Santa Mail

We took the girls to Macy's last week. While there, we happened to stumble upon a mailbox to send your Santa Mail to. They had a table set up with postcards and crayons so you could write your letter and get it sent off then and there.

Allison asked for her most wanted item- a Nerf Rebelle Crossbow.

Mariah decided it would be best to make it easy on Santa and just send a link to her Wanelo account. For those who don't know what Wanelo is, it's pretty much an online pin board, kind of like Pinterest, where you can put links to your gift wish list.

Kids these days! They just can't do anything the old fashion way anymore!

Have you seen these Santa Mail Boxes at Macy's? I believe they donate money to the Make A Wish Foundation with each letter mailed. Will your kids be mailing a letter at Macy's this year?

Catching Fire Challenge

Our library offered a Catching Fire Challenge, and my girls were really excited to go!

Only about 5 kids showed up, but the girls still had a great time. They started off with a game of trivia questions, and my kids were put to shame by the others. Poor Allison only scored 0 points, which shocked me because she is a HUGE Hunger Games fan! Then again, the other kids were raising their hands before the questions were finished, and she wasn't catching on that you could do that, hehe.

It was followed by a Cornucopia Challenge where the kids had to race (walking) to the center to grab survival items.

 

 

A story was read, and if you had they key word items you either gained points or lost them depending on the item. Finally, Allison got on the board, scoring 30 total points. She was still the big loser in the game though, so we told her she had to be Rue, not Katniss. She wasn't amused.

They finished up the challenge with a snack. You were supposed to make a campfire with pretzel sticks, carrots, Doritos, and fire ball candies.

 

I don't think it looks like much of a campfire, but whatever's clever, right?

They also got a parting gift for participating. An orange drawstring backpack.

All in all, the girls really enjoyed this event much more than the Harry Potter event they had a few weeks ago.

Did you see Catching Fire this weekend?

Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms

With Thanksgiving happening next week, I have been trying to think of different side dishes to spruce up the menu. Don't get me wrong, I love the potatoes, corn and stuffing, but I like to throw in a new side each year to keep things fresh. When I came across this Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushroom recipe, I knew I had a winner. The recipe originally ran in the Taste of Home magazine, and I changed it up a little to fit my family's tastes. These mushrooms will seriously have your guests saying "Wow!" They are so mouth watering and creamy, they will get gobbled up quicker than the turkey!

Ingredients:

16 large fresh mushrooms
2 cups fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 TBS olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup sour cream
3oz cream cheese
1/3 cup shredded, part skim mozzarella cheese
3 TBS Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Remove stems from mushrooms and set caps aside. Discard stems.
In skillet, saute spinach until wilted. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and the spinach mixture. Stuff into the mushroom caps.
 Place in a baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender.
Serve warm.

New Massage Tool?

During our recent hotel stay, Allison asked if anyone would like a massage with the new massage tool she found stocked in the bathroom. "Me! Me! I want one!" my oldest daughter exclaimed. She was super excited to be on the receiving end of a massage and couldn't wait! Until I heard "Allison! That is NOT a massaging tool you idiot! Don't rub that on me!" What was this new massaging tool stocked in the hotel bathroom? (No, it wasn't THAT! Get your dirty minds out of the gutter!)

 
Despite us telling her repeatedly that it was a bar of soap, she refused to believe us. And since we didn't want a massage with that oh so fabulous tool, she gave herself one.

 

Then proceeded to get ticked when she left it laying on my dresser. Because dogs can't read, they thought it said "Tasty Pet Treat" and chewed it to bits. Have I told you how happy I am to finally be back home?

Allison’s Handmade Gifts

Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner? I like to have most of my shopping done by this point, but I confess, I have really slacked this year. And what’s worse is, I love giving handmade gifts, but I haven’t even started on those yet! Allison, though, is totally showing me up when it comes to her handmade gifts. Normally we decide together what we want to make to pass out to family and friends, but this year she has decided she wants to do her own thing. She has a lot of friends at school she wants to give a little something to, so she has been a busy bee, crafting away almost every single day after school. Last Christmas she expressed an interest in learning to sew, so Santa brought her a mini, child sized sewing machine. She hasn’t perfected it yet, but she can sew simple shapes. She decided for her stuffed animal and doll loving friends she was going to sew them pillows for gifts. We loaded up on pillow fluff and fashionable fabric her friends would enjoy, and then she went to work.

For those who don’t like stuffed animals, she broke out her multicolored beads to make necklaces and bracelets to give them. She has been asking her friends what their favorite colors are, and is secretly customizing each piece. It took her over an hour to finish one, but she had such pride in her work when it was complete, even stating that she was thinking of starting up her own jewelry making business after the holidays. Something tells me that with an hour invested in each piece, that plan will fizzle pretty quickly though.

It warms my heart to watch her put so much work and effort into her handmade items for her friends, and she is gaining such a sense of self satisfaction with each gift she completes. I hope she always has a love of crafting for a handmade holiday!

Do you like to receive handmade gifts? What is the best handmade gift you have ever received?

Please see my policy tab for more information.
 

Menopause the Musical

In the 17 years I have been with my husband, I can probably count on one hand how many times he's said no to me. Living with 3 girls, he tolerates a lot, but has also learned how to adapt to all the girly surroundings. I have taught him to cut and highlight my hair, he can name all make up items and tell you the correct way to apply them, and he buys me fabulous hand bags without me even having to hint on which ones I like. But when I won 2 tickets from a local radio station for Menopause the Musical, his response? A big, fat, whopping, Hell No! " Please don't make me go! Call your mom. Call your best friend. Call my mom! If they all say no, then I will, but I REALLY don't want to go!" Thankfully my mom stepped up to the plate and was more than happy to take his place. I suspect he will be buying her a fabulous Christmas gift this year too.

We went to yesterday's show. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it much by what I caught of the YouTube clips, but it was actually really funny! If you have experienced "The Change", you'll relate very well to what they are saying. For those of you who haven't, it's a humorous glimpse into the future. If you can stand sitting in a theater filled with old lady perfume, I'd recommend this one to all women. And, apparently I wasn't the only wife who couldn't get her husband to go, because there were about 5 men in attendance.

Have you seen Menopause the Musical? What was the last live performance you went to?

The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day Review

I have two weaknesses when it comes to food. Chocolate and bread. I keep a little stash of chocolate hidden in my secret drawer. Bread, on the other hand, is a little bit harder to come by when I have a craving for it. This past year I have been experimenting with making my own breads. While I do love to be in the kitchen, I have found that bread making can be a time consuming and tedious process. The kneading, rising, waiting... It can quickly turn into a chore. But thanks to a new cookbook I have discovered, I am able to make delicious breads in as little as 5 minutes a day.

 

The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day is a revised version of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. and Zoë François. The original book, published in 2007, immediately became one of the the classic books about bread making, with over a half a million copies in print! Hertzberg and François proved that people want to make their own bread, provided they can do it easily and quickly. The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day has added a gluten free chapter, 40 all new color images, and one hundred black-and-white how-to photos. The Tips and Tricks and Ingredients sections have been expanded to touch on some of the most frequent questions they have received from their readers.

When I first received the book, I was tearing through the pages, popping little bookmarks on all the recipes I just couldn’t wait to try. Recipes for Vermont Cheddar Bread, Bruschetta, and Beignets had my mouth watering. But when I got to the recipe for Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Bread, my heart did a little flip. Combining my two food loves- chocolate and bread together? Yes, please!

Ingredients

2 1/2 c lukewarm water (100 degrees F or below) / Weight U.S. 1 pound, 4 ounces / Metric- 565 grams

3/4 c Vegetable oil/ Weight  U.S. 6 ounces / Metric 170 grams

1 tbs granulated yeast / Weight U.S. 0.35 ounce / Metric 10 grams

1 to 1 1/2 tbs Kosher Salt / Weight U.S. 0.6 to 0.9 ounce / Metric 17 to 25 grams

1 cup sugar / Weight U.S. 7 ounces / Metric 200 grams

5 1/2 c All-purpose flour / Weight U.S. 1 pound, 11.5 ounces / Metric 780 grams

3/4 c Unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably dark / Weight U.S. 3 ounces / Metric 85 grams

1 1/2 c Bittersweet or Semisweet chocolate chips / Weight U.S. 6 ounces / Metric 170 grams

Unsalted butter, melted, for greasing loaf pan and brushing top of loaf

Sugar, for sprinkling over top of loaf

Directions

1- Mixing and storing the dough: Mix the oil, yeast, salt, and sugar with the water in a 6-quart bowl or a lidded (not air tight) food container

2- Mix in the flour, cocoa powder, and the chocolate chips without kneading, using a spoon or a heavy-duty stand mixer (with paddle). If you’re not using a a machine, you may need to use wet hands to incorporate the last bit of flour.

3- Cover (not airtight) and allow to rest at room temperature until the dough rises and collapses (or flattens on top), approximately 2 hours

4- The dough can be used immediately after the initial rise , though it is easier to handle when cold. Refrigerate the container of dough and use over the next 5 days. Beyond 5 days, freeze the dough in 1-pound portions in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks. When using frozen dough, thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before using , then allow the usual rest and rise time.

5- On baking day, grease and 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch nonstick loaf pan. Dust the surface of the refrigerated dough with flour and cut off a 2-pound piece. Dust the piece with ore flour and quickly shape it into a ball by stretching the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides, rotating the ball a quarter-turn as you go. Elongate the ball into an oval. Drop the dough into the prepared pan.

6- Allow the dough to rest for 90 minutes, loosely covered  with plastic wrap.

7- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

8- Using a pastry brush, paint the top surface with melted butter, and sprinkle with sugar. Bake the bread in the center of the oven for about 50 to 60 minutes, or until set firm when you press on the top of the loaf.

9- Remove the bread from the pan and allow to cool completely before slicing.

This bread wasn’t overly sweet, but had a nice, rich flavor. It came out moist and soft, and was very tasty. My house smelled so good while it was baking too!

Another favorite were these soft dinner rolls. I whipped up the dough in under 5 minutes without having to knead it at all! Super easy and they really were soft as claimed!

What I like about The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day is how simple the instructions are to follow. The print is spaced out well, so it is easy to read. I love that there are weight measurements, instead of just volume. I can use my kitchen scale to ensure accurate results every time.

This book is perfect for seasoned bakers and novices alike. Whether you have been bread baking for years, or just getting your feet wet, this book has scrumptious bread recipes that suit every taste.

More about the book:

ISBN Number- 978-1-250-01828-1

Pages- 382 printed on smooth glossy paper, and black and white pages

MSRP $29.99

Distributed by St. Martin’s Press

The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day can be purchased at all major bookstores, as well as Amazon. Amazon has the hard copy for $19.34, or you can purchase the Kindle version for $12.29.

The authors are happy to answer all your questions at http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/


*Disclosure- I received the above mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was provided. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.

Library Harry Potter Party

A few weeks ago we took the girls to a Harry Potter Party the library was throwing. Since Mariah is a HUGE Harry Potter fan, I really thought she was going to go nuts at attending it. The notice said to come in costume, or they would have props there for you to use. There would be games and a photo booth. Sounded like fun! What they failed to say was this party was going to interest younger kids more than the older ones. But Mariah was still a good sport and rolled with it.

 
 The entrance to the party was lined with old suitcases.

The first activity was a scavenger hunt. They had to go around the library trying to find pictures of various Harry Potter characters. When they found the character, they had to collect the photo. When they got all 6, they received a prize.

The next activity was Muggle Studies, which was a guess what's in the box kind of game.

Followed by the photo booth. They did have quite a few fun props to chose from!

And we wrapped up the day with having their futures told in Divination class.

Pop the balloon for your fortune and a sticker.

Mariah loved the Dobby statue!

So, the photo taking was probably the best part. Mariah said it was boring, but Allison had a good time. There is a Hunger Games party next week that IS geared towards 11 and up, so I took the chance and registered the girls for that party because that's Allison's love. Finger's crossed it really is a teen type party or I won't be able to talk them into going to these events anymore.

Does your library offer movie themed parties?

Chet the Cat Play Sets Review & Giveaway!

Even though my daughter is getting older, she still adores role playing games, and any toy that can let her imagination run free is always a hit with her. We bought a play kitchen over 10 years ago, and it was the best purchase we ever made! Not only did my first daughter get a good run with it, my 9 year old daughter still plays with it several times a week. We also have many nieces and nephews that visit, and they always spend hours playing with the toy kitchen and play food. What kid doesn’t love pretending to whip up yummy food and serve it to their loved ones? Just like any good cook, little chefs need the proper kitchen utensils in order to pull together a fantastic meal. That’s where Chet the Cat and Friends Play Sets come in to help!

Chet the Cat and Friends play sets will get your child’s creative juices flowing. With 3 sets currently available- Yummy Adventures Cooking Set, Yummy Adventures Dish Set, and Yummy Adventures Baking Set- and 40 pieces combined, children will be taken on a cooking adventure! 

Meet Chet the Cat and Friends! Chet inspires children to join his friends in the kitchen and at the table —no reservations required! Each melamine set is food-grade, dishwasher-safe, and long-lasting. Chet invites boys and girls to step into the world of make believe as they cook and eat with Parfait Poodle, Ready Rabbit, and Marv the Parrot. The storybook-style illustrations of this engaging baking set are sure to bring delight & fun to any bakery, kitchen or restaurant party pretend play! Download their charming and colorful storybook-style Chet the Cat™ and Friends placemats. 

 

Chet the Cat and Friends Dish Set comes with 24 pieces

4 Plates (5.5”), 4 bowls (4.25” x 2.5”), 4 forks (4”), 4 spoons (4”), and 4 knives (4”).

It has a retail value of $29.99

 

Chet the Cat and Friends Cooking Set is a 7 piece set:

1 stock pot with Lid (4.75” x 2.5”), 1 large frying pan (9”), 1 small frying pan (7”), 1 solid spoon (6.5”), 1 slotted spoon (6.5”), and 1 spatula (6.5”).

The Cooking Set has a retail value of $21.99.

 

 

The Baking Set comes with 9 pieces:

1 rolling pin, 1 mixing bowl (4.8” x 3”), 1 pie pan (6” x 1”), 3 measuring cups, 1 mixing spoon (6.5”), 1 spatula (6.5”), and 1 cookie sheet (8.5” x 5.5”)

The Baking Set has a retail value of $21.99

How cute are these little measuring cups!?

Each piece features fun, whimsical artwork of Chet the Cat and his friends, designed by Artist Michael Slack, whose character designs and fine art have been featured in books, magazines, and on television.

Allison recently tested out all 3 sets, and what a grand time she had! My family loves to bond over each other’s interests, and playing “chef” is something my daughter loves to do. We sat down last weekend for the grand opening of her restaurant. We loved watching how animated she became when she got to play restaurant owner, waitress, and cook all at the same time. And while she was super terrible at all 3 jobs (seriously, I’m her mother and wouldn’t hire her haha!), we were rolling in fits of giggles at all of her mistakes. Order some fries and fries you shall get:

What we loved about the pieces was that they were the perfect size for small hands. Made of durable melamine, they are not going to break or crack easily if dropped or played with roughly. The pictures on each dish are bright and colorful, which makes it more fun to engage with each piece! My daughter used each piece with her pretend food, but she also brought the sets into the kitchen and had a blast dicing cheese (with mom’s help of course), filling the bowls with fruit, and eating out of them. The dishes are made with 100% food grade melamine, so they are safe to use with real human food too! We did run them through the dishwasher (top rack) and they still looked good as new. The sets are NOT microwave, stovetop, or oven save though.

Chet the Cat and Friends Play Sets are intended for ages 3+, but I’ll tell you that even at age 9, I see the sets holding my daughter’s interest for a few more years to come!

  

If you are interested in purchasing Chet the Cat and Friends Play Sets, they are sold exclusively though Amazon and Educational Insights.

WIN IT!

One lucky Theresa’s Mixed Nuts reader is going to win all 3 Chet the Cat and Friends Play Sets! The giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada, 18+. No PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 11/18. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. *All entries are verified. Please make sure you are properly completing each task you claim an entry for!* Please enter on the Rafflecopter form below.

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*Disclosure- I received the above mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was provided. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.