Masshole Mommy

Salsa Verde Pork Chops

Feb 112019

If you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner idea, these salsa verde pork chops are the answer. This recipe can be made quickly and it's delicious!

My mom was one of the best cooks in the world. You have no idea how much I miss her home-cooked dinners sometimes. As most of you know, I lost her in 2017 and while most of her recipes live on, it’s just not the same. But as much as I loved her cooking, there were a few things she made that I just could not stand. She made this horrible apricot chicken dish that I nicknamed “yucken” when I was a kid -and the name just sort of stuck. Another thing I just didn’t like when I was a kid were pork chops. No matter how she made them, it took everything I had not to gag over every bite.

Now that I’m an adult, I understand that it’s a texture issue, but as a kid I just thought pork chops were gross. Speaking of being an adult, we all know that means you have to do things you don’t like sometimes and since I want my kids to at least TRY new foods, I made pork for dinner recently. I ended up finding this recipe for Salsa Verde Pork Chops, so I made it.

Salsa Verde Pork Chops

If you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner idea, these salsa verde pork chops are the answer. This recipe can be made quickly and it's delicious!
Continue reading »

The New England Boat Show is Coming to Boston THIS WEEKEND!

Feb 042019

It’s that time of year again…time for the New England Boat Show that is. My husband is obsessed with boats so attending the boat show is an annual tradition for us. This year the New England Boat show is in Boston from February 9-17, 2019, so be sure to make some time to get to over there to visit while the event is going on. The New England Boat Show attracts over 50,000 marine enthusiasts of all ages and definitley has something for everyone.

Here’s are some of the things you can expect at the 2019 Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show this year: Continue reading »

Fitness Hacks for Busy Moms

Feb 042019

Here are a few easy fitness hacks for busy moms so that you can get everything done while building that muscle tone as well!

Being a busy mom means that you end up putting everyone else before your own needs or wants. Well, that’s not any way to live life, but alas, it’s the life of busy moms everywhere. Even though you’re a busy mom, it’s still important to squeeze in some fitness during your busy days. Today I’m featuring some fitness hacks for busy moms so that you can get everything done while building that muscle tone too.

5 Fitness Hacks for Busy Moms

Brushing Teeth Wall Sit

You’re supposed to brush your teeth for 2 minutes twice a day, right?! Will utilize this time to sneak in a little fitness. While you’re brushing your teeth do wall sits. Simply place your back against the wall, lower yourself into a “sitting position”, without a chair, and hold that pose for the entire 2 minutes of teeth brushing. Depending on how fit you are, you may not be able to do the full 2 minutes at first, but you’ll work your way up in no time. Continue reading »

Crockpot Turtle Brownies

Jan 282019

Looking for an easy dessert idea? Try these Crockpot Turtle Brownies. This recipe is really easy to make and the brownies come out all gooey and delicious.

When it comes to making desserts, I don’t like to make things that are too complicated. I could sit here and tell you it’s because I’m such a busy mom and I don’t have time to make anything too involved, but the truth is I’m lazy. I definitely prefer to just throw a few things together and make something real quick. Or grab an ice cream sandwich from the freezer….

But you know that sometimes you want more than a boring old ice cream sandwich.

I actually discovered recently that I could use my crockpot to make things other than dinners, so I have been going a little crazy trying all sorts of desserts in my crockpot. Did you know that you could make desserts in your crockpot? It’s kind of the best thing ever! Anyhow, these Crockpot Turtle Brownies are so easy to make, and trust me, they are super delicious. They are perfect for us lazy dessert makers.

Crockpot Turtle Brownies

College Bound…..Or Not?

Jan 242019

My son is in his junior year of high school; the time when teenagers are looking at colleges, taking SATs, and thinking about their future. Teachers, parents, and grandparent expect that their kids will go to college, but let’s be honest…. college isn’t for everyone. Somehow that gets forgotten. Don’t get me wrong…I value education. I am halfway through my Master of Science in Nursing program. I wish my son wanted to go to college, but he doesn’t….and that’s okay.

I have always stressed the value of an education to him, whether it be college or a trade school. We spent time talking about how you have to have a marketable skill. How a job making minimum wage is not enough to support himself on. Do I wish he had this overwhelming desire to be a doctor? Of course, but he doesn’t.

