Electronic Cigarettes: The Many Advantages

If you are a cigarette smoker, you probably have seen the new electronic cigarettes, also known as E cigs. You may have even tried them for yourself. Whether you have or haven’t tried them, you should start to consider it. As there are a numerous advantages to them. You can start by, checking out the variety of products at 21CenturySmoke.com. 

Wider Social Acceptance

I was just talking to my husband today, and he said he wants to try getting back into E cigs. He had tried them before and would like to again. He said someone where he works uses them. His co-worker is even allowed to moderately smoke an Electronic Cigarette at work. Like with this Vaporizer Pen. You could not do that with a traditional cigarette. There seems to be more social acceptance with Electronic cigarettes. 

Saves Money 

How much you spend on cigarettes, can, obviously, depends on how much you smoke. But it can also depend on where you live. I know that my sister spends a lot more on cigarettes then my husband does. The price of cigarettes in her state is very high. If she switched to E cigs, then she could save a lot of money. I just was reading that the average pack a day smoker, could save more than $1100 a year switching to an electronic cigarette! 

Cleanliness Electronic Cigarettes 

There is nothing worse than an ashtray full of cigarette butts. With an E cig, you don’t have to worry about that. Also, since electronic cigarettes are mostly vapor and no smoke, you won’t have the odor. You won’t get that cigarette odor, on your clothes, car, or in your house. This benefits the smoker and also those around them too! 

Variety of Choices 

I know the one thing my husband liked, when he tried E cigs was the variety of refill cartridges. He liked the different flavors that you could pick from. They have a wide range of Flavored Electronic Cigarettes to try. There are flavors such as blueberry, grape, strawberry, and more. There is also a variety of different kinds of E cigs. You can decide to get a kit, which will allow you to charge your electronic cigarette. You can also purchase disposable E cigs, that are usually equivalent to a pack of traditional cigarettes. You can also try the Vaporizers, which are a little different, but my husband wants to try those next. 

There seems to be many advantages to Electronic Cigarettes. At www.21centurysmoke.com, you can get started on your purchasing of an E cig!

Disclosure:
this is a sponsored post, written by me. All opinions are my own.

Christmas Photos 2013

Tree showing some of the presents Christmas Eve:

Daughter got some One Direction stuff - including this bed spread:

Big gift for son was a 32" TV - actually stood in line for 2 hrs Thanksgiving night to get good price, waited almost a month to have it delivered to Walmart, plugged it in Christmas, to have line down side of it. Thought would have to return it. Next day, works fine! Thank goodness!

Big gift for daughter new iPod 5th Generation!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas & Have a Happy New Year!

Katazoom Review & Giveaway - Wall Decal ($25 ecard)

I received free product(s) to facilitate this post. 

Happy New Year Everyone! I have a cool review and giveaway for you. It is from Katazoom.

Katazoom.com is a company that specializes in wall decals. They have a lot of really nice ones that can liven up your walls. They are great for homes or even businesses.

You can shop by different categories, such as some really cool Head Board decals, I noticed.  Look at this cute Princess Head Board Wall Decal.

(c) Katazoom 

I was looking around my house and noticed that I have a lot of empty wall space. I would like to add some more decals on the walls. I saw some really nice Family Wall Decals. (example) One of my favorite quotes:

(c) Katazoom.com

Here's some more info about Katazoom Decals:

• All our wall decals are produced on a professional grade matte vinyl with a special removable adhesive. 
• Our wall decals can be applied to any clean, smooth and flat surface.
• Each order comes with easy to follow installation instructions. 

Going into my son's room, I also noticed he could use something on the walls. So he picked out one of the sports decals. We got the skateboard decal. My husband put it up yesterday. He said it was really easy to apply. The decals come with complete directions. And I would suggest taping the decal on the wall, as per the directions. To work out your exact positioning.

Here's how the skateboard decal looks on my son's bedroom wall:

(c) Stay at home mom

We put it right over his bed. I love how this looks, it's so cool!

