Manic Mama of 3 - Page 2 of 81 - Making Life Just A Little Less Hectic Together

Christmas Pretzel Kisses

December 16, 2016 by rwilson0720 Leave a Comment

If you are looking for an easy snack for your Christmas get together, these Christmas Pretzel Kisses are perfect!

My kids love pretzels and so I am always looking for new ways to dress them up. These Christmas Pretzel Kisses are both adorable and yummy at the same time. This takes a twist on the Chocolate Pretzels recipe that we all know and love and dresses it up for the holidays.

I know that my kids have end of year parties, and this is something that they can help make. With just three simple ingredients, you will have the perfect finger sweet for little hands.

All you need to do is lay out your pretzels with a Hershey’s kiss of your choice on top of each.

After you have melted down each of the kisses a small amount on top of the pretzels in the oven, this is when you will add your Holiday M&Ms. This is seriously the most fun part for the kids besides eating these Christmas Pretzel Kisses once they are done.

Make sure to print out this recipe card and enjoy making these for your holiday get together (whether it be with kids or not). These are so delicious and easy to make that you will want to over and over again!

Christmas Pretzel Kisses

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Ingredients

24 waffle-style pretzels
24 Hershey's kisses (I used peppermint)
24 Holiday M&M candies

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with tinfoil or a silicone baking mat.
Place pretzels on baking sheets, spacing out so they don't overlap.
Unwrap Hershey's kisses and place one in the center of each pretzel.
Place in preheated oven for 2 minutes, until kisses become glossy.
Remove from oven and place one candy-coated chocolate in the center of each pretzel, pushing down gently to set.
Chill in refrigerator before serving.

http://manicmamaof3.com/2016/12/16/christmas-pretzel-kisses/

Let me know if you have ever made anything like these Christmas Pretzel Kisses before! Do you have another variation that you love? We are also in love with our Finding Dory Pretzels that we made to celebrate when the movie came out! Make sure to check those fun snacks out as well.

How to Make a Kid Friendly Cheese Board

December 15, 2016 by rwilson0720 Leave a Comment

I love to make cheese boards around the holidays! They are a quick and easy way to add a little extra to your holiday spread. Here is one that even the kids will love.

My kids love anything simple and so this spread is one of their favorites. They are not huge on sandwiches but love meats and cheeses. So I decided to give this a try at lunch one day and it was a huge hit!

I really love Stella Cheese for the taste and my kids love sweet pickles along with the olives. Ham is their lunch meat of choice but you can switch that around to your child’s preference.

stellacheesetray

Here is all you will need to make this easy lunch with Stella Cheese!

Stella Sharp Cheese (or any other variety)
Pickles
Olives
Sandwich Meat Rolls

When you are in a rush and have no idea what to feed your little ones or even yourself for that matter, this is one of the easiest go to things to eat. You can even pack these things up for an on the go snack to keep you going throughout the day.

Stella has tons of different kinds of cheeses so no snack would ever be the same.

stellacheese

1. Stella® Organic Parmesan Cheese
2. Stella® Parmesan Cheese
3. Stella® Asiago Cheese
4. Stella® Blue Cheese
5. Stella® Feta Cheese
6. Stella® Fontina Cheese
7. Stella® Fontinella® Cheese
8. Stella® Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
9. Stella® Goat Cheese
10. Stella® Gorgonzola Cheese
11. Stella® Italian Sharp Cheese
12. Stella® Kasseri Cheese
13. Stella® Provolone Cheese
14. Stella® Ricotta Cheese
15. Stella® Romano Cheese
16. Stella® Swiss Cheese

stellawin

Click here to enter to Win a Trip to Napa Valley With Stella Cheese!

Christmas Fudge

December 6, 2016 by rwilson0720 1 Comment

We are totally starting to get into the Christmas spirit around here! I hope that you have started baking and maybe listening to a little bit of Christmas music. This Christmas Fudge is so much fun to make and the kids can even help!

Like I have said before, we love fudge! It should seriously be considered a food group around here by now. I have shared a few different recipes on the blog for fudge, but this one right here just puts me in a festive mood. Who doesn’t love fudge and M&Ms? I know that we love both, so this was the perfect combination.

