You have time for this!

If you know how to crack an egg and you can spare five minutes ... Then you have time for this!

Cake box brownies or blondies:)
1 box cake mix (any kind)
2 eggs beaten
5 tbs. melted butter
A few cups of chips (I used chocolate and white)

Mix, spread in greased pan, bake 350 degrees for about 20 min. and your done! Cool, cut and pour a tall glass of cold milk:)
Enjoy!
All my best,
Celeste

Warm bakery and bribes

This could not be any easier! If you have an oven, you are halfway
there. I saw this in a magazine awhile ago and it was one of those
recipes that looked way too long and laborious to be worthwhile. I am
rarely up for 17 ingredients and three days in the kitchen, no matter
how good it turns out.

So I cut to the chase, used ready-made pie crust and store-bought jam.
It took about 15 minutes and I didn't even break a sweat. It was less
work than a Rice Krispy treat, and I actually made it on a morning we
were running behind.

Bribery of warm, homemade bakery from the oven always motivates my boys to be more self-sufficient.

1. Ready-made pie crust
2. Jam ( I used strawberry )
3. A fork
4. A pan
5. Powdered sugar
6. Milk
7. Hungry people
8. Almost forgot the oven!
9. Oh, and sprinkles:)

Unroll the crust -- I used it right out of the fridge, but you could let
it sit at room temperature. I used a pizza wheel to cut my crust into
rustic-shaped rectangle-ish type squares because I appreciate the
imperfections of "handmade" things (and run-on sentences:) Cookie-cutters
would be a fun idea when the kiddos are helping.

Than I squeezed out a tablespoon of jam in the center ... all the while
thinking how wonderful these would be stuffed with chocolate for a
dinner party dessert:) a girl can dream! I layered the crust on top and pressed the edges with a fork. I baked them per the pie crust direction on the box for 10-15 minutes, until they started to brown on the edges.

While they baked, I mixed powdered sugar with milk until a paste-like
consistency. It would be yummy to add different flavored extracts to
change up the frosting flavor, but I kept it simple. I frosted them
right out of the oven, and then hit them up with some colored,
crystallized sugar sprinkles!

This would be a great, easy, weekend morning breakfast to do with the
kids! The fillings and toppings are endless! Get creative, and enjoy!
Celeste

Photos by celeste m. Photography
Edited by Ryan Dawson

Check yourself before you wreck yourself

Some of you may be familiar with the saying "Check yourself before you wreck yourself." For those who have not, it means we all get into habits where we may be doing things that don't benefit ourselves or those around us. Or worse, things that we do or say harm others. So it's a reminder to check in with yourself and be honest with how you operate and treat others.
There are times when we all react out of fear or anger. We don't stop to think about what we do or say and it ends up affecting others. Take, for example, you get mad at someone, and instead of saying, "Hey, you hurt my feelings," you shut down and go silent. The silent treatment is actually a form of abuse. Research shows that it actually causes physical pain to those who experience it. Communicate even if you don't know what to say. Saying "I don't know what to say right now, may we talk later?" is far better and doesn't make the situation worse. It just says "let's talk when we are calm and our heads are clear." Set a time to reconvene and stick to it, try it and see where it gets you. Ask yourself, "Is what I'm saying helpful?" or just hurtful. Fight fair. Don't swear or call names. You have to be vulnerable to others if they are going to do the same. Remember you have the same goal. State your issue and let the other person know you need their help to fix it. Good luck and fight fair!

Instant gratification DIY area rug project

This project was fast, cheap and gave me instant gratification, that last part is key:) I had struggled to find a cool, inexpensive way to cover the sun deck shingle. As always I had an idea for an outdoor rug, but my search came up empty. All too small, too expensive or just plain ugly.
Than it hit me as I sprayed the wicker chairs for the deck. Why not spray a rug? I have seen rugs stamped and sold in the stores that were stenciled. So there I went grabbing all my colors, some plastic to protect the deck and my painters tape. I used a rug that was really cheap from Walmart. Those that know me know that I do like imperfection so there was no measuring, just wing it. I ran the tape, pressed it down and sprayed. Within twenty minutes I had a custom rug and it was dry in another fifteen. Now I have to get back to the second coat on the chairs, but I am really happy with my cheap and easy custom rug! Have fun and send me pics:) And yes, Ryan the paint is permenant:)
Enjoy this Glorious day!
Xo
Celeste
Www.celestem.com

A glorious morning surprise

A glorious morning surprise

I bet you had no idea when you decided to pee in your empty water bottle and throw it out the window that it was going to mess with someones glorious morning. Sure ya had to go ... Didn't want to stop, even though there were seventeen places off that exit. And when you decided that driving around with a bottle of your pee next to you was a little too Howard Hughes and pretty gross, you made the choice to throw it out the window so your world was clean, you could of at least made an effort to toss it on the curb. But I get the feeling maybe you didn't have a strong arm or roll model who played catch with you as a child, so we will go easy on that.
 You had no idea that I would be driving along with my boys, all happily singing along to the Avett Brothers only to see it glistening in the sun too late and my brain would go, "Why would someone take the time to put yellow Gatorade in a water bottle?"
And then as my brain caught up with my eyes, came the ugh!
As my boys shouted "What was that?"
Here goes the teachable moment:
Or so I thought ...
"Boys, that explosion you just heard was a water bottle someone filled with urine and threw out their window and it just exploded under my tire."
What started with a comment of, "Why would someone do that?" ended with the car erupting into a stomach holding, gasping for air, can I buy a new lung kind of laughter that only little boys mixed with bodily function can create and ended with, "That was awesome!" and "Mom, it's dripping off the back window!"

Who says we don't have fun in the morning! So here was my lesson for the day ... I needed a car wash anyway and we are still laughing at the physics of how on earth the bottle of pee could of exploded in such a forceful way that you could not recreate it if you tried. There is a challenge for you myth busters! Also we are quite thankful that it was a chilly day ... Usually we have all windows down and sunroof open. That could of been so bad. Picturing dripping eyelashes instead of windshield wipers:/ eek!
So if this was you, do us all a favor and use the garbage, Oh, and pay for someone's car wash today!
Enjoy this glorious day no matter what!
Celeste

Quick spring soup

The perfect soup for a quick lunch on a chilly spring day!

8oz coconut milk (not sweetened)
4oz broth (chicken or veggie)
1 can chicken
1 sprig basil
1 jalapeño chopped (no seeds)
Salt to taste
Pinch of sugar to taste
Garnish with avocado
Bring to a boil than add basil and avocado.
Enjoy this Glorious day!
Celeste

Helpful kids are happy kids

I do not agree with this at all. My take is a good mom has kids that know responsibility and are happy to help. We do this world a great injustice when we cater to our children and than wonder why they are so unhappy. Someday they will have roommates, and maybe a spouse. If they are use to not helping and being taken care of that is just what they expect. Everyone wants a friend or partner to help and not begrudgingly. When we help each other we feel good. They may not like it at first but my boys help and feel good about it. A happy house needs kids that help. Give this world the gift of a helpful responsible person who cares for themselves and those they love. Don't do everything for them so they feel like they should be waited on. There is not a person in this world that will be happy with them. Love them enough to teach them to take care of themselves and others!
Love your kids so that others will love them not loath them:)
Enjoy this glorious day and let your kids help with the dishes!
Celeste