Beautiful Giveaway!!!

On Monday I had announced that I had exciting news coming up. Yesterday I mentioned how I wanted to give back for reaching a milestone. Well today it's official! Today is the day that I get to express my biggest thanks, with the help of a very gorgeous company! 

"Chicanista Boutique" is an amazing company that creates one-of-a-kind items using re-purposed materials. The company is owned by two extremely sweet sisters, that deserve nothing but respect and praise.

This past Sunday, the local "North Park Vintage Flea Market", where your grandmother's old quilts meet small business crafts. My son and I absolutely love to go, and often find unique finds that we can't pass up. This time was no different.

After my son had purchased a squishy dinosaur, I came across this "booth" in the middle aisle filled with fabulous shirts, purses, jewelry, and more. It was specifically a gorgeous Frida Kahlo shirt that caught my eye. In fact, it was just before our trip to the flea market, that I had expressed to myself that I had very few regular t-shirts (no tank tops or v-necks), so when I saw that t-shirt, I had to have it. 

Once I had grabbed the beautiful shirt off the rack, I found a beautiful vest with Mexican print sewn onto a pocket and the back. Sold, sold, and sold.

The quality of these clothes are top of the line and extremely comfortable. You can tell they didn't stiff on any type of material, which can be easily seen with all of their items. They even had these amazing sugar skull aprons and adorable accessories that I so desperately wanted. Unfortunately this mother was on a budget, but I'm SO going to be making more purchases in the future!!!

Now, as I've mentioned with the last giveaway, I try to support local businesses, kind creators, and quality companies that deserve recognition for their hard work. This is absolutely no different. Not only were the sisters extremely sweet and entertained my fashion dilemma (couldn't decide on a white shirt or a black shirt of Frida), but they were supportive in my blogging endeavors. I simply explained how I wanted to give back to my loving supporters, while helping spread the word on a company who seriously deserves to make it big! 

These ladies are genuine human beings, that spread culture and kindness through artistic merchandise. Which is why I'm so absolutely honored to say that I have been given the opportunity to giveaway one of their black "baby Frida Kahlo" shirts! I stand 100% behind this and I know how comfy they feel, because this is the exact shirt I myself bought!

Want to know how to win?! Well you have THREE ways to enter!!!

1. Subscribe to my blog by entering your email in the upper right box and comment on this post or email me "done". I WILL be checking!

2. Go to my Instagram, follow me, like the contest's photo (picture of me wearing baby Frida), follow "Chicanista" on Instagram (I will provide link on Instagram), and comment a friend who'd like to win as well! Again, I will be checking!

3. Go to my Instagram and repost the giveaway's photo, tagging me in the photo. 

And that's it! Once you've completed either one or all three entries, you'll be in it to win it!

RULES:
-This contest is open to ONLY USA residents (sorry guys). 
-The contest starts today (June 30th, 2016) and ends July 7th, 2016 at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time). That's one week!
- The winner will be chosen on July 8th, 2016 and announced here AND Instagram. (If you prefer to be privately messaged in the case that you win, simply message me on Instagram or email me that you'd like to remain anonymous!)
- If you enter using Instagram and you have a private profile, you need to add me as a friend so I can follow up and make sure your entry is complete. 
- You can only enter ONCE through email, ONCE through my Instagram's photo, and ONCE through re-posting on Instagram. This gives you a total of 3 entries.
- I will provide shipping to anywhere in the USA. You will NOT be required to pay for shipping.
- If you participate in any sort of rudeness or bashing, you will be immediately removed and disqualified permanently. (Yes, I have a "no-no" list)

If you just can't wait and you want to get your hands on some of Chicanista's fantastic merchandise, you can check out their website HERE, their Instagram HERE, their Facebook HERE, and their Twitter HERE! 

Let's show the world why these lovely ladies deserve a successful business and high praise! I promise you won't regret it! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy from their online website to add vibrant quality in my life!

-GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED-

Who Am I?! The 100th Blog Post.

Some of you may know me, but most of you have no clue who I am. I've done this on purpose and the reasoning behind it isn't to be deceptive, but discreet. I have many layers and only few have been shown through this blog. I started this entire thing on a whim one day, jumping directly into this life with a regular ol' post. No explanation, no "about me" page. Well today, I've decided to break the barrier and officially introduce myself. 

Hello everyone, I am "The White Rocking Chair" and we've never truly met. 

Why "The White Rocking Chair" you ask? As a young child I was often rocked in a white rocking chair. This chair resembled a time in my life where I was free from trouble. Where I felt safe and secure. It gave me a single moment in time where I didn't have to worry. To this day that white rocking chair sits in a room. When I rock in the chair, it still grants me that serenity. I can close my eyes and pretend that for just a second, I don't have to worry. That's what I want this place to be. 

If you need an outlet or someone to talk to, I'm here. If you need advice on a particular topic, you can always contact me privately. If you aren't sure about something and it's causing any sort of dilemma (mild or severe), I will do what I can to resolve it for you. I am here to be your very own white rocking chair.

I am a 25 year old, single mom who has struggled with anxiety my whole life. At times thing can get difficult and cause me to have full blown panic attacks. With so much weight often held on my shoulders, I decided to create a blog. Not because I wanted attention, not for recognition, but because I really wanted to help others. I wanted to provide tutorials on how to get creative on a dime, easy recipes/meals for the family with a budget, stories to show you're not alone, tips for life, and reviews to save you time. I knew I couldn't offer much, but I wanted to offer what I could. 

Like I mentioned I have many layers to myself. I am an old soul who thoroughly enjoys waking up in the morning with a conchita (mexican sweet bread), some coffee, and "Murder She Wrote". I daydream of being a modern day Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury's character in "Murder She Wrote"). While I'm cooking or cleaning, you can often hear Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby playing on my record player. Every now and then my son and I will take a break from our chores to dance our hearts out. 

My dream and passion in life is to one day own a tiny house on a beautiful plot of land, where a small farm will live with chickens roaming the fields. I want to give access to those who can't afford organic groceries. I want to cook for the elderly. I want to help.

Tea time is a huge part of my every day life. At night when my little one has gone to bed, I read with a nice cup of tea or simply lay back with more Netflix. Relaxation is key to keeping a stable mind and getting to bed before 2am. I also drink my tea with creamer, honey, and sugar. Vanilla being my preference and dairy free being a must.  

I've had my downfalls in the past and wasn't always the best person I could be. I didn't always strive for excellence nor did I care about doing my best. Once I became a mother, that changed completely. I've grown a heart that cares more now than ever before. I pray to God and I truly do believe in blessings. My son and God saved my life in more ways than one. 

I played soccer for roughly 15 years and I truly wish that someday I could go back to playing, but sadly I was in a car accident 2 years ago which left me without the capability to run. I deal with intense pain during strenuous activities, but I've been participating in therapeutic exercises to slowly strengthen my back. Hopefully some day I will be able to jog down the street in the morning without feeling as if my back is going to split.

I'm tattooed (3 so far) and proudly half Mexican. I am a modernized hippie, which means that I live to be free and kind to all people, but I am not a nomad. I want to spread joy and happiness, no matter who you are. I don't judge a person by their looks, I don't think you should think just like I do, and I expect nothing from anyone. 

My best friend is my son and my adult best friend is my uncle. I tend to keep to myself and I appreciate my privacy. Yes I know how this seems a bit contradicting seeing as how I'm a blogger, but I do keep certain things secret. 

I do NOT make money with my blog nor do I do anything sponsored. This is all to provide you guys with answers and information. I know what it's like to just want the truth and that's why I'm doing this. 

I have a background in art (ceramics, poetry, theatrical, photography, painting, drawing). I always implement art into my life any way I can, because it's an outlet that keeps me sane. I still write in my journals, draw in my notebooks, paint what it's my soul, create decor or jewelry, and draw whatever I feel is worth being immortalized. I tend to aim towards nature when it comes to art, as it's beauty defines itself with every fiber of it's being. I still write poetry and I don't think I'll ever share them as myself. 

I am a home school teacher for my son and I don't intend on every keeping him hidden from the world. He has friends, he's going to be involved in sports, he's outgoing, and I don't regret it one bit. I'm a defensive mother who wants to teach her son that family is not only the most important thing in life, but that creating your dreams into a reality isn't as impossible as some make it out to be. 

I'm quite a book lover. Barnes and Nobles is an extra happy place for me that gives me a sense of tranquility. Sitting down completely engulfed in a novel, slowly escaping into an imaginative land gives me a euphoric sense of being. Peace is something I want in my son's life and mine.

As for "hobbies", I collect Nancy Drew books, DVD's (Big Bang Theory, 007, Murder She Wrote, Pretty Little Liars, Spongebob, and Star War's) and memorabilia. I'm a huge "Star Wars" fan and I never intend on stopping. 

I don't want to discuss my past as it's no longer relevant. It has shaped my into the person I am today, but I don't think tripping while looking back will do me any good. 

I play Lego's, kick butt at video games, go on picnics in the middle of no where, explore thrift stores, eat whatever sounds good, dress like an old woman, and am constantly learning about who I am every single day.

Now that you've finally gotten to know who I am, you can continue reading my blog with a better feel for who I am. 

I am all over the place, I have many different sides to me, and I still haven't shown my face. While my identity is hidden and my face hasn't been shown, I am here. I am a real person who wants nothing more than to provide entertainment, help, and tutorials any way that I can. 

