PILLSBURY PEANUT BUTTER S’MORE BARS

Allison and I were in the mood for something sweet tonight. I looked through my Sweet Tooth Pinterest board and we picked this one out.

It is simple and yummy... it's also very rich! Have a glass of milk ready!

Ingredients:
1 30-ounce roll Pillsbury Chocolate chip cookie dough
16 ounces of Hershey’s Bars
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
7 ounce container marshmallow fluff

chocolate chips for drizzle on top, optional 

Directions: 
Line an 8×8 pan with nonstick foil.  Press a little more than half the cookie dough roll into the bottom of the pan.  Place Hershey bars on top-layering them on top of each other to fit and make a nice thick layer!  Spread peanut butter on top of the chocolate bars using an offset spatula.  Sprinkle on graham cracker crumbs.  Spread the fluff on next.  Use an offset spatula to spread and lightly wet it to make spreading easier!  Works like a charm!  Finally, flatten out the remaining cookie dough and lay it on the top covering the fluff the best you can.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until golden.  (Check at 25 minutes so you don’t over bake it. Mine needed the full 30 minutes.)  Cool at room temp and then chill until cold.  I like to speed this up in the freezer!  Cut into bars and drizzle the tops with the melted chocolate chips.

Flashback Friday 167

Christmas 1988. I think it is pretty awesome that I was wearing a onesie pajamas when I was 6. Just saying.

Confessions of a Brunette on the Internet 220

What is Love?

Of course there are different kinds of love. What I want to talk about is the falling in love kind. I think I have experienced it before, but sometimes I'm not sure. How do you know when you are falling in love with someone? Maybe there is not an answer because it is different for everyone, but I feel like there is.

I think TV and movies have given us a very romanticized expectation of what love it supposed to be... but then look at Hollywood. How many of those marriages last? Not many. So what is love? The kind that lasts. Does it need to be head over heels all consuming love? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that is how it works.

Do I think that love needs to have chemistry and passion? Absolutely, but I don't think that is what makes you love a person, I think it just helps bond the love. I don't think that same passion that you have in the beginning lasts forever, but I don't think that means you are not in love anymore, nor do I think it has to go away... it just might take more effort to maintain than it does in the beginning.

"You know it's love when all you want is that person to be happy, even if you're not part of their happiness"

Maybe I have it all wrong, but I think love comes with time and experience. I think love is when you think about the other person more than yourself. You think about what you can do together instead of just what you want to do. I think love is being willing to make big sacrifices for the other person. I think love is when the other person's happiness affects your happiness. I think love is being able to know all sides (good and bad) of a person and still wanting to be with that person because you accept them for exactly who they are and realize that the good outweighs the bad and that nobody is perfect. I think love is when you enjoy spending time with that person above anyone else and you couldn't imagine not spending time with that person anymore. I think the person you fall in love with should be your best friend. The person you want to share everything with and the first person you think of to tell things to (good or bad). Love is finding someone that brings out the best in you. Love is knowing someone isn't going to run away when things get hard

When I think of love, I think of moving far away from anyone you know and being out of your comfort zone because your husband got a new job. I think of a wife gaining weight and looking tired and haggard from children and her husband thinking she is even more beautiful because she sacrificed her body and brought their child into the world. I think of women who spend many months a lone because their husbands jobs. I think of people loving their spouses through depression and other things they didn't think they signed up for in the beginning. I think of taking care of someone when they are sick... even though it isn't fun or what you really want to do. I think of sticking by each other's side and being supportive no matter what comes your way... you work it out together. The list could go on and on.

Why am I thinking about this?

I don't believe that we have a soulmate. I do believe that some people are better matches for us than others and that you should find someone that matches well with you. During my dating years, I feel like I have found several guys that I match well with. I think that I even fell in love with a few of them. However... I'm starting to think there is some deficiency in my personality that repels men away from me. Guy's are attracted to me. I didn't always believe that... because there was a time that I struggled with my self esteem and to this day it is not often that guys ask me out. However... when I started doing online dating and Tinder and such.... I realized that many guys are attracted to me. I also know that guys think I'm fun and laid back and really like spending time with me. Something about me makes them not want to date me long term or fall in love with me.... but then they don't really ever want me out of their lives either. Soo...... I don't get it. Are they waiting for the heavens to open and tell them that I am the one?

Before you think that I am depressed or something... let me just tell you that I'm not. I don't think there is anything wrong with me. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I really like who I am and I know how much I have to offer and how much love I am ready to give. I would do anything for the people I love. I think the guy that marry's me will be lucky. Why don't the guys see what I see? Or maybe I am missing something about myself that I need to change or improve on. I'm not sure. I wish I knew. I feel like I open up my heart easily... which also means I get hurt easily as well. I don't know if I am better off because of that or not.  How do you know you are in love?

Are guys not giving me a chance? Or have I just not found the right one yet? Or do people just have unrealistic expectations of what love really is and what makes it last?

I'm not sure. Insight and advice is welcome.

Photo of the Week 218

First of many pictures to come from my trip to Peru. This one was taken of a Cathedral in Lima (the first city I spent time in). Miss it there already. It's a beautiful country.

Friends

I'm so thankful for good people in this world. I love people and what each person has to offer. Even more so I love people that have become my friends. My family and friends mean everything to me and I would do anything for them. I hate it when they move away from me...

Like when Allyson moved away to Texas. I hadn't seen her since we met up in Havasupai in October. When I told her that I was going to be stuck in the Houston Airport for 6 hours on my way home from Peru, she made time to come visit me on her lunch break... not only that but she brought me a smoothie. (How sweet is that?) We were able to just start right where we left off last and got to chat and catch up for an hour and then she left to go back to work and I got on a plane to my next layover.

Seeing her for an hour made all the difference in my day. Totally cheered me up. She is so loving and understanding and listens and supports me. She has always been a great friend to me and I'm thankful for her and all of my good friends in my life. I need them. Thank's Allyson for taking the time to come see me. Love ya girl!

Succulents

The older I get, the more I love plants. I don't know why... there are just so many different kinds and they are so pretty and I just like them. Especially succulents. Succulents are low maintenance and there are many different kinds and colors and you can put a bunch together and they just look so cool together.

Here in Peru we were on a road trip. On one of our stops we stopped at this place that had the most awesome succulents. I don't think anyone else noticed or cared about the plants... but I couldn't stop staring at them. I wanted to transplant them exactly the way they were.... right into my back patio. I'm not sure how that would work or look when they got there, but I just wanted them. Instead I opted for pictures.

 Time to work on my little patio garden when I get back!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to all of the Mothers out there, especially the Mother's in my life (Grandma, Sisters and sister in law) especially my mother. I'm sad that I can't be with her today.... since I am in Peru, but I made sure to Facetime with her. It was fun to see her and a lot of the other family. Made me feel like I was there. I love my mom a lot. I'm so thankful for everything she has done for me, for her example, and for being so supportive of all the decisions I have made in my life, the trust and respect she has for me. I know that when I need love and support and feedback, I can always go to her. 

I wasn't with her today, but I did get something for her that I know she will love. :) 

Happy Mother's Day mom! I Love you lots!