Susie homemaker ... Homemade Granola Bars!

Lately I have felt like Little Miss Susie Homemaker ... Here are a few of my favorite projects!

Homemade Granola Bars!  My friend Trina passed this recipe along and I LOVE IT!  As has everyone that I have passed the recipe on to ...

YUM!

All the yummy goodness lies in the add-in's!

Homemade Granola Bars

1/2 cup + 2 T honey (don't skimp on this b/c they won't stick together well - learned the hard way)
1/2 cup brown sugar (can get away with 1/3 cup)
1/2 cup of natural peanut butter (Always AVOID using PB with hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils.  Strive to find a peanut butter that only has peanuts and salt.  These by far are the healthiest and best for your body!)
2 cups oats
2 cups natural rice krispies (I like the Trader Joes Crisp Rice b/c it doesn't have BHT as a preservative).
1/4 cup flaxseeds (I use 1/8 cup flaxseeds and 1/8 cup chia seeds).
1/2 cup choc chips (love the dark choc chips from trader joes!) -- optional ingredient - well, when is chocolate really optional?  Ha!
1 cup total of mix-ins (pretzils, peanuts, almond slices, other crunchy cereal).

1. Combine oats, krispies, flax/chia seeds in a large bowl.  Set aside.
2. Prepare mix-ins.  Set aside
3. Melt brown sugar and honey on stove-top until sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat and add in PB.
4. Mix into mixture, then add mix-ins.
5. Add the chocolate chips last so they don't melt.
6. Place in a 9x13 pan with wax paper (avoid clean up this way).  Smash down really hard so they don't fall apart.
7. Place in fridge to set up for 20 min!

Seriously, these are SO easy to make and SO amazing!  You MUST try them!!  MUST MUST MUST!

However, I have a challenge for you ... I have yet to live up to ... try not to eat the whole pan (mostly yourself) in 3 days!

My other project has been a "twirly" skirt for Sophia.   I have had THIS pinned on Pinterest for a long time.  I wanted to give it a "whirl," but always ran out of time.  I even bought clearanced fabric at Walmart just in case I messed up!!   The blog had an AWESOME demo, pictures, and instructions!  I made a few mistakes, but was able to cover them up!!  Ha!!  I plan to make a matching one for Hannah!  

The finished project ... ready for an adorable almost 4 year old to take it for a spin!

My first serger project ... I need help figuring out the tension, but this is close enough!

Even put an elastic waistband on the top! 

And you can watch her take it for a "spin" ...

Another project ... a minky blanket for Jackson.  My mother-in-law found this adorable crib sheet for me, but it was too small to fit on the crib!  Sad!  I decided I would re-purpose it and make a blanket!  I LOVE the feel of the minky fabric, but it is very hard to sew with!  

Burp clothes and Taggie blankets!

Birthday apron for Sophia's friend Alivia

I can not get this picture to flip ... sorry!

Any thoughts on the next project I should tackle?  I should probably look at my Pinterest board and see all the projects I have pinned!

Fall Photo shoot with the kids!

We seized the day, temperature, and Sunday family time for a mini-photo shoot with the children!  Nate found the spots close to home this morning during his run!  I LOVE having a husband that is also an awesome photographer and awesome at photo editing!  Of course he has many other awesome traits too!

Thankfully no one drove by while I was acting like a complete fool jumping up and down with Sophie the Giraffe trying to get the kids to (1) look up (2) smile (3) sit still and ALL at the same time!

Sister and Brother

My sweet boy is getting too big!

I loved this one!

Sis will be 4 years old soon!

Date Night with my LOVE!

Anyone looking for frugal date night ideas?  Here is one of our favorites ....

- Kids to bed early
- Set up candles at the kitchen table, turn off the lights
- Ipod hooked up to speakers ($1 garage sale find!)
- Focus on the Family Marriage podcast cued up
- Synergy Kombucha in our favorite wine glasses!
- Notecards and pens to take notes for discussion

.... for a total price of $3.90!

We spend an hour or so listening and then discussing the podcast.  We are always looking for ways to grow together and make our marriage stronger!

What are some of your favorite frugal date night ideas?

She just melts my heart!

Since Jackson was born, I have been singing this one song to him over and over again before each nap and at bedtime!  Last month, Sophia was laying on the ground outside of Jackson's room (the door was cracked open), and she heard me sing to him!  I didn't tell her that I saw her outside the room.  The next night I asked her what song she wanted me to sing to her before bed and she responded "Jackson's song please."  From that point on, this song has become a staple in our bedtime routine!  I had no idea she knew all the words until we were driving in the car on the way home from preschool yesterday!  I wanted to snap a video last night to capture this memory for the future!!

Doesn't it just melt your heart?

My little man ...

I love this little guy! :)