Danielle – Page 15

Top 5 Things to Do At Knotts Spooky Farm 2016

October 7, 2016 by Danielle

The family-friendly Halloween celebration, Knott’s Spooky Farm, returns on weekends in October and Halloween Day. We were excited to be invited to check it out this past weekend and can’t wait to share the fun! We were able to participate in hands on fun activities with the kids and checked out the all new experiences in Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, Boardwalk Ballroom and Camp Snoopy.

This special limited-time event serves up live entertainment, trick-or-treating, a costume contest and exclusive festivities honoring the 50th anniversary of the classic Peanuts animated TV special; It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! These festivities are geared for kids ages 3 – 11 however my 20 month old seemed to have just as much fun as the 5 and 7 year old.

Knotts Spooky Farms’ friendly monsters have returned to Main Street to invite kids to trick-or-treat for tasty sweets by ringing whimsically themed doorbells. It’s fun to see how each door is different and, of course, always fun to explore the park while trick-or-treating. You can also surprise the little explorer in your pack by visiting the kid-friendly Spooky Hollow Maze in Camp Snoopy which offers an enchanting experience through a spooky forest with larger-than-life jack-o-lanterns. Keep an eye out for the friendly headless horseman and take a photo if you dare.

Kids can say hi to Linus and Sally while celebrating the 50th anniversary of the classic Peanuts, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!, in Ghost Town with special Halloween themed activities like decorating their very own pumpkin head, for a nominal fee.

New this year, the Ghastly Gallery hosted in the Boardwalk Ballroom, welcomes little ghouls to enter a monstrous museum where they can explore spooky culture and even have the artistic opportunity to display their “monsterpieces” and visit the Monsterpiece Theatre. Also, head over to Fiesta Village for some vibrant fun with a Dia de los Muertos non-scary, friendly, educational celebration of the season.

The spooky fun continues in Camp Snoopy where the Peanuts gang host a spooktacular costume contest which invites families to bring their festively costumed children for some Halloween fun! Additionally, families can watch the Peanuts Gang in The Monsters Are Coming, Charlie Brown, where they’ll have guests of all ages singing and dancing along to classic Halloween tunes at the Camp Spooky Theatre. A 2017 Knott’s Season Pass is the best way to experience all of the Knott’s Spooky Farm fun with the family. And the All-Day Dining Plan is a great way to save while enjoying the delicious food at the park.

Top 5 Things to Do At Knotts Spooky Farm

1. Ghost Town

Knott’s Spooky Farms’ friendly monsters will return to the Main Street in Ghost Town and invite kids to trick-or-treat for tasty sweets by ringing whimsically themed doorbells.

2. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the animated classic Peanuts, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!, with Linus and Sally in Ghost Town with special Halloween themed activities like decorating their very own pumpkin head, for a nominal fee.

3. Dia de los Muertos

Head over to Fiesta Village for some vibrant fun with a Dia de los Muertos non-scary, friendly, educational celebration of the season.

4. Spooktacular Costume Contest

The spooky fun continues in Camp Snoopy where the Peanuts gang host a spooktacular costume contest every day at 3:45 PM which invites families to bring their festively costumed children for some Halloween fun! Additionally, families can watch the Peanuts Gang in The Monsters Are Coming, Charlie Brown, where they’ll have guests of all ages singing and dancing along to classic Halloween tunes at the Camp Spooky Theatre.

5. Spooky Hollow Maze

Surprise the little explorer in your pack by visiting the kid-friendly Spooky Hollow Maze in Camp Snoopy which offers an enchanting experience through a spooky forest with larger-than-life jack-o-lanterns.

Knott’s Spooky Farm runs weekends October 1 – Halloween Day from 10:00 am to 4:00pm, and is included with regular park admission.

For more information on all the exciting things that are going on at Knott’s Berry Farm, visit us online at knotts.com and follow the conversation using #KnottsSpookyFarm

New 2017 Season Passes include one free admission during the 2016 season to Knott’s Berry Farm and unlimited visits in 2017 with no blackout dates, discounts on select food and merchandise, and access to exciting year-round seasonal events. 2017 Season Passes are now available at the best offer of the year for a limited time on knotts.com.

What’s your favorite Knotts Spooky Farm activity?

Filed Under: Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: amusement parks, Camp Snoopy, Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Camp Spooky, Knott's Spooky Farm

Simple Football Party Snack Ideas: Savory and Sweet Dips

October 5, 2016 by Danielle

This shop featuring simple football party snack ideas has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #GameDayGreats #CollectiveBias

Do you have that one family member who’s just crazy about football? Loves the game and everything it means? That person in our family was my Grammy. She would have us over for the big game every year and without fail she’d know all of the players, who to look for, and could always call the winner. It was like her talent. Sadly my grammy passed away this year and this is a hard season for us to get through.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t do the one thing she was always able to do every year: Bring our family together to watch the game.

