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Ways to Reduce Stress During The Holidays

November 3, 2016 by Danielle 1 Comment

This post was developed in partnership with Tom’s of Maine. All opinions are my own.

The holidays are upon us and the countdown is on to get all the things done before the end of the year. And for some that means a lot of stress all at once. Trying to get everything done, go to every event, and get everything one needs to make a great holiday season. But you don’t have to stress yourself out during the holidays!

I see my kids watching me, learning how to act and react by observing me. And I want to make sure they know what’s truly important in life. As they’re taking in everything I do, I want them to know that they are why I do everything I do. I also want my girls to know that it’s ok to think about themselves. To take time to care for themselves so they don’t get burnt out. And they’re really starting to pick up on it.

With these simple tips you can reduce stress during the holidays and enjoy more time with your family and friends. And that’s all that matters, right?

Ways to Reduce Stress During The Holidays

1. Exercise.

One of the first things I try to remember when I feel stress coming on is the last time I took a walk or worked out. I’ve found that I’m a lot less stressed when I burn off the extra tension I have built up. Plus it helps to have something to think about other than the long laundry list of to-do’s.

2. Meditate.

I know it sounds silly but taking just 5 minutes out of your day to focus on something positive really helps. Just sit down in a relaxing position, close your eyes, try to clear your head, and repeat a positive affirmation of your choosing. Allow it to help you focus on what you need to get done.

3. Eat Better.

Yes, I know, I know. It’s the holidays and the sweets are everywhere. But overindulging will only drag you down. Make sure not to skip meals either! While you may be busier than usual, keep a good high-protein snack at hand just in case you start to get hungry but aren’t able to get a good meal in. We’re all becoming more conscious of what goes in our body so try to make good eating decisions.

4. Sleep.

While it’s tempting to stay up all night checking off every box of your to-do list, sometimes it’s better to just start over in the morning. You’ll be more refreshed and your mind clearer. Consider trying to go to bed just 1/2 an hour earlier than normal and see if your body reacts to the change well. Make sure you’re giving yourself time to decompress at the end of the day before going to sleep.

5. Be Prepared.

For me, lists and calendar notifications are my friends during this busy season. I write everything down so I don’t forget it and if I do forget, I’ve already set a reminder on my calendar to pop up and tell me. Another great thing to do during the holiday season is meal plan and meal prep. By having freezer meals on hand, I don’t have to stress about feeding my family. And I always keep a stick of Toms of Maine natural deodorant in case things get… a little stinky… due to all of the running around I’ve been doing.

All of these tips have one thing in common: Take care of yourself!

Tom’s of Maine harnesses the power of nature for a more naturally effective way to care for yourself and your family. Tom’s of Maine natural deodorant is the best-selling natural deodorant and has been for decades. And it helps me stay smelling great even under stress with it’s clinically proven, 24-hour odor protection using odor-fighting hops and the mineral zinc and only natural fragrances.

Tom’s of Maine is introducing a new deodorant formula with new and improved scents, and as always, is free of aluminum, artificial fragrances and petrochemicals. And I have to tell you – it works! I’ve switched from my deodorant of many years to Tom’s over the past few weeks and I’m impressed with it’s ability to keep up with me.

Whether at the gym, in a PTG meeting, or while I’m working away at home trying to get everything done, I know Tom’s of Maine deodorant is right for me. And Tom’s of Maine products are right for my family.

Why am I so focused on staying less stressed and more “in the now” this holiday season? My kids.

My kids watch everything I do and are already starting to mimic me. So when I head into the bathroom in the morning to put on my deodorant, they want to as well. By switching to a natural, preservative and petrochemical-free deodorant I’m keeping the stink away without putting “bad stuff” on my skin and near my kids. And when my daughter wants to put it on too to be just like me, I don’t have to worry about her sensitive skin.

How are you de-stressing this holiday season?

Share in the comments below how you destress and be entered to win an assortment of three Tom’s of Maine Long Lasting deodorants!

Open to US only, 18+. Giveaway ends November 7th at 11:59pm PST and a winner will be randomly chosen November 8th and announced right here.

Want to enter to win more? Click here to enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a Tom’s of Maine tote, plus six Tom’s of Maine deodorants: Lavender, Tea Tree, Natural Powder, Unscented, Apricot and Lemongrass!

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. 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 prize through the mail directly. Winner must provide mailing address to receive these tickets.

