Family Fun at Gatorland, Orlando

Sep 102018
 

If you are looking for a fun day of making memories with your family in Orlando, head to Gatorland. There's a lot more there than just gators!

I don’t know about you, but I have been hearing buzz about Gatorland in Orlando for years. It’s one of those attractions that I have had on my bucket list for a long, long time and recently I was able to cross it off. We had some time between checking out of one resort before we could check into the next, so I figured it was the perfect time to head over to the the Alligator Capital of the World!

If you are looking for a fun day of making memories with your family in Orlando, head to Gatorland. There's a lot more there than just gators!

Sure, you go to Gatorland to see the gators, but in addition to thousands (literally) of alligators, Gatorland has much more to offer. Gatorland boasts the largest collection of extremely rare white leucistic alligators, a free-flight aviary, petting zoo, one-of-a-kind animal shows, thrilling Screamin’ Gator Zip Line and their new Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure!  Your day at Gatorland will be full of fun and memory making! Continue reading »

Are you ready for #Kickoff2018? Here are Some Fun Ways to Celebrate!

Sep 052018
 

It’s finally FOOTBALL season and the New England Patriots season kickoff is THIS Sunday, September 9th at 1 pm! The season kickoff is always special for us because it’s the start of 4 months of rooting for our team together as a family! We are huge Patriots (Pats) fans in our family and love to celebrate game day with lots of great snacks!

If you want to celebrate the upcoming football season in a fun way, check out your local Stop & Shop bakery for officially licensed NFL cakes today.

We always have munchies like chips, pretzels and other sweets on hand to snack on throughout the game, but this year for the Patriots kickoff this weekend, we got an amazing officially licensed NFL cake at Stop & Shop! How cool is this Patriots cake (please pardon the smudge on the bottom left – we had a little snafu at checkout). Continue reading »

Streamline Your Car Rental Process With Silvercar!

Sep 042018
 

What’s worse after a long day of traveling than standing in a long line at the airport waiting to pick up your rental car? I always dread coming off of a long flight to have to search for the rental car counter and then wait forever for the long process to be over with- nevermind all the upsells they try to push on me once I am there. Having just gone through the rental car process in July when I was in Charleston (longggg lines and tons of paperwork), I said to my husband that there HAS to be a better way to get a rental car. Well, it turns out that there is and it’s called Silvercar.

Streamline your car rental process by renting an Audi from Silvercar. Done via an app on your smartphone, avoid the lines, paperwork and hassles!

With Silvercar there are no lines and no paperwork. Yes, you read that right – no lines or paperwork!! Everything is done on their app and right now Silvercar is available in 24 cities across the US.  I had a chance to try out renting a car through Silvercar when I was in Orlando last week and let me tell you, it’s a game changer when it comes to renting a car. Continue reading »

Homemade Butternut Squash Cream Soup

Aug 222018
 

This Homemade Butternut Squash Cream Soup is a perfect fall soup recipe. It's hearty and will keep you warm on a chilly winter day.

I am one of those people who is always cold. Sometimes it goes right down to my core and I just cannot get warm no matter how hard I try. When I have days like that, a nice warm bowl of soup really helps to warm me up. One of my favorites is my Homemade Butternut Squash Cream Soup.  It’s hearty, filling and definitely helps warm me up when I am cold.

Homemade Butternut Squash Cream Soup’

Here’s what you do:

  • 1 Medium Butternut Squash, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 Medium Onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 Celery Stalks, finely chopped
  • 4 Cups Chicken Stock (replace with Vegetable to make this a Vegetarian soup)
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • ½ tsp Marjoram
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Cornstarch (as needed to thicken)

This Homemade Butternut Squash Cream Soup is a perfect fall soup recipe. It's hearty and will keep you warm on a chilly winter day.

Continue reading »

Make Dinner Time Easier With MasterPan

Aug 212018
 

After receiving feedback from fans of the original 5-section MasterPan, its creator are launching the smaller, yet still versatile 2- and 3-section MasterPan this summer through a Kickstarter campaign. These skillets allow users to prepare full meals with the use of a single pan, like a full breakfast of eggs, pancakes and sausage, burgers with bacon for lunch, and grilled chicken and veggies for dinner. Cooking with the MasterPan can also help with preparing the right amounts of food, helping to control portion sizes and minimize food waste (both of which are issues in my house).

