{Guest Post} Pamela @ Pamela's Heavenly Treats - Healthy Desserts

With all the sugary snacks and drinks and the high fat content in fast food today, it's important for us to provide our children with Healthy Desserts.  Obesity in children is at an all-time high today, and our children need to know there is a great-tasting alternative to chips and candy. When we make healthy  desserts for our kids, they have to look good and taste good or our kids will not want to eat them. That's why each cupcake and cookie recipe that I make, my kids are the judges.  It is like the show Cupcake Wars, when the judges sample, taste a little icing, taste a little cake etc.  I am like waiting for an Yes or No.  I must say 9 times out of 10 its a Yes. 

When people see healthy they think of bland, no taste, yuck food.  So that's why you just have to put a spin on your favorite dessert recipe and take out the granulated sugar, whole milk, white all purpose flour.  You need to use all natural ingredients like fresh brown eggs (they make the best desserts) homemade buttermilk (so you don't have all those crazy ingredients that you don't need), light brown sugar, fresh fruit (if you must use canned just make sure its in 100% juice) and homemade extracts (vanilla, orange, lemon, mint etc) I haven't made any homemade extracts but next month I will be making a batch.

Even though I just make healthy cupcakes and cookies, I do dabble in some other desserts.  Those are my main two.

I also make Healthy and Wholesome Meals, but for me that's not where the excitement is, I make those kind of things each and every day. 

Here is a recipe for Almond Balls:

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups almonds, firmly chopped

Powered sugar

Combine flour and salt, mix butter, vanilla and brown sugar, then add the flour mix and almonds mix well.  Shape into small ball bites. Bake for 25 minutes. Roll in powered sugar while warm.

Dough Mixture

Almond Balls before they go in the oven

Almond Balls when they come out the oven

Almond Balls

These are so easy to make and they come out so good and crunchy.

I really enjoyed being here with you at Mom-A-Logues, thanks so much for having me.

You can see all of my healthy cupcake and cookie pictures and recipes at Pamela's Heavenly Treats .

**Note:  This was my very first guest post - and I am honored to have Pamela here today!!  Thanks for some great healthy tips, girl - I can't wait to try this recipe. **

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A night on the ice....

 Yesterday afternoon I got a text message from my brother "you should bring the girls ice skating tonight". His girlfriend, Kelly, teaches a skating class Wednesday evenings and he actually had the night off work, so he was going to be there, too. I text back, "we'll be there".

The weather has been so unbelievably mild here in Minnesota this year - everywhere, really! Warm temps and very few snowfalls of only an inch or 2 at a time, which is usually completely melted by the next day.

Ben & Kelly
{can you tell which one is the professional? Ha!}

The gorgeous weather conditions yesterday were...well, gorgeous!! Unfortunatley, the ice doesn't have the same opinions. It was definitley skateable, but quite slushy and soggy in most areas. Thank goodness I brought the girls' snowpants, even tho they really didn't need them for warmth - because they were completely soaking wet. Wet from falling, of course, and wet from making "slush" angels. We don't have any actual snow for a snow angels, so they have to take what they can get, I guess.

With every skating adventure I take them on they continue to get better and better. 

 

Alexa skates around like it's her JOB!

 

and Lillian has some tricks of her own.

Tho, as much as Alexa LOVES ice skating, she is still a gymnast at heart!

After we called it a night from skating - we hung out in the warming house for a bit, had some popcorn and walked up to the rec center where the hubs was in a meeting. Our intentions were to just run in and grab a quick drink out of the fountain - but, we ended up getting convinced to stay and chat with some of the staff and wait for Adam to get out of his meeting.

He was surprised to see us...and then quickly took advantage of us being there to get in a couple games of ping pong {if we were at home waiting for him, he wouldn't have...cuz, that's just the kind of guy he is.....right!? Right!}.

 

The perks of working at a rec center!

I wonder how many more chances we'll have to ice skate this year?

The weather just keeps getting nicer and nicer!

Is SPRING really here?

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Bin There Designs Review & {Easter Bucket} Giveaway

Can you guys believe that Easter is literally right around the corner?  How the year has already flown by this fast is totally beyond me.  With that said, I would like to introduce you all to the amazingly talented Melanie from Bin There Designs.

Her shop shop will have you swooning over all things EASTER BUCKETS!  That's right - it's time to get thinking about what the Easter Bunny is going to bring for your sweet little chicks and Bin There Designs has the buckets to put them in.  Whether you give gifts to your children or have Easter Egg Hunts - Melanie will designs a bucket perfect for the occasion.

She was so sweet to design these ADORABLE buckets just for my girls.  

Since I like to provide pictures with my girls and the products sent - these will not be a surprise for Easter, but will definitley be used as their Easter Buckets this year.

The girls' eyes lit up as soon as they were pulled from the box.  The bright colors are co captivating and brought huge smiles to their faces.  The definitley scream SPRING!

I have big plans for these darling buckets once their job of holding Easter treats is finished.

I already have a vision of them being used in their room to hold their small toys and stuffed animals.

{I actually found this really cute idea on Pinterest to hang them from the wall - the hubs doesn't know it yet, but he's in for a real project, soon!}

Melanie did an amazing job of including the colors that I wanted and matching the sweet ribbons on the side.

The girls get bows and the boys feature streamers.

