Wednesday, August 10, 2016

S'mores Brownies with S'mores Blog Hop

Hello Foxy Friends! Today I have an exciting post! A while back Whitney had mentioned she wanted to try a new S'more recipe, I had suggested we do a blogger collaboration where we all try a new S'more recipe, then Whitney discovered that it's National S'mores day today! So now you get 8 different recipes to try, go check out all of the other ladies and their amazing creations. But first my S'mores Brownie recipe.


When I was trying to think of a recipe, I didn't google, or Pinterest anything, so I could come up with something on my own. I thought about what a S'more consists of, chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers. So I thought, hey let's do a graham cracker crust, brownie and some marshmallow on top. Perfect right? So off I went to the store. Full disclosure, I actually bought a bag of marshmallows too to see which one won out, the marshmallow fluff won, more on that later.

Okay, so that's what you need, not pictured is the eggs, oil and water that it took to make the brownie mix.

Ingredients

1 Package of Ghiradelli Chocolate Supreme Brownie Mix (the one with the syrup packet)
Egg, Water, Oil - As directed from the brownie mix
1 Stick Butter - Melted
2 Containers of Marshmallow Fluff
Graham Crackers
1/4 cup Sugar
9 x 13 inch pan

Directions

FYI: Going to need a food processor, or you can use a baggie and a rolling pin or something to crush the graham crackers. Okay let's really get started:

Preheat the oven to 375°

My graham cracker box came with 3 packages inside, I used 1 package plus two extra graham crackers from another package (no rhyme or reason, just thought 1 package was not enough, so I added two more). Break up the graham crackers and put in food processor. Grind until a fine crumb.

Add the melted butter and sugar (note on the sugar, you could definitely do less, I found that it was almost too sweet, but saying 3 Tablespoons, just seemed weird. Anyway, the first time I made this (the pictures below), I didn't use enough butter, so the second time I did it I added more butter and it worked out better, so add more butter (adjusted to 1 stick), the end product (far right picture) will look a little more wet than this.

Note: The second time, I used the food processor for the graham cracker and the transferred to a bowl and hand mixed in the sugar and the butter, and it worked just as well.


Moving along, the first time I put some foil in my pan, and then buttered it. Then pressed the graham cracker crust to the bottom and cooked in oven for 10-15 minutes, or until slightly golden brown.


Meanwhile, make the brownies as directed, minus using the fudge syrup packet, save that for a second, trust me this is an important step. Once the crust comes out, spread out the brownie mix evenly over the crust.

Here comes the fun part. Cut a small hole in the syrup packet, and swirl up and down the length of the brownies, then using a toothpick drag it across the swirls. See pictures below. It took about 30 minutes to cook my brownies, since the recipe calls for making the brownies in a 9 x 9 pan, and we're using a bigger pan, they are a little thinner. So start watching them around the 25-30 minute mark.


I ended up making these twice and the second time it was not as pretty because I didn't cut the hole small enough, so the brownies instead looked like this. And I forgot to use the foil trick, which in the end doesn't really matter, but it was nice to just pull up on the foil and have the brownies come out. I ended up taking the whole pan to a party, so it was nice that I didn't have any foil sticking out. So make your choice before cooking.


Here is where my experiment came in. I wasn't sure if real marshmallows or the fluff was going to be better, what is a girl to do? Do both, so half of it I did mini marshmallows and the other half I did the fluff...I then decided since a true S'more there is graham cracker on top, I would break some more graham crackers sprinkle that on top along with some mini chocolate chips, because, that's just fun.


Then I stuck it into the broiler...here's where you have to be careful. The below picture I had it in the broiler for 60 seconds...too long! Watch yours carefully.


So taste test, I took it to our 4th of July party and had people try both and the consensus was that everyone liked the fluff better. The mini marshmallows was a bit more textured and had a chewier affect, the fluff was like it was a part of the brownie and was soft when chewing. So if you like a little chewier brownie use the mini marshmallows, I personally liked the way the fluff looked when it came out of the oven. So ONE MORE TIME...

No foil, more butter in the graham cracker crust and I messed up the syrup part, but it still tasted good.


Using two jars of marshmallow fluff, transfer to microwave safe bowl and heat till slightly warm (makes it easier to spread). 


Add the graham cracker crumbles (this is 2 crackers worth), sprinkle some mini chocolate chips on top and broil for about 30-45 seconds.