We make brinner (breakfast for dinner) often in our house because it’s one of the few meals we all can agree on. Can I just tell you how convenient it is to be able to make everything in one pan (I have used both the 2-section and 3-section pan depending on what’s on the menu). Continue reading »

Marshfield Fair 2018

Aug 202018
 

If you grew up in Southeastern Massachusetts (like me), it’s that time of year again. Time for the Marshfield Fair that is! Growing up, my siblings and I looked forward to the fair returning at the end of every August. The 151st Marshfield Fair is here NOW through August 26th. If you’re local and you’ve never been, you are truly missing out on a fun experience. The fair blends carnival rides, live music, animal demonstrations, a demolition derby and more.

Marshfield-Fair-2018

There really is something for everyone at the Marshfield Fair. While we were there we enjoyed seeing truck pulling, a magic show, a blacksmith demonstration and walking through the petting zoo. Oh, and of course my boys loved riding the rides. There is a lot going on at any given time at the Marshfield Fair and they also have some fun specials coming up. Continue reading »

Homemade Caramelized Onion, Cheddar and Potato Pierogies

Aug 132018
 

I am not going to lie to you guys. These caramelized onion, cheddar, and potato pierogies are no joke. They are best attempted with at LEAST one other person helping you. Assembly line style is best. If you can tackle it though, the end result is really, really, really worth the extra effort. They are amazing. At the end of making these I was too exhausted to enjoy them properly. They certainly CAN be done alone. I’ll never do it again, by myself, but you might be tougher than I am. The magic happened when I left the boiled but not sautéed pierogies in the fridge for a few days, and then fried them up and topped them with the sour cream, bacon, and even MORE caramelized onions. Then ate them. That, my friends. That changed my mind. That made me think that the hours of work WAS worth it. No frozen, store-bought, mass produced product can compare to these. It isn’t possible. Maybe a restaurant version could, but I haven’t seen them on many menus.

I'm not going to lie, these homemade pierogies are a lot of work to make, but TOTALLY worth it. No frozen, store-bought, mass produced product can compare to these.

First things first…get your large pot of water boiling and your potatoes peeled and ready to go in. Continue reading »

Easy Peasy Sonic Strawberry Shake Dip

Aug 082018
 

This Sonic Strawberry Shake Dip is the best thing you'll eat all summer. It's so easy to make and super yummy. Impress your friends with this great recipe!

For years and years and years we’d see Sonic commercials here in Boston, but there were no Sonic’s to be found. And then one finally opened in Massachusetts – Only it was all the way up in Peabody, which is about an hour from where I live. It was kind of a bummer, but I did manage to make it up there a couple of times. But then a couple of years ago one finally opened near me, in Somerset and now there is one in Stoughton, too, so now I can have Sonic whenever I want since I can get to one in about 20 minutes. YAY.

One day recently I was at Walmart and came across Sonic Pudding and I was like woah….I knew I needed to get some and make something awesome out of it. Cue this ah-mazing Sonic Strawberry Shake Dip. It’s so easy to make and it’s super yummy.

Sonic Strawberry Shake Dip

This Sonic Strawberry Shake Dip is the best thing you'll eat all summer. It's so easy to make and super yummy. Impress your friends with this great recipe!

Continue reading »

Free Historic Sites to Visit in Boston

Aug 072018
 

Here are just three (of many) historically-based sites to visit in Boston. Put on your most comfortable pair of walking shoes and check them out today!

Boston is a fun and interesting place to visit, there’s no doubt about it! This is especially true for history buffs. If you’re in search of free historic sites to visit in the city, you have tons of options to choose from. Here are a few to consider.

Boston Freedom Trail 

The Boston Freedom Trail is the red brick walking trail that takes visitors to several themed sites across the city, important during the American Revolution.

Follow the trail to get a look at some of Boston’s most famous spots. This includes Paul Revere’s house, the site of the Boston Massacre, Granary Burial Ground and the Old North Church from which revolutionaries used those infamous lanterns to signal that the British were coming.

There are several (daily) 90-minute walking tours, which take you along the trail. Knowledgeable guides provide information about each site. Or, if you prefer to walk the trail at your own pace, audio players are available from the Freedom Trail Foundation. The players feature stories and information that you don’t get on the guided tour. Continue reading »

The Summer is Already Half Over – Don’t Miss Out on Going to Water Country This Year!

Aug 062018
 

The Summer is Already Half Over, don't Miss Out on Going to Water Country in Portsmouth, NH this summer. It's New England's favorite water park!

Here in New England, summer is way too short and my family really tries to make the most of the nice weather we do get. One thing we do every single year is head up to Portsmouth, NH to Water Country. There are several water parks in New England, but Water Country is by far our favorite.

For over 30 years, Water Country has been the go-to destination for family fun in southern New Hampshire. Water Country features family-friendly rides and attractions like Big Ollie, Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, and the lazy river. They have more slides, pools and attractions than any other water park in the area and there is definitely something for everyone there.  A day at the water park is just that, a full day!

The Summer is Already Half Over, don't Miss Out on Going to Water Country in Portsmouth, NH this summer. It's New England's favorite water park!

My family had a blast spending the day at Water Country this past weekend and I wanted to share a few tips with you for your trip: Continue reading »

Loaded Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Aug 012018
 

Try your homemade chicken salad on a lettuce wrap next time. It's good!

I have been on a chicken salad kick lately. I used to love it when I was a kid and for some reason I got away from it for a while. But I am back on it now and I have been making tons of it lately. I usually eat it on bread, but I got this idea make lettuce wraps out of them recently and they came out awesome. Like, seriously awesome. I have eaten these Loaded Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps every day for a week straight. They are really easy to make and I love that I can make and serve them fairly quickly. If you like chicken salad, give these loaded chicken salad lettuce wraps a try.

Try your homemade chicken salad on a lettuce wrap next time. It's good!

Loaded Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Continue reading »

25 Things to do in Hartford, CT

Jul 312018
 

Here are 25 things to do in Hartford, Connecticut. Hartford, CT offers such a wide range of history and art for everyone to enjoy.

The home of the Mark Twain House & Museum and capital of Connecticut, Hartford is a city that brings much entertainment and sights to see. This is the place to go to view some historical locations, artistic talents and enjoy the views of the city. Today I’m featuring 25 things to do in Hartford, CT so that you can plan your next Connecticut visit properly.

Here are 25 things to do in Hartford, Connecticut. Hartford, CT offers such a wide range of history and art for everyone to enjoy. Continue reading »

Yummy Banana Split Bites

Jul 302018
 

These Banana Split Bites are delicious and totally Drool-worthy!

You know, sometimes a mama just wants a treat. I work hard and sometimes I want to reward myself for all that hard work with a little sweet treat. Of course, I am a good mom, so when I make sweets – I make enough to share. Well, sometimes. Anyhow, I made these absolutely ah-mazing Banana Split Bites recently and trust me when I tell you that they were a huge hit.

If you know me, you know that I love my desserts. But once in a blue moon I only want a little bit which is why I had the idea to make smaller portions of one of my favorites – a banana split.  Wait, did I just say that?  A little bit of a dessert?  That’s crazy talk.  I could down 6 of these in one sitting without batting an eye. But when I made these, I shared.  I swear.

Banana Split Bites

Continue reading »

Exploring Maine

Jul 252018
 

There is a lot to see and do in the state of Maine. From Stephen King's house to lighthouses to lots of wildlife! Here are a few ideas for your next trip!

I love to travel. Unfortunately, my budget does not allow for expensive, elaborate getaways, so I have to be creative and frugal. I try to pick places that I can drive to and that I can do inexpensively. I recently returned from a week in Maine and had more fun than I ever imagined I would there. My son was on vacation with his father, so my best friend and I went on a girl’s road trip. We didn’t spend much, doing mostly free things, and I figured I would share with all of you.

We stayed in Bangor, as it was central to most of the things we wanted to do. No trip to Bangor is complete without a trip to Stephen King’s house. I’ve been a fan of his writing all my life, and his house is exactly what you would expect. Continue reading »

Summer Fun at Edaville Family Theme Park

Jul 232018
 

Growing up, my siblings and I waited all year long until my parents finally said we were going to “Edaville” to see the Christmas lights.  It was one of highlights of my childhood and I have so many happy memories of going there year after year with my family. These days it’s known as Edaville Family Theme Park and I am so thankful that I have the chance to take my own kids there so they can have the same wonderful memories of Edaville as I do.

A visit to Edaville Family Theme Park is a fun way to spend the day with your family. Admission includes Thomas Land, Dino Land, all rides & attractions.

But why is it called Edaville? Ellis D. Atwood used his initials (E.D.A) to name the theme park back when it first opened. He started this railroad by purchasing most of the surviving equipment from Maine’s once expansive network of two-foot gauge rail’s and had them trucked south to Carver, Massachusetts – and it is now known as Edaville Railroad. Continue reading »

Poop Emoji Rice Krispie Treats

Jul 182018
 

Obsessed with the poop emoji? If your hand is raised, these Poop Emoji Rice Krispie Treats are a fun & easy snack idea for you to whip up for the kids.It’s summer vacation and if your kids are anything like mine, they are asking for a snack every five seconds. Like literally…my two eat constantly.

All. Day. Long!

I am always looking for easy snacks to make for them. Since my boys (and most other boys I know) are obsessed with poop – and the poop emoji, I made some Poop Emoji Rice Krispie Treats recently and they were a big hit!

Poop Emoji Rice Krispie Treats

Obsessed with the poop emoji? If your hand is raised, these Poop Emoji Rice Krispie Treats are a fun & easy snack idea for you to whip up for the kids.

Continue reading »

Planning My Perfect Boston Staycation with TripAdvisor

Jul 172018
 

Did you know you can book experiences directly through TripAdvisor. I was able to book my perfect Boston Staycation on their site & you can, too!

I almost hate to jinx things, but I am just going to say it. We’ve been having some killer weather here in Boston this summer.  It’s been so hot here (the way I like it) and knock on wood, we’ve had very little rain. Last year I feel like it rained for 80% of the month of July, so this nice sunny weather we’ve been having is so nice. With all the gorgeous weather, I decided that I wanted to plan a Boston staycation for my family. Sometimes it’s so fun to play tourist in your own city!  I headed over to TripAdvisor because I needed help narrowing down what we should do. There is a lot to do in Boston, but since my boys aren’t always enthusiastic about doing things as they used to be (darn tweens/teens), I had to be sure to choose adventures that would keep everyone happy and entertained.

Did you know you can book experiences directly through TripAdvisor. I was able to book my perfect Boston Staycation on their site & you can, too!

Did you know that you can book activities and experiences directly through TripAdvisor? It’s super convenient to be able to look through all the things they offer to do in the city you’re traveling to, read reviews while you’re there AND book whatever catches your eye – all in one spot.  You are going to TripAdvisor to look at the reviews anyways, so why not just book your experiences while you are there on their site. Trust me, it makes life so much easier! Continue reading »

Eat Your Heart Out at Boston Burger Company

Jul 162018
 

If you live in the Boston area, chances are you’ve heard of the Boston Burger Company. The BBC is well known in the area for their over-the-top burgers, gourmet fries, craft beers and their Freak Frappes. Yes, that says Freak Frappes. They also have apps, sandwiches, and salads, but it is named the Boston BURGER Company, so I think it’s pretty much against the law not to order a burger if you go there to eat. Just sayin’. They serve burgers with names such as porkasaurus, the kitchen sink and the hot mess…I mean, how can you not try one?

If you are in Boston, a visit to the Boston Burger Company is a MUST. Gourmet burgers, Freak Frappes & leveled up fries make this restaurant 1 of the best!

Christian and I had the chance to stop in to the Boston Burger Company for dinner a few weeks ago and because we are both super smart, we started with dessert. I wanted a Freak Frappe in the worst way and I was afraid if I didn’t order my frappe first, I wouldn’t have room for it at the end of my meal. Continue reading »

Pepperoni Pizza Bombs with Homemade Pizza Sauce

Jul 092018
 

These pepperoni pizza bombs with homemade pizza sauce are a quick and easy snack that you can whip up in minutes. This fun recipe is sure to be a big hit with your family!

We’re right smack dab in the middle of summer vacation and other than “I’m bored”, the only other thing my kids are programmed to say is “I’m hungry”.  They have a meal, tell me they’re full and then they are hungry again 10 minutes later. This mysterious hunger only seems to happen when they are out on school breaks, too.  Weird, huh?  Anyways, since my boys are literally always hungry, I make them a lot (and I do mean a lot) of snacks when they are home. These Pepperoni Pizza Bombs are a favorite in my house.

Pepperoni Pizza Bombs with Homemade Pizza Sauce

These pepperoni pizza bombs with homemade pizza sauce are a quick and easy snack that you can whip up in minutes. This fun recipe is sure to be a big hit with your family!

Continue reading »

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