I want you guys to know that just because I've written these 100 blog posts, it doesn't mean you are irrelevant to my being here. I'm only here BECAUSE of you. You are why I do this, you are why I try, you are why I'm working hard. 

This blog is all about you. Yes I include stories, but it's because I want you all to know that I too have bad days. I don't have an exciting life, I don't live luxurious, I don't intend on ever becoming famous. But I do care. 

Thank you for everything you've guys done. Thank you for the kind comments, amazing support, and constant love. Here's to many more blog posts to come!

Have a wonderful Wednesday guys and don't forget, you guys rock!

3 Ways To Make "No Sew" Felt Flowers!!!

As a frugal crafter, I often use what I have on hand to create new decor for my house. From wreaths during the holidays (yes, I will be showing you how to make them later in the year!) to picture frames that hang on my wall. If I have the necessary materials around, I make due with what I can to make what I want. Of course these specific materials may not be "just lying around" for everyone, which is why I strive to give tutorials that can easily be recreated frugally. I'm not here to influence your spending habits - lord knows I don't need to do any shopping at the moment - but I am here to influence your creative abilities. Everyone is artistic in one way or another. Believe me, I've seen it. 

Recently I introduced you all to Sally - my succulent who you can "meet" HERE. Well recently I started noticing how she just looked a little sad. I wanted to spruce her up with some color, but I wasn't exactly in the budget for rocks to buy. No, I felt she needed a little fit of floral love, but didn't need the dead weight of real flowers. They need much more water than Sally, hence the "dead weight" part. So as I started to swirl ideas around in my head, I decided to create my own flowers using felt. Something I had an over abundance of. 

Seeing how adorable these turned out, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share the process with you all! Using these techniques, you can easily create gorgeous decor for all around your house! A floral bouquet, a rose chandelier (working on this and I will share with you all as well), a flower wreath, sunflower hair ties, or perhaps even a plain pillow with your flower creations glued - or sewn - onto them! They were also incredibly easy to make. It only took me about 15 minutes to make all 3! 

Now, I'm not the greatest at explaining things, so I've made sure to include pictures for accurate representation. Hopefully you will understand, but please do feel free to contact me if you don't understand anything!

Shall we begin?

Materials needed to make these 3 flowers:
Hot Glue Gun + Glue Sticks (I use a Low Temp one) 
Felt - Green(s) for the leaves and whichever colors you'd like for the flowers/centers
Scissors

Note: I used 1/2 pink felt sheet, 1/8 green felt sheet, 1 small piece of brown felt, 1/4 blue felt sheet, 1/4 of yellow felt sheet. 

*before you begin, plug in your hot glue in a safe place where kids can't get to it*

Directions for Flower 1 - Pink Rose

This was the first flower I created. I fell in love with how absolutely beautiful it turned out. I will say that this one took the most time, but I feel it was completely worth it in the end. 

You'll need a small thin strip of pink felt, a "wave" strip of of pink felt, medium sized "petal" shaped pieces, large "petal" shaped pieces, and 2 green "leaf" shaped pieces. 

First begin by rolling the small rectangular strip of pink felt into what will look like a little roll. Make sure to do this some what tight, as you want it to be a little small. After you've rolled it together, glue the end piece to the center. This will hold it all in place. 

Then glue one end of the wave strip to the roll you just created. Begin lightly wrapping the wave strip around the roll, gluing the end of the wave piece to the center, holding everything in place. At this point you should have a small flower. You can of course stop here, but I wanted a bigger rose. 

Individually glue the medium sized petals onto the small flower you've created. Do this in a way that you're gluing each petal in between the "petals" of the small flower. If you glue the medium petals directly behind the small flower's petals, you'll end up with space in between the petals and it won't look correct. (I really hope that made sense). 

Once you've finished with all the medium individual petals, start gluing the large petals in the same manner you did the medium ones, by gluing in any spare space seen. This will give the effect of a fully bloomed flower. 

For the petals, you'll take your previously cut out green leaves and simply pinch one end, gluing the sides together. This will give the illusion of a more realistic leaf. To attach them to the flower, just place a small amount of glue onto the edge of the leaf, where you just pinched and glued it. (see photo). 

Done! You've just completed a beautiful felt rose! What's fabulous is that you can use different colored greens for multi-toned leaves and any color flower you'd like! 

Directions for Flower 2 - Blue Tulip

For this flower, all you need is 3 small "leaf" shapes in green and a blue "wave" shape. Once you've cut out a strip of blue from your felt, simply cut out a smooth wave on one side. Then begin to roll the wave. You'll start to see the flower taking shape. Once you've obtained the look of your flower (you may need to trim certain sides and work with it a little), place a small dot of hot glue on the outer edge. This should hold your rolled flower in place. 

Be sure not to roll it too tight as it will look like a fruit roll-up, but also be sure not to roll it too loose or it will just keep coming apart. 

