Holidays / Seasons | 3 Boys And A Dog

GIVEAWAY: Holiday Memory Organizer

December 9, 2011 By Tabitha

Well it’s officially only 15 shopping days ’til Christmas! Who’s done all their shopping? I can tell you I have barely started and I have four kids to buy for this year! My time is quickly running out!

Aside from the craziness of shopping and preparing for Christmas, there is one thing I’m sure we all want during the holidays and that’s to make memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you have kids or it’s just you and your spouse or just you, we all want fond memories and we want to remember them and to show others our memories as well.

What a better way to keep track of those memories then putting together a Holiday Memory binder. The Holiday Memory Organizer from CarolinaPad is the perfect place to store all your holiday memories from pics, to recipes, to family traditions and Christmas card lists.

The Holiday Memory Organizer includes 5 decorative tab dividers, 12 pocket pages to hold 48 standard 4”x6” photos, 12 pocket pages to hold 48 standard 5”x7” photos and 12 pocket pages to hold 48 letters, cards, photos or other keepsakes up to 8.5”x11”. At a retail price of only $12.99!

My brain is already working overtime with ideas of what I want to put in my binder! I see favorite recipes, pictures of fun activities, ides for next Christmas, the possibilities are endless. What I like most about this book is that it’s all contained and set up for you all you have to do is drop stuff in. I can’t wait to get started documenting our Christmas memories and traditions in one convenient place. I won’t be hunting for that awesome melt in your mouth shortbread recipe anymore because I’m putting it in my book. I won’t be asking myself each year, “Now what did I bake last year?” now I’ll know!

You can purchase this handy binder and other items direct from their online store, unfortunately they can’t sell to Canadians just yet but they are working on it.

CarolinaPad has given our US readers a discount code for 20% off your next purchase made before January 15th 2012. Here’s the link: http://carolinapadstore.com/index.aspx?dc=3boysandadogdirectly either click it or copy and paste it into your browser window.

Win it!

One of our lucky readers is going to win the Holiday Memory Organizer! The giveaway is open to both US and Canada!!

*Please note that if you win we will need your full name and address and phone number (Sorry FedEx rules) and you cannot have won ANY type of Carolina Pad prize, contest, etc in the past 90 days. (Including Facebook and Twitter.)

Mandatory Entry: Head on over to the Carolina Pad store and tell me one other item that you would like to buy.

BONUS #1: Follow @carolinapad and @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Carolina Pad and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
#2. Sign up for my NEW Weekly Newsletter.
#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
#4. Put my button on your blog.
#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on Dec 23, 2011

OPEN TO: US and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Carolina Pad to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

Filed Under: Crafts & Games, Crafts and Hobbies, Holidays / Seasons, Organizing, Review and Giveaways

Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

December 8, 2011 By Kelli Leave a Comment

mbs holiday 2011 06 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: Double Desserts

Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It’s a 1+1=3 kind of thing.

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies

Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange.

mbs holiday 2011 12 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: Boozy Baking

From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a slosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We’re loving these boozy baked goods!

Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes

Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate “holiday helpers.”

mbs holiday 2011 15 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun.

Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food!

Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers

Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack ‘em up and watch ‘em go.

mbs holiday 2011 17 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: From Cave to Kitchen

Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that’s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can’t resist.

Recipe: Mantastic Fried Chicken ‘n’ Waffle Sandwich

Here’s a new take on chicken ‘n’ waffles – made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It’s the ultimate manly man meal.

mbs holiday 2011 19 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: Skinny Cocktails

Here’s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails.

Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini

Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers!

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Trend: Better Than Bought

From canning to candy making, there’s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity.

Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge

Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt—a recipe to impress.

mbs holiday 2011 23 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: Veggie Love

Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus

Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip.

mbs holiday 2011 25 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly

Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn’t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we’re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone – whether you’re allergy-sensitive or not.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten – no kidding!

mbs holiday 2011 27 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G

Man’s best friend deserves man’s best effort. That’s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido’s list.