So I put together a delicious spread of savory and sweet dips along with some Coca-Cola slushes to enjoy with my family this past Sunday. What’s great about the spread is it’s versatility. You can make so many different sweet and savory dips and the touchdown toppings make everything a bit more fun. And as we’ve mentioned before, we’re huge RITZ fans. This time instead of topping our RITZ, we’re dipping them!

Football Party Snack Ideas

One of my favorite things about game day at Grammy’s was the appetizers. She’d always have the best spreads including this amazing green chile topping she put on a sliced baguette and baked until bubbly. The taste was out of this world! But it took forever to keep making (because everyone wanted more) so I decided to take her toppings and turn them into a dip for easy eatability (is that a word?).

Dips are a great way to serve the masses as well as provide variety. I like to use small ramekins to serve multiple dips instead of one large dip in one dish. And with a good cracker selection like my favorite RITZ, Wheat Thins and TRISCUIT crackers we can mix up savory and sweet dips. Have you had a pie made with a RITZ based crust? So good!

And to wash down the dips, we’ve served up our favorite Coca-Cola slushes. These are so popular over here and versatile as well. We can switch up the flavors and even add a splash of cream to make the flavor similar to a float. I, of course, prefer my drink of choice, Coke Zero, when making my slush. But the husband? He’s a Coca-Cola fan through and through.

Savory Dips: Grammy’s Green Chile Dip with Jack Cheese

As I mentioned before, I took one of my favorite appetizers from my Grammy and turned it into a dip. This dip is absolutely delicious on it’s own but would also be great mixed with some chopped chicken for a heartier dip. And TRISCUIT crackers and Wheat Thins are the perfect thing to enjoy it with.

1 pack 8oz cream cheese
1 can diced green chiles
1/4-1/3 cup sour cream
1 package 16 ounce shredded jack cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Soften cream cheese. Grab a mixing bowl and mix softened cream cheese and diced green chiles together until combined. Add sour cream and fold in. Then fold in 3/4 of the bag of jack cheese.

Place dip in a few ramekins, top with remaining cheese. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until cheese and dip are bubbling.

Sweet Dips with Touchdown Toppings

While I always have a savory dip at any party we host, I’m just starting to find a love for sweet dips as well. Instead of baking for hours, I can throw together some sweet ingredients and serve it with some RITZ crackers. Add some touchdown toppings like bananas, strawberries, mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, etc and you have yourself a great portable dessert!

The saltiness of the RITZ crackers pairs perfectly with this chocolate pudding dip. Yup… you read that right! And don’t knock it till you try it. You can use store bought or homemade chocolate pudding and fold in some fresh whipped cream. Then serve with a variety of toppings. This party we went with sliced strawberries and bananas.

Need more sweet dip ideas to pair with your RITZ crackers? Check these out:

To feature our game day greats snacks, I used our large chalkboard as the background. I love having this large chalkboard as it’s so versatile and can be decorated in many different ways. It lets the food take the front stage in this set up.

Along with the chalkboard, I put together a super easy football goal post made out of 2 paper straws. I simply took one straw and cut it into three pieces then super glued it together. I added the second straw to the goal post and the placed it into a holder.

Another easy way to great a great football spread even better are these football bottle covers. Simply print on sticker paper or cardstock and cut out to wrap around your cups or bottles.

Download a FREE Football Bottle Wrapper here

You can find all of the Coca-Cola and Mondelez products featured in this post at your local Ralph’s along with everything else you need for the perfect football party spread!

With great dips, delicious drinks, and a simple party set up, you can serve up some game day greats to your guests with these simple football party snack ideas during the next game.

What’s your favorite game day snack?

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, In the Kitchen, Party Ideas, Recipes, Uncategorized

Movie Night Popcorn Bark

October 3, 2016 by Danielle

We like to have at least 2 movie nights at home with the family. Whether we find something on Netflix, or a free Amazon Prime movie, or we scour the selection of movies we already have at home, it’s a fun way to get our family together for a night of fun. And no movie night is complete without snacks!

I was introduced to Gaslamp Popcorn at an event I attended here locally and fell in love with their product. It was tasty, light, and had a great flavor. Plus they’re a California-based company! Who doesn’t love to support local companies? And the best part? When I reached out to see if they were interested in donating some bags of popcorn to my son’s school Golf Tournament, they went above and beyond and shipped enough popcorn to fill all of the golfers swag bags plus more to serve at the family picnic after the tournament. How’s that for local support?

So when they reached out about a new flavor they’d just released and asked if I’d like to try a few bags, I couldn’t turn them down. And boy is the new Malibu Mix from Gaslamp Popcorn a hit with my family!

Malibu Mix is a new fusion flavor which combines the company’s signature Sea Salt & Olive Oil, White Cheddar and Kettle Corn flavors. If you’re looking looking for a light, flavorful and delicious snack that delivers a sweet, salty and savory treat containing half the calories typically found in traditional popcorn mixes, then you need to try this mix!

Each batch is made with non-GMO corn that stands on the promise of being gluten-free, no exceptions.

