Food, Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Zulay Organic Matcha Mania {Giveaway}

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Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I have come across many interesting recipes that use matcha powder, but I have never actually tried cooking with it. Zulay Kitchen recently sent me a bag of their Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder. This matcha powder is 100% USDA organic, and is made from matcha tea leaves grown and harvested in Japan. I had some fun experimenting in the kitchen and went a little matcha-crazy!

Iced Matcha Latte

The first recipe I tried was for an iced matcha latte. If you are a fan of Green Tea Frappuccinos, you will appreciate this at-home alternative. To make an iced matcha latte, simply whisk or blend 12 oz. milk (or milk alternative), 2 t. matcha powder, and 2-3 t. simple syrup. Pour over ice, makes 2 servings. For a thicker drink, you could blend the mixture with the ice.

Matcha is known for its metabolism-enhancing, immunity-boosting and stress-reducing properties. Our matcha is gentle to digest and intended to help boost your body with an all-natural kick of energy.

I personally experienced the “all-natural kick of energy” from this iced matcha latte during an afternoon slump. I felt like it gave me mental clarity, and I did not feel jittery. (Please accept this as my own personal experience and not a sweeping health or medical claim of any kind!)

I also made a slightly fancier Strawberry Matcha Latte. Layer chopped strawberries on the bottom, milk in the middle and top with matcha whipped cream (whip together 1/4 c. whipping cream, 2 t. sugar, 1/2 t. vanilla, then add 2 tsp. matcha powder).

Mini Matcha Coconut Mochi

I made these cute treats using this recipe from Wild Wild Whisk. They turned out well. The matcha flavor comes through but is not overpowering. I want to make matcha cheesecake next!

Matcha Crispy Rice Treats

These Matcha Crispy Rice Treats (trying to avoid using other brand names) are so simple to make. Just follow the normal recipe you find on the cereal box or marshmallow bag and stir 3 T. of Zulay matcha powder into the marshmallow and butter mixture. The natural green color would be festive for Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day!

Where To Purchase Zulay Organic Matcha

Zulay Organic Matcha Giveaway

Enter to win a package of Zulay Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder!

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Giveaways, House, National Parks, Reviews, Sponsored

Beautify Your Walls With National Park Posters

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Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Some of our best family memories have been made while visiting the National Parks. We have visited 25 National Parks as a family so far, and we hope to continue to add to our list. I love the idea of decorating your home in a way that evokes memories. Therefore, I am so excited about the stunning National Park artwork available at National Park Posters.

Yosemite, Yellowstone and Zion are some of our all-time favorite National Parks! Love how these posters bring back wonderful family memories every time I look at them.

Robert B. Decker is the artist behind these beautiful works of art. Decker is a photographer and graphic artist who had the amazing opportunity to study under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was only 19 years old! His love for the national parks shines through all of the details.

The vintage style of these National Park posters is so cool. They are inspired by the iconic WPA artwork of the 1930s and 40s. Even my husband, who usually does not really express his opinions about interior design, was impressed. Each numbered, signed and dated poster is printed on a 100% recycled stock with soy based inks. These posters would make a thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates the outdoors.

It is also nice to know that National Park Posters donates 10 percent of profits to help the organizations, trusts, conservancies and associations that support the National Parks.

Where to Purchase National Park Posters

All of Robert B. Decker’s posters, canvas prints, postcards and artist proofs can be purchased through his National Park Posters website. Currently, there are some really great summer BOGO discounts being offered! You can also sign up for the e-mail club and receive all the latest news, sales, etc.

National Park Posters Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a National Park Poster of your choice. I will be picking two winners!

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Family Field Trips, Movies

Movie Theater Alternatives During a Pandemic

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With movie theaters closed, we have been trying out different alternatives to have the movie-going experience here in Orange County.