Unlike the rose flower, you aren't using a tone of material so you need to "stretch" it out. Just make sure you can't see any visible space. With this particular flower, you may need to do a little "pinching" on the bottom, securing it with glue. You can even glue a small piece of circular fabric to the bottom pinched area, giving a little bit more support to your tulip. 

For the leaves, cut out a leaf shape out of green felt. Then pinch the bottom of ONE side, gluing the bottom edges together. This will give off the effect of a leaf. To glue to leaf to the flower, apply a small amount of hot glue to the edge of the green leaf (where you just pinched it together) and place onto the flower. (Same directions as the rose flower's leaves.) For a really unique look, try cutting and using different sized leafs. 

Tada! A blue flower that resembles a tulip!

Directions for Flower 3 - Yellow Sunflower

This flower is slightly harder more time consuming than the blue tulip, but not nearly as time consuming as the pink rose. 

You'll need about 8 medium sized individual petal pieces cut out and 5 slightly larger individual petal pieces cut out. You'll also need 1 green leaf felt piece cut out (or as many as you'd like) and 1 small strip of brown felt. 

First pinch the 8 medium sized individual petal pieces, just as you would the leaves. Do NOT pinch the larger ones! You need these as they are! Simply use the same technique as previously mentioned and glue. You may need to hold each piece for about 3 seconds or until fully dry. You don't want these to separate at all. 

Once you have all your pinched petals, roll your brown strip into a small tight roll. This is going to be your center. Of course, once you've rolled the strip together just glue in place like the others. 

Now begin gluing your pinched petals onto the brown roll, again using the technique you would when attaching leaves to a flower. Glue the edge of each pinched petal (where you glued the sides together) and attach to the brown roll. You may need to do a practice layout before hand, to better space each petal without overlapping. 

When each petal is glued onto the brown center roll securely, start to apply a very small amount of hot glue to the back edges of the pinched petals, where the petals are already touching each other. You pretty much want to make sure there is no space shown. Gluing the outer middle of each petal to one another, will give this a very nice look. 

After that's done, begin carefully applying a small amount of hot glue into the center, ONLY focusing on the edge of the brown roll where the petals meet. Immediately slide each slightly larger petal piece (that has NOT been pinched) onto the top of the pinched petals, pushing the bottom out of the center. This will help cover any glue, but not cover the brown center roll. Continue doing this by overlapping the petals. Again, this will give a "no space" effect, making for a pretty flower. 

Finish it off by adding you leaf just as you did the others and there you have it! A perfect sunflower and a batch of pretty flowers to add anywhere! 

Of course you can use one technique to create a bunch of different colored flowers or use all the techniques to create a field of flowers! Regardless the whole of this is to help you learn how to create timeless floral pieces that can be used with any decor or design. 

Perhaps you need a little color to mix up the place. These flowers can help you, all you need is a little felt and some imagination! Pinterest helps too. I've seen some gorgeous works of art using felt. You wouldn't believe half the things people create by using ONLY felt! With the amount of scraps I have around, I may just have to browse Pinterest tonight and plan out other DIY's to tackle!

Needless to say, after adding the three flowers to Sally's pot, I think it definitely helps liven up the place. Now my center piece is filled with color, just like I wanted. Best of all, it didn't cost me anything to create. 

Since you now have the skills and means to make these beauties, go out there and start creating magnificent works of art! Most of all, have fun! 

P.S. these are great to do with the kiddo's. My son helped me and absolutely loved it. He mostly helped me by designing the flowers and handing me the pieces. I didn't want him getting close to the hot glue, as that would not have made for a very fun Tuesday evening! 

4 things I learned from my "water only weekend" + BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

This past weekend I took it upon myself to create a personal challenge. I wanted to try and drink ONLY water for the entire weekend. No I didn't stop eating. That's not only unhealthy, but insane. I'm a foodie for life. 

Recently it had come to my attention that my groceries were often filled with gallons of drinks. Not alcoholic - I don't drink - but juices, coffee, teas, and horchata. While my beverage choices aren't exactly bad for me, they do cost more than water. Obviously. That's when it hit me. I was spending quadruple the price of water, for a drink that's flavored. Why? Why do I feel the need to increase my grocery bill, just to taste a drink? Yes this line of thought may seem a bit far-fetched to you all, but it's an honest thought I was experiencing. I really didn't understand why I had trained my body to automatically reach for anything other than water. 

Don't get me wrong, I drink H2O. I truly believe water should be the main drink in my house. Even my son walks around with his water bottle, everywhere. I fill his water bottle about 3 times a day, but I only fill mine once. Why? Have I truly strayed from my "water beliefs"? Am I even getting the amount needed to stay properly hydrated? Would I truly feel different if I cut out everything except water? Well, I intended on finding out!