I may or may not have finished off a bag of this deliciously salty sweet popcorn with my kids in an afternoon while we did homework. It’s that good! And the salty sweet flavor combo goes perfect with the movie night popcorn bark we created. So good! I highly suggest picking up a bag the next time you’re at the grocery store!

Movie Night Popcorn Bark

16 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 cup Gaslamp Popcorn Malibu Mix
1 cup pretzels
1/2 cup dark chocolate

Prepare a 1/2 sheet baking pan with parchment paper lining.

Melt semisweet chocolate using double boiler method until smooth. Pour chocolate onto parchment paper in pan and spread out with spatula.

While still warm and melted, sprinkle popcorn and pretzels over chocolate. Press in to ensure it’s in the chocolate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow chocolate to set.

While chocolate is setting, melt dark chocolate using the same double boiler method. When chocolate is set, remove from fridge and use a spoon to drizzle melted dark chocolate over the bark.

Once the dark chocolate has set, lift parchment paper out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut the bark into oddly shaped pieces.

Store bark in an airtight container for up to 3 days to enjoy!

What’s your favorite movie night snack?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Baby Sprinkle Gift Ideas for the Second Time Mom

September 29, 2016 by Danielle

This post featuring great baby sprinkle gift ideas for the second (or third, or fourth) time mom is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Acetaminophen Suppositories.

As a mom of 3, I’ve had quite a bit of experience with the necessities when bringing home a new baby. And while a lot of personal preference – and figuring out what works well with one baby may not work well with the next – plays an important role in what is needed for a new baby for moms who’ve already had one, I’ve narrowed down a few areas that focus on necessities for every kid no matter if it’s your second, or your fourth!

No, I’m not pregnant (nor planning on being pregnant again) but my sister is pregnant with her 4th and we’re hosting a sprinkle for her next weekend. I don’t see any reason why every baby shouldn’t be celebrated and love any excuse to get family together so we’re very much looking forward to this event.

Sometimes when a family has already had kids (and they’re relatively close in age) they don’t need all of the big items they needed the first time around. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need things if you’re generous enough to send a gift. Below are some great ideas on what to get the second (or third, or fourth, etc) time mom their baby sprinkle!

Baby Sprinkle Gift Ideas for the Second Time Mom

Feeding

While you can definitely reuse items like bottles, bowls, plates, etc for each child, there’s always something new on the market that makes feeding baby easier for parents. We’re sharing our favorite feeding tools with my sister and her family as well as stocking her up with new nipples for bottles.

Here’s what we’ve included in our basket:

Squeeze pouch feeder
Easy squeezy spoon (can fit on most squeeze pouch foods too)
Handkerchief bib
Pacifier & pacifier clip

First Aid

First aid is something that’s often overlooked when gifting a new baby. And while there are great baby first aid kits out there, some moms already have the nail clippers, useless bulb sucker, thermometer, etc. But it’s a great idea to stock the new parents up with the first aid items they might need in the first few years of life so if their baby does get sick, they don’t have to race out to pick up these essentials.

Here’s what we’ve included in our basket:

FeverAll^® Infants’ Strength Acetaminophen Suppositories – Be prepared! Make sure you have acetaminophen in both liquid and suppository forms on-hand for the cold/flu season. In the event your child is unable or unwilling to swallow oral medication, an acetaminophen suppository is a safe alternative to the liquid form and always provides an accurate dose with no mess.
Rectal thermometer (each child needs their own) – Using a digital rectal thermometer will provide the most accurate reading of a baby’s temperature.
Nose Frieda (not pictured) – those old bulb suckers just aren’t as effective. It may seem gross but is actually quite sanitary! And… it works.
Humidifier (not pictured) – we have a humidifier in each of the kids rooms to help out at night when they’re sick.

Fun & Play

The best part about a new baby is all of the fun things you can purchase for them to play with. We all know every new baby needs their own lovey! And, of course, a stuffie like the stuffed bear my kids chose for their new cousin. And as baby gets older, she’ll learn to throw her toys out of the stroller, car seat, etc. so it’s a good idea to have toy clips to secure those items.

Here’s what we’ve included in our basket:

Stuffed teddy bear
Owl lovey
Toy strap

While preparing for a new baby, there’s nothing better to do than make sure you take a peek into the medicine cabinet to make sure you’re stocked up on everything you might need for the new baby. Being prepared will help out when it’s 2am and baby isn’t feeling good. A baby or toddler with a fever is no fun, and Acetaminophen is one of the most recommended non-prescription medications by healthcare professionals – including pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners – for temporary fever reduction and relief of minor aches and pain in infants and children.

FeverAll® is the only national brand of acetaminophen in suppository form and is available in three strengths for children from 6 months to 12 years of age.

FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Suppositories (80 mg of acetaminophen) is the only acetaminophen product available with dosage instructions for children as young as six months of age.