The first one we did was a couple of weeks ago during Free Family Movie Night at The District at Tustin Legacy. Thy set up socially distant tables in the plaza in front of the movie theater and assign each household a different table. Tickets need to be reserved online. I signed us up for E.T., which would not have been my first choice of movie. However, the date just worked for us because it was the Thursday before the Fourth of July so D did not have work the next day. The movie started around 8:15, but we did not stay for the whole thing. (Although the kids had never seen this movie before, we have yet felt motivated to finish the movie on our own). Patrons are encouraged to pick up food at one of the nearby restaurants and dine while they watch the movie. n had soccer practice right before, and it was too late for us to wait to eat, so we just shared a couple of boba drinks as our movie snack.

There was a DJ playing music before the movie, and D was inspired to play the air flute.

Just last night we went to see Jurassic Park at a drive-in movie set up by Orange County Parks. They charged $10 per vehicle, and sold out three nights pretty quickly. I find that signing up as soon as you hear about something like this is best, because deliberation often leads to disappointment. None of us had ever been to a drive-in movie, so I thought it would be a fun thing to try out.

I really appreciated how they tried to make it an experience. The employees were quite enthusiastic, and they even had Jurassic Park jeeps lined up at the entrance. They also had the wonderful soundtrack playing as soon as you entered the parking lot.

We picked up dinner at Bunz, which was our first time. n declared the Western Bacon Cheeseburger (with onion rings) as the best he’s ever had! It was kind of fun to eat in the car.

We scored a primo spot in the center second row, mainly because we were one of the few sedans. They had SUVs and vans park in the back and to the side. I was worried about the sound situation since we did not have a reliable battery FM radio, and I did not want to keep our car engine running. However, the sound was just fine from where we were parked when we had the windows rolled down.

D and n started out watching the movie on lawn chairs in the front of our car, but came in when the mosquitoes started to bother them. Watching the movie from the back of a Mazda3 was not the most comfortable, but we had plenty of blankets and pillows to keep us cozy. The kids had never seen Jurassic Park, so it was a nice way to see it for the first time. It was a late night out for us (movie did not start until 8:30), but it made for a nice summer memory.

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

MEEMA: Sustainable And Stylish Textiles For Your Home

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Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinion are my own.

MEEMA is a company that produces sustainable and stylish products for the home that are made from upcycled materials. So far, their line includes kitchen towels, aprons, placemats, napkins and tablecloths. According to the MEEMA website:

MEEMA fabric is made with fibers that jeans manufacturers and yarn mills discard as waste. We give these materials a second life, converting them into new yarns, then new fabrics, and finally durable and beautiful new products.

Our own waste is used by coffee growers as a natural compost, returning to the earth and continuing the cycle.

Isn’t that so amazing and innovative?

MEEMA kindly sent me two of their products to review: Kitchen Towels and a Waist Apron.

I was really impressed with the design and quality of the MEEMA waist apron. The apron has four deep pockets and a loop, which are handy for carrying tools around. The fabric itself is quite thick and seems really durable. The construction is also impeccable. This apron would be perfect for any cook, crafter or gardener.

I was also excited about this set of MEEMA kitchen towels. First of all, I love their simple and modern designs that would go with any kitchen decor. Second, I was really impressed with their large size (20″ x 28″). Finally, I was impressed by the absorbency of the towels. Who knew that upcycled denim would make great dish towels? I am sure I will be using these dish towels in my kitchen for years to come.

Doesn’t having quality dish towels make drying dishes a more pleasant experience?

Where to Purchase MEEMA Products

You can order MEEMA upcycled home and kitchen products directly through the Meema website.

MEEMA Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a MEEMA Waist Apron, Napkins, AND a set of 4 Placemats with Pocket ($82 value)!

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Food, Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Make a Waffle Brunch Board With Runamok Maple Syrup {Giveaway}

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Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am excited to talk about Runamok Maple Syrup, a company based in (where else?) Vermont. Runamok Maple makes infused, smoked and barrel-aged maple syrup using sustainable and socially responsible practices.

The flavor infusions that Runamok Maple offers are intriguing, and include:

  • Cardamom
  • Cinnamon + Vanilla
  • Coffee
  • Elderberry
  • Ginger Root
  • Hibiscus
  • Jasmine Tea
  • Makrut Lime-leaf
  • Smoked Chili Pepper

Don’t they all sound amazing?

