Making Memories at Chuck E Cheese’s

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chuck E. Cheese’s for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

As far back as I remember, we’ve made family trips to Chuck E. Cheese’s to experience some major F-U-N. Every year instead of a  traditional Halloween festivity, my family (and sometimes my best friend) would load up in the family mini-van and head out to one of our local Chuck E. Cheese’s (we are fortunate enough to not only have one but two in close proximity to our house). There are two things I could always count on during this trip: I would binge on some awesome pizza, and I would challenge my Dad to basketball shots.

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We would order our food, and head off to shoot some hoops (did you know you can work up a sweat shooting hoops inside a Chuck E. Cheese’s? Well, you can.) I’m not sure if it was our competitive nature, or the fact we weren’t used to playing inside,but even to this day that is the first game (and nearly the only one) that I play. My sister and Mom would be off playing some air hockey, and then we’d all squeeze in to take some crazy photos in the photo sketch booth (which is totally worth your tokens if you ask my opinion).

Being home schooled and a fan of Chuck E. Cheese’s had it’s advantages too – we would go during the day (hey, less crowded) and we’d share a pizza and breadsticks for lunch. Talk about an awesome recess. We had the place practically to ourselves except some preschoolers, who let’s face it, wasn’t much competition for the skee-ball machines!

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Not much has changed in all those years – except this time around I’m the parent (at least I don’t have to act like one there!) We enjoy some super delicious pizza, and I adore the salad bar -it’s seriously better than a lot of restaurants I’ve been to. . also if you’ve never tried them, the Parmesan bread sticks are the bomb and I would recommend dipping them in ranch dressing (wayy better than dipping them in pizza sauce!)

I love taking the kids here, especially in the winter to burn off some energy. I’ve gotten some really great coupons and deals after I signed up for the Chuck-E Club. They e-mail you coupons, deals, and sometimes even freebies (who doesn’t want free tokens?!) They also will e-mail you about special events, and even when they add things to their menu (guess what? Chuck E Cheese’s now offers gluten free options, so no more excuses not to go Moms!)

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You know as I write this,  I just realized it’s been a few months since I took the kids – and the yucky rain we’ve been having gives me the perfect opportunity to surprise them with a trip tomorrow for lunch. We always have such a blast, and leave with some pretty funny memories.
What’s  your favorite Chuck E  Cheese’s memory?  What are you looking forward to with your next trip to Chuck E Cheese’s? Playing games? Cashing in tickets? Trying their delish salad bar, or maybe gluten-free pizza?

Whatever you  decide, be sure to sign up for the Chuck E. Cheese’s Chuck-E Club first!

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Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Ingredients 

2 1/2 cups chocolate chips divided
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup of andie’s peppermint crunch chocolate.

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Directions

In a double broiler, add the 2 cups chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth.

place 2/3 cup of the melted chocolate into a small metal bowl and reserve the rest for drizzling.

Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Set aside

Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until creamy.

Add sugar and and vanilla extract, then beat until smooth.

Add eggs; beat until well incorporated.

Then add in the melted chocolate from the medium bowl.

Add dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips and the Andie’s chocolate

Preheat oven to 350

Scoop out one tablespoonful of dough and form a round ball.

Place onto cookie sheet that was lined with parchment paper.
Bake cookies for 8 to 9 minutes.

Cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes.

Transfer cookies on parchment paper to racks to cool completely.

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Posted in Holidays, Recipes | 1 Comment

Don’t Be Left Snowed by Unexpected Weather

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SnowCast for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was a kid there was nothing like waking up to a unexpected snow day. Looking out the window and seeing a blanket of snow across the yard and the street was like magic – peaceful, and full of anticipation. (Cut to present day): I went to bed before the news because I was exhausted from the day; I wake up 30 minutes late because I didn’t hear my alarm, to see a blanket of snow covering the neighborhood and all I can think of is , “Oh crap, I can’t believe this! I’m going to be soo late to work!”

I know, not quite the whimsical winter wonderland we once knew as kids right?? Snow means boots, shovels, and an extra 25 minutes to shovel the walkway let alone warm up my car and de-ice the locks. Why didn’t I stay awake to watch the weatherman give this prediction? Am I seriously the only one who didn’t know??

Yup.. That seems to be a common occurrence (ok, a few times a winter occurrence) in my house. Mornings are not my strong suit as it is, so when you add difficult weather situations, well my not-so-great day just went to  bad. Really quick.

That’s why I love love the SnowCast app. SnowCast is an app available on iTunes that allows you to see the weather predictions for now, later in the day, or even up to 48 hours from now. With SnowCast you won’t have to worry about staying up late to catch the weather man, or worry about how to pack for a trip -it gives you local, accurate forecast here and now – no matter where you’re going.

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Next week, as many of you know,  I will be heading to Wooster Ohio with a few other blogging buddies of mine. Wooster is up North, near Cleveland where they always get a ton of snow. Since I will be driving solo, the snow report is especially important to me. If I know a storm is coming I can leave early enough to avoid it altogether – leaving me plenty of time to enjoy my friends and the new  city  we are going to explore. No worries about driving in bad weather, or the horrid traffic that has to go with it.

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So far we’ve had a pretty mild winter – which usually means we have a lot of snow in store for the beginning of the year. I’m glad that I have the SnowCast app so I’m prepared – no matter what might come along.
Be sure to go Download the app for your iOS system today!

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Posted in Techy, Travel, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Tips to Hosting a Stress-Free Holiday Party

It’s that time again – holiday parties galore. You have school parties and concerts, church celebrations and plays. Not to mention the family and friend get togethers, and parties you throw as well.

The holiday season can be stressful enough with the shopping and decorating, let alone with the planning of a party. But if you follow these steps to lowering that holiday stress, you can enjoy your party as much as your guests!

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Make a List.  One of the best ways to create a stress-free holiday party, is to make a list. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or assign tasks to your family. Trust me as much as you know you can do it on you own, don’t. All it does is add stress (and unhappiness) which  you don’t need. Giving a few small assignments isn’t asking too much, but it helps you a ton!

Decorate.  Nothing says “Merry Christmas” more than lights, ornaments, and decor galore! So deck the halls out, and show the holiday cheer!

Clean.  Before you pass this over because cleaning is always your first step – wait. Don’t clean the house from top to bottom and stressing yourself out. If there’s a room you can close off , then do it. Have a few baskets of clothes you didn’t get put away? Put them in your bedroom, and shut the door. Trust me, it will still be there after the party is over!

Make a Joyful Noise.  Always have music to set the mood! Whether you are preparing for the party, or as the guests are arriving, have music playing, but not too loud. You want your guests to be able to have a conversation and enjoy each other.

Consider an Open House.  The holiday season is busy for everyone, so instead of having a set time for your party, and your friends and family having to decide which event to attend, have an ‘open house’. Consider letting your friends & family know they can drop by for  snacks and drinks between certain hours – preferably between mid-afternoon and early-evening. That way everyone has a chance to stop by.

Snacks.  Having tasty treats on hand that you can grab from the pantry in a hurry is my number one recommendation. One of my favorite holiday party treats is Pop Works & Company Gourmet Popcorn.

Pop Works & Company has launched a line of ready-to-eat popcorn, giving you a unique and tasty twist to party snacks. Pop Works & Company adds sweet glazes and drizzles and sprinkles bits over the top of their delicious light and airy popcorn making it a delicious treat.

Pop_works_1The treats come in three delicious flavors such as: Salted Caramel & Fudge, Cookies & Cream, and Birthday Cake.
Pop Works & Company is sold exclusively online and you can choose one of your favorite flavors, or “Build a Box” and try all three flavors. A box of the three bags retails for only $15.99 online at www.PopWorks.com

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Pop Works & Company wants to give you an introductory price of $15.00 on it’s Pop Box – and offering FREE 2-Day shipping through New Year’s Eve; so get your order in today!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Posted in Holidays | Leave a comment

Diaper Bag Essentials

Whether you are a newbie Mom or been around the block a time or two, there are a few things that are a necessity. Believe it or not, I know a lot of Mom’s who don’t carry a diaper bag at all (and yes, I’ve given them supplies, lol). So we have some basic necessities, and a list of other items if you want to be extra prepared.

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Hand Sanitizercleaning your hands before and after diaper changes can get um, messy. If you don’t have a place to wash your hands, hand sanitizer will do the trick.

Wipes:  you can put a stack in a plastic bag (for rooms sake), or the handy to-go wipe packs. Wipes are great to clean up for diaper changes, but also for sticky hands and other clean-ups.

Plastic Bags Storing dirty diapers, clothes or blankets, plastic bags keep the ick and the smell contained until you get home.

Changing Pad: A clean, safe place to lay your baby to get a diaper change, and/or to protect your car/couch, etc.

Extra Outfits: This goes for you and baby – accidents happen. It’s best to be prepared – it’s saves time and money.

Drinks/Snacks: Whether you’re child is still a baby or a toddler, making sure you have an adequate supply of bottles/formula/breast milk and snacks. I cannot tell you how many times having an emergency drink/snack on hand has saved me.

Important Info:  Making sure to have your insurance paperwork, doctor info, etc is good to keep on hand  in case of an emergency.

Diapers: Making sure you have an ample supply of diapers is the main reason behind a ‘diaper‘ bag right? That’s why I always fill my diaper bag up with Huggies Little Snugglers.

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Little Snugglers has a GentleAbsorb liner and wetness indicator. It provides tiny pillows giving a cushioned layer of protection between baby and a wetness.

huggies_little_snugglersHuggies Little Snugglers has a soft, breathable outer cover, leak lock design for up to 12 hours of protection, and shaped just for new babies. They have an umbilical cord cut-out protects belly buttons as they heal, with pocketed back waistbands, comfy covers and come in newborn sizes 1, 2 and 3.

Little Snugglers can be found for a great price at Sam’s Club.

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Posted in Parenting | 1 Comment