For more than 30 years, caregivers have relied on the accuracy and convenience of FeverAll®. With FeverAll® Suppositories, caregivers can be assured that children will receive the accurate dose of acetaminophen labeled on the package vs. needing to measure liquid oral acetaminophen.

FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories are an important option for caregivers because they permit the administration of fever and pain relieving medicine to children who cannot take medication by mouth due to illness/vomiting, or fussiness, for those who don’t like taking liquid medication or who have other health issues; they provide an accurate dosage of acetaminophen without measuring or causing a mess.

Purchase FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Suppositories in your local Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart stores. Ad follow along on social media by checking out the hashtag #FeverAllBeFeverReady for great fever reducing tips and tricks.

What was your favorite baby shower gift you’ve received?

Use FeverAll® only as directed. If you have specific questions about fever, acetaminophen or using FeverAll, speak with your child’s pediatrician. FeverAll Acetaminophen Suppositories are available at major retailers and drugstores across the U.S, such as Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens. For more information and current offers, visit www.FeverAll.com.

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Crafts/DIY Tagged With: Baby Shower, gift ideas

Where Do Babies Come From? And Other Questions Brought On By The Storks Movie

September 27, 2016 by Danielle

Storks deliver babies…or at least they used to according to the animated adventure “Storks” staring Andy Samberg. Now they deliver packages for global internet retail giant Cornerstore.com. Junior (Samberg), the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when the Baby Factory is accidentally activated on his watch, producing an adorable – and wholly unauthorized – baby girl.

Desperate to deliver this bundle of trouble before the boss gets wise, Junior and his friend Tulip, the only human on Stork Mountain, race to make their first-ever baby drop, in a wild and revealing journey that could make more than one family whole and restore the storks’ true mission in the world.

When we were invited to check out the film, I knew the kids would want to go see it. Every time they saw a trailer, they immediately asked when it was coming to the theater. And when the day finally came for our screening, both kids were happy to finish up their homework and eat dinner early so we could take off to the theater. They were prepared for a great time. I was not prepared for the barrage of questions I would get after the movie showed.

A few questions that were hurled at me as we drove home:

Where do babies really come from?
Why would someone not have a mommy and daddy?
How would a stork know how to find a baby’s family?
What is an orphan?
Are there really orphans out there without a mommy or daddy?
Why can’t you be their mommy?
Why can’t we get another brother or sister?
Can we put a slide on our roof too?

You get the point.

While most movies do bring on a lot of questions from our kids, especially the middle child, I was definitely not prepared for the questions they wanted to know after we saw Storks. And had a done my due diligence and really paid attention to the trailers, I would have been able to prepare myself to what was to come. And, hey, maybe you won’t get the same questions I did.

Note: If you have a child who is adopted or was, at one point, an orphan, please read this post from our friend over at Highlights Along The Way. This movie may have possible triggers that can affect your child and/or yourself.

Other than the questions we received, and tried to answer as best as we could (for their ages), the movie was a fun-filled movie with great animation and a fun storyline for the kids. They loved watching Tulip and Junior on their adventure and laughed out loud for most of the movie. Their favorite part? When a pack of wolves turned themselves into a submarine. Quite entertaining!

The Storks movie hit theaters on September 23rd and is rated PG

Filed Under: Entertainment, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: Movie, Storks, Storks movie

Double Standard | San Diego Restaurant Week September 25th – October 2nd 2016

September 23, 2016 by Danielle

This Sunday kicks off San Diego Restaurant Week and it is the perfect time to explore San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods and incredible restaurants. Not only are there over 180 participating restaurants but you can choose to dine for lunch or dinner. We were invited to head over to Double Standard in downtown San Diego to sample their amazing menu.

We headed over for lunchtime before taking the kids to see The Lion King at the Civic Theater but were treated with some dinner offerings to get a sample of the amazing cuisine served by Chef Chris Gentile at dinnertime. And I have to tell you, lunch or dinner, you will NOT be disappointed with the menu. While it does change weekly due to it’s seasonality, there is always some hidden gem that you’ll just have to try. Like the amazing truffle fries or burrata bruschetta.

Double Standard Kitchenette | San Diego Gaslamp

As soon as we walked up to Double Standard we were taken away by the openness and flow of the space. It was warm, relaxing, and inviting. And when you are dining with your kids downtown, having spacious tables is a must. The kids quickly chose a table with a comfy couch-like booth seat. As soon as we were seated we were able to order the kids a pizza to share along with some delicious sounding truffle fries. The server was kind enough to bring out 1/2 of an order of truffle fries and 1/2 of an order of regular fries in case the kids didn’t like the truffle oil.

We then ordered our lunch and each chose to start with something different. My husband was in the mood for a salad and I couldn’t turn down the burrata bruschetta. Who can turn down burrata? After taking a moment to look more at the menu, I settled on the short rib sandwich while my husband selected the steak sandwich.