We had the opportunity to try the Coffee and Cinnamon+Vanilla infused syrups. I really love the bottle designs–so elegant and fancy! I can totally imagine these syrups tucked into a gift basket along with a box of pancake or waffle mix.

Weekend mornings are great time to treat your family or guests to a nice breakfast or brunch. Using a board to lay out all of the food makes it easy for people to serve themselves. I made a simple waffle brunch board and included cut-up Belgian waffles, sausages (bacon would also be good), strawberries, blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips, pats of butter, and of course, Runamok Maple Syrups.

The Runamok Maple Syrups that we tried really elevated the waffles. The Cinnamon + Vanilla syrup is a traditional flavor that would pair well with everything. The Coffee syrup has a more sophisticated taste that is not quite as sweet (perfect for the coffee-lover). Once you use “real” maple syrup, it is difficult to go back to using fake syrup that is actually just corn syrup with artificial flavoring. I definitely want to try out some of the recipes on the Runamok website.

Where to Purchase Runamok Maple Syrups

Runamok Maple Syrups are available at a retailer near you, or through the Runamok website.

Runamok Maple Syrup Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win two bottles of Runamok Maple Syrup (Coffee and Cinnamon+Vanilla!)

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Food, Restaurant Reviews

Hopdoddy Quarantined Together Meal Kit Review

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For Fourth of July, we decided to try out the Quarantined Together Meal Kit from Hopdoddy.

This Hopdoddy kit includes:

  • Cheeseburger Ingredients – 5 beef patties & Hopdoddy secret burger seasoning, 5 Egg Buns, Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Sassy Sauce.
  • Truffle Fries at Home: Ingredients – Enough fries for 5, with all the Truffle Fry fixings and a recipe card to cook at home.
  • Bonus! 2 bags of pretzels and Nutella dipping sauce. [Not really two bags, but two very small containers of pretzels.

I thought this was a reasonable amount of food for $24.99. It is also easy to order and pay online so there is minimal contact when you pick it up.

D grilled the burgers outside. I realize this picture looks more like a tomato sandwich than a burger, but the meat and cheese are underneath the toppings. I liked that there was real cheddar as opposed to American cheese.

Five burgers turned out to be the right amount for our family of four:

D: 1 1/3

L: 1

k: 1

n: 1 2/3!

The truffle fries took a lot longer in our oven than recommended. I also cranked up the heat to 400 and then 425 at the end. I am sure they would have come out better in an air fryer, which we have yet to purchase. I did not want to deep fry them in oil, which is the other recommended method. The Truffle Fry seasonings definitely made for some tasty umami-loaded fries, though!

I think it is great how restaurants are using creative ways to overcome the loss of in-person dining business. If you are looking for a delicious family activity, I would recommend the Hopdoddy Quarantined Together Meal Kit (need to enter zip code location to view).

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Vacation

Carlsbad Beach Mini Vacation

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After our morning at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, we drove to nearby Carlsbad. We had been to Carlsbad several times before, but had never really walked around the city. We found a primo free parking spot and did a little exploring.

After our big breakfast burritos, we wanted something a little lighter for lunch. We walked to Beach City Smoothies and ordered a smoothie for the kids to share and an acai bowl for D and me.

The acai bowl was just “eh” but the kids liked their smoothie.

We also all shared one large poke bowl from Hooked on Poke. We had a nice picnic lunch at Carlsbad Beach.

The kids haven’t eaten poke too many times, but they liked it! (As you can see, n is hard at work in the background).

This beach is quite narrow, which makes it easy to transport everything. Maybe that is why there were a lot of families there. However, we were able to set up a safe distance from others. It was overcast, but still a little warm.

I always think it would be nice to live on the beach, but then I look at the parking and crowded streets and think better of it.

This cute dog seemed to be enjoying the view by himself!

I saw this scene while taking a walk along the shoreline.

After our second day at the beach it was time to go back and relax at the tiny house.

For dinner we did takeout from Big Bob’s Best Pizza. I really enjoy researching the local restaurants, figuring out what to order and supporting small businesses. I must say, I chose well during this trip!

