Monthly Archives: September 2018

September 30, 2018 · 12:17 am

Planning Your Thanksgiving Day Dinner

For many families, Thanksgiving is a time when everyone comes together to enjoy delicious food, drinks and each other’s company. If you are the one hosting this year’s holiday dinner, it is imperative that you plan ahead when creating your Thanksgiving Day menu. Deciding what foods and drinks to serve for the holiday can be a challenge. However, with some good planning you can make it as stress-free as possible.

From Thanksgiving cocktails to delicious food all served in a great atmosphere, there is much to decide for your event. This is why doing some advanced planning is so crucial. Whether your guest list is for an intimate few, or includes numerous family members and friends, ironing out the details ahead of time, will ensure your dinner runs smoothly.

Key Things You Need To Decide

Once you know that you will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner, it is time to start planning. The first thing you need to do, is plan the menu. If your gathering is small, you can serve everything at the table family style. However, if you have a large guest list, a buffet style dinner is a better choice. Buffet style meals make it easy for you as the host, because everyone can help themselves, and you can keep all the food in one place.

Find out ahead of time if any of your guests have special dietary needs or restrictions. If you have guests that are vegan or vegetarians, you will want to make sure you have dishes prepared that they can eat.

When it comes to the drinks, you should make sure you have a good selection for everyone. In terms of cocktails for your dinner, spend some time online researching a variety of cocktail recipes. This will let you know what type of alcohol and drink mixes you need to purchase.

Also, remember not everyone drinks alcohol, so purchase a selection of fruit juice, seltzer and soda, This will allow you to whip up some virgin cocktails for those guests who are underage or don’t drink alcohol. In addition, make sure you have a good supply of wine and beer on hand, so you can cater to all tastes.

If you decide to have a sit down dinner for Thanksgiving, make sure your table is decked out for the occasion.. Having any kind of dinner party requires an eye for detail when it comes to the table décor. Use a good, high-quality table-cloth to protect your table and add a colorful backdrop.

Coordinating napkins and little touches of the season help to make the table look inviting and warm. Set the table ahead of time with your best dishes, crystal and cutlery. Crown your table with a fall themed centerpiece and candles.

If you follow this advice, you will see that planning ahead will let you host a Thanksgiving dinner that will be enjoyed by all, including the stress-free host.

This is a collaborative guest post, the views and ideals expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

3 Comments

Filed under Entertaining, Holiday, Home & Garden

Tagged as Cocktails, Entertaining, Family, Friends, Menu, Thanksgiving Day

September 29, 2018 · 1:23 am

“Sesame Street – Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores!” Coming To DVD & Giveaway

Next week, Sesame Street – Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores, will be released. To celebrate, I want to share some fun printables based on the series. You will find a great mix of bookmarks, activities and recipe printables. All feature the Sesame Street characters, you can check a sample out below. You can download all the printables by clicking HERE.

Explore the everyday world with everybody’s favorite furry red monster, Elmo, in the new DVD release of Sesame Street – Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores!, on October 2, 2018 from Shout! Factory and Sesame Workshop. Fans can now pre-order their copies on Amazon.com.

Elmo Explores! is a two-hour collection of Elmo’s World episodes, appearing for the first time on DVD. Using the power of his imagination, Sesame Street’s little red monster explores kid-friendly topics such as painting, cooking, and habitats from a child’s point of view.

Joined by the hilarious Mr. Noodle, Smartie the Smartphone, and his pet goldfish Dorothy, Elmo asks questions that lead to fun discoveries. An age-appropriate launch pad for imagination and learning, Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores! indulges children’s natural sense of curiosity about the world around them.

Each engaging installment of this newly-reimagined Sesame Street segment presents young viewers with lessons to help them grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Bonus features include two episodes of the uproariously silly Sesame Street spin-off The Furchester Hotel and three classic segments of the original Elmo’s World.

Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores! is perfectly suited for curious preschoolers and for the generations of fans who continue to enjoy classic Sesame Street segments that were a vital part of their own childhoods.

Currently in its 48^th season, Sesame Street is the longest-running program in children’s television and has received more Emmy Awards than any other show in television history.

