Yes, you read that correctly.. Oreo Cookie Butter! This recipe actually works with any type of cookie, so just imagine the possibilities! 

Here's you need!

Package of Oreos (or thin mints, or peanut butter cookies, or chocolate chip cookies...!)

1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) of butter

1/2 cup of condensed, sweetened milk

1/4 cup evaporated milk

Start with the cookies.. now the recipe I adapted this from recommends that you remove the cream from the middle of the Oreo Cookies.. and I did. (Side note, you can totally leave the cream in.. next time I will!) It takes a little while, but with a butter knife, the cream comes right off the cookies.. don't worry about getting it all!

I used a little more than 3/4 of the package.. there were about 7 cookies left over. You'll have plenty of wet ingredient made so don't be afraid to use the entire pack of cookies!

Put the cookies in the food processor and let it run until you have fine cookie crumbs! Set aside in a glass bowl.

In a sauce pan, melt the butter and add the evaporated milk and the sweetened, condensed milk and stir until combined. (Use a wisk, it works better than a spoon! You can also melt the butter in the microwave and combine in a bowl!)

Using about 1/2 cup of the wet mixture, add to the cookie crumbs and combine. Add until the cookie mixture is just wet enough to stay together. If you keep the cream in the Oreo you will need less liquid, and if you take the cream out, you'll need more. Drier cookies (cream-less ones like sugar or thin mints) need more than a softer cookie, so just pay attention as you are stirring!

 

Once you have the mix to a consistency of your liking, you can eat it right away, but I recommend putting it in the fridge for an hour or so! It should last a week or so refrigerated-- if it lasts that long!

To soften the cookie butter leave it out to come to room temperature, or you can add a litttttle bit of water and stir in.. it will look like its not mixing in, but then voila! It will loosen the butter up a bit making it easier to dip and spread! We ate ours by the spoonful, but how yummy would it be over some strawberries, pretzels, or graham cracker?!

What kind of cookie are you going to use? Next up for us? Thin Mints!

Keeping Active with Toddlers!

Setting a good example for Beckett never seems to stop.. from what we eat, to how we talk and act, and how we take care of ourselves.

It's no shocker that i've been trying to set a good example of a healthy and fit lifestyle for Beckett, even though we don't turn down a good burger or a cupcake now and then! I trained and ran a half marathon  and go to yoga 4-5x a week. Im also about to start training for another (hopefully 2) half marathon's and we go for walks whenever we can.

But that's for me. 

While we can give Beckett all the best organic foods (which we do), make him drink water, his rice milk and occasionally his organic 2% chocolate milk, we also make sure he gets great exercise. 

It is so important to set your kids up for a healthy, fit lifestyle. Without showing them that exercise can be fun, they will never want to do anything. And while Beckett is only 15 months old and won't be running any marathons or playing football any time soon, we have found great, age appropriate physical fun! 

Here are a few fun things we have found that work great for keeping our son healthy and active!

Gymboree Play and Learn!

I can't say enough amazing things about Gymboree. My Mom so wonderfully gifted Beckett with 'GymGym' Play and Learn Classes when we moved to Texas and it's been such a blessing. Not only have I met some amazing ladies, but Beckett has learned so much and made so many friends! It's a safe environment so he can learn to climb, roll, fall, and play with others. We go to class for an hour every week, so you can imagine he goes 100mph for the whole hour, then takes a great nap! He is getting stronger and braver every week! They set up class differently every couple weeks focusing on different strengths.. balance, climbing, partners, core, hand-eye coordination.. you name it! Plus we get bubble time, which is B's absolute favorite! The best part? Open Gym time! With each class you unlock all the open gym time you desire! So when someone needs to run out some energy and its been raining for days weeks.. open gym to the rescue! 

 Healthy Treats!

I read somewhere that you shouldn't give your kids dessert every night because they will learn to expect it. So we don't give Beckett sweets every day (fruit excluded.. he can eat as much fruit as he wants!). As part of Beckett's diet (animal crackers, chocolate milk, etc. included!) We try and sneak in healthy but tasty options! Chobani Kids has some great, healthy options that not only taste great, but can be frozen and double as teething treats! His favorite is the Chobani Kids Banana Greek Yogurt pops. We freeze them and cut them in half so that he can hold them, and boy does he love them! 

Made with only natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners or flavors, we have no issues letting Beckett have one for a snack or a dessert treat! Plus they have live and active cultures, 3 types of probiotics and have no preservatives! #ChobaniKids has a lot of yummy options for tots and kids.. like Grape, Watermelon, Vanilla and Chocolate! Check them all out here!

Get Outside!

We try and go for a walk, to the park, or even just in the back or front yard every day! Beckett loves to slide and swing (and pick up every piece of mulch!) so when the weather permits, we walk to the park! We also walk to the mailbox (in front of our house) and around the block and anywhere else we can! It's such an easy way to get in a little exercise and quality time!

Open Gym Playdates!

Along with Gymboree, we try and check out other open gyms! Check your local recreation centers for Tiny Tots gyms and local gymnastics gyms for open gym times. This is a great way for kids to get some energy out, get plenty of exercise and socialize! While we don't go to these evert week (they usually cost somewhere between $6-8) we try and go whenever we get invited! Each place will offer different activities like bounce houses or trampolines!

As he gets older we will start to integrate swim class, school (!), and hopefully sports! What do you do to keep your tiny tots active? I'd love to hear!

A huge thanks to Chobani for inspiring this post and for launching healthy options with #ChobaniKids and #ChobaniTots!

Mothers Day.

I'm just going to keep this pretty simple. 

via

I just wanted to thank my Mom, my Momadear, my Aunts.. for being strong women. For being role models to me as a daughter, granddaughter, friend, and now a mother. For being for there for me, no matter what.

For teaching and showing me all the amazing ways to show love, perseverance, and fierceness. For always standing up behind me and being on my team.

Thank you for all you have done and do for me. 

I love all of you with my whole heart and am so thankful to have you all in my life. 

We may not be all together today, but know that I'm sending you love, hugs, and kisses!

Oh, and I guess I should thank this little toot for choosing me to be his momma.. I love you Beckett!

Happy Mother's Day!

All my Love.