Unfortunately for him, his high school doesn’t seem ok with it. He has to research colleges and write papers on them. Some classes are spent going to school sponsored college fairs. It was stressing him out to the point that he was afraid to tell me that he didn’t want to go to college, and I am not okay with that. I never want him to be afraid to tell me something. Continue reading »

Easy Cake Mix Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Jan 212019

Impress Your Friends with these Red Velvet Whoopie Pies! A box of cake mix, some flour and a tub of frosting are the only things you need to make this delicious recipe!

I was cleaning out my cabinets recently and came across a box of red velvet cake mix. I don’t even remember buying it to be honest, but it was getting close to the expiration date so I figured I better use it up before it went bad. I originally thought about making cupcakes out of it, but when I went grocery shopping a tub of cream cheese frosting caught my eye and all of the sudden a light bulb went off. I was going to use the cake mix to whip up some yummy Red Velvet Whoopie Pies.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Impress Your Friends with these Red Velvet Whoopie Pies! A box of cake mix, some flour and a tub of frosting are the only things you need to make this delicious recipe!

Here’s what you need:

1 box of Red Velvet cake mix
1/2 Cup of Flour
Tub of Cream Cheese frosting

Printable Lucky Duck Valentine’s Day Cards

Jan 152019

Knock Valentine's Day out of the park this year with these printable Lucky Duck Valentine's Day Cards. Your kids are sure to impress their friends at school when they hand these out during their classroom valentine exchange!

Valentine’s Day is coming up quick. Seriously, it will be here before we know it. This is my youngest’s last year in elementary school, which means that I only have one chance left to knock it out of the park with some killer valentines for him to hand out to his classmates at school. Lucky for him, I came up with these Printable Lucky Duck Valentine’s Day Cards to pass out to his friends in school. I am really happy with the way they came out and I know my son’s classmates are going to love them!

Printable Lucky Duck Valentine’s Day Cards

S’mores Layered Cupcakes

Jan 102019

For a fun fun twist on a classic dessert, try this s'mores layered cupcakes recipe! Just as delicious, but without the sticky mess of regular s'mores.

I was in a baking mood today and ended up whipping up some S’mores Layered Cupcakes. I love s’mores, but I don’t love the mess they make when I am eating them (sticky marshmallow all over my hands is so ew), so here is my twist on a classic. Plus, who doesn’t love a good cupcake?

S’mores Layered Cupcakes

For a fun fun twist on a classic dessert, try this s'mores layered cupcakes recipe! Just as delicious, but without the sticky mess of regular s'mores.
Continue reading »

Best Winter Destinations in New England

Jan 072019

Looking for things to do in New England during the winter time? Here is a list of great destinations to visit during the cold months.

It’s the winter season and you’re probably looking for some fun places to be and things to do out in New England. It’s hard to find some ideas for things to do in the winter time because of how harsh the New England winters can be, and all you want to do is hibernate indoors sometimes. But no matter how long you want to spend outside this season, here are some great winter destinations in New England in case you feel like exploring this snowy time.

Explore some art – New Haven Connecticut
Yale in New Haven Connecticut sounds boring to explore for a snowy day. But a tour of the location can be absolutely stunning and a great pastime! The Yale Center for British Art and Yale University Art Gallery have stunning art to see while you’re exploring. These are considered some of the finest art museums in all of New England, you wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity like that. Continue reading »

Experiencing a Jr. Celtics Gameday Clinic

Dec 262018

If you know my 14 year old in real life, you already know that he’s OBSESSED with The Celtics. My youngest is a basketball fan, too, but JD lives and breathes for The Celts. Just imagine how pumped they were to have been invited back to participate in a Jr. Celtics Gameday Clinic for a 2nd year in a row! You can read all about our experience last year here. We went this past Sunday and I want to tell you all about it.

A Jr. Celtics Gameday Clinic is an unforgettable experience for young basketball fans. Learn what it means to "be a Celtic" on the court of the TD Garden.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Jr. Celtics program, it’s a series of clinics in Boston (at the Garden and the Auerbach Center) that teaches young kids the core values of Boston Celtics Basketball as part of its mission to improve healthy youth development in the Boston community through basketball programs. Programs include Basketball Clinics, Coaches Clinics, Leagues, Tournaments and Summer Camps. Kids learn things like how to improve their skills, how to become a better teammate and to perform like a champion. Jr. Celtics provides opportunities for all ages and skill levels. Continue reading »

Reese’s Puffs Waffles

Dec 192018

Reese's Puffs Waffles for Breakfast is an Awesome way to start your day!

