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Hey Everyone!! I decided to do an interview with my 5yr old sister Gigi. I hope you like it!
Me:What is your favorite color?
Gigi:My favorite color-is pink.
Me:What is your favorite song?
Gigi:My favorite song-
Me:Wait one minute. *Types*
Me:Okay what is it?
Gigi:Ummmm-What is this song called again? (This Will Be by Natalie Cole plays in the background)
Me:This will be?
Gigi:Yeah that one. The LOOve! The LOve The love love love love love!!
Me:Ok-um-Do you like cold or hot?
Gigi:Cold-I mean warm-yeah I like warm. Cold and worm?(speaks jibberish)
Me:Do you like sharing a room with me?
Gigi:Yes(JIBBERISH)
Me:Do you like drawing?
Gigi:Yes------I said YES
Me:What to you like drawing with?
Gigi:Um, Crayons-AND paint
Me:*Types what she said*
Gigi:Does that say "YOUM"? Oh no, it says um-yeah it says um. (Sings in jibberish)
Me:Okay*Types*
Gigi:What? WHAT ELSE? (Singing)What's my what?
Me:Huh? What were you saying?
Gigi:WHATS MY WHA-Can I go to the Bathroom?
Me:Yeah.
Gigi:Okay bye.
Me:*Does random stuff while waiting for her to come back*
Me: Ok.
Gigi: My favorite-wait what did you ask me?
Me: I didn't ask anything yet.
Me: Do you like-*Types*
Gigi: Do I like what?
Me: Chocolate or Vanilla?
Gigi: CHOCOLATE---Ice cream.
Me:*Types*
Gigi:What does that big word say?
Me:Chocolate
Gigi:Oh yeah. Cause' I said ChOCOLATE------I like ice cream.
Me:What is your favorite show?
Gigi:Umm-my favorite show is Pinkalicious.
Mom: ANA! Come unload the dishwasher!
Me:*Unloads* *Comes Back*
Gigi:Okay back on track. Locked and loaded------Are you printing this?
Me:No
Gigi:Okay good cause' I was CONVINCED you were printing it. How did you do the dishwasher so fast?
Me:I just did.
Gigi:Did what? I don't remember what I said.
Me:I unloaded the dishwasher fast.
Gigi:PFFFTT Ok.
Me:Where did you learn the word convinced?
Gigi:UUHHHHH from everywhere.
Me:Okay you need to take a bath is there anything else you want to say?
Gigi:YES.
Me:What?
Gigi:Like. What is my FAVorite kind of---SISTER.
Me:Okay who is your favorite sister?
Gigi:YOU
Me:Why?
Gigi:Be-because your really really---really really---um- FUn. Nothing else I want to say.
Me:Okay then that's it. Thank you.
Gigi:Your welcome-
*loud bang*
Gigi:WhAt are YoU DOing In THerE WhAT WaS THAT??!! Ugh. NORA BEN STOP MAKING LOUD NOISES WE ARE DOING STUFF IN HERE!!!!
Me:No we are done
Gigi:Oh ok BEN! NORA! YOU CAN KEEP DOING WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING!

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These muffins are quick, easy, and have few ingredients. Instead of sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top you can sift powdered sugar once they are done baking.

















Ingredients:
2 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 Cup Oil
1/2 Cup Milk
2 Eggs, Beaten
2 tsp. Cinnamon
2 Tbsp. Sugar
Cooking Spray

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 400˚F. Spray 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.

2.Whisk flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add oil, milk, and eggs and mix with a fork just until combined. Do not over mix. Mixture should be doughy.

3. Scoop about 3 Tbsp. of batter into each muffin cup. Mix cinnamon and 2 Tbsp. Sugar and sprinkle on un-baked muffins. Bake 15-18 minutes. remove from pan immediately and let cool on metal baking rack for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
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Hey Ya'll! It's almost summer time! School is almost over, and I thought ya'll would like to see my bucket list for this summer. You are welcome to go off of this on this summer, or you could make your own! I would love to see your ideas in the comments below!! Enjoy!

