One of my husband’s favorite Father’s Day Gifts was when I had his favorite photo of himself and our sons, permanently laser engraved onto a stainless steel key chain from PicturesOnGold. He uses that key chain every day, and the photo still looks as good as it did when I gave it to him.
This Father’s Day I ordered him a photo engraved stainless steel dog tag with 24″ ball chain. It arrived so quickly which means you can still order this pendant for Father’s Day! If you hurry, you can save 59% and pick up this beauty that can be engraved on the back with a special message for just $49. Sale ends today, so don’t delay!
Pictures on Gold products are made in the USA in their NYC factory. This dog tag and any of their other items arrives in a beautiful gift box with a certificate of authenticity.
I highly recommend Pictures On Gold for unique gifts that will be cherished for a lifetime. I love my photo engraved bracelet, and I know you will find so many great gift options for Father’s Day, Graduations, Anniversaries, Birthdays and more on their site.
I can’t wait until my husband sees this new photo pendant, he is going to love it. Let me know what you think. Happy Father’s Day!
Did you know that blood donation rates drop about 20% in the summer. We know it is a busy time of year, but the need for blood does not take a vacation.
Do you know What’s Missing in the image above? The demand for type A, B, AB and O blood types is constant. Can you help?
I hope so, because every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs a transfusion of donated blood. One of my friends required a blood transfusion during childbirth. Without it, she probably would not be here today. That is a scary thought, and so is hospitals not having blood to save lives.
With the country being ravaged by flooding, we should know that major disasters don’t usually require large amounts of blood. In most cases, hospitals are able to get by with the blood they have on hand. Blood donations help to ensure that blood is available before it is needed.
Blood can be donated every 56 days, up to six times a year. Given those statistics, you can see how every person makes a big difference. If you are ready, take a step to donate at MissingTypeUS.org. Here is one of our local blood donation centers and there are many more throughout the country.
I was compensated for this post as a blogger working with Tap Influence. As always my words and views are 100% my own.
When your kids get old enough to start making decisions, it’s difficult to know when to step back and when to take over. No one wants to be the helicopter mom, but you want to make sure your kids are getting the best opportunities. Summer vacation is one area where you want to get more involved.
Here are a few ways pre-planning your child’s summer benefits you.
1. You can make decisions together
When you have to make arrangements at the last-minute, oftentimes, you’re calling the shots without any input from the kiddos. But if you give yourself a little time, you can talk things over. Sure, some things won’t be negotiable, but you can let your kids choose whatever activities they can.
As soon as the options are available, collect all the possibilities and discuss them with your kids. Make sure you keep any scheduling conflicts in mind. It may help to grab a pencil and mark up a calendar. If you have more than one child, this may be a process that takes some time.
2. Your kids will have more opportunities
All the popular summer activities sell out fast. So, if your kids are going to be going to camp or taking some extracurriculars, you’ll want to book them in advance. It could be the difference between adventure camp and knitting 101, so this is very important.
Stress the importance of choosing wisely because most activities cannot be changed after you make a deposit.
3. You can arrange more free time in the summer
Just like the activities, good childcare can sell out fast too. If you’re planning to put your kids into a program or book the most reputable nanny, you’ll want to pre-plan. And as a bonus, you may be able to book more date nights if you make arrangements with a babysitter early in the season. You can even schedule a night every week or every other week to get away with your significant other.
4, You can finalize your vacation
If you book your vacation before you plan your kids’ activities, you may regret it. For example, what happens if there’s a big soccer tournament the week of your vacation? If you had booked the extracurriculars first, you could have worked your vacation around the big events.
Plan your kids’ camps, sports practices and music lessons before you decide when to take your family vacation. This will also save you from spending money on weeks of programs you won’t be using.
5. You can plan for anything
When you know what your summer is going to look like, you can plan. For example, if you’re taking a road trip, you can pre-plan vehicle service. Things like this can easily get away from you, so try booking any important appointments as soon as you plan your summer activities. This may include doctors’ visits, dentist appointments or even haircuts.
Planning doesn’t solve every problem, but it can certainly help you get the most out of your summer. What are your best summer planning tips?
This is a sponsored guest post. The views and ideals expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
When I was growing up, birthdays were always celebrated with ice cream cakes. Most of the time they came from Carvel but sometimes, my parents picked one up at Dairy Queen. Our Dairy Queen used real cake in their ice cream cakes. I did not care for them as much as the Carvel cakes with the chocolate crunchy layer. I did like the fudge that was in the Dairy Queen cakes though.
With my own family, ice cream cakes are still highly requested for birthday cakes. I love to bake and make many different kinds of cakes, but had never attempted an ice cream cake. That changed a couple of weeks ago when I made my first ice cream cake. I choose to make one in the Carvel style, but enhanced the chocolate crunchy layer with a layer of fudge.