Connect with Katazoom via these links:

Website

Facebook
Pinterest 

Would you like one of these wall decals for yourself? Well now you can by entering my giveaway!

Win it! - one winner will receive a $25 ecard to Katazoom.com

Please enter using Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received the above product complimentary for this review and giveaway. 

All Natural Ageless Derma Anti-Aging Intensive Skin Brightener Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

The key to a flawless complexion begins with even skin tone. But years in the sun coupled with aging and other factors can produce unwanted dark areas on our skin. Dark spots, age spots, liver spots, brown spots, black spots – no matter what you call them, no one wants them. Fortunately, Ageless Derma Anti-Aging Intensive Skin Brightener offers an effective, natural solution to diminishing dark spots quickly and safely.

Formulated with scientifically proven ingredients and developed by a team of researchers, physicians, scientists, and estheticians sharing over 30 years experience, Ageless Derma Anti-Aging Intensive Skin Brightener offers natural, safe ingredients with clinically proven results.Combining six powerful ingredients producing dynamic results, Ageless Derma Anti-Aging Intensive Skin Brightener will lighten and even out your skin tone within weeks, leaving you with a healthy, youthful look.


My take on the product:

I have been using the Ageless Derma Anti-Aging Intensive Skin Brightener for close to two weeks. It is hard to tell the results of something in that amount of time. But I do like this lotion! 

I think it does brighten your skin, and is nice to apply to your face before make-up. I do have a few spots up near my forehead I would like get rid of. I have been applying this to it, and it may be helping. It may be to soon to tell, but I will let you know if I see some further results. 

The color of the lotion is a brownish color, but it does not go on your skin as a foundation or anything, it blends right into your natural skin tone. It has a thick consistency and does not have really any odor, which is good. 

The one big thing that I really love about the skin brightener is actually the packaging. The design of this is really awesome. It comes out of an airless pump.

This is the top of container:

Push down to dispense the lotion:

I really like this unique airless pump! To purchase the All Natural  Ageless Derma Anti-Aging Intensive Skin Brightener, Go Here. 1.0 fl. oz. ARV $49.00. 
Disclosure:

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Christmas Tree Pictures

Here are a few pictures of kids at my Christmas Tree. I made these into some Christmas cards too.

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

p.s. he always wears that same shirt! in photos for some reason!

Piccadilly's Holiday To-Go

This post brought to you by Piccadilly Restaurants. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

I love visiting family on the Holidays. One of our favorite traditions is to get stocking stuffers for everyone, and open those up first. Sometimes everyone likes those little things best! Another thing we used to do, when I was growing up was have breakfast first, before opening presents. We were not allowed to open (except the stockings) presents until after breakfast. My mom, likes to drag it out, but when my kids got older the did not want to go along with that!

My family really enjoys getting together. But one thing that can be stressful is all the cooking that goes along with it. I know that every time we visit our families on the Holidays, my Mom usually has to do all the cooking. She usually gets pretty stressed out by the time it is all over. It is a lot of work for her! 

Well now I just learned about  something really great from Piccadilly Restaurants! It is called Holiday To-Go. The Holiday To-Go is your choice of either a turkey or a ham dinner, and all the trimmings. Orders must be purchased at least 36 hrs in advance, but the turkey and ham holiday feasts are fully cooked, refrigerated and ready to heat!

You can order the feast that serves 10-14 guests or you can get the Junior Holiday Feast that will serve 4-6 guests. You can get all of Picadilly's homestyle favorites, and desserts a la carte. You can order the whole meal, just desserts or just sides. Piccadilly's has you covered.

The Holiday To-Go meal is $54.99 for Turkey or Ham. And the Junior Holiday feasts are $29.99 for Turkey & $25.99 for Ham. This is a great way to get the focus of the holidays of cooking and get it back to spending time with your loved ones! I know my Mom, would love this!

Also available are Piccadilly gift cards.

For every $50 spent on gift cards, now through December 31st, - you will get $10 on a savings card that can be used in January! Sounds like a good deal.

