Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

Today we’re sharing some great baby gift ideas for the third child with help from our sponsor, Huggies. Read on to find out what we’re leaving under the tree for our little one this year.

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

As a mother of three I never thought there’d come a day where I was clueless at what to get one of my children for Christmas. There’s always something that they are wanting for even if it’s a small book or toy. But for Baby’s First Christmas, it’s hard to look at everything we have handed down to our third child from the first two and think of something else she needs for Christmas. I did what I always do in these situations and reached out to my mama tribe. You know, that group of online women who will help out whenever you need them? And who would have known? Every.single.idea was something we already had or gifted to the other two previously.

Why not wrap up something they don’t play with anymore and give it to her, right? Wrong. The other two would be mighty suspicious if I just wrapped up a bunch of their old toys to give to her. So, instead of wasting money on things she won’t use, I’ve come up with some practical gifts to place under the tree this holiday season for the third child. Especially on their first Christmas.

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child - diapers

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

1. Diapers

So maybe this sounds boring, but after making the switch to disposable diapers after our third child was born, I realized the importance of staying stocked up on the basics. Even if it’s a bit boring. And with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, why not wrap a box of Huggies Little Movers diapers to put under the tree for your little one? My baby loves playing with the diaper boxes. In fact, she’s pretty obsessed with the babies ON the boxes and continues to talk and wave to them every time she finds the box in my closet. So a box of diapers is not only fun for my 10 month old, but something we’ll be using in the near future!

And like everyone else this time of year, I need to be able to easily grab what I need for baby and the family. Three kids means lots of parties, events, and presents to organize. So I get a little help during the holiday season – and throughout the year – with my Sam’s Club membership. I can use Sam’s Club pick up and have everything I’ve ordered ready for me when I arrive. Wrangling 3 kids in the store isn’t always the most fun so the option to have everything ready for me when I arrive makes the trip a lot smoother.

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Our go-to brand of diapers for Norah when we made the transition was Huggies. We used the Little Snugglers and loved how soft and absorbent they were. We weren’t woken up to find that they leaked at night like the others we’ve tried to use, and they kept her dry during the day as well. I was a huge fan of the wetness indicator! Now that she’s moving non-stop (Did I mention she’s cruising along now? Crazy how fast that happens!), we’ve switched over to the Huggies Little Movers. With DryTouch liner, contoured shape, Double grip strips, and leak lock protection, it’s Huggies moving Baby System!

2. Wipes

Just like diapers, wipes are something we use for EVERYTHING. Not just wiping bottoms! From washing toys that fell on the ground at a restaurant, to cleaning off surfaces, to wiping faces, wipes are not only useful in various situations, but they’re fun to pull out too. Just ask Norah. She’s emptied a wipe container faster than any of the others. And I only had my back turned for a second! They also serve as a chew toy if you aren’t fast enough to grab it too. Mmm… wipes!

I stock up on the big box of wipes from Sam’s Club and then wrap each individual wipe up so there’s more ripping and tearing. Then you can add the wipes back to the big box and wrap that up too! Who doesn’t love more presents to open?

3.  Clothes

Now for older kids this is the most boring present to receive, at least for my son. My daughter jumps for joy at the sight of clothes. As long as she approves and loves. But babies… babies love to play in clothes. When Norah see’s a freshly laundered pile of clothes on the living room couch she makes a bee line for them. And promptly pulls each and every piece off of the couch and onto the floor. So the dog can lay on them. FUN stuff right?

Since kids are constantly growing, and finding new ways to dirty up and stain their current clothes, new clothes is always a fun way to add more boxes under the tree to unwrap. Plus, if your baby is anything like mine, she’ll have it out of the box and playing with the outfit on the floor in no time.

4. Sippy Cups

Sippy cups and bottles are always disappearing in my home. I can have a full cupboard one day and later in the week there’s none to be found! Now that Norah is getting closer to a year, we’re starting to make the transition from bottles to sippy cups so we’ll be gifting her with a lot of varieties under the tree this year. The big man himself has even mentioned putting one or two in her stocking. The straw kind, of course. Because that’s what she prefers right now. Easier to spit out the contents when she’s sucking it out with a straw!

