Monday, 30 May 2016

Fruity Energy Bars

I am a snacker. Always have been, and probably always will be. Being a snacker isn't a bad thing...if your snack of choice is something healthy. Ideally, I would LOVE to be able to snack on chips and dip all day long ha ha however that would be BAD NEWS for my love handles!! Thus, these Fruity Energy Bars were born. I found a recipe for these energy bars about 10 years ago and have been tweaking them to make them 'just right' ever since. They are full of tasty ingredients to fuel your body and the best part...they are DELICIOUS!! And also toddler approved! 


Fruity Energy Bars
What you need:
1/2 cup shelled unsalted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup crasins or raisins
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup honey
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp salt 

Preheat oven to 350'F
Line a 9 X 13' baking sheet with tinfoil.
Combine ALL dry ingredients in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs, honey, and salt until well blended. 
Add honey mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until evenly moistened.
Transfer dough to the baking pan and press to an even layer.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.
Let cool for 10 minutes, then flip out of pan, using the tinfoil.
Cut into bars and let cool completely.
ENJOY!!
Store in an air tight container. These bars also freeze GREAT!












Monday, 23 May 2016

Oh TWOodles! Sophia Turns TWO!!

A few weeks ago we celebrated Sophia's SECOND Birthday!! I am still trying to figure out where the heck the last two years went?!
 Somehow we went from this...

to THIS!!...In what seemed like just a MONTH!

One of Sophia's current OBSESSIONS is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. And I truly mean she is OBSESSED! This kid eats, breathes, and sleeps Mickey Mouse. So it was only fitting that we had a Mickey Mouse themed party for her. It was the perfect day filled with Mickey Mouse, family, sunshine and food! Oh and I can't forget the bouncy castle. That was also a BIG hit! 

I kept the decor pretty simple this year. 
I went with the 'classic' red and black Mickey and Minnie colours and I was pleased with how it turned out. 

Putting together the feature food table is always my favourite part!!


I made the banner using my Silhouette.

I also kept the food VERY basic.
And I found some great free printablse on Pinterest for each food item. 

Our Menu:
Hot Diggity Dogs
Chip and Dales chips and dip
Daisy's garden veggies
Gooey fish 
Minnie's bow tie pasta salad
Donald's cheese and quackers
Figaro's fresh fruit
Pluto Punch
Mickey cupcakes 



I made these Mickey cupcakes and they were SO easy and always look great!

Meanwhile...Sophia was having the time of her life with her cousins and buddies in the bouncy castle!! 




For the second year in a row we lucked out and had AMAZING weather for Sophia's party! I couldn't manage to get Sophia out of the bouncy castle to have her picture with anyone...So I just took random pictures of people! ha! 

Brit and Priyanka

Kellen, Damian, Cody, Dad

Charlotte was a little bit unsure of the bouncy castle!

Sophia was a HOT MESS from all her jumping and had worked up an appetite! 

Sitting with Pama and Grandma 

Cupcake time!! 

She became very shy when everyone starting singing to her!! 



I'm TWO!!

After a lot more jumping, we came inside to open a few gifts. Sophia was interested in gifts for about 3 minutes...ha ha...and then she demanded to go back outside to jump some more! She really wanted to get her money's worth in that bouncy castle apparently! 


She REALLY liked this tissue paper!!


Sophia is VERY lucky to have so many people in her life that love her and SPOIL her!!


And then it was just me left to finish unwrapping the rest...

Uncle Kellen had this shirt made for her!!

Sophia made her way back inside to check out this BIG gift from Grandma and Grandpa!


Ssssssigh...she climbs on EVERYTHING these days...

Uncle Matt, Aunty Bailey and Charlotte came dressed for a Mickey themed party!!

As the party winded down and people began to leave, Sophia convinced Grandma and Aunty Brit, and Priyanka to jump with her in the bouncy castle! 



And then Uncle Cody joined in! 
(and somehow I didn't get a picture of Uncle Kellen jumping..oops!!)


Finishing off the night with another cupcake...right before bed! ha!


It was another successful party celebrating our special little girl!! She is turning into the neatest little human these days...we definitely don't live with a baby anymore!! She amazes us everyday with her kind heart, contagious giggle, NEVER ENDING energy, and how much she is learning each and every day!! 

This is Sophia on her last night as a one year old!! 

And just like that she woke up and was TWO! 
And already a little bit more sassy then she was the day before...ha ha! 

She spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa for her birthday while Damian and I were at work. 


And then we took her out for PIZZA (her favourite food) for her Birthday dinner!

We we got home from dinner she got to open a few more gifts! 
She LOVES her books. And even more so when its a Mickey book! 

I found her a singing Frozen card which she thought was the greatest thing ever! 
She loves all of the songs from Frozen!! 






Happy 2nd Birthday baby girl!! We can't wait to see what the next year hold for you!! 
We love you soooo much!!!
xoxo
Mommy