Target is offering $25 off when you spend $100 on toys & games or save $10 when you spend $50 + more savings when stacked with other toy offers! (Legos excluded) Get those toys checked off your holiday shopping lists. But hurry before the most wanted toys sell out. See the deal here: goto.target.com/P9PJz (affiliate link)
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Grab Bag and Hostess Gifts They Will Actually Want to Keep!
Grab Bags are notoriously hard gift exchanges to buy for and sometimes you just can’t give another bottle of wine to the party host. Whether you are buying for coworkers, relatives or neighbors, we have some great ideas for you. 🛍️ This post contains affiliate links– thank you for supporting us.
Award Winning Canadian Escuminac Extra Rare Maple Syrup – I don’t know a single soul who doesn’t enjoy maple syrup on something. From pancakes to candied bacon, real quality Maple Syrup is always a winner. https://amzn.to/33I2mIz
YETI 14 oz. Rambler Mug – Dishwasher safe and keeps my tea warm for hours? Yes, pleassssee! dicks-sporting-goods.ryvx.net/4DD1M
Royal Rose Syrups Organic Moscow Mule Kit (or any of their simple syrups, really) – Whether it’s for cocktails, mocktails or even for drizzling on desserts, simple syrup is a fun & versatile gift idea! http://shrsl.com/1ztu0
Tea Drops Gift Set – This tea is shaped in cute little drops that can be added to your hot water, no tea bags or strainer necessary! The wooden box also adds to the gift appeal! https://amzn.to/2qhuwg5
Marble and Wood Serving Board – Present your artisan cheeses in style and leave the host this gorgeous serving board. goto.target.com/P9Dqj
Natural Agate Slice Napkin Rings – Do people still use cloth napkins? I do and I would love to use these napkin rings! https://amzn.to/2DQVezm
Urban Accents BUTCHER SHOP Gourmet Grilling Spice Rub Gift Set – For the grill master in your life. https://amzn.to/2r865lP
Acacia & Gold Metal Coasters – You can never go wrong with coasters, especially these. The gorgeous modern design adds a fresh take to any decor. goto.target.com/XAevG
Cheeky Oven Mitts – If you want a truly unique gift, check out the fun and cheeky oven mitts over at Perpetual Kid. http://shrsl.com/200k2
Geometric Drinking Glasses – I am in love with these drinking glasses! They are a classic gift, but their geometric design gives them an interesting twist! https://amzn.to/2Lq6IOd
Aromatherapy Shower Bombs – Not everyone wants to take a bath, but everyone does want to relax. Just pop these little tablets in the bottom of the shower and they vaporize into a relaxing aromatherapy experience! https://amzn.to/2PlFCJg
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HelloFresh Review ~ Family Meal Box
Yummy, this family loves HelloFresh! Read further for our full HelloFresh Review.
This is our second time trying HelloFresh, 2 years ago we decided to get their meal delivery boxes after we found Blue Apron to be lacking in family friendly meals. They did deliver to our small town in Maine but the ‘fresh’ in HelloFresh was lacking and we had to cancel.
Fast forward 2 years and we found the need to try meal delivery again so we decided to give HelloFresh another go. We chose them because of their family friendly meal options. Our two girls aren’t super picky but they can’t handle spice and prefer comfort food.
HelloFresh Review
I was very happy to see all of the changes they made. You can choose from MANY different meal options each week instead of just a handful. Their delivery is spot on and everything has been arriving very fresh. We have had a few leaky chicken and salmon packages but customer service is very slick and we have been issued credits quickly.
The most impressive thing are the meals themselves. They are super flavorful and easy to adapt for children who prefer less spice or no sauce… or their veggies untouched by seasoning. There are audible “This is sooo good”, “Mom, I LOVE this!” and “This is the best meal ever.”
Meal Cards vs. Actual Meals
Below I have taken some meal card vs. actual meal shots. My presentation isn’t great but you get the idea. My kids favorite is the Crispy Parmesan Chicken and my husband loves all the burgers and the Tunisian-Spiced Meatballs.
