Dairy-Free Cappuccino Almond Fudge Mud Pie
- 15 Gluten-Free Joe-Joe’s (or your choice of Chocolate Creme Sandwich Cookies)
- 1 pint Luna & Larry’s Naked Almond Fudge Coconut Bliss, softened
- 1 pint Luna & Larry’s Naked Cappuccino Coconut Bliss, softened
- 7 tablespoons Coconut Oil, melted and divided
- 3 tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Non-Dairy Whipped Topping (I used Soyatoo Soy Whip)
- Almonds, chopped

For the Crust:
Using a food processor (I don’t own one so I used my Vita-Mix) crush the Gluten-Free Joe-Joe’s. Add 4 tablespoons of melted coconut oil and mix until combined. Using a spoon, press the cookie mixture into the center of a pie dish working it out from the middle and up the sides. Place in the Freezer for 10 minutes.
{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: Instagram Recap
{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: A Few Pictures from Christmas Day
Of my parents twelve children only a few of us still live in the area. It isn’t very often that we are all together, it wasn’t quite everyone, but this Christmas my parents, nine of my younger sibling, and Brian’s wife and two girls, all came over for drinks and dessert!
The kids played Mr. Men and Little Miss Christmas Mad Libs with their aunts and uncles.
And Kevin kept everyone entertained with his new remote control drone.
(I’m going to have to keep these in mind for my boys! Very fun!)
My husband took a picture of all of us before they left. This picture is just missing my brother Sean and my sister Jamie, who both live on the East coast. Hopefully someday we will all have the opportunity to be together again.
Twelve Days of Christmas Instagram Recap
Today is my husband’s first day back to work following his vacation, I have some Chicken Tikka Masala simmering in the crock pot for today’s traditional feast of Epiphany, and we are easing back into a partial school week following our much needed two-week break.
I don’t even know where to start with all the blog posts that I’d love to write but I think I’ll just ease back into blogging with another Instagram Recap from our Twelve Days of Christmas!
January 5th – On the 12th Day of Christmas:
Twelve Days of Christmas Appetizers, Desserts, and Family Game Night!
We are still celebrating Christmas and just added another ornament to our tree! I’m headed to the kitchen now to start preparing this year’s Twelve Days of Christmas Dinner Party… Happy Twelfth Night!
January 4th – On the 11th Day of Christmas:
“Mommy! I the KING!”
January 3rd – On the 10th Day of Christmas:
Ignoring my to-do list, starting another beautiful puzzle, and enjoying every moment of these last few days of our Christmas break!
January 2nd – On the 9th Day of Christmas:
I don’t believe in coincidences and always love noticing the little reminders of God’s love and presence in my life. Many times in my past He has used special dates and feast dates to remind me that He has a plan and that “all things work for good for those who love God.” It brought tears to my eyes (but I wasn’t at all surprised) when the Saint Name Generator created by @jenniferfulwiler gave me St. John Neumann as my personal patron saint for 2015. His feast day is coming up on January 5th, my original due date for our last baby, Anthony, who I miscarried this past June 13th. God is good! I’m looking forward to this new year and seeing what He has in store for our family.#stjohnneumann #orapronobis
January 1st – On the 8th Day of Christmas:
Yesterday we took our children sledding for New Year’s Eve! 2014 was such a challenging year for our family, from start to finish, and this was such a nice way to end the year. {additional pictures here}
Love this guy! #soblessed {and, yes, I’m totally trying to hide my braces… has it been six months yet?!}

Following Father’s advice at Mass this morning, Sean and I spent some time together this afternoon enjoying the sunshine… It was so nice to walk the greenway and discuss our family resolutions. Happy New Year!
December 31st – On the 7th Day of Christmas:
Last sunset of the year… Goodbye 2014!
December 30th – On the 6th Day of Christmas:
We came home to some very happy kiddos and a darling gingerbread house! Thanks for babysitting, Julianna!
Floor seating at a local Japanese restaurant… It’s such a treat to have one of my little sisters babysit tonight so Sean and I could take our oldest two out to dinner and a movie!
December 29th – On the 5th Day of Christmas:
I ❤ puzzles
Baking a Orange Rum Zum Cake in a Cathedral bundt pan for today’s feast of St. Thomas Becket {and resisting the urge to drink the rest of that bottle of rum, or at least a few shots!}
It turned out SO good! I haven’t posted the recipe yet, but I found it in The Cake Mix Doctor.
December 26th-28th – On 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Day of Christmas:
I didn’t post on Instagram and only picked up my camera once during these three days of Christmas… Not like me at all, but they were some very emotionally difficult days for me which included the memorial of an old friend at a local Christian church and conversations with people I hadn’t seen or even spoken with in nearly 18 years. Thank you all for the prayers, they were such a blessing!
December 27th – Building his Christmas gift, the Lego Creator Pet Shop!
December 25th – On the 1st Day of Christmas:
I can’t remember the last time I’ve had nine of my siblings over at the same time! (Just 2 of the 12 of us missing – wish you were here too Sean and Jamie!) My kids are in heaven visiting with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and a couple cousins! Merry Christmas!
Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!

