I cannot tell you how addicted I am to pinning!!! Yep! I am an addict! I love it!  The next thing I want to attempt to do is to cook every single recipe I have pinned. Maybe not likely since I have three kiddos and hardly no time. It is amazing all the stories about how fast this sensation is growing. I would love to have your follow my pins if you are interested…I consider myself an EXCELLENT PINNER!! HA!

Shanda Bauman

 

SUBSCRIBE TO MY PINNING FEED!

If you have not tried it yet..send me an email with your email address and I will send you an invite. I don’t want anyone to be left behind!!

GET PINNING!!!

 

Do you read my blog???

This is for a special someone out there who I believe reads my blog!! You know who you are…on the fence then read this? This post will only make sense to one special person in my life.  For others who read this..I hope you feel this way about yourself!! I know you are hurting and you need the time to heal! Take care my friend!

HUGS! MISS YOU! XOXOXO Shanda

Aldi’s Shopping Trip!

Aldi's Food SelectionThis holiday we did a lot of shopping at Aldi’s! Now I have a lot of friends that do not shop at Aldi’s and have never been! Let me tell you that you are missing out. Why spend the high prices at the normal everyday stores when you could spend about half of the bill at Aldi’s. The products are great and it is a blessing since my husband lost his job..I don’t have such a huge bill and we don’t miss out on anything. This store is getting more and more great products to choose from. I was so pumped when I found out that they were now carrying a great selection of wines and cheeses. I love to shop for both and my favorite BRIE CHEESE is there also. I love BRIE..and I eat it almost every night! I took a trip and picked up everything we needed for the holidays. From wine to bread I got everything on my list.

 

A couple bottles of wine are going to go as part of  my mothers gift. She loves wine and I can afford to get her a few bottles! YUM. Then I got a ton of cheeses and the BRIE so that I can make my favorite Brie pastry.  I bought some puff pastry dough and wrapped it around the Brie…just before wrapping all of it I choose a fruit preserve from Aldi’s that is slathered all  over the Brie. Then I wrap the whole thing in the pastry and bake it in the oven.  After taking it out of the oven I then top with with some dried cranberries which were also purchased at Aldi’s! YUM!

I selected a bunch of crackers and viola…a fantastic appetizer is served.

 

We also bought a large ham..I always get my hams from Aldi’s because the are fantastic!!!

 

 

I took the blocks of cheese and also made a mashed potato bar and melted the Gouda and Havarti cheese in the mashed potatoes in the crock pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the topping can be added to taste and my mashed potatoe bar is always a hit!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aldi’s offers a ton of great recipes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomato Bisque: Serves 5
Sure to please the kid and adult in everyone by warming you up on a fall day.
Serve in a bowl and with Grilled Cheese on the side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need a large saucepan
3 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 1/2 Medium Vidalia Onion, diced
3/4 cup Baby Carrots, diced
1/2 cup Medium Bell Pepper, diced
14 Vine-Ripe Roma Tomatoes, cut into eighths
3 tsp. Chopped Garlic
1 tsp. Dry Parsley
1/8 tsp. Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp. Ground Thyme
1/8 tsp. Basil
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
3 cup Water
1 cup Half and Half
1 1/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper

Prep time: 20 min - Cook time: 30 min - Total time: 50 min.

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan.
  2. Add the onions, carrots and bell peppers.
  3. On low heat, sweat the vegetables for 10 min. until they are tender.
  4. Add tomatoes, garlic, parsley, cumin, thyme, basil, and Italian seasoning. Heat for another 5 min.
  5. Add the water and simmer for half an hour.
  6. Blend the broth in a blender until it is pureed. CAREFUL, IT IS HOT. Return to saucepan and add half and half. Add the salt and pepper. Add more or less depending on taste.

Nutrition Per Serving
Calories: 260
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 20mg
Sodium: 820mg
Carbohydrate: 21g
Protein: 5g
Recipe courtesy of Michelle Schmidt,
ALDI Test Kitchen

 

Asparagus or Broccoli Frittata: Serves 2-4
Impress your guests with this terrific breakfast or brunch.

Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min.

FrittataYou will need a 10 inch oven proof pan
2 tsp. Olive Oil
1/2 cup Onion sliced thin
1/2  tsp. Salt
1/2 lb Asparagus or Broccoli
4 large Eggs – lightly beaten
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1 cup Shredded Swiss
 

 

 

 

Cut ends of asparagus and cut into 1 inch diagonal pieces

  1. Heat oil in a 10 inch oven proof pan
  2. Sauté onions and salt – 3 min.
  3. Add asparagus or broccoli, sauté 6 -8 min.
  4. In a bowl, lightly beat eggs with the pepper.
  5. Pour in eggs and cook until almost done. Do not stir.
  6. Sprinkle cheese on top and put in broiler until brown and melted.

Nutrition Per Serving
Calories: 220
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 240mg
Sodium: 410mg
Carbohydrate: 7g
Protein: 15g

Recipe courtesy of Chef Alyssa,
ALDI Test Kitchen

 

So let me tell you that if you want to save money while  not sacrificing on taste then start shopping at Aldi! You will not be sorry! You can get so much more for your money! The wine and cheese selections are fabulous and way more affordable. They taste fantastic and no one can tell the difference from the name brand wines and cheeses! So start saving some money and make the switch! We highly recommend it!!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ALDI and received a gift certificate to facilitate my review.”

 

MORE PRODUCTS WE LOVE!

 

 

 

FERRO ROCHER

Who doesn’t love to receive chocolate for the Holidays!! I love it. For this Holiday you can find these decedent sweets everywhere. These are great for a last minute gift idea.

Product Features

Treat someone special to the delicious taste of Ferrero Rocher this Christmas, with this seasonal chocolate box containing 15 foil wrapped treats. The unique tree shaped box adds a fun festive cheer to a classic favourite.

Contains Original Ferrero Rocher; Whole roasted hazlenuts in a chocolatey filling and covered in a crisp wafer.

Ingredients
sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, skim milk powder, butteroil, lecithin as emulsifier, vanilin, hazelnuts, sugar, palm oil, wheat flour, whey, lowfat cocoa powder, lecithin as emulsifier, sodium bicarbonate as leavening agent, salt, vanilin.

 

Febreze

 Febreze Fabric Refresher eliminates odors and freshens fabrics, carpets, and air.

We love spraying all of our house with Febreze…being stuck in the house all winter with the windows closed can make for a stale smelling home. Thank goodness for Febreze!! Our house smells great all year around!!

SWIFFER

With a one-two cleaning punch, Swiffer Sweeper is designed to give you a deep clean on virtually any surface in your home. Our new Wet Cloths to give you a deeper clean than a mop and bucket by dissolving dirt and grime, trapping it in the cloth, and locking it away forever. Our dry cloths use a great dirt grabbing texture to pick up 50% more dirt, dust and hair than a broom. Plus the Swiffer Sweeper 360 swivel head cleans deeper into corners than a mop or broom, giving you a truly deep clean you’ll love.

 

 

THE BEST BRUSHES
The ThermoActive Ionic Boar Combo Collection is a truly innovative brush collection that features the first-ever completely ventilated 100 percent boar bristle ionic thermal round brush made using patented technologies. Utilizing a unique combination of boar and ionic nylon bristles – every 2 rows additional ionic bristles are added to the boar, each ThermoActive brush provides truly unrestricted airflow that enables both sides of a hair strand to be shaped and styled at the same time. This leads to much faster and gentler styling. The end result: shinier and healthier hair.

Other features include:

Easier and better styling with total hair tension control;

Curved barrel called “scalp hugging.” The barrel gets closer to the scalp creating a longer lasting, stronger, dynamic hair style;

Preserves natural condition of hair and controls flyaways;

Rounded ball-point tip bristles for scalp comfort;

Made of heat-resistant material;

Extremely lightweight & balanced;

Ergonomic handle and special anti-slip texture keeps hand & wrist relaxed and comfortable;

Brush parts are fully ionic i.e. ions have relaxing benefits for user.

Unlike the latest style trends, taking proper care of your teeth and gums is not a passing fad. Everyone knows that it is important to brush and floss daily, however, 80% of Americans have admitted to not flossing regularly, which can lead to various forms of gum disease. Making the task fun, fast and easy is key. The Waterpik® Ultra Water Flosser, is perfect for those who do not like to floss – it is easy to use and only takes about a minute a day to start improving gum health. It utilizes pulsating water to clean deep between teeth and below the gumline where traditional brushing and flossing can’t reach, and it’s been clinically proven to be even more effective than traditional string floss.

 

New this year, is the Waterpik® Water Flosser For Kids, specially designed for kids ages 6-12. It is the newest tool to help parents ensure that their children are taking good care of their teeth. It features the technology of a traditional Water Flosser unit, and recent studies have shown that it removes 99.9% of plaque from treated areas and is more than three times as effective as string floss for cleaning around braces.