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Uncategorized

Leftover Halloween Candy Blondies

November 1, 2016 by Danielle 10 Comments

This post featuring Leftover Halloween Candy Blondies originally appeared on our site on November 6th, 2012

With Halloween past us, the one thing I needed to do was get rid of all of the leftover Halloween candy. Especially the ones I loved… anything containing chocolate. So we went with a simple plan. We were going to turn our chocolate treasure into new, yummy treats to share with our friends and family.

This year we had not one but two trick-or-treaters and let me tell you that two adorable children in costumes are magnets for the good stuff. Yes, look at our score of yummy chocolate candies!

So I had to act fast and turn the above into something I could giveaway as a homemade goodie bound to attract attention and hungry mouths no longer wanting holiday candy. Good thing our extended family loves sweets! It took less than 2 days for the whole batch of blondies to be completely demolished. A few crumbs left in their place. And oh were they worth it!

If you’ve never heard of or made blondies before, think of them as the brownies’ distant cousin. Still ooey gooey but without the cocoa. You can basically put just about anything into a blondie. They’re a great catch all for any ingredients you have on hand and want to combine. We stuck with the Snickers, Reeses peanut butter cups, and Baby Ruths for these blondies. The m & ms are earmarked for cookies and the rest will be taken to work by my husband.

If you have any leftover candy in your cupboards or on your countertop you should definitely try to make these delicious bars of gooey goodness.

Leftover Halloween Candy Blondies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, almost melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pinch salt
1 cup flour
1 cup diced candy bars

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Grease an 8×8 baking pan. Cut up candy bars.

2. Cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy

3. Add in the egg and beat until well combined.

4. Add vanilla and salt and mix again.

5. Take bowl off stand mixer. Fold in flour until just combined.

6. Fold in candy bar pieces until just combined.

7. Spread mixture into pan and cook for 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

8. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes.

9. Turn onto a wire rack and let cool completely before digging in.

10. Cut into squares and serve.

Makes 16 servings

If you’re like me and cant wait to dig in, grab a small piece from the edge and enjoy it’s yummy gooeyness while everything’s still warm and hasn’t set. You’ll be glad you did. Then enjoy the rest when it’s cooled completely to enjoy the full effect of the melded flavors and crisp edges.

Do you have a great recipe for leftover Halloween candy?

I’d love to hear it!

Filed Under: Baking, Desserts, Halloween, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: baby ruth, Baking, Blondies, Dessert, Halloween candy, leftover candy, leftover halloween candy, reeses peanut butter cups, snickers

3 Tips On Creating Passwords For Kids

October 26, 2016 by Danielle 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post featuring 3 tips on creating passwords for kids and is written by me on behalf of LastPass. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the kids getting older and becoming more tech-saavy I’ve come to realize that I don’t have just my passwords to remember anymore. As I create accounts for my son and daughter on their various devices – iPad, Amazon Fire tablet, and even YouTube Kids – I’ve realized that keeping track of all of these sites and passwords has become a real chore. In an effort to reduce the clutter in my head, I’ve found an awesome solution with LastPass.

Now I can keep track of the passwords for the sites I log into as well as the sites I log my kids into. And I don’t have to let them know when I change their passwords either. I just make sure to update LastPass! This comes in handy when one of them loses their screen time and tries to hide the device from us. Yes… it’s happened before.

Are you ready to make your life easier?

Source: LastPass

3 Tips On Creating Passwords For Kids

1. Get creative with your passwords – Consider using a phrase instead of a word and replacing some letters with numbers as well as symbols to help strengthen your password. Since each site should have it’s own password, change a few letters and numbers of the phrase for each site. This will create a stronger password and allow you to change each site’s password slightly using the same phrase or words.

2. Sign up for LastPass – start writing down all of the passwords you create for the family in your LastPass account. Getting started with Last Pass is easy and even better its free, you can Get LastPass for Free here! You can manage and keep track of everything all through LastPass.

3. Manage Your Passwords – LastPass is accessible wherever you are so you don’t have to worry about forgetting the 50 passwords you already have. You will never be without your passwords and you can now keep your passwords and life in order. But just in case, always make sure to answer the security questions on the site you’re setting your password up with so you can retrieve it in case you don’t add it to your LastPass account. You’ll also want to manage your passwords and update them every 6-12 months just in case.

3-tips-on-creating-passwords-for-kids-lastpass-vault

Source: LastPass

With LastPass you can access things quickly and easily while reducing the frustration that comes from different passwords in different places. LastPass organizes them all in one safe place! LastPass allows for easy access to your passwords no matter where you are or what account you need to access so you can save time for more important things.

With new accounts being created constantly you no longer have to remember them all as all your passwords are held in the LastPass vault.

Do you have to remember your kids passwords for various sites? Or do you use your own password?

Filed Under: Technology, Uncategorized

5 Must Have Products For Exhausted Moms

October 24, 2016 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post featuring 5 Must Have Products For Exhausted Moms is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

When I turned 30 I had no qualms about the next decade in my life. In fact I have been waiting for 30. Waiting to feel the age I’ve always felt. Is that weird? Maybe. But it’s so true. And being 30. It’s so right for me. But the one thing I didn’t realize as I became another decade older was the toll it would start to take on my body. The fine lines, the lack of elasticity in my skin. And the myriad of other things I started to notice.

It could be the 3 kids I had or maybe it was stress but one day I just stopped and looked at myself in the mirror as I was brushing my hair and realized that hair was literally coming out in clumps. And I had a minor panic attack until I read somewhere that hair loss is normal. But is it? And that much? What was going on?

That realization that my body was starting to change made me realize that I might need to look into a good routine. I might need to find products that would help this exhausted 30 year old mom look somewhat put together the next time I showed up at a PTG meeting or the soccer field. Luckily I found just that in these 5 must have products for exhausted moms I’ve listed below! I’m tackling hair care, skin care, and self care.

5 Must Have Products For Exhausted 30 Year Old Moms

1. Spire Wearable Wellness & Activity Tracker
State of mind affects how you breathe, but how you breathe can also change your state of mind. That’s pretty deep, right? Well it’s true. Studies have shown that slow, deep and consistent breathing can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and increase the flow of endorphins in the blood stream.

Working with leading experts on the respiratory system, digital health and medical/wellness devices, Spire is the only wearable that increases mindfulness and productivity by tracking breathing patterns reflecting our state of mind. And for busy moms that means one thing – realizing when you need to step back and take a moment for yourself.

Spire is a “trainer” for mindfulness & mindful living Spire makes mindfulness more attainable by alerting users in-the-moment and suggesting breathing exercises and meditations to lead to a more mindful behavior change be it a calmer and focused state – goodbye stress! – or even becoming more active. While wearing, the Spire PLATFORM will learn to anticipate stressful events before they are likely to happen and alert users with actionable insights on how to prepare and experience more calm in their life.

Spire is fully integrated into the Apple Health App and works with Apple watch. And if you’re like me and have an Android based phone, an Android App is also now available. You can score $10 off when you purchase the Spire here. The discount is applied at checkout.

2. Viviscal
After each kid I seemed to lose a bit more hair. And while it hasn’t visibly been something to worry about, I’ve noticed that the fullness I once had is starting to wane. So I researched various brands to find one that would work well with my hair and I’ve had a great experience with Viviscal. They’ve been the leading brand of dietary supplements in the US for the nourishment of thinning hair and promoting existing hair growth for over 25 years. Backed by extensive research and clinical studies that prove the brand’s effectiveness, the Viviscal Hair Growth Program nourishes hair from the inside out with the proprietary marine complex called AminoMarTM for strong, healthy hair!

Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Shampoo is scientifically formulated with Ana:Tel™, a proprietary complex blended with Biotin, Keratin and Zinc to promote healthy looking hair growth. Viviscal Densifying Shampoo gently cleanses, leaving hair looking fuller, thicker and healthier instantly. Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Conditioner contains the proprietary Ana:Tel™ complex blended with Biotin, Keratin and Zinc to nourish hair from the outside and promote the appearance of healthy looking hair growth. The lightweight formula moisturizes and conditions hair leaving it looking naturally thicker, fuller and gorgeous.

3. Dermae Firming DMAE Eye Lift –
While I was looking for a new skin care routine to help with the lack of sleep I’ve been getting, I stumbled on Dermae products. This multi-action eye cream helps to revive and smooth the look of your delicate eye area. And who doesn’t need help with our eye area, right? Widely-acclaimed DMAE helps to visibly improve the appearance of skin’s firmness for a more lifted look. While wrinkle-fighting peptides including Instalift® Goji Berry help to smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles for younger-looking eyes. Now I just need to get rid of the dark circles!

