OREO Balls

Before Christmas, my mom and I went over a family friend's house to bake treats. We bought a few recipes, and they provided a few as well. One of the recipes that my friends introduced me to, Oreo Balls (also known as Oreo Truffles), became my absolute favorite dessert out of everything we made. They are creamy, have all the flavor of an Oreo, and melt in your mouth. Here's the recipe we used, courtesy of Kraft Foods (www.kraftrecipes.com)

Easy Oreo Truffles

What you need:

All the yummy goodies we baked! (Oreo balls  in front)

36  OREO Cookies, finely crushed, divided
1pkg.  (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
16oz.  BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Make it

RESERVE 1/4 cup cookie crumbs. Mix cream cheese and remaining cookie crumbs until blended.

SHAPE into 48 (1-inch) balls. Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.

Kraft kitchens tips

HOW TO MELT CHOCOLATE
 Place unwrapped chocolate in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 2-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 sec.
HOW TO EASILY DIP TRUFFLES
To easily coat truffles with the melted chocolate, add truffles, in batches, to bowl of melted chocolate. Use 2 forks to roll truffles in chocolate until evenly coated. Remove truffles with forks, letting excess chocolate drip back into bowl. Place truffles on prepared baking sheet; let stand until firm.
HOW TO STORE
Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

To learn more about this recipe and get other Kraft recipes, please visit: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-oreo-truffles-95085.aspx
Enjoy!

Pic Monkey!

A lot of the photos that I have posted on my blog (excluding the ones that go along with recipes I found on the internet that have sources underneath) were edited with PicMonkey, an online photo editor. Using PicMonkey is extremely easy, and it's free! You don't even need to create an account. All you do is upload a photo, edit it, and save the finished product to your computer. However, registration is required if you sign up for PicMonkey Royale, which cost $4.99 per month and gives users even more options. I use the free version, and here are some of its features:

Features of PicMonkey (Free Version)
-  Basic editing options (cropping, rotating, sharpen, resize, etc.)
- Cool effects, such as...

- Touch Up Effects (Blemish Fix, Blush Boost, Teeth Whiten, Weight Loss, Lip Tint, and Red-eye Remover, etc.; Even more effects for Royale users like: Spray Tan, and Wrinkle Remover)

- The ability to add text, with several fonts (text was added to the images above)

- Fun Overlays (Comic Bubbles, Butterflies, and more)

- Photo Frames

- Textures

- Themes (Winterland, several Halloween themes)

- You can also create collages! The four pictures of Chelsea above were put together using the collage option. 

Next time you want to edit a photo, try PicMonkey! I highly recommend it!

Here's the link:

www.picmonkey.com

Ninja Frozen Treat & Drink Maker

In the post, "Fruit Smoothies", I mentioned that my entire family loves smoothies! We just git a new blender, Ninja Frozen Treat and Drink Maker, which was made especially for making milkshakes, smoothies, and other frozen treats. It works great! The blades are strong and chop quickly. Here's the recipe I tried when we first tested it out, which was just as great as the blender:

Photo: Carmalized Banana Shake Recipe

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/caramelized-banana-shake-recipe/index.html

Recipe courtesy Melissa d'Arabian

Show: Ten Dollar DinnersEpisode: Swine and Dine

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3 small or 2 large ripe bananas, halved lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for garnishing

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the bananas on the sheet and sprinkle with the sugar. Bake the bananas until the sugar is caramelized, about 15 minutes. Let the bananas cool slightly.

Mix the ice, ice cream, milk, vanilla and bananas in a blender until smooth but still thick. Pour the shake into 4 chilled glasses and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/caramelized-banana-shake-recipe/index.html
Click the link above to learn more about the recipe. Click this link (http://www.ninjakitchen.com/index.shtml) to learn more about Ninja Kitchen Systems

Homemade Whipped Cream

Whenever we need whipped cream, my parents usually buy it from the store. However, I wanted to try and make the homemade kind today, just for fun (plus we had run out of whipped cream). I found a recipe online and tried it. It was actually really good! My sister and brother told me it tasted like ice cream :)
Here's the recipe:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks are just about to form. Beat in vanilla and sugar until peaks form. Make sure not to over-beat, cream will then become lumpy and butter-like.