Recipe: Dog Bark

This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog’s favorite ingredients – bacon and cheese. Bow WOW!

mbs holiday 2011 29 Top Ten Christmas Holiday Foods Trends

Trend: Food Craft

The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat.

Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps

Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.

DISCLAIMER: I received the details from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark to bring you the Betty 10: Red Hot Holiday Trends information. Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Holidays / Seasons, Meals / Menus, Recipes Tagged With: betty crocker, Christmas, cooking, food trends, holidays, Recipes

A Teachable Moment: Nurture Yourself During the Holidays!

December 6, 2011 By Kelli 3 Comments

Dr. Susan Bartell

Nurture yourself during the holiday rush…really!

Are you exhausted? I know that I am! After fighting crowds at the mall, baking mountains of cookies, and managing meltdowns by overtired kids, every parent is ready to drop! It’s difficult to avoid the insanity of the holidays, which is why it is so important for you to find a few moments to care for yourself. After all, if you feel cheerful and energized, rather than tired and stressed, you will be better able to juggle your way through the next few weeks. It doesn’t take much to get the relief that you so desperately need, so please enjoy these tips, as my holiday gift to you:

Turn up the tunes. Loud, fun music will lift your spirits and distract you. When you dance and sing along, it will definitely put a smile on your face. Soothing music will signal your body to relax and it will help you slow down.

Breathe in. Certain aromas have an instantly calming effect on your body. Lavender, rose, vanilla and many other scents will send signals to your brain to become calm and feel good. Carry an aroma that appeals to you in the form of a small container of balm, cream or essential oil. When you feel stressed, open the lid and inhale the soothing smell.

Breathe out. Stress can make your heart race. To slow it down, breathe in for a count of five, and breathe out for five. Repeat this another three or four times. You will be surprised at how this simple technique can calm you down. It is especially effective in traffic or while waiting on line. Practice this often to get better at it.

Indulge in a mini-massage. Use your favorite lotion (extra points if you use one with a soothing smell) to massage your hands together, or to rub your feet. It may not be quite as good as a professional massage, but your body will still thank you.

Limit caffeine. Too much caffeine amplifies stress. Although you may be exhausted, resist the urge to drink too much coffee. Don’t forget that there is also caffeine in some tea, soda, and chocolate.

Sip a cup of hot, herbal tea. The act of taking a moment to boil the water and brew the tea, will give you a time out. Then, since it’s hot, you will be forced to sit and sip it. Pick a flavor that feels calming (perhaps chamomile).

Stretch. The next time you watch TV with the kids, or chat on the phone, give your back, legs and neck a gentle stretch. You’ll feel your body instantly de-stress.

Exercise—even for a couple of minutes. Run upstairs or jog to meet the school bus. Your body will release feel-good endorphins that will keep you going for a while.

Take a hot shower or bath. The warm water will soothe your aching body and give you a few minutes of peace and quiet—if you’re lucky!

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Filed Under: Guest Blogger, Holidays / Seasons, Teachable Moments Tagged With: Dr Susan, holidays, nurture, Parenting, self, Teachable Moments

You can NEVER go wrong with Hickory Farms for Christmas

December 1, 2011 By Kelli 1 Comment

It is just not Christmas without a Hickory Farms kiosk in the mall, is it? My husband is such a HUGE Hickory Farms fan, that pretty much everyone gets him something from there for Christmas. His favorite is the Summer Sausage and Smoked Bacon Blend Cheese. My Dad loves the Cranberry Mustard. Me, I am a bit weird, I just like the little candies they use to decorate the gift boxes. ROTFL!

They have items to fit every budget from under $25.00 to over $50.00.

Summer Sausage and Cheese Gift Box: At $40.00, this makes a great gift for Parents and Grandparents. This classic gift has been a favorite for over half a century! It features Signature Beef Summer Sausage and 3 cheese flavors: the NEW Farmhouse Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, and Smoked Cheddar. This is the one that I pretty much always get for Ricky. If money is a bit too tight, I just buy him an individual sausage and an individual cheese. He loves to see the shapes in his stocking and try to guess what flavor I chose.