So if you want to spend more time with your family this holiday season, order a Holiday To-Go meal, from Piccadilly's. Where they have been open since 1932, starting in Baton Rouge Louisiana.  To today, where there are over 60 Restaurants and over 80 food service locations all across the southeast! And another great thing is they are a homestyle family friendly restaurant!

Also please, like Piccadilly Restaurants on Facebook & follow @EatPiccadilly on Twitter !

Ozeri 8” Green Earth Textured Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan Review

I got the following product free to review.

Hi to everyone. I am doing a review for you today on the Ozeri  8” Green Earth Textured Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan.

Here is some product information to share with you also:

• the Ozeri Green Earth Pan utilizes GREBLON - an ultra-safe ceramic coating from Germany which is 100% PTFE and PFOA free.
• Innovative textured pan surface delivers enhanced heat distribution and superior non-stick performance without ever releasing harmful fumes or toxins.
• Features a scratch-resistant 100 percent ceramic coating that is super easy to clean.
• Made out of durable heavy-gauge die-cast aluminum with no heavy metals or harmful chemicals.
• Boasts a comfortable heat resistant silicon coated handle
• and a magnetized induction stove safe base for rapid heat transfer.

My review:

I have low protein levels, and one way to get that up is to eat eggs. I like eggs, I just do not usually like making them. I made some the other day. Here is a short video:

(c) stay at home mom

The Ozeri frying pan is really great! I noticed how easy the eggs flipped over, and didn't stick to the pan. That is the one thing I don't like is when stuff sticks to the pan! But with this Ozeri pan - I didn't have to worry about that.

 I was making the above fried egg the other day and my husband thought it smelled so good, he decided to make some. Here's a picture of his:

(c) stay at home mom

He said the eggs were just sliding around in the pan. And were not sticking at all. I also noticed the other day, I didn't need as much cooking spray, when cooking. So that is a good thing because that will reduce the fat/calories.

If you would like to purchase the Ozeri  8” Green Earth Textured Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan, you can get it at Amazon. Price ranges from $29.99-$23.25

You can also find Ozeri on Facebook.

Disclosure:
I received this product complimentary for reviewing only. No other compensation was given & my opinions remain my own.

Giveaway: Zeepo Sleep Mask & Dream Essence Sleep Serum (ends 1/5)

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Here is another cool review and giveaway for you. It is for the following products (please read product info)

Dream Essence Sleep Serum- Simple dab a small amount on your temples, behind your ears and one spot on the back of your neck and let the essential oils do their magic.  The aroma and your bodies absorption of the essentials oil mix is designed to relax you and help you fall into a deep sleep.

Zeepo Mask- The sleep mask that gently binds to your face with FDA-approved, double-sided, adhesive strips which are medical grade hypo-allergenic and latex free. Includes 2 sheets of disposable adhesive (36 strips) enough for 18 nights of sleep.
-Light-weight, ergonomic design
-100% light blocking for effective sleep and relaxation
-Ultra comfortable using natural cotton for sensitive facial skin



My review:
Of course like a lot of things I get to test out, my daughter ends up wanting it. This product was no different. Here she is testing out the Zeepo Sleep Mask:

One of the things that is cool about this mask is that it doesn't have any straps. So you don't have to worry about a strap over your head while you sleep. It is secured with adhesive strips - that are included. And my daughter said it really stayed in place overnight.

The Dream Essence Sleep serum is optional and is not necessarily needed for the sleep mask. But it is a nice touch if you would like to try it before bed time. You just need to dab a little on. It has a flowery smell. And contains,  Essential Oils of Lavender, Rose & Roman Chamomile in a Jojoba base.

These products are made by the company  Dream Essence. Please visit the website for purchasing & viewing their other products. Also:

Follow Dream Essentials:

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Win it: One luck reader will win their own Zeepo Sleep mask -  ARV $19.95 and a vial of the Dream Essence Sleep serum -  ARV $5.00.

Please enter using Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure:

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book: Sticky Icky Booger Bugs by Sherry Frith review & giveaway

I received a PDF version free to review.

Hi guys. I was contacted to do a review and giveaway of the book: Sticky Icky Booger Bugs by Sherry Frith.

(author: Sherry Frith)

Some info about book:

Sticky Icky Booger Bugs, by Sherry Frith, is the tale of a boy's battle with cystic fibrosis as he attempts to avoid the hospital. Kory is just like any other kid. He loves recess, playing soccer, and exploring his neighborhood with his best friend. With every puff, cough, and sneeze, Kory keeps the sticky icky booger bugs away so he can have fun every day! Sticky Icky Booger Bugs is a picture book, illustrated by Caroll Newell Walter, for children ages 0 – 7.

Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. There are 30,000 children each year diagnosed and battling cystic fibrosis. There is no cure for this progressive disease.

Sherry wrote Sticky Icky Booger Bugs after her sons, Kory and Kevin, were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. She wanted to explain aspects of the disorder using words they could understand. Helped by colorful illustrations, and the knowledge they gained, they were able to deal with the sticky icky booger bugs using simple routines to keep their cystic fibrosis at bay. This story lets children know that they are loved, no matter what their medical situation may be.

Sticky Icky Booger Bugs was released on July 26, 2013 and is available for sale on Amazon. Author Sherry Frith is the mother of three boys and the founder of Helping Hearts, a nonprofit organization. She has patents and copyrights pending in various areas and lives each day full of new ideas and grace. Sherry lives in Bakersfield, CA, with her sons—Kyle, Kevin, and Kory.

Illustrator Carol Newell Walter majored in fine arts at Wayne State University and earned a BA and teaching credentials from California State University– Bakersfield. Now retired, Carol and her husband live in Bakersfield, CA, where she continues to create all kinds of artwork. To learn more, visit http://beatsnot.com/.

My take on book:

When I was asked to review this book, I honestly didn't really know anything about Cystic Fibrosis. So I was interested in reading this book to learn more. I read the book and really learned a lot! This book details what a day in the life of a kid with Cystic Fibrosis is like.

It explains what a child with this needs to do on a daily basis to stay healthy. And get out the Sticky Icky Booger Bugs. It also has really awesome illustrations to go along with the text.

This is a very informative book and helped me to understand what someone with this disease goes through. It also helps you to see that children with this are just like every other kid, they like to play, go to school, etc. - just that they have Cystic Fibrosis. This book would be great for a child who has this disease or friends or family members of someone, to help them understand it better. I could see this also being helpful at schools to teach other kids about this, if they know someone with it.

Please enter my giveaway to win this! or to buy your own copy visit Amazon.com

You can find Sherry Firth also on Twitter 

Win it: one lucky reader will win an ebook of Sticky Icky Booger Bugs gifted to you from my sponsor through Amazon.

(book cover)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation other then copy of book, opinions are my own. Sponsor is responsible for giveaway fulfillment. 

$100 American Express Gift Card Giveaway (ends 12/31)

This is for a giveaway for a $100 AMEX Gift card. I am helping promote this giveaway, but am not responsible for prize fulfillment. 

Now is a great time of year to win a $100 AMEX gift card! This giveaway is being sponsored by the company NorthwestPharmacy.com Which is a Canadian mail order pharmacy and international multi-country online drugstore specializing in providing affordable medications. They also have an interesting infographic on the website showing the risks of Heart Disease. And ignoring the signs will not make it go away - which having my friend pass away recently, (they think from his blood pressure being so high) is really, important to me. Please check that out!  Well, anyway, make sure you enter the giveaway below! 

GIVEAWAY DATES - Today thru 12/31

Prize $100 American Express Gift Card

Open to US/CAN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dedicated to My Friend

I'm sorry to interrupt the happy Christmas posts, etc. But there has been a tragedy in my family.

This is dedicated to my sister's boyfriend, Paul. He died last week. This was a very sudden and  unexpected death. He collapsed at work on December 2nd,  then was in a coma & on life support. He died a week later.

I am so sad -  he was my friend! I knew him for over 12 years and loved him like a brother. This is for him, because he was one of the only family members to actually read my blog once in awhile.

Here is picture of my sister, Paul & my two kids I think 10 yrs ago. At Storyland:

(I think 2003)

we used to go camping & fishing together even though it wasn't really his "thing." but he seemed to enjoy it when we did it:

I first met him when my daughter was barely a year old. My daughter and him always had a special bond:

I think  2003

We both loved Red Sox
We both loved Johnny Cash.

                           "Goodbye Little Darlin' Goodbye" by Johnny Cash

Goodbye, little darlin', we're parting
Parting don't always mean goodbye
Although we had to part, you're always in my heart
Goodbye, little darlin', goodbye

Goodbye, little darlin', I'll miss you
Miss you like the stars would miss the sky
I hate to see you go, I'm gonna miss you so
Goodbye, little darlin', goodbye

Goodbye, little darlin', I love you
Love you until the day I die
Would you dream a dream of me, wherever you may be
Goodbye, little darlin', goodbye

Oh - I want to add - one thing also. I was lucky enough to win a giveaway last week. And part of it was to donate to a charity of my choice. So Paul's charity was Juvenile diabetes (because his nephew has it) and I was able to donate $500 to his local JDRF! 

Good Buddy Notes Review & Giveaway (win a personalized onesie)

I received a product complimentary from Good Buddy Notes to facilitate this post.

Here is some information about the website Good Buddy Notes:

In the Good Buddy Notes store you will find unique custom made gifts like personalized baby t-shirts, fun personalized pet gifts, adorable baby shower gifts, birthday party invitations, gifts for teachers, custom wedding gifts, thank-you notes, and lots, lots more! No matter what the occasion or the person-or pet-you're shopping for, we know you can find something special in our store.

All Good Buddy Notes personalized stationery, personalized pet gifts, custom picture frames, personalized baby t-shirts and more are illustrated by artist Shelley Dieterichs. Whimsical, lovable art of children and pets are the hallmarks of Shelley's endearing children's illustrations that appear in many published books, on fun stacking blocks and nursery art.

Give someone you love something special with Good Buddy Notes by Shelley Dieterichs.

Welcome to Good Buddy Notes!


I was contacted by the owner, Shelley Dieterichs of the website to do a review and giveaway. I went to the website and looked over all the great products I saw. And the one that caught my eye was the Personalized Christmas ornament.

(c) stay at home mom

Above is a picture I took of it on my Christmas tree. Isn't that cute? It is personalized with our family name and on the back it also has the date (2013). Not every year, but every so often I like to get a personalized ornament with the date, so years later I can look back on it. I really love this new addition to my ornament collection that I got!

Good Buddy Notes also has a lot of other things on it that you can get personalized. Such as Pet Products and Greeting Cards. They also have some cute onesies and hats too. In fact Shelley is going to allow me to give one lucky reader their own personalized onesie.

cute onesie - says BYOB (bring your own bottle)

Check out the other selection of onesies here . There are some really cool ones with other funny sayings on them. The onesies range in size from newborn, up to 4-T.  Please enter my giveaway for winner's choice of a personalized onesie.

Use the form below to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:
The above product was receive complimentary for the purpose of this review. The giveaway product is being supplied by the sponsor. No other compensation was given and my opinions are my own.

A Jungle of Jeans: How to Find the Right Fit

While the developed world holds many amazing features and opportunities, sometimes individuals can get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of choices and information we have. In the past, stores would offer a few varieties of clothing and jeans – if you wanted anything else, you’d have to make it yourself. In today’s world, countless styles, cuts, colors, and fabrics are available just for denim, and with contrasting recommendations from fashion experts, it can be difficult to identify just what style, cut, and fit work for you. Here are a few helpful hints to aid you in your hunt for the perfect fit.