When I went to bed Friday, I thought this would be a breeze. I didn't think I'd even struggle at all and I wasn't sure this would be a blog post because of that. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. 

Saturday morning came and all hell broke loose. I had dealt with a long night of insomnia and wanted coffee. I NEEDED coffee. I got up and started to boil the water, when I realized I couldn't. I could only do water. I have never come that close to quitting something in my life. Coffee is my morning soul people!!!! Over exaggerating of course, but you get the severity. 

I guzzled down a glass of cold water with a disgusted look on my face. It wasn't coffee. It wasn't creamer filled and sugar loaded. I quickly came to terms with the idea of being Oscar the Grouch on the inside and a very creepy, smiling statue on the outside. Fake it 'til you make it right? Right???

I'll be honest, this is pretty much how my entire weekend went. I went to drink iced tea, couldn't. I wanted rice milk, nope. I started making abuelita, denied. Torture I tell you, pure torture! Again, exaggerating...

Once Monday morning came (today), my agony was over and I drank my long awaited cup of coffee. After the weekend of massive headaches, frustration like no other, and a constant let down every time I looked at my cup, I realized that this experiment actually taught my a lot. 

1. Water actually does make you feel better.
Yes I realize that this semi-contradicts my previous statement, but it's true. Regardless of my hissy fits, I did actually feel better. I was drinking more water, simply because I had nothing else. This lowered my blood pressure (I checked) which kept me from having anxiety attacks, I didn't get lightheaded every time I stood up, I didn't have nearly as many aches (car accident), and I didn't feel as tired throughout the day. I was even thinking clearer. The headaches were mostly from caffeine withdraws, but overall I actually felt better. 

2. Buying any beverage other than water is expensive.
When I sat down and counted the bottles inside my refrigerator, that contained anything except water, I actually said "woah". I had a gallon of iced tea ($3.99), 2 rice milk containers ($2.99 each), 64 ounces of carrot juice ($3.79), 64 ounces of pineapple juice ($3.99), and a 64 ounce lemonade ($2.69). That totals to around $20.44. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! That's an entire dinner and that's just from this past week!!!

3. Water helps you lose weight.
With all the calories I was taking in just from beverages alone, I was holding onto weight I didn't necessarily care for. With just drinking water, I actually lost 3 pounds. That's right, I weighed myself Friday night and I weighed myself Monday morning (today). 3 pounds. I didn't alter my eating habits, I didn't exercise extra, I didn't change anything except for what I drank. When I looked it up, I realized that the beverages I was taking in was more than doubling my calorie intake. Calories that weren't beneficial to me or my body.

4. Drinking only water helped me sleep.
I've suffered from insomnia for a long time. I've tried warm milk, soothing teas, and meditation. I don't sedatives nor will I ever. What I did notice though, is that I would chug drinks before starting my "nighttime routine". I would be full off of that liquid and hardly drink any water before bed. I don't know if this directly affected my sleep or if it had anything to do with it, but I can tell you this. I didn't have insomnia ONCE this weekend. Granted it's only been two nights, but it seems to have helped. 

Even with all this newly gained knowledge, I don't think I will every stop drinking juices, coffee, teas, or rice milk. I do think I'll increase my water intake though. I plan on only having water after 7 pm, filling up my water bottle at least twice a day - but preferably 3, and I plan on giving back. I'm going to start buying water bottles, refrigerating them, and handing them out to those who may not have easy access to clean water. Especially on these hot summer days coming.

So with this being said, I don't hate water as much as I did Saturday morning. It's no coffee, but it's definitely a keeper!

Time for the BIG announcement! 

As many of you may know, I did a giveaway in May to thank you beautiful people for your support. I can't even begin to describe how absolutely blessed I truly feel to even be here. I wish I could reach out and hug each and every one of you. You are all amazing, kind, and absolutely loved by me! 

Today I surpassed a huge successful mark as a blogger. I hit 500 followers. Now to some that may not seem like a lot, but to me it's a huge deal. That means that 500 people are interested in what I have to say. 500 people are going on this journey with me. 500 people care. And you know what? I care too. So, to thank you all, I plan on hosting a surprise for you guys! 

I'm not going to be giving too many details away, as I'm still in the process of completing the final touches. BUT, I can say that it's coming very VERY soon. As in DAYS people. 

I will - of course - make a blog post about it, to let you guys know all the details. So stay tuned and make sure to follow my Instagram (@thewhiterockingchair or you can click the Instagram link towards the top right section of my page) to be notified first. I can't wait for this special event and I really hope you guys love it. 

Thank you again guys. Seriously, this is a very joyous occasion for me and I want to share that joy with all of you! Have an absolutely fabulous Monday and stay tuned for my special surprise!