If you are having a party or attending a party this year, don’t hesitate to get the Party Planner Gift Box. At only $45 dollars for the box, this is a great way to provide munchies for the Holidays. With the Hickory Farms $3.00 to ship Holiday Special going on and the fact that they will donate $5 to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry ® Campaign for each of these boxes sold, this is truly a great purchase!

Plus, did you know that Hickory Farms supports our Military? Yeah, seriously!

THE TRADITION OF GIVING BACK

Hickory Farms is committed to giving back through its partnership with Share Our Strength®, a leading national not-for-profit organization working to end childhood hunger in North America. This holiday season, when customers purchase a Party Planner gift box, Hickory Farms will contribute $5 to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® Campaign*. Customers will also have the opportunity to include a $1 donation to the campaign with their purchase at a Hickory Farms store or at hickoryfarms.com. Hickory Farms’ passion for fighting childhood hunger has generated more than $1.1M in contributions to Share Our Strength since 2008. The company is looking to raise and/or donate an additional $700,000 this coming holiday season. Beyond Share Our Strength, Hickory Farms is a strong supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces serving across the globe. All year long, Hickory Farms offers free shipping on select products to military addresses to ensure that families can send loved ones much needed food gifts and warm wishes.

For more information on Hickory Farms, Free Shipping to APOs and FPOs, and their Share Our Strength campaign, please visit the following:

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

pf button big You can NEVER go wrong with Hickory Farms for Christmas

Filed Under: Holidays / Seasons, Reviews Tagged With: Hickory Farms, Holiday Gift Guide, review

Sneak Peek: Vera Bradley is the way to go this Holiday Season

November 29, 2011 By Kelli 18 Comments

Vera Bradley New Winter Colors

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Vera Bradley is a brand that is recognizable everywhere. If you just take a stroll through your local Mall, you can pick out the Vera Bradley bags on the shoulders of many of the women. I, personally, have spent so much time drooling over the Vera Bradley website, that I can even name the colors.

During the Thanksgiving weekend shopping trip, I must have said a million times, different phrases to the effect of… “oh look Mom, that is a Vera Bradley! Oh, I like that Baroque design, don’t you?” or “Oh I really like that Call Me Coral, , too bad they have retired it. Although, that means that you can get most of the items in that color at a great discount! *hint, hint*” Hmm.. on further thought, my Mother must think I am a loon, or a Vera Bradley stalker. LOL!

They have stayed true to their “brand” since opening the company in 1982 and continue to bring consumers new items and new patterns. With over 100 different items per most colors, there is surely something for everyone out there. For me, I have a wish list 9 miles long and have spent countless hours on the site. I am not kidding! When they check their site traffic analytics, they will see that one of their visitors spent like 3 hours on the site. HA! That was me. You know, since I have nothing else to do during the day except watch TV and eat Chocolate. Yeah, if you believe that, I have a bridge I could sell ya’. LOL!

So, since I have a fairly recent addiction and know that there is no way on Earth I can afford the 47,000 items (ok, only 30 on my wish list) I want from Vera Bradley, I decided to put my blog to use and see about contacting their PR department. Smart move on my part. Not only do I get to tell you about the new colors, but I get to give my thoughts and opinions on 4 items!

So, keep your eyes peeled to this site to find out my thoughts and opinions on the following Vera Bradley items:

Yep, they are on their way to my house and upon their arrival, I will get the post up. Hmm.. wonder if I can talk them into doing a giveaway so one of my readers can win something?

Want to start your own drooling session?

Like Vera Bradley on FaceBook
Follow Vera Bradley on Twitter
Watch Vera Bradley on YouTube
Visit the Vera Bradley Website and start your own wish list!
Follow the Vera Bradley Blog, Inside Stitch.

***DISCLAIMER: I will be sent items by Vera Bradley to help facilitate my review. No money exchanged hands. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

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Filed Under: Holidays / Seasons, Reviews Tagged With: branding, colors, fashion, gifts for women, Holiday Gift Guide, holiday season, holidays, new winter, oh, shopping, spent, sports, stroll, the way, to go, Vera Bradley, vera bradley bags, vera bradley website

GIVEAWAY: Holiday Memory Organizer