Watch Trends It’s important to pay attention to how styles are changing and adapt accordingly. What was cool when you were in college may be this year’s mom jean. Current hot styles are baggy jeans, skinny jeans, slim-cut jeans, and wide-leg jeans. The trick with these styles is to make sure you match the correct jean with the correct body type. Contrary to what you might think, baggy jeans often look better on slender people, and skinny or slim jeans often look better on heavier people. Baggy jeans add bulk, and skinny jeans look slim. Keep these principles in mind as you shop for your body type.

Know Your Colors If you’re having trouble knowing what shade of denim to buy, darker is usually the best option. Dark jeans can be easily dressed up for a casual date where you want to look your best without overdoing it, or for casual Fridays at work. They also are slimming and classic. Lighter jeans are fine too, but know what you’re looking for. The lightest shades of jeans can look odd unless you’re striving to make a fashion statement, and many jean manufacturers create wear in the denim to give it depth, but some can appear weird. When in doubt, go dark. For some color options, check out this wide variety of Levis.

Check the Length Length is a very important factor when selecting jeans. Those with long legs often have a hard time finding the right length of jean, and it’s really important to keep hunting until you find it. A jean that is too short evokes an awkward image. Jeans that are too long are easily tailored.

About the Author: Kate Beckam is a fashion writer and blogger. She prefers skinny jeans and loves that she can find Levis for women as well on the site.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post.

TwirlyGirl Capri Leggings Review & Giveaway

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Hello! I have received free from TwirlyGirl some girls capri leggings. I would like to provide you with some info about this product.

Product Description

• Very soft jersey that stretches for comfort.
•  Machine washable.
•  96% Polyester / 4% Spandex 
• Perfect to wear alone, or under a skirt or dress to keep warm.
• Made in the USA

The pair of girls capri leggings that I got are called Wiggle Worm Stripe:

(c) stay at home mom

 These are really cute and look great alone, like it says. Or paired under a skirt or dress. If your daughter is  like mine then she will love these.

These are so comfy that you may even want to wear them just lounging around the house, or for pajamas! My daughter does that with girls capri leggings all the time. 

Does your daughter or a girl you know love capri leggings for girls? Then go here to check out all the selection. 

TwirlyGirl also sells a lot of other things, such as tops, dresses, skirts, etc. Like them on Facebook too for more information. 

Buy it: I also have a coupon code to share with you. First time visitors to the site can receive 15% discount using the code: TGFun23

Win it: I have an extra pair of capri leggings as pictured above. One winner will win these. They are a size 14 - which according to size chart are 24 ½ waist - 17 ½  inseam. 

These are priced at $25.00 

more info:

 Striped leggings with blue, green
   and pink tones.
• White lace accent.
• Soft and stretchy, they will feel  
   like pajamas.
• Elastic waistband offers room
   to grow.
• Striped leggings for girls.
• Machine washable.
• 96% Polyester / 4% Spandex

Please enter using Rafflecopter below. US Residents only. No P.O. Boxes 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

A Good Time to prune trees

Hi all. I just want to share with you some information that I just learned. It is about tree pruning. Do you know that Winter is actually one of the best times to prune your trees?

This is when the trees are in dormancy so if they are pruned in Winter then you can get a burst of growth in the Spring. If you wait until the coldest part of Winter has passed, the it would be best for the tree. Then you can go ahead and prune it.

If you would like some help on this then check out SherrillTree. You can find the equipment that you will need to prune your trees. 

McCormick Holiday Baking - Peppermint Bark

I was compensated for the ingredients for this post, and upon completion will also receive compensation.

Hi guys. I was asked if I would like to make a recipe using some different McCormick ingredients. I was able to pick from a list of recipes. And the one that really stood out to me is the Peppermint Bark.

I have never made Peppermint Bark before, but have always wanted to. I have seen it online before and always wanted to try making it. Come to think of it, I think I have actually never even eaten this before!

