Pumpkin Muffins with Maple Glaze & Candied Pecans

Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:

3 C flour
1 1/2 TBSP Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 C sugar
15 oz of Pure Pumpkin
4 eggs
1/2 C coconut oil
1/2 C water

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tins with paper liners.
-Whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt.
-Mix sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil and water in a large mixing bowl. Mix just until just blended.
-Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients stirring until just moistened.
-Scoop batter into paper lined  cupcake tins until they are filled 3/4′ s of the way to the top.
-Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
-Allow to cool in cupcake tin for 10 minutes.
-Remove from cupcake pan and place on a wire rack until completely cooled.

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Maple Glaze

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

-In a saucepan add the maple syrup, butter, and milk to a boil over medium heat. Stir constantly.
-Continue stirring and bring to a boil for about 2 minutes.
-Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla.
-Whisk in powdered sugar until smooth about 3-5 minutes.
-Use when still warm.

Candied Pecans

Ingredients:

1½ TBSP packed brown sugar
1½ tsp water
⅛ tsp vanilla
⅛ tsp sea salt
1 C  small chopped pecans pieces

Directions:

– Combine brown sugar, water, vanilla, and kosher salt in a small sauce pan stirring constantly.  Set this sauce pan next to this burner
– Toast pecan pieces in a large saucepan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-Pour the glaze into the pan on top of the pecans, stirring the nuts as you pour. Stir constantly until the pecans are thoroughly coated in the sugar mixture (glaze). So the pecans won’t burn remove them quickly off the heat. Immediately remove from heat so they don’t burn.
-Line a cookie sheet with  parchment  paper. Pour the coated pecans on to the lined cookie sheet to cool.
–The pecans will be slightly sticky at first, but the coating hardens further within a few hours.
– The pecans can be stored in an airtight container.

Glazing and topping pumpkin muffins:

*After you have dipped the top of the muffin into the maple glaze immediately dip it into the candied pecan bowl.

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Posted in Holidays, Recipes | 2 Comments

Baby Belly Problems Relieved with Enfamil® Reguline™

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I received product and compensation from Mead Johnson Nutrition to create this post written by me. All experiences and opinions expressed in this post are my own and not those of Mead Johnson Nutrition. Consult your pediatrician before making changes to your baby’s diet or if you have concerns related to your baby’s digestive health. Please see the product label/website for acceptable use and benefits. You can contact Mead Johnson Nutrition with product related questions or comments toll free at 1-800-BABY123 or through the Contact Us link on Reguline.com or Enfamil.com.

One of the hardest parts about being a new Mom is not being able to comfort your baby when they really need it. From colic to occasional constipation, we try everything we can to bring comfort to our babies. Things like prune juice, warm compresses and other options seem to provide temporary relief, but nothing seems to last. I remember using karo syrup for my daughter when she had trouble with constipation – I always felt bad because it would go from one extreme to another, and I never had anything to use to keep her regular.
I remember getting really frustrated and thinking I was doing something wrong- then I found out that over 70% of infants have some type of feeding issue. So I knew I wasn’t alone – but it wasn’t any less frustrating.

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I found that the issues often happen because your baby’s digestive system is still developing, especially during the first 3 or 4 months. The best way to tell if there is more behind your babies issues is to watch how they act right after you feed them – notice if he gets upset when you try to feed him, even though you know he’s hungry, there is something more going on.
Some behaviors of digestive issues are fussiness and gas, spit-ups, and stool issues. If you run into these issues, ask your pediatrician about options to help soothe and get their digestive system back on track. Most of the time your doctor will recommend an alternative formula that is designed to ease common feeding issues while still providing good nutrition your baby needs for development.

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Enfamil Reguline is an infant formula that has a blend of two prebiotics clinically proven in Enfamil Infant formula to promote soft stools. Enfamil Reguline is designed to promote comfortable stool. It also has easy-to-digest proteins. It’s designed to help support digestive health. Prebiotics help feed the good bacteria in the digestive tract. Prebiotics are a type of carbohydrate that is also found in breast milk. Enfamil Reguline also has brain-nourishing DHA and choline for complete everyday nutrition.

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I love that this is an everyday formula that I can use all the time. Not only is Reguline designed to help support their digestive health, but it also gives them the complete nutrition they need for growth and development.

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Posted in Parenting | 20 Comments

Disney’s Imagination Movers Are Stopping In Cincinnati To Party With YOU! **GIVEAWAY**

** Secure your tickets to rock out with & meet the

Imagination Movers in Cincinnati on October 3, here **

 

Disney's Imagination Movers Are Stopping In Cincinnati To Party With YOU!

My son and nephew have LOVED Imagination Movers since the first time they watched it. They are soo excited to see them LIVE AND IN PERSON in just a few weeks! Be sure to purchase your tickets before they’re sold out!

 

“It’s like the Red Hot Chili Peppers meets Blue Man Group
for kids. Guaranteed shenanigans.”

 

It doesn’t get much more exhilarating than an Imagination Movers concert! In fact, according to fan reviews on Ticketmaster.com, Imagination Movers ranks as the #1 rated major touring act for families. Seriously, with these guys, confetti cannons, giant smoke rings, enormous balloons and roll after roll of flying toilet paper, how can it not be the event of the year for your family?!?! The only thing imaginably better than partying with the Movers, would be the chance to meet them. Well, guess what Cincinnati, your chance is here! On October 3, the Imagination Movers are bringing their Licensed To Move show to us in Newport, KY (also in Richmond, KY the day following)!!

 

Disney's Imagination Movers Are Stopping In Cincinnati To Party With YOU! Disney's Imagination Movers Are Stopping In Cincinnati To Party With YOU!

 

“We couldn’t do what we do without our fans. This tour … is designed for us
to have fun spending time together. It’s basically going to be a party.”
‘Mover Dave’ Poche

 

The Movers are using this tour to connect with their fans. “We couldn’t do what we do without our fans,” says “Mover Dave” Poche. “This tour … is designed for us to have fun spending time together. It’s basically going to be a party.” During this tour, the Movers are offering more opportunities for unique fan access. Concert tickets will only cost $25 per person. For an additional $25, fans can attend a special meet-and-greet party where they’ll be able to chat with the band, take photos and get autographs. A limited number of fans can even reserve a spot at a special “Friends of the Movers” sound check event in each theater.

The Southgate House Revival
(Newport, KY – directions)

Saturday, October 3, 2015 @ 2:00pm

Tickets:
$25 Concert
$50 Concert + Meet & Greet

Click Here to
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

But wait, all this gets even better! We have a chance for you to win one of 3 VIP ticket 4 packs!! That’s right! Not one, not two, but THREE lucky readers will score tickets to this incredible family event and get to meet the Movers live and in person! Does it get any better??? Be sure to enter as much as possible to increase your chance of winning. The Imagination Movers’ Licence To Move concert is a an event your family is sure to talk about for a very long time!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Prize: THREE lucky winners will receive a 4 pack of VIP tickets to the October 3, 2015performance of the Imagination Movers at The Southgate House Revival in Newport, KY. Tickets can be picked up at will call prior to the show.
Running Time: This giveaway starts on September 22, 2015 at 12:00am and ends at 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2015.
Winner: A winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter . If we are able to verify the entry (ie, Tweets, FB sharing, etc) the winners will be contacted via email by 11:59pm, September 30 ,2015. The winner has 48 hours to respond. If the winner does not reply within that time, another name will be chosen.

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disney's Imagination Movers Are Stopping In Cincinnati To Party With YOU!

Disclaimer: This writer received media passes for promotion of the show. As always, all opinions expressed are those of the writer and in no way influenced by companies or products mentioned within. “Imagination Movers” along with all characters, logos and images are owned by the Imagination Movers and used with permission. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on September 29, 2015. This website and blogger are not responsible for prizes or for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for clicking through them! It helps keep this site here for you 🙂

 

 

Disney’s Imagination Movers Are Stopping In Cincinnati To Party With YOU!

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5 Tips for Buying a Jeep

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think buying a Jeep is a good investment. They hold their value, even if you rough the thing up..in fact alot of times, the rougher it looks, the more money you’ll get for it! (O.K. not really,but you get my point). When I first started looking for a gently used Jeep for myself I was a bit shocked with how much some people wanted for their 25 year old Jeeps with 200k miles. But guess what? People buy them, and that’s why the seller can charge you that much. I have yet to have a Jeep in this household that we didn’t end up selling it for more than  we bought it for –  so if you are in the market for a  Jeep, take a look at some of the tips to consider when making your purchase.

Know What Kind of Jeep You WantNot all Jeep lovers plan to take their Jeep’s off roading- maybe you want one because you know they are dependable, or you like the idea of taking the top off and not being in a crunchy little sports car. Either way, take a look at all the options and narrow them down before heading to shop. Trust me, because once you are there, they all look appealing.

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Remember to Check Your Insurance Rate. Being a licensed insurance agent I cannot stress this enough. Recently I had a young lady all excited for her purchase of a brand spanking new Jeep Renegade. With her 4 speeds and 2 at fault accidents, the insurance premium was going to be more a  month than her car payment! Talk about a disappointment when she had to return the car because she couldn’t afford both! Check the rates BEFORE you make a decision to buy.

Do You Want to Tow, or Go Off-Roading? If so, you will need a  Jeep with a high towing capacity. For the most part the newer you go, the more you can  haul (or pull). You just need to make sure the vehicle you chose can accommodate those needs.

Understand SPACE. Grand Cherokees make a good family vehicle, and are great for long road trips. A standard Jeep or even a Wrangler will be a bit cramped for a trip to the beach.

Check the History. Like I’ve mentioned before a lot of  Jeeps are used off road, which means they very well might have been in an accident. I’m not talking scrapes from tree branches,or a dented fender, but flipped over in the mud and down the hill type of accident. Make sure you get a full history so you can see if the damage was internal, or if it had any at all. Also having a trusted mechanic inspect the Jeep before you buy it would be smart too!

Watch the Mileage. Rarely will you find an older Jeep that has less than 200k miles on it.(if you can find it, snag it up!) Figure out how many miles you drive a year to see what the lifespan of the Jeep may be; they do get great mileage, but just like any other vehicle the more miles on a vehicle, the more potential for issues in the future.

Being a Jeep owner is fun, and can be an investment. Just make sure you are buying the right one for you!

Posted in Money Matters | Leave a comment

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Driving a Jeep

Alright, I have confession to make. Every vehicle that is owned in my household is a Jeep. My husband started off with an obsession to go off roading –  and I always wanted to Wrangler (it’s like that convertible  sports car feel, but with an SUV which I like to  call a little bit of heaven). But I didn’t realize that much like the blogging community, the sweepstakes community, and even the coupon community, there was a Jeep community as well. It’s not something they tell you when you buy one at the dealership, but there are somethings you might want to know once you purchase your first Jeep.

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There’s this thing called the ‘death wobble’. It’s something you never want to experience, but something you always need to keep an eye out for. It’s usually a major issue caused by poor alignment, unbalanced tires, worn ball joints, and busted steering stabilizers. So yeah, it’s pretty much what it sounds like and it’s awful; I wouldn’t recommend it, and I’d definitely take precaution with maintenance.

The “Jeep Wave”. I laughed the first time my husband told me about this -but it’s true. It’s like a comradely of brothers, you see another Jeep -you wave. Whether you’re in a Wrangler, a Cherokee or a Compass  – you  give the Jeep wave. It’s just the polite thing to do.

You will eventually end  up with a wet rear end. The fun thing about Jeep Wranglers is taking the top off – the sucky thing about Jeep Wranglers –  is accidentally leaving the top off when it rains. I have more than one occasion either gotten a wet or muddy rear end from hopping up into the Wrangler. I would suggest always having a spare pair of pants, and maybe a towel or two in a waterproof bag on hand.

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Plan to NEVER be finished with your Jeep. I think my husband is on tire set number 4 on the Wrangler -that he’s had just over a year. Always looking for bigger and better to go off roading. Lift kits? Maybe on his third. Not to mention the bar lights, winch – oh then a bigger, better winch, and so on and so  forth. There is always something bigger and better to get, or something else to improve. NEVER ENDING kinda like laundry.

No Excuses for Missing Work. Everyone knows you have tires that could climb a mountain, and a lift that keeps you a good 6 feet from the road – so pretty much calling in to miss work because the snow or any other bad weather, well, not possible.

It Never Goes Out of Style. My Uncle was off-roading 30 plus years ago – and it’s never gotten old. Old Jeeps even hold their value because of the hobby of off-roading or ‘mudding’.  I guess you would consider a Jeep purchase a really good investment.

Posted in Entertainment, Money Matters | Leave a comment