Is Today Your Lucky Day?
Disclosure:  This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScrubbingPower #CollectiveBias Have you ever hesitated to make a favorite dish because you knew cleanup would be a nightmare?  It's sad but facing the task of washing a lasagna pan has given me second thoughts about making lasagna.  But no more! Scotch-Brite® Scrubbing Dish Cloths to the rescue.  I first tried the new … [Read more...]
Disclosure: Thank you Tampico Beverages for sponsoring this conversation. #WaveYourFlagWithTampico Kick off summer fun on the Fourth of July!  Wave your flag with family, friends, fireworks and your favorite drink, Tampico!  We are going to be hosting a pool party to celebrate the 4th.  It's heating up in the Chicago area and the sunshine we've been waiting for is finally here.  Here are five ideas for fun pool games to play at your … [Read more...]
Disclosure: Â This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Bananamazing #CollectiveBias THE AFTER-SCHOOL PLAYDATE A play in one act CAST OF CHARACTERS MOM: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A woman trying to do her best. CHILDREN 1-5: Â Â Â Â Â Five children of various ages. ACT I, SCENE I SETTING: Â Once upon a time, mom arranged a playdate for her … [Read more...]
Disclosure: Â This shop has been compensated by Albertsons. The recipe for this post was provided to me. All opinions are mine alone. #GameDayMVP #JewelOsco #CollectiveBias It's here! Time to start thinking about where you are going to watch the BIG GAME! And, maybe just as importantly, what's on the snack menu, hehehe! Whether you will be watching at home or taking a snack to a friend's party, I have a recipe for an easy and delicious treat … [Read more...]
Disclosure: This post has been compensated by Johnsonville. All opinions are mine alone. Are you looking for... ...a dish that you can serve at your holiday meal? ... a meal to serve on Christmas Eve? ...a dish to take to a holiday dinner at someone else's house? I have the perfect thing for you! This dish not only tastes absolutely delicious but it looks beautiful. Made with loads of vegetables and new Johnsonville Naturals Sausage, … [Read more...]
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #VivaLaMorena #CollectiveBias Tamales have been made for literally thousands of years. This portable, delicious, nutritious meal-in-a-wrap is a tradition in Mexico and Central America. My daughter is Guatemalan by birth and this year I wanted to introduce her to the holiday tradition of the tamalada. A tamalada is a party to … [Read more...]
Disclosure: Â I was sent an iCoffee Opus Single Serve Brewer for review. Â All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. Bye-bye summer. It's getting chilly. Yesterday I reached for a jacket as the temperatures dropped. But inside, it's warm and cozy. Rise and Shine A feeling of warmth and comfort is reinforced with a hot, steaming, fragrant cup of hot coffee. Â Especially in the fall and winter months, coffee is a part of my … [Read more...]
Disclosure:  This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigGameSnacks #CollectiveBias It's basketball championship season!  Are you watching your favorite team like we are?  The final games are approaching and it's getting more and more exciting the closer we get to naming the #1 team in the nation.  Watching with friends and family makes it even more fun, don't you … [Read more...]
I hesitated to call this a cookbook, technically it's a "go-to-guide to making holidays, birthdays, special events, and even the everyday special". Â It includes so much more than recipes! Â I love, love, love the book, "Everyday Confetti". Â I'm a huge believer in creating positive memories by observing family traditions. Â "Everyday Confetti" has ideas galore for celebrating life with your family. Â And the ideas feel doable. Â There not … [Read more...]
This Breakfast Strata is perfect for your family's Christmas Morning or delicious party food for a Holiday Brunch.  It was easy to make and is especially great for holidays because you make it in advance.  It takes no time at all when you are your busiest, enjoying family or guests. When I was going through the adoption process, I started planning for the day when we would celebrating holidays with a child.  I wanted to be creating warm, … [Read more...]
The holidays are coming! Will you be ready? What do the holidays mean to you? Family Parties Celebrations Food Fun For most of us, we will be cooking and entertaining for our family and friends over the holiday season. Â Whether it's entertaining four guests on Thanksgiving; forty guests on Christmas; or somewhere in between, we rely on our appliances to prep holiday food. We're going to have my cousin visiting from … [Read more...]
Fall means football! We watch football games starting on Friday night high school games to Sunday afternoon with the NFL. Â Usually family or friends join us, and that means a party! Â Grilled meats are the favorites for our tailgate football party recipes and this past Sunday, we got in the "Orange and Blue" mood with the Chicago Bears. Â I'm partnering with Florida Orange Juice and they sent me a recipe for a delicious marinade to use when … [Read more...]
Are you ready for some football? It's TAILGATE TIME! Our family loves football - from Friday night high school games to the pros on Sunday. Â Fall weekends are filled with football. Â And what is football without tailgating parties, right? Â Whether you in the stadium lot or home watching on the big screen football is a great reason to gather friends and enjoy some delicious food. Â Join me for a tailgate party! The Quarterback Recipe - … [Read more...]
I love going to the International Home + Housewares Show. Â It is incredible to see all the new, fun, creative, beautiful, amazing products for your home. I am committed to juicing and having healthy smoothies. Â The forces (my friend at Healthy Heyday, No Boundaries, Â New Balance, runDisney, and my friend Giselle) have come together to convince me that it's time! Â There were two juicers/blenders that stood out for me. Â The first is the … [Read more...]
How do you celebrate decorating your Christmas tree? Â I like to have a Tree Decorating Party - even if it's just my family. Â This year, we invited my mom to party with us (and by "party", I mean "help")! It's not a party around here unless you have food and music. Â I put on the Christmas station and then popped some holiday appetizers in the oven. Â Rich's SeaPak Spring Rolls are super easy but look like you cooked all day, they even make … [Read more...]
I made that Fruit Cheesecake Stack! Â Wow! The Stackable Appetizer Maker made me look like I knew what I was doing *grin*. The first time I saw this kitchen gadget , the Stackable Appetizer Maker, was at the Chicago Housewares Show. Â I was amazed at how easy it was to make amazing looking appetizers and desserts. Â You don't have to be a chef to make treats for your next party that will have your guests asking you how you did it! I saw … [Read more...]