I
know that a lot of people love s’mores, I am not one of them. For some reason
whenever I make s’mores they never come out right. The chocolate doesn’t melt
most of the time and there is always too much graham cracker whenever I make
them. True s’mores are not my thing. My children on the other hand love them.
So I spent a little time looking through my pantry and thinking about ways to
improve the s’more and I came up with S’more Crispy Treats. This recipe came
from leftover stuff from my pantry that I threw together on a whim. They are
yummy. So yummy that there are none left.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
S’more Crispy Treats #Recipe
S’more Crispy Treats #Recipe
2013-12-17T13:36:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Recipe|Dessert|Easy Dessert Recipe|S’more Crispy Treats Recipe|S'more Rice Crispy Treat|
Comments (1)
Monday, December 16, 2013
Keeping the kids warm this winter with the JJ Cole polar bundleme #Review
Just
because it is winter does not mean that I am any less busy. In fact I seem to
constantly be going somewhere these days and I can almost always be found with
all three of my children in tow. Traveling with children can seem daunting when
the weather is nice; let alone when it is winter and there is snow falling and
the temperatures have plummeted below zero. The older children get bundled up
with coats, hats, and mittens. Since baby Julia is typically in her car seat or
a stroller during the winter the JJ Cole polar bundleme keeps her warm {Thank
you to JJ Cole for providing me with a sample polar bundleme}.
Keeping the kids warm this winter with the JJ Cole polar bundleme #Review
2013-12-16T15:54:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Review|car seat cover|extendable bottom|great gift for baby|JJ Cole|JJ Cole polar bundleme review|keep baby warm in winter|stroller cover|
Comments (12)
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Pecan Glazed Pork Tenderloin #Recipe
I
love a good pork tenderloin. I have tried it many different ways and have loved
the difference a few changes can make to an old recipe. I made this the other
night for my husband and he devoured it. Usually when we make pork tenderloin
we have leftovers -that was not the case this time around. We ate it all! It
was a delicious and very festive meal thanks to the pecans.
Pecan Glazed Pork Tenderloin #Recipe
2013-12-10T11:03:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Foodie|#Recipe|#Yum|Christmas Dinner|Dinner|Holiday Meal|Main Coarse|Meat|Pecan Glazed Pork Tenderloin|recipe|
Comments (5)
A Very Merry Joovy Holiday #Giveaway #SantaInUs
Over the years I have enjoyed being a Joovy
Mom and being able to share with you some of their innovative products. They
are a wonderful company to work with and the quality of their craftsmanship
speaks for itself. Joovy has an amazing giveaway going on right now in time for
the holidays and it is all about the little people!
A Very Merry Joovy Holiday #Giveaway #SantaInUs
2013-12-10T08:24:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Giveaway|#SantaInUs|giveaway|oovy|
Comments (3)
Monday, December 9, 2013
Planning a Christmas Dinner Menu
Every
year I host Christmas Eve in my home for my in-laws. This year we are changing
things up and I will be hosting Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve. Hosting
a big family holiday takes a lot of work. The hardest part for me is the menu
planning. I like to try and change things up a bit with some new recipes as
well as some tried and true family favorites. I thought since I was working so
hard on putting together a delicious Christmas Menu that you might like to see
what I am planning on serving for Christmas Dinner, just in case you are still
working on your menu too.
Planning a Christmas Dinner Menu
2013-12-09T16:07:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
Christmas Dinner|Christmas Dinner Menu|Christmas Menu|Holiday Food|Hosting a holiday meal|planning a menu|
Comments (3)
Thursday, December 5, 2013
A great gift for baby: The CombiUSA All-in-One Activity Walker #Review
I
love shopping for babies. It may be because I love babies and everything about
them. They are tiny little miracles that usually smell great and have the most
adorable giggles ever. I don’t even mind the spit up – they are that cute. When it comes to shopping for
a baby it can be a bit overwhelming at times since there are so many options
out there. So I tend to like the products that can multitask. The CombiUSA
All-in-One Activity Walker is a walker, an entertainer, a jumper, and a safe
place to grab a snack {Thank you CombiUSA for providing me with a sample All-in-One
Activity Walker}. This sleek little activity walker is multifunctional as well
as adorable and we love it!
A great gift for baby: The CombiUSA All-in-One Activity Walker #Review
2013-12-05T15:53:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Review|Activity Walker|All-in-One|Combi USA|CombiUSA All-in-One Activity Walker Review|entertainer|great gift for baby|jumper|Pink Car exersaucer|walker|
Comments (16)
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
The Best Christmas Card Ever: Macadamia Nut Craziness!