Check out the Trailer Below:

Giveaway

Shout! Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Sesame Street – Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores! Thank you to Shout! Kids for the review DVD and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Sesame Street – Elmo’s World Elmo Explores! DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under DVD, Entertainment, Movies

Tagged as DVD, Elmo Explores, Elmo's World, giveaway, Sesame Street

September 28, 2018 · 7:59 pm

Best Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe & #MealthyMoms Cooking Kit Giveaway

Oh, as much as I don’t want to acknowledge it, the weather is turning, and a nice homestyle pot roast with vegetables is so nice to have for dinner. However, if you are craving that melt-in-your mouth flavor, you might think you are out of luck if you did not start slow cooking early in the day. Well, procrastinators, busy people and just about everyone can rejoice. With the Mealthy Multipot, you can have tender, delicious pot roast in no time at all.

You might remember my unboxing video of the Mealthy Multipot 9-in-1 Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker, or my delicious beef chili recipe made using the pressure cooker. Now, I want to show you how you can make a delicious, tender pot roast with root vegetables in the Mealthy Multipot. Check out my video recipe tutorial below that will take you step-by-step through the process.

If you want to learn more about the Mealthy Multipot or get your own, you can click HERE. I have even more exciting news, you can enter a giveaway below to win a #MealthyMoms Cooking Kit.

Giveaway:

Mealthy is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a #MealthyMoms Cooking Kit! Thank you to Mealthy for sponsoring this recipe post and amazing giveaway. Open to US residents.

#MealthyMoms Cooking Kit Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Each household is only eligible to win via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please.

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Filed under Cooking, Giveaway, Home & Garden, Kitchen, Recipes

Tagged as #MealthyMoms, Cooking Kit, giveaway, Mealthy Multipot, Pot Roast, Pressure Cooker, Recipes

September 27, 2018 · 3:24 pm

How To Make A “Real” Coat Tree

I care deeply about the Earth, I love to repurpose things and use the natural resources around us. It’s funny, even though our house has many closets, my children and husband leave their coats and backpacks all over our kitchen chairs. This drives me crazy! Since closets and wall racks did not work, I thought maybe a coat tree placed in the side hall would. The coat tree would be prominent, they could easily hang their coats, hats and backpacks as they walked by. I choose my battles, and would rather have the coats on a coat tree in the side hall than on my kitchen chairs.

When I started researching coat trees, all I saw were flimsy or unattractive designs. I looked further and found some really unique looking coat trees made out of TREES! Can you imagine? After seeing that, and living on acres of wooded property…I think you can imagine my thoughts.

I called out to my husband and showed him my idea, he was all for it. We couldn’t have picked a better time, many trees were recently cut by the town because they were too close to electric wires. We gathered our tree supplies and started the process of assembly.

For the base my husband split a large log in half. Then he used a chainsaw and chisel to make a hole in the top of the base for the tree trunk. He also hollowed out the underside of the log right beneath the hole on the top. Hollowing the bottom made it possible to get the screw/bolt used to attach the trunk to the base, deeper into the trunk. We wanted to make sure the base was very safe and secure.

We also put wood glue around the base before attaching it. Then my husband cut the coat pegs from long lengths of tree branches. After that, he drilled holes in the tree trunk for the coat pegs. He put wood glue on the base of the branch pegs, then placed them in the holes and knocked them into place with a 2 pound sledge hammer. Right now, we have three branch pegs on the bottom for the little kids, and three on the top for adults, but we plan to add a few more.

We are going to take the coat tree outside and seal and protect it with marine varnish. We are really impressed with just how amazing our unique coat tree turned out, and have more projects in mind that we will share with you in the upcoming weeks.

We’re happy we were able to utilize the natural resources on our property to make something we needed. In the end, we have something we’re proud of and best of al. it was made in the USA by us! You know what else I love? Coat free kitchen chairs around my table! Yippee for small but gratifying victories! Let me know what you think of this natural project in the comments.

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Filed under Crafts, DIY, Home & Garden

Tagged as Coat Tree, Crafts, DIY, Home Projects, Natural Resources

· 2:32 pm

Children Are Being Bullied About This Common Issue

One common issue that many children (particularly boys) are bullied about is, large or protruding ears. A quick search on the Internet, will lead you to the accounts of thousands of children who report being bullied because their ears stuck out. If your child is the target of bullying because of their ears, there is no denying it is causing them distress. Whether they are facing verbal, physical, cyberbullying or a combination of all three, there are some things you can do to help your child handle the situation.