 

All-Natural Kid’s Cold and Flu Safety Kit

All-Natural Kid’s Cold and Flu Safety Kit

When the leaves begin to change color and the air becomes crisp, it is
evident that a new season is upon us, and I’m not just talking about fall.
November unofficially marks the start of cold and flu season. For most
parents, this is a cause for concern as Swine and Avian flu have been
running rampant the last few years almost reaching pandemic status in this
country. However, there really is no need to panic. Luckily there are some
basic all-natural and time-tested precautions that we should all be taking
to help prevent this dreaded virus from afflicting ourselves, our families
and most importantly our children this year. According to 2010 figures from
the     BabyGanics’ The Germinator Foaming Hand Sanitizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BabyGanics’ The Germinator Foaming Hand Sanitizer is an alcohol-free foaming
hand sanitizer that kills 99.9% of germs. This fragrance-free formula is
safe, effective and won’t dry out skin. It uses Benzalkonium Chloride which
provides greater sustained de-germing activity than gelled alcohol hand
sanitizers that actually becomes less effective with repeated use and makes
the skin dirtier, not cleaner due to removal of protective natural skin oils
and entrapment of dead skin cells by the polymer thickeners used in gelled
germ protection. The skin conditioners moisturize and provide long-lasting
germ protection. Retailing for $6.99, it is available for purchase in stores
at Babies ‘R Us, BuyBuy Baby and online at Amazon.com.

 

 

 

 

 

  Kid’s Xlear Nasal Spray

 

Xlear, Inc. (pronounced “clear,” the leading manufacturer of xylitol based
products in the United States), makes a patented, non-addictive nasal spray
that combines the unique properties of xylitol, and the health-promoting
practice of a saline nasal spray to help wash, hydrate and moisturize the
nasal passages as well as aiding the body’s natural cleansing process;
helping to clean out the bacteria and particles that can lead to a cold, ear
infection, sinusitis or the flu. With no minimum age requirement, this
product is safe for kids of all ages, even infants! Kid’s Xlear Nasal Spray
retails for $6.99 and is available for online purchase at

www.xlear.com and in stores at Vitamin Shoppe, Whole

Foods Market, Health Shoppe, and other select retailers nationwide.Hyland’s Cold ‘n Cough 4 Kids

Hyland’s Cold ‘n Cough 4 Kids is a 100% natural formula that is the perfect
solution for multi-symptom cold relief for your children’s cold symptoms;
including sneezing, sore throat and congestion. This daytime formula works
without sleepy or stimulant side-effects. It is a fast-acting homeopathic
formula that is safe for kids 2 years old and up and comes in a great
tasting sugar-free base that they won’t mind taking. Contains no Aspirin,
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine or Dextromethorphan.
Hyland’s Cold n’ Cough 4 Kids retails for about $7.99 and is available in
stores at CVS, Rite Aid, Whole Foods Market, and other select retailers.

 

 

 

 

 


Mobi Dual Scan Ear & Forehead Thermometer

Mobi Dual Scan Ear & Forehead Thermometer facilitates the temperature-taking
process with its built-in mini LED flashlight so you won’t disturb your
sleeping patients. It allows you to take the temperature in the ear or on
the forehead giving the temperature reading in 2 seconds. The optional voice
readout and large back-lit readout screen is a great for those with impaired
vision. And for advanced diagnostics, the Data-and-Time module stores the
date and time of the last 20 readings for comparison, while the large bright
display also shows the room’s temperature, calendar and a clock. The Mobi
Dual Scan Ear & Forehead Thermometer retails for $34.95 and is available for

purchase online at  www.getmobi.com.

PUPPET HEAP CHARACTERS

One of our Holiday Top Picks is PUPPET HEAP CHARACTERS!! Fun and exciting these puppets will enrich the story for all who play. We love puppets in our family and we think your family will love them also.  Check out their awesome site today!!

ABOUT PUPPET HEAP FROM THEIR SITE:

Old Mother Hubbard and her mischievous friends are making a come back this holiday season, thanks to Puppet Heap Playthings.   The company recently launched their first ever line of hand puppets – Mother Hubbard Among Others, a richly designed collection of hand puppets will be available in stores nationwide for $19.99 (and available on www.amazon.com)   These fun, and playful puppets will make the perfect gift this holiday season for kids and adults of all ages.