With the spread on our table, no one was going home hungry. And wow was it good. The freshness of the tomatoes in the bruschetta, the creaminess of the cheese. And the piece of brioche toast that came with my husband’s romaine salad? Oh wow. But then we got our sandwiches. I’m pretty sure I’d order that short rib sandwich every.single.time I came if they had the same menu. It was melt in your mouth good and, while I was full after one half (I did have to try the kids pizza and have a few truffle fries in addition to the burrata bruschetta), I wanted to eat that second half.

Double Standard | Restaurant Week Menu Highlights

This year you can choose to dine at Double Standard during lunch or dinner. And you won’t be limited to just a few choices on a special menu. For lunch, you can enjoy a two course meal for $20 selecting any two items on the menu (one from the Verdura section). And for dinner you are in for a treat! $50 gets you a 3 course meal that will wow you. One starter, your main course, and a bit of dulce to complete the meal.

In addition to our amazing lunch, we were brought out a few examples of Double Standard’s dinner menu. How beautiful are these plates? Stunning.

And the level of detail doesn’t just stop at what you see. The flavors that are created with the combination of fresh ingredients and perfect seasonings lend to some wonderful dishes. Each ingredient is thought out and no two items are paired together without a reason. If you have a chance to stop by during restaurant week, I highly suggest the octopus or scallops.

San Diego Restaurant Week | September 25th – October 2nd 2016

It is no secret that San Diego is quickly becoming one of the U.S.’s culinary hotspots. Whether you are a San Diego native or just want to dine out like one, San Diego Restaurant Week is the perfect time to explore San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods and incredible restaurants.

During San Diego Restaurant Week, Sunday, September 25th through Sunday, October 2nd, over 180 participating restaurants will Celebrate Local by offering you dishes featuring ingredients sourced from our region! Fresh has never tasted so good and it has never been a better time to discover why foodies LOVE San Diego!

For eight days only enjoy dishes compiled of local products and ingredients at over 180 participating restaurants throughout San Diego County. Dinner will be served as a three-course, prix-fixe menu for just $20, $30, $40 or $50 per person and lunch will be served as a two-course prix-fixe menu for only $10, $15 or $20 per person.

What restaurant are you looking forward to trying?

Filed Under: Restaurants, San Diego, Uncategorized

5 Tips for Making Weeknight Dinners Easier + A Southwestern Steak + Sweet Potato Bowl Recipe

September 22, 2016 by Danielle

These 5 tips for making weeknight dinners easier were inspired by our sponsor, Terra’s Kitchen. Read ahead to find out how you can save time and money in the kitchen while still getting delicious dinners on the table during the week!

We are now in the throes of school life and as we near the busiest time of the year, I’ve really started planning ahead. That means keeping up with my calendar, staying on top of our budget, and making sure I have dinner on the table every night. Sometimes that last challenge is harder than you’d think!

In an effort to not only stay on top of our budget (eating out is expensive!) but also make sure I have dinner ready nightly, I’ve come up with a few ways that I can cut a few corners by planning in advance and using tools like Terra’s Kitchen to make my week a LOT easier.

5 Tips for Making Weeknight Dinners Easier

1. Meal Delivery

I’ve tried out a few frozen or prepared meals out in the past but I just can’t get over not being able to cook my own food. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love my microwave for things like popcorn and microwavable bacon (the kids can make their own and there’s no mess!). But cooking my meals in the microwave from the freezer just isn’t as tasty.

So when I heard about Terra’s Kitchen and looked at the weekly menu offerings they had, I was excited to try out a few of their meals through their meal delivery program. Not only is it not frozen, it comes in a climate-controlled vessel straight to your front door. When I unloaded the vessel, I simply removed the removable shipping label, placed it back outside, and it was picked up the next day and on it’s way to shipping more food to someone else. These vessels can be used up to 100 times! Waay better than the styrofoam packaging I was used to for previous services.

2. Meal Planning

With Terra’s Kitchen, I can input the meals I’ll be making from them into my weekly meal plan. That means I’m only shopping for breakfast and lunch (and a few items for snacks). I don’t have to worry about dinners because I’ll be making healthy meals in 30 minutes or less with my Terra’s Kitchen orders!

Meal planning really does help for more than just dinner. And it’s a great way to stay on track with our budget because we only buy what we’ve planned to eat. It also allows me to keep an eye out for weekly specials and coupons in the paper. It may sound daunting to take this time on the weekend but it does pay to plan ahead when there are PTG meetings, soccer practice, and homework looming over our heads during the week.

Terra’s Kitchen includes the ingredients list and recipes of each of their meal items and it’s conveniently printed on a 3 hole punched piece of card stock so you can easily add it to your meal planning binder. If you love a recipe, you’ll know exactly what to purchase to recreate the meal again and again in your home!

3. Prepping Ahead

When I meal plan for the week, I also try and get all of my prep work done in advance on Sundays. That way I don’t have to think about cutting and chopping during the week. I also pre-package the kids snacks for lunches as well so they’re easy to grab.