5. Boxes

Now of course the most obvious gift of all, and one we’ve been talking about all along, are boxes. Norah is a climber. You put down anything on the ground and she’s climbing right over it. Even if it’s only 2 inches up. Boxes are a huge deal to her and she loves being able to play with them. So we’re practical and stock up on the boxes that come in the mail with other presents (remember that Sam’s Club pick up? Well they also deliver too from online! Boxes galore here…). You can choose to wrap them, or leave them unwrapped. We prefer using some of the packing paper that came in the mailed boxes and recycling that as wrapping paper. Then grab a sharpie and start writing away!

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child - boxes

What will your baby be enjoying under the tree this Christmas?

A Colorful Affair: Adult Coloring Party

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Sometimes you just need to sit down with your girlfriends, mimosa in hand, and color! And that’s just what I did last week at the adult coloring party I hosted with the help of our sponsor, Prismacolor Premier®. Read on to see how easy it is to host an adult coloring party with your friends!

A Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party

Over the past few months, the only thing I’ve heard a handful of my friends talk about is adult coloring. No, not adults coloring. But adult coloring books with beautiful intricate designs and themes for grown-ups to sit down and color with. With this craze comes a little bit of sanity for those who hop on board. It’s been confirmed that those who sit down to enjoy a few minutes of coloring each day have actually found that they’re less stressed!

A Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party coloring books and pensA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party coloring pens and pencils

Since so many of my girlfriends have expressed an interest in adult coloring books, I was pleased to host this adult coloring party for a few local blogger friends with the help of Prismacolor Premier® products last week. It was a wonderful morning filled with great conversation, good food, and relaxing coloring for all. I don’t remember the last time I sat down to color but I’ll be doing it a lot more frequently now that I’m hooked!

A Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party food spreadA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party with brunch foodA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party fruit and cheese tree

Tips for Hosting An Adult Coloring Party

1. Fun and Easy Food

Egg Bake + Cinnamon Pecan Pullapart Bread + Fruit and Cheese Tree

When I host get-togethers for the girls I always have one homemade item, and then the rest store bought. Not only does it make things easier on me as I get ready for things but it also allows me to focus more on the guests the day of because I’m not running around trying to finish up making this or that.

For this event, I chose to make a delicious egg bake with bacon, cheddar, and broccoli. I picked up a cinnamon pecan pull apart bread from the store and made a festive fruit and cheese tree with cubed cheese and grapes. The tree was very easy to make. I added two mandarin oranges to the top as a tree topper and the bottom as a tree stump and then added pretzel crisps to the last layer to use with the cheese for snacking.

The egg bake and pull apart bread were served on the main buffet spread and the fruit and cheese tree was set out on the dining room table so we could munch as we colored. Who doesn’t love to munch along as they color and visit?

A Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party mimosa barA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party with mimosasA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party mimosa bar name tagsA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party mimosas

2. Drink Options

Mimosa Bar

Mimosa bars are perfect for morning get-togethers! They pair perfectly with the breakfast foods I was serving and guests can choose to either pour a mimosa or just drink the juice. For this simple mimosa bar, I grabbed a few glass juice carafes and some champagne glasses.

I paired together orange juice and cranberry juice to bring more color to the spread. As for the champagne, I grabbed my favorite local almond champagne. And some non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice for the non-drinkers.

Grab a few gift tags and Prismacolor Premier markers to make name tags for the drinks!

Hot Cocoa Bar

Another great addition to any brunch or evening event during the winter months is a hot cocoa bar. It adds a little sweetness and some warmth to the event. Plus there are so many fun additions and toppings one can add to their hot cocoa to make it personalized to their taste. Grab a pot of coffee to add to the mix so guests can make mochas too!

I chose to use my single serve coffee machine and some hot cocoa cups I had, however, I’ve also made a delicious batch of slow cooker hot chocolate in the past with this recipe for a little adult fun.  I’ve also passed out these cute hot cocoa snowmen as gifts and favors at parties before.

A Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party hot cocoa barA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party hot cocoa bar toppingsA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party hot cocoa bar and coffee station

3. Adult Coloring Books + Colored Pencils

And, of course, for the star of the event, adult coloring books are a must! Each guest should have either a few adult coloring print-outs or a coloring book of their own to enjoy during the event. Pair with Prismacolor Premier coloring pencils and you have the perfect outlet for moms to relax, de-stress and re-energize during the often-stressful holiday season.

In the living room and the dining room table I put a few coloring books out with packs of Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. I also used a roll of butcher paper as table runners for both the coffee table and dining room table so guests could doodle and find out what colors they wanted to use.

Coloring together allows friends, families and co-workers an opportunity to take a moment together to reflect and reenergize, sparking creativity and inducing productivity. It’s a relaxing way to reconnect with each other. We enjoyed chatting around the table about work, life, and everything else in between.

A Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party coloring with prismacolor pencilsA Colorful Affair Adult Coloring Party coloring in the lines

What do you love to do when you get together with your girlfriends?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Prismacolor Premier®.

Knott’s Berry Farm New Years Eve Celebration

Disclaimer: This post featuring Knott’s New Year’s Eve is brought to you by GigaSaavy

The countdown to the New Year is on at Knott’s Berry Farm! Knott’s is the place to ring in 2016 with a night full of special family-friendly experiences, including live musical acts, exclusive stage shows, and Merry Farm entertainment, culminating in a fantastic fireworks show.

We’ve been invited to head out and enjoy the celebration with our family and the kids couldn’t be more excited! As the final moments of 2015 countdown, the Knott’s Sky Cabin will dramatically rise over 200 ft. to the top of the “K” tower as special lighting effects countdown to midnight. When the cabin reaches the top at the stroke of midnight the “K” tower, the skies above Knott’s will light up with a spectacular fireworks show!

Knott’s Berry Farm is open from 10:00 am – 1:00 am and the New Year’s Eve Celebration is included with regular daytime admission. It’s the perfect way to ring in the new year with fun for the whole family! From an entertainment line up that’s not to be missed to a sky full of fireworks in celebration, this is a must attend event.

A 2016 Knott’s Season Pass is a great way to visit on New Year’s Eve. 2016 passes offer a year of family fun and includes one free visit in 2015, including the New Year’s event. And for a limited time, Season Passes can be purchased online for just 6 easy low payments of $13.50 each, the best price of the year.

Knott's New Year's Eve Fireworks

New Year’s Eve at Knott’s Berry Farm

There’s live entertainment everywhere you turn. Adding to the lineup of can’t miss entertainment are:

  • Jumpin’ Joz Band and Memories Swing Dancers invite guests to jump and jive to the sounds of Jumpin’ Joz. Join them on the dance floor and boogie into the New Year. Guests have the opportunity to learn a few moves from expert swing dancers.
  • THE REFLEXX is the best 80’s new wave cover band around who cover songs from bands such as Depeche Mode, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, New Order, A-Ha, The Cure, Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls, Devo, and more.
  • DJ Howly’s eclectic mix of high energy music will transform Calico Square in the place to celebrate the new year and offers a great view of the Midnight Fireworks Spectacular
  • Family-friendly comedian, Taylor Hughes, brings his hilarious comedy, magic and fun audience interaction to Boardwalk Ballroom
  • Midnight Fireworks Spectacular – Ring in the New Year with a bang. Look to the western skies for an aerial fireworks display that will amaze. And don’t miss the spectacular countdown to midnight on the Sky Cabin tower.

A New Year’s Eve celebration is not complete without a delicious meal, and Knott’s has just what you need. The New Year’s Eve buffet in Spurs Restaurant will be served from 4pm-9pm; prices are $34.99+tax for adults and $18.99+ tax for kids (3-11).

Where will you be celebrating New Year’s Eve with the kids?

Keto Friendly Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

Keto Friendly Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

We’re whipping up more LCHF goodness over at Low Carb San Diego! You can find this deliciously easy low carb broccoli and cauliflower cheese soup recipe posted today. Not only is it minimal ingredients, it takes less than half an hour to make. Plus you can double the batch to heat up later and enjoy all week. Talk about an easy meal plan!

