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!

DIY Inside Out Memory Spheres

November 16, 2015November 18, 2015 - Mama 3 Comments

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

Learn to discuss tough emotions-- like anger, sadness, and fear-- with your children. These DIY memory spheres from the Inside Out movie are a craft that gets kids talking! #InsideOutEmotions #ad

Emotions are tough. Seriously, they can be really hard to navigate, especially when you’re young and don’t always have the words to share how you’re feeling. But then, Inside Out showed up and gave kids examples of what those emotion words felt like. Plus, it was a super adorable movie– cute enough that we decided to see it like 4 times in theatres! So as soon as I found out it was available at Walmart, we ran to the store right away to pick up our copy.

How to Create a Winter Preparedness Box for Home or School

November 13, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

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

Winter is upon us, and with all the

Winter really hasn’t even started yet, and already, the kiddo and I have had to take a little time off of work and school because we weren’t feeling our best. It seems like anytime you’re at school, work, or even home, when winter hits, it seems like it’s the season to feel a little more… under the weather. Sometimes it’s all of the warm air circulating inside closed windows that just keeps the germs in, and sometimes it’s the number of hugs you’re exchanging at those family holiday parties, but because of all of that, it helps to have a plan to keep you at your best, and to help you bounce back fast when you aren’t. That’s why I’m all for a winter preparedness kit that will help keep things going this winter!

How a Highway Turkey United My Hometown

November 11, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

It all started with a turkey. Just a simple, wild turkey who loved to hang out by the side of the highway just north of my hometown. He was there for about a year before someone made that first post in a community group for ladies in my town… “Hey, has anyone else seen that turkey on the highway?”

Restaurant-Style Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

November 9, 2015January 3, 2017 - Mama 14 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RecipeTwist #CollectiveBias Hello, easy weeknight dinner! This simple chicken and gnocchi soup tastes just like the one at your favorite popular Italian restaurant, and it's super easy to make at home, whether you're serving it alone or as a starter for your favorite pasta! It's creamy, and it's a perfect chicken soup on any cold night! #RecipeTwist #ad

Just about every week now, we’ve been making it a priority to get out of the house for something other than school, work, and church. That means we’ve been enjoying a lot more meals at a nearby Italian chain. And the best part? I’ve gotten hooked on this delicious Chicken and Gnocchi soup. I’ve become such a fan that I had to figure out how to make it myself! You know what? It’s SUPER easy to make at home, and you’ll love this flavor, whether you’re serving it on it’s own or making it as a starter for your favorite pasta dish.

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…

Thanksgiving Gift Mugs with Mexican Hot Chocolate OREO Cookie Balls

November 2, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

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

Thanksgiving is coming up so quickly… I can’t even believe that it’s already November. With Halloween over and all things fall in the air, it’s time to get ready for the next big holiday! These Mexican Hot Chocolate OREO Cookie Balls are the perfect treat to enjoy at your Thanksgiving celebration, but they also make the perfect hostess gift or even a place card at your holiday dinner… seriously!

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.

Oktoberfest-inspired Stickbread and Kielbasa with Rice

October 26, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

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

Looking for two easy Oktoberfest recipes? Try this traditional German Stickbread (often served near Easter) and a delicious Kielbasa Rice dish with only THREE ingredients! Rustic, easy, and delicious. #OktoberOnTheFarm #ad

Oktoberfest is upon us, and that means good food with family, enjoyed as the crisp fall temperatures stay just warm enough to enjoy a meal around the fire pit in a sweater… Oktoberfest is largely overlooked as a great “food holiday”– we all know Thanksgiving and Christmas come with great food, but so does Oktoberfest, and today, I’ve got an easy 3-ingredient Kielbasa Rice dish, plus a traditional German stickbread, to share with you.

Pumpkin Spice Dipped Biscotti

October 19, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

I partnered with the Roasterie Kansas City Air Roasted Coffee for this post. All opinions are my own.

Fall is upon us, and it’s seriously starting to get chilly… temperatures are dipping lower and lower and I’m pretty much ready to turn my heat on. The only thing saving my heating bill right now is a nice steaming hot cup of coffee. And what’s better with coffee than a really delicious piece of biscotti? Nothing. Except maybe a delicious piece of pumpkin spice biscotti, especially if you’re dipping it into incredible Roasterie Kansas City Air Roasted Coffee. Plus, it’s so easy to make, which means it’s the perfect gift for your Thanksgiving hostess, your friends, and, well, yourself. And since biscotti is a treat that ships really well, it’s also great for those friends who live halfway across the country. Here’s how to make this sweet pumpkin spice treat.

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