Better For You Fudge Recipe and New Items at Rose and Ruffle

I have a sweet tooth. In fact, it's probably more appropriate- and accurate!- to say that in the plural form: I have sweet teeth, ha ha. With the exception of a few wayward moments, I was able to stay on track avoiding sugar, gluten, legumes, and basically lots more things through Valentine's Day.

But I decided that since I could find a healthier option for me for the special day of love, I should! Life is meant to be celebrated, and Valentine's Day without chocolate just doesn't cut it in my book. Here is what I did make. I found the recipe on Pinterest and altered it slightly, so it isn't completely paleo. I replaced the nut butter with peanut butter, mainly because that's all I had on hand. We don't eat tons of peanut butter here, so I don't worry about having it occasionally. I also reduced the amount of maple syrup, and combined equal parts dark chocolate and regular cocoa powder- I know cocao powder is slightly different, and better for you, but again, I didn't have that and it had been daaaaays since I'd eaten chocolate or any sweets, so I wanted this NOW. ;)

As it turns out, it needs to chill for two hours in the fridge. Figures. ha ha (But I did lick the spatula and it was heavenly!!)

Here's What You'll Need

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup virgin coconut oil (which looks kind of like shortening in a jar)

1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

1/4 cocoa powder

2-3 Tbsp maple syrup 

dash sea salt

 

parchment paper or waxed paper

bread loaf pan or small baking dish

Here's What You Do

Line the bread pan or baking dish with parchment paper, leaving enough on the sides so you can lift the fudge out of the pan after it chills

Add the ingredients to a small saucepan, and over low heat, stir until melted and smooth. The recipe I pinned stressed the importance of using a whisk, but I just used a spatula. Perhaps that's why my fudge looks flatter? Dunno. Anyway, this didn't take more than a few minutes total.

Once smooth, pour into the lined pan and place in the fridge. I bet you could freeze this to hurry up the process, but I honestly didn't even think of that. Must've been delirious with withdrawal symptoms! You need to store this in the fridge as well, and be prepared to get fudge smeared all over your fingers because it gets soft very quickly as you hold it.

Enjoy!!!

I purchased these new fabrics in the dead of winter when it was still like thirteen degrees below zero. They made me so happy! I've got several new designs this year, so it's really fun to see these come to life, so to speak. :)

I am so smitten with this pajama set! I just had to share the entire picture, but for the rest, I'm just sharing a little peak. ;)

You can visit Rose & Ruffle HERE. There are also a few flannel things that are just so pretty that I've marked on sale to make room for these new spring and summer items, so check it out!

I'm also on IG @roseandruffle.... I would love to share a photo of your little cutie so be sure to tag Rose & Ruffle...thanks!

 

Happy Wednesday!

Homemade Valentine's Day Treats

We have another snow day here, without one snowflake having fallen yet I might add, ha ha. I thought I'd share some of our favorite homemade treats in honor of Valentine's Day....enjoy!

Easy No-Bake Truffles

 Easy Crepes with Cream and Fruit

Whoopie Pies with Real Creme Filling

Homemade Brownies with Cream Cheese Topping

Brownie Volcano

 Triple Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

Double Cocoa Dream Cookies

So what will your Valentine's Day look like this year? I'm a little (okay, a LOT) bummed that I'll still be on this month-long sugar, dairy, gluten and caffeine elimination diet and won't be able to eat any of the treats I'll make, which is tantamount to torture in my book. But I love to spoil my family with special little sweet things, so I'll just have to pray for optimal self-control. ;) Regardless, we'll have a big special family dinner together, and I'm thinking of coming up with some small one-on-one dates with my older boys while Daddy takes Isabelle out on a date.

Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance and a Sick Baby

This has been quite a week. Just a lot going on, and my nerves are about shot. Today was such a beautiful, sunny day, and warmer than we've had in months! It was heavenly! I'll share pictures of our fun day later because I'm tired tired tired, but I'm going to post these ones from last night.

I was commenting to Bill a few weeks ago that we've never had the opportunity for him to take Isabelle to a Father-Daughter dance, and wouldn't you know, our elementary school put one on for Valentine's Day. Perfect!

Daddy and his special date

This is her Christmas dress from last year, but we switched out the cranberry colored sash for a light pink one - look at how pretty my baby girl looks! And not my baby girl anymore, either!

I'm not gifted with hair-dos and even less so with make-up, but I think her curls came out so well. They were beautiful. She wore a bit of lipstick and my favorite necklace and dangly earrings- she was most excited about the earrings, ha!

Looking pretty and dapper on the way out the door

I was helping out with decorations earlier in the day...see that ladder back there and all the hearts dangling from the ceiling? Yeah. All me. 

I almost made my friends take a picture of me up on the ladder because most people who know me know that I do not do ladders. At all. Like, even a little bit.

But I did it!

That's love.

We draped garland around lots of doors, set up a background for a photo shoot, and decorated lots of tables and easels. It looked really festive when we were done. I'm sure the girls loved all the sparkle.

And this little guy.

He wasn't quite himself on Monday, but on Tuesday around lunch time, he refused to eat and I noticed that he felt really hot. He wouldn't stop crying, poor baby. When Bill got home and was rocking him, his fever spiked and his eyes started to roll back in his head. It was awful. We called the doctor and got an appointment for that afternoon.
Right after I canceled the vet appointment for the dog and cats.
On Valentine's Day.
#soromantic
Cold virus plus a nasty ear infection. Poor baby.

