The Day After "T" Day ~ 10 Leftovers To Tempt Your Tummy

Every year I try to think of ways to all of my Thanksgiving feast leftovers.  I have to say that I am tired of sandwiches and soups though.  So, this year I have hunted for some great alternatives to transform our leftovers from "eh" to "WAHOO!"

Here are some tasty offerings for the days that follow Turkey Day.

Photo:  J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Savory Stuffing Waffles - Serious Eats
This is such a great option to use up my stuffing...I'd just top it with my Homemade Cranberry Sauce to complete it!

Photo: Minimalist Baker

Pumpkin French Toast Bake - Minimalist Baker
I am definitely making this Saturday morning!

Photo: DailyWaffle.com

Cranberry Black Pepper Sweet Rolls - Daily Waffle
And these will have to grace our breakfast table Sunday before church.
 

 

Photo: bonAppetite.com

Turkey Ramen - bon appetite
 This is an unexpected change-up.  I can't wait to