  •  Go backyard camping
  •  Go on an epic friends photo shoot
  •  Stargazing at the lake
  •  Watch a sunset/sunrise
  •  Summer Camp
  •  Awesome sleepover
  •  Ice cream
  •  Lemonade stand
  •  Starbucks
  •  Day at the pool
  •  Sidewalk Chalk
  •  Bowling
  •  Bake sale
  •  Beach
  •  Spa day
  •  Bonfire
  •  Smores'
  •  Water balloon war
  •  Make a summer scrapbook
  •  Movie day
  •  Pull an all-nighter
  •  Kayaking
  •  Ultimate fort
  •  Get sno-cones
  •  Catch fireflies
  •  Farmers market
  •  Berry picking
  •  Get nails done
  •  Go to the zoo
  •  Fly a kite
  •  Rootbeer floats
  •  Paddle-boarding
  •  Henna tattoo
  •  Mini golf
  •  See a movie
  •  Cotton Candy
  •  Zip-lining
  •  Spend a day at the park
  •  Do a 24hour Challenge
  •  Go on a farris wheel
  •  Get smoothies
  •  Feed ducks
  •  Try a really spicy food
  •  Go to a waterfall
  •  Eat Watermelon
  •  Disney movie marathon
  •  Unplug day
  •  Collect shells
  •  Get Frozen Yogurt
  •  Homemade Pizza



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We all need that little chocolate chip cookie or brownie every once in a while. Make this when you are craving chocolate!

















Ingredients:
1 Egg
4 Tbsp. Sugar
1 Tbsp. Flour
2 Tbsp. Cocoa
2 Tbsp. Oil

Directions:
1. Mix egg and sugar in a large mug. Add oil and flour, and mix well. Add cocoa and stir until smooth. Microwave 1 minute and 40 seconds.
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It's time for summer!! Lots of ice cream, popsicles, and lemonade! Here is some homemade lemon Italian ice! You will need an Ice cream maker. This makes about 5 cups.
















Ingredients:
2 Cups Lemon Juice
1-2 Tbsp. of Lemon Zest
1 3/4 Cups of Water
1 3/4 Cups of Sugar

Directions:
1. In a saucepan, stir water and sugar on medium high until dissolved. Let this cool in the fridge for 25-30 minutes.

2. Add lemon juice and zest to cooled simple syrup. Pour into ice cream maker and churn for 45 minutes to an hour. Enjoy!
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Hey Ya'll! It's really close to Valentines Day! Time for all those parties! This is just a simple sugar cookie recipe with a simple royal icing. But what better day to do it than Valentines Day!!






Ingredients (for cookies):

1 1/2 Cups Butter, Softened
1 1/2 Cups White Sugar
3 Tbsp. Cream Cheese
1 Egg
2 Egg Yolks
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp. Almond Extract
1 tsp. Salt
3 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Cream of Tartar
Frosting:
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 Tbsp. Water
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Almond Extract
1/4 Cup of Egg Whites (about 2 large eggs)
Gel Food coloring (optional)
Extras:
Fun Valentines sprinkles!

Directions:

1. Cream Butter, Sugar, and Cream Cheese together in a large bowl with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, egg yolks, extracts, and salt. Mix with rubber spatula until well incorporated. Add Flour, Baking Powder, and Cream of Tartar. Start by mixing with a wooden spoon, and finish with electric mixer. Be careful not to over mix.

2. Wrap dough in Cling film and refrigerate for about two hours.

3. Once dough is done chilling. prepare your rolling space. Measure out about a cup of flour or powdered sugar. Spread on to your workspace, and place half the dough on counter. Place the other half back in the fridge. Sprinkle some of your flour on top of the dough you have laid out. Start rolling dough with rolling pin until about a quarter inch thick. Use Desired cookie cutter(s) (If this is for Valentines Day, I suggest a heart shape) to cut dough and lay cookies on a lined with parchment cookie sheet. These don't spread, so you can put them as close together as possible, without them touching.