Tips on Picking a Recipe
Tip: On every recipe you can see the approximate time it takes to cook and prep! You can choose a quicker meal for the weekday and something that takes a little longer for the weekend. If you can cook uninterrupted and know how to prep foods quickly these times are fairly accurate. If not, they may take a little longer. Getting the timing right takes a little practice – once you get going on a recipe there isn’t much room to stop so plan accordingly. Distract your kids with an activity so you can cook!
Check out our other Subscription Box Reviews
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HelloFresh Review / Recipe Card vs. Reality
Yummy, this family loves HelloFresh!
This is our second time trying HelloFresh, 2 years ago we decided to get their meal delivery boxes after we found Blue Apron to be lacking in family friendly meals. They did deliver to our small town in Maine but the ‘fresh’ in Hello Fresh was lacking and we had to cancel.
Fast forward 2 years and we found the need to try meal delivery again so we decided to give HelloFresh another go. We chose them because of their family friendly meal options. Our two girls aren’t super picky but they can’t handle spice and prefer comfort food.
I was very happy to see all of the changes they made. You can choose from MANY different meal options each week instead of just a handful. Their delivery is spot on and everything has been arriving very fresh. We have had a few leaky chicken and salmon packages but customer service is very slick and we have been issued credits quickly. The most impressive thing are the meals themselves. They are super flavorful and easy to adapt for children who prefer less spice or no sauce… or their veggies untouched by seasoning. There are audible “This is sooo good”, “Mom, I LOVE this!” and “This is the best meal ever.”
Below I have taken some meal card vs. actual meal shots. My presentation isn’t great but you get the idea. My kids favorite is the Crispy Parmesan Chicken and my husband loves all the burgers and the Tunisian-Spiced Meatballs.
Tip: On every recipe you can see the approximate time it takes to cook and prep! You can choose a quicker meal for the weekday and something that takes a little longer for the weekend. If you can cook uninterrupted and know how to prep foods quickly these times are fairly accurate. If not, they may take a little longer. Getting the timing right takes a little practice – once you get going on a recipe there isn’t much room to stop so plan accordingly. Distract your kids with an activity so you can cook!
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HOT DEAL! LOL Dolls on Sale TODAY – check this off your Christmas List!
🔥 HOT DEAL! Amazon Deal of the Day – Save up to 40% on select L.O.L Surprise!, Poopsie and More. See all the deals at our affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/2QVeiE3
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Quick & Easy Spicy Chicken and Bacon Pasta
If you like spice or tomatoes, this is the recipe for you! A light sauce packed with flavor combined with earthy mushrooms and salty bacon makes this a meal that hits the spot each and every time I make it. This is also a great recipe to make quickly with a grocery store rotisserie chicken!
For my kids who don’t like anything spicy, well they don’t like tomatoes either, so they get noodles with some of the chicken I save before it goes in the sauce and parmesan.
Spicy Chicken & Bacon Pasta
Ingredients:
- 1 16 oz. box of pasta (I prefer farfalle, but penne or rotini will work)
- 1/2 small white onion, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes
- 8 oz fresh, sliced mushrooms
- 1 pre-cooked chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces (I try to make my life easier and use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store)
- 4 – 6 pieces cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1-2 tsp of crushed red pepper – or more/less depending on how spicy you like it.
- A handful of chopped basil
- Parmesan cheese to taste
Directions:
Bring water to a boil in a pot and add the pasta. Follow directions on the box for recommended water and cooking time for al dente pasta. While the pasta is cooking, get started on the sauce, but make sure to stir the pasta every now and then.
Next, on a stove, bring a large pan to medium heat. Add about two tablespoons of olive oil to the pan followed by the chopped onions and minced garlic. Stir and saute until the onions are semi-transparent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue to stir for about 2 more minutes. Finally, add the tomatoes, chicken, basil, crushed red pepper and crumbled bacon.
Let the sauce heat through for about 5 minutes. When the noodles are done, drain but save about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Add a small amount of the saved pasta water to the sauce if it gets too thick in the pan. You may not need to add any.
Put a serving of pasta on each plate, layer on the pasta sauce from the pan and finally add some parmesan to top it off. Now, eat till your hearts content. I know I will!
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Make your Christmas Picture Perfect with Matching Family Pajamas!