We
have a family friend who is quite the jet setter. His name is Rich and he hops
on a plane to travel like most of us hop in a car to run to the grocery store. Rich
used to live in Hawaii and whenever he would come to visit he would bring me
some sort of macadamia nut treat or Kona coffee. I know – how spoiled am I? The
answer was that I was extremely spoiled. And then Rich moved out of Hawaii and
my macadamia nut/Kona coffee stopped coming. And then… a box came.
The Best Christmas Card Ever: Macadamia Nut Craziness!
2013-12-04T14:54:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
hawaii|hawaiian host|island princess|kona coffee|macadamia nut|
Comments (3)
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
DIY Magnetic World Map Wall Art Project
My
son has a pirate themed bedroom. It is not an over the top pirate theme. It is
also not cartoonish. It is more nautical than anything else… or at least it was
until we took on a magnetic world wall map project. I knew that I wanted a large world map that my
son could interact with in his room and I knew that I wanted it mounted on his
wall. So I spent a bit of time thinking about how I wanted to accomplish this
and decided on magnets.
DIY Magnetic World Map Wall Art Project
2013-12-03T19:17:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#DIY|#Magnetic|#WorldMap|diy|interactive world map|Magnetic|Wall Art|World Map|
Comments (7)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
5 Tips for Traveling Light with Children {Travel Crib Light 2 #Review #Giveaway}
I
love to visit family. I especially enjoy visiting my family over the holidays
when the kiddos and adults are off of school and work and have the luxury of
just hanging out. I know that traveling light as an adult can be pretty simple
and straight forward; when I travel without my children all I need is my
carry-on bag and I am good for a week! But when you travel with children,
especially a baby, the items tend to add up and pretty soon you can feel as if
you are traveling with a three ring circus. But you can travel light
with children!
Children
do not require as much stuff as you think they need. Babies on the other hand
require a bit more gear for traveling. Baby gear comes in all shapes and sizes
and can be a bit overwhelming at times. But if you choose to travel light there
are some great options out there {Thank you BabyBjorn
for providing me with a sample of the Travel Crib Light 2}. I have put together this
little list of some of my tips for traveling light with children for this
holiday season.
5 Tips for Traveling Light with Children {Travel Crib Light 2 #Review #Giveaway}
2013-11-27T14:57:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Giveaway|#WIN|Baby Bjorn|BabyBjörn|crib Giveaway|Pack and Play giveaway|portable crib|tips for traveling with children|Travel Crib Light 2|Travel Light with baby|Traveling Light|
Comments (55)
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Proactive with the Misfit Shine Tracker from Best Buy #Review
Disclosure:
The reviewer has
been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the
product/service at a reduced price or for free.
After
having baby number three I have been making an effort to be more conscientious
about my daily fitness choices. Being healthy is a choice and one that I usually
enjoy making. So when Best Buy offered to send me the Misfit Shine Elegant
Wearable Tracker to review I was very excited. This was an item that I had on
my Christmas wishlist, so it was like Christmas came early in my house. I have
been testing it out for a couple weeks now and I have noticed that I am making
more of an effort to be more active daily.
Proactive with the Misfit Shine Tracker from Best Buy #Review
2013-11-23T07:10:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
Best Buy|Fitness Tracker|health|Misfit Shine Elegant Wearable Tracker|SHINE|Wearable Tracker|
Comments (10)
Friday, November 22, 2013
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s new Built To Amaze event #Review
Recently my family had the opportunity to go to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s new Built To Amaze event in Chicago. We took both of the boys this time around. We were thinking that the younger one was old enough to enjoy it and be able to sit in a seat without causing too much of a distraction to the people around us. He did great! My children enjoyed the show
so much that on the way home from the event they both asked when we could go
back.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s new Built To Amaze event #Review
2013-11-22T13:23:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
Alex and Irina Emelin|Andre McClain|Asian elephants|Barnum & Bailey|Built To Amaze|Chicago|circus|Clowns|Tabayara Maluenda|The Ringling Bros.|Tigers|
Comments (0)
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Stokke Scoot #Giveaway
The Stokke brand is synonymous with luxury
and the Scoot is no exception to this high end standard. This is a partnered
giveaway brought to you by Stokke and my friend MamaB
just in time for the holidays! One lucky reader is going to win a Stokke Scoot
stroller, in the color of their choice - thanks to Stokke!
Stokke Scoot #Giveaway
2013-11-20T15:58:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Giveaway|#WIN|giveaway|Stokke|Stokke Scoot|Win a stroller|
Comments (21)
babywearing Love with Julia
I love
babywearing. I have been babywearing since the birth of my first born son and
have enjoyed babywearing with each of my children. I love the snuggles. I love having
them close enough that I can bend my head down and kiss my little ones on the
head. I also love that baby smell! I love babywearing. I spent a bit of time
this morning looking through some pictures and realized that there are quite a
few of me babywearing baby Julia. I guess I babywear even more than I realized…
and I change up my carriers too.
babywearing Love with Julia
2013-11-20T11:40:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
baby|Baby Carriers|baby wearing|BabyBjorn ONE|babywearing|ErgoBaby Carrier|Lillebaby Complete|Moby Wrap|Stokke MyCarrier|
Comments (5)
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Coconut Oil Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies #Recipe
I love
cookies. My kids love cookies… Everyone
loves cookies. It is pretty safe to say that cookies are something that
everyone would like to have more of in my house. While I do enjoy the
occasional cookie, my thighs and hips let me know exactly just how much eating
cookies is costing me. So I have been experimenting once again in the kitchen;
this time with cookie recipes. I have been looking for ways of making a
healthier – yet still delicious sweet treat. I have gotten rid of butter and
instead changed things up by using coconut oil in my oatmeal chocolate chip
cookie recipe.
Coconut Oil Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies #Recipe
2013-11-19T14:21:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Recipe|#TuesDish|chocolate chip oatmeal cookie|coconut oil|coconut oil cookie|cookie|Cookie Recipe|healthy cookie|oatmeal chocolate chip|quick and easy cookie|recipe|
Comments (5)
Friday, November 15, 2013
The Chicago 1893 World’s Fair Exhibit at the Field Museum
One of my family’s
favorite places to visit in Chicago is The
Field Museum. My children love seeing Sue the
Tyrannosaurus as well as all of the other dinosaur displays in the Field
Museum. The Mammals of Asia and the Crown Family PlayLab are always a big hit.
When I found out that the newest exhibit coming to the museum was going to be
the 1893 World’s Fair I knew it was time for another trip into the city.
The Chicago 1893 World’s Fair Exhibit at the Field Museum
2013-11-15T14:59:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
1893|Columbian Exposition|Fair memorabilia|Ferris Wheel|Javanese village|large projections|Opening the Vaults|Peruvian mummies|QR Codes|The Field Museum|White City|World’s Fair|
Comments (12)
Thursday, November 14, 2013
A Healthy Lunch with the Southwest Tuna Salad Wrap #Recipe #OceanNaturals
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.
I love
tuna. It is a staple in my pantry and something that I crave frequently. I like
to eat tuna in sandwiches, wraps, dips, and casseroles. It is a versatile
ingredient that not only tastes good, but is also good for you. It is a healthy
lunch choice that is naturally delicious. I am always looking for better ways
to prepare my meals and make then as healthy and delicious as possible. Since I
use Ocean Naturals canned tuna, it is also quick and easy to incorporate tuna
into my recipes in a healthy Eco-conscious way.
A Healthy Lunch with the Southwest Tuna Salad Wrap #Recipe #OceanNaturals
2013-11-14T07:19:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#CBias|#OceanNaturals|#shop|Canned Tuna|Healthy Dinner|Healthy Lunch|Healthy Tuna Recipes|Naturally Delicious|Ocean Naturals|Skipjack|Skipjack Tuna|Tuna|Tuna Recipes|Wild Premium Tuna|
Comments (10)
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Let it snow… already?
Let it
snow… even though there are still leaves on the trees! Let it snow… even though
the day before I was mowing my lawn {okay – truth be told, my husband mowed the
lawn, not me}. Let it snow… even though I just blogged last week about the
beautiful fall weather I was enjoying. I guess I jinxed it because this week
we have enjoyed our first snowfall. Illinois weather is so fickle.
Let it snow… already?
2013-11-13T14:52:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
first snow|hot cocoa|playing in snow|Snow|Winter|
Comments (5)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Keeping dinner light with Thai Shrimp Noodles #Recipe
I have
been on a real seafood kick since my pregnancy with baby Julia. Each baby has altered
my taste buds quite a bit. With William I stopped going for the sugary sweet,
with Steven I started avoiding red meat, and now with baby Julia I have started
to lean towards the spicier foods and seafood. This Thai Shrimp Noodle recipe
satisfies the seafood craving as well as the spicy craving {don’t worry it isn’t
too spicy}. This is a pretty healthy dinner recipe that is filling and filled
with some tasty vegetables as well.
