Upgrade with Intel for the Holidays: & Enter to WIN

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Krissyar

Sponsored content: This post is for my participation in the Intel Program.

If there is one thing that I am wishing for this Christmas is a new laptop. The one I have had my eye on is the Dell Inspiron Black 15.6 Laptop with the 15.6″ LED-backlit touchscreen with HD resolution, 720p webcam, 3-in-1 memory card reader, Bluetooth 4.0, 1 x USB 3.0 ports, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x HDMI port, 1 x headphone/microphone jack, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port and 4-cell battery for up to 6 h 33 min battery life, it’s the perfect laptop for my work and hobbies. Surprisingly you can get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron Black 15.6 Laptop at Walmart!

Intel is giving you a chance to WIN one of  your own!

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Head on over and enter the #UpgradeWithIntel Sweepstakes and to enter the free laptop!

  • click on the image (above, below, etc) to visit the microsite
  • Select the contest tab
  • Then, in 400 character or less, share” How would a Dell Inspiron 15.6” Laptop make your life more amazing?
  • One entry per email, per person, complete Terms & Conditions are found on the site

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“This post is for my participation in the “Upgrade With Intel” Program”

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Organic Healthy Foods at Costco & Gift Basket Giveaway

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Costco. Though I have received products to review, all opinions are my own.

We have talked about before how eating healthy and organic can get a bit pricey. Were talking half the food for the same budget – and I’ve always tried to give tips and tricks on stretching those dollars as far as possible. As I’ve done my research, I’ve found some really great products at Costco that are not only healthy, but organic as well. 

Thankfully for my Northern Kentucky friends, they no longer need to travel 30+ miles to get to the closest Costco – the new Florence location opens today! Between I-71/75 and Mall Road the new Florence Costco is located at 800 Heights Blvd.

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There are some staples that I buy at Costco each visit – Kirkland Nuts which makes a super  easy healthy on-the-go snack.It comes in a 30 pack  with peanuts,almonds and my favorite, cashews. I also buy fresh fruit like strawberries and grapes (my kids’ favorites), as well as their chicken breast (organic!) I will also admit they have some pretty cute clothing items as well, I’m pretty sure I never walk out of there without at least wanting to buy a shirt, pair of y0ga pants, or an outfit for my kids. So if you’ve never been to Costco – what are you waiting for?? You’re totally missing out.
kirkland-NutsCostco Florence is soo excited about their grand opening that they are offering 1 lucky All in a Days Work reader this awesome gift basket full of Costco Organic products worth over $200! All you need to do to enter is comment below – What is your favorite product to purchase at Costco?

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Posted in Fitness/Health, Reviews/Giveaways | 23 Comments

Oreo Turkey

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Krissyar

 

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Turkey Ingredients: 

Package of Original Oreo cookies
Package of  Whoppers chocolate malt balls
Package of mini Reese’s peanut butter cups
Package of candy corn
Mini candy eyes
Royal icing, yellow, orange, and red

Icing Ingredients:

2 egg whites
1 C powder sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
Yellow, orange,tan, and red gel food coloring

 Icing Directions:

-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is  not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
-Divide the icing into 5 small bowls.
-In the first bowl add several drops of red gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
– In the second bowl add several drops of tan gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
– In the third bowl  add several drops of orange gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
– In the fourth bowl add several drops of yellow gel food coloring.  Stir to blend.
-In the fifth bowl, keep this bowl of icing white.
-Spoon each color of icing into individual  frosting bags with a #2 tips.
-Twist the open end of the bag to push the icing to the tip.

Turkey Directions:

-Refer to the picture of the Oreo turkeys when assembling your own turkeys.
-The directions for the turkey will depend on how many Oreo Turkeys that you will be making.
-For the tail fan, you will separate an Oreo into two pieces in order to make the tail feathers (candy corn) keeping the filling in these cookies.
-Using the white royal icing as”glue” apply thick layer of the white icing on the bottom of the separated  Oreo cookie.
-Begin to lay the candy corn on the white icing with the  white end of  the pieces of the candy corn on the inside of the  cookie arranging each piece of candy corn next to each other.

Oreo turkey inprocess 2
-Arrange the candy corn in a half circle on the separated Oreo cookie.
-Lay the top half of that Oreo cookie on top of the bottom half of the cookie (the one with all of the candy corn on it).  If needed apply more white icing as glue.
-Allow time for these to dry. Set aside.
-Take out the mini Reese peanut butter cups.  Cut about 1/4 of the cup off allowing the candy to sit flat on another Oreo cookie. (These Oreo cookies will be the base of the turkeys).
-Use the tan icing as the “glue” to hold the cut Reese peanut butter mini cup to the Oreo cookie.
-Allow the “glue” to dry.  Set aside.

Oreo turkey inprocess 3
-Check on the tail fan to make sure that it is dry.  If it is then glue(with tan icing) the “whooper” to the tail fan.  The whooper will be the head of the turkey. Set the tail fan down when gluing the head on it.
-Allow for the head  to dry completely.
-Apply the mini candy eyes to the head (the whooper) of the turkey, then using the orange icing add a small nose.  Allow the nose to dry for about 30 seconds.  When the nose is dry add the red waddle with the red icing.  Allow time for this to dry also about 30+ seconds.
-Set aside for until all of the turkey heads are complete.

