Easy & Delicious Holiday Treats

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Krissyar

One of our family traditions each year around the holidays is taking time to bake together. I’m not just talking a few dozen cookies  – I’m saying an all-out-all-day bake fest. My Grandma, Mom and Aunt have been doing this since I was a little kid, and I guess officially the past few years I have been deemed old enough to join (though I will have to say being the ‘kid’ and taste tester is way more fun).

We have a few classics we always make that are pretty easy (see below) – and I’ve found a new one I want to incorporate to our plans this year that looks delicious (and you know I love any recipe that includes the word easy). Easy Rugelach   from the Farm Girls Gab looks right up by alley. I can’t wait to try it out this year!
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Peanut Butter Blossoms is one of my favorites! (especially right when they come out of the oven). This recipe from Musings From a Stay at Home Mom is right on target. You definitely need to add this to your holiday baking list!
peanut_butter_blossomsBeing from Ohio Buckeyes are also a traditional item we bake every year. Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom has a great step-by-step instruction guide for you to follow to make your own buckeyes at home!

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This post is already starting to make me hungry  – I almost can’t wait to get baking! We can’t forget a few more of our holiday favorites though, like Chocolate Crinkles – the closest recipe I could find (without giving away family secrets lol) was through SimplyRecipes.These are also one of my favorites and my kids too!

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and last but not least – we call it Peanut Raisin Candy,but others usually use Peanut Raisin Clusters. I think this is 110% my absolute favorite. Check out the crockpot recipe version over on Punkie Pie’s Place. What I love about these is you can freeze them for up to a year!
peanut_raisin_candy

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Vehicle Safety: Are You Prepared??

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Krissyar

Since summer is now in the rear view mirror, it’s time to start thinking (and preparing) for the harsher winter months. Besides making sure your home is well prepared, one of the  biggest concerns is having vehicle issues, or being stranded in your car during a big winter storm. With my husband being a trucker, we’ve experienced some pretty scary weather over the years, and we’ve came up with a list of things you need to do – or have – to make sure you are prepared for anything that might come your way.

Keep Up with Proper Car Maintenance. Keeping your vehicle in top notch shape is one of the most important factors in vehicle safety. Simple things like changing your oil and filter and topping off other fluids on a regular basis is very important when traveling especially in bad weather. Make sure your tires are properly inflated, you always have a full gas tank, and you have extra fluids in your car just in case of an emergency.

Update Your First Aid Kit. I have to admit sometimes I am guilty of this myself; my first aid kit may or may not have the original band-aids, and alcohol wipes that came with it when I bought it. Besides the already-made first aid kits, it’s always a good idea to add your own items as well. You can find a list of some great first aid items here and other emergency kit items here. Remember to update your kit and replenish at least once a month!

Know How to Avoid a Bad Situation. Staying off the road before they are cleared, avoiding back roads when possible, and learning how to control your vehicle under certain road conditions are key to keeping safe. If you’re not sure – don’t risk it. Listen to the news or radio to find out if your town is under a driving restriction.

Following these simple tricks will not only make you feel more confident as you are traveling in less than desirable conditions, but it will also have you prepared for almost any situation that you find yourself in!

 

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Candy Corn Recipe Round Up

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Krissyar

My son and my nephew are completely obsessed with candy corn. Unlike other kids who can’t wait for Halloween to roll around for the chocolate, they are stalking their candy bags for candy corn treats! This year we decided to make some festive fall treats, and I was amazed at all the awesome (and tasty) looking recipes I found using their favorite, candy corn! So I had to share some of my favorites – which ones do you like best??

This Candy Corn Pretzel Bark from The Farm Girl Gabs looks like it would be a favorite of my entire family.

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These candy corn and white chocolate chip cookies look absolutely amazing as well. I love homemade cookies –  who doesn’t right?
candy_corn_white_chocolate_cookiesI love the idea of this cute “Candy Corn on the Cob‘ idea-

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and last but not least, these Candy Corn Popcorn Balls I found on MyRecipes.

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Kids, College, Cars and Auto Insurance

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Krissyar

It’s officially Back to School for most of the country. I’m still in denial that summer is over but the list of school supplies and class schedules are bringing me back to reality. This is the time of year that not only my personal life gets busy, but my job does too. Working in the insurance industry I get tons of calls with questions from parents about their teens heading off to college, and what is the best way to save money when it comes to their auto insurance. Though I don’t claim to be  an expert, I have had over 10 years in the industry and I have a few tips for parents (and teens) to save money on auto insurance.

 

Buy Used. I am still surprised after all these years that parents and teens think it’s the best idea to buy a new car. Sure overall they can be more dependable, but I will assure you the savings you get in just a few months of a large payment, or a few months of full coverage insurance, you will have enough saved for any minor repairs needed when you purchase a used car. Save that extra money for tuition, supplies, or even towards a new car in a few years. There are many great tips on what to look for when buying a used car that can help steer you in the right direction.

Carry Liability Only. Referring back to buying used, try to pay cash only when purchasing a vehicle; not having a loan leaves you free to choice what coverages you carry on your insurance policy. I do recommend, if you can afford  it, adding comprehensive coverage to your liability only policy. Most of the time comprehensive coverage is offered at an affordable premium, and covers everything other than an accident – so things like rocks hitting and breaking your windshield, vandalism, theft, or even hitting an animal, you’re car will be covered.

Keep Your Grades Up. Carrying a 3.00 GPA or better can save you quite a bit of money on your auto insurance policy; especially for males. Most companies just need a  copy of your progress report, or report card to put the discount on your policy. Be sure to make yourself aware of how often they need an updated transcript so the discount doesn’t get removed.

Call Before You Buy. No matter if you decide to get a used or new car, always always call your auto insurance company and compare rates on the different vehicles you are looking at purchasing; calling with a year/make/model of a vehicle to get a quote can sometimes be a deciding factor in a vehicle purchase. If possible provide the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to get an exact quote. You would be surprised how sometimes the cheaper vehicles will actually cost you more in insurance than one a bit more expensive.

Shop Your Rates. As a co-worker of mine always says, “nothing is good or bad without comparison.” Calling around to see what other rates may be at a different insurance company is always a good idea as well.

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Easy & Healthy School Lunches

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® + Pepperidge Farm® . The opinions and text are all mine.

Up until this weekend I was really in denial about my kids going back to school. Though I do somewhat like the structure of the school year like daily routines and early bedtimes, with working full-time and doing it on my own makes it a bit tough. Making sure that everyone is up and ready to get out the door to the bus on time – with everything they need- stresses me out!

One of our biggest time consuming things to get done in the morning in packing lunches. The first few weeks the kids don’t mind a basic sandwich and snack.But as the year goes on it gets harder and harder to keep their lunches interesting, tasty and healthy. They get bored with the same ol’ same ol’ – and who can blame them? I have a lot more options working in an office, and a lot more time, then my kids at school. So the kids and I headed to Walmart to pick-up some yummy stuff for their lunches.

My son is probably the pickiest and he isn’t the biggest sandwich fan. I always like to pack finger-foods, he’s more likely to eat it and most of the time we can re-pack what he doesn’t eat for the next day.

One of his favorites is our Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish Crackers trail mix. Goldfish crackers, granola, and some chocolate make it his favorite sweet treat. Paired with a cheese roll-up, some fruit (his favorites are grapes and blueberries) and some string cheese and he’s set. What I love is I can pack these in advance for the week and he can grab what he’s hungry for each day.

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I even keep some for after-school snacks – that way he doesn’t snack too much and he’s still hungry at dinner time.

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He isn’t a big fan of meat, however he will eat cut-up ham or turkey with his Goldfish crackers and grapes. Plenty of protein and healthy – I also love to add some yogurt every few days as well.

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One of the items we never forget to put in his lunchbox is Wet Ones® antibacterial hand wipes. I learned a few years ago that the kids aren’t always given a chance to wash their hands before lunch – and do you know how many germs their hands come in contact with throughout the morning at school? Let’s just say eww. So I buy the Wet Ones travel packs or Wet Ones singles, to make sure that they always have clean hands before they start eating.

Speaking of Wet Ones, don’t forget to go enter for your chance to win a years supply of Wet Ones® for your home and your child’s classroom, plus $1000 cash! www.wishihadwetones.com

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® + Pepperidge Farm® . The opinions and text are all mine.

Posted in Fitness/Health, Sweeps, Uncategorized | Leave a comment