A to Z Food Challenge: I

Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

That's right, for this week's food challenge I'm tackling the letter "I" and I've decided to use ice cream. Today was a particularly awesome day and worth celebrating a triumphant moment in my life, so we decided to make an incredibly delicious, super cheap, and amazingly easy ice cream pie! 

I got today's inspiration from my favorite, the "Nancy Drew Cookbook". The exact name for this recipe is called "Old Clock Ice Cream Pie", because it's based off of the book "The Old Clock". While I won't being taking Nancy's advise and creating a clock on the pie, I will be using the recipe to devour one of thee best pies I've ever eaten. Yes, it's THAT good. 

Of course I had to go to Trader Joe's and use this as an opportunity to also review two items that I've been dying to try. But before I get into the review, let's get into the recipe!

My pie is called "Cookie Butter and Joe Joe's Ice Cream Pie". Ok so it's a long name, point is it's freaking awesome and everyone should make it!

Ingredients: 
1 quart ice cream of your choice - I chose Cookie Butter ($4.49) 
24 cream-filled cookies - I chose Vanilla Joe Joe's (2.99) 
1 pie plate (I used one from the dollar tree for $1)
*if you're choosing to follow Nancy's recipe exactly, she chose vanilla ice cream, cream-filled chocolate cookies, and 1/2 cup of frozen fruit*

Directions:
1. Let the ice cream soften. If you're choosing to use frozen berries, allow them to soften as well and mix with the ice cream. 
2. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Crush the cookies until they are very fine. You can either use a rolling pin, a blender, or simply mash them in a bag like I did. Also, I didn't crush them extremely fine as I wanted a chunky crust. I'm not a fan of "flakey" crusts, so this was just my preference. Both methods work great.
4. Grease the pie plate, line with the cookie crumbs, and bake for 8 minutes. After it's done, take it out and let it cool completely. 
5. Fill the pie shell with the soften ice cream mixture and put the whole thing into the freezer until it's chilled thoroughly. (Roughly 1 to 2 hours)

Cut, serve, and enjoy!!!

It took me around 10 minutes to prepare - crunching cookies and baking the crust - and turned into about 8 slices after completely chilled. That's less than $9 for the whole pie, which comes to a little over $1 per slice! 

Now tell me that wasn't the easiest recipe you've ever heard of? Seriously I was impressed with how well this whole thing turned out! Especially since I left the cookie crumbs slightly chunky. To me it tasted even better. Also, this recipe can so easily be altered to suit your own cravings! My son and I both scarfed down our slices after dinner and went "ga-ga" over the creamy flavor. Which brings me to the important review portion of today's post!

First let's start with the Trader Joe's "Cookie Butter and Vanilla Ice Cream" ($4.49). I will admit that I have a cookie butter problem. I've tried every variation they have to offer in every form of consistency possible. I've used it on sandwiches, in smoothies, and on my ice cream. I've literally made myself sick from consuming WAY too much cookie butter. Which led me to taking a break from the phenomenon. 

Today was different. After having some fabulous news today, I whipped out my cookbook and scoured for the perfect dessert recipe. Seeing as how it was ice cream, I decided it would be perfect for today's challenge as well. I was going to do a dinner post, but this was more fitting for me. That's when it hit me. I hadn't tried the cookie butter ice cream yet. You better believe I got my son dressed in 10 seconds flat and ran to Trader Joe's. Ok so I drove, but I was speed walking to the ice cream section! 

This ice cream is dangerously good. It is vanilla bean with ribbons of smooth cookie butter spread throughout the ice cream, which allows for a burst of smooth decadent cookie butter flavors to overtake your taste buds. This ice cream is amazing. I want it every day and am going to have to force myself to cool it. I've already made a promise to myself to not buy it every chance I get. That's the real challenge here. Basically this is something I recommend WITH caution. You will get addicted. You will crave it. You will love it. You have be warned. 

For the crust portion of my pie, I chose to go with Trader Joe's "Joe Joe Vanilla Cream Cookies" ($2.99). I was a tad bit nervous buying these. I love Oreo's and I knew I could just buy the vanilla version and know the pie would be a success (I had massive doubts the ice cream would be a failure. It's cookie butter), but I wanted to try something new. I heard comments from fellow buyers that they were better than Oreo's and absolutely fantastic. Even with my hesitation, I bought them. I knew it could've ruined everything, but it didn't. 

These cookies are my new favorites. I won't be buying Oreo's anymore. Please forgive me oh once beloveds, for you are now an "ex" midnight snack. Goodbye forever. Hello Joe Joe's!!!

The vanilla cream feels and tastes authentic. It's rich, creamy, flavorful, and just the right amount of vanilla to perfectly combine with the crunchy yet soft cookie. The portions were absolutely well done and I felt like I was finally eating the cookie I deserved. I'm sorry, but this whole 'double stuff' crap wasn't exactly doing me any justice. If I'm going to indulge in a dessert, I prefer to do it right. This pack not only consists of proportionate cookies, but it comes with around 40 of them. Yes, yes, yes. Go buy these and thank me later! 