Let cool completely before cutting. Trust me on this. Also use a super sharp knife, worked better than a butter knife or a plastic knife. There you have it the BEST Marshmallow Brownies in the world. Super sweet, so you should cut them in smaller pieces than normal.


I figured since today is usually an outfit day I would show you an outfit I would wear where you would typically eat S'mores, camping! Okay maybe glamping, but hey it's an outfit I would wear out doors.


Hair up in two buns, because most likely my hair is dirty from camping, you know, no showers. No jewelry because who wears that when camping?


It's hard to see my hair, but they are in two tiny buns.



Ah, there you go, now you can see them.




So there you have it what I would wear camping, well the flip flops would be more for beach camping...okay let's say we're beach camping. So there you have it an outfit and a smashing yummy S'mores recipe. Now go check out the other ladies S'more recipe, it's wide variety and super delicious! I think I need at least a couple more months of summer to try all of the recipes out!


Foxy's Domestic Side S'mores brownies
Work it Mommy S'mores popcorn
Living on Cloud Nine S'mores Cheesecake cups
Chasin' Mason frozen S'mores cups 
Our Pretty Little Girls S'mores Bars
Sweet Turtle Soup S'mores shake

What is your favorite S'mores recipe? Have one to share?

Link up your summer outfits below!



Linking up here

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Kids Behind the Blog: August Edition

 Next up Kids Behind the Blog with Crystal, Beth, Meghan, Jessica, and Stephanie. For some reason I totally spaced on this post, usually I could video them really quick, but Olympics. Priorities.  :)

 
Baby Fox Age: 5 years 7 months
Mini Fox Age: 2 years 11 months


Baby Fox

What was your favorite thing you did over the summer?

Going swimming

What’s your favorite thing to learn about at school?

ummm....I don't know...pass that one.

Who is your best friend from school?


 Drew and Chet....and Joey

What do you want to be when you grow up?

BF: Anything.
Me: Like what?
BF: A car washer guy

What is your least favorite thing about school?

BF: Learning stuff
Me: What you don't like learning stuff?
BF: Wait what did you say? I don't know
Me: So you like everything
BF: Yeah


Mini Fox 

Refused to sit down to answer questions. I asked anyway.

What was your favorite thing you did over the summer? No Mama....

Okay then...I guess that's it for Mini Fox's Interview.



Linking up here

Sunday, August 7, 2016

One Swing Three Ways

Happy Monday Foxy Friends! Today I'm teaming up with Alison and Whitney for a fun collaboration. We figured out that a couple of months ago that we all picked up the same dress from Old Navy, so we thought it would be fun to all style the same dress three ways.


I just love that we all had a different take on this same dress. We didn't discuss how we were going to style our dresses before sending out our information to each other. Do love that we all even used the same necklace. Mine and Alison's being the same color, and Whitney choosing pink, how fun is that?

Here's my look. Actually I have two looks with this same outfit. Around where I am from it's pretty warm in the day and gets cooler at night, so I thought instead of carrying around something in my purse or over my arm, I would just tie it around my waist. Make it part of the outfit.





Here's the hair, a simple pony tail for this casual summer look.



Then when it gets a little more chilly when the sun sets (okay lets face it, it gets to 70° and I consider that jacket weather).



 

 
Now go check out Alison and Whitney's look of the same dress. Funny how a few accessories can drastically change the same dress.

Linking up here

Friday, August 5, 2016

Friday Favorites #81

Happy Friday Foxy Friends! It's my first full 5 day work week in 3 weeks, rough times...haha, just kidding, sort of. Anyway, here are some of my favorites from the week.


In case you missed it on the blog this week.



Monday: Christmas In July Gift Exchange
Tuesday: What's in My Make-Up Stash
Wednesday: Styling my favorite flowy polka dot skirt
Thursday: Sentence A Day: July Edition


One of the most exciting things to happen this week? I won $250 gift card to Nordstrom! Woo hoo, thank you Alison @ Get Your Pretty On! Alison is the one who got me to update my wardrobe and got me into wanting to dress myself pretty with her Style Challenges. See all of my style challenges here. I tried to see if I could return some of my previously bought purchases and use her gift card instead, but almost everything I wanted was sold out, wah, wah. Oh well, just means I get more stuff right? Anyway, here is everything I have bought and kept so far.