Well I was excited to give it a go! So I headed out to my local supermarket to pick up the ingredients. Below is a list of the ingredients you will need:

Ingredients:

1 package (12 ounces) white chocolate chips

1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Peppermint Extract

8 drops McCormick® Red Food Color (you can also use green)

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies  (or candy canes)

picture of the McCormick ingredients I purchased
(c) stay at home mom

white chocolate baking chips & candy canes
(c) stay at home mom

Directions:

Microwave chocolate chips in large microwavable bowl on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring after 1 minute. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in peppermint extract.

(c) stay at home mom

Spread on large foil-lined baking sheet to 1/4-inch thickness. Add food color, drop by drop, over mixture. Using a wooden skewer, swirl color through chocolate. Sprinkle with crushed candies, pressing lightly into chocolate with spatula.

*c stay at home mom
white chocolate mix - swirled with McCormick Red Food coloring 

1. Refrigerate about 10 minutes or until firm. Break into irregular pieces to serve. Store in covered container at cool room temperature or in refrigerator up to 5 days.

Serves:

Makes 12 servings, 2 to 3 pieces each.

broken up Peppermint Bark in a pretty glass bowl:

A few more notes: Now that I have made this - I want to let you know how easy this is to do! This is also a fun recipe to make with your kids. With supervision, this is something kids can do too, since no baking is involved. My daughter helped me make this.

Also my son needed to bring in something for a party at school, and I made another batch of this yesterday! Also you only need about 2 candy canes for each batch!

Hope you will try this recipe out! It will make a great addition to your Holiday Baking! Enjoy!

Disclosure:
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of McCormick and Business 2 Blogger. All opinions are 100% mine. 

iCaughtSanta.com Review & Giveaway (9 winners!)

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Hi everybody. I have a cool Review & Giveaway for you. I received a coupon code for a free photo at iCaughtSanta.com.

And I made this photo below:

Isn't that cool! It's Santa & Rudolph in front of my Christmas tree. They visited the other day and I snapped a picture!

If you and your family want to create one of these pictures, then I have 9 more coupon codes for you to do so! To create one of these the price is regularly $9.99, but I am giving away 9 codes to my readers for your own free picture.

Do you want a picture of Santa leaving presents under your tree? One with just Rudolph? Then you should check out iCaughtSanta.com. There are 20 different poses that you can pick from for your picture.

You can even have Santa outside your house with your Christmas lights or whatever you want. You just upload one of your own pictures and then create the picture from there. It is very fun & easy to do.

And your kids will really get a kick out of this. I made one of these a few years ago, when my kids were a little younger. And my daughter, especially really loved it. She really believed that Santa had visited her Christmas Tree! (of course he did right?)

Once you create your photo, and have it the way you like it, you will check out. If you have a code (if you win one of these then it will be free.) The link to the photo will be emailed to you. And you can download the photo to your computer for printing. You can send to others via email, share on Facebook & Twitter, etc. (The printing of the photo is up to you personally)

iCaughtSanta.com is having their own contest. Visit the website to enter. But they are giving away over $1,500 in prizes, (such as iPad, Amazon, Visa and Starbucks)

I also have a coupon code for anyone else who would like to make one of these - for 25% off. The promotion code is: #Santa25

Please enter to win a coupon code for your own iCaughtSanta.com photo! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Christmas Parade - 2013

Saturday my daughter was in the Christmas Parade in our town. She participated again with her dance school.

This year we bought a real fancy new outfit:

Here is her dance school's float:

The girls dancing (my daughter is in the middle row)

They always have some cool antique cars:

someone did a duck dynasty float

There are all kinds of floats and people in the parade from the town, like girl scouts, boy scouts, High school band, 4-H club, etc. They have judges and the groups perform when they stop in front of them.

This year my daughter's dance school got Judges Choice!

on the float - her school had collected over 300 canned goods for the local food shelter!

Santa was the last float - but I didn't get pic of him this year, because my daughter's group was right before him - so I had to leave and make sure I caught up to her!


 (p.s) it was freezing out!

linking up with