This was Wednesday, and pretty much all day Thursday and Friday, too. It was rough.

I look like I'm smiling here, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't. ha ha

Not much worse than watching your baby in pain and not being able to make it all better.

Thursday morning we had another delay for snow, so we asked my Mom and Dad to come down for pancakes. This is looking out one of our front windows- the snow is halfway up the front door!

 Upstairs in my room, there are sliding glass doors and a balcony overlooking the backyard (perfect for someone who is afraid of heights, ha ha), and the snow covers more than 3/4 of the railings. Last year at this time, well after we got back from Florida, we had no snow and it was acting like spring- we were all outside on the deck for Levi's baby shower in early March! So funny how things change from year to year.

I'm flipping pancakes in the kitchen and I turn around and see this sight. These guys. Never a dull moment. 

Levi looks a little better here, but believe me, it did not last long. Yikes. Thursday was a horrible day.

I missed this happy face all week long!

Since Levi isn't a great sleeper anyway, I'm sure you can imagine how not great a sleeper sick Levi is. I am exhausted.

But today was such a nice change of pace! I'll share sledding pics and more later.

We're planning on going to the church we visited two weeks ago tomorrow and I'm nervous because the music is loud, too loud for baby ears, and I know he won't go in the nursery. #momlife

Goodnight!

My Loves

linking up with  Andrea  today! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know lots of people aren't big fans of this holiday for various reasons. I do love the chance to dote on my favorite people and make them feel extra cared for and loved, but we don't place much importance on buying stuff.

I will also add that this day can be really hard for me personally, as can anniversaries, and even weddings. My husband and I almost didn't make it. We have struggled and faced heartbreaking issues, and there were days when I just didn't know how I/we would get through. That's extremely difficult for me to say, but maybe I can be an encouragement to someone who is struggling.

We will be celebrating twenty years this fall.

I can only point to Jesus here. The Maker of Miracles and Restorer of Brokenness.

Honestly, I still have days that threaten to drag me back to dark places. And that's when I turn to Jesus again. His love has made all the difference.

 Okay, so now I feel like a drama queen, and that wasn't my intention at all. I guess I just wanted anyone who is facing (big) challenges to know that you aren't alone, and there is HOPE!

And here are the people I love most!

My husband, Bill, who makes me laugh until tears are flowing and our sides are aching, who works so hard for our family, and who is super smart, encouraging, and loving.
Our three oldest boys are 14, almost 16, and 17. Of course we have our issues, but they are the best, they really are. Our beautiful daughter was adopted at 18 months, and she is sweet and sometimes a little too sassy, but we're working on it. Our hearts were stirred to adopt again a few years later, but sadly it didn't happen. I may never know why we endured four years of closed doors, but last year we welcomed our fourth son into the mix, an absolute miracle!

(I've written all about adoption and Levi's pregnancy/birth - look in the labels if you want to read more)

I'm looking forward to the next twenty years!

 Just sharing this favorite picture of my little guys.

Aren't they the sweetest!?!

 It feels like a lifetime ago that they were this small, and navigating high school and upcoming college years can be a little daunting and overwhelming. #somanyemotions (!!!)

 This is my absolute favorite picture of Isabelle and me, still trying to complete her adoption while living in Guatemala. It's quite the story. It was a difficult time but we accomplished so much, and I treasure those times.

 My gorgeous bunch...look at that itty bitty Levi!

This was the first time we brought him to church, and we had only been at this new house a couple of months. I joke that I will forever have a claw for a hand because of all the trim painting going on here. Wish I was kidding! ha ha

We have lots of extended family that we love and get to see often, and others we don't see as much as we'd like. We've been blessed for sure.

Okay, little one is not a happy camper upstairs...have a great rest of your day!

FRIDAY FAVORITES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

It's Friday! It's Friday! It's FRI-DAY!!! I'm supposed to be doing about a million things but instead I'm sitting here, entranced by pictures of my babies over the past several Valentine's Days/weeks. This has been a rough week, but I don't want to wallow. I found this fun Friday Favorites link-up and thought I'd kind of force myself to join in the fun because I do know how incredibly blessed I am, even when things don't go the way I want them to, and life feels chaotic and overwhelming.

Since I mentioned my babies and Valentine's Day- two of my favorite things- here are a few of my favorite pics of us that commemorate the two.

And you've got to have fabulous Valentine's Day treats!

Even my nails got a little love this week with my favorite creamy-pink color! (I'm almost sorry for sharing that since I know I don't have very pretty hands or fingers, ha!)

Now I'm off. For reals. It's almost time to pick up my part-time schooler, and Ethan is feeling super lousy and in need of a little TLC. Don't have to ask me twice! Have a great day, and a fabulous Valentine's weekend!

Valentine's Day

This winter wonderland sure does make things look and feel extra romantic today.

Perhaps slightly less so when you take into account that we are trapped at home with sugar-crazed, full-throttled yelling kiddos who are determined to test every patience bone in our little old bodies.

But yeah, other than, it's perfect!

For now, I'll settle with this picture collage.

They can't talk back.

=)