Fun Christmas Ideas with Build-a-Head!

Fun Christmas Ideas with Build-a-Head!

Posted by Unknown on 12:56 PM in Build-a-Head, Christmas,

Looking for a creative and fun way to celebrate Christmas with your family? How about custom cutouts of your children from Build-a-Head!

You can make Christmas tree ornaments, surprise grandma and grandpa with a fun Christmas card, take fun photos with family, use as decoration, and give them as gifts!

Is super easy to create your own!

First, go to Build-a-Head and upload your photo, text, or design.

Then, choose your size. Build-a-Head offer sizes from 12x18" to 2ft or 3ft, or life-sized! They also offer keychain or mini ornaments as well!

Next, decide how many you want! Prices start at $5.99, and they offer affordable packages as well!

The process is easy and quick, and takes 5 minutes to order. Their products are high quality, and they ship next day!

I received the cutouts of my children from Build-a-Head as a gift and was amazed how quickly they shipped the package to me! It only took a few days after I submitted the photos of my two sons!

The package was sealed in a nice cardboard envelope and contained 12x18" big head cutouts and wood sticks with adhesive. It's super easy to glue them on the wood sticks, with instructions written on the back of the head cutouts.

My sons loved the big head cutouts! Since I had extras, I had the idea of making Christmas ornaments out of two of the head cutouts and place them on our Christmas tree.

I also have 2 more head cutouts, so I decided to surprise grandma and grandpa with a creative and unique Christmas card! All you have to do is trace their head cutouts on a piece of paper, cut the paper, and glue it on the back of the photo. Ask your children to write a loving message to their grandparents, and it will be the best Christmas card ever!

Be super creative this Holiday season and have a blast celebrating with your family with Build-a-Head!

*Disclosure: I received big head cutouts from Build-a-Head as a gift. All opinions are my own.

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How to Make Brazilian Brigadeiro Chocolate Truffle

How to Make Brazilian Brigadeiro Chocolate Truffle

Posted by Unknown on 7:54 PM in #JuntosConNestle, Brazilian recipes, Christmas, fun food for kids, Nestle.USA, Recipes,

Do you want to WOW your family and guests this Holiday Season? How about treating them with a decadent Brazilian chocolate dessert? 

Brigadeiro (BREE-GA-DEY-RO) is a popular soft chocolate sweet made with condensed milk, powdered chocolate (or cocoa), and butter. It's common at Brazilian parties, from birthdays to Christmas, and even weddings! If you ask Brazilians about brigadeiro, they will tell you how amazing and delicious it is! 

Brigadeiro comes from a presidential candidate in Brazil in the 1940s named Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes. His wife would make this chocolate fudge sweet and serve it at parties as part of a fundraising campaign. The guests loved the treat and started asking for it at events: “Where's the Brigadeiro chocolate sweet? Can we have more of Brigadeiro's chocolate candy?" Since then, brigadeiro became a sensation throughout the whole country! 

I make brigadeiro pretty often in my house and everybody who tries it (husband's family, sons' friends and teachers, co-workers and friends), loves it!

While the brigadeiro recipe is simple and easy, it can be tricky to get the perfect consistency. No worries! My son and I created a how to video with a simple step-by-step guide and a few tips, so you can make a perfect brigadeiro dessert to WOW your guests! 
Here's the video:

This article is part of Nestlé Hispanic Holiday campaign, #JuntosConNestlé, so we're going to use La Lechera condensed milk, which is available at Walmart  stores. 

My son and I had a blast making this video! 😃 The fun part about brigadeiro is that you can get your kids involved in the cooking and decorating process! We hope you enjoy this video, and let us know how your brigadeiro turned out!

Here's the recipe: 

Brigadeiro

Serving: 9-20 (based on size) Total Time: 25min

Prep Time: 5min Cook Time: 15min

Ingredients

• 1 can of Nestlé La Lechera (sweetened condensed milk)

• 6 tbsp of Nestlé Nesquick chocolate powder 

• 2 tbsp of unsalted butter

• chocolate sprinkles

• non-stick pan

• wooden spoon

• mini baking cups

Cooking Instructions

• Set stove on medium heat

• Put 2 tbsp of unsalted butter in a non-stick pan

• Add a whole can of Nestlé La Lechera condensed milk into the pan

• Add 6 tbsp of Nestlé Nesquick chocolate powder chocolate into the pan

• Stir with the wooden spoon for about 15 minutes. Don't leave the pan unattended 

• Brigadeiro is ready when it starts leaving the pan (the video will show this!)

• When your brigadeiro is ready, remove from the stove and stir it for a few seconds

• Take the pot to the freezer for about 5 min

• If the pot is too big, transfer brigadeiro into a container and put it in the freezer

• You want it nice and creamy before you roll it into balls

• To make the balls, spread a little bit of butter on your hands 

• Using a spoon, scoop some brigadeiro, and using your hands roll it into a ball

• Roll the ball in the chocolate sprinkles to cover it completely

• Place finished brigadeiro into a banking cup and roll some more

• Makes between 10 to 20 brigadeiros, depending on the size of mini baking cups

• Enjoy!😋

*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Nestlé. All opinions are my own.

