Mommy Hearts Coffee has been renamed, and has redesigned and relocated.  Thank you for following along here!  Please make the move with me to Hipster & Cookies.

Getting Warm

When I was a little girl after playing in at least what had to be 3 ft of snow in Wisconsin's winters; I would get so cold.  Unbelievably cold.  I remember we'd pack the car back up after sledding at the "Big Hill" on one side of town.  We'd head home for hot chocolate, and cookies or brownies typically.  

Years later, as a grow-up, I look back on those frigid days with fondness.  The smell of hot cocoa to this day takes me back through those splendid memories.  In fact, that is still my preffered way to get warm, that; or a nice warm bath filled with a pleasant smelling oil added.  Or perhaps, an amazing combination of the two. 

Now that I have 3 children of my own, I find myself utilizing the same methods to warm them up that my mother and father used for their children as we were growing up.  Cocoa, a warm bath, and warm fresh sweatshirts and sweatpants and warm thick socks while wrapped up in a thick blanket on the couch watching a fun movie. 

I would love to hear about how you warm yourselves and your children up!  Do you do something similar to what I choose to do? Or perhaps you make a nice hot soup and enjoy a movie.  Is it something that was a tradition from childhood, or is it something you have began on your own?  Feel free to leave links in your comments so I can link up to your blog!

Until tomorrow MHC Tribe!

Favorite Hot Drink

Today begins NaBloPoMo for the month of August.  Blogher chose "Hot," as the topic for the month.  I am excited about this topic for so many reasons.  A lot of the prompts that Blogher has provided - give you insight not only to myself, but to my blog as well.  I hope we can enjoy this month together! 

Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown

As I am sure all of you have guessed - my choice 'hot drink' is coffee.  But, not just any hot cup of coffee will do for this mommy of three wild children.  No - the hot frothy drink I swoon over is a Starbucks 'Gingerbread Latte' that they offer in the winter.

However, I found an awesome reproduction that I am sure anyone of you would absolutely positively float to a blissful heaven after tasting, here.   Here is the spectacular recipe!

Homemade Gingerbread Latte

Ingredients:

1 cup milk, steamed
1 cup very strong coffee (4 tablespoons coffee grounds to 1 cup of hot water, I prepared this in my French Press, but you can brew a strong drip pot if you prefer)
1 tablespoon white sugar (can omit if you prefer a drink that is less sweet)
1 tablespoon gingerbread syrup (you can use the recipe provided below)
Whipped cream (optional)
Ground Cloves (sprinkled for topping, optional) or Festive Sprinkles (sprinkled for topping, these just aren’t optional)

Directions:

Prepare your hot water in a kettle. Add four tablespoons of your favorite coffee grounds to your French Press. Pour 1 cup of hot water over them and allow the coffee to steep for four minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
In a pot, heat up one cup of milk until it is steaming. Froth the milk with a wire whisk or an immersion blender until it is nice and foamy.
In your coffee cup, add your coffee syrup and white sugar. Pour your coffee over the gingerbread syrup & sugar and then stir well with a spoon until the gingerbread syrup dissolves and the spices are incorporated well. Pour the milk foam over the top of the coffee/mocha mixture and stir again to incorporate. Allow it to merry together for a minute or two and then mix once more. Top with whipped cream and festive sprinkles or a dusting of ground cloves.
Drink.
Be Merry.
Note- This is just a base recipe that can be played with to your own tastes and preferences. It is meant to be personalized depending on how you like your latte!
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Serving Size: 1

You absolutely MUST try it!

I am curious to hear from the MHC Tribe - What is your favorite hot drink?  Do you have any special memories or traditions when it comes to tea or coffee, or perhaps another hot drink like chai?  I would love your input and to connect in the blogverse.  Feel free to post a link to your blog in addition to any comments you have!  I love getting feed back!  And I will follow in return! 

Little Boy: Angel And Demon

With the reflective beauty of the sun shining in my eye through the bedroom window, I wake in a jostled start from my little boy standing next to me with his sippy and a giant bottle of pop in his arms screaming angrily while the spastic tantrum starts.  My sweet little boy suddenly starts throwing everything in his site, to get what he wants - a sippy of intensely sugary soda.  

So begins my day, everyday, the same useless routine that he has yet to learn will not be given into.  I get up, smile sweetly and tell him that I love him.  Slowly, I pull the angry strong little boy into my arms - a gentle hug that he quickly pulls from.  "Come on, "J,"  lets go downstairs and get you  a drink, and breakfast." - Down the stairs he follows screaming, in a angry tantrum the entire way to the kitchen.   