You can find the full recipe here.

Pinterest Inspiration

5 Awesome Family Movie Night Movies For Kids Coming Out Soon

5 Awesome Family Movie Night Movies For Kids Coming Out Soon

I don’t know about you but I love to hoard a few movies from my kids to bust out on lazy days. Or rainy days where we don’t have any other plans. Being able to sneak out a movie that just came out and share it with them is always fun! Plus it’s a great excuse to pop some popcorn and snuggle up. I’ve received a few DVDs for review with the kids and cannot wait to share them with you so you can enjoy your own family movie night soon!

5 Awesome Family Movie Night Movies For Kids - Minions

5 Awesome Family Movie Night Movies

1. Minions

Are your minions… er… kids as excited about Minions on DVD/Blu Ray as mine are? As soon as my daughter heard them announce that Minions were available, she hounded me every day until the day it was released. Talk about pressure when you are trying to save a movie as a Christmas gift! Now that the cat’s out of the bag and the movie won’t be a Christmas gift, we’re looking at other Minions inspired gifts Santa can place in the kids stockings this year. If you have a Minions fan in your home, you won’t want to miss these!

The breakout stars the world fell in love with in Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me global film franchise headline their own movie for the first time in Minions, available on Digital HD November 24, 2015, and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on December 8, 2015 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. A much anticipated prequel to the unprecedented worldwide blockbusters Despicable Me and the beloved sequel Despicable Me 2, Minions is an immensely entertaining film for all audiences called “inventive and hilarious” by Julian Roman, Movieweb.com. The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Digital HD also come with three all-new mini-movies and even more Minions everyone will want to watch again and again especially during the busy holiday travel season.

5 Awesome Family Movie Night Movies For Kids - Wild Kratts

2. Wild Kratts Australian Adventures

PBS is releasing “WILD KRATTS: AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES” on DVD January 5, 2016. “AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES” includes three episodes of the PBS KIDS hit series WILD KRATTS, one of which is a bonus story! From exploring how a thorny devil drinks water to learning about a koala’s favorite food, kids can join the Kratt Brothers as they travel throughout Australia and provide insight into some amazing and unique animals.

In the first two episodes on this DVD, the Kratt Brothers explore the Australian Outback. In “Koala Balloon,” the brothers find a stranded koala in the desert. In order to help the koala the brothers work to get their new friend back to its eucalyptus forest habitat. In “Kickin’ it with the Roos,” the brothers are motoring through the Australian Outback in the createrra looking for red kangaroos. When the brothers finally locate a mob of red kangaroos, they run into trouble when the keys to the createrra are stolen by a joey. This episode also features two fascinating birds – a kookaburra and a wedge-tailed eagle!

In the bonus episode on this DVD, “Platypus Café,” the brothers learn about one of the most unusual animals in the world – the duck-billed platypus. In order to get to know this creature, Martin and Chris use the miniaturizer to shrink and enter a platypus burrow.

3. Hotel Transylvania 2

Sony Pictures Animation’s monster family box-office hit HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2, which grossed more than $430 million in theaters worldwide to date, will debut on Digital HD Dec. 22, just in time for holiday viewing and on Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on Jan. 12 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

The Hotel Transylvania sequel reunites ‘Drac’s Pack’ of loveable characters, led by “Vampa” Drac (Adam Sandler, Grown-Ups) as they try to put Mavis (Selena Gomez, Spring Breakers) and Johnny’s (Andy Samberg, TV’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) son Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp to bring out his vampire side. But little do they know that Drac’s grumpy and very old, old, old school dad Vlad (comedy legend Mel Brooks) is about to pay the family a visit to the hotel. And when Vlad finds out that his great-grandson is not a pure blood and humans are now welcome at Hotel Transylvania, it doesn’t take long for things to get batty!

