Hello Monday!

Somehow October has come and (almost) gone.  Yow-za!  As I type this, the wind is howling and whipping up the lake, the waves are rolling and the rain is beating down.  In all honesty, I love this type of weather--especially the sound of the wind.  I'm not so sure that I'm going to love it if it is still hanging around on Wednesday like they are prediciting.  Trick-or-treating in this mess?  Yuck.  That is nothing, however, compared with what they are predicting the East coast is going to face.  Scary stuff.

Enough about the weather, how 'bout some hellos?

Hello Spidey!  Are you looking for some tricks or treats?

Hello Fall Festival gorgeous photo back-drop made by our uber-talented babysitter.  She just happened to make this while all the young ones were taking their naps.  Can you say vision?!

Hello secret hide-out.  Nothing like a couple of blankets and chairs to transform the family room into a cozy little nook.

Hello babydolls one day and Tonkas/monster trucks the next. 

Hello tools that are waay too loud.

Hello wind, waves, water and rain!  Hello to someone not being up for the 'adventure' of a walk out in blustery nature!

Hello November--you're certainly making an entrance, aren't you?!  For some more hello's, go check out Lisa's blog.

Hello!

It has been a few weeks, but we're still here!  How about some hellos to start off a new week?
Hello to a new walkway up to the front door!

 

Hello to the ability to create and imagine...with just a few 2x4s.

Hello to alfresco lunches--I'm not sure how many more of these we'll have!

Hello to power tools and helping Daddy.

Hello to days off from school and a visit to the stable.

Hello to being healthy and saying goodbye to a nasty tummy bug that hit all 3 of us at once!

Hello to cat naps...there's nothing like the sight of a sleeping child, is there?

Hello to grocery store splurges that make me smile.

Hello to glorious sunrises that remind us that every day is a new beginning and a gift from God.

Hooking up with Lisa and all her Monday morning hellos!



Death by Chocolate

I have a confession to make.  I have a sweet tooth.  Big time.  I especially have a sweet tooth where chocolate is involved.  Dark.  Milk.  Even white.  I'm not too picky.  Mmmmmm. 

So, when I am preparing a dessert for a larger group, this is one of my go-to recipes.  Death by Chocolate.  Did I already say Mmmmmm?!  Super easy.  Tasty.  Only 4 ingredients.  What's not to love about that?

I know there are a million different variations of this floating around, but here's mine.

Ingredients:
1 box of 9x13 brownie mix
3 pckgs. of chocolate mousse (I could only find Dark this time, but Milk would be delish too)
1 12oz. tub of Cool Whip
1 pckg. of crushed Heath pieces

Bake the brownies as directed on the package and set aside to cool.  Please disregard the old, yucky pan!

Whip up the mousse and let sit for designated time as per the instructions on the box.

Once both of those are cooled and set, you're ready for construction.  Cut the brownies into small squares and begin to layer at the bottom of your trifle bowl.

Next spoon on some of the mousse.  This time, the grocery store only had Dark Chocolate mousse, but I actually prefer Milk Chocolate for this recipe--kinda balances out the taste and provides a bit more contrast.  Totally up to you though.

Next spoon on the Cool Whip and sprinkle on the Heath pieces.  Continue layering brownies, mousse, Cool Whip, and Heath pieces until you reach the top.

 

Swoon worthy, I tell ya!  Enjoy:)