In one defeated heap he throws himself to the floor, sitting in front of the refrigerator.  This morning, unlike some mornings, the demon inside my son slips into the depths of my little boy's soul - successfully - quickly, easily defeated - with a breakfast of cereal, and a big cool sippy of water; the sweet angel boy's favorite - as long as there is ice in it.   It was a quickly diverted fight this morning.  Most mornings the autism causes more violence, and more of a fight.  However, mornings have become a simple manageable  routine.  

Routines for children with autism are very important.  They need structure, some need more rigid routines than others.  My son varies, some days, things need strict routines, other days - more lax.   I am thankful to the people who have taught me this important step to helping my son, take such a hard thing, and turn it into a wonderful blessing.   I am grateful to God for this experience, and I will sing His praises every day that my little boy gets to be a sweet gentle lovely angel.  

May you all be blessed with a fun happy day. One of delight and amazing joy.  

Worked on a new layout and a new signature, because my old one just was too bright in the XO part, and so I thought I'd try out this new one.  Much love.

{Mingle Monday} Sweet Summer Lemon Bars Recipe

 

Sweet Summer Lemon Bars

Yield: 24 bars

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 40 min

For lemon lovers...
Ingredients:

CRUST:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour

FILLING:
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1/4 cup finely grated lemon zest (you'll need about 6 large lemons)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (with the pulp)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
additional powdered sugar for dusting
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with nonstick spray.

2. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in 2/3 cup powdered sugar. Add 2 cups of flour a little at a time, beating until lumps begin to form.

3. Press dough over the bottom of the prepared pan (use a fork to press). Bake until crust is light golden, about 20 minutes.

4. While crust is baking, beat sugar and eggs in a medium bowl until blended. Beat in lemon juice and zest, baking powder, and then flour.

5. Pour lemon filling over hot crust. Bake until filling is set in the center and browns on top (about 20 minutes). Transfer to rack to cool.

6. When completely cooled, cut into bars. Dust with powdered sugar.

Tips:
*These bars may be made one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve

Lemon Bars are a crisp treat on hot days, with some southern sweet tea.  Hope some of you stopping by - decide to try it.  I give it the Coffee Mommy Rating of - A+!  Definitely one to try.

The Beginning of Scripture Sunday

Good Morning CMTribe!  This morning I thought I'd discuss a little bit of my road into God's grace.

When I was 16, I was confirmed a christian in God's eyes.  I did not follow God's word faithfully for the next several years.  I still struggle with that path.  However, I do believe I am saved me.  And I am beginning to follow the path He has chosen for me.  I am learning that I am not perfect, and often it concerns me that I will not make it into Heaven, my only solitude in this factor is faith in what God and His son, Jesus Christ - have promised me.  

Do you struggle with living in a Christian way?  How has God's love changed your life?  What is it You do to strengthen your relationship with God? 

Feel free to share with me your journey.  I would appreciate input and prayers.  As I will pray for you!

 

[Update] Signature Added - Mention of Scripture Sunday and CMTribe

Good Mornin' Coffee Mommy Tribe!!!  Thought I'd drop in early this morning, to announce my new signature, to all of my followers!! I am so excited that I worked on the HTML and css coding for my blog until it looked right.  Pays off when you put a lil time into things!!!  Have a blessed Sunday, and please stop back around 8 or 9 to see the Scripture Sunday post for the day. 

Connecting to Bloglovin'

Linking up with Bloglovin'!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far, taking a break now that the little ones are down for hopefully the evening.  Thought I'd work on some things for my blog.  

Setting up a posting calendar, and such, and trying to get connected to a few of the sponsor pages, and blog mommy pages, and searching out good blogs that I'd like to follow.  

Well, that's enough for now, my princess just ran up here and is frustrated and crying to play that spectacular game - "Candy Land"

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Daily Homemaking Routine

Starts In The Evening

I cannot stress this enough; although the thought may seem strange, you MUST have the beginning of your daily routine start before you go to bed the night before.  Make sure your kitchen counters and sink are wiped down.  Then, sit down; look at your calendar and make a to-do list for the next day.  Do a quick pick up of the untidy areas, and lay out your outfit for the next day.  Make sure you get good sleep, go to bed at a decent hour.  

Beginning The Day With A Bang

Get up with enough time to complete a few household tasks, before the rest of your day begins.  Start a load of laundry, make your bed, plan dinner.  You should also, touch up the bathroom, tidy the kitchen after breakfast.  

