I love decoupaging with napkins. I hope you like this tutorial. I will list my favorite supplies below the video. Let me know if you try it.
Products I use:
Decoupage Bunny Jar From a Spaghetti Sauce Jar – Video Tutorial
Filed under Art, Craft Tutorials, Crafts, Home & Garden
Cracker Barrel Copy Cat Recipe – Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake – Video Tutorial
If you love the Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake at Cracker Barrel, you are in luck. You can follow the recipe and video tutorial below to recreate that scrumptious cake in your own kitchen.
Recipe
Cracker Barrel Copy Cat Recipe – Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake – Video Tutorial
Ingredients
- FOR CAKE:
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup Coca Cola
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- FOR FROSTING:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup Coca Cola
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 cup chocolate syrup
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Instructions
- In a pot over medium heat, combine oil, cola, and butter. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
- Add in your sugar and flour, stirring until the batter is smooth.
- Put your batter in a separate bowl. Add in your buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, cocoa, and baking soda. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour the batter into a greased and floured pan.
- Bake at 350 ºF for 30 minutes.
- While your cake bakes, prepare your frosting in a separate bowl. Start by beating you butter and cocoa powder with a hand mixer. Add your cola, vanilla, and chocolate syrup. Beat to combine, gradually adding your powdered sugar as you mix.
- Remove your cake from the oven and give it a few minutes to cool. Frost your cake and enjoy!
Recipe from Mommy Ramblings -http://www.MommyRamblings.org
Filed under Cooking, Entertaining, Home & Garden
Exclusive Interview with Rosemarie D’Alessandro – Mother of Joan D’Alessandro the 7-Year-Old Girl Scout Murdered by Teacher Neighbor
We had a great, nearly 3-hour interview with the inspirational Rosemarie D’Alessandro. We filmed it live and you don’t want to miss a minute. Rosemarie took unspeakable tragedy and turned it into Joan’s Joy.
Joan’s Joy Foundation was created to keep the children of today safe by remembering Joan. Rosemarie lobbied for Joan’s Law and Paula’s Law which deny parole to convicted murderers who sexually assaulted their minor victims.
Please visit JoansJoy.org to learn more. The interview below is a must see.
Signs you need to get your eyes tested
There are lots of different signs that can indicate a change in your vision, and the need to get a new eye test. The most obvious and common one is a change in your ability to read things. Across the world, it is estimated that over 55% of the population need some kind of vision correction. This equates to billions of people. Luckily over 80% of vision problems can be fixed, corrected or avoided.
The sooner you identify the problem, the sooner you can get it sorted. If you are putting off getting your regular eye test, this is a call to action! Book yourself in today! I know what you are thinking. “I don’t want to spend a fortune on a new pair of glasses”. The good news? You don’t have to. Gone are the days of 400$ glasses, only available at opticians. A growing number of people are now turning to online vendors to buy new glasses. They are a lot cheaper and come in a wider variety of styles.
If you are still unsure as to whether you need glasses or an eye test, here are some more warning signs that your eyes need help.
Blurry Vision
If you cannot see clearly at a distance, or objects have a fuzzy halo around them, you may be developing shortsightedness. Try resting your eyes and staying hydrated for a day or so – if the blurriness does not go away, book in for an eye exam.
Poor Nightvision
If you cannot see in the dark as well as you used to, this could be a sign of cataracts in its early stages. Although not a serious condition, if left undetected they could grow to obscure your vision.
Eye Strain
If you find your eyes getting more fatigued after focusing on something like a book or a screen, this could be a sign you need to get your eyes tested. However, eye fatigue can also be a result of bad habits. Spending hours looking at your phone screen and not staying hydrated can both lead to eye fatigue. Make sure you take regular breaks and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to help your body and your eyes.
Headaches
The eyes are made up of loads of tiny muscles. When one of the eye’s mechanisms begins to fail, those tiny muscles are put under more strain. When this happens your eyes tend to squint as they are forced to work harder. This can lead to headaches and eye pain. If you are suffering with reoccurring headaches, it is probably time to see a optician/doctor.