Keeping dinner light with Thai Shrimp Noodles #Recipe
2013-11-12T14:37:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Healthy|#Recipe|#Seafood|Asian Cuisine|Healthy Dinner|Healthy Lunch|Healthy Recipes|recipe|Sambal Oelek|Seafood Dish|Shrimp Tai Noodles|Thai Noodles|Thai Pad Noodles|Thai Sauce|
Comments (12)
Sunday, November 10, 2013
15 Minutes for mom with the Graco Little Lounger #Graco15ForMe #Review
I was
recently invited to participate in the #Graco15ForMe blogger event which took
place in the home of one of my favorite local bloggers Emily from Baby Dickey.
I was able to spend some time with a group of local bloggers learning all about
the new Graco Little Lounger in Dakota and all of its awesome features.
I had a
lot of fun playing with the Little Lounger and since I brought baby Julia with
me I was able to really test this product out during the event. Julia was enthralled
with the little stars on the mobile and was a big fan of the adjustable recline
option. Since I am all about baby gear, playing around with the Little Lounger
was a treat for me as well. Graco was kind enough to send each of us bloggers
home with one of our own for further testing.
15 Minutes for mom with the Graco Little Lounger #Graco15ForMe #Review
2013-11-10T21:47:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Graco15ForMe|baby gear|BabyGear|Graco|Graco Little Lounger|Recliner|Review|rocker|Rocking chair|rocking seat|Vibrating baby chair|Vibrating seat|
Comments (9)
Friday, November 8, 2013
The Joovy Groove Ultralight is a perfect lightweight stroller #Review
I
keep falling more and more in love with Joovy and all of their products. This
fall my new Joovy love affair is with the Joovy Groove Ultralight stroller. It
should come as no surprise that I love strollers, but not all strollers are
built with the same quality and thought that goes into Joovy products and the
Groove Ultralight is a great example of this.
Years ago my husband decided
that we needed a lightweight stroller, an umbrella stroller. We went out and
bought a very inexpensive {cheap} lightweight stroller for my husband to use on
quick jaunts to the park or short shopping trips. Well… you get what you pay
for and the inexpensive umbrella stroller we purchased quickly became a dust
collector in the garage. When Joovy provided me with the Joovy Groove
Ultralight stroller for review I knew I could finally give away my husband’s
old umbrella stroller. This was a definite upgrade and I now find myself
choosing the Joovy Groove Ultralight stroller to use on more and more outings.
The Joovy Groove Ultralight is a perfect lightweight stroller #Review
2013-11-08T15:57:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
Joovy Blogger|Joovy Groove Ultralight|Joovy Mom|Joovy Stroller Review|Lightweight stroller review|purple|purple stroller|purpleness|umbrella stroller review|
Comments (13)
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Autumn Colors in Illinois
I feel
like I have finally gotten to enjoy the Fall colors this year. The trees held
onto their green leaves for a good long time before finally giving into Mother
Nature and turning various shades of crimson and gold. But once those leaves
turned, boy did they turn! For the past couple weeks I have been surrounded by
beautiful fall colors everywhere I turn and I have loved it. Usually I have
only a few days of beautiful fall foliage before a storm blows through and all
the leaves are gone. Not this year! This year I get to fall in love with the
Fall colors all around me.
Autumn Colors in Illinois
2013-11-06T14:31:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
Autumn|Colors|Fall|Fall Colors|Fall in Illinois|Foliage|
Comments (8)
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
How to make a Quiche: Quick & Easy Quiche #Recipe
I love
breakfast foods. They are usually pretty easy to make and are delicious any
time of day. I especially like quiche. Quiche is great for a breakfast or brunch
get together and it is really simple to prepare. I have had quiche at many a baby
and bridal shower and it is one of my go-to dishes to make when I have company
over. This is a quick and easy recipe that I hope you enjoy.
How to make a Quiche: Quick & Easy Quiche #Recipe
2013-11-05T15:54:00-06:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Recipe|#TuesDish|Breakfast|breakfast recipe|company breakfast|quiche|quiche recipe|quick and easy quiche|spinach and bacon quiche|
Comments (3)
Friday, November 1, 2013
Tips for Bathing Baby {Boon Naked Bath Tub Review}
Now that
there are three little ones in my home I feel like I am constantly bathing my
babies! My oldest has decided that he is now a big boy and at 4 years old he
should be taking showers and not baths. My younger son loves taking a bath with
all of his bath toys and there are quite a few bath toys. My baby girl has
graduated from sponge baths -those lovely damp washcloth “baths” newborns get
until their umbilical cord stump dries up, falls off, and heals- and is now
ready for bathing in an infant/toddler bathtub {Thank you Boon for
providing me with a sample of the Naked 2 Position Collapsible Baby Bathtub}. Since
I never seem to stop bathing these babies I have decided to put together a few
tips and tricks for a successful bath time.
Tips for Bathing Baby {Boon Naked Bath Tub Review}
2013-11-01T17:07:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
Boon Inc.|give baby a bath|How to bathe a baby|Naked 2-position collapsible baby bath tub|Naked bath tub|Naked Bath Tub Review|tips and tricks|tips for giving baby a bath|
Comments (19)
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Family Halloween Costumes: Toy Story Theme
I
love doing family Halloween costumes! Every year for Halloween my entire family
dresses up. We pick a movie theme and everyone in the family picks a character
from that movie to dress up as for Halloween. We do a lot of homemade costumes
in our house and this year was no different. The theme for this year’s family Halloween
costumes is Toy Story. We chose the Toys Story theme because my kiddos all love
ALL of the Toy Story movies and there are enough characters for everyone to be
able to pick someone to be for Halloween.
Family Halloween Costumes: Toy Story Theme
2013-10-30T14:37:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
Bo Peep|Buzz|Family Halloween Costumes|Group costumes|Homemade Halloween Costumes|Jessie|Little green alien|Movie Themed Costumes|Mr and Mrs Potato Head|Toys Story costumes|Woody|Zurg|
Comments (7)
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!
I was very excited to announce that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® Presents Built To Amaze! is coming to Chicago
again!
I
am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in
attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping
you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me
with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private
Feld pre‐Show
events
If you missed that post, be sure to use the promo
code MOM to receive 40% on weekday shows and 20% on weekend
shows. Plus, get even MORE value with FREE PARKING in all official Allstate
Arena and United Center parking lots.
I
wanted to share a coloring sheet with all of you today. My nuggets love to
color and we will be using this coloring sheet as a jumping off point to get
them prepared for the show and what they can expect to see.
Have you ever been to a Barnum & Bailey
show?
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!
2013-10-27T21:53:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
circus|Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!|
Comments (0)
Friday, October 25, 2013
How to make a little green alien fleece baby hat #DIY #Halloween
My
entire family dresses up each year for Halloween. We pick a movie and each
person gets to be a character from that movie. This year we are dressing up as
Toy Story for Halloween. My baby is going to be a little green alien, my middle
child is going to be Buzz Lightyear, my oldest child is going to be Zurg, my
husband is going to be Woody, and I am going to be Jessie. Everyone is getting
homemade costumes with the exception of my middle child – simply because we
already own a Buzz costume. We are doing Toy Story Halloween costumes and I
could not be more excited. I got started by making this little green alien baby
fleece hat.
The little
green alien fleece turned out remarkably well. So well in fact, all of my
children and some other family members have requested that I make one for them
as well. From start to finish it took me about 2 hours to make this hat… maybe
a little less. I did it during nap time one day and the next day I made my
oldest son’s fleece Zurg hat {because you cannot BUY a Zurg costume anywhere!
But that is another post all together}. I thought this was super easy to do, so
I thought I would share it with you so that you can make it too!
How to make a little green alien fleece baby hat #DIY #Halloween
2013-10-25T15:14:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#DIY|alien costume|baby fleece hat|DIY baby hat|DIY fleece hat|free baby hat pattern|free hat pattern|homemade|little green alien costume|little green alien from toy story|toy story costume|
Comments (6)
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Monsters University on Blu-ray and DVD combo pack October 29! #Review
I was a huge fan of Monsters Inc. when it came out
and can remember going to see it in theaters. When I heard that there was going
to be another movie with Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan “Sulley”, I knew
that I needed to see it and I hoped that I would love it just as much as
Monsters Inc. Monsters University did not disappoint. Thank you to Click
Communications for providing me with a sample of Monsters University to review,
my entire family has enjoyed watching over and over and over again!
Monsters University on Blu-ray and DVD combo pack October 29! #Review
2013-10-24T15:30:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
Blu-ray|DVD combo pack|Family Movie Night|Monsters University|Movie Review|October 29|
Comments (2)
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Every
year my family participates in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Each year our team
goes to walk and to remember my grandfather who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s.
We created our team seven years ago when my grandfather passed away and each
year we raise money, walk, and remember. My grandfather was one of the kindest
most generous men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was an honorable
man who passed down the value of family and taking care of one another.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
2013-10-23T14:56:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
Alzheimer’s Association|Alzheimer’s Awareness|Fred's Forget Me Nots|FRED'S FORGET-ME-NOTS'|Walk to End Alzheimer’s|
Comments (5)
Almond Cookie Recipe: A sweet little treat
I have
been in the mood for Asian food lately. Be it the tangy orange chicken stir fry
I shared with you last week or the shrimp Tai noodles I am planning on making
for dinner tonight. I have been craving the tangy goodness of these dishes and
have decided that I needed a dessert that would complement them, something
simple and sweet. While preparing my dinner last week I took a peek in my
pantry and discovered I had everything I needed on hand to whip up some almond
cookies. So I did!
Almond Cookie Recipe: A sweet little treat
2013-10-23T13:40:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Recipe|#TuesDish|Almond Cookie|Asian Almond Cookie|Cookie Recipe|Easy Asian Dessert|recipe|
Comments (3)
Monday, October 21, 2013
Coming to CHICAGO: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!
I am so excited to be going to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey’s new Built To Amaze event coming to Chicago! Last year we had the
opportunity to see their Dragons show and we loved it. So when the US Family
Guide and Feld offered to send my family to see Built To Amaze I was ecstatic!
I cannot wait!
Coming to CHICAGO: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!
2013-10-21T16:57:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
Chicago|circus|Family Events|Family Friendly|Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!|Things to do in Chicago|
Comments (4)
Friday, October 18, 2013
#ad Orange Chicken Stir-Fry a Quick & Easy Dinner #MixNMatchMeals
I am
a member of the Collective Bias® Social
Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper
insights study for Collective Bias and their client.
There are some nights that my family is
rushing out the door and quick meals are all we have time for. These are the
nights that I look for easy meals or fast and easy recipes that my family can
enjoy before hurrying off to our next appointment. I try to keep it healthy,
fresh, and fun and I try to include the kids in my meal preparations as well.
I found the Tyson
Mix and Match Creations at Walmart on a recent shopping trip with the kids and knew I had to
give them a try. You can view my entire shopping trip on Google+.
The Tyson Mix and Match Creations can feed a family of four for a little over
$10.00, which is less than the typical cost of a single meal when dining out.
The fact that the meal preparation was so quick and easy is what sold me on the
idea. I knew this would be a perfect meal solution for those super busy nights
when we are rushing to get out the door.
There are
192 flavor combinations {5 proteins, 6 sauces, and 8 sides} so you
can Mix and Match any way you like! With so much to choose from I couldn’t
decide, even with the handy little recipe cards on display. I turned the
decision for dinner over to the kids. William picked the chicken, Steven chose
the veggies, and I knew that the Tangy Orange Sauce would compliment both
perfectly.
#ad Orange Chicken Stir-Fry a Quick & Easy Dinner #MixNMatchMeals
2013-10-18T07:10:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#CBias|#MixNMatchMeals|easy meals|family meals|fast and easy recipes|meal solutions|Mix n Match|one stop meals|quick meals|Tyson family dinner|Value meals|what to make for dinner|
Comments (3)
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Giving the Gift of Sleep with Pampers & Giveaway #DDDivas #DivasSleep #sponsored
This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was provided the featured
product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.
As the
mother of a three month old, sleep is something I value very highly. Being
given the gift of sleep is something I treasure and am extremely thankful for.
Since I have a 4 year-old, 2 year-old, and 3 month-old all under one roof,
sleeping through the night is unheard of in my house. My new baby girl is still
feeding frequently throughout the night so I use Pampers Swaddlers so that she
stays dry throughout the night and I can enjoy all the sleep I can get.
When
Pampers asked me to put together a “Gift of Sleep” package for someone in my
community I knew exactly what I wanted to include in my gift and I knew exactly
where it would go. I have been a loyal
Pampers mom since the birth of my son 4 years ago and it is the only brand of
disposable diapers that I recommend to my friends and family because of its
superior dryness. If I don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to
change a leaky diaper that means that I am sleeping more and so is baby.
Gifting someone Pampers is gifting them sleep.