So in conclusion, this pie needs to be on your "to-do" list, the cookie butter ice cream is a must try WITH caution, and the cookies will replace your love for Oreo's, so eat at your own free will. All in all it's been a really good day and to end it with this dessert made it so much better.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and I hope it's filled with delicious eats! Keep on rockin'

ABC Mouse - Waste of Money or Worthy Academy?

As parents we do our best to give our children the best educational advancement possible. We buy books, flashcards, packets, games, and whiteboards to try and give them a head start. We try our best to keep them entertained and teach them important knowledge everyday. So when a website claims to give our children full access to a school style curriculum and help them to learn in a fun manner, you better believe I jumped in. 

If you haven't seen the many commercials aired on all sorts of TV channels of abcmouse.com, then you wouldn't know that the $8 a month subscription is a preschool/kindergarten early learning academy. It helps your kids to learn the fundamentals - phonics, alphabet, mathematics, etc. - while playing games, earning tickets for prizes, and creating academic independence. 

While I wasn't exactly convinced it would make my child a genius, I did decide to go in with an open mind. I monitored my son's usage, encouraged his progress, praised his success, and secretly tested what he had learned throughout the day. I've tested this website for about 2 months now. I never pushed him hard to specifically play, because I wanted to see if it would encourage him to continue playing on his own. 

Throughout the 2 months, I watched my son have an on-again/off-again love for abcmouse.com with a few noticeable differences. After the 2 months, I learned quite a few things about my son. Things that really struck me as intriguing and helped me learn a lot about him. 

1. He doesn't like to learn EVERY day. Which is understandable. He's 4.

2. He doesn't think games and electronics are replacements for toys and human interaction. 

3. He's very hands-on with learning and sitting down to do an activity that seems to be endless is a bit daunting. Again, he's 4.

4. He loves to learn.

5. He takes whatever he learns and applies it in everyday use. 

I knew my son was smart and I knew that he wasn't a "sit down" type of guy, but I didn't know that he was merely eager to learn more and more, just in different ways. 

As for my personal review of abcmouse.com, it consists of a few key qualities. How my son reacted to it over a period of time, how much he REALLY learned, and how well laid out I personally feel it is. I myself even tested the website, by personally "playing" a few rounds. I didn't use my son's profile though, as I didn't want to hinder his results. By the way, there are progress reports for parents to check up on and see how their children are doing. I haven't checked it as I want to allow him more time, to see if the progress is going at a steady pace. 

Now, for the results.

At first my son really loved it. He was absolutely enthusiastic as he is with anything new. He explored all the in's and out's - the hamster pets, the classroom, the books. After 2 months, he's still excited to play it, but not nearly as much as the beginning. Again, I don't push him to play on a consistent basis, because I don't want to hinder any creative thinking or "want" to play the game. If he's forced to do something, he's not going to enjoy it nearly as much. I'm the same way, so I avoid it. 

As for learning, I have to admit that it's the best money I've spent so far. He is now going around sounding out every syllable he can, trying to read the words. He's constantly thinking about what each letter who represent (C for cookie, cat, car) and he's always applying math. He thinks of problems and tries to use unique ways to solve them. He's increased his want to learn. This has not only made me incredibly proud, but thankful that I found this site. 

I'm currently in the inner workings of having my son be homeschooled for Kindergarten (yes he will be socialized through sports, exercise groups, and 2/3 onsite classrooms every week), so having this site makes me feel like he's truly getting a proper head start. Even when we spoke with the charter school counselor, she was impressed with his education. She truly thought he'd been to an advanced preschool, as he's already reading "first level" books. 

No, my son isn't perfect and no he isn't a genius, but yes this site DID help him. He's still a creative thinker, he's still artistic (and even uses what he learns in his art), and he's still interested in school. 

When I played it, I actually had fun. Some of the lessons can feel a little overwhelming, as there are roughly 8-11 activities per lesson, with 5-7 lessons per "land". Each lesson is only 1% of the entire curriculum. So yeah, I get the whole "SERIOUSLY?!" feeling. My son makes the face sometimes and will ask me "can I take a break?". Of course I say yes and I allow him to stop. 

It has books, songs, games, pets, stores for when you've worked hard for your tickets, math, reading, phonics, science, and a ton more of options for the little ones. 

While I do realize in a traditional classroom, breaks won't necessarily be granted. He will have to push on and keep moving forward with the class, but this is simply another reason why my son is going to be joining a homeschool/charter program for his first year of school. I feel like he should be eased into the whole "stay here for 8 hours and learn, learn, learn". No school isn't a prison, yes we are blessed in being able to do this, and no I don't think it will hurt him in any way. Otherwise I'd never do it. 

