**I received free product in exchange for my honest review.**

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!  We visited D’s side of the family on Thanksgiving Day (more on that trip later) and had a post-Thanksgiving dinner with my side of the family last night.  Since we had just returned from our trip to Northern California, I asked my mom if I could bring an easy appetizer to our family dinner.  Well, it does not get much easier than a HORMEL GATHERINGS Party Tray!

The Party Trays come in a few different varieties:

Hard Salami & Pepperoni Party Tray (28 oz.): HORMEL Hard Salami, HORMEL Pepperoni, Sargento Cheddar Cheese, Sargento Colby Jack Cheese, Round Crackers

Honey Ham & Turkey Party Tray (28 oz.): HORMEL Honey Ham, HORMEL Smoked Turkey, Sargento Cheddar Cheese, Sargento Colby Jack Cheese, Round Crackers

There is also a Supreme Party Tray that includes olives, if you’re a fan!

I chose to bring the salami and pepperoni tray since my kids are salami fanatics.  However, I am sure they would enjoy the ham and turkey as well!

I love how the packaging is so thoughtfully designed.  It comes in a a black plastic tray with easily removable labels so it looks classy on the table.  The tray itself has compartments for the two packages of crackers, two packages of meat and two packages of cheese so you know where everything goes.  I was able to arrange the tray at home and it all stayed in place during our car ride to my parents’ house.

The individual components were all very tasty.  The crackers were nice and crisp, the cheese was “real” (not processed cheese product), and the pepperoni and salami both had a nice spicy kick to them.  Both the kids and adults had fun making their own little cracker/cheese/meat hors d’oeuvres.

These trays are perfect for an appetizer, but they also work for game day gatherings and noshing in front of the television as we are prone to do during the holidays.

I was able to find pick up my tray at our local Target.  They can also be found at Walmart and other retailers.  Click here to locate the store nearest you.

I have one coupon to give away so you can try a HORMEL GATHERINGS Party Tray for yourself!  My tray ended up being FREE after using this coupon, but the final price depends on the variety and store that you buy it at.

It is kind of amazing to think about how robots are changing the way we live.  Schools are all emphasizing STEM and kids are learning how to code at an early age.  We recently had the opportunity to try out the Ozobot Evo.  My kids were able to play with this tiny robot straight out of the box.  They also downloaded the app onto their iPad and were controlling the Ozobot from the iPad without any trouble at all.  They had fun making mazes and obstacle courses with blocks and maneuvering the Ozobot through them.  I also like how you can draw your own “tracks” for the Ozobot to follow with just regular markers and it changes colors according to the color on the paper!

I always try to look for toys that are fun AND educational, and the Ozobot Evo definitely falls into that category!

We have a lot of Legos at our house, but our kids usually just stick to the model from the box.  Strictly Briks is a new line of “briks” that are compatible with Legos, but encourages kids to literally “think outside of the box”.

Sometimes creativity requires a little mess!

There is an array of base plates available, which allows for building tall towers.  These girls built a penguin house.

Fun for the whole family!

What makes Strictly Briks unique is that they come in different shapes and materials.  For example, they have Creatorz briks, which can be connected on all sides, rather than just the top and bottom.  They also have Silicone Briks and Straps that are flexible.  As shown in this picture, n made an obstacle course for his Lego minifigures.  There are also clear colored briks which add another creative dimension.  Strictly Briks can be bought on Amazon, and I would definitely recommend them to expand the possibilities for any Lego fan.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and that means it is time to start thinking about Christmas presents.  I think photo gifts are always nice for loved ones who do not really need any more “things”.  Canvas On Demand has awesome gifts for everyone on your list.  Based in Raleigh, NC, @canvasondemand has everything you need to get your shopping done early.

They offer more than just canvas prints.  From photo-to-canvas art for parents, Coloring Canvas for kids, and customizable photo gifts, including ornaments & more, Canvas On Demand can help with your holiday shopping list.

For a limited time, they’re offering 60% off your entire order at Canvas On Demand with code USFAM. Select from canvas prints and more! Valid until 12/12/17.

When making pasta, the part that takes the longest is boiling the water.  Enter: Barilla Ready Pasta.  Cut open the packet and microwave for sixty seconds.  Voila–your pasta is ready!  The pasta comes fully cooked.

The pasta comes in several varieties.  We tried the gemelli shape.  For the sampling party, I added olive oil and parmesan cheese.  The color of the pasta was a little darker than what we are used to, but the texture was nice and al dente.  I also really like the ingredient list: Water, Pasta [(Semolina Wheat), Durum Wheat Flour], Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt.  No preservatives!

The parents commented that the Barilla Ready Pasta would be a nice quick and easy meal or snack option that the kids could do by themselves.  You really cannot get any easier!