1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 (no longer available) // 9

How about a new list for you all? The things I was super disappointed not to get, since I don't have a Nordstrom card (surprising right?) So I had to wait, I did wait up till midnight, had everything ready to go and didn't get Number 3...I was so bummed not to get that pretty sweater in that pink color, but I guess the jacket up above will suffice. I did get #1 and #2, but the #1 made my legs look funny, they were slightly too tall for my short legs, and #2, holy cow I did not read that they were 5.5" tall! I already had surgery on my ankle, as much as it pains me I have to return them, they are just not practical to wear with children and walking upright. Other things I got, Mr. hated and thought they were too big. In general he doesn't like when things are super big on me...boo. I liked this shirt, but he said NO way!

I also got my sister and Mom something, but they occasionally read the blog, so in order to surprise them they'll just have to wait to find out!

OH and Mr. sent me this picture with the caption...Intervention? Oops!

 
 
Legoland last weekend was a BLAST! I took the kids on Thursday and met up with my cousin, who was spending two nights there, we went home on Thursday night and came back Friday ready to spend the night at the hotel, my review here, and go for another round.

Thursday

We also went to the water park, which I didn't take any pictures because...well water and I don't have a water proof camera.  But for the most part I think if your kids aren't over 48 inches it's not really worth it...if you are shorter you have to wear a life jacket (which probably doesn't fit) in the fun parts and the other parts that don't require it are so crowded that little kids just get lost in there. I would feel more comfortable taking an older child.

We're watching the 4D Lego movie. The kids loved it.


Friday


All the little cousins together again.


The older cousins, plus a baby.



OH and in case you wanted to know the new ride Ninjago...went on that 6 times...over the course of the 3 days. And I was a winner 6 times...that's me on the bottom right photo.


This is what happens when Mr. is in charge...he shoves as many kids on a small stroller as possible and runs around like a maniac.


Oh and in case you were wondering, we were all there to celebrate my cousin's little girls 6th birthday.  So happy we could all go and help celebrate.
 



Much need night out with this girl...so many laughs and three hours later I'm recharged and ready to tackle life again.




Who's excited for the Olympics? The human interest stories are my favorite and I cry almost every time.


I'm fairly certain all weekend and for the coming couple of weeks we'll be glued to our TV. We just love every part of it, and if we didn't have to adult we would stay up all night watching all of it, even the quarter finals for skeet shooting, cause we're weird like that.

Are you as excited as we are? Happy Olympics watching weekend!
 
Linking up here

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Sentence a Day: July Edition

Hi Foxy Friends, back with another installment of Sentence A Day! Thank you Rebecca for the idea! Here we are our first link up! I hope you wrote down your sentence a day and are linking up with us. It's so fun to read about someone's day in just one sentence.


 1 - Mini Fox's swim lessons with summer clothes on, we're headed towards swim lesson graduation



2 - Baby Fox's swim lesson, I'm going to swim lessons 6 days a week.


3 - Cousin party and first cousin sleep over!



4 - Baby Fox was up at midnight, 3am and then got up for the day at 6am...he's just too excited.


5 - Mr. and I ditched work, went to breakfast, shopping and a movie, it was glorious


6 -  Home from work, being sick sucks.

7 - Decided to start the 21 day fix next week.

8 - Friday!

9 - Got to see my high school friends and their hubby and kids for swimming, so great to see them!


10 - Meal prep suck up one side and down the other, 6 hours of prepping...kill me.

11 - 2 days down 19 days to go

12 - I'm grumpy

13 - Swimming!

14 - 5th day of working out in a row, I might die.

15 - Mini Fox went to the dentist with me and rocked it, she sat on me the whole time

16 - Hanging with the cousins without kids, so nice



17 - Week 1 of 21 fix done...14 more days...

18 - I'm hungry.

19 - Termite inspection, boo.

20 - Backed to my R.I.P.P.E.D classes at the gym, yay!


21 - 2 hours to drive home from work, BRUTAL

22 - Baby Fox graduates from Pre-school!!!!!



23 - Portable car cable jumpers to the rescue! (PSA: Seriously everyone should have one in your car)

24 - Last week of hard core meal prep, woo hoo!

25 -Shit, I'm late for work!

26 - 5 more freakin' days.

27 - Back to R.I.P.P.E.D, yay!

28 - LEGOLAND time with some of the cousins


29 - LEGOLAND time with all of the cousins


30 - Baby Fox Opened LEGOLAND!

31 - So tired, is it the weekend yet?

Join us next month for Sentence a day on September 1st!



Linking up here