kind but both work well.  This handy little contraption does what it is supposed to do; it maximizes closet space and allows clothes to hang nice and neatly.  I use it for my tops, dresses and skirts and for my husband's shirts.

2.  Skirt Hanger by Real Simple:  I love how this hanger is covered with felt and neatly clips onto skirts and pants without leaving marks.  It feels sturdy and has a great price tag (less than $8).

Both of these items can be found at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Make sure you take your 20% off coupons because you will want to get a bunch of them!

Take Good Care of My Baby

Take Good Care of My Baby


I am always on the hunt for the best products to use for my children; not only because one of my children is highly sensitive but because it just makes sense to me to nurture and care for them as best I can, inside and out.

I came across this product a few years ago and was intrigued but never purchased for some reason.  On a recent visit home my mom had a bottle of Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash on hand for my sister's kids so I tried it on my girls.  It foams really nicely, lathers well in their hair and rinses easily.  My more sensitive child has always had dry, frizzy hair but this product made her hair instantly beautiful and shiny the next day.  I was sold!

PROS:  Read the info below, you will be impressed; decently priced (I paid $8 on amazon.com); smells great and cleans very well

From the manufacturer's website:
 • Certified by Oregon Tilth: NSF/ANSI 305 Certified Contains Organic Oils
• No petrochemicals, petroleum or petroleum byproducts
• No “fragrance” or parfum, 1,4-Dioxane, formaldehyde, or phthalates
• No sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), cocomidopropyl betaine or other synthetic foaming agents or surfactants
• No artificial preservatives, parabens, phenoxyethanol, Quaternium-15 etc.
• No artificial emulsifiers

CONS:  Can be difficult to find depending on where you live (check Babies R Us, Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe or the product's website at www.earthmamaangelbaby.com to order or to find stores near you)

NOTE:  While the bottle does mention to be careful with eyes as this is not 'tear-free', my children have not had any issues with eye burning or irritation.