Well, Terra’s Kitchen does the same thing! All of the ingredients I received were pre-portioned and pre-chopped ready to go straight to the fridge. And the containers they were in fit perfectly on top of one another. It was kind of fun playing Tetris in my fridge to get everything to fit perfectly! Plus there was still room for the essentials we always keep in the fridge.

Tip: You can use the containers your food comes in as seed starters for your garden! We’ll be sharing our seed starting tips next week so stay tuned!

4. Freezer Meals

Now I know that things do come up and sometimes we don’t even have the mere 30 minutes to cook a meal. So I prep ahead and turn leftovers from one meal into freezer meals for a meal in the future. I turned the leftovers from this amazingly delicious Southwest Steak and Sweet Potato bowl into mini pot pies to gobble up in the near future when all I have time for is turning on an oven and sticking a freezer meal in to bake. By prepping freezer meals for the oven or the slow cooker, I can make sure the days we don’t have a Terra’s Kitchen meal are covered!

5. Time Management

My biggest enemy during the week is time. The time between picking the kids up from school and dinner is a big black vortex that seems to disappear before my eyes. No, seriously. I have NO idea how time goes so quickly between then.

So in an effort to be better with time management, in addition to meal planning, shopping, and prepping on the weekends, I also set a timer to go off 30 minutes before my husband normally comes home from work so I know when I have to start cooking dinner. It’s so easy to get sucked into working just a little longer when you work from home so setting limits and timers is important.

By setting aside this time and scheduling it for these tasks, I’m able to stay on top of feeding the family. And a fed family is a happy family!

Southwestern Steak and Sweet Potatoes Bowl

Recipe courtesy of Terra’s Kitchen

16 ounces sweet potato chunks
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon canola oil
1/4 teaspoon cumin
.7 ounces jalapeno slices
.3 ounces minced garlic
12 ounces skirt steak
2.25 ounces sliced scallions
1 avocado

1. Preheat the oven t o450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil.

2. Cook the Potatoes: Pour sweet potatoes onto baking sheet. Pour 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of cumin (optional) over sweet potatoes and toss with your hands to coat. Place in the oven and roast until browned and tender (approximately 20 minutes). In the last 5 minutes of cook time, chop the remaining jalapeno and use a spatula to stir it into the potatoes along with the remaining garlic and all of the scallions.

3. Make the Steak Rub: Pour half of the jalapeno slices, half the garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper into a small pile on a cutting board and keep cutting through the mixture with your knife until the jalapeno releases juices and you have made a wet paste. Rub mixture over steaks.

4. Cook the Steaks: Rub a grill pan with 1 teaspoon of canola oil and place over high heat. Once grill starts to smoke, add steaks and cook to medium rare, turning once (approximately 3-4 minutes per side). Remove to a plate and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Slice against the grain and make sure to save the juices on your plate to use later.

5. Dice the avocado by cutting in half, removing the pit, using a pairing knife to cross hatch the flesh and scoop out flesh with a spoon.

To Serve: Divide sweet potatoes between two bowls and drizzle the steak pan juices over each. Fan sliced steak over potatoes and top with diced avocado.

Do you have any tips for easy weeknight dinners?

Want to try Terra’s Kitchen for yourself? Use code SIMM30 at check out and save $30 off your first order (no expiration). The only condition is a minimal order of $64.99 (which is always the minimum to ship). Enjoy!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Terra’s Kitchen. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Uncategorized Tagged With: 30 Minute Meals, budget friendly meals, Easy Meal Ideas, family meals, home delivery meals, meal, Terra's Kitchen

Find Your Tasty Moment at Taste Of Downtown San Diego | September 15th 5-9pm

September 12, 2016 by Danielle

Downtown San Diego is fast becoming known for its incredible food, bustling nightlife, and diverse culture. With so many options for your next meal out, it can be daunting to pick just one – but on Thursday, September 15th, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., you don’t have to!

The Taste of Downtown, sponsored by Makers Quarter, offers you the chance to sample bites from 40 different restaurants throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, East Village, and the Downtown Core. For those 21 and up, Blue Chair Bay Rum will be shaking up cocktails at several restaurants to accompany their tasty offerings. Taste of Downtown tickets can be purchased in advance for just $30, or $35 the day of the event.

Taste Of Downtown San Diego | September 15th 5-9pm

WHEN: Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

WHERE: Will call will be located at Rustic Root at 672 Fifth Avenue, 535 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101. Participating restaurants are located in the neighborhoods of the Gaslamp Quarter, East Village, Downtown Core District, and Headquarters.

SHUTTLE: Old Town Trolley will be available throughout the evening to transport tasters to each area and neighborhood of the Taste of Downtown.

HOW MUCH: Tickets for this savory stroll are just $30 in advance and $35 the day-of the event, and all proceeds will benefit the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Get your ticket early, as this year will most definitely sell out! For tickets and further information visit www.downtownsandiego.org/events/annual-taste-of-downtown/

Restaurants Participating

With more restaurants added daily, below is a list of participating Taste of Downtown restaurants. Restaurants with an asterisk are featuring cocktails for those 21 and up!

