Homemade Chocolate Syrup {and Rebel Canning}

This simple-to-make Homemade Chocolate Syrup is so delicious that you'll never want a bottle of store-brought chocolate syrup again!

We've been on a small hiatus from blogging (just 3 years, 6 months, and 4 days - but who's counting?!), so we decided to jump back into it with something easy. And sweet. And chocolatey.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup. 

Seriously, who doesn't love chocolate syrup? Using it to drench your ice cream, stirring way too much into a cold glass of milk, standing at the fridge door pouring it into your mouth - whatever cranks your tractor, you know how to use this stuff.

Monster Jam Roars Back into Sacramento! (January 20-22)

The infamous 2,000 horsepower engines are revving up again and ready to roar full throttle back into the Central Valley as the Monster Jam® Triple Threat Series™ presented by AMSOIL, the most adrenaline charged motorsports experience for families on the planet, makes the first-ever motorsports event appearance in Sacramento’s new downtown venue, Golden 1 Center, for three action-packed events from Friday, January 20th - Sunday, January 22nd.

The Monster Jam Triple Threat Series presented by AMSOIL can only be seen in select cities across the country and features the most extreme athletes of Monster Jam competing against one another in a points-based format that showcases the best lineup of Monster Jam vehicles to deliver what fans want to see most - more trucks, more racing, more freestyle, more donuts, more wheelies, more action!

Unlike any other Monster Jam event, the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series is the definitive test of endurance, versatility and driving skills that showcases these premiere athletes as they go head-to-head in seven unique endurance competitions driving three different vehicles: Monster Jam trucks, Monster Jam Speedsters and Monster Jam ATVs; ultimately battling for points in both racing and freestyle events that push themselves and their machines to the limit.

Monster Jam Triple Threat Series team athletes vying to be Sacramento champions are:
Grave Digger® driven by Cole Venard
Max-D® driven by Jared Eichelberger
El Toro Loco® driven by Mark List
Monster Mutt® Dalmation* driven by Cynthia Gauthier
Zombie™ driven by Tyler Groth
New Earth AuthoritySM (N.E.A.) driven by Travis Groth
Scooby-Doo™ driven by rookie Myranda Cozad
Mohawk Warrior* driven by rookie Bryce Kenny
*Two new Monster Jam teams coming to 2017 Sacramento event (not featured in 2016 event)

WHEN: Friday, January 20 – Sunday, January 22

Friday, January 20 7:00 PM

Saturday, January 21 7:00 PM
Pit Party open from 4:30 PM–6:00 PM
**Saturday event ticket & Pit Pass required for entry

Sunday, January 22 1:00 PM
Pit Party open from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
**Sunday event ticket & Pit Pass required for entry

WHERE: Golden 1 Center – 547 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

TICKETS: Tickets are affordably priced for the whole family with seats starting at just $20 each*
Pit Passes available to purchase for $10 each

All seats are reserved; tickets are available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745- 3000 or visit the Golden 1 Center Box Office.
*tickets prices are subject to change; additional venue/ticketing fees may apply

Our Christmas Cookie Decorating Tradition

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #SavorTheMemory #CollectiveBias

To me, the best part of the holiday season is traditions. One of our favorite traditions is decorating Christmas Cookies with family. Our family loves to get everybody together for a day of sweet holiday cheer and a bit of relaxation before the big day of Christmas arrives. We have such a good time with this tradition that I wanted to share it with you, and show you how easy it is to put together.

My goal every year is to keep it as simple as possible - this is to be a day of fun and relaxation. There is enough stress around Christmastime that we don't need to add any more if possible. The basics that you'll need: sugar cookies, frosting, cookie sprinkles, plates, napkins. Simple enough, right? We also buy beverages and either make a big pot of chili or do a potluck for food to enjoy during the afternoon.

I also do a plastic tablecloth, paper plates and paper napkins, and plastic bowls for frosting and sprinkles. At the end of cookie decorating, we leave all of the disposable on the table and just wrap up the tablecloth to be thrown in the garbage. This year I found plastic spoons for the frosting and sprinkles, which made clean-up that much easier.

I found these adorable Coca-Cola bottles at Safeway that I just had to grab for the occasion. Dear ol' Santa Claus is on each bottle, and they are glass bottles at that! Plus, when I bought 4 6-packs at Safeway I received a coupon at the register for $20 off at Shutterfly. (participating Coca-Cola products include Gold Peak 590z and 64oz, Coca-Cola 8oz 6pk glass bottles, Sprite and Sprite Cranberry 2Liter and Minute Maid Concentrate or Pure Squeezed 59oz) How cool is that? I am going to use the pictures from our Cookie Decorating party to make a Shutterfly book for a gift to the grandparents in the family. Seriously, there is nothing that grandparents love more than photos of their family in a time of togetherness.

We set the table with the plates and napkins as if we are going to be enjoying a meal, place the cookies and decorations in the middle so that every one can reach them - and we are off to the races! The dining room is always filled with hapiness - lots of giggles and a lot of "look at this!" from the kiddos. The afternoon is truly about spending time together and is absolutely a favorite tradition in our family.

And last, but certainly not least - make sure to buy some take-home containers that family can take their delicious creations home in. This time of year there are an array of plastic, metal, and paper containers available to purchase for gifting needs, so we use these as take-home containers for the cookies we've decorated at our Cookie Decorating Party.

I found the Coca-Cola 6-pack of glass bottles in the beverage aisle at Safeway. This deal is being offered at Albertson's and their banner stores.

Cheesecake Mousse Parfaits with Honey Bunches of Oats {Cereal for Dessert}

These Cheesecake Mousse Parfaits with Honey Bunches of Oats have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SingWithPost #CerealAnytime #CollectiveBias

Cereal always sounds good to me, whether it be for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert - a bowl of cereal is guaranteed to hit the spot! I don't normally do anything fancy with it, just add milk and it's ready for devouring - but I decided to do something a little extra this time. These Cheesecake Mousse Parfaits with Honey Bunches of Oats are a delicious and decadent dessert that is perfect for satisfying any sweet-tooth or cereal craving you're having.  Layers of creamy cheesecake mousse, soft gooey caramel and crunchy Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries.