Tiny Prints and Holiday Cards

I LOVE TINY PRINTS!!!!  ok I've said it.  I use them all the time to send little cards to say hi, to wish someone a happy birthday send the grandparents a photo card of little g.... etc... they are so easy to use and the designs just rock.


So when I got my photos this year from my dear friend Dawn at Creative Concepts  I rushed to Tiny Prints to see what cute card I could make as my Christmas card.  There are SO many to choose from it is too hard to decide......

I am not sure how I am going to decide this year.. I might just have to get some of each kind LOL :)



I can't wait to start getting cards this year.. it is one of my favorite things that happen over the holiday.  You sometimes get cards from people you only hear from once a year. I am so glad that card giving hasn't totally gone by the wayside.  I love hanging them on a door in my house or stringing a string across the fireplace and putting the cards on display that way.  Makes the house feel festive!

The other thing that I LOVE doing over the holidays (ok it's only been a tradition for the past 3 years) but I love getting G's photo taken with santa, then I put it in a frame for on the fireplace.  I like to have each year out.  I love looking back at the past years.  My family also takes a photo at the top of the stairs every christmas morning and it is fun to display those too.


I am so looking forward to the holidays this year.  G is just getting big enough to start understanding what is going on and it is going to be so so much fun!  Starting with my AWESOME  Tiny Prints Chistmas Cards!

You must check them out go  to this page: http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm. Filters on the left hand side make it easy to narrow down the selection! I like to filter by the amount of pictures I want.. or the type of card...
Let's see if its easy for you to decide!



**Thanks to Tiny Prints for giving me the opportunity to Blog about their wonderful cards, they may of asked, but the opinions are all mine :) ***

Torani Flavored Syrups! - My little relaxing moment

I love to treat myself every once in a while to a special cup of coffee shop coffee (or Chai tea) The secret behind the drinks I love so much lies in the syrups used to flavor them.

I was recently sent some Torani Flavor Syrups to try at home, and wow I can’t wait to continue to have my little treat in the comfort in my home… I now can enjoy that coffeehouse “coffee” in my Jammies… plus the money I will save in gas and the cost of coffees ROCKS.

Torani comes in a multitude of flavors. I got to try Pumpkin Pie and Sugar Free Vanilla.. Since Vanilla Lattes are one of my favorites I jumped right on it.  But I found a new love for Vanilla pumpkin pie Chai Tea….  Take a Chai tea bag and steep add the vanilla and the Pumpkin pie (and a little milk) and you got yourself a Calgon take me away moment!

There are so many more ways to use the Torani flavored syrups.   If you’d like some ideas, they have a page of drink recipes on their website.

Looking over the flavor selections, I am sure that there is some white chocolate, salted caramel and gingerbread Torani Flavored syrup in my future.  How Yummy would that be at the holidays 

Check the website. Torani.com and Shop.Torani.com  for retail locations near you, or shop on line

If you shop the Torani website, be sure to use the code shespeaks for a 10% discount.

You must try them if you love to have a special coffee (or tea) Treat!

As a member of the SheSpeaks Blogger Society, (check out all the reviews here) I was provided with samples of this product in order to write an informed, blogged review.  I was not paid to write this post, and my opinions are genuine.

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

G loves Melissa & Doug toys! They have such a great variety of toys for all ages. With the holidays coming I am starting to look for which toy I might get for G. Because Melissa & Doug are so great they are offering a great coupon.

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Have fun using your coupon.

Native American Lunch

G preschool is studying Native American's this week. So I thought what would be cuter than to incorporate the theme into his lunch too. He has a bacon, cheese and wheat bread face. Horse shaped strawberries, Carrots as flowers in pumpkin dishes Goldfish cracker and gummies. He loves getting his special lunches at school.

Lunch Made Fun

So I've joined the bandwagon of making fun lunches for my little guy. My friends say I have too much time on my hands (Ha).. My DH says his lunch is slacking (see where the time is coming from), but all in all I have fun making them. Some days are more exciting than others and I am still pretty new at this. I am sure as I get more equipment the better they will be. Here are a few of the lunches that I have done in the past weeks. Stay tuned for more...



Picasa slide show with some of them

Here is the Very Hungry Caterpiller

From Drop Box

Wonder where some of my inspiration comes from.. Check out my board (G's Lunch) on pinterest.

Taste of Family

A Taste From Home

When Frito-Lays asked me to write a blog about a recipe that reminded me of home, it took me a bit too really think about it. Then I came up with a treat my mother use to make a Christmas time. We are from Canada and from what I remember when we came to the States, nobody had heard about these yummy “cookie” bars. What they are called is Nanaimo bars. They are this decedent treat. Whenever I go back to Canada to visit my relatives I make sure to pick up the secret ingredient (Bird’s custard mix) you can use other custard (pudding) mixes, but it just isn’t the same. These bars are one of my favorite things to make during the holiday 1 – because they are different and 2 – they remind me of my family and growing up in Canada.

Recipe
Ingredients
For bottom layer:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
5 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg, beaten
1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup toasted coconut
For middle layer:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons cream
2 tablespoons bird’s custard (if you must use - vanilla pudding mix)
2 cups powdered sugar
For top layer:
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Make the bottom layer: Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan.
1. Make the middle layer: Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light spread over bottom layer in pan.
2. Make top layer: Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool. Once cool but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator, Once hardened, cut into small (they are so rich) bars.
I hope you enjoy my recipe.

So back to Frito-Lay they have created these really cool chips! They are regionally inspired. http://www.fritolay.com/lays/regionally-inspired-flavors.html You have to check them out, I know I will. I look most forward to trying the Balsamic Sweet Onion (it just makes my mouth water typing it) and the Garden Tomato and Basil, can we say summer!!!, which I wish would stick around for a little bit, maybe with these chips I will think it did.

I hope you try the chips and my Taste of home recipe. Check back soon for a giveaway sponsored by Frito-Lays.

Note: Frito-Lay is providing me with chips and that this blog post is a form of entry for the contest they are holding

Summer List Checkin

Boo boo and I have been having a blast here is the checklist so far

Cove
Beach (not enough times)
Trip to visit Nana and Papa
Big Zoo in Rochester, NY

we have had a blast.

need to start posting the crafts we do :) and stories we read

Here are some photos from our trip

Click here to view these pictures larger