I was surprised at how well the cake came out. I did have one issue, but it was easily solved. I needed to stabilize my whipping cream, so that it could be piped onto the cake. It is very easy to do and I choose to do it by adding 2 teaspoons of Wilton Clear Piping Gel that I had on hand. It turned out fabulous. The next time I make it, I am going to use the stabilized whipped cream on the entire cake. There are also recipes for stabilized whipped cream using gelatin.
One of the reasons I like making my own ice cream cakes is because, I can customize them to our tastes using different flavors and non-GMO ice cream. I am thinking a caramel layer may be a nice option as well. Even using a high quality ice cream, the cake we made cost much less than buying a Carvel cake in the store. The prices of those cakes has increased dramatically over the years.
Making your own ice cream cake at home is not hard, but it does take time. You could make it in one day if you start early, but you are better off making it over 2 days. To start, freeze a 9″ springform pan. There are some different ways you can use the pan. This first time, I used it with the bottom attached, but for my next cake I plan to use a 12″ lace doily cake circle. You can put the cake circle on a cookie sheet with the ring on top.
The trick is to not let your ice cream soften too much if you use this method. It works best if you keep the ice cream as firm as possible while still being spreadable. I have also seen people who make it directly on a silicone lined baking sheep with the ring. I will update on how the cake circle method goes, and if I find it better than leaving the bottom attached.
I made a video tutorial of the process you can view below:
I picked up 2 containers of Breyer’s Non-GMO ice cream in chocolate and natural vanilla. I used chocolate on the bottom. After spreading it out in the pan, I let it freeze until firm.
Then I opened a package of regular OREO cookies and removed the cream from about 2 rows of cookies. I took the chocolate cookies and placed them in a zippered plastic bag and then crushed them coarsely with my rolling-pin.
Then, I added the crumbled chocolate OREO cookies on top. I put the cake back in the freezer to freeze a bit while the vanilla ice cream was on the counter softening up. When the ice cream reached a spreadable consistency, I spread it out on the cake. It looked like there was not enough room to add all the vanilla ice cream. I was surprised that I was able to add it all besides a tiny bit, I promised to save for my youngest son. With the vanilla ice cream spread evenly, I put the cake back in the freezer to set.
For the outer layer, I whipped up a quart of heavy whipping cream with 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract and 1/2 cup of confectioner’s sugar. As I said above, I would use the stabilized whipping cream on the entire cake next time. To make that version, you whip the cream, vanilla and sugar until soft peaks form, and then add in 2 teaspoons of Wilton clear piping gel, and beat until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat your cream.
It was not difficult to remove the ring from the cake. I used a hot cloth, and loosened the cake with a butter knife and the ring popped off.
I added the cream to the cake and sprinkled the top with rainbow-colored sprinkles. Then, back in the freezer for the cream to harden.
With the piping of the cream finished, I put the cake back in the freezer until we were ready to celebrate. Everyone loved the ice cream cake and raved about how good the fudge and chocolate crumbled cookie layer was. I will definitely be making our own ice cream cakes from now on.
Let me know what you think, and if you have made an ice cream cake in the comments. I would also like to know if you try this recipe, and how it turns out for you.
There is still time to wrap up a custom Father’s Day Gift. Easy Canvas Prints is a great way to showcase your favorite photos. That special shot of dad on the beach with the kids, grandpa holding his first grandchild, the family photo of all of you taken at the lake and more will make a perfect canvas print.
Right now Easy Canvas Prints has an amazing Father’s Day sale for 87% off of their canvas prints. Click my link HERE to get this deal! This is such a great deal, and we know how difficult it is to come up with gift ideas for the man in your life. There’s nothing more special than a personalized gift like a canvas print capturing those wonderful memories.
Easy Canvas Prints is located in Austin, TX, so there are no long waits for your canvas prints once you place your order. Canvas prints are wrapped neatly in a plastic bag to keep out moisture and then placed in a specifically designed box, perfect for whatever size you order. You can print any digital image on canvas with Easy Canvas Prints, whether it be a photograph, painting or digital art. Once you receive your canvas print, it’s all ready for you to hang with two saw-tooth hangers that will be evenly spaced on the back of the canvas frame.
So, don’t miss the chance to see his face light up when he opens his Father’s Day Present this Sunday. It truly is a gift that will bring a smile to his face every time he sees it.
Starting this week, you can bring home over 2 hours of DuckTales fun because DuckTales: Destination Adventure is available on Disney DVD!
Join Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby on Their Global Adventures!
An ancient tomb in Toth-Ra, the mountain peak of Mt. Neverrest, a vacation island for Greek gods…global expeditions await! Thanks to Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby, trillionaire Scrooge McDuck is back in action, leading the way to death-defying exploits stretching all the way from Duckburg to legendary destinations around the world. Let the greatest family adventures begin!
