How To Give the Gift of Relaxation for Christmas

December 14, 2015December 14, 2015 - Mama 2 Comments

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Prismacolor, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #relaxandcolor http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Feeling stressed? Have a friend who needs to relax? Give the gift of relaxation this Christmas-- this is the perfect gift or care package that really works perfectly for helping someone cheer up. With an adult coloring book, perfect colored pencils, and other really great ideas for the perfect Relaxation gift basket! #relaxandcolor #coloringwithMichaels #Pmedia #ad

Relaxation is getting harder and harder to come by, isn’t it? I wouldn’t trade the life I have for the world, but sometimes at the end of the day, before I can close my eyes to sleep, I just need to take some time to… well, unwind. That’s a lot of why I’ve wholeheartedly jumped onto the adult coloring book craze– for me, it’s about a creative outlet where I just take a few minutes each night to color, relax, and breathe before I doze off. At first it started with colored pencils and a coloring book, but now I’ve added warm fuzzy socks, some nice chocolate, lit candles, and sipped some tea, and I have to say, it’s made for a much calmer me. But here’s the deal– it’s Christmastime, the season of giving, and I knew that I couldn’t keep this relaxation to myself. I had to put together the perfect gift of relaxation for my best friend.

Minions BananaBerry Dump Cake (With BananaBerry “Ice Cream”)

December 7, 2015January 3, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

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

Bee-do-bee-do-bee-do… In case you didn’t know it yet, your favorite yellow little creatures are coming out on DVD tomorrow, and I know we’ve already pre-ordered the Minions movie. That meant making the perfect dessert for our Minions watch party, and trust me, you’re going to love this one. Take a break from holiday stress and make these delightful minion mini cakes for your family to enjoy during the movie!

Inside Out Emotions Cupcakes (That Your Kids Can Make!)

November 20, 2015January 3, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

These Inside Out cupcakes are so easy to make that kids of any age can do it! Using store-bought ingredients, it's perfect for little ones to make these treats inspired by Joy, Anger, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and even Bing Bong from the Inside Out Movie!

We are still having a blast with Inside Out here, and since my son is a huge fan of being in the kitchen, we decided to make some awesome Inside Out Emotions cupcakes together! It’s so simple to do that almost any age can make Inside Out cupcakes of their very own, inspired by your favorite characters, like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Fear, and even Bing Bong!

Bing Bong Blasters: Cotton Candy Mocktails

November 18, 2015January 3, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

Do you love Inside Out? These Bing Bong Blasters are inspired by the beloved Imaginary Friend, and are made with cotton candy, just like Bing Bong! Check out these awesome cotton candy mocktails that are perfect for any age.

Who’s your friend that likes to play? Who’s rocket makes you yell hooray?

BING BONG! I have to tell you, Bing Bong is one of my absolute favorite characters from Inside Out. He’s just so witty, and I won’t give any spoilers, but he clearly loves Riley and wants her to be okay, too. And that’s why I had to create a perfect mocktail that is great for sipping while you watch the movie, or for enjoying at Inside Out birthday parties, or really, anytime you need a special treat. Plus, since Bing Bong is part cotton candy, it has a nice portion of that in it, too!

How to Host a Brunch (Without Ruining Your Meal Plan)

November 3, 2015November 3, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. I was sponsored to write this post on behalf of Weight Watchers®. All opinions are mine alone. #SmarterTreats #CollectiveBias

Yes, you CAN host a holiday celebration without blowing your meal plan. Seriously. It's the season of eating, but that doesn't mean we have to miss out if we're on a diet. This is the perfect way to throw a *lighter* brunch for all of your family and friends during the holiday season! #SmarterTreats #ad

The other day on Facebook, I was talking to a friend about how it seems that we used to only worry about summer bikini bodies. But now, summer bikini bodies start early so we can be ready for our kids’ spring break in March, stay fit all the way through summer, keep a lean body for Halloween costumes (which are mostly skin-tight, even for moms), and then of course, trying to still look good on Valentine’s Day. It becomes a never-ending cycle, and gone are the days about slacking off on a healthy lifestyle during the Holiday Season, or Season of Eating… luckily, you can still celebrate without giving up on your eating goals, because some of the best party food will fit perfectly in your meal plan… seriously! There is such a thing as a brunch that doesn’t break the Points Bank…

Super Easy Halloween Party Games (You Can Play Using Soda Bottles!)

October 27, 2015October 29, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CVS4FantaFun #CollectiveBias

Halloween is pretty much upon us… in fact, with less than a week away, busy moms, I’m hearing your cry. Today, we’re getting ready for Halloween, and whether you’re planning a party with all of your friends, need a last-minute game to become the coolest car at the Trunk-or-Treat, or just want some post-Halloween boredom busters to burn off extra energy, this is the game plan for you.

Pumpkin Carving and Sensory Play

October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

I received product from Pumpkin Masters for this post. All opinions are my own.

Pumpkin carving is an excellent family tradition every autumn or fall season, but did you know that with the right tools, even the youngest kids can get involved and turn carving and family time into a learning experience or educational activity? Don't just go to the pumpkin patch this year- help your kids learn while having fun with pumpkins! #pumpkinmasters #ad

Pumpkin carving… it’s a great tradition that many families share. It can be really fun to set up a bonfire or lay out some trash bags to collect pumpkin guts and get the whole family to carve pumpkins together, but did you know it could be a unique learning experience, too? Children learn with all 5 senses, and pumpkin carving offers a great sensory experience that helps children explore all of these, and with the right tools, kids of almost any age can get in on the fun.

Spooky Halloween Pudding Snacks and Classroom Party Craft and Treat!

October 11, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

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

From Spooky Halloween Classroom Party Crafts to treat toppers fit for a crowd, you'll love these ideas on how to top portable treats and delicious pudding! Zombie Hand pudding cups, brain pudding cups, creepy Teddy Graham pudding cups, Chocolate Cherry Monster Mash cups, and Monster Brains Snack Cups. #SnackPackMixIns #ad

The season of Halloween Class Parties is upon us. Even if you’re not a room volunteer, there are so many big celebrations for Halloween coming up, which is why unique snacks and crafts are key. I’ve got some easy treats and a fun craft that is perfect for one kid or thirty, making it perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a little spooky fun. These pudding toppers are effortless and so fun for everyone!

How to Throw a Spooky Sweet Brownie Pizza Party this Halloween!

October 9, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

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

I love a good Halloween party. You can probably tell, because I’ve been sharing a lot of my favorite Halloween treat ideas lately. You see, I look at Halloween as the first major “food holiday” of the fall season– a time to get together with family and friends and enjoy good conversation, and of course, delicious food. But nothing strikes my fancy quite like a sweet treat sort of party, a soiree meant for sweet tooths. And that’s why I really love the Halloween party I’m sharing today– it’s all about sweet treats, and even better, it’s all about gathering around for topping your sweet snack to satisfy your own taste buds! We’re talking a brownie pizza party… seriously.

How to Throw a MARVEL The Avengers: Age of Ultron Halloween Party!

October 7, 2015October 7, 2015 - Mama 2 Comments

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

If you love Superheroes, you'll love this MARVEL The Avengers: Age of Ultron theme party! It's perfect for guests both young and old this Halloween. Enjoy Hawkeye Arrow Grape Pops, Black Widow Black Bean Dip, Hulk Smash Punch, and more while dressed up as your favorite Marvel characters! #AvengersUnite #ad

I am so excited. My little man is totally into superheros, and as a mom, that’s definitely something I can get behind. I mean, think about it– Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner… every superhero needs a great backstory, and that’s why I couldn’t resist throwing a great party to celebrate the release of MARVEL’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron! If you’re looking for the perfect Halloween party idea, you’ll love this one.

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