Holiday Gift Guide for 2020

All gifts in this guide presented a sample for quality control to ensure the best suggestions were being given. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Christmas is fast approaching and we have been busy putting together a 2020 Holiday Gift Guide for you! Who enjoys Christmas? Gift giving can be stressful, so let me give you some great ideas for your friends & Family. Each item in this gift guide has been hand selected.

Everyone scans the small gadget display when looking for that one perfect gift. Or maybe you are like me and enjoy giving funny gifts! This section should help you fill those stockings with stuff your family and friends will love! 

New Reebok Zig Dynamicas make the perfect family gift from Shoe Carnival

This post was sponsored by Reebok as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

As a mother, one of the hardest things to do is manage our time. Holiday Season always seems to add more on my "to-do" list. I frantically search for deals on gift ideas, deals and shop in-store sales. With New York heading back into another Lockdown, online shopping has become my best friend!

As my son gets older, his lists of toys have been replaced with electronics and new kicks! Luckily for me, my spouse always seems to want Santa to bring them new shoes, too! I was shopping around the other day on the Shoe Carnival website and found great deals on the new Reebok Zig Dynamicas!   

The Reebok Zig Dynamica features a super soft responsive cushioning sole; plus, they are so lightweight, which makes them perfect for everyday use or our family hiking trips. 

Did I mention, I may have snuck a pair for myself? Every year I find it harder and harder to find shoes that fit "just right". I can remain active from day to day, but also keep up with my wonderful energetic family.

The bold and energetic design of our Zigs are everything we wanted. The different styles and colors offered suit our individual personalities. Zig Dynamicas truly make the perfect gift for my loved ones this holiday season!

Check out more color and styles on Shoe Carnival and tell us which pair of Reebok Zig Dynamicas you want this year under the Christmas tree!

Dump & Go Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe

This is another recipe that was inspired by Facebook! I saw a Slow cooker video and after a few attempts, we found our favorite version. With any recipe of course feel free to tweak it to your preferences. This is such a great "Dump & Go" meal for lunch or dinner. I hope you try it out and enjoy!

What you will need:

2-3 boneless chicken breasts 

1 can of pinto beans, drained 

1 can of diced tomatoes 

1 can of chicken broth (I personally love the brand Swanson) 

1/4- 1/2 cup of Frank's Red Hot ( or any hot sauce you prefer)

1 package ranch dressing mix 

1 can of sweet corn kernels, drained 

1/2 teaspoon onion powder 

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/2 teaspoon celery salt 

1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro 

1- 8 ounce cream cheese block 

For toppings, tortilla chips

In a slow cooker ( I used a 5 quart round one) combine all the ingredients except the cream cheese and toppings. Set on low for 4-6 hours. If you use chicken that is already cooked you can change your cook time to about half.

When you are about ready to serve, cut the block of cream cheese into four pieces and add to the slow cooker. 

Let cook for another 10-15 minutes or until it is fully melted.

Make sure your chicken is fully cooked and shred chicken in the slow cooker. Stir contents to mix everything. I broke up tortilla chips and let me tell you it makes all the difference. 

The extra salty crunch is the perfect addition to this delicious meal.

Have you ever made "Dump & Go" Slow Cooker recipes?

What is your favorite Slow Cooker recipe, let us know in the comments!!

New Moose Toys FailFix fashion Doll Review

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." - Coco Chanel 

Compensation was provided by Moose Toys via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Moose Toys or Momtrends.

I’m truly blessed with the best little people in my life. 💕 These kids are my whole world! November marks the start of our Christmas shopping. This year, I want to be more purposeful and realistic with my gift giving. Our littles need to be reminded that we don't always "wake up like this;" but, rather, it's fun to get "dolled up".

Let me introduce you to Moose Toys new FailFix dolls. They are the perfect toy dolls to fuel a love of styling hair, makeup, and fashion! They feature a relatable, humorous tone that incorporates Fall trends, we see on social media.

First, begin the head-to-toe transformation with a surprise fashion reveal  (will you find a Rare or Ultra-Rare outfit?). Next, pamper your FailFix doll by applying the magic spa mask. 

Once she's feeling relaxed, remove it to reveal a look she'll love. You might even find a Rare or Ultra-Rare makeup look underneath the magic mask. The facemask basically goes on clips around the ears and then when you remove the facemask another face underneath appears with the fixed make up, and also reveals pierced ears for her earrings.

Next, remove the accessories stuck in her hair and brush it out until it's silky smooth. 

Finally, complete the transformation by using the included hair tools to create the hair look she was trying to achieve. You can do the facemask and fix fail over and over again so it's fun to play with friends who have never done yours before.

These dolls go through a true head-to-toe transformation, to become a real-life #stylesavior. It’s a funny and relatable way to show that beauty is not perfect, and that girls can take charge of their own transformations. With these face masks you can apply them over and over again. What’s more, there are five #FailFix dolls to help. They are diverse and feature unique body shapes to empower girls and inspire confidence.

We are all different, after all -- but everyone can relate to a bad hair day.

Don’t just take my word for these dolls, the #FailFix dolls were nominated and a Finalist for Toy of the Year in the Doll Category! Toy Insider published a story stemming from the Toy Association’s press release check it out!

They were also awarded the National Parent Product (NAPPA) Awards.

Who has already started Shopping? 

Anyone doing all their Shopping online??

Apple Pie Recipe

I'm pretty sure EVERYONE has a "Apple Pie Recipe". Whether it was one your Grandmother used or something that was passed down, maybe a Pin you found on Pinterest. I don't want to say My family recipe is the "best" but in my opinion.....I have yet to find one that comes close.....

What you will need:

8 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into quarters

1/3 c. water

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/4-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tbsp. honey

1/2-1 Cup Sugar 

For the Crust:

1/2 Crisco

1 Cup Flour

1/4 Water

 Mix Crust ingredients together until it is ready to knead. 

Place crust in a sprayed pie pan.

Mix together the apple ingredients and add the apple mixture to the pie tins. 

Oh my goodness, if smells could transfer online you would be getting all sorts of spicy cinnamon and sugar loveliness right about now!

 Then I added the weave crust topping. This step is optional, I think it adds a little something extra....

Bake in the Oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. While baking, I brushed the crust with some milk and water mixture to help then get nice and golden brown. My Mom always taught me to do that so it's a habit!!!

VOLA! Delicious, easy to make, apple pies 

Let me know in the comments what you serve with your Apple Pie....Ice cream???

Tips to Harvesting Apples

"If you never tasted a bad apple, you would not appreciate a good apple. You have to experience life to understand life". -Leon Brown

We had an absolute lovely time at Sceiford Quality Fruit in North East, Pennsylvania picking apples! If you haven't been following along we tried checking off as many fruits to harvest this year. From Peaches, Cherries, Grapes to Now Golden Delicious Apples. While out picking we learned of other varieties of produce you can harvest. Which mean next year our list is twice as long! These harvesting trips are such a great way to involve the family while supporting our local farms. 

No matter how many of these "harvesting posts" I share, I always get questions. 

Here are my tips for picking apples:

1. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. 

2. Bring something to keep the fruit in. While the stand we visited had baskets to use, it's best to bring your own. I suggest a basket or bucket! 

3. They usually price per Quart and bushel.

4. Be mindful of fallen apples on the ground especially with little ones running around the fields. 

5. Most U-Pick provide ladders or step stools you can use. All picking is at your own risk.

6. Never FREE Climb a tree! Seriously, it is so devastating to them and many don't survive.

7. Search your local area to find farms. Try keeping your Social Media notifications on because many of the "U PICK" items are seasonal and weather permitting. The dates are ever changing due to weather and produce sells out quick!

Believe it or not this Panoramic capture was from atop the tallest ladder over looking the apple trees. It was such a nice day I had to stop for a moment and soak in the beauty.

I highly recommend a trip to Apple pick. If you are local the Sceiford Quality Fruit Farm is a great place to do so. They are located at:

11820 Middle Rd North East, PA 16428

Have you ever picked Apples??

What is your favorite variety of Apple??

PAW Patrol: Puptastic! a 8 DVD Collection Release & Review

Get ready for 12 hours of PAW-some adventures with PAW Patrol: PUP-tastic! a 8 DVD Collection. This collection comes in an Limited Edition Marshall Fire Truck gift set. It even has an exclusive Robo Dog DVD! This limited addition set is being released November 10, 2020, just in time for the holiday season!