My older kids loved DuckTales and I cannot wait to watch this with our younger kids! I just know they are going to love it!
Voice Cast: David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck; Danny Pudi as Huey Duck; Ben Schwartz as Dewey Duck; Bobby Moynihan as Louie Duck; Kate Micucci as Webbigail (Webby) Vanderquack; Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack; Toks Olagundoye as Mrs. Beakley; and Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck
Guest Voice Cast:Lin-Manuel Miranda as Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera aka Gizmoduck (featured in one episode*)
Episodes:
The Beagle Birthday Breakout!
The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra!
The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest!
The Spear of Selene!
The Missing Links of Moorshire!
Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!*
Bonus:
2 Classic DuckTales Episode
New Gizmo-Kids on the Block
Ducky Mountain High
Ratings: TV-Y7 (US); G (CE/CF)
Run Time: 176 minutes (including bonus)
Enjoy these free download and print DuckTales: Destination Adventure Activity Sheets:
Giveaway:
Disney is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky winner will win their own DuckTales: Destination AdventureDisney DVD! Thank you to Disney for the review DVD and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.
DuckTales: Destination Adventure Disney DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
This post is sponsored by Oral-B and I am working with their PR agency. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.
We do it every day, at least 2 or 3 times, and maybe more on some days. It becomes routine, something we don’t even think about really. We go through the motions and move on with our day or go right to bed afterward. Of course, I am talking about brushing our teeth. Are you happy with your toothbrush? I mean, really happy? Is it getting your teeth and gums as clean as they can be?
What if I told you about a better toothbrush? By better, I mean it is the smartest toothbrush on the block! The Oral-B GENIUS 8000 can be paired with your smartphone through the Oral-B App using Bluetooth technology. Brushing my teeth has never been so fun and effective!
The Oral-B GENIUS 8000 was designed to help you brush like your dentist recommends. When you pair it with your smartphone through the special Oral-B App, you can get customized, real-time feedback about your brushing habits. The Position Detection technology ensures you never miss a zone and the brush and app help make sure you brush for the recommended 2 minutes and include a pressure alert to protect your gums from over-brushing.
This toothbrush and its technology are beyond cool! I downloaded the free Oral-B App quickly through the App Store for my iPhone X, but it is also available for Android users through Google Play. Upon opening the App, I was able to easily personalize it for me, including selecting my favorite color LED light for the 360 SmartRing. When I brush using the App, it lets me know if I am missing any zone, so I can adjust my technique. My teeth and gums not only feel clean and fresh, I know they are!
The Oral-B GENIUS 8000 is compatible with all the Oral-B brush heads. There are 3 different heads in the package to get you started, along with a handy brush head holder that fits right on top of the charging base. Oral-B’s rounder brush heads, clean better so, you have cleaner, whiter teeth from the first time you use it! Equip with 6 brushing modes, the Oral-B GENIUS 8000 tackles all your oral care needs.
In addition, there is an awesome smart travel case with a smartphone holder and allows you to charge your toothbrush and smartphone, using only one outlet!
Charging is something you will be doing less, thanks to the Lithium ion battery that allows you to go 12 days between charges. The super strong smartphone mount has a suction base that locks the unit securely in place horizontally or vertically, so you can get the best angle for real time feedback on your brushing.
I look so forward to brushing my teeth now! It is no longer routine, and I am really enjoying the experience. My teeth feel amazing and I know that I am doing a great job because I have the feedback that assures me I am not forgetting any areas.
Check out my video of the Oral-B 8000 GENIUS below to learn more:
The Oral-B Genius 8000 makes a great gift especially with Father’s Day coming up! Today through 11:59 p.m. take advantage of the Amazon Deal of the Day on the Oral-B GENIUS 8000 – the smartest toothbrush around. This high value power brush is on sale for just $94.99 on Amazon.com, don’t miss the chance to get Dad he perfect new gadget gift for less.
Do you want to hang your flat screen TV on the wall? If so, you are in good company, because it is a very popular way to showcase your TV and enhance your viewing options.
When you are looking fo the best way to secure your TV, check out Grip-It ultra strong plasterboard fasteners. Grip-It is designed to securely hang anything that weighs up to 400lbs. This innovative product took the UK by storm , has been seen on TV, and is the winner of the BBC show, Dragon’s den.
Grip-It’s patented design is masterfully engineered to provide a safe and secure wall fastener that works 100% of the time, so that you can confidently hang your flat screen TVs without the fear of it falling down and breaking.
Grip-It has 3 unique gripping system that creates a vice like hold in plasterboard walls. All you need is just a simple DRILL, TAP and TURN for quick installation. Once drilled, the unique backing wings expand inside the wall to provide a secure anchor, creating a strong tight grip.
Giveaway:
Would you like a chance to win your own Grip-It TV Kit? If so, enter our giveaway below.
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