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 54 | Total Fat: 5.5g | Cholesterol: 20mg

I found this recipe at: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/whipped-cream/

ENJOY!

Another Room Organization Idea: Craft Storage

                I was looking at the information on the traffic to my blog and was very suprised when I found out what my most popular blog post was. It wasn't about books, or products  I like, or even recipes! Those are the things that I blog about the most so I was shocked. The most popular blog post was "My Room" a post I wrote back in February. This post wasn't just the most viewed, it had won by a landslide. This convinced me that the public is really interested in room organization right now. So... here is another room organization idea!
       
I love making crafts, so one of the first things I did when I started organizing my room was organize my craft supplies. Here's what I did:

Supplies You'll Need:

• A craft bin. I recommend getting one with wheels, like the one in the picture below. That way, you can easily move it around. 

I found this image at:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-3-Drawer-Medium-Cart-Arctic-White-Set-of-2/3385116

• Labels. You can buy a pack of labels that you have to write on yourself, or you can use a label maker if you have one. 

• A permanent marker. (If you're going to write on the labels yourself instead of printing them.)
• 1-inch binders. (Optional.) I used 2 one-inch binders to store my drawings and stories in.
• Crayon boxes. I used crayon boxes to separate my crayons, colored pencils, and markers. (Like the ones to the left; I found this image at:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Pencil-Box/17355912
• Page protectors. (Optional.) I used page protectors to protect my drawings before putting them into the binder.

 

1. First, you need to decide what you're going to put in each drawer. I brought a craft bin with three drawers, but you can buy one that's any size you like. I decided to put construction paper, graph paper, sketch paper, and any other type of paper that I had in drawer 1. I put my drawings and stories in drawer 2. Drawer 3 is the biggest drawer, so I filled it with colored pencils, crayons, and  markers. 
2. Before putting my drawings and stories into drawer 2, I separated them into two different binders. I put the drawings into page protectors before putting them into the binder. That way, I wouldn't have to punch holes into them. 
3. I separated my markers, crayons, and colored pencils into three different crayon boxes and labeled each box before putting them into drawer 3. That way, they all have a specific box to go in when you're done using them.
4. Label the drawers! I labeled drawer 1 "Construction Paper &  More", drawer 2 "Drawings & Stories", and drawer 3 "Crayons, Colored Pencils, & Markers". Stick the labels on and you're done!

Book Reccomendations

I love to read, and there are tons of great books out there. Today I would like to share with you some of my favorite books/series. Along with the titles, I have written the age range that www.barnesandnoble.com recommends.

- All of the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (Ramona Quimby, Age 8; Ramona Forever; etc.) 

Age 9-11

- The Geronimo Stilton Series by Geronimo Stilton Age 7-10

- The Box Car Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner No age recommendation from Barnes and Noble, I recommend age 7-10

- All of Andrew Clements' school stories ( Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Lunch Money, A School Story, The Report Card, Frindle, etc.) Age 8-12

- Nancy Drew Girl Detective Series by Carolyn Keene Age 9-12

- The 39 Clues Series & The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers (Series # 2) by Various Authors Age 9-12

- All of Rick Riordan's books Age 9-11

- Gordon Korman's Swindle Series (Swindle, Zoobreak, Framed, Showoff) Age 9-12

My Kinect Review!

             Here is the review of Kinect I promised. The truth about Kinect is that it's... AWESOME! Kinect is entertaining for all age groups, as well as a good work out. My favorite game right now is Kinect Sports. I  also played a demo of Kinect Joy Ride. Kinect Joy Ride immediately impressed me when it asked me to hold an object up that was the color I wanted my race car painted. I held my pink retainer case in front of the camera. My race car on the game changed to the same shade of pink!
             Kinect has very impressive technology. I can search for movies, music, and even turn off the console with just the sound of my voice. Kinect also has face-recognition technology. Once you let a person go through the Kinect ID session, the camera will recognize them  ever time they play.