Looking after your eyes is incredibly important. Without them, life would be a whole lot harder. Nobody wants to have to deal with a life without vision. This is why it is immensely important to make sure you get your eyes tested regularly. An annual eye test can reassure you that your eyes are in good health, and also flag up any early problems.
This is a collective guest post. The ideas and views do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
Filed under Health, Home & Garden
4 Reasons to Get Your Boiler Serviced Annually
Being a property owner, your job is more than just making your home look pretty. There are a lot of other things that every homeowner should consider. Boiler servicing is one of those necessary things that is often overlooked. Most people do not get their boilers checked and serviced regularly. It is the reason why they have to replace it after a few years or get it repaired by paying a significant amount of money. This can be avoided only if you book your boiler maintenance service. Here are a few reasons for you to service your boiler annually.
Find Problems Sooner than Later
It is easy to forget that you do not only use your boiler during the cold winter days but every day for your hot water. Due to this, your boiler can run into issues that you don’t even notice which leads to repairs or sometimes, even replacement of the system. Contrary to this, with annual service, you are making sure that you are identifying internal faults and addressing them before it’s too late. Getting boiler service once a year will confirm that your system is working correctly and help you to save money on unexpected breakdowns and any future repairs.
Ensure Efficiency
Some boiler parts can wear out faster than others, during winter, your boiler is forced to work hard. You know all too well the high bills you receive during the winter months. If you are looking to save on those ever-increasing energy bills, then it is essential to make sure all the parts are working at peak efficiency. An expert will ensure that your boiler is working as efficiently as possible and not consuming extra energy. This will help save on energy bills while also decreasing your home’s carbon footprint.
Keep Your Boiler Warranty Valid
Most common boiler warranties and guarantees require yearly service to keep your warranty valid. If you are not getting annual service, then it can void your warranty or guarantee. In fact, most home and business insurance companies include regular service for boilers in their policies so that the boiler is safe to use. It is essential to know that a regular boiler service will meet the requirements of your policy,
Check with your insurance company about what they provide. Another great option is to get boiler coverage. Find out more about insurance by visiting the Corgi HomePlan website.
Your Boiler Will Run Safely
Annual boiler service not only makes sure that your home boiler is running efficiently but also certifies that it is working safely. A faulty boiler can be very unsafe, mainly if a gas leak occurs. Every year, thousands of people die from carbon monoxide poisoning due to broken and damaged boilers. Carbon monoxide, which is also known as the silent killer, is a gas that causes headaches, collapsing, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, and a loss of consciousness. Therefore, to make sure that you and your family remain safe, you must have your boiler checked regularly. Annual service will let you know if you need to get your boiler repaired and will give you peace of mind.
This is a collaborative guest post. The views and ideas do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
Filed under Home, Home & Garden, Resources
4 things you should prioritize this spring
Can you believe the winter holiday season is officially over, and the new year is already in full swing? If you’ve already headed back to work, then you might be missing the freedom you had over the Christmas break. Maybe you’re wondering what to do with the limited free time you’re now left with.
With so many little tasks to get sorted, deciding what to prioritize isn’t easy, especially when you only have a weekend to work with. Most would agree that prioritizing the errands or little tasks that will save you time, money and effort in the future should be tackled first, so that’s what we’re going to look at here. Check out my top 4 things you should prioritize this spring.
Getting your AC unit checked
Reaching for your AC unit when it’s baking hot outside, only to find it splutter, choke and fail on you is something no one wants to experience. Especially during the hottest months of the year!
If your AC unit is faulty or not working correctly then get it looked at straight away – for air conditioning repairs in Las Vegas, click the link – if you can’t remember the last time you had it serviced, then get it looked at as soon as possible. Don’t be fooled into thinking you have months to get this sorted, failing to prioritize some simple maintenance could mean you’re stuck on a waiting list for weeks and you may be charged extra for an emergency call out.
Deep cleaning the house
It’s not pleasant and most people would prefer that this wasn’t classed as a priority, but deep cleaning your home will not only give you a deep sense of satisfaction, it’s also beneficial for your physical and mental well being. From dust bunnies to spider webs, cleaning up your home and giving everything from the ceilings to the skirting boards a good scrub will make your living arrangements much more pleasant and make your home feel fresh and ready for the new year ahead.
Removing the clutter
Clutter is not your friend. It’s stressful, unsightly and makes our lives a misery – often without us knowing it! Believe it or not, decluttering your home doesn’t mean getting rid of all the sentimental items you cherish – just the ones that you’re hanging on to for no discernible reason at all. Start with your closet and remove anything that you haven’t worn in a year, donate any items to charity or sell them online to make a little profit. Go through each room in turn and you won’t believe the difference it makes to your life.
Moving your body more
We all lead pretty sedentary lifestyles, so getting up and moving our bodies a little more each day is certainly something to prioritize. Exercise doesn’t have to be a grueling session at the gym, it can be a walk around the block on your lunch break or some simple yoga moves at home. Moving your body reduces stress, relieves tension and gets your heart pumping, so make it a priority this year!
This is a collaborative post. The ideas and views do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
Filed under Fitness, Home & Garden, self-help
Did You Get a Cricut Maker For Christmas and Don’t Know Where To Start?
If you received a new Cricut Maker or other model for Christmas and don’t know where to start, you might want to keep reading. I have some beginner Cricut videos up on our YouTube channel and plan to add more. It will get you started on some great projects. View the whole Cricut Video Playlist for more inspiration.
There are videos about saving money on Cricut supplies, tips and hacks about how to get free Cricut fonts and SVGs plus so much more.
I also plan to do some Live Cricut Crafting that you can join us for, so make sure you subscribe to us on YouTube and click that bell so you will be notified of new videos as soon as they are posted.
Happy Crafting!!!
Filed under Craft Tutorials, Crafts, Cricut Maker, hobby
Why Some Parents Have Made The Switch To Infant Goat Milk Formula
Goat milk formulas are emerging on the scene in a big way. While less common than the standard cow’s milk-based preparations, you can now find goat’s milk formulas in supermarkets and online storefronts around the world. More people are exploring this interesting new option for infant nutrition and the formula industry is taking notice.
Looking at the benefits of infant goat milk formula, it is not hard to see why many parents are making the switch to this nutrient-dense alternative. However, for those new to the world of alternative formulas, or infant formulas in general, this trend might seem a bit confusing. While you should always be looking for the best nutrition options for your child, knowing about the available options is just as important.
To provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision, let’s look at some of the specific reasons why some parents are making the switch to goat milk formula.
Distinct Nutritional Profile
While cow’s milk does contain a complete and balanced nutritional profile, goat’s milk is more suitable for some infants due to its own distinct blend and balance of ingredients. For example, goat’s milk contains many vitamins and minerals in greater concentrations than cow’s milk. For those infants who struggle with deficiencies of these substances, it might be worthwhile to switch up the conventional cow’s milk blend once in a while, or permanently, for a goat’s milk formula.
These substances include selenium, vitamin A, and niacin, all essential building blocks for growing infants and toddlers. These minerals and vitamins boost brain development and keep your child’s immune system in top shape. Goat’s milk preparations also contain thirty per cent more magnesium than cow’s milk preparations. Vitamin C is also much more prevalent in goat’s milk formula than in cow’s milk formula.
When it comes to balance, goat’s milk formulas may not be as ideal as cow’s milk preparations. However, thanks to the wonders of modern chemistry, goat’s milk formulas are usually fortified with extra amounts of the minerals and nutrients that it lacks. These include iron and vitamin B12.
Build Gut Health
Gut health is an increasingly popular topic for new parents. Medical science has established a robust connection between healthy gut flora and positive well-being. These benefits carry over into physical resilience as well as mental health and mood.
Incredibly, goat’s milk formulas are an abundant source of pre and probiotics. These are essential substances that bolster the gut flora in the human body. If you want your child to have a robust immune system that will enable them to fight off pathogens and beat major diseases before they develop, then you might try starting them on goat’s milk formula right away.
Ideal For Sensitive Stomachs
The digestive system of your young child is still developing. Many babies and toddlers find that cow’s milk formulas are too difficult to digest and cause them pain and stomach discomfort. In some cases, this can also be caused by lactose intolerance.
Goat’s milk is a great solution to this problem. Though it also contains lactose, it is much less prevalent than in cow’s milk. Goat’s milk formulas are primarily composed of casein, which is much easier to digest than lactose. It is worth trying out if your infant is struggling with a standard formula.
Ask Your Doctor Before Making A Decision
With any changes to your infant’s diet, make sure to consult a physician. They will be able to direct you as to what your child needs to thrive and whether the product you have chosen is right for your child.
This is a collaborative post. The ideas and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
Things to Do to Get Your Boiler Ready for Winter
When winter hits, you need a comfortable and warm home. For this reason, you have to pay attention to the condition of your boiler. You can’t live with an broken or malfunctioning boiler during the winter season. If you have a boiler cover, there is nothing to worry because your engineer will see you within 24 hours after your call.
Understand the Importance of Boiler Cover
Servicing a boiler can easily be forgotten, but regular boiler maintenance and checks have numerous benefits. A defective boiler can be dangerous; therefore, you can protect yourself from different threats with a boiler cover. People who don’t have a boiler cover may find it challenging to get a qualified engineer at a reasonable price.
Remember, engineers across the country have busy schedules in the frostiest months. If your boiler is already covered, it will be easy for you to get help and advice. By ignoring the importance of a boiler cover, you can increase the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, explosions and fires.
Test Your Boiler in the Autumn
People in the UK often turn their central heating on after October. They don’t realize the possibility of faults in their boiler. For this reason, check your boiler in mild weather. There is no need to use it for a long duration, turn it on for some time to check its radiators.
To nip boiler faults in the bud, arrange for a reliable boiler service. It will help you to identify and resolve different issues before winter. Moreover, you will get a consistent supply of hot water on every freezing morning.
Timers and Thermostats 
An engineer can identify issues with your timer and thermostat during an annual service. Defects and errors in your heating time can make things difficult for you. Pay attention to the condition of timer and location of the thermostat to keep your house warm.
Check Pipe Insulation
Water expands when freezes; therefore, standing water in the plumbing system can affect your pipes. For this reason, pipe insulation is necessary. Similar to loft insulation and cavity wall, it can decrease heat transfer and maintain the flow of water in pipes without any heat loss. In this way, you can avoid several winter emergencies.
Boiler Pressure
Pay attention to the pressure of the boiler. You can judge it between 1 and 1.5 (in the green or the red). Decreased pressure can affect the flow of hot water around a heating system. Remember, high pressure can make radiators bleed. Similar, too low pressure requires you to refill loop to increase it. For the best performance, the pressure of your boiler should be temperamental.
Power Flushes
Keep your radiators clean to make things easy for your central heating system. Your plumbing engineer can clean pipes and radiators to flush sludge out of these units. After cleaning, your plumbing system will be refilled with a corrosion inhibitor and clean water. It will increase the efficiency of the central heating system.
This is a collaborative post, the ideas and views do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings Blog.
Filed under Family, Home, Home & Garden
Enter For Chance To Win An Authentic Hand Crafted Italian Masquerade Mask By VIVO Masks
Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s Parties, Mardi Gras and more, has people searching for quality adult masks. VIVO sells the highest quality, authentic masquerade masks you can find in North America. All of their masks are handmade in Italy, and each month, they source out the very best for storage in their US warehouse, where they can deliver them to you quickly, at an excellent price.
If you want to see the differences in VIVO’s masks, check the images above. Do you want a mask that is hand crafted in Venice, Italy or one that is mass produced in a factory in China? I think the choice is obvious, but what about the price? Since VIVO has warehouses in the USA and sells only online, they cut their costs, and pass them off to you with warehouse pricing. Navigating their website could not be easier. Order your mask, and rest assured, because their 2-day USA shipping is quick too. Order with complete confidence, thanks to their money back guarantee if you are not satisfied.
Giveaway:
VIVO is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will be able to choose the mask of their choice from this selection. Thanks VIVO for the review mask and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to the USA and Canada.
VIVO Authentic Made In Italy Masquerade Mask Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!