4. Bake at 350˚ for 10-12 minutes.

5. Now, for the frosting. Whisk Powdered Sugar and Salt together. Add Almond extract and put aside.
Whisk the egg whites in a small bowl with a fork or electric mixer until frothy. Pour Egg whites in to one side of the powdered sugar bowl. Slowly whisk powdered sugar into egg whites to get the right consistency. If you want a thinner Icing, that is when you can add the water. Dye frosting with a couple drops of coloring if using. If you went without the water, you can use a piping bag and just cut off the tip and frost cookies as desired. If you used water, I suggest using a spoon to slowly spread frosting onto cookies. Before frosting, make sure cookies are completely cooled. If using sprinkles, add them before frosting has hardened. Enjoy!!
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These make great gifts!     Makes: About 20                                                                         

















Ingredients:
2 1/4 Cups Powdered Suger
6 Tbsp. Sweetened Condensed Milk
2/3 Cup Dark Chocolate
1 tsp. Peppermint Extract, or 2 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 Drop Green Gel Food Coloring

Directions:
1. Place Powdered Sugar in large bowl. Add Condensed Milk and mix with fork until mixture is crumbly. Add Peppermint Extract and Food Coloring.

2. Knead Mixture with hands until smooth and firm. Roll Dough between pieces of parchment until
1 1/2 inches thick. Take off Parchment from top of dough, and continue rolling until 1/2 inch thick. Use 1 inch round cookie cutter to cut small circles from dough. Let harden on parchment for 1 hour.

3. Melt Chocolate in microwave for 1 minute and stir until smooth. Dip Peppermints half way into chocolate and place back on parchment. Let cool for another 30 minutes. Enjoy!
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This is a great recipe! You just need some time for it to set.











Ingredients:
1-12 oz Can Evaporated Milk (not condensed!)
2 oz. Unsweetened Baking Chocolate, Chopped
4 oz White Chocolate, Melted
2-11.5 oz. Bags Milk Chocolate Chips
3 Cups Chopped Walnuts, Toasted
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Butter
4 1/2 Cups Sugar
4 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows

Directions:
1. Line a 9-by-13 pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. In a large dutch oven over medium heat, melt evaporated milk, butter, and sugar together, stirring constantly. Bring to a rolling boil for 5 minutes, stirring while boiling. Once done, take off heat and stir in milk chocolate chips, chopped baking chocolate, and marshmallows until melted. Fold in walnuts and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly. Drizzle with melted white chocolate and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Store between wax paper in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy!!
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This one is great for parties, gifts, and much more!                      Yields: 2 pounds










Ingredients:
12 oz. semi-sweet Chocolate chopped into small bits
1 1/2 tsp Peppermint Extract
2 Pounds White Chocolate chopped into small bits
3 Candy Canes or 12 small round peppermints, crushed


Directions:
1. Line a 9-by-13 inch cookie sheet with foil, shiny side up, smoothing out any wrinkles.

2. Heat 1 inch of water in a medium saucepan until steaming. Put all but 3/4 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Set the bowl over the saucepan ( Don't let the bowl touch the water!)
and stir chocolate until 1/3 of the Chocolate is melted. Remove bowl from saucepan, constantly stirring; keep the water over low heat. Gradually stir the leftover 3/4 of the chocolate into the bowl a few pieces at a time until all the chocolate in melted.

2. Return to the saucepan, 5-10 seconds at a time if the chocolate starts to harden. Do not rush this step. It could take up to 10 minutes to melt this chocolate. Stir 3/4 tsp of peppermint extract into the chocolate. Quickly pour the chocolate into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Firmly tap pan on to counter to remove any air bubbles. Set aside at room temperature for about 10 minutes.m

3. Put 1 Cup of the white chocolate into a heat-proof bowl and repeat the melting process. Stir the remaining 3/4 tsp of peppermint extract into the white chocolate. Pour quickly over the semi-sweet chocolate evenly. Tap pan lightly, not to break the semi-sweet chocolate. Immediately Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top of the chocolate, slightly pressing them in. Set aside in room temperature until firm. About one hour. Remove bark from pan, using foil (do not flip pan!). Use hands to break the bark into large pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy!
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We made this puppy chow for all of my teachers as a Christmas present. I know that Puppy Chow is usually made with peanut butter, or another nut butter. But you can completely skip the nut butter in total! It's super simple and delicious! You can customize this however you like!