4. Dermae Firming DMAE Moisturizer –
I know the importance of moisturizer so if I can find one that doesn’t feel too thick but soaks in well and makes my skin feel hydrated, I know I have something that will work. This nutrient-rich moisturizer is clinically proven to improve the appearance of skin’s firmness, hydration and elasticity. Widely-acclaimed DMAE helps skin to appear visibly firmer, smoother and lifted. Antioxidant-rich Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C Ester nourish your skin for a more revitalized appearance.

5. Fiera® by NuelleTM
As I’ve looked at every other area of my life – stress level, skin and hair care, etc – I also look at the relationships in my life and how they’ve changed in my 30s. Especially my most important relationship – my marriage. I’ve checked out Fiera for a little help reconnecting with my husband and love the changes it’s made for us. If you’re looking to reconnect with your partner, you can use code Babble for 10% off when you check out here.

Have you found any great products you use daily?

Filed Under: Beauty & Fashion, gift ideas, Health & Wellness, Uncategorized

5 Reasons Why You Should Check Out LEGOLAND California Brick Or Treat

October 21, 2016 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Looking for something to do the weekend before Halloween and not sure what to do? Brick-or-Treat Party Nights at LEGOLAND® California Resort, presented by Shutterfly®, is back and sweeter than ever!

The biggest kids’ Halloween celebration in San Diego offers children and their families trick-or- treating and entertainment throughout the Park. Every Saturday night in October starting at 5 p.m., LEGOLAND California transforms into a not-too-spooky Halloween party. We were invited to attend our first Brick-or-Treat Party Nights as LEGOLAND California ambassadors and boy did we have fun!

Featuring a new Ghost Cruise adventure, a new pop-badge challenge through Fun Town, a new theater show in Castle Hill, a fall festival complete with a LEGO® pumpkin patch building activity and blue-grass style music in LEGO Friends Heartlake City, treat stations with specialty items including a LEGO® commemorative Brick, roaming candy carts throughout the Park and two bonus treat stations inside SEA LIFE® Aquarium.

Plus, LEGOLAND® Hotel joins in the fun with its own Halloween party on Oct. 31 with candy giveaways, a dance party and a special visit from Brick-Or- Treat Characters exclusively for Hotel guests!

5 Reasons Why You Should Check Out LEGOLAND California Brick Or Treat

1. Halloween Fun for as low as $35 –

Brick-or- Treat Party Nights is a special event and admission can be purchased for as low as $35 if purchased online in advance. Special event ticket holders can enjoy costume contests, trick-or- treating at treat stations and candy carts filled with tasty goodies and other surprises, festive music, live entertainment including the hilarious “Boo Crew,” a dazzling animated Spirits of Brick-or- Treat light show, and new Ghost Cruise adventure.

2. LEGO themed treat stations

The LEGO themed treat stations and candy carts offer a safe, fun and entertaining trick-or- treating experience for all to enjoy.

3. All New Shows!

An all new show, “The Curse of the Hallowmeenie” debuts at the Castle Stage in Castle Hill. Special event guests can also enjoy entertainment from The Witchettes, Bluegrass Band Jamboree.

4. Fun Crafts and Activities

There is a special LEGO Friends meet and greet in Heartlake City, where kids can decorate their own craft! Guests can also “boo-gie” down at frighteningly-fun dance parties: Hubble Bubble’s Dance Party atop the Model Shop in Miniland U.S.A., Pirate Booty Boogie at SEA LIFE Aquarium, plus sing and dance along to the music and mayhem in the Monster Fighter Mash featured at the Fun Town Stage.

5. Halloween Costume Contest

My son went out of his comfort zone when we visited Brick-or-Treat Party Nights and entered the costume contest. There are three categories for guests to enter: group, LEGO themed, and creative. Each participant needs to register before the event and line up to take center stage in front of the judges when their category is up.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners are chosen and the prizes are definitely worth it! 2nd and 3rd place winning 2 park hopper tickets to LEGOLAND California as well as LEGO goodies and souvenirs. And 1st place takes home 4 Merlin annual passes, a stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel, and more! My son entered the creative round and did something I never thought he’d do – talk on stage! It was quite a fun experience even if he didn’t come close to winning with his Steve from Minecraft costume. He had a great time and that’s all that matters!

LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Aquarium are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on select dates throughout October. With special event admission to Brick-or-Treat Party Nights on October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 guests can extend their day until 9pm at both LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Aquarium to enjoy all the Halloween festivities.

Have you ever joined LEGOLAND California for their Brick-or-Treat Party Nights?

For exclusive savings and more information, visit www.BRICKORTREAT.com or call 760-918-5346.

Filed Under: Events, San Diego, Uncategorized Tagged With: Brick-or-Treat Party Nights, Legoland, Legoland Brick-or-Treat Party Nights, Legoland California

DIY Football Photo Frame For Kids

October 19, 2016 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This shop featuring a DIY football photo frame that’s super easy for kids to make has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HandsOnCrafty #CollectiveBias

Do you have a football fan in your life? Looking to spread a little cheer in their football loving lives? My daughter wanted to get crafty this week and asked if we could make a photo frame. So I decided to bust out the Scotch® Expressions Glitter Tape and make a DIY Football Photo Frame that’s easy for kids to make. With the help of an adult, of course! The adult cuts out all of the shapes while the kids get to have fun decorating! Just like our DIY bottle toss game from last week.

We ended up with the perfect gift for my football loving sister and brother in law with a photo of their oldest in the frame. How cute is that? And it was easy too! We were able to create this frame in an afternoon after school and display it on the mantel for when my sister comes over. How cute will this look on her mantel?

Want to know JUST how easy it was? Read ahead to find out!

DIY Football Photo Frame For Kids

What you’ll need:

Scotch® Expressions Brown Glitter Tape
Scotch® Expressions Green Glitter Tape
Scotch® Create Double-sided Tape
X-acto knife (for parents only)
1 piece 8.5 x 11″ brown construction paper
1 piece 8.5 x 11″ white card stock
4×6 picture

What you do:

1. Grab your 4×6 photo paper and trace a football around the photo paper leaving about 1/2 an inch on each corner from the edge of the photo to the edge of the football.

2. Cut out football shape with x-acto knife.

3. Using same 4×6 photo paper, trace around it to create where the frame opening will be.

4. Cut out top and sides of 4×6 piece. Score on back side with x-acto knife and fold cut out piece into thirds to create stand for frame.

5. Using Scotch® Expressions Brown Glitter Tape, let your child wrap front side of the football frame completely until no cardboard is showing. Make sure the sides are covered complete. Don’t worry about the back side, we’ll be covering that up!

6. Once you’ve covered out the front, wrap the stand with Scotch® Expressions Green Glitter Tape. Once the stand is covered, use a piece of Scotch® Expressions Brown glitter tape to secure the stand to the frame so it doesn’t unfold.

7. Grab your brown paper and trace the outline of the football and the 4×6 spot for the photo. Cut out the football shape of the construction paper. Cutting from the bottom of the football, cut out the 4×6 piece and the bottom of the football (to leave space for the stand).

8. Attach brown cut out to back of the frame using Scotch® Create Double-sided Tape.

9. Cut out a 5×7 piece of white paper. Notch a small half circle on the top of the paper. Tape the white paper onto the back of the frame on the two sides with Scotch® Create Double-sided Tape.

10. Add a photo and enjoy your frame!

How do you celebrate sports in your home?

I was able to find all of the crafting goodies I needed, including the Scotch® Expressions Glitter Tape, in the craft aisle in Walmart. So easy to find everything in one place! With a perfect combination of versatility, function & fun, Scotch® Expressions Tapes turn everyday projects into simply inspired creations. I love how simple and easy it was to make this frame with my daughter and how fun and sparkly it ended up! How awesome is that?

Filed Under: Crafts/DIY, Uncategorized Tagged With: children's crafts, crafts, Crafts for Kids, Fall Crafts, Football, football decorations, football season, paper crafts

Fall Carnival Games: DIY Ring Toss Game Idea

October 10, 2016 by Danielle 102 Comments

This shop features an awesome DIY Ring Toss Game that’s super easy to make and has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HandsOnCrafty #CollectiveBias

Every year my kids’ school has a Halloween Carnival on or around Halloween. Each grade has a game or craft set up and the kids get to run around and play them for the last hour of the day. It’s a great way for the kids to enjoy a little Halloween fun at school in costume without getting distracted in class. Plus it’s a fun way for the parents to come up with small fall carnival games – like this DIY ring toss game.

Since my son started Kindergarten, I’ve always helped out with his class’s game. The first year we built a cute bean bag toss where we painted three pumpkins on top of each other and cut out holes where their mouths went so the kids could toss the bean bags in. Each successful toss earned a piece of candy. Last year we made fun Halloween themed crafts like spider rings out of poms and pipe cleaners, and fun face masks that I got from an online retailer.

But this year is my daughter’s first year joining in on the festivities so I thought I’d get her involved in making a fun activity that Kindergarten could host for their game. And we decided on this awesome Halloween-themed DIY ring toss game. You won’t believe how easy it is to make! Even a Kindergartener can do it.

What I love about this project is that it’s so versatile! So much so that when my husband accidentally recycled the glass wine bottles I had set aside to use for this project, I was able to make due with the plastic bottles we had left over from the party we hosted last week.

How To Make A DIY Ring Toss Game

What you’ll need:

6 bottles – glass or plastic
washable paint in green and orange
Scotch® Create Double-sided Tape
Scotch® Expressions Washi Tape in black
Scotch® Expressions Glitter Tape in green
Scotch® Expressions Masking Tape in green and orange
Aluminum floral wire (found in the Walmart craft aisle)
Goggly eyes
scissors
Scotch® Create Glue Pen
large piece of cardboard or foam board in black
Scotch® Create Mounting Squares

What you do:

1. Remove the labels and rinse out the bottles you will be using. Let dry completely.

2. While bottles are drying, grab aluminum wire and cut into rings using wire cutters.

3. Use the Scotch® Expressions Masking Tape to secure the ends of the wire together and then completely cover the wire with tape. You can also decorate the wire in various places with tape instead of covering completely as long as the ends are secured.

4. Squirt a good dollop of paint into each bottle. Secure the cap onto the bottle (if there is one) and shake the bottle until the paint has completely covered the inside of the bottle and you can’t see through anywhere. If you are using a glass bottle with no lid, simply use your thumb to cover the opening while shaking so the paint doesn’t go everywhere. Take cap off and let excess paint drip out. Let dry completely.

This is the same technique I used to make my thumbprint ornaments for Christmas.

5. Once paint is dry on the inside, glue cap onto top of bottle with Scotch® Create Glue Pen and let dry. Skip this step if you’re using a cap-less bottle.

6. Now for the fun part! Grab your Scotch® Expressions washi and glitter tape and start decorating!

For the green bottles – Using the Scotch® Expressions Glitter Tape in green, cover the caps with two rows of glitter tape side by side. Then cut the excess around it so that there is a perfect circle on the top of the green bottles. You can use scissors or an xacto knife for this. If using an xacto knife, turn bottle upside down and cut around the edge of the cap on a piece of cardboard so you don’t cut anything else.

For the orange bottles – cover the bottle cap with three pieces of tape in a star pattern on the top. This should completely cover the top of the bottle cap. Then use another piece of tape to go around the side of the bottle cap to cover the ends of the three pieces you put on the top. Now you have a cute pumpkin stem!

Then, using the green and orange Scotch® Expressions masking tapes, tape the middle of the bottles with three layers of tape. This will create the base for your bottle’s face.

Grab the goggly eyes and Scotch® Create Double-sided Tape to secure the eyes onto the bottles. Now grab the Scotch® Expressions washi tape in black to make the mouth and any other decorations you’d like to add to your bottles. We layered two pieces of tape side by side and cut out mouths for our orange bottles and simply cut out lines for the mouths and “stitches” of our green bottles. Our end results were pumpkins and Frankensteins.

7. Now that the bottles and rings are good to go, grab your black cardboard or foam board and space out your bottles so that the rings can be tossed onto them without any problems. Secure bottles to the board with Scotch® Create Mounting Squares

Once the bottles are secured in place, you’re ready to play!

You can find everything you need for this project, including all of the Scotch® brand products, in the craft aisle at your local Walmart. How’s that for a one-stop shop?

I love how the Scotch® Expressions washi and glitter tape were able to take my project to the next level. They were the perfect combo of versatility, function and fun! From masking tape in various colors to the easy to use Scotch® Create Glue Pen and everything in between, o matter the task, there’s a Scotch® Brand product to match AND make my life easier.

What’s your favorite school carnival game?

Filed Under: Crafts/DIY, Uncategorized Tagged With: carnival games, children's crafts, crafts, Crafts for Kids, Fall Crafts, games, halloween, Halloween crafts, Halloween ideas

Top 5 Things to Do At Knotts Spooky Farm 2016

October 7, 2016 by Danielle Leave a Comment

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 2 Comments

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 2 Comments

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

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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?

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