I have no complaints about Kinect or the Xbox. Overall, I give the gaming system 5 out of 5 stars!

Kinect Sports

Xbox Kinect

Okay....sorry I haven't posted anything lately, nothing new has happened. However, I am saving my money to buy the hottest thing in the video game world right now: Microsoft's Xbox Kinect. Kinect is an accessory to the Xbox console that allows you to play video games with just your body. That's right: Kinect doesn't require a controller. It has a motion sensor, as well as voice recognition. Once I get the Kinect I'll post a review for those who are interested. Until then, here's some information about Xbox Kinect.

- Games: Kinect has games for the entire family. Whether you want to challenge your friends to a dance competition (Just Dance 3), play sports with your older brother (Kinect Sports; Kinect Sports Season 2), or pet an adorable tiger cub (Kinectimals), Kinect has it all.
- You can watch Netflix, Hulu, and more on Kinect and control the TV using only your voice. No TV remote required when you want to stop, play, or rewind.
- Cost: Kinect by itself costs $149.99, A 4GB Xbox console with Kinect costs $299.99. A 250GB Xbox console with Kinect costs $399.99, and the Special Edition 4GB Xbox console with Kinect (Family Bundle) costs $299.99.

For more information on Xbox Kinect, please visit: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Kinect?xr=shellnav

Friendship Quotes

Here's some friendship quotes that I really like:

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.  ~Oprah Winfrey


A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad.  ~Arnold H. Glasgow

There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will.

- Unknown

If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them

- Unknown

A true friend sees the first tear... catches the second... and stops the third

- Angelique

I found  these quotes on these websites:

http://www.boardofwisdom.com/default.asp?start=11&topic=1005&listname=friendship

http://www.quotegarden.com/best-friends.html

A Mother's Day Suprise

I'm not a mom (I'm a kid) but I saw this article on the internet and thought that it was really sweet. It made me think of my neighbor, who has a 6-year old son. Her husband died 2 years ago, and I'm sure that her son has a hard time making her Mother's Day special, just like the person in this article. Please read this, it will make you smile!

This article came from the following link: http://www.cozi.com/community/make-another-mothers-day

For plenty of moms, especially if they are single, Mother's Day can be kind of a bummer. But imagine if you gave that mom a "secret Santa" type gift and left it anonymously on her doorstep…

The Secret Gift That Started it All…

Sitting at basketball practice last May, I overheard another mom explaining that she didn't have any Mothers Day plans. She's a single mother, and her son is too young to do much for Mother's Day.

I felt for her. Her son, who probably would have loved to make his mom feel good on Mother's Day, didn't really have a way to plan for it.

That's how I got the idea to give her a Mother's Day present, and leave it anonymously. Sort of like a Secret Santa, but for Mother's Day.

Deciding what to include in her Mother's Day gift bag turned out to be really fun. I ended up giving flowers, a gift certificate to a restaurant I knew they both liked, two movie tickets, and some movie candy.

On Mother's Day morning, I drove over to their place and attached the bag to their door handle. But JUST as I was leaving, they pulled up! I ducked low behind the steering wheel and just barely got away unseen.

At the next week's practice, when people asked each other about Mother's Day, she delightedly explained that a fairy godmother had left them a wonderful present, and that she and her son had a great day. Everyone was intrigued, asking questions about the gift and who might have left it. The mom said she'd been trying to figure it out, but hadn't.

I love that she never figured out that her "fairy godmother" was me. And I love that I was able to give her such a special day. She really deserved it, and it was a lot of fun for me, too. This might sound weird, but it was actually the best Mother's Day I've ever had.

