Starting Gratitude Tuesday

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, 

but to live by them." John F. Kennedy

This year I started a gratitude list that everyday I write down things that I am grateful for in my life. Yes in the beginning it was easy to just the easy things I was grateful for like my children, family, friends, food and house. Now I am at the point that I am looking at the little things that I am grateful for like having patience with others and my artistic skills. This great feeling I am filled with everyday when I add to my gratitude list is one that I want to share with all other you. More than just making a list of things that you are grateful for, people need to tell and show those they care about how much they mean to them. You never know if a small gift or words of kindness will be just what a person needs that day. Everyone needs to know they are loved by others! 

So I challenge you to go out and tell the people you love that you love them and how you are grateful to be in their lives! Not only will you feel better about yourself but you will make someone else feel great!

Every Tuesday will be Gratitude Tuesday where I will be showcasing people or things we all should be grateful for in our lives. So check back next week for another gratitude post.

 You can share these delicious LOVE cookies by justcrumbs with someone you are grateful with and they will be grateful for your gift! You can purchase these cookies or other sweet treats in justcrumbs Etsy shop by clicking any blue link or the photograph. Enjoy!

Valentine Cake Pops

"Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world." SUSAN LIEBERMAN

This weekend I spent the weekend bonding with my mother, sister and young daughter by making cake pops. Cake pops seem to be the latest craze in the baking world. My mom caught the wave of the craze and bought the cake pop machine which is supposed to create perfectly round balls to stick on a stick and create a cake pop. So we got all the ingredients including chocolate to melt and valentine sprinkles to decorate.  

The balls seemed to come out a bit deflated on one side so we decided to insert the stick on that side so the deflation would not be as noticeable. So far not to bad. Well then we got the fondue pot out and melted down Hershey's milk chocolate chips which felt like it took forever to melt down. Next, we ATTEMPTED to dip the cake pops into the melted chocolate. This did not work the way we expected. The cake balls came off the sticks and the chocolate was not liquidy so the chocolate would stick to one side off the ball. So we tried our best by taking a knife or spoon and spreading the chocolate around the cake pop. Then came the sprinkles which was the best part because we could be creative as we wanted. Overall, it was a fun time and a great bonding experience for 3 generations of my family.  So here are our results: