Flirty Aprons for Valentine's Day!

Friday, January 30, 2015



Savannah and I love our aprons! Somehow, I'm always wearing a white shirt or skirt when I decide to make anything with a red sauce for dinner. The aprons have saved many a t-shirt and sweater. They're also just adorable.

From now through Valentines Day get 50% off AND Free shipping on any order from Flirty Aprons. What's not to love about this deal? Flirty Aprons are as low as $13.50 and shipped free. You all know how popular these are and with a flash sale they often sell out quickly so make sure to get yours today! 

What we love

  • The cute designs and patterns!
  • So many patterns to choose from.
  • Frequent sales!
  • The fit.    

I'm not sure which pattern I, currently, love the most.  Though it may just be this Nautical Navy Apron.  Blue is a flattering shade on me - and I love the stripes paired with the polka dots.






{This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy here.}

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Nutri Ninja and Ninja Blender with Auto-iQ Review

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Recently, we overworked our humble little blender and it quit on us. We asked it to make too may shakes, smoothies and cold-coffee drinks. I think that Dan and I had received it when we were first married over a decade ago.  So, I guess it had a good run and now we needed a new blender.  Every time I would visit the store determined to make a purchase - I would change my mind and return home empty handed. I just didn't want to put time and money into a blender that wouldn't last through all of the work we needed out of one. We needed something durable, strong and efficient. It needed to blend shakes while still leaving them thick but still be powerful enough to crush ice.  In a way, we needed it to be intelligent enough to just read our minds and know what we wanted it to do.   Also, I needed a new food processor as someone (me) accidentally dropped mine down the stairs.




The Ninja Blender System with Auto-iQ seemed to be our answer.  It sounded great and has quite a  list of impressive features. As we unpacked the box, we quickly realized that this was a heavy-duty, serious business blender!



Auto-iQ

Auto-iQ™ programs do the work for you—there's no more need to shake, stir, or mix. Simply select your favorite Auto-iQ™ program and in seconds you're ready to Jump-Start your day!

This was important to us as it eliminated the guess work.  Our previous blender had a handful of buttons which we randomly used but were never sure when to use which button or how long to hold it down.



Nutrient and Vitamin Extraction

Ninja® Auto-iQ™ Technology combined with Pro Extractor Blades™ and Ninja® power break down whole foods, ice & seeds for maximum nutrient & vitamin extraction in the Nutri Ninja® Cups.

We loved this added benefit! Not only are we wanting foods and drinks that we can enjoy - we also make an effort to intake the right nutrients for our bodies which includes a lot of fun homemade smoothies and juices. The Nutri Ninja uses the same base as the blender and we can use either attachment seamlessly which helps to keep clutter down while still enjoying several appliances in one.


Precision Processing

You do not need to be a seasoned chef or a skilled knife handler to prepare delicious meals. Our Auto-iQ™ Pulse setting delivers timed, consistent, precision chopping so you never have to worry about over processing. Get even, consistent chopping and mixing results, every time. The precision processing function is great for quickly chopping vegetables for soups or to top salads, making food prep easy!

The processor that someone (me - I'm always dropping things) dropped down the basement stairs and completely destroyed was older and a little temperamental. It seemed a bit sluggish and I'm sure I never used it correctly. The Ninja has spoiled me and now I don't feel so bad for dropping my food processor. The pulse was amazing for creating delicious treats, dips and truffles this holiday season! It also had a blade for my dough!

I love that we were able to get so much usage from our Ninja Blender set. However, if you don't need all of the accessories you can find a set the fits your kitchen and lifestyle. Check out the Nutri Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ here.











I received this product for review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy here.

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26 Yummy Cookies and Bars for the Holidays!

Monday, December 15, 2014


It's time to start baking for the holidays! I enjoy baking pies, breads and other delicious treats in the fall, but in the winter it's all about cookies and bars! This year, we'll be testing a few new recipes and making our the traditional sugar and chocolate chip cookies. We'll also be making our house favorite, buckeyes! They aren't cookies or bars, but they are oh so yummy!

When the kids were younger, they weren't big fans of gingerbread. It was a bit too 'spicy' for them. I'm hoping that this year, their tastes will have change enough to enjoy these delicious and beautiful gingerbread cut out cookies!



For Dan, I think he may enjoy the Italian Christmas cookies. They look so light and sweet!

I love sugar cookies. A lot. I can't pass them up and I'm so disappointed when they aren't yummy. I have a difficult time getting them as sweet and soft as I want. So I'm going to try this recipe for Buttery Cut-Out Sugar Cookies W/ Icing That Hardens. The kids will enjoy making these as they love anything they get to shape. We have around 200 cookie cutters and this turns into an all afternoon project. So much fun!



I'm deciding whether or not I want to make the Caramel Cookie Cheesecake Bars and take them to the family Christmas party. They look so good, but I'm not sure I really want to share them. Though, it is always fun having bringing the dessert that disappears the quickest, isn't it?

Which recipe below would you take to a family get-together? Maybe I'll make and take what you suggest!

Check out Cookies and Bars for the Holidays
by Tiffany Noth at Foodie.com










*This post is sponsored by Foodie. All opinions are my own.


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Colorful Bow Tie Pork - Delicious!

Thursday, November 20, 2014




Standing by my side as I monitored the skillet and put the finishing touches on dinner, Joey grinned and then took off sprinting through the house.  I found out later that he had rushed to Dan to let him know that dinner smelled "So good!!"  I'd love to take the credit - but the Smithfield® Peppercorn & Garlic Pork was the reason for his excitement.

I do love seeing him get so excited about dinner!  He's so funny.  But I was also excited about this meal.  I found a fun and colorful recipe for Colorful Bow Tie Pork on foodlion.com that helped to brighten our weekly meal plan.  I love planning our family meal time - but admittedly, we can get into a routine of having the same meals week after week.  This was a nice addition to our list of favorites.  It was also a quick and easy meal to prepare.  Prep time was only about 15 minutes and was ready to serve at around 20 minutes. 

We typically enjoy any meal that includes pasta but I often have a difficult time including vegetables in with our pasta dishes.  I also never think to use pork with our pasta - so this was a nice change! 

Colorful Bow Tie Pork

Ingredients:

  • 1 Smithfield® Peppercorn Seasoned Boneless Sirloin Roast, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  • 1½ teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2½ cups chopped fresh broccoli
  • 1½ cups sliced carrots
  • 1¼ cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons margarine
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large tomato, diced
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 12 oz. bow tie pasta, cooked
Hop on over to foodlion.com for the complete recipe with directions - I'm sure you'll love it!

Food Lion offers an array of tips and recipes for meal planning.  Definitely check out the Colorful Bow Tie Pork and let me know what you think.  What other Food Lion recipes will you be trying this week? 







*Though this is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.

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Breakfast for Dinner - Fall/Winter Meal Planning

Tuesday, September 2, 2014



We are back into our Fall/Homeschool schedule. This means, that our meals are very much scheduled. I plan our meals weekly and keep a calendar in the kitchen that lets the family know what they can expect for that week. This helps the grocery shopping time to be spent more efficiently and helps my day to run much more smoothly.

It's also a great help for Savannah and Joe - they do well when they can see what snacks and meals are coming up. They love to give suggestions and ask that their favorite foods be added to the lineup.

As we near the Fall and Winter months - I love to add dinners that are more like breakfast. I love sausage, bacon and eggs - and enjoy using them in our dinner meals. I've collected several recipes on Foodie.com that I plan to use over the next few months as I schedule "Breakfast for Dinner" once a week.

Check out Breakfast for Dinner
by Tiffany Noth at Foodie.com


I enjoy cooking with my iron skillets - and use every excuse to use them. First up, I'm trying the
Baked Eggs with Potato and Bacon Hash.

I think Dan and Joey will enjoy the Sausage Cheddar Biscuits Recipe - so we'll be giving those a try very soon.

Savannah will love the Breakfast Burrito Quesadilla and I think we'll be making this tomorrow evening. Looks delicious and easy!

What are your favorite breakfast for dinner items?




*This post is sponsored by Foodie. All opinions are my own.

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