I am really loving the fact that they not only will make fabulous Easter Buckets, but can be used for many other things, too - small toys, hair bows and other items to organize the home. They'd also make a unique baby shower gift - filled with cute burp cloths, bibs, diapers and lotions. The options are endless.

Melanie can customize them to whatever you desire.  If you have a special theme or color scheme - she will work with you to design the perfect bucket.  She even sends a proof just to be sure you're getting what you want before she sends it out.

Buckets come in 5 and 10 quart sizes!

Buckets are galvanized metal and powder coated.  The design is printed on vinyl with a laminate applied directly to the vinyl to ensure long use.

Melanie's motto behind her shop is that we've all "Bin There" when it comes to shopping for that hard to by for person.  Some people are just impossible to buy for and we don't have the time to be searching up and down the aisles of the stores looking for that perfect gift.  You've "Bin There", right?  I know I have!

She's gone ahead and made it super simple for us.  If you thought that her shop was all about the cute buckets mentioned above - you're wrong.

Melanie offers unique gifts for everyone.  From sippy cups, to tumblers, serving trays and wine glasses, drink tubs, cake toppers and more  - she can custom make them all for your shopping convenience. 

These awesome plastic buckets are perfect for toys, art supplies or a neat what to package a gift.

What an amazing teacher gift this would make
- or get some tumblers custom made for your bridal party!!

These would be so fun for your annual ladies nights!!

Lots of fun options at Bin There Designs - you will have a blast designing something special for the ones you love! 

Also, ACT FAST if you want the best selection of Easter Buckets!!
Deadline to order for Easter is mid-March!

GIVEAWAY:

Melanie would like to offer one lucky Mom-a-Logues winner a 5 qt. personalized bucket from her shop.

**Please use the Rafflecopter Entry Form Below to Enter!!**

Wordless Wednesday - Me and My Babies

{taken Valentine's Day morning 2012}

VOTE FOR ME PLEASE!!

 

Mandy Ann Clothing Review & Giveaway

Mandy believes that God gives everyone a gift to share with others - and one of Mandy's gifts is her talent to design and create an adorable, yet sophisticated line of children's clothing.

Mandy's reason to start making clothing was because of her daughter who loves dresses and skirts.

Her daughter's love of dressing up and Mandy's love of fashion is where all Mandy Ann Clothing's custom designs come from. 

After selling her clothing locally, she had enough of an interest to grow bigger, which is when she began her shop on Etsy. 

Mandy was so kind to send my girls the Be Mine Knot Dress/Ruffle Pant Set from her shop.

Not only am I in love with all the fabrics used in this wonderful set, I just can't get over the detail of the red rose trim along the apron.  It just doesn't get much cuter. 

Personally, the knot dresses paired with ruffle pants are my favorite design these days.  Honestly, if I were able to pull a combo off like this in an adult size, I totally would.  You can't beat cute and comfy.

Mandy's details are incredible.  She has an eye for pairing great fabrics together.  The reds and pinks with the denim bodice is all so amazing.

I also really appreciate her straight seams and stitchwork.  I love the clean lines and professional look. 

The set she sent my girls is a size 5. 

Lillian usually wears somewhere between a size 4 and a 5 and Alexa wears a size 7.

With the knot style dress - I was able to make the straps shorter for it to fit Lillian perfectly.  However, the pants ran a little bit big.  I had them rolled up twice around the waist (which worked great for her). 

The sweet little set fit Alexa perfectly - both the top and the bottoms.  So, perhaps the sizing runs a little bit big.  And I always love that it will grow with my child so, both girls will get lots of wear out of it.

Mandy's unique style and gorgeous fabrics is what intrigued me.  She offers clothing for both girls and boys, so each child can feel special and wear something stylish and fun.

Here are a few of my fav's:

This Little Miss Knot Dress is part of Mandy Ann's HOPE LABEL.
With this line, they are only offering a handful of each piece - truly one-of-a-kind.
She will be adding to the HOPE LABEL, but pieces will be limited. 

So, if you're looking for something extra special - be sure to keep your eye on this shop as new items will be brought in and won't last long.

Mocha Chocolate Ruffle Bum Bloomers

Mandy makes these darling bloomers with room to grow so that your child can get lots of wear from them.

Sizes available 0-3 months - 24 months
(the larger size can fit up to a size 3T).

Tea Party Tank

The rosette trim is just too much - I love it!
I can't get over what an elegant touch this is to Mandy's designs.

This would have been the perfect shirt for my girls to wear at their Tea Party Birthday last October.
Mandy also has a Tea Party skirt that this goes with - be sure to check it out as a set in her shop!

Ooooh - we can't forget about the little boys! 

Mandy has some fun things for them to show off their style, too.

Be Mine Bow Tie Shirt

Oh, for cute! Right? 
Every little boy needs a bow tie or tie appliqued shirt like this in their wardrobe.  It's just a MUST!
It's so cute layered with a collared shirt underneath, a long sleeved tee, or completely alone.
Your little guy will definitley draw some attention!

Dot in Tangerine Tie Shirt

Shirt sizes are available in NB to size 3T.

Gift Sets/Burp Cloths

Mandy also offers some unique gift sets, which make fantastic gifts.
Each set is packaged ready to give to one lucky Mama.

Mandy Ann Clothing

Trendy, Classic and Unexpected

GIVEAWAY:

Mandy is so sweet to offer one of my lucky readers a skirt from her spring collection OR a boys applique tie shirt/onsie.

***Please use the Rafflecopter Entry Form below to Enter!!***