Mud Puddle Cookies

These are one of my favorite recipes, often referred to as "no-bakes" I always grew up calling them Mud Puddles. So delicious, so easy and gone SO fast!

Mud Puddle Cookies

-1/2 cup butter

-4 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

-1 3/4 cups sugar

-1/2 cup milk

-1/2 cup peanut butter

-3 cups oats

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In saucepan combine butter, sugar, milk, & cocoa.  Bring to a boil and heat for 1 1/2-2 minutes.  Remove pan from heat and mix in peanut butter, oats & vanilla. Drop my tablespoonful onto wax paper and let cool until hard.

Happenings Lately

First of all, how is it already MARCH?!  I say it all the time, but I seriously feel like the older I get, the faster time flies.  But secondly, I've been having a great time as it flies right by! I recently got to attend an event to meet other amazing women bloggers, business owners, entrepreneurs and all around awesome people. We've been spending so much time outside before it gets absurdly hot. 

(follow @tiedribbon on instagram)

Big Boy Bedroom

Months (months, months) ago, my son finally got a big boy bed complete with a craigslist headboard that got painted with chalk paint & chippy-uped a bit. So I of course had to get new bedding & decorations to match it, right?!  Here are a few shots of his bigger-boy bedroom.

Don't Panic, Valentine!

Let's go over Valentine's Day for the procrastinators. Whether it be you, or your significant other that needs a little guidance!

 Flowers.  Don't buy grocery store flowers.  Terribly over-priced and just bad. They had actually sprinkled silver glitter on mini rose plants. Just no. Trader Joes has the best selection at an amazing price.  And also, is there any shame in buying your own flowers? 

Half the fun is getting exactly you want, right?!

If you haven't already heard of Amazon PrimeNow, get on board!  Having an Amazon Prime membership is already worth it's weight in gold & with PrimeNow, it'll change your life.  You can shop online and get things delivered in as little as one hour.  No delivery charge, just a small tip for the driver included in your total. They have a limited selection of roses right now AND if you spend at least $20 you can a free box of delicious fancy chocolate. Amazon is amazing, guys.

And if you're looking for something simple, quick but still adorable, turn to all the heart day themed printables.  Paging Super Mom shared a printable to turn store bought cakes into cute treats.

And I loved using Camille Styles' printables in years past for mini Valentines.

Valentine's Day is on Sunday, but all hope is not lost if it's snuck up on you! There's still time to make it special & you can always run to the Dollar Store to grab some fun things for the kids.

Confetti Love Notes

Need an extra special way to spread the love to those far away?  Send a not FILLED with love! Okay, there's tiny tissue paper hearts, but that's basically the same thing, right?!

If you can't find your own vellum envelopes, using an opened envelope of your own, trace then cut a 12x12 sheet of vellum and glue to make your own.

 I whipped out some simple and cute notes that could peek through the envelope & confetti.

 Fill up those envelopes!  Be sure to get some in the front and the back.  Seal tightly & give it a good shake to distribute the looooove.  Ours are going to grandparents, because they won't get made at their grandson when the confetti falls all over them!

Dollar Store: Valentines Day

Yes, I do believe this merits it's own WHOLE blog post.  First of all, if you're too good for dollar stores, this is not the blog for you. hahaha Harsh, but totally honest! I have an (often) unhealthy addiction to dollar stores, especially around the holidays.  So of course I'm sharing 

"Things to Buy From the Dollar Store: Valentine's Day Edition".  First up, cheap chocolate. Not for me, or those you love, but for people like little children i.e., class valentines, or little valentines for your child.  Speaking of class valentines, if you do store bought, hello! 32 for 1 dollar?! Steal. 

Thirdly, heart balloons. which can cost an arm and a leg at party boutiques. 10 for $1. And they're big! I love to blow them up and scatter them in rooms for a morning Valentines Day surprise. Lastly, on my must-grab list, heart straws.  I'm unusually excited about Valentine's Day being on Sunday because I get to spend all day relaxing with my family, and I thought these straws would be so fun to make our dinner special.  I for sure know my 4 year old with think I'm the best mom ever.

Okay so am I missing anything? Did you guys find something else awesome I HAVE to run out and grab before Valentine's Day?!

Finding the Best Family Phone Plan

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #DataAndAMovie #CollectiveBias

Finding a new phone plan can often not only be expensive, but SO stressful! So much so that my husband and I are both still on our parent's plans, and I know we're not the only ones! Our contracts with them are both ending soon & I thought there has to be a good deal somewhere! I was about to loose my mind when I heard about Walmart's new Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan.

Can you hear my hallelujahs?! Okay let me break it down for you, and then you'll understand. Walmart Family Mobile PLUS = Unlimited Talk, Text, Data. That's 10GB 4G LTE.  PLUS you get a free movie on VUDU every month, per line for just...wait for it....$49.88.  My husband and I both run through data like crazy from my social media and his all things sports-watching related.

They have an amazing selection of phones too.  Just pick your phone, grab a Starter Kit & head home.  It's so simple.  You pay at the end of month, don't have to deal with a contract or sales people and you get a free movie rental every month.  I can't wait to use ours to have a movie night at home on our big screen television using our ChromeCast or Play Station!

 I chose the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime ( which is only $99.00 on rollback), it has a big screen, which was a huge must for me & it can keep up and handle everything I need to it. I am just so relieved I found a plan that not only has everything we need, but I don't have to pay an arm and a leg for!  Are you in the market for a new phone plan? What's on your must-have list for a phone?