We ordered the family meal online, which came with a salad, breadsticks and pizza.

We ended up eating some of the leftovers for breakfast the next morning!

We enjoyed another cozy night in the tiny house. It was not cold, but n wanted to try out the fireplace (without heat). Even though we were only away for two nights, our trip was definitely a much appreciated break from the routine.

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Book Review, Sponsored

Modern Parents Vintage Values Book Review

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Modern Parents Vintage Values, by Sissy Goff and Melissa Trevathan, is a handbook of practical parenting guidelines for today’s parents. While some of the topics that “modern” parents need to deal with are actually new (e.g. social media, phones, e-cigarettes, etc.) the underlying values that parents want to instill in their children are the same as they have always been. For example, this book discusses the values of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, integrity, responsibility, patience and confidence. I found these chapters particularly helpful and inspiring. Such lessons are best taught through real-life situations, and this book includes many examples. The authors also use several lessons gleaned from the Bible, and their advice is given from a Christian point of view. Modern Parents Vintage Values would be beneficial for parents of children of all ages, as they discuss issues regarding dealing with toddlers up through teenagers.

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Family Field Trips, Vacation

Visit Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

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Our stay in Vista, California felt like a real vacation even though we were only about an hour away from home. As I wrote in a previous post, we stayed in a tiny house. The next morning we picked up two El Grande breakfast burritos from Mi Asador Mexican and Seafood Restaurant.

Wow, these were the best breakfast burritos ever! The giant flour tortillas were stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon and fries. One half a burrito per person was plenty. Be sure to ask for plenty of the red salsa, which we liked more than the green. We drove to Alta Vista Botanical Gardens and ate our burritos in the parking lot to avoid dining in.

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

Admission is a requested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for kids (ages 3-12). There is a wooden box at the entrance.

There are several gardens with different themes that are connected by meandering paths.

Unique art sculptures are sprinkled throughout the gardens.

Something was REALLY funny!

We visited Alta Vista Botanical Gardens at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday morning and we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves. Wear comfortable walking shoes and have fun exploring!

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Vacation

Oceanside Getaway at an Airbnb Tiny House

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A couple of weeks ago, I planed a short two night getaway for our family. On Father’s Day we drove down to Oceanside Beach, which is just north of San Diego. First, we picked up lunch at Mr. Bibi. We each ordered our own bowl, but in retrospect, sharing three bowls would have been a better idea.

You choose a base (rice, noodles, salad, etc.) and a protein (chicken, beef, pork). Then there are a bunch of toppings to choose from:

  • Kale
  • Carrots
  • Corn
  • Jalapenos
  • Cucumber
  • Pineapples
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Cheese
  • Kimchi
  • Bean Sprouts
  • Eggs (Served Sunny Side Up)
  • Spinach
  • Mushroom

As you can see, they are not all traditional Korean ingredients, but I had all of them, and it made for an interesting bowl. My noodles and pork bowl ended up being a little too saucy, but it was still good!

We were able to stay socially distant on the sand. There were also a lot of people fishing from the pier.

Later in the afternoon we checked into our AirBnB tiny house rental in nearby Vista.

I have yet to watch any of the Tiny House shows on television, but I have always been fascinated by them. This one is in the owner’s backyard, but it had a nice private separate entrance.

Look at those stairs to the loft (with a queen bed)! It would not be safe for younger kids, but our kids loved it up there.

This is the second “bedroom”.

Small, but complete kitchen. (The coffee maker and coffee was much appreciated).

Loved the stylish bathroom. The shower was nice and hot and had good water pressure.

For dinner, we ordered take-out from Taverna Mediterranean Cuisine.

We ordered two gyros and a chicken salad. The gyros were absolutely packed with meat and quite filling. We were unable to finish our chicken salad so we kept it in the refrigerator.

After dinner, we took a walk around the neighborhood.

At night we stayed in and had a mini Diners, Drive-Ins and Dines marathon. Not too exciting, but it was nice to have a change in scenery after being in our own house for so long.

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