 

Puppet Heap Playthings is all about inspiring people to share through stories and play.  As such, the hand puppets combine traditional storytelling methods with modern technology to literally put the story in your hands. The first line of characters will be based on the Puppet Heap Moving Picture Company short films, “Mother Hubbard Among Others” and “I Knew an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” (www.puppetheap.com).  Each puppet will come with a unique code that will unlock a secret window into that character’s world at the Puppet Heap Playthings website.  This rich online experience will deepen your relationship with the puppet characters and the world they live in.

 

The first line of lovable but mischievous characters will include:

 

Founded by artist and designer Paul Andrejco, Puppet Heap™ is an innovative design studio, based in Hoboken, New Jersey.  The company has a rich history of bringing dynamic characters to life for some of the biggest names in film, television and theatre.  Puppet Heap’s original content, created by its film division “Puppet Heap Moving Picture Company™” includes the short films, Omar’s Mother; Mother Hubbard  and I Knew An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

Watch for our two TV segments!

We so can’t wait til Dec. 19th when we will be featured on Eight West on WOODTV. We are so excited to talk about natural FLU REMEDIES! Watch for us!!

 

Then on Weds the 21st we will be featured on TAKE FIVE which is WZZM.  In this segment we will be talking about last minute teen gift ideas!!

SEND CHEER with CHEERIOS!

 

 

 

 

 

This year make sure you do not forget our troops! We often get so busy shopping, cooking and wrapping gifts we forget about the troops who our making our lives safe!  You can join with the USO and Cheerios in helping send a little cheer to our military families.  When you are at the store look for the specially marked boxes of Cheerios cereal that feature “CHEER” postcards, which can be cut out and mailed to our troops!  For each postcard received, Cheerios will donate $1.00 to the USO to help support the programs for our troops families. Cheerios has already donated overs $150K and will donate an additional $100K based upon the number of postcards received by Nov. 30, 2012.

Here’s what you do to participate:

  1. Cut out the postcard found on the front of the box.  You will see cut out lines around the “Cheer” in the Cheerios logo.
  2. On the back-side of the postcard, write a message of encouragement or a simple “thank you.”
  3. Add postage, and drop the pre-addressed post card in the mail.

Once you have mailed them, the USO will make sure they get into the hands of military families on bases and in USO centers.  How easy is this…super easy! So don’t forget to pick up your box and help out! Spread some cheer!!

Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a campaign with Cheerios and My Blog Spark.  I received product and a promotional item to thank me for my time and participation.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Hickory Farms Holiday Gifts

Hickory Farms  Gifts for your loved ones!!

Ever since I was a little girl here in Michigan, I remember our family receiving a Hickory Farms Gift set. There was something special about the little blocks of cheese and what I remember the most was the dips and sausage. My parents would slice up everything to present on a platter and we would snack on them all day long. YUMMY!  I believe this is part of the reason why I love cheese so much! I tried all different kinds and loved them all.

When making your gift list this Holiday Season be sure to click over to Hickory Farms website and just order online! How easy is that? No standing in line or waiting out in the cold for a the perfect deal!

Hickory Farms is offering a great shipping rate…

3 Business Days or Less
Domestic (48 contiguous states) ……………….. $3.00

How cool is that? We love how easy it is to order from their site. Simple , Fast and Easy!

They also offer fresh fruit baskets and dried fruit baskets! click here!

 

When your gift recipient opens the Deluxe Collection gourmet gift basket, the rich aroma of 100 percent premium North American beef and the perfect blend of savory spices fills their home. This flavorful array of gourmet sausage includes every Summer Sausage we sell, including Signature Beef, HoneyGold Christmas Ham, Brown Sugar & Honey Christmas Turkey, Italian Beef and Spicy & Savory Summer Sausages with the cheese and mustard to complement.

 

 

 

 

 

Deluxe Smokehouse Collection Gift Box Includes:
-Our Signature Beef Summer Sausage 10 oz.
-Turkey Summer Sausage 10 oz.
-Ham Summer Sausage 10 oz.
-Spicy & Savory Recipe Beef Summer Sausage 5 oz.
-Italian Style Beef Summer Sausage 5 oz.
-Smoked Gouda 6 oz.
-Smoked Cheddar Blend 4 oz.
-Jalapeño Cheddar Blend 4 oz.
-Creamy Swiss Blend 4 oz.
-Parmesan Herb Blend 4 oz.
-Sweet Hot Mustard 2.25 oz.
-Honey & Pineapple Mustard 2.5 oz.

Net Weight 4.4 lbs.

3 Business Days or Less
Domestic (48 contiguous states) ……………….. $3.00

Y will love selecting the perfect gift set for your special person! We highly recommend sending one asap!!! Cross another gift need off your list!!

 “I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a product sample to facilitate my review.”

SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip Review & GIVEAWAY!! Contest ends soon!

 

 

 

 

 

As a mother of three I am always on the run and hardly ever have time to do anything for myself.  So I was excited to find out that I had an opportunity to review the SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip.  Now here is why I am so excited..my kiddos think I am so lame cause I don’t have an mp3 player. The reason why is that I need to hear my kids and running around the house with headphones on is not an option with small kids in the house. Well, this last week the kids were excited to see that Mom is not so lame anymore since here Sansa Clip Zip arrived last week.

 

 

 

Here is what I love about it.

I can upload all of my favorite songs and I can attach it to my shirt or pants and get the house work done while jamming to my favorite songs. I am a huge fan of music…it moves me. So now now not only does it move me it gets my kiddos dancing around the house. Great exercise for all of us. This product is easy to upload with your favorite songs and it offers 4 GB or up to 1000 songs that can be stored at one time.  Tiny and compact which is perfect for a busy Mom! I love that I can also set it right by my computer while I am working at home. GREAT PRODUCT!

CUTE!!

I can also listen to podcasts or listen to the FM radio if I want!! If you are working out you can use the stopwatch feature to time your workouts.You will get up to 15 hours of battery which is totally rechargeable.

CHECK OUT MORE DETAILS HERE!

Because your favorite songs always take you places, SanDisk has created the ultimate on-the-go music experience. As the newest addition to the acclaimed Sansa® Clip product family, the Sansa® Clip Zip™ boasts a bigger screen now with color, expandable memory card slot, added stopwatch, recordable FM radio, and is compatible with the DRM-free iTunes® AAC music format. This feature-rich player is perfect to guide you to the finish or accompany you along your journey.

  • Easy clip on, Easy Go
  • 1.1″ full color screen with new graphical user interface and album art display
  • Voice recording with built-in microphone
  • Play or record FM radio stations
  • AAC Compatible (DRM-free iTunes)
  • Expanded memory slot
  • User-friendly interface
  • Versatility meets affordability.
  • AAC Compatible (DRM-free iTunes), MP3, WMA, secure WMA, Ogg Vorbis, and FLAC. Rhapsody Music trial offer*** (CD & insert)

Sansa® Clip Zip™+ MP3 player Color-Capacity Matrix

The Sansa® Clip Zip™ MP3 player is offered in 7 different colors: Stealth Black, Gunmetal Grey, Primetime Purple, Momentum Blue, Jumpstart Red, Encore Orange†, and White Flash†. Color availability varies by device capacity.

Your Media Your Way™

  • AAC for DRM-free iTunes compatibility
  • Optimized for use with Rhapsody, eMusic, and Napster
  • Expand your memory using the microSDHC™ card slot** (card sold separately)
  • Play your favorite content from nearly every source (MP3, WMA, secure WMA, Ogg Vorbis, Flac) plus Audio books

Package Contents (Software and Offers)

  • Sansa Clip Zip ™ MP3 Player
  • USB 2.0 transfer cable
  • Earphones
  • Quick Start guide
  • Starter CD (Sansa Updater and Rhapsody offer)***

Minimum system requirements

  • Windows® XP SP2, Mac OS® X 10.3 and Linux (Mass Storage Class only)
  • Windows Media® Player 10 (for playlist creation and synchronizing library and device)
  • CD-ROM drive (for installation of bundled applications)
  • Internet access (for downloading)
  • USB 2.0 port (for Hi-Speed transfer and battery charging)

Supported formats

  • MP3
  • WMA
  • Secure WMA
  • Audiobooks
  • Ogg Vorbis
  • FLAC
  • AAC compatible(DRM-free iTunes)

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!!  This contest will end on Nov. 21st @ 12pm est.  All you have to do is go to the SanDisk site here and tell me your favorite feature of the Zip Clip. Then come back here and leave me a comment telling me about it. Please leave me your email address so that I can contact you.

I have a coupon code that you will need to redeem by Nov. 25th if chosen as the winner.

If you would like an extra entry please follow me on twitter.

 

GOOD LUCK!

 

 

 


Parents with Style highly recommends this product to our readers and our followers. This is money well spent and the perfect idea for a stocking stuffer!!

 “I wrote this review while participating in a cign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of SanDisk and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and coupons to giveaway.”