Ingredients:
3 Cups Rice Chex
1/3 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1/3 Cup Candy Cane Kisses
1/3 Cup Red and White M&Ms
5 Large Candy Canes
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

Directions:
1. Microwave dark chocolate and Candy Cane Kisses in heat-proof bowl for 1 minute, stir and microwave for 30 more seconds.

 2. Gently mix Rice Chex and chocolate mixture together in large bowl with rubber spatula.

 3. Pour powdered sugar into one Gallon-Sized plastic ZipLock bag. Pour Chex mixture into plastic bag and gently shake the bag, coating the Chex with powdered sugar.

 4. Un-wrap Candy Canes and put them into a separate Gallon Ziplock bag and crush with rolling pin until coarse.

5. Place puppy chow into desired serving bowl, and gently stir in M&Ms and Crushed Candy Canes. Enjoy!!

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A macaron is a french pastry. It is crunchy on the outside, and chewy on the inside. There are a lot of complicated recipes to make macarons, but I find that these are the best "Fool-Proof Macarons" that you will ever make. You can make a simple buttercream for the filling, or get fancy and make chocolate ganache, lemon curd, or swiss meringue buttercream. There are tons of possibilities for this recipe. Just have fun!

Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1 Cup almond flour
1 3/4 Cups powdered sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/4 Cup granulated sugar
Filling (I will add a simple vanilla buttercream frosting at the end of this)
Parchment paper
Gel Food Coloring (Optional)

Directions:
1. With food processor, combine almond flour, powdered sugar, and one teaspoon of salt.
Sift into large bowl.

2. In stand-mixer with whisk attachment, beat egg whites and remaining salt on high until leaving tracks. Gradually add in the granulated sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Add food coloring if using. 

3. Gradually fold dry ingredients to egg whites with a rubber spatula. Put batter into piping bag with round tip. 

4. Place 4 small dollops of batter onto every corner of a cookie sheet. This is to help the parchment paper stick to the cookie sheet. Trace one inch circles onto parchment about 2 inches apart. Place parchment onto cookie sheet with traced circles face down. 

5. Fill in circles with batter. Drop pan 8 times. Let pans sit in room temperature for 30-60 minutes to set. You will know when batter is set when you can skim the top of the cookie with your finger without getting batter on it.

6. Bake cookies at 300˚F for 17-19 minutes on middle rack. Do not open oven while macarons are baking.

Filling:
2 Sticks softened butter
5 Cups Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Heavy Whipping cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Gel Food coloring

Directions:
1. Beat butter with electric mixer on high for 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until creamy. Add vanilla, whipping cream and food coloring if using. Beat for 2 minutes longer.

2. Place frosting in piping bag with round tip. Make a dollop of frosting on macaron and put another cookie on top. Repeat. Enjoy!

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Ingredients:
1 Cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup of whipping cream

Directions:
1. Using saucepan, melt chocolate over medium heat.

2. Turn off heat and add whipping cream. Whisk together for 30 seconds or until fully combined. Enjoy!!
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I have a BIG sweet tooth. I'm guessing a lot of you do, too. But don't be ashamed of it! Everyone  craves a cookie or a scoop of chocolate ice cream every now and then. But instead of all those artificial sweets, just make a smoothie or milkshake with one of these sugar substitutes!

1. HONEY. Yes, I know it does have sugar, but it is all-natural and easier for your body to process. And in your smoothie, or tea, it taste almost the exact same as cane sugar!

2. STEVIA. Stevia is a plant, which it's leaves are used to make a sweetener. It is made into a powder people sometimes use in coffee, smoothies, and protein shakes. And it only uses a little bit to make something sweet.

3. BANANAS. Some people don't like bananas, but used in a smoothie, you can barely taste the banana. Just the all-natural sugars inside.

4. AGAVE SYRUP. Most of this syrup comes from the blue agave plant. The syrup comes from the nectar from the plant, making it similar to honey. There is also Agave powder if used in coffee or tea. It is vegan, and completely plant based.

5. MAPLE SYRUP. No not the maple syrup that has preservatives: High fructose corn syrup, sorbic acid, and sodium benzoate, just to name a few. I'm talking Pure, organic maple syrup. It still taste the same though!
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