I saw this article on a website that my mom really likes. It's called "Cozi" and its a great tool that helps busy moms stay organized. To learn more about Cozi, please visit: www.cozi.com

Drawing Cartoons!

Hi guys! I love to practice my drawing skills and I found this AWESOME website that teaches how to draw tons of different things in "Cartoon form". Check it out!
Here's the link: http://www.how-to-draw-funny-cartoons.com/
(The tutorials are on the left side of the page)

CAKE IN A MUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a DELICIOUS RECIPE for how to make a cake in a mug! You simply mix the ingredients in a mug and cook it in a microwave! In about 2 minutes, you will have a yummy, chocolaty dessert! TRY IT! 

Photo: Instant Chocolate Cake Recipe
I found this photo at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/instant-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html

Here's the Recipe:

Directions

Whisk 1/4 cup flour, 5 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons vegetable oiland a dash of vanilla extract and salt in a large mug until smooth. Microwave until puffed, about 2 minutes.

Copyright (c)2011 Food Network Magazine, LLC. Published by Hyperion. Available wherever books are sold. All Rights Reserved. Photograph courtesy of Antonis Achilleos.

Eating Healthy

Eating healthy and exercising frequently seems to be hard for everyone now days, especially with our busy schedules. However, a healthy diet is essential if you want to live a healthy life. My mom is trying to make my family eat healthier now, and even though it made me a little mad when she insisted that I put the grape juice back in the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water, I knew that she was right. I went to the United States Department of Agriculture's website, www.choosemyplate.gov, to get some tips about eating healthy.

I'll be honest: When I want a snack, I'll grab chocolate chip cookies without even giving the bunch of bananas on the counter a second look. Go here: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/fruits-tips.html
for tips on how to incorporate fruit into your diet.

Picture Source: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/fruits-tips.html

Having trouble eating enough veggies? Here's some tips on how to incorporate your :vegetables into your everyday meals:  http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables-tips.html



Picture Source: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables-tips.html

Need some tips about the grains you should consume? Check out:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/grains.html


Picture Source: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/grains.html

Don't know what meats/proteins are best? This page should help:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/protein-foods-tips.html

Picture Source: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/protein-foods-tips.html

Need help incorporating dairy or don't know how to get the calcium you need because you are lactose intolerant? Look at this web page: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/dairy-tips.html

Picture Source: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/dairy-tips.html

For more about healthy eating, please visit: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

POPCORN BALLS!

        I wanted a snack, and when I saw marshmallows I KNEW that I  just had to make something with them. I was trying to find something that went good with marshmallows (besides hot cocoa), when I saw popcorn. Then, it hit me: marshmallows + popcorn = popcorn balls!
        I tried to make home-made kettle corn a few months ago, but when that didn't work, I turned the sugar-coated popcorn into popcorn balls. However, I melted too much sugar and the dessert turned out WAY too sweet. I was hoping that using marshmallows would help keep me from pouring too much sugar, and I was right! The popcorn balls turned out GREAT! Here's what I did:

INGREDIENTS: (Sorry, I don't know the exact measurements)
Popcorn
Marshmallows
Butter (not a lot)
Microwave-safe bowl
Spoon

1. Pour the marshmallows into a microwave-safe bowl. The amount of popcorn you plan on using determines  how many marshmallows you need to use. Take a tiny bit of butter and put it in the bowl as well. This will keep your marshmallows from sticking to the bowl.
2. Microwave marshmallows for 1 minute at a time, stirring after each minute, until they are done. Watch your marshmallows, because marshmallows puff up and can spill over the bowl. Also, your marshmallows may be done before the minute is up (mine were). Again, it depends on how many you melt.
3. Now, microwave your popcorn.
4. *You might want to wait a minute or so before you do this part, the popcorn and marshmallows get REALLY HOT!!! When the popcorn is done, pour it into a large bowl. Take the melted marshmallows and pour them over the popcorn. Use the spoon to help you. Using your hands, mix the melted marshmallows throughout the popcorn. Then, form them into balls.