You can follow me on Instagram here.
If you’d like to share your own Instagram Recap from the 12 Days of Christmas (or just a photo recap if you are not on Instagram!) I’d love to see your pictures! You can add the direct link to your post below and please include a link back to this post.
Sledding on New Year’s Eve
Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!
Instagram Recap
On Saturday evening, after a fun filled day with my family at the end of our “birthday week”, we went out to dinner with friends and I was telling them that I felt like I was finally turning a corner. My energy seemed to be starting to return and the painful rash I’ve been fighting for the past six months, since my miscarriage last June, seems to be healing. I was so excited for our Christmas break to begin! When I got in the car and charged my phone I had urgent messages from the mother of an old friend of mine asking me to call as soon as possible… Since then it has been a flood of emotions, tears, and memories from the past. My husband and I will be attending his funeral next Saturday. So many people are experiencing so much heartache and pain. Be sure to remember them in your prayers during this most blessed time of the year!
December 20th:
Andrew (the older brother of one of our godsons, and godbrother to one of our boys) did such a great job!#teenmusicaltheater #achristmascarol
Our boys are the two in the blue… It was such a fun game to watch! Their team just won 12 to 6!
Another Saturday morning at The Rrrink! This little guy’s hockey game is over (the goalie was having a bad day and their team lost 3 to 10!) and now we are watching the older boys play! Last game of the year… Our Christmas break officially begins this afternoon!
“Happy Birthday to youuu…” that was as far as we got before he leaned over and quickly blew out all three candles with one little blow! Hahahaha! This little boy loves candles and has been practicing all Advent – in fact, he beat his sister to some of her own candles on Monday! Of course we relit them so we could finish singing and he could blow them out once (or twice) again!
December 18th:
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
#oantiphons #catholic #advent #catholiccuisine #gingerbreadhousecookies #madebythegirls #stillneedtobedecorated
Made with this cookie cutter and decorated the next morning.
December 17th:
O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.
December 16th:
I finally had a chance to look through the photos from the feast of St. Nicholas and post some on the blog! I had a hard time choosing which of the pics to post of our littlest one on his Daddy’s shoulders, so I’m posting the other here!
December 13th:
I just finished watching the Nutcracker Ballet with my three girls for their first time! It’s late, especially for my littlest one, but she loved the performance! Half way through Act I she leaned over and whispered “Can I have a Nutcracker Birthday?!?” (Her birthday is Monday and I was out late last night grocery shopping and buying supplies for a completely different theme- which I know she will love!) Then, during the Peacock/Arabian dance in Act II, she leaned over and said “I really wish I could have a peacock costume!” (The first gift she has asked for!) Now THAT I can do! I just happen to have a whole peacock outfit – costume, tights, wings, wand, and headband- thanks to the Gymboree clearance sales after Halloween! I can’t wait to give it to her! And maybe I can come up with some “Nutcracker” fun for during the upcoming Christmas season!
Sean took all the younger children home from Hockey so I could take this quickly growing teen of ours shopping for some new clothes! It’s so nice to spend some time with just him.
“Mommy, hold me!” It’s freezing cold here at the rink… I think it’s time to move to the fireside room for the rest of the boys game!
Darkness shall soon depart From vale and mountain She brings good news to us Light like a fountain Soon day shall rise anew Day-star is coming In skies of rosy hue Salvation’s dawning Maiden so sweet and fair, Bright candles in your hair, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Happy Santa Lucia Day!
I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed lately and Thursdays are especially full from start to finish. I’m not complaining and it’s totally worth it, but homeschooling all these kids is HARD work! In between piano lessons and taking the 7 year old to the dentist I picked up a coffee to help get me through the rest of the day. I’m not sure what I love more… My favorite Coconut Milk Annihilator or the lid! #thanksforthepeptalk
Happy 3rd Birthday Bud!
Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas :: 2014
Each year our celebration of the feast of St. Nicholas looks a little different, but some things always stay the same… The children always wake up to their slippers or shoes filled with treats and receive new Christmas books! Last year we stayed home all day enjoying the snow (completely unaware that we would soon be without running water for six days due to freezing pipes!), this year the weather was much warmer and we spent most of the day enjoying activities outside of our home. Of course I have some pictures to share with you all!











































































































































































































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