Giving the Gift of Sleep with Pampers & Giveaway #DDDivas #DivasSleep #sponsored
2013-10-17T13:04:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#DDDivas|#DivasSleep|#Giveaway|Gift of Sleep|giveaway|Pampers|Pampers Cruisers|Pampers Gift of Sleep|Pampers Swaddlers|
Comments (61)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
My Pumpkin Patch Kids
It is a
family tradition to visit the pumpkin patch each fall with the kids. We go, we
pick out pumpkins, and I take a gazillion pictures. My oldest is a complete ham
and poses for me without my prompting. My middle child takes some cajoling in order
to capture a good shot – and even then I am lucky if I can actually capture it
on film {or digital… you know what I mean}. My baby girl is not yet able to sit
unassisted, so she tends to take a lot more work. I am constantly thinking to
myself when I try to capture these moments on camera, “How did my mother do it.”
My
mother had five children and my parents took family portraits themselves each year.
Usually these pictures were taken in front of a fireplace or a hideous chair,
but they eventually captured all of their five children looking at the camera
at the same time and smiling. WHAT! I call this witchcraft. Especially in a time
that digital was unheard of and people had to wait to develop their film to see
whether or not they got a good shot. I was not able to get a picture of the
whole family, let alone one in which everyone is even looking in the same
general direction. So – I tip my hat to you mom. Well done.
My Pumpkin Patch Kids
2013-10-16T13:36:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#WordlessWednesday|#WW|Family Photo|Family Portraits|Pictures of Kids|Pumpkin Patch|Taking Pictures|Wordless Wednesday|
Comments (7)
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Balsamic Tomato Mozzarella Salad #Recipe
The
last time I went to visit my mother she made the most wonderful side salad. It
was ridiculously delicious. I must have had at least four helpings of it. As
someone who loves tomatoes, this salad was right up my alley and when she told
me it was really easy to make I knew I was going to be making this as soon as I
got home. Once again my mother was right. This balsamic tomato mozzarella salad
is super quick and easy to make and the flavor is soooo good!
Balsamic Tomato Mozzarella Salad #Recipe
2013-10-15T11:02:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Recipe|#TuesDish|Balsamic Tomato Mozzarella Salad|Caprese salad|Easy Side Salad|recipe|Tomato Salad|
Comments (4)
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The Multifunctional Stokke Crusi Stroller with Sibling Solutions #Review
My
family likes to travel and since there are so many of us now, a stroller is a
necessity. It is really nice when the necessity of a stroller can be a luxury
as well. Stokke recently sent over a sample of their Stokke Crusi stroller with
the Sibling Solutions and I must say that it is defiantly a luxury stroller
that I wish I could ride around in.
The
Stokke Crusi is not only stylish, it is multifunctional. I have had the
opportunity to use the Stokke Crusi stroller as a single stroller and as a
double stroller and I have to say that there is a lot to like about both. It is
a beautifully well crafted stroller that I really enjoy pushing around. The
fact that it comes in purple is a big bonus!
The Multifunctional Stokke Crusi Stroller with Sibling Solutions #Review
2013-10-10T16:43:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
Buggies|double stroller review|New baby and toddler|Pushchair|Stokke Crusi review|Stokke Crusi with sibling solution Review|Stokke Double|Stokke Double Stroller|Xplory Seat|
Comments (26)
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
I have a craft room!
Boxes
are being unpacked and bins are being dusted off because I now have a craft
room! We moved our washer and dryer to the basement {as the space for it on the
first floor was little more than a glorified closet} and made a nice little mom
cave for me to do laundry and get crafty in!
I could
not be any happier, as I now have counter space for folding laundry and
cabinetry for storing supplies. I have a work space for sewing, scrapbooking, gift
wrapping, and getting crafty with the kids. I even have a space for my
elliptical {hello winter workouts}. My husband thought of everything when
creating this space for me. He even made sure to have an outlet and cable
connection for me to mount a television on one wall so I can watch a show while
going for a run indoors. It is perfect and there is nothing I would change.
I have a craft room!
2013-10-09T13:58:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
built in ironing board|Craft Room|Gray and White Laundry Room|Grey and White Laundry Room|Laundry Room|Mom Cave|Wood Floor White Cabinets|
Comments (6)
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Pulled Pork Sandwich with Broccoli Slaw #Recipe
I opened the front door this morning and there was a bite in the air, it was cold. The kids and I quickly gave hubby a kiss goodbye and sent him on his way and we hustled back inside for some nice warm indoor morning activities. The cold weather got me thinking about some of my favorite fall dinner dishes. One of my personal favorites is my husband’s Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
These pulled pork sandwiches are made in the Crockpot and they are delicious! They smell great and taste even better. They have a nice kick to them without going overboard in the spice department. I love them for a fall/winter meal and since it is a crock pot dish it is really simple to toss in and go about our day.