Your popcorn balls are ready , enjoy! Here's a picture about what mine turned out like:

Amazing Artists

Sorry I haven't been blogging lately, I've been SOOOO busy! I have been researching artists to study for art class and found some AMAZING paintings that I think you guys will enjoy.

 
Source:
http://www.art.com/products/p10018557-sb-i874128/salvador-dali-soft-watch-at-the-moment-of-first-explosion-c1954.htm sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=5000126&ui=c8402bf599ba4e95b4b510411d4df167

This painting is by Salvador Dali. It's a melting stopwatch. Pretty crazy right?



Source:
http://www.art.com/products/p12528310-sb-i1890317/michael-cox-stargazer-lily-watercolor.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=5060077&ui=c8402bf599ba4e95b4b510411d4df167

This is a painting by Michael Cox. Believe it or not, it's a watercolor painting. It looks real, don't you think?



Source:
http://www.art.com/gallery/id--b175712/beach-scenes-posters.htm?ui=C8402BF599BA4E95B4B510411D4DF167&WT.cg_n=Search+Ahead&WT.oss=Beach+Scenes

If you're thinking, "This is not a painting!", you're right. It's photographic print. This relaxing image was taken by Walter Bibikow.


Source:
http://www.art.com/products/p14093385-sa-i2802474/terry-eggers-palm-trees-and-beach-chairs-florida-keys-florida-usa.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=175712&dimvals=175712&ui=c8402bf599ba4e95b4b510411d4df167

Look how white the sand on this beach is! This photo was taken by Terry Eggers.

I love to make fruit smoothies, and  I found some recipes that I really want to try.

Fruit Smoothies

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2006

Prep Time:

10 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

--

Level:

Easy

Serves:

6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 bananas, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 pint fresh strawberries
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 cups crushed ice

Directions

In a large-capacity blender combine all of the ingredients and puree until smooth. (Alternatively, puree in batches if necessary.) Serve the smoothies in chilled tall glasses.

Copyright 2012 Television Food Network G.P.
All Rights Reserved

I found the recipe above at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/fruit-smoothies-recipe3/index.html

Creamy Blackberry Smoothie

January 22, 2010 · Filed Under Dessert Smoothies, Fruit Smoothies, Strawberry Smoothies· 9 Comments 

Photo Credit: sreelus

Okay, I realize creamy and blackberry don’t usually go together but that is what smoothieweb.com is all about, mixing flavors and textures that don’t always come to mind. This blackberry smoothie is worth the risk. Let me know how you like it.

Ingredients:

• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream (a good start, yes?)
• 1 1/2 cups of frozen blackberries
• 1/2 cup of strawberries
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp lime juice (for a tart kick)
• dollop of whipped cream

Blend until you can’t wait and then add the whipped cream.

Tags: berries, blackberry, blackberry smoothie, ice cream, lime, lime juice, milk,smoothie, strawberries, vanilla, vanilla ice cream

I found the article above at: http://www.smoothieweb.com/category/dessert-smoothies/

If you're a smoothie-lover like me, www.foodnetwork.com is a really good resource for you. This website offers recipes from well-known celebrity chefs, such as Paula Dean and Emeril Lagasse.
I found the website where I got the second article from, www.smoothieweb.com, today and it offers a ton of different recipes! Whether you're looking for a healthy, protein, dessert,or regular fruit  smoothie, they're all here!

Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery's album Clear as Day

       This name may or may not sound familiar to you: Scotty McCreery. If you watch American Idol, you know that he was the winner last season. Right now, you're probably thinking: American Idol has already begun airing its next season! Why are you just know talking about Scotty? Well, I know I'm a little late, but when I made my blog, I knew that I would have to write a blog post about him. Scotty is a country singer, and he wowed the judges with his deep voice, despite the fact that he was only 17 at the time. When he won American Idol, he released his first single: "I Love You This Big". This single is now available on his debut album "Clear as Day", which came out on October 4, 20ll.
My favorite songs on this album are:
1. Water Tower Town
2. Dirty Dishes
3. The Trouble With Girls
4. Clear As Day
5. I Love You this Big

There are plenty of other great songs on "Clear As  Day"! Go to iTunes and buy it now!