So to conclude this review, I say absolutely, positively, completely, confidently YES! If you have a preschooler or a kindergartner or even any child who enjoys games, you should download it. 

In fact, if you don't want to take the plunge and pay the $8 because you're unsure, they offer a FREE month trial. You'll have an entire month to monitor your own child's progress and see if it suits your families needs. If you don't like it, cancelling is one of the easiest processes I've experienced (I tested it out to make sure). Simply go onto your parent profile, click "cancel", and follow the steps. They don't charge you afterwards. They don't have hidden fees or excuses. They don't mess around. 

This is something I recommend to everyone with kids. As parent's we want the best for our kids and I truly believe that this is one of the best. 

Why everyone should play Nancy Drew!!!

If you've stuck around and read a few posts from the past, you may have noticed once or twice that I've mentioned my love for the infamous Nancy Drew and all her adventures. The books, video games, and board game starring the beloved detective, are all kept safely adorned in my home. Ever since I was a child I've aspired to be like and to be quite honest, I still do in more ways than one. 

I've even created my own board game (you can see it HERE), made my own Nancy Drew earrings (click HERE to see), and strive to complete my book collection (see HERE to read more about the books). I even own my very own copy of the Nancy Drew cookbook, which I am thinking about implementing into my weekly "A to Z Friday Food Challenges". I also found a Nancy Drew purse, in excellent condition, that came with the first 2 Nancy Drew books. My collection will forever build of Nancy Drew memorabilia. 

Contrary to popular belief, people of all ages from around the world - male AND female - play the exhilarating games. They even indulge in Nancy Drew conventions and newsletters! (See HERE to see about the conventions and newsletters and see HERE for the video games). 

As an adult I still find Nancy Drew to be an amazing hero and the video games by Her Interactive have become a family game night tradition between my uncle, son, and I. We buy delicious food, download one of Nancy Drew's computer adventures, hook the computer up to the TV via HDMI cable, grab our wireless mouse and notebook, and play until the mystery is complete. Most of the time we start a mystery around lunch time and finish well after dinner. This only happens once a month, so we REALLY get into it. We're currently waiting for the 33rd installment of Nancy Drew - hopefully released around Halloween this year, fingers crossed - but in the meantime, I thought I'd give you an insight into why Nancy Drew should be apart of everyone's lives! 

Besides, you don't want to miss out on the upcoming "Midnight in Salem" (the 33rd game) and you'll have the chance to catch up on all her past adventures! Of course you don't have to play them in order and if you don't like having a whole bunch of video game boxes lying around, you can directly download the game via Amazon - hence why not all my video games are shown in the picture. Click HERE for a preview of "Midnight in Salem". 

Without further ado, here are a few reasons why you should love Nancy Drew!!

1. She gives everyone life goals. 
Seriously, who doesn't want to be a professional detective where you get to sleuth around and solve mysteries?! I'm somewhat nosy and enjoy being included in things, so this would be heaven for me. 

2. Her wardrobe is perfection. 
I may be an old soul - which is why I freaking adore her attire from the books - but even her simplistic outfits in the video games (or what we can see), are exactly how I wish to dress. Covered, comfortable, and matching. I was Nancy Drew for this past Halloween (2015) and I wanted to stay in the DIY costume for all eternity. 

3. Her passport is FILLED with gorgeous stories. 
She receives free vacations to some of the most beautiful places in the world. Yes, her games - and books are based off of real locations. From Paris to Iceland, she experiences it all. 

4. She's smarter than she looks. 
Between her intricate puzzle-solving skills and the way she conducts her business, she's a genius. You get to learn all about rich cultures with the help of this special detective. A real inspiration for everyone, especially the youngans!

5. She gives you hours of creative fun!
Her games allow you to not only experience her vacations and allow you to act as Nancy Drew yourself, but you have the chance to solve the puzzles, use your noggin to creatively overcome obstacles (like being stuck in a burning shed), AND it's family friendly. There is something about sitting on my couch, eating delicious food, and snooping on everyone's business to find out who's playing the role of villain, that just makes everything else in the world seem irrelevant. Besides my family of course, because we all have to work together to figure things out. I'm telling you that things can be quite tricky! 

Still unsure? All I have to say is why?! 

No judgement here. Heck, if you don't buy the video games in the store, I will. Those games sell out so quickly at my Target, which is why I often times download them from Amazon. I just really love each game's box, as it always consists of beautiful graphics. 

So what are you waiting for? Go out and purchase yourself a game! You can always download an old school game from Amazon (around $5) before purchasing the more recent ones. I will say though that Her Interactive has come a LONG way since the 1st game. With spectacular quality and an increase in game time, you will definitely get two different - but still stupendous - experiences. 

Here's to Nancy Drew. The fictional hero that will forever remain in my heart, home, and computer.