Matching Family Pajamas
There is nothing more picturesque than waking up on Christmas morning, sitting in front of the tree and opening gifts in festive, matching pajamas. If I could order a light snowfall just outside the window I would add that too. Since I can’t order snow, at least I can get the PJs. Get yours now before they sell out, last year I couldn’t find my husband’s size anywhere because I waited too long! See them all at our affiliate link here: goto.target.com/23nng
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Alex Brand Toys on Sale Today! Get your Holiday shopping done early!
🛍️ This post contains affiliate links– thank you for supporting us.
Need Kids Holiday Gift Ideas?
Today’s Amazon Deal of the Day is on Alex Brand toys including science kits! If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know how much we love giving science kits as gifts. They are a super fun way to gift an experience for kids and make great holiday gifts. Check out all the details here: https://amzn.to/37gGPtA
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Yes, you CAN wear leggings to Thanksgiving!
Get comfy for the Holidays! Seriously, make your life a little easier this year. Dress it up a little with faux leather leggings or throw one of these tunics over a pair of comfy fleece leggings and curl up on the couch with a hot toddy. 🛍️ This post contains affiliate links– thank you for supporting us.
Stretchy Faux Leather Leggings – https://amzn.to/33RFmrI
Comfy High Waist Fleece Leggings – https://amzn.to/2Kqvs8K
Animal Print Pullover Sweater – https://amzn.to/32OyUjQ
Roll-Tab Sleeve Tunic – https://amzn.to/2XhneVF
Knit Loose Swing Tunic – https://amzn.to/2Xehn3v
Oversized Chenille Sweater Tunic – https://amzn.to/2CIXhot
Poncho Shawl Cardigan – https://amzn.to/2Oh7VIe
Cable Knit Pullover Sweater – https://amzn.to/373saC9
A New Day™ Long Sleeve V-Neck Tunic – http://goto.target.com/Qg5jP
Women’s Long Sleeve V-Neck Woven Tunic – A New Day – goto.target.com/93XLy
Casual Tie Waist Mini Dress – https://amzn.to/2KndjbS
Poncho Turtleneck Sweater – https://amzn.to/2XkgZ3h
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Pumpkin Bird Feeder – Fun Fall Family Activity
Every year around the end of September a few of us go to a pumpkin farm where they have a flat fee to fill your trunk with pumpkins. Seriously, as many as you can fit in the trunk of your car. Even after splitting it with one or two other families I still have roughly 30 pumpkins of all different sizes lining my front steps and porch. After carving a few for Halloween and putting smaller pumpkins on my mantle for Thanksgiving decorations, I STILL have more than a few left.
So, when I saw a pumpkin bird feeder how-to video created by Audubon.org online I thought it would be the perfect way to use up one or two more of my fall pumpkins. Whether you are just looking for a way to get rid of a pumpkin or you are looking for a fun fall activity for your family, give this bird feeder a try!
I linked the original video and directions above. Here is what we did:
Pumpkin Bird Feeder:
First, we chose a smaller pumpkin, one that wouldn’t be too heavy. I cut it in half and then let my kids scoop out all the seeds.
Next, I used bamboo skewers. I slowly and carefully twisted and pushed them through each side of the pumpkin to make perches for the birds. This part was a little difficult and needed some force.
Once the skewers were secure, we needed to add some twine/string to hang the pumpkin with. My daughters cut four pieces of some-what equal length and we tied them all together. In the video the instructions are to use a push-pin to secure the knot of twine to the bottom of the pumpkin. I didn’t have a pushpin, so I wrapped the twine a few times around the skewers. I made sure the twine came up each side of the pumpkin so it would hang evenly. Finally, I tied the four pieces of twine at the top.
That’s it! Now just add bird seed and hang! I hung mine off a shepherds hook, it was a little heavy and we have tons of squirrels in our yard. (Not that the squirrels can’t climb a shepherds hook, but it does last a little longer this way before they can gorge themselves like they’re Joey at Thanksgiving dinner and they’re wearing maternity pants.) Have fun bird watching!
Update: The pumpkin feeder is still up a week later, although covered in snow here in Chicagoland, and it is not showing any signs of rotting. Maybe it’s frozen, but it seems to be holding up well. We’ll see how it does once the snow eventually melts.
Today I need a... 