 Afternoon Reboot

When you arrive back home, it is the perfect time to finish up the daily laundry.  That way it doesn't become an unmanageable monster task.  Prepare and serve the dinner you planned in the morning when you got up.  Leave the kitchen spotless, pick up a few odds and ends, and then you are off to bed.  

So, because we know that mommy brain doesn’t get better when you have toddlers running around the house - put all this list down on a Homemaking Schedule template. A pretty one; that has a place for your daily routine, a section to list the meals you will cook today, a section for any household chores, and a section for any appointments and calls to make. 

{Getting the Application Process Completed} College Bound!!!

This morning I took the first step to greatness!  I applied to attend college online through Ashford University.  I have filled out the necessary forms, sent them back, and am awaiting confirmation of approval.  However, I am slotted to start my entrance classes on the July 24, 2013.  I will be going for a Bachelor of Arts - E-Marketing Degree.  I will attend full-time, which for Ashford is ONE class for 5 weeks.  I can't believe my future is in my grasp.  Something I have looked forward to, and daydreamed about for a very long time.  I will keep people posted on my success at this new, exciting experience.  I hope along the way we can follow my growth.  That is what is most important to me, the fact that something I enjoy so much, is about to become my dream career - once I graduate.  God has truly blessed me with this opportunity.  It is something I have prayed for, for a very long time.  Finally, I decided God would grant me the experience when He thought I was ready.  I am so pleased, and honored that He placed me with a school that I fit with both personality-wise, and learning style wise. 

I hope to hear about your backgrounds, and what you all ended up doing with your degrees - and if it was all you thought it would be, and if you moved laterally within your company, or if you even stayed with what you graduated college to become.  

Beginning With A Bang

I am looking forward to starting this blog of with a bang!  And it will take some coffee to do just that.  So ladies and gents, why don't you sit down with your cuppa whatever you like, And touch base with me.  Tell me what it is YOU might want to hear about.  You can look forward to hearing about my journey with my kiddos, some fashion and design posts, maybe a few foodie bites here and there.  I'd also love to find a few guest bloggers, that can possibly help mentor me into this great wide blogosphere!   

Product Review - Scour Off™ Heavy Duty Paste by Shaklee

I have a confession:   My walls haven't been cleaned since June.  The kiddos used crayons, chalk, and some pens on white walls!  Woo Hoo!  It was beautiful, but NOT what it needed to be.   Nothing beats children's artwork and winding up on what had been pristine white walls.   I did wipe it occasionally to get the color faded,  but I promise you no cleaning product has touched it.

Washing walls is one chore that I dislike.   Mainly because I hadn’t discovered a natural cleaning product that worked to gently remove the art or finger prints.  I don’t like hazardous chemicals or toxic fumes.  I’d first heard about the amazing Shaklee product line a few months ago from a friend.   For the last six months or so,  I’ve been scouring the blogging world in search of Shaklee giveaways because of all the wonderful things I’ve heard about their products.   When a friend happened to give my SO and I a huge basket of cleaning supplies when we moved into our new apartment, Shaklee Scour Off Heavy-Duty paste was among the goodies, I could not resist to finally use it on this unloved project.

As soon as I remembered about he Scour Off Heavy-Duty Paste, I got to work on my walls.   Remember,  they hadn’t been cleaned since June.  Now, there was walls full of new artwork, and old marks, but it certainly wasn’t clean enough for me to be happy.   Typically, I spend what feels like the better part of a day scrubbing away at our walls.  Even with the semi-gloss, the paint holds marks horribly.  With Shaklee, my entire world changed.   I followed the instructions, which advised you to use lots of water with the products.  I could feel my sponge sliding through the marks with ease.   It rinsed cleaning,  leaving no gritty residue that is common with traditional cleaners.  Another bonus – no toxic fumes!  Scour Off Heavy-Duty paste is made from natural mineral abrasives and biodegradable cleaning agents.  It doesn’t contain chlorine bleach or dye!  I don’t dread cleaning the walls now.  The scent of the Scour Off Heavy-Duty paste is so pleasant,  kind of like a crisp raspberry summer drink.

There are so many benefits to using this product – not only can it be used to clean your walls, you can also use it to clean sinks, tub, tile, ovens, ovenproof glass, stove top, grout, cement, and ceramics.   The list seems to go on and on.   Shaklee Scour Off also removes rust – so you can bet that come Spring, I’ll be using it in on my metal lawn ornaments to shine them up!

Buy it:

You can hurry over here and purchase the Shaklee Scour Off Heavy-Duty Paste right now!  You can also find more information about the entire Shaklee line up.