What Causes Bullying?

Bullying can happen for a multitude of reasons. Generally, bullies will hone in on anything that is considered ‘different’ from the norm, and continually draw attention to that to make them feel better about themselves. It could be a physical feature like protruding ears that is the focus of the bullying or something else.

While the motivations behind the bully’s actions may be unclear, they could be targeting your child because they feel jealous, want others to like them, want to fit in with their friends, because they’re angry with themselves, or because they like to exert power over others.

Tools To Help Your Child Manage

The first step to help your child manage the situation is to ensure they have the tools to be able to respond to the bullying when it happens. This might involve giving them tips on how to stand up for themselves, how to tell the bully what they’re doing is not okay, keeping their distance from the bully, or developing an understanding of how their emotional response to the bullying will help them build resilience.

A good place to start is by seeking information and support from an organisation like BullyingUK, where you can find a range of resources and strategies to teach your child how best to manage the situation.

What are the other options?

While the ideal solution is for your child to develop the skills they need to effectively manage the bullying, if that does not work, you may look into surgical options to correct their protruding ears.

Otoplasty (or cosmetic ear surgery) is commonly requested by parents of children with prominent ears in the hope of sparing them relentless teasing or bullying. In many cases, the parents themselves have prominent ears, and don’t want their children to experience the same torment and pain they were subjected to at school.

Sometimes referred to as ‘ear pinning’, otoplasty is a surgical procedure that can set prominent ears back and closer to the head. This helps reduce the size of large ears or reshapes ears that are distorted or damaged with the goal of creating a more balanced and symmetrical appearance.

The procedure can generally be performed on children between the ages of 5-14, as the ears are almost fully grown by age 5. Some parents opt to have the surgery as soon as the child is of suitable age and prior to them becoming self-conscious to avoid the anticipated bullying in the school yard.

Resorting to surgery in young children is often a very tough decision, and not one that is taken lightly. It is important that parents are both aware and supportive of their child’s feelings to ensure they want the procedure. It’s likely your child will also need to wear a headband for several weeks following the procedure, so it may be a good idea to schedule it during the summer or in conjunction with school holidays.

If otoplasty is something you would consider for your child, be sure to seek out an experienced professional who has valid qualifications and be sure to carefully weigh the benefits with the potential risks to ensure the best possible outcome for your child.

This is a collaborative guest post and does not necessarily represent the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

1 Comment

Filed under Health, kids, Life Stages, parenting

Tagged as Bullying, Cyberbullying, kids, Teasing, Tips

September 25, 2018 · 2:41 pm

The Quick and Easy Way To Securely Hang Almost Anything

If you love to decorate with artwork, prints, shelves, box signs and more, you are not alone. I think decorating our walls really helps to personalize our homes and lets us show our style.

However, every time I go to hang something, I want to be sure it is secure. I don’t want something falling off the wall and breaking, or worse, hurting someone. If you are lucky and have a stud where you want to put something up, you are set. If you don’t find a stud, you have to go a different route.

That is why I like GripIt Drywall Anchors, they can hold up to 250 lbs of weight letting me hang even heavy items right on my sheet rock walls. I find the 8 pack with reuseable screws perfect, it is nice to have several on hand for when I want to hang a few things or create a gallery wall.

Another great tool is the Marxman marking pen, which is a deep hole marker that lets me easily mark even hard to reach places and perfect to use on any surface. It is great for so many of my DIY projects.

My husband loves the Marxman too! He finds it so much more effective than pencils or traditional markers. You can send a burst right through a small hole to the surface beneath and you are left with a flourescent green spot that shows you exactly where to drill.

With these two tools in our tool box, we are ready to put up anything we need to, even very heavy items are no problem. You can learn more about GripIt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

GripIt and Marxman are available on Amazon. Let me know what you think of them in the comments. What kind of projects would they help you out with?

4 Inexpensive Ways To Make Your Home More Secure

Home security is an important consideration for anyone, regardless of age, income or where they live. When you welcome a new addition to your family, those natural, protective instincts kick in, making it more important than ever. Of course, growing your family is also one of the most expensive periods of your life, not to mention one of the most chaotic. So, from a pragmatic perspective, it might not be the most sensible time to call in contractors to tear your home apart installing a state of the art home security system. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to improve home security significantly that are cheap, quick and simple.