4. Captain Jake and the Neverland Pirates: The Great Never Sea Conquest

Captain Jake and the Neverland Pirates: The Great Never Sea Conquest is available to Own on Disney DVD on Jan. 12! Join newly promoted Captain Jake as he unites Never Land’s all-time greatest pirates! When evil mer-witch Ezmeralda tries to take over the Never Sea by awakening the Strake, a legendary three-headed sea serpent, Jake and his crew try to intervene but encounter Lord Fathom and his sidekick Sinker. Jake forms a team of “Never Land League of Pirate Captains” to battle them all and in the process, outfitted with a magical new sword and a powerful new ship, (the Mighty Colossus), he becomes a Captain himself. Loaded with excitement, additional adventures and a powerful message about believing in yourself, this high-stakes, high-seas adventure is oceans of swashbuckling fun for everyone!

5. Snow White

Forever enchanting and inspiring, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs embodies The Walt Disney Signature Collection’s legacy of animation. In this epic story of love and friendship, the kind and beautiful princess Snow White wins the hearts of the Seven Dwarfs and triumphs over the evil plans of a wicked Queen. Share the movie called “The Greatest Animated Film Of All Time,” (American Film Institute) on Blu-ray February 2nd and on Digital HD January 19th, with special features for the entire family!

What’s your child’s favorite movie right now?

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SamsClubMag #CollectiveBias

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts

As the seasons change and winter draws closer, I am still dreaming about pumpkin goodies. I’ve made quite a few delicious foods with pumpkin before and love what a great alternative it is to oils and butter in my recipes (although I’m not one to knock oil or butter!). It just brings a richness to certain dishes and a delicious flavor. Plus it’s full of fiber and vitamins! One thing I’ve missed since changing to a LCHF lifestyle, are the pumpkin muffins, waffles, and donuts I make every year. 

I decided to jump in and start recreating my favorite high carb pumpkin recipes into a lower carb option. I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with the results! While these donuts are a little dense, they have the pumpkin flavor I’ve been craving and pair perfectly with a cup of coffee! I could eat them with or without the frosting. And if you’re not a fan of salty with your sweet, omit the pumpkin seeds on top or chop them smaller!

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts - the perfect LCHF pumpkin treat during the holidays

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts

Serves 8 | Calories: 116 Carbs: 5 Fat: 9  Protein: 5 Fiber: 2

Ingredients

For the donuts:

  • 1 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar free granular baking sweetener
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting (not included in nutritional info as portions vary):

  • 1 ounce softened butter
  • 1 ounce softened cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon sugar free maple syrup
  • pumpkin seeds (optional)

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts - making the batter

1. Plug in your donut maker to preheat. Mix together the donut ingredients until well incorporated. Batter will be a little thick.

2. Pour or spoon in batter into each well of the donut maker per your donut maker’s guidelines, don’t overfill!

3. Let bake until slightly golden and done inside.

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts - baked in a donut maker

4. While donuts are baking, whip up the frosting by adding all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisking together until incorporated.

5. When donuts are done, dunk them upside down into the frosting bowl. Place right side up onto a plate and top with pumpkin seeds.

And you’re done! Enjoy.

Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts - add frosting and roasted pumpkin seeds

Looking for more great recipe ideas? Check out these Healthy Living recipes here! You can find lighter versions of your favorite dishes and don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on anything. Plus you can find everything you need for a lighter holiday at Sam’s Club! We were able to find all of our ingredients in the baking aisle.

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Keto Friendly Pumpkin Donuts - perfect with a glass of almond milk

How do you lighten up your recipes during the holidays?

9 Amazingly Delectable Gingerbread Recipes for the Holidays

9 Amazingly Delectable Gingerbread Recipes

I have a confession to make. I’m a bit obsessed right now. Obsessed about gingerbread! And not just the classic cookies and houses (although I have a recipe for those that I share below). I’m talking gingerbread cakes, gingerbread casseroles, and gingerbread bread puddings!

Have a piqued your interest yet? If so, read below to find some deliciously tasty gingerbread recipes from some of my favorite bloggers!

9 Amazingly Delectable Gingerbread Recipes for the Holidays

Soft-and-Chewy-Gingerbread-cookies

1. As I mentioned previously, I have a stellar gingerbread cookie recipe that can be used any time of the year. And you don’t just have to make gingerbread men (and women) if you don’t like! This is great for ornament cookies, various shapes, etc. And the results are a fabulously soft and chewy cookie that’s amazing. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!

