Disclosure: 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.
This year I would like to share more about some of the recipes that I try out at home. One of my favorite categories of books to read is cookbooks. This may be strange to some, but I enjoy reading the little blurbs explaining how a recipe came about and what makes it special. Although I often feel inspired to make new recipes, only rarely do I make the effort to gather ingredients and bookmark recipes for later use.
I even had Maldon salt that I had ordered from Amazon already on hand. Flaky sea salt is listed as an optional ingredient, but it really adds a nice textural crunch and flavor. (This salt cellar is from the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia collection from Target, which we received as a gift).
Aren’t those flakes of salt so pretty? Rolling the dough into balls as instructed in the recipe also resulted in perfectly shaped, round cookies. This recipe is a keeper!
Disclosure: I received samples 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.
Winning Moves has games and toys that will provide hours of family-friendly fun. As winter approaches, we are all probably spending more time indoors. This is a good excuse to grab a couple of new games and keep everyone entertained!
Rack-O has been around since the 1950’s, so the fact that it is still being played is a testament to its fun factor. Players randomly place ten cards on their rack. The players then take turns drawing and discarding cards while trying to position their ten cards in numerical order. The first player to do so wins.
I had never player Rack-O before, but I always enjoy a numbers game. The concept of this game is easy enough to appeal to a wide range of ages. I can see why this game has become a classic.
The best part about Crocodile Dentist is its simplicity. Open the crocodile’s mouth and take turns pressing down on a tooth. When the crocodile “chomps” on your finger, you’re out. The last player left wins. It is recommended for ages 4 and up.
Crocodile Dentist is small and portable and does not require any batteries. The chomping does not hurt, but keeps kids on the edge of their seats. I witnessed its entertainment factor firsthand while I sat it on speech therapy sessions with one of my students. The speech teacher used the game as a fun way for her students to learn how to take turns and interact with each other.
Disclosure: I received samples in partnership with Horizon Group USA. 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.
We are officially on Thanksgiving break, and that means gift-buying season is underway. Horizon Group has several STEM and art kits that will make wonderful gifts for the holidays.
The Young Scientists Club Exploring Earth
STEM Kits are a neat way to make science experiments accessible to kids at home. The Young Scientists Club Exploring Earth Kit exposes children to geology and mineralogy with hands-on activities.
This kit includes real rocks and minerals. along with ideas for 17 educational STEM activities. Some of the exciting experiments include making a volcano erupt and growing crystals. Keep this kit in mind for your future geologist.
The Made By Me Paint Your Own Ceramic Pottery Kit allows artistic kids to express themselves with ready-to-paint ceramic products. This kit includes 12 bright paint colors, 2 paint brushes, glitter glaze and four ceramic pottery pieces.
This kit is for kids ages 6-9, but I can see older kids being into this activity as well. If you provide the tools for young artists to create, the possibilities are endless!
STMT, which stands for “Simple Trendy Modern Touch” makes the coolest craft kids for tweens. This STMT D.I.Y. Custom Candles Kit allows young makers to create and customize two scented soy candles to keep for themselves or to give away.
As a candle person, the idea of designing and making my own candles sounds fun. This kit has everything you need, including fragrance and color droppers, a gel pen, two candle tins, sticker labels, bag of wax chips, and two candle wicks. The fragrances include orange, rose and lavender, while the colors include pink and blue.
I appreciate that the included decorative stickers are cute, but appropriate for older kids as well. This kit is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Where to Purchase Horizon Group USA STEM and Art Kits
Horizon Group USA makes many different STEM and Art kits that are both educational and fun. Check out more of their offerings at their Amazon store here.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Basic Invite. All opinions are my own.
One of the holiday traditions that I have carried throughout the years is sending Christmas cards. With the exception of 2020 (more on that later), I have sent out a Christmas card to my family and friends since D and I were married in 2004. I understand that some people might find the whole holiday card process somewhat tedious in an already busy season. However, one of the reasons I do it is because I deeply appreciate receiving cards from others. Sharing family photos and keeping in touch with loved ones is something I look forward to every year.
Basic Invite is an online stationery company that simplifies the process of ordering custom photo Christmas cards. The Basic Invite website makes it extremely simple to choose a design, upload your photos and personalize your greetings. Their modern designs allow your photos to take center stage, while adding artistic flair.
Unlimited Color Choices
Basic Invite allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once they select a design, customers can change the color of each element on the card. For example, with the card design featured above, it is possible to change the color of each individual letter of the word “MERRY”, as well as the background and other text. With over 180 colors to choose from, you can design your cards exactly the way you want.
Add Glitz With Basic Invite’s Foil Designs
Basic Invite’s foil cards are available in gold, silver, and rose gold, in flat or raised designs. If you are looking to add extra “bling” to your cards, foil is the way to go!
Order A Custom Printed Sample
How a card appears on your computer screen v. how it appears when it is printed on paper can be quite different. I learned this lesson the hard way in 2020. Although we were in the middle of a pandemic, I was determined to keep up with my Christmas card tradition. However, when I received the package of cards that I thought looked great online, I was sorely disappointed. The photo of my kids turned out pixelated and blurry. This was not the card company’s fault, I had just unknowingly picked a poor-quality photo. I ended up not sending out those cards, and chalked it up as another unfortunate disappointment of 2020.
Such a fiasco could have been avoided with Basic Invite. They are one of the few websites that allows customers to order a printed sample of their actual invitation before they place their final order. This allows you to see the paper quality and exactly how it will print before you order multiples.
Free Address Printing
For me, addressing the cards that I send out is probably the most annoying part of the process. Basic Invite takes care of this chore by offering an address capturing service that allows customers to share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media to request their friends and family’s addresses. Basic Invite then stores these addresses in the customer’s account, which can then be selected during the design process. Best of all, Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders!
Basic Invite Has 40+ Envelope Options
Envelopes are a card’s first impression, and Basic Invite has over 40 different envelope colors to choose from. All of the envelopes are peel and seal, so you can avoid the unpleasant task of licking envelopes.
Designs For ALL Occasions
If you have too much going on during the holiday season to think about sending out cards, why not send a happy new year card instead? I know that a card in January would be a pleasnt surprise to receive in my mailbox. In addition, keep Basic Invite in mind for every major life moment that you can think of, including weddings, showers, birth announcements, birthdays, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, sweet sixteens, graduations, housewarmings, anniversaries, retirements and memorials.
Basic Invite Coupon Code
For those of you who have holiday cards on your mind, Basic Invite is currently offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51 Go take a look at their designs and create the perfect card to share with your friends and family.
Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
The theme of the November 2022 Seoulbox is “Street Foods”. This Seoulbox is designed to transport you directly to the lively street market stalls of Korea! As you can see, the box contains quite an array of interesting Korean products to try out. Instead of listing every single product like last time, I am highlighting my five favorite products in this month’s box.
My Five Favorite Products in the
November 2022 Seoulbox
1. Creamy Chili Sauce Potato Chips
When I opened this sizable bag, I immediately noticed the sauce container nestled among the “chips”. This is actually a brilliant idea and I wonder if U.S. snack brands will take note. The creamy chili sauce definitely has a kick to it, and it pairs well with the thick and crispy potato sticks.
2. Stubborn Sweet Potato Chips
I am not sure why these sweet potato chips are labeled as “stubborn”. However, they are tasty and different than anything that can be found on U.S. supermarket shelves. There is a notable added sweetness that makes these chips balance on the edge between sweet and savory.
3. Noodles Fit Eomuktang (Fishcake Soup)
Just look at that fit cat pumping iron!
This noodle soup will only appeal to seafood fans, as it has a strong fish/shellfish flavor. I really enjoyed the bounciness of the cellophane noodles. It would make a great snack or lunch on a cold wintry day.
4. Jelly in Jelly Lychee
If you have never tried lychee, its taste is difficult to describe. Personally, I love that it is sweet, refreshing and juicy. These qualities are all captured perfectly in these lychee jellies. I just might have to look for the mango flavor at my local Korean market.
5. BT21 Soft Keyring
If you are a BTS fan, you’re probably familiar with BT21. Admittedly, I had to look up this line of cutesy characters to see what it is all about. My daughter claimed this keyring for her BTS-loving friend. I am sure any members of the BTS ARMY will appreciate this extra goodie.
Special Black Friday + Cyber Monday Seoulbox Sale
For a limited time, use code VIPBLACKFRIDAY to get 25% off at Seoulbox! (This offer is valid from November 22-November 30, 2022).
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Working at an elementary school, I see first-hand how many kids deal with food allergies. Alas, both of my own kids still need to carry around an epi-pen and are careful to avoid all foods with nuts. Jaxs Monster Mix started as an idea of a mom in search of a wholesome allergy-friendly snack for her own child with food allergies.
Jaxs offers a few different varieties, but the variety we tried was Jaxs Monster Pop Mix. This unique snack mix contains gluten-free sea salt pretzel twists, vegan cheesy corn nuggets, and sweetened banana chips.
Jaxs Monster Pop Mix is delightfully crisp and crunchy. It is a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, so it satisfies any snack craving. In addition, this mix is non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, Kosher, and contains no artificial colors.
Each one ounce bag contains 140 calories, and is the perfect size to take on the go. My not-so-little soccer player appreciated it for his post-game refueling.
If you are looking for an allergy-friendly snack that will appeal to kids, check out Jax’s Monster Pop Mix!
Where To Purchase Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix
Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix is available for purchase through their online store.
Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a 12-pack of Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix!
Disclosure: Many thanks to Damascus Road Productions for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
This Friday, October 21, an encouraging new movie called Paul’s Promise is coming to theaters across the country. After watching a sneak preview, I am excited to share about this movie because it highlights the power of faith and prayer. Paul’s Promise is based on the true story of Paul Holderfield, who started one of the first racially-integrated churches in the South. Before watching this movie, I must admit that I had never heard of Holderfield. However, his remarkable life story deserves to be more well-known, and Paul’s Promise does an excellent job of telling it.
The movie begins by setting the scene of Paul Holderfield as a racist firefighter in the 1960’s. His mother can see that Paul is repeating the generational sins of his father and that he is walking apart from God. The way that she prays for Paul unceasingly despite of her own failing health is inspiring. It is awesome to think that her prayers affected not only her own son, but the countless numbers of others who eventually were touched by God’s message through her son.
I think it would have been interesting if the movie showed more about how Paul was actually able to start and pastor the racially-integrated church. Perhaps that is an idea for Paul’s Promise Part 2!
All of the actors delivered heart-felt performances. It was also nice to see that Dean Cain, one of my favorites back in the day, is still in the biz.
Buy your tickets TODAY to see PAUL’S PROMISE in theaters starting 10/21!
$10 Amazon Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card courtesy of Paul’s Promise! (Please note that the chosen winner will be notified by email and will only have 24 hours to claim the prize.)
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.This post contains affiliate links.
Although the weather around here is not cooperating, it is officially my favorite season, fall! Vim & Vigr has plenty of stylish compression socks to keep your feet warm and your legs circulating, especially as we head into the cooler months.
If you have not tried compression socks, they are designed to apply gentle pressure to your legs to increase blood flow and ease fatigue and/or discomfort. Vim & Vigr’s compression socks do their job exceptionally well, while also making a statement.
I am actually not that big a fan of eating candy corn, but wearing candy corn socks? YES!
These Petite Dot Merino Wool compression socks are a bit more low-key, but still add some whimsy to your sock wardrobe. I am looking forward to reading in bed while these socks keep my legs cozy.
As soon as I saw these Best Friend compression socks, I knew they would be perfect for my daughter’s dog-loving friend!
These socks would make a great gift for any avid dog fans out there!
Where To Purchase VIM&VIGR Compression Legwear
Vim & Vigr socks, along with their other products, are available for purchase through the VIM & VIGR website.
VIM & VIGR Compression Socks Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a pair of VIM & VIGR Compression Socks (in the Best Friend design)!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Our family spends a lot of time outdoors. Whether it is for camping, beach days, movies on the lawn, concerts in the park or watching my son’s soccer games, we tend to travel with a lot of gear. However, we do not have a huge van or truck to haul said gear. Therefore, I was quite excited to learn about DOD, an outdoor gear company that originally started in Japan. DOD products are now available in the United States, and their camp furniture features both smart and stylish designs. Continue reading to see how two of DOD’s best-selling pieces of outdoor furniture performed during our most recent outing to Laguna Beach.
The DOD Sugoi Chair is one of their best-sellers, and I can understand why. First of all, it is quite compact and light. The carrying bag it comes with makes it easy to transport as well as store in our garage.
Here is a side-by-side comparison so that you can see how much smaller the Sugoi Chair is compared to a conventional beach chair.
This chair impressed me with its ability to adjust to four different heights, as well as the seating angle. These adjustments can be done by raising or lowering the front and/or rear legs. Assembly is simple and intuitive.
Although the Sugoi Chair packs up small, it feels generously sized when it is set up. The thick and durable canvas creates a perfect “cocoon” that is comfortable to sit in.
I can definitely imagine myself using the Sugoi Chair around the campfire during our next campout.
One of my husband’s pet peeves is trying to eat without a table. I guess he is just not a fan of trying to balance a plate of food in his lap. On multiple occasions, he has mentioned how nice it would be to have a small portable table for those times we are eating picnic-style. Well, we now have a table to meet his outdoor eating needs: the DOD Good Luck Table!
We did not test out the Good Luck Table with a full meal this time around, but I can tell that it will do a stellar job. Like the Suogi Chair, the Good Luck Table folds up relatively small and thin. However, when it is set up, this table features ample tabletop space as well as large storage pockets underneath. This remarkable table features four adjustable heights. We used it low, like a coffee table, but it can also be raised up higher to use as a camp kitchen counter.
The Good Luck Table also makes a convenient place to play games on the go!
Here is a picture of the DOD table set up in our family room so that you can see what it looks like in its entirety.
In addition to chairs and tables, DOD also offers several other products to make your outdoor life more comfortable, including built-to-last tents, sleeping mats and wagons.
Where to Purchase DOD Products + Discount Code!
DOD camp furniture is available for purchase through their website. To receive 20% off, enter discount code LIM20 at checkout!
Disclosure: I received samples 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.
Classic games become classics for a reason. Winning Moves excels at both preserving and improving upon games that have been around for years. Today I am reviewing three games that all deserve the classic title: Barrel of Monkeys, Scrabble: Spanish Edition and Scattergories Stackagories.
Sometimes, simple games are the best. Barrel of Monkeys is a classic that is still popular because anyone can easily play, and it can be played with one or more people.
The object is simply to pick up as many monkeys as you can without breaking the chain. All of the plastic monkeys can be neatly stored in the small yellow barrel, which makes this game conveniently portable.
Both of my kids are currently taking Spanish in school, so I thought this Scrabble en Espanol game would be a fun way to practice their vocabulary.
The rules are the same as the beloved Scrabble, with the addition of special tiles to make Spanish words such as the n with a ~ and double l and double r. This game is fun for both Spanish speakers and those still learning Spanish!
Scattergories is one of my all-time favorite board games. However, Scattergories Stackagories is a fun, fast-paced twist on the original. In this version, players call out a word that begins with one of nine letters that fits a given category and place one of their markers on that letter. When time is up, points are tallied according to whose marker is at the top of each stack. I like that everyone is playing at once so no one is waiting for their turn. The one minute sand timer ensures that each round is quick and does not drag on. If you like the original Scattergories, you should give Scattergories Stacakagories a try.