Send out the right signs

Home Invaders and burglars are opportunists who look for easy targets. Make it clear that you don’t fall into that category, and they will go somewhere else. If you place signs on your gates telling the uninvited to stay out, it makes it clear that your household is aware of the possibility of intruders. Simply putting a sign up sounds almost too easy, but it is a proven and effective way to stop people trespassing on your property – all for the price of a sandwich and a cup of coffee!

Let there be light

Intruders tend to operate either while everyone is off to work or under the cover of darkness. If you are a new mom, chances are you are around most of the day, so it is the nighttime hours that are the highest risk. A security light is a must-have these days. The technology has become so inexpensive and energy-efficient that there is no reason not to. As well as illuminating anyone who approaches the property and shouldn’t be there, lighting also provides additional comfort and security for you, your family and any genuine visitors who approach the front door after dark.

Gravel and shingle

If you are planning on resurfacing the drive any time soon, give serious thought to gravel or shingle as opposed to concrete or paving. As well as being a cost-effective option, it makes a distinctive, loud noise when anyone walks or drives on it. If your parents had this kind of driveway when you were younger and you ever tried to sneak in quietly after a late night, you will remember exactly what it is like!

Trespassers hate trellis

Trellis, the thin wooden framework that you can put above your fence or wall, looks
innocuous enough, and certainly wouldn’t seem like anything to bother a burglar. However, as well
as providing the perfect environment for vines and creepers to grow on, it has another
interesting feature. Trellis is so fragile that if anyone tries to climb over it, it will immediately start
snapping and quickly collapse – and it will do so very noisily.

Trying to climb over trellis is an even noisier challenge than navigating a gravel driveway.
For a few dollars, it is the perfect way to make your garden look better and at the same time,
add a simple but effective intruder alert system!

This is a collaborative guest post. The ideals and views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.

2 Comments

Filed under Family, Home & Garden

Tagged as Family, home, Home Security, Safety

September 20, 2018 · 9:19 pm

#SpiritofGodBible Kid’s Illustrated Bible #FlyBy

God’s Spirit is living among God’s people.
He always was, always is, and always will be.
These are the stories that tell about him and what he does.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, contains over 40 Bible stories from the old and new testaments that show how God’s Spirit has been with his people from the beginning of time. I am so excited to share this new release from ZonderKidz with you!

From the glory of creation through the powerful letters of Paul, God’s Spirit is living in his people. Old and New Testament stories such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, the Baptism of Jesus, and Pentecost come alive with dramatic illustrations by Fernando Juarez and moving text by Doris Rikkers. With a cover that sparkles and shines with foil, this is a special storybook Bible that will appeal to both children and parents alike.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
~ Psalm 139: 7–10

My Thoughts:

This Bible is perfect for my kids, they can read the age-old stories of the Bible from the Old and New Testament in a format that is not overwhelming. The easy to read text and beautiful illustrations captive them and peak their interest. It is also a great Bible for myself or my husband to read aloud to them. Giveaway:

Propeller Consulting, LLC is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Spirit of God Illustrated Bible! Thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for the review Bible and this inspirational giveaway. Open to US Residents.

29 Comments

Filed under Books, Giveaway, Spiritual

Tagged as #FlyBy, #SpiritofGodBible, Bible, Books, giveaway, Kid's Books

September 19, 2018 · 8:38 pm

“SOLO” A Star Wars Story Multi-Screen Edition Giveaway

I don’t know who was more excited when the mail arrived yesterday, my husband or my kids. That’s because one of the packages was the newly released “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. In case you didn’t know, they are HUGE Star Wars Fans!

We can’t wait until Friday, because we are going to watch this together for our family movie night. If it is a nice evening, we will make it an outdoor movie and project it on our giant outdoor screen. I’m sure our kids would love to invite some of their friends to watch with us.

Lucasfilm’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” directed by Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Ron Howard—the creator of unforgettable films, such as “A Beautiful Mind,” “Apollo 13,” “Parenthood” and “Splash”—is an action-packed journey that explores Han’s first encounters with future friend and copilot Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover).

The film takes viewers on a ride showing Han’s adventure-filled past alongside fellow street thief Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) and career criminal Beckett (Woody Harrelson). “Solo: A Star Wars Story” bonus material takes fans behind the scenes with the star-studded cast and screenwriters Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan (writer of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi).