My kids love the holiday season and totally get into giving back during the season. Baking is one of the easiest ways to give back as you can take home made goodies to the food shelters around my area. There are also plenty of places that will let you set up a small bake sale outside of their shops. The money can be given back to a local charity that you raise from your baked goods. Plus, shopping along with a treat that you didn’t have to make is awesome.

This Christmas Fudge is one of the easiest ways to give back and enjoy something for yourself! We also have an amazing Christmas S’mores recipe that would go along perfectly with these.

Christmas Fudge

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Ingredients

2 cups milk chocolate chips
1-14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. of vanilla, optional
1/4 tsp of salt
1 cup of mini marshmallows
1/2 cup M&M holiday bits

Instructions

Line a 9x9 pan for thin fudge pieces or a loaf pan for thicker slices. Set aside.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, place the chocolate chips and the sweetened condensed milk
Heat for 60 seconds and then stir well.
Reheat in 30-second bursts until the chocolate chips are completely melted.
Stir in the marshmallows and then fold out into the lined pan.
Spread evenly with oiled hands or a spatula.
Top with M&Ms and press down.
Refrigerate 2 hours before slicing.

http://manicmamaof3.com/2016/12/06/christmas-fudge/

There is nothing like sharing sweet treats at the holidays. I love to be able to bake for my family and also give some of it away as gifts. These make the perfect sweet treat to bring to a holiday gathering or to put inside of a gift basket that you have made for someone.

How to Make it Through School Breaks Stress-Free

November 27, 2016 by rwilson0720 3 Comments

I am not going to lie here people; I live for the day my kids go back to school. It’s not that I don’t love them, or you know, being with them every second of every day including when I pee. Ok, let’s be real; school breaks can be some of the most stressful times for you and your kids. Here’s how to make it through school breaks stress-free and even pee in peace!

schoolbreaksstressfree

Stick to the School Routine

Many parents get off the routine or let their kids get off routine as well. This is a method for disaster and chaos. Kids need routine, and if you can keep it as close as a normal day, the better. Wake them up at the same time, make breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time. Doing these things will take some of the stress out of the day.

Plan Activities for Your Kids to do

The winter break is typically the longest. You want to have crafts or activities to do with your kids that keep them occupied as if they were in school. When kids get bored, it’s all over from there. Read “Winter Craft Ideas for Your Toddlers” to find crafts you can all do together. Here are just a few fun ways to keep your kids from getting bored:

Make Oobleck: Oobleck is a liquid, I mean a solid, well who knows?
Play Board games: Board games are the best.
Make edible play dough: Kids can eat their creations after they play.

Take Time for Yourself

During the holidays, there is so much going on that you forget to take the time you need. Take at least 5-10 minutes a day to meditate, pray, sit in peace or exercise. This helps alleviate stress while making your mind focused and ready for more action.

Plan for kids to Visit Relatives

Breaks are the perfect opportunity for your kids to spend the weekend with grandma, visit aunt Susie for the day, or take an ice fishing trip with uncle Joe. Make plans for your kids to get out of the house and go spend time with their relatives. This gives you peace and it keeps them from getting bored.

How do you keep the stress levels down in your house during school breaks? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!

8 Thanksgiving Projects (DIY or Print!)

November 23, 2016 by Becca 6 Comments

Fall is definitely here and that means getting the house cozy. I have rounded up 8 different projects for the Fall and Thanksgiving season that you can either make yourself or print out. These are sure to add a little bit of something special to your home.

8 Projects for Thanksgiving to DIY or Print! FINAL

It’s awesome when you can find projects that you can make yourself or that someone else has made for you to access for free. It adds a little splash of Fall to your home without breaking the bank. I know that I am a huge fan of all the different fall colors, so I tried to find some with those in them for you.

You will be thanking me later when your home has that little something extra for the Fall. Feel free to share with your friends and family too so that they can deck out their homes.

thanksgiving-fest-sign
DIY Merry Feast Sign

Give Photo Frames

Thanksgiving Doily Banner

thanksgiving-subway-art1

Thanksgiving Subway Art

Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcake Printables

free-thanksgiving-printable
Free Chalkboard Thanksgiving Printables

Framed Burlap Thankful Sign
Thankful Banner

I am totally in love with all of these printables and can not wait to get them printed and hung out on my own wall. If I am feeling crafty maybe I will venture into the other items!