MOVIE REVEW

      Yesterday, I went to the movie theater and saw Joyful Noise, starring Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Keke Palmer, and many others. 

     The movie is about a small town that has fallen on hard times. A local church competes in the national "Joyful Noise" competition, making it the only thing that keeps the town going. However, when Vi Rose Hill becomes the new choir director, the rivalry between Vi Rose G.G. Sparrow gets even hotter, making it hard for the group to get along. This movie features romance between two teenagers, fantastic performances, and talks about the hard times that many people are going through today.

      I  loved the movie and walked away feeling grateful that God has blessed me so much. While there is a lot of comedy, this movie still teaches an important moral. No matter how bad things are, if you trust God everything will be okay in the end.

This movie is rated PG-13 and has some adult language and short kissing scenes.

My First Book Review!

         

  I've been referring to myself as a "bookworm" , but I haven't  talked about books yet. I think it's time for me to write my first book review!
           Andrew Clements has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read his book, The School Story. I recently finished reading his book, Troublemaker (I read it in a few hours. It was REALLY good!), making it the perfect subject for my first book review!
            Troublemaker is about a boy named Clayton Hensley. Clay is a well-known troublemaker at his elementary school, but he only does it to impress his big-brother, Mitchell. However, when Mitch tries to smack some sense in him and makes him promise to do better, Clay is shocked. His brother had always been a prankster, but now he was trying to turn himself into a good role model. Clay tries to keep his promise, but is constantly tempted to cause mischief by his old buddies. Will Clay succeed or let his brother down? Read the book to find out!

My Opinion: 

• What I like best about the book: My favorite thing about this book is that it is entertaining and funny, while teaching a very important moral about how the decisions you make now affect your future.

To learn more about Troublemaker, by Andrew Clements, visit:

http://www.andrewclements.com/books-troublemaker.html

Already read Troublemaker? Here are some other books I think you might like:

By Andrew Clements:

• The School Story
• Lunch Money
• The Report Card
• No Talking
• Lost and Found
• Extra Credit

My Room

            I really want to re-do my room, but it's SO hard! My sister is in college and I share a room with her during the summer. With two twin-sized beds in my room, there isn't room for a lot of other stuff. My parents recommended that I get a trundle bed. I agreed, but now I don't know what to do with the stuff under my bed! Right now, my room is pretty boring and I spend most of my time in my living room. I tried re-arranging some of my furniture, and I even thought about taking some of the furniture out of my room. Most of the furniture has to stay where it is because of where my closet and the windows are located. I need all of my furniture to stay in my room for storage purposes. I just don't know what to do! If you have any ideas, please leave a comment below!

Here's a few of the organization tips I found online:

Source: http://www.hgtv.com/kids-rooms/8-kids-storage-and-organization-ideas/pictures/index.html
Use all the space you can for storage!

Source: http://www.hgtv.com/kids-rooms/kids-storage-and-organization-ideas-that-grow/pictures/index.html
hgtv.com says, quote:

Show It Off

Let's face it: Kids are natural collectors. So, it only makes sense to give them somewhere to stylishly display their stuff.

Please Snow! PLEASE!

I REALLY WANT IT TO SNOW THIS WINTER! Where I live we hardly ever get snow, and if we do it doesn't stick. With Spring coming in  almost a month and temperatures already in the 60's, I'm not confident that my wish will be granted. The only bad thing is that if it snows on a weekday, we have to make up school on Saturday or get a day taken out of Spring Break. Still, it would be so much fun to play in the snow!!!

Here's a cool picture I found on: http://www.beechmtn.com/blog/events/february-18-snowman-building-contest.html

EA Sports Active 2

     I have a Nintendo Wii, and my mom has been looking for an exercise-related video game ever since I got it. I recently found a video game that the whole family enjoys: EA Sports Active 2. The video game comes with a heart rate monitor (which goes on your arm) and  a monitor attached to a leg strap. The two devices track your movement so that you are not constantly holding the Wii remote. You have option of starting out with a six-week introductory program, or you came jump right to setting up your personalized fitness program. There are a variety of activities to choose from, including: basketball, skateboarding, running, biking, soccer, and football. You can also choose from several  different stretches. One of my favorite things to do is jump rope,   which the game calls skipping. It really gets my heart pumping!
    The game also comes with a flash drive so that you can track your progress online. All you have to do is set up an account, upload you workout files that are saved on the flash drive after each game play, and your all set!
Interested in EA Sports Active 2? To learn more about the game, visit:
http://www.easportsactiveonline.com/fitness-games/ea-sports-active-2/wii
It is also available for Xbox 360 and Play Station 3

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

     Last night, I wanted to throw some Pillsbury cookies in the oven, but I was disappointed to find that we didn't have any. I REALLY wanted chocolate chip cookies, so I decided to look up a recipe. My mom and I had never made home-made cookies before, so I was eager to try. We made a mess, but I had a lot of fun! The cookies turned out great, this recipe is definitely a keeper.
Want to try the cookies for yourself? Here's the link to the recipe:
http://www.food.com/recipe/nestle-toll-house-chocolate-chip-pan-cookie-108248?scaleto=5&mode=null&st=true

Cute Baby Animals!

I LOVE to Google 'pictures of cute animals'. The images really cheer me up! Some pictures are just so cute that it'd be a crime not to share them. Enjoy!
I also found a great website for finding pictures of baby animals and learning more about them. Check out: http://animal.discovery.com/guides/baby-animals/baby-animals.html

Baby Porcupine
Picture found on: http://www.funnycoolstuff.com/2010/11/08/baby-porcupine-story/


Baby Bunny
Picture found on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oh-joy/152684209/


Beagle Puppy
Picture found on: http://dogs-cats.wikia.com/wiki/Beagle


Kitten
Picture found on: http://wondrouspics.com/cute-kittens-pictures/


Polar Bear Cubs
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/baby-animals/mammals/polar_bear.html

Crazy Pet Stories

      I am currently the owner of the most adorable pet you'll ever meet, a blond Cocker Spaniel named Chelsea. She is 13 years old, but my family has had several other pets in the past. Get ready for a good laugh, I'm about to tell you some of my family's craziest pet stories!
 
Pearl
      When my older sister was in the second grade, she had a goldfish named Pearl. Pearl was determined to escape, and one night she was finally successful. Just when my sister was falling asleep, the fish jumped out of her bowl. My sister heard the splash, but didn't feel like getting up to see what was going on. The next morning, Jade found her fish lying on the carpet, dead.

Strawberry
      My older brother got his first hamster when he wad 4 years old. He named it Strawberry, because of its bright red tongue, which was always sticking out of his mouth. Strawberry was plump, mean (he always bit my brother's fingers), and lazy. Instead of running on his wheel, the hamster would lie on his back UNDERNEATH the wheel and kick it with his feet.

Ducky
       My sister named her first hamster Ducky, after the adorable character from the movie The Land Before Time. Ducky wasn't as loyal as the character she was named after. She constantly tried to escape, and eventually got out and made her way downstairs. She escaped through the pipes behind our washer and dryer.My mom heard her scuttling around in the floor vents. Ducky was never seen again.

Chelsea
      As I stated earlier, my family's current pet is a Cocker Spaniel named Chelsea. What you don't know is that Chelsea is REALLY hyper, especially for her age. Once, my aunt asked us to watch her black Poodle, Kaya. Kaya is very proper, and when she saw Chelsea racing around our living room, she was shocked. The Poodle jumped into my mom's arms, posing like a Koala Bear climbing up a tree. The expression on her face was priceless!

Chelsea