Gaslamp
AD Night Club
Analog *
BiCE Ristorante San Diego *
Blush Ice Bar + East West Kitchen *
Ciro’s Pizzeria and Beerhouse
Coyote Ugly Saloon
Don Chido *
Gourmet India *
Henry’s Pub and Restaurant *
Le Parfait Paris
Ocean Pacific Grille
Rei Do Gado Brazilian Steakhouse
Rockin’ Baja Lobster *
Royal India
Rustic Root *
Searsucker San Diego
The Field Irish Pub *
Tin Roof
Whiskey Girl

Headquarters
Gelato Paradiso
Seasons 52

The Core
BIGA
Carne Asada Bravo
Dobson’s Bar and Restaurant *
Parq Restaurant *
San Diego Donut Bar *
Sixth Avenue Bistro
Tender Greens
Time Out Sports Tavern *

East Village
Bondar’s Coffee and Sweets
Bub’s @ the Ballpark
Chillbox Greek Frozen Yogurt
Cute Cakes
East Village Tavern + Bowl
Knotty Barrel Gastro Pub
Lotus Thai Cuisine Downtown
Salvucci’s
Social Tap
The Blind Burro
The Deck at Moonshine Flats
Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery

Check out San Diego’s thriving downtown dining scene! The Downtown San Diego Partnership invites you to treat yourself and go guilt free. This tasty evening out will give attendees the opportunity to enjoy a tasting tour of Downtown’s favorite restaurants and new additions.

What restaurant are you most looking forward to trying out?

I’ll be giving away a pair of tickets on Facebook this afternoon so keep your eye out!

Filed Under: Events, Restaurants, San Diego, Uncategorized Tagged With: Downtown, San DIego, San Diego Events, San Diego Restaurants, Taste Of Downtown

Grilled Steak Sandwich with Garlic Aioli Recipe

September 10, 2016 by Danielle

It still very much feel like summer here. And that means I do not feel like cooking. So this weekend as we watched a little football we grilled up some steak sandwiches to munch on. Since I didn’t want just a plain steak sandwich I decided to make a delicious roasted garlic aioli to give the sandwich more flavor.

While the barbecue was heating up to 400 degrees I put some garlic heads in some foil (bottom sliced off) with a good amount of olive oil. I sealed the foil and added it to the barbecue.

The garlic roasted while the steaks cooked and continued cooking while the steaks rested and took about 20 minutes to cook. Everything else went quickly after the garlic was ready. And everything was done on the grill! Well… except the salad. But you can always grill your salad next time.

Grilled Steak Sandwich with Garlic Aioli Recipe

Grilled Steak Sandwiches with Garlic Aioli

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

2 steaks
1 pack sliced provolone cheese
1 pack french rolls or hamburger buns
garlic aioli (see below for recipe)

Instructions

Preheat grill. Season steaks with salt and pepper. Cook steaks on grill until medium (slightly pink throughout inside).
Set steaks aside to rest. Add rolls to grill to toast up. Take off once they have grill marks.
Cut steak against the grain in thin strips. Slather each roll with a bit of aioli and add a good pile of steak on top. Top with provalone. Add to the top rack of the grill (or not directly over the coals if using a charcoal grill) and close the lid. Cook just long enough for cheese to melt.
Serve with a tasty salad and enjoy!

Roasted Garlic Aioli

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Ingredients

1 whole head of garlic
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Dash Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Instructions

Preheat grill to 400 degrees. Slice off bottom of garlic head and put on a square piece of foil. Add olive oil to foil and wrap closed. Put garlic on grill and let roast 20 minutes.
Let garlic cool. While garlic is cooling, mix all other ingredients together and set aside.
Once garlic has cooled, squeeze garlic from the skin and place in a small bowl. Using a fork, mash the garlic up into smaller pieces and add to the mayo mixture. Stir well.
Use to top the steak sandwiches (recipe above). Store in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

What’s your favorite tailgating meal?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: barbecue, bbq, grilling, grilling recipes, sandwiches, sauces, spreads, steak

Disney On Ice Presents Passport to Adventure In San Diego Oct. 6-9

September 7, 2016 by Danielle

Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as your tour guides a magical globetrotting getaway as they travel to the timeless worlds of Disney’s The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and the #1 animated feature film of all time, Frozen, in Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure! Celebrate some of the most memorable Disney tales and landscapes with all your favorite characters in one fun-filled ice production, coming to San Diego from October 6th – 9th at the Valley View Casino Center.

Mickey and Minnie will take audiences on a sightseeing adventure created for the entire family to explore the African Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa; voyage deep under the sea to Ariel’s mystical underwater kingdom and tour London with Peter Pan and Wendy before flying to Neverland to meet up with Tinker Bell. Plus, travel to Arendelle for an extraordinary adventure with sisters Anna and Elsa, rugged mountain man Kristoff and everyone’s favorite, huggable snowman Olaf, as they journey to discover that true love is the most magical power of all.

Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure features an international team of award-winning figure skaters, high-energy choreography and a colorful set that captures all four unique worlds. Upbeat music, lovable characters and unforgettable moments make this an experience families will cherish forever!

Showtimes:

Thursday, October 6 – Sunday, October 9

Thursday, Oct. 6 7:00 PM

Friday, Oct. 7 7:00 PM

Saturday, Oct. 8 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, Oct. 9 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Location:

Valley View Casino Center
3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego CA 92110

Tickets:

Ticket prices start at just $15!

Special Opening Night discount tickets available for only $12 each (not valid for VIP/Front Row levels)

All seats are reserved; tickets are available for purchase online at AXS.com, charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or visit the Valley View Casino Center Box Office.
*tickets prices are subject to change; additional venue/ticketing fees may apply

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Passport To Adventure, along with the full line up of Disney On Ice productions for the 2016-2017 season, go on sale July 7, 2016. Visit http://presale.disneyonice.com for the shows and dates coming to your hometown.

Which Disney character are you most looking forward to seeing?

Don’t forget to check Disney on Ice out online on Facebook and twitter too!!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DisneyonIce
YouTube: www.youtube.com/DisneyonIce
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DisneyonIce
Website: www.disneyonice.com

* This giveaway is now closed *

Congrats Debbie Terry!

Open to US only, 18+. Must be able to attend this event in San Diego on October 6. This giveaway ends September 29, 2016 at 11:59EST. Tickets are valid for weekday performances only (Thursday at 7pm).

Mandatory Entry
Please comment* below with your (or your child’s) favorite Disney character and/or why you’re excited for Disney on Ice.

Bonus Entries

These entries are NOT required, they just give you a few extra chances to win, do one two, or them all, it’s up to you. Please leave a separate comment for each entry you complete. Please note that your COMMENT is your entry, not the action you perform.

1. Do you Like us on Facebook – leave a comment and let us know!
2. Follow us on Instagram and leave a comment with your Instagram url so we can follow back!
3. Follow us on Pinterest and leave a comment with your Pinterest url.
4. Follow us on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter user name.
5. Tweet this and leave a comment with your tweet URL. (you may do this twice a day with at least 2 hours in between each tweet, please leave a comment each time)

Enter to win a 4pack of tickets to Disney on Ice Passport To Adventure in #SanDiego from @SimmworksFamily! https://acraftyspoonful.com/disney-ice-passport-adventure/ Ends 9/29

Thank you and good luck!

*Important: By completing any entry in our giveaways, you agree to ALL of our giveaway terms and conditions. Comments such as “Thank you for the giveaway” “I want to win” etc will not be counted as the mandatory entry and will be deleted along with all corresponding bonus entries. Please be aware that comments are moderated and may not appear right away. Make sure you use a valid email address so we may notify you if you’ve won! Giveaway winners will receive their tickets through the mail directly. Winner must provide mailing address to receive these tickets.

Disclaimer: I received tickets in exchange for promotion of this show. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Events, San Diego, Uncategorized Tagged With: disney, Disney on Ice, Disney on Ice Passport To Adventure

Top 5 Things to Do At Knotts Spooky Farm

1. Ghost Town

2. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

3. Dia de los Muertos

4. Spooktacular Costume Contest

5. Spooky Hollow Maze

What’s your favorite Knotts Spooky Farm activity?

Football Party Snack Ideas

Savory Dips: Grammy’s Green Chile Dip with Jack Cheese

Sweet Dips with Touchdown Toppings

What’s your favorite game day snack?

Movie Night Popcorn Bark

What’s your favorite movie night snack?

Baby Sprinkle Gift Ideas for the Second Time Mom

Feeding

First Aid

Fun & Play

What was your favorite baby shower gift you’ve received?

The Storks movie hit theaters on September 23rd and is rated PG

Double Standard Kitchenette | San Diego Gaslamp

Double Standard | Restaurant Week Menu Highlights

San Diego Restaurant Week | September 25th – October 2nd 2016

What restaurant are you looking forward to trying?

5 Tips for Making Weeknight Dinners Easier

1. Meal Delivery

2. Meal Planning

3. Prepping Ahead

4. Freezer Meals

5. Time Management

Southwestern Steak and Sweet Potatoes Bowl

Do you have any tips for easy weeknight dinners?

Taste Of Downtown San Diego | September 15th 5-9pm

Restaurants Participating

What restaurant are you most looking forward to trying out?

Grilled Steak Sandwich with Garlic Aioli Recipe

Grilled Steak Sandwiches with Garlic Aioli

Roasted Garlic Aioli

What’s your favorite tailgating meal?

Showtimes:

Location:

Tickets:

Which Disney character are you most looking forward to seeing?

*** This giveaway is now closed ***

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* This giveaway is now closed *