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Twelve Days of Christmas: "THE MOM VERSION"

Twelve Days of Christmas: "THE MOM VERSION"

Posted by Unknown on 1:06 PM in Christmas,

On the first day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me: 
A Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the second day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the third day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
3 French Fries (They found them in my car)
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the fourth day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
4 Letter Words (MAMA!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the fifth day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (HELP!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the sixth day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
6 Cheese a Cutting
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (OUCH!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the seventh day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
7 TP Rolls a Swimming
6 Cheese a Cutting
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (OOPS!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the eighth day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
8 Spilled Milk Wipings
7 TP Rolls a Swimming
6 Cheese a Cutting
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (MINE!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the ninth day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
9 Goofies Dancing
8 Spilled Milk Wipings
7 TP Rolls a Swimming
6 Cheese a Cutting
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (MORE!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the tenth day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
10 Legos Stepping 
9 Goofies Dancing
8 Spilled Milk Wipings
7 TP Rolls a Swimming
6 Cheese a Cutting
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (WHAT?)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the eleventh day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
11 Poopers Pooping
10 Legos Stepping
9 Goofies Dancing
8 Spilled Milk Wipings
7 TP Rolls a Swimming
6 Cheese a Cutting
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (C'MON!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me

On the twelfth day of Christmas my sweet boys gave to me:
12 Plumbers Plumbing (Finally!)
11 Poopers Pooping
10 Legos Stepping
9 Goofies Dancing
8 Spilled Milk Wipings
7 TP Rolls a Swimming
6 Cheese a Cutting
5 Soap Scum Rings
4 Letter Words (LOVE!)
3 French Fries
2 Muddy Dogs
and a Basket Full of Laundry Just For Me
JUST FOR ME!!!!! 

Photo: licensed via CC & Flickr by KateWares

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Not Just Your Average Hot Cocoa

Not Just Your Average Hot Cocoa

Posted by Unknown on 7:52 PM in Brazilian recipes, Christmas, Recipes,

It's winter...and there's nothing like a good cup of rich, creamy, and smooth hot cocoa to warm you up... To make it special for grown ups, I added a tiny spoonful of rum...for the underage kiddos, however, you must skip that part of the recipe. Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!

INGREDIENTS (serves 2):

• 2 cups of milk
• 2 packages of Starbucks Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix
• 1/2 cup of Half & Half (creamer)
• 3 Tbsp of table cream (Nestle: Media Crema)
• 2 Tbsp of rum

HOW TO PREPARE:

• Pour milk into a small pot and cook at medium heat
• Just before it starts boiling, reduce heat to low, add the 2 packages of Hot Cocoa Mix, and stir for 1 min
• Add the creamer and stir for about 30 sec
• Add the table cream slowly and stir continuously for about 2-3 minutes (until the table cream dissolves)
• Add the rum and stir for 20-30 sec
• Turn off the heat and serve in a mug
• Optional - Add 1 Tbsp of table cream on top with a sprinkle of the left over hot cocoa mix powder from the package

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How to Make Easy and Affordable Christmas Gift Bags ("GOODY BAG IT!" COLLECTION)

How to Make Easy and Affordable Christmas Gift Bags ("GOODY BAG IT!" COLLECTION)

Posted by Unknown on 11:17 PM in "GOODY BAG IT!", arts and crafts, Christmas, craft ideas for kids,

Christmas is around the corner, and for all the busy moms out there, I wanted to offer you and your little ones more ideas and FREE printables to create easy and fun Christmas gift bags (the "Goody Bag It!" collection)! It’s very affordable, since all you need is either a plain gift bag or brown bag, scissors, and glue (I like to use “glue dots”). Go ahead, have fun, and Merry Christmas! :D

• INSTRUCTIONS:

• PENGUIN/FOR A GIFT BAG (small card included)
• Save the printable in your computer and print it on a photo "semi glossy" paper
• Cut the hat, penguin, feet, and small card
• Glue the body parts and hat as shown in the photo
• Use a hole punch to punch a hole in the corner of the card
• Insert a small string into the hole of the card and tie it to the gift bag handle
• Add the gifts inside the bag
• Enjoy! And have a wonderful Christmas! 

• SANTA  CLAUS/FOR A BROWN BAG
• Save the printable in your computer and print it on a photo "semi glossy" paper
• Cut the hat, ball for the hat, white band, eyes, eyebrows, nose, beard, body, hands, and feet
• Add the gifts inside the bag 
• Cut the dotted lines on the hat and put middle tab over one side of the brown bag, and the two pointy outside tabs will hold the bag closed from the back (i.e., keep bag closed)
• Cover the outside of the hat with the white band
• Glue the body parts as shown in the photo
• Enjoy! And have a wonderful Christmas! 

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