Cookie madness

Today was the first annual playgroup cookie exchange. And it didn't disappoint!

I came home with 10 dozen cookies in 5 varieties. The baking was pretty easy. It took me 2 hours to make 13.5 dozen cookies (not counting the first batch I burned). The hard part will be letting all those cookies walk out the door as Christmas presents for friends and neighbors.

I made a peanut butter cookie with a hershey kiss on top - a classic cookie if you ask me. My recipe should have made 12 dozen, but I ended up with way more! In the past I've tended to make my cookies too big and come up short on my count, so I think I was being overly cautious and made them a little too small.

My tummy is happy I have extra, but I know my hips are gonna be pissed.


P.S. Sorry no pictures; our expert photographer was absent today on account of her lil guy being sick. Missed ya Nata-Leigh!

Stickers - Reward or Bribe?

I'm not sure what the big deal is about stickers, but every kid seems to like them. Except for Sergio. He eats them.

Hailey is no exception to the mass of kids who love 'em. She started showing interest in them within the last few months, but now she's obsessed with them. So, now I've figured out how to use that obsession to my advantage.


So now I ask: Stickers - reward or bribe? You decide...


My reward system started when I was trying to encourage Hailey to eat a meal without crazy antics such as rubbing the food in her hair or throwing it on the floor. I wouldn't tell her she was going to get a sticker for eating well; I just gave her one at the end of the meal and told her how happy I was that she'd eaten well.


I know that's no big deal, but my dilemma started when she caught a cold recently and I wanted to squirt saline spray into her nose. Normally this is a two person job: RJ holds her hands down and her head still and I do the squirting. And all the while Hailey screams and kicks.


I decided to try and offer a sticker instead of go through all of the drama involved in holding her still. And it worked! She sat completely still while I squirted the saline and held out her hand promptly after to accept her sticker reward.


So, what do you think? Is this an act of bribery or just a reward for a job well done?

Be honest...I can take it.

Easy treats

I've been perusing a lot of blogs recently. Clearly I'm addicted.

Anywho. A lot of blogs are sharing recipes for holiday eat & treats. I'd like to share this one with everyone because it is so good and so easy. Emphasis on easy.

I'll say right up front that is not my recipe; my very "Martha-esque" sister, Lori, made it for a cookie exchange.

Rolo Pretzels

Rold Gold round pretzels
Rolo
candies
walnuts (optional)
wax paper

Place a sheet of wax
paper on a cookie sheet. Place pretzels on cookie
sheet. Insert a Rolo in
the center of each pretzel. Place a walnut on top (if
using). Bake at 250
degrees for 5 or so minutes - just until the chocolate gets
soft enough to
conform to the pretzel.

And voila! You have a delicious homemade, easy treat! Enjoy!