Special features include a revealing feature on Chewie and his enduring friendship with Han; a close-up look at the original version of the Millennium Falcon and Han’s first time piloting the infamous ship; the creation of the film’s otherworldly settings and pulse-pounding action sequences; and eight never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes.

Watch instantly on Sept. 14^th as the Millennium Falcon sets course digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and on Movies Anywhere, and bring the adventure home on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on Sept. 25.

Check out the film’s trailer below:

DIGITAL AND BLU-RAY BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):

Solo: The Director & Cast Roundtable – Sit down with director Ron Howard and the stars for an intimate and entertaining discussion of the film’s making.
Team Chewie- See what it takes to bring your favorite Wookiee to life in this lighthearted look behind the scenes.
Kasdan on Kasdan- Iconic Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and son Jonathan share what it was like to write the movie’s script together.
Remaking the Millennium Falcon- Track the transformation of the most famous ship in the galaxy, from Lando’s swank and impeccable pride and joy to Han’s stripped-down hot-rod freighter with “special modifications.”
Escape from Corellia- Get behind the wheel for the making of this high-octane chase through the streets of Corellia.
The Train Heist- Explore the challenges and thrills of creating this action-packed sequence, including its remote location and spectacular effects.
Becoming a Droid: L3-37 – Meet the newest droid—and the talented actor who helps bring her to life.
Scoundrels, Droids, Creatures and Cards: Welcome to Fort Ypso- Take an in-depth tour of the rough-and-tumble bar where strangers mix and gamblers risk all in the legendary card game, Sabaac.
Into the Maelstrom: The Kessel Run- Join Han and Chewie at the controls of the Millennium Falcon to see how this legendary moment in Star Wars history unfolds.

Deleted Scenes

Proxima’s Den
Corellian Foot Chase
Han Solo: Imperial Cadet
The Battle of Mimban: Extended
Han Versus Chewie: Extended
Snowball Fight!
Meet Dryden: Extended
Coaxium Double-Cross
The Millenium Falcon: From Page to Park – An exclusive look at the history of the most famous ship in the galaxy, its origin and development, and how it will translate in one of the most anticipated expansions in Disneyland’s history.

Fun Film Facts:

To create the unique look of the film, some of the industry’s top talent was recruited, including Academy Award® nominee Bradford Young (“Arrival”), director of photography; two-time Academy Award–winning editor Pietro Scalia (“Alien: Covenant”); Dominic Tuohy (“The Mummy”), special effects supervisor; Rob Bredow (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”), visual effects supervisor; and John Powell (“Jason Bourne”), score composed and adapted by.

They are joined by returning Star Wars veteran crew members: Neil Lamont, production designer; Neal Scanlan, special creature effects; David Crossman and Glyn Dillon, costume designers; Jamie Wilkinson, prop master; Lisa Tomblin-Fitzpatrick, hair designer; and Amanda Knight, makeup designer.

The legendary John Williams is credited with the “Han Solo Theme” and original Star Wars music.

Film Specs.:

FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 135 min.

RATING: PG-13 in U.S. (Bonus Material Not Rated); PG in CE and G in CF

PRODUCT OFFERINGS: Digital 4K UHD (Select retailers include Dolby Vision), HD, SD

4K UHD Multi Screen Edition (4K UHD + BD + Digital Code)

Blu-ray (BD + Digital Code) Feature Film

DVD, On Demand

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85 Comments

Filed under Disney, Entertainment, Giveaway, Movies

Tagged as giveaway, Multi-Screen, SOLO, Star Wars

September 18, 2018 · 3:00 am

“The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible” Review & Giveaway

God’s Spirit is living among God’s people.
He always was, always is, and always will be.
These are the stories that tell about him and what he does.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, presents over 40 Bible stories from the old and new testaments that show how God’s Spirit has been with his people from the beginning of time. I am so excited to share this new release from ZonderKidz with you!

My Thoughts:

This Bible is perfect for my kids, they can read the age old stories of the Bible from the Old and New Testament in a format that is not overwhelming. The easy to read text and beautiful illustrations captive them and peak their interest. It is also a great Bible for myself or my husband to read aloud to them.

You can hear and see more of my thoughts in the video below: