Monday, September 21, 2015

Miles from Tomorrowland toy review

I love being a House Party blogger. I get to review some fun stuff at times, for free! My most recent one is the Miles from Tomorrowland Tomy toys.
I was going to have a party, but some of the children invited got sick.
So instead I sent them toys to cheer them up in their recovery. I also made them Blodger Blop cupcakes. 

He's a friend of Miles Calisto, the main character in the Disney TV show. 
They had the following to say about the toys: "Eric... age 17 has the galactic miles and says he likes the style of it. The futuristic style drew him to it even though he's a big kid, he wants to play with it.

Qwentin, age 9 has the super stellar miles and likes it because of the colors of the character and the style of the bike.

Ma'Leah, age 8 has Pipp and says he looks like a cool character. It's cool that he can fly.

Za'Riah, age 4 has Loretta. She likes her board and she likes that her arms move and you can play with her."
Tomorrowland is the futuristic place where space exploration takes humans out into our galaxy and provides homes on rocketships or other planets. It promotes the desire for kids to study space and those who travel in it. While learning about the earth is important, I like having my kids learn about why lies beyond our planet. What better way than to have a cartoon family that goes out exploring together? 
I made, or tried to make, fruit rocket kabobs. 
I also made hot dog rockets and space rock meatballs.  

Just something fun for them to chow down on while we had a good time playing with the toys. 
I built a cardboard box rocket
and used old juice bottles to make them a jet pack. 
The toy pack was such a joy to open! So many wonderful things that I got to share. Freely give as you are freely given, right?! 
Before I could even get them out of the packages, my kids were enjoying them... 
Once they came out of the packages, the true fun could begin. These toys are strong, light up, make sounds and add a higher level to their imagination while pretending they are the Calisto family blasting off on a new journey. The Stellosphere (their spaceship, otherwise known as Stella) does have issues opening some compartments and doors. It gets stuck sometimes. But everything else is blastastic! 
So, let's rocket! And explore something new. 

Friday, September 11, 2015

Olde Westport Spice and Trading Co review

Being a part of the US Family Guide Mom bloggers gives me the chance to try all kinds of things to write reviews on. My most recent and favorite one is the Olde Westport Spice and Trading Co spices that were sent to me.
They have mixes that make various dishes easier. Takes the guess work out of what spices to use together. 
The first one I used was the Championship Chili Spice Blend. Its gluten free and had a great chili recipe on the back. It had a mild flavor when you compare it to normal Texas chili spice. 
Definitely has a strong chili pepper flavor though. I loved how bold it was. It's a great family meal that won my children's approval. I did prefer mine with hot sauce though. 

Olde Bill's Favorite Chili

You will need: 

2 lbs of lean ground beef (or turkey) 
15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 can of water
1 package of Chili seasoning
16 can of beans, drained and rinsed (red, black or pinto work best)

In a saucepan, brown the ground beef, drain well. Stir in tomato sauce, water and seasoning pack. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring often. Lower heat, cover, simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans. Simmer an additional 10 minutes or until heated through. Add salt to taste. 

I also added bell pepper, onions, chopped tomatoes and green onions. 

Three Rivers Chili Verde had an excellent recipe that complimented a plate of rice to the fullest. It was amazing. Creamy, tangy and new. The kids weren't a fan, but I'd love to make this again for guests. It's quick and easy too. You can serve it with rice, pasta or even a baked potato. 
Easy Creamy Green Chili Chicken Soup

What you need:

1 (26 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (11 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (13 oz) cans cooked chicken breast meat, drained
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk (1 1/2 cups 2% milk)
2 (4 oz) cans diced green chili peppers (1 cup)
1 package Olde Westport Chili Verde Mix

Add all ingredients into a heavy saucepan, stir until smooth. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, lower heat, cover, simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 


I modified this recipe just a bit by adding diced tomatoes. 

They also sent me the Garlic Shake and the Mesquite seasoning. I made some pan fried pork chops.
They were delicious! Each kind was flavorful. The garlic shake was the perfect blend for a casserole I made too. 
I mixed it with the chicken first. 
Definitely worth checking out if you're a foodie looking for a perfect mix. 

Monday, September 7, 2015

Label your personal belongings!

School has begun for most of the country. Backpack toting, lunchbox carrying, pencil box using kids are settling in to class to crank up the old thinker. As parents, we put quite a bit of money into preparing them for school. Buying them supplies and clothing to assist them in their educational adventure. 
We have to make sure our investments last though. One way to do that is to label our child's belongings.
Having a name and number on things let's everyone else who might come in contact with it, know who the owner is.
Whether your child is in band, athletics, or just the regular school routine, there are things they have to bring in on a regular basis.
Label those bags and equipment!
Label Daddy has so many packages to choose from as well types of labels to fit your needs. 

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These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos, including Disney and Marvel characters, MLB, NBA, and NHL team logos, other sport and fun logos, and more. Their exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp! These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.

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