I have been on a cereal-waffle kick lately and Reese’s Puffs Waffles are my latest creation. I made Froot Loops waffles and Cinnamon Toast Crunch Waffles recently and since we had a box of Reese’s Puffs in the house, I decided to make Reese’s Puffs Waffles out of them. I am all for getting creative with my waffles or pancakes, but since waffles seem to be a bit more popular in my house, I tend to lean towards making waffles over pancakes. My kids agree.

Reese’s Puffs Waffles

I honestly don’t know why I didn’t making cereal infused foods sooner. I love a good bowl of cereal with milk, but guess what? They are even better when they are mixed into a waffle or even a milkshake. Try it.

DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments

Dec 172018

These DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments are an easy way to make some fun new ornaments for your tree this year. Get creative and decorate them however you like!

My Christmas tree is pretty eclectic. It’s filled with homemade ornaments and ornaments we’ve picked up along the way during our travels. I love that we bring out our crazy mix of ornaments year after year and the whole family loves to reminisce when we pull each one out. Since many of our ornaments are from places we’ve traveled, they are not all “Christmasy” necessarily. I decided to make a few DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments to add into our collection this year and I think they will fit in perfectly with the homemade ornaments we have.

DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments

These DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments are an easy way to make some fun new ornaments for your tree this year. Get creative and decorate them however you like!

Painted Clothespin Wreath

Dec 122018

If you are looking for a festive DIY Christmas decoration, try making a Painted Clothespin Wreath! It's easy to make, doesn't cost much & seriously cute.

I love everything about Christmas. The music, the decorations, the shopping, the parties…..I love every bit of it. Speaking of Christmas decorations, I have more than the average person. I have a weakness when it comes to decorating my house for Christmas and year after year I keep adding to the collection. Lately I have been into making homemade decorations. When I helped clean out my parent’s attic after my mom passed, I ended up walking out with a bunch of stuff that I saved from going to the dump. One of the things I saved was a bag of clothespins and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. Make a Painted Clothespin Wreath. I’ve seen them all over the internet and I was excited to make one of my own.

Painted Clothespin Wreath

Here’s what you need:

58 clothes pins
10 inch single wire wreath form
Green Paint – or paint of your choice
Foam Paint Brush

painted clothespin wreath

Here’s what you do:
1. Paint the faces of each clothes pin. Continue reading »

Simple DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

Dec 102018

Have some fun this year and take the stress of buying gifts out of the mix. Make some simple DIY Christmas gifts that everyone will love.

The holiday season can be a magical time of year. But when the thought of gift giving comes to mind, it can add some stress into the mix. Have some fun and take the stress of gifts out, and make some simple DIY Christmas gifts that everyone will love. These gifts are great for neighbors, family, co-workers and anyone else you want to give a small gift to.

For me, homemade gifts show you took time and thought about that person. I have gathered some of my favorite gift ideas for the holidays! If you have kids, they might even want to join in and help make these gifts!

15 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

Magic Reindeer Food| This is an adorable gift that kids will especially love. You create a little mix of ingredients and sprinkle it outdoors for the reindeer to eat while Santa drops present off. Comes with an adorable printable.

Nail Polish Swirl Coffee Mugs| Know someone who enjoys sipping on coffee or tea? Head to your dollar store and pick up supplies for this simple craft, and create a one-of-a-kind mug.

Rib Rub| If you have someone who enjoys grilling, make a homemade rib rub that will be the perfect blend of spices for their juicy ribs! Continue reading »

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Dec 032018

Wow your holiday guests with these Hot Chocolate Cupcakes! They are easy to make and will surely be everyone's favorite dessert at Christmas dinner!

I am hosting Christmas dinner this year at my house. I’m not going to lie, I am not really looking forward to it, but it’s happening none the less. I have been tinkering around with recipes for desserts to serve that day and ended up with these Hot Chocolate Cupcakes. They are seriously adorable and I know that all my guests are going to love them.

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Wow your holiday guests with these Hot Chocolate Cupcakes! They are easy to make and will surely be everyone's favorite dessert at Christmas dinner!

Vacation Adventures with TripAdvisor

Nov 262018

Save time and book your vacation experiences directly through Tripadvisor. They offer more than 56,000 bookable experiences in 2,500 destinations worldwide.

Whenever I am planning a vacation, whether it’s a local day trip or an actual vacation, the first place I look for information is TripAdvisor. We all go there for the reviews, right? but did you know that you can book activities and experiences directly through TripAdvisor? It’s super convenient to be able to look through all the things they offer to do in the city you’re traveling to, read reviews while you’re there AND book whatever catches your eye – all in one spot. And isn’t it better to know that your itinerary is all set before you even leave for your trip (or staycation)?