2. Sometimes the classic recipes are the ones we start to crave. Grandma’s cookies. This old fashioned gingerbread recipe from Vintage Recipe Project is definitely one of those. You can find it by visiting their site here

3. But enough about the classics. Bring on some new, innovating gingerbread! That’s exactly what Betsy of BetsyLife did in this gingerbread pineapple upside down cake recipe. OMG! Seriously… how good does this sound? I cannot wait to make it this weekend for the family.

mini-gingerbread-cakes

4. And then there are the cute, mini gingerbread cakes from Made With Happy. Just thinking of them makes me happy! So festive and perfect for parties. The drizzle of icing makes them even more irresistible.

5. What isn’t better with banana? Living Sweet Moments paired it up with gingerbread wonderfully in this banana gingerbread recipe with brown butter glaze. Sounds just as good as it looks!

6. I love a recipe that can also serve as decor as well. And who wouldn’t want these cookies perched on the edge of a mug or added to a place card. These olive oil gingerbread cookies from Family Spice are a bit different than the traditional gingerbread recipe but the results? Well… they’re worth it!

gingerbread-french-toast-casserole-recipe

7. One of my favorite things to make for guests when they come to visit for brunch is french toast casserole. Not only is it super simple to make, but it uses up the leftover bread I might have around that won’t get eaten. How awesome is that? Now this gingerbread french toast casserole from BetsyLife is the perfect spin on this classic crowd pleaser for the holidays. Great for Christmas breakfast! 

8. I can honestly say that I’ve never had gingerbread pudding. But Texas Type A Mom makes it look so good in this pumpkin gingerbread pudding recipe. What kid would say no to that? 

9. To round out our 9 delectable gingerbread recipes is my favorite one of all. My gingerbread cake recipe. Not only is this amazing cake easy to make, it’s also perfect for breakfast OR dessert and pairs well with coffee, ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream. Now it isn’t overly sweet, so if you prefer something on the sweet side, I suggest whipping up some cream cheese frosting.

gingerbread-cake

What’s your favorite way to incorporate gingerbread into the holidays?

LEGOLAND California Holiday Snow Days Are Here

Legoland California Holiday Snow Days 2015

This past Monday our family was invited to head out to LEGOLAND California and enjoy their Holiday Snow Days. Not only did we get to enjoy some fun in the snow, but there are so many fun seasonal things to do at LEGOLAND right now.

As soon as we walked into the park we were greeted with smiles and cheer. I headed over to grab a coffee before we made our way through the park to check out all of the fun celebrations happening. The winter fun runs until January 3rd 2016 and includes festive treats, holiday entertainment, cheerful decorations, family fun activities and nightly fireworks from December 26th through December 31st, 2015. 

Legoland CA Holiday Snow Days Legoland CA Holiday Snow Days - LEGO tree

The Park’s Fun Town transforms into a winter wonderland with two snow play areas for families to throw snowballs at LEGO themed targets, do a little sledding, build snowmen using LEGO accessories, and join in the Holiday Village Build at the LEGO Clubhouse. Plus guests can enjoy a holiday show from the LEGO Friends, Jingle Jammers, and the Holiday Character Dance Party featuring the LEGOLAND elves, Jingle Joe and Tinsel Toe.

Legoland CA Holiday Snow Days - playing in the snow Legoland CA Holiday Snow Days - eating snow

That’s not it! 

SEA LIFE Aquarium is getting in on the fun with a holiday-themed Daily Dive Show, crafting events and “green” holiday tips. LEGOLAND Hotel is also decking the halls with Holiday decor and themed LEGO building contests. Holiday Snow Days continues as LEGOLAND celebrates the New Year with San Diego’s biggest Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party on December 31st.

Legoland CA Holiday Snow Days - sledding

Looking for a fun way to celebrate the holidays? Grab the kids and head out to LEGOLAND for some snowy fun!

LEGOLAND California Resort is extending its Park hours for the winter holiday during these dates: November 27 & 28, December 5, 12, 19-23 and 26-31. LEGOLAND California Resort is also offering a gift for the holiday guests; from November 1st through December 24th 2015, select a date online to visit LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Aquarium between November 21st and January 3rd to purchase your one-day hopper ticket for only $90!

All Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights activities located inside the Park are included in the price of a LEGOLAND California admission ticket.

Planning a trip to Legoland CA soon? Check out our highlights:

For more Legoland CA fun, check out these great posts:
The LEGO Movie 4D at Legoland CA
Legoland Heartlake City
5 Reasons Why Star Wars Lovers Should Visit Legoland California
Top 5 Things to Do at Legoland California When You’re 5

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candle

During the holidays I’m always looking for easy DIY ways to decorate the house. I also love any decoration that could be turned into a makeshift gift. After a little trip to Ikea I found these awesome larger tealight candles that are perfect for making my own candles for different seasons.

This homemade cranberry tealight candle takes a mason jar, some cranberries, and a tealight and makes it into so much more! If you have a few of these supplies lying around why not try your hand at making your own decorative candle for the holidays. Add a bit of twine and you have the perfect centerpiece or mantle display.

How to Make a Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candle

What you’ll need:

  • regular mouth pint sized mason jars
  • bag of cranberries
  • Ikea GLIMMA candles
  • twine (optional)

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles supplies

What you do:

1. Take lid off mason jar and discard flat disc.

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles take off lid

2. Pour in cranberries.

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles  pour in cranberries

3. Stop at the fill line right below the neck of the jar.

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles fill to below lid line

4. Place the candle on top of the berries. Make sure it’s flush with the top of the jar.

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles add tealight

5. Screw on the lid.

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles screw on cap

6. Embellish with twine, or ribbon, and enjoy your candle!

Homemade Cranberry Tealight Candles finished

How do you create a festive atmosphere around the holidays?

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Cranberry Mustard Sauce Paired With Crispy Chicken Strips

We’re enjoying some delicious crispy chicken strips, provided by our sponsor Tyson®, with our cranberry mustard sauce recipe.

Cranberry Mustard Sauce - perfect for dipping!

My son. He’s addicted to chicken strips. Has been since he was younger. It’s the one thing he asks for in restaurants, something I always know he’ll eat when we are hosting an event, and is something I make for him when we eat lunch together on the weekends. But sometimes plain crispy chicken strips – while great for him – are just boring for me.

So I wanted to try something new to spruce them up. And in the spirit of the holidays, I decided to mix a classic Thanksgiving flavor with dijon mustard to create a cranberry mustard dipping sauce. Not only is it flavorful and pairs perfectly with chicken strips, it’s also a great spread for sandwiches and burgers as well!

Cranberry Mustard Sauce - a great dip, spread, or sauce

We whipped this up before we headed off to watch a screening of The Peanuts Movie. We’d already primed them by watching some classic Peanuts movies we had in the house but to be honest I think we were more excited to see the movie than they were. I’ve been waiting for this release for a while!

Tyson® crispy chicken strips are so awesome for a quick pre-movie meal. They’re easy to make and take no time to bake in the oven. And paired with the cranberry mustard sauce, we made the kids lunch something even the adults could enjoy. It was the perfect lunch for the whole family and the kids loved chatting about what we were going to see before heading off to the theater.

Cranberry Mustard Sauce

Cranberry Mustard Sauce

  • 1/2 cup Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Tyson® Crispy Chicken Strips to use to dip

Combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl, whisking until smooth. Serve as a dip withTyson® crispy chicken strips or use as a spread on your next turkey or chicken sandwich!

Tyson Chicken Tenders with Cranberry Mustard Sauce

Tyson at Sam's Club

I picked up theTyson® Crispy Chicken Strips at Sam’s Club during my last haul and I’m so glad I did. With a 3lb bag filled with all natural ingredients and 15 grams of protein I can feed my whole gang. Plus they’re fully cooked! Easy.

Crispy Chicken Tenders dipped in Cranberry Mustard Sauce

How are you gearing up for the new Peanuts movie?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson®. The opinions and text are all mine.



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