Pulled Pork Sandwich with Broccoli Slaw #Recipe
2013-10-08T14:47:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Crockpot|#Recipe|#TuesDish|Broccoli Coleslaw|Broccoli Slaw|crockpot|Easy dinner|Marzetti|Pulled Pork|Pulled Pork and broccoli slaw recipe|Pulled Pork Sandwich|recipe|Slow cooker meal|
Comments (6)
Monday, October 7, 2013
Feeling Safe and Secure with the Britax Pinnacle 90 Car Seat #Review
My
family is a growing family, and with the newest addition of my daughter we have
been playing musical chairs with our car seats. I have had to go through and
move car seats around and refresh my memory on the specifications
{weight/height min/max} for each car seat. My oldest was very excited to be
making the move to the back of the minivan where he would get a whole bench to
himself. I was not as excited as the placement of his car seat would no longer
allow me to use the LATCH system and I would be switching over to securing his
car seat with a seat belt.
I spent
some time online looking at car seats and happened across the Britax Pinnacle
90 car seat with click tight technology and thought that this could be the
solution I was looking for. Needless to say, I was very excited when Britax
sent me a Pinnacle 90 car seat sample for review. -Thank you Britax for
providing the Pinnacle 90 car seat. It did not take long for me to become familiar
with this car seat and to fall in love with how easy it was to install and use!
Feeling Safe and Secure with the Britax Pinnacle 90 Car Seat #Review
2013-10-07T11:14:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
Britax Car Seat Review|Britax Mom|Britax Pinnacle 90 review|CarSeat|Click Tight Installation System|Click Tight Technology|Forward Facing Car Seat|Pinnacle 90 Car Seat Review|
Comments (16)
Friday, October 4, 2013
Make your own LEGO Play Tray #DIY #CraftsForKids
This is the final Play Tray project that I have planned in the
Play Tray craft series. I had to wait for my LEGO building plates to come in
the mail before I could tackle this project. I ordered these for $5.00 a
building plate off Amazon, as opposed to paying $14.99 for one in stores. It
was worth the wait though. Once the LEGO building plates arrived my boys were
more than ready to get to work on our last play tray!
Make your own LEGO Play Tray #DIY #CraftsForKids
2013-10-04T16:06:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#CraftsForKids|#DIY|#KidCraft|Best homemade LEGO Tray|Car Ride Activities for Kids|DIY craft|Homemade LEGO Board Tray|How to make a homemade LEGO Play tray|Take along Crafts|
Comments (6)
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Boys and Bugs
I have
been taking the kids to the park as much as possible lately. I know that it is
technically Fall already, but I am holding onto the nice weather we have been experiencing
with both hands and as if my life depended on it! I know that pretty soon it
will turn cold and we will either have rain or snow {it’s Illinois – you never
know what kind of weather to expect.} and park time will be a thing of the
past.
Our
recent jaunt to the park introduced my children to cicadas and toads, something
they had not spent a lot of up close and personal time with before now. The
little toad was a huge hit. My boys followed it around for quite a while. When
they realized they were not quick enough catch it they asked mom to come to the
rescue and pick it up so they could pet it…. Oh to be the mom of boys!
Boys and Bugs
2013-10-02T11:45:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
boys and their bugs|bug|cicada|cicadas|frog|insect|mom of boys|mother of boys|park play|Toad|
Comments (8)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Easy Baked Ravioli #Recipe
There are certain nights throughout the week that I am utterly exhausted and the last thing I want to do is stand in my kitchen trying to cook a gourmet meal while three children try to compete for my attention. On those nights I usually pull out a made ahead freezer meal to cook or I go for one of my staple dinner recipes that I can make blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back. This is one of those recipes that I can whip up in no time and I do not need to be functioning on all four cylinders to create. It is really easy.
Not only is this easy baked ravioli simple
and straightforward to make, it tastes good too. There is not a lot to it and
everything in it can probably already be found in your kitchen; hence why this
is a go-to recipe for crazy hectic nights. I hope you enjoy this as much as my
family does and find it just as simple to bake.
Easy Baked Ravioli #Recipe
2013-10-01T13:33:00-05:00
Laura Grace Andry
#Recipe|#TuesDish|Baked Ravioli|Easy baked Ravioli Dish|Go-To recipe|Italian Dinner|Prego|Ravioli|
Comments (12)
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