Oreo turkey inprocess 4
-Using the tan icing (a thick layer of icing) sit the turkey tail fan on the bottom Oreo cookie (the base). Lend the entire turkey creation against a filled bottle, jar, can or something else heavy until this drys.  This may take several hours.  Make sure that you place this someplace where it will not get moved or bumped into.
-After this has dried add the two pieces of candy corn with the white pointing down and outward for the turkey’s front legs.  Allow time for the icing (glue) to dry.
-Using the yellow icing draw the turkey feet on the bottom cookie by making a small line and adding two shorter lines pointing outward.
-Allow at least one hour for the completed turkey and all icing decor to dry.

Turkey oreo 6-1

-Always refer to the picture for more instruction.

 

Posted in Holidays, Recipes | Leave a comment

Quick & Tasty Recipes for the Holidays

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury. The opinions and text are all mine.

 

Though I am not a big fan of the cold weather, I absolutely love the holidays. I love getting together with family and friends, and of course enjoying delicious food (it’s our time to splurge right?) While I enjoy eating all the delicious homemade meals and baked goods, I do not enjoy spending hours in the kitchen while the rest of the family is enjoying time together playing games, watching movies, or just catching up. So my goal for the holidays is to have great recipes that are delicious and easy. If I have to spend over 30 minutes on one dish, then it’s just too much. I want to play with the kids, and laugh at my Dad falling asleep on the couch with everyone else.

Two of my favorite recipes that are a big hit with the family (and all ingredients are easy to go and pick up at Walmart) so it makes it a double win for me. The first recipe is my Pillsbury Crescents® Nutella Rolls. These are super easy to make, and are a huge hit with everyone in the family. You can even  make them ahead of time (like the night before) and put them in the refrigerator over night.

Nutella_rolls_step_1This is super simple -just roll out the rolls flat and spread Nutella all over the entire rolls, all the way to the edge.
Nutella_rolls_step_2Then roll them back  up, and cut.
Nutella_rolls_step_4Bake for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees. Seriously they are that simple. The Nutella is rich enough that you  don’t need any type of icing or additional ingredients, and they actually reheat pretty well too. These were a big hit with everyone, especially some of the kids who weren’t big fans of cinnamon rolls.
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Now my next recipe is a bit more in depth, a few more steps, but still super easy and quick. It’s called Bubble-up Cheesy Chicken. There are 2 versions that I make, one that is a bit spicy (more for the adults) and a mild version. The other thing is if you are looking for recipes to use all that leftover turkey with – well bubble-up cheesy turkey works just as well!
bubble_up_chickenYou will need one package of Pillsbury Grands Biscuits, 1  can of Cream of Chicken, 1/2 block of Velveeta cheese, baked chicken (or rotisserie chicken) a can of Rotel tomatoes with green chilis (leave this out if you are making it for picky kids or anyone who doesn’t like some spice)and then some onion and garlic powder.
bubble_up_beforeFirst, shred the chicken and set aside.
Next, you will cut up the Velveeta cheese, and melt in a microwave safe bowl until melted.
Add cream of chicken soup, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/2 tsp onion powder, mix well and put back in microwave for another 60 seconds.
Add rotel tomatoes along with shredded chicken and stir.
Put into well greased pan.
Cut each Pillsbury Grand Biscuit into 1/6’s and place into mixture.
Optional: sprinkle garlic salt onto  top of biscuits
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.
bubble_up_chicken_platedIf you decide to serve the spicer version, you can serve with a side of mexican rice. If you serve the more kid-friendly version I like to add a veggie, and the kids always love regular chicken flavored rice as well.

This year I plan to add a few more quick meals to my menu – what are your go to quick and easy holiday meals?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury. The opinions and text are all mine.

Posted in Holidays, Recipes | 3 Comments

Kids and the Internet: Where do You Draw the Line?

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Krissyar

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Torch.

Parenting is rough. There are so many obstacles that you face with your children on a day to day basis it can get pretty overwhelming. It’s nice to be able to talk to your parents, grandparents and others to give you sound-bits and advice on what they’ve already been through – on whats worked, and what hasn’t. But when it comes to technology, and your kids uses and freedoms of it, well this isn’t a topic that they can help with. This is an all new chartered territory that unfortunately our parents can’t give us advice on. Setting up rules and regulations for internet usages, the do’s and the don’ts can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why I’m excited to see programs like Torch launch to help give the power back to the parents.Torch

Torch is a router with parental tools that allow you to filter content, limit usage during certain times, and gives you reports on what your kids are doing online. Torch not only allows you to set healthy boundaries for your children online, but keeps them accountable for the sites they visit, and the length of time they spend online.

Here’s a few main reasons why I love Torch ,and would recommend it to family and friends:
Limited Screen Time. Set a screen time limit for internet usage for each child – we all know time gets away from us, but having limited screen time helps balance their lives so they aren’t spending all their time online. It also helps a ton with time management, because they get done what has to be done first since they know its limited!

Pause. If the kids need to eat dinner, take out the trash or let the dog out, they don’t have to worry that they are missing out on their internet time. The pause button allows them to pick up the time from where they left off – causing less arguments and fits when they need to do something else.

Content Customization.  Restrict and block certain websites based on content – no need to worry about your kids exploring the internet and ending up on the wrong website.

Internet Bedtime. My. Absolute. Favorite. If you have kids like mine every single time I tell them it’s time to get off line I hear, “I’m almost done.” , or “just one more level”, or “the video is almost over!” The internet bedtime gives them a countdown so they are well aware of the time remaining – and shuts down immediately at bedtime. No fighting and arguing with the kids about getting offline – bam! It’s done.

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Check out all that Torch has to offer and allow your kids the freedom to search the internet – all while keeping them safe!

 

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Torch.

Posted in Techy | Leave a comment