January 13, 2019

Learn something new daily - 35 new skills to learn today!

Learning something new daily is something that is equally rewarding and entertaining and I totally adopted this habit recently after watching my toddler develop "overnight", she is learning a new skill or task daily, if not hourly - so I figured I'd follow suit.

Interested in picking up a new hobby or learning how to do something new? Instead of having to search for the answers - I've compiled a list of 35 different ways you can learn something new, today, for free!




So what are you waiting for? It's time to get "woke" and learn all kinds of new skills!

Start with 1 and work your way down to master all kinds of fun skills!

Learn how to:

  1. Crochet
  2. Speed Read
  3. Read Music
  4. Play the Guitar
  5. Speak a new Language
  6. Break Dance
  7. Dance Disco
  8. Give a Speech
  9. Negotiate
  10. Remember names
  11. Take better pictures with your phone
  12. Take better portraits in general
  13. Take better Photos of Kids
  14. Knit
  15. Sew
  16. Start a Blog
  17. Change a Car Battery
  18. Draw
  19. Build a Fire
  20. Give a Genuine Compliment
  21. Play Bridge
  22. Play Cribbage
  23. Play Chess
  24. Tie-dye with natural ingredients
  25. Unclog a drain
  26. Start a simple vegetable garden
  27. Make No-Sew Curtains
  28. Paint a room
  29. Paint furniture
  30. Jump start a car
  31. Create an Abstract Painting
  32. Play the Piano
  33. Give a Neck Massage
  34. Make Balloon Animals
  35. Juggle

December 30, 2018

Fight the Flu Bug & Cold Viruses with These 4 Easy Tips to Keep You Healthy this Season!

This post is sponsored by Theraflu but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.


It's that time of the year - well, there's technically lots of "that's" that I could be referring to... and while I wish this was all about pumpkin pie or christmas lights - today I'm talking about flu & cold season.

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That's right, those nasty viruses and bugs are floating around and I'm doing my best to battle them before they hit our house. But, sometimes they sneak in to our house & we are feeling ill before we even realize it.




Instead of waiting it out, anytime I feel a scratch in my throat or start to get a cough - I take it on head first... I'm doing sick differently this year. Want to know how you can battle the bugs this year? Here's my list of ways to make sure you are truly "living your best life":

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1. Sip on this - Theraflu Powerpods are the answer to your sick woes. That's right, there is a new way to tackle the cold and flu season with Theraflu PowerPods — “do sick differently” and get fast relief, brewed instantly. Compatible with almost all single serve brewers, these little babies are literally brewed in seconds and SO valuable for those of us sniffling and sneezing already this season.

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Whether you are just feeling it come on or in the thick of it, I suggest you head to Walmart and grab a pack of these handy little cups! Stick one in your brewer - Press. Sip. Relief - it's THAT easy!

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They come in a night time formula to help you get some sleep by relieving your severe cold and flu symptoms including nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches and fever. Obviously, please only use as directed.

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Want to learn more about these pods? Click here.

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2. Use essential oils for everything - Next on my list for battling the cold season is essential oils. We use a variety of oils in our diffuser to keep the air fresh & clean in our house and we even apply some blends to our wrists on the toughest of days.

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3. Sanitize after every outing - That's right, we bust out the hand sanitizer or wash our hands after we leave almost everywhere we go. I'm not a germaphobe but I do want to avoid getting sick so I help D learn to keep her hands clean. If we go to the library and do a lot of play time with the toys there, we ALWAYS make sure her hands are clean before we leave. Touching a cart at Walmart? Use the in-store provided wipes and avoid getting anyone else's germs! The way I look at it is, it's easy to clean two little hands or the cart... (or whatever else) but it's definitely not easy being sick.

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4. Live healthy - This one may be obvious but a healthy diet & exercise are vital parts of keeping your immune system strong! In our house during flu & cold season we eat extra fruits and veggies and spend more time getting our heart racing - that way we are doing all we can to help our body thrive!


With that said, how do you plan on fighting the flu bug & cold viruses this year? Be sure to check out how Theraflu PowerPods could help you this season!




December 15, 2018

The Ultimate List of Unique Holiday Gifts for Kids (with discount codes)!

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.



I can't be the only one scrambling to find Christmas gifts for those I love... I mean, I have the best of intentions and I always start out on the right path.




I firmly believe as Christmas season rolls around each year that I have plenty of time to get presents under the tree, but as Christmas Eve quickly approaches I inevitably realize I forgot someone super important or as it happened this year, I spent all month searching high and low for the perfect gifts.

https://shop.circuitscribe.com/products/drone-builder-kit?utm_source=babbleboxx



If you're in the same boat as me and you just didn't know what to get the loved ones on your list, then I've got news for you. I have, right here, the ultimate list of Holiday Gifts for Kids. We all know Sally your sister's daughter is sweet as pie but she has everything - but does she have a Circuit Scribe Drone Builder Kit? I mean, seriously,  does it get any more epic than building your own drone?

With this STEM-based toy your little worker bee won't even notice that they are learning while creating! Plus, you both can have hours of fun flying the drone up and down with the CSDrone Network app on your phone. While D and I won't be participating in the building of this, I can't wait to share this one of my lovely nieces!

https://shop.circuitscribe.com/products/drone-builder-kit?utm_source=babbleboxx

This all-inclusive kit teaches you how to draw the "wires" to the motors with conductive ink & then make cardboard from nothing into something truly extraordinary, a handmade drone! This truly is one of the coolest toys I've seen for bigger kids and well, I think D will be watching over her cousins shoulders as they play with this!

http://candlewick.com/r/icbabble

Something that NEVER gets overdone in our house is books - I mean, we had over 100 books in D's library before she was even born, so the fact that we are bookworms is likely not a surprise to most of you. What is a surprise is The Little Red Chicken is back in this sequel to The Interrupting Chicken!
http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763688428&pix=y

We absolutely love this sweet little read aloud book, The Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise is easily a new favorite in our house. If you haven't read it, now is the time! From David Ezra Stein, this book is sure to make everyone in your house giggle as you read it. Want to snag this good read and others? Check out Candlewick.com & use code CANDLEWICK for 25% off (only valid in the US).

https://us.pez.com/products/the-grinch-gift-tin?utm_source=BB&utm_campaign=HOL18&utm_medium=inf

I think the gift D and I both loved the most were the sweet treats she now so sweetly cause "Grinch candies". PEZ candy dispensers were totally one of my favorite stocking stuffers as a child and now thanks to Babbleboxx, it may be a new favorite for D. I think adding PEZ Holiday gifts in her stocking will be a new tradition in our house, actually.

https://us.pez.com/products/the-grinch-gift-tin?utm_source=BB&utm_campaign=HOL18&utm_medium=inf

While D obviously loved the candy she's pretty keen on that green fella so she loved the fact the Grinch PEZ gift tin is shaped like the Grinch himself.

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Then when she flipped it around and saw Cindy Lou Who I'm fairly certain her heart grew even more love for this fun little gift set. With Fred & Max in the box too, she was overjoyed and we both are so excited to see the new Grinch in theaters - I'm thinking maybe it'll be her first "real" movie in a theater!

https://us.pez.com/products/the-grinch-gift-tin?utm_source=BB&utm_campaign=HOL18&utm_medium=inf

Speaking of some firsts, these epic craft kits are just what mama was looking for while hunting for gifts for my crafty toddler. The Clothespin Zoo, in particular, is right up her alley!

https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/klutz-jr-my-clothespin-zoo-9781338216240.html



Helping us create TEN different animals, learning about each one while playing with materials that are familiar and building fine motor skill, these preschool aged kits are a dream come true! I'm so excited for her to open this up on Christmas and really get crafty!

https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/klutz-jr-my-clothespin-zoo-9781338216240.html

Speaking of excitement, D literally couldn't wait to get into the Klutz Sewing kit. Interestingly, I think she inherited that excitement for thread & needle, my grandmother actually used to sew and even wrote instructional books on needlepoint. Beyond being a crafty author, she also sent the COOLEST gifts every Christmas that were always educational and sometimes would include some of her work (now my Aunt has carried on this tradition).

My Simple Sewing: https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/klutz-jr-my-simple-sewing-9781338271294.html


Between her and my Aunt, I've been blessed with some of the most unique gifts and I must brag for a moment and say both are so gifted at sewing. While my Grandmother is no longer with us and I'm no expert at sewing, I'm so excited to encourage this hobby in my little sweetie. It's a family tradition to learn to sew, so this skill-building kit is just perfect for her. Helping her create while encouraging fine-motor skills is something my paternal grandmother would be so proud of and since it's a plastic needle and it comes with a little "training card" I'm certain D will get the hang of this quickly - imagine that, my two year old will be sewing soon!

https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/klutz-jr-my-simple-sewing-9781338271294.html


http://bit.ly/BabbleboxxHolidayWishList

Last but certainly not least in our Babbleboxx was this fun little Dumbledore Pop Figurine from Funko's 5 star line and The Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and The prisoner of Azkaban! D has recently started watching Harry Potter flicks at nap time and she's pretty much obsessed. We both loved that the little figurine brought one of her favorites to life, putting the "magic" in her hands. She can create her own moments  in the Harry Potter universe now and she was delighted that Fawkes the Phoenix was included in the box too, she even called him her friend!

http://bit.ly/BabbleboxxHolidayWishList

This little figurine was the perfect compliment to the Harry Potter illustrated book! The book is by far one of the coolest things we'll be putting under the tree for D this year, with vibrant illustrations and a cool ribbon bookmark - she's going to love it that one of her movies is actually available to her in book form now too! Want to snag some Funko Collectibles? Check out these deals and use the code "Babbleboxx" to save!

http://bit.ly/BabbleboxxHolidayWishList

I'm not going to lie, this Babbleboxx was AMAZING! I'm not a kid anymore, but I'm totally excited about everything in this box - so I know the lucky kiddos that receive these gifts under the tree will be delighted as well! So tell me, what is your #1 pick for your kids this year? I can't wait to hear!

November 27, 2018

Cheesy Potato Balls with Stella - The Most Unique & Delicious Way to Use Left Over Mashed Potatoes

This post is sponsored by Stella® Cheese but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.


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Here's the thing, you probably already know that I'm not so traditional when it comes to life, but I'm truly a little off the wall when it comes to the holidays. As far as our most recent holiday, Thanksgiving - well, if I'm being totally honest, it's definitely not on my list of favorites. Mainly because I don't love turkey and I think we should be thankful everyday, among other reasons. To make up for my lack of turkey lovin', I like to get super creative with side dishes.

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This year I went totally left field and made something super unique that I've never made before and that my family seemed to really enjoy - even Miss Delainey loved these, once she finally took a break from playing long enough to eat.

What's so amazing about these Cheesy Potato Balls? Well, to put it simply... everything! These little balls of heaven are perfectly seasoned and just the perfect size to "pop" in your mouth during a holiday party or after a family meal as a little snack.

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Filled with the most delicious Stella cheese, this is not only delicious - it's a GREAT way to get rid of left over mashed potatoes from a family meal as well. Have the left over potatoes but need the cheese? Find Stella cheese at a location nearby you using the locator on their website!

Enough about how amazing this recipe is though, here's how you make it -

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Ingredients:


4 tbsp Stella Gorgonzola Cheese
3/4 of 8 oz block of Stella Fontinella Cheese
Half of red bell pepper, diced into small pieces
3 minced scallions
5 cups cold mashed potatoes
3/4 cup + 2 tbs of flour
3 pieces of bacon, diced into small pieces
2 eggs, beaten
Oil (for frying)

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Heat oil up to 375 in a deep fryer (or a in a pan).

While oil is heating, mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

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Form the "dough" into small balls and drop them into the oil a few at a time to not overcrowd the deep fryer or pan. Cook approximately 5 min or until edges look browned and crispy.

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ENJOY!