Chris and I just got back from a long weekend away in NYC and I as soon as we booked the trip, I ran right over to TripAdvisor to see what they had available for us to book. I found a bunch of stuff and thankfully I was able to narrow it down to a few that we really wanted to do and book them. All of these experiences that I booked were super easy to book online. I was able to search by date and find exactly what I wanted on the TripAdvisor site.

Save time and book your vacation experiences directly through Tripadvisor. They offer more than 56,000 bookable experiences in 2,500 destinations worldwide.

The View from inside the Oculus: The new World Trade Center Transportation Hub

Once you complete your booking through TripAdvisor, they will email you a voucher which you will present once you get to your scheduled activity. Most will accept the voucher on your phone, but a few experiences need an actual printed voucher. Don’t worry because it will say in the confirmation email (with your vouchers) if something needs to be printed. I only mention this because one of the experiences I just booked for our recent NYC trip required a printed voucher. Continue reading »

Reindeer Brownies

Nov 262018

If you need a sweet treat for all your Christmas festivities this year, try these Reindeer Brownies. They're easy to make and they'll be a huge hit!

I’ve been in a festive mood lately and have been experimenting with different desserts/sweets. I have a whole bunch of Christmas parties to go to this year (more than usual – yay, I’m popular) and wanted to be able to whip up something cute & fun for at least one or two of them. I ended up with these adorable Reindeer Brownies and they were much easier to make than you’d think.

Reindeer Brownies

If you need a sweet treat for all your Christmas festivities this year, try these Reindeer Brownies. They're easy to make and they'll be a huge hit!

Sugar Cone Cornucopias

Nov 132018

If you're looking for something fun to put on the kids table this Thanksgiving, these Sugar Cone Cornucopias will make a fun addition to your tablescape.

Even though I am full grown adult with children of my own, somehow I STILL get seated at the kids table when my family has its big holiday dinners. And that goes for dinners I host at my own house, too! Whyyyyyy? Actually, the truth is that I don’t mind at all – it’s more laid back at the kids table. Plus I don’t look as conspicuous when I spill some gravy on my shirt at the kids table as I would with the adults.

Whenever I host a family dinner I like to put out fun little decor items on the table. I think it adds a certain ambiance as opposed to just putting out the dinnerware settings. At the kids table, I like to do something fun with the table decor. These Sugar Cone Cornucopias are super simple to make, require no special skills, and you can fill them with whatever you want! Easy peasy.

Sugar Cone Cornucopias

If you're looking for something fun to put on the kids table this Thanksgiving, these Sugar Cone Cornucopias will make a fun addition to your tablescape.
Continue reading »

Donut Hole Acorns

Nov 072018

These Donut Hole Acorns area fun fall snack idea. They are an incredibly easy treat to make and are lots of fun to gobble up!

I travel every year for Thanksgiving (for fun – not to spend time with out of town family), so I usually just sort of skip over it and go right into Christmas as soon as Halloween is over. For me, the fall season basically just consists of October and I am ok with it. I mean, my heat is already on so we might as well just call it winter, right? Anyhow since I was feeling fall-y the other day (because it was 70 degrees in Boston on November 1st…..WHAT??) I decided to make some Donut Hole Acorns.

They are just what they sound like – acorns made out of donut holes (or munchkins if you’re from around these parts). They are easy to make and they’re pretty darn festive if I do say so myself.

Donut Hole Acorns

These Donut Hole Acorns area fun fall snack idea. They are an incredibly easy treat to make and are lots of fun to gobble up!
Continue reading »

Tips to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

Nov 052018

When the cold and flu hits a household, it can wipe out everyone in the entire house, so today I’m sharing some tips to stay healthy during this season.

It’s that time of year, cold and flu season! If you’re prone to getting sick or have children who go to school, chances are you’ll have to find ways to stay healthy during this season. When the cold and flu hits a household, it can wipe out everyone in the entire house, so today I’m sharing some tips for you to stay healthy during this icky season.

Take Your Supplements
Rainbow Light, an organic multivitamin brand, has you covered. You can start taking their immune boosting multivitamins NOW – right before cold and flu season. Rainbow Light multivitamins are perfect for the whole family to enjoy and I am loving that they are keeping myself, my teen and my pre-teen healthy this season.

When the cold and flu hits a household, it can wipe out everyone in the entire house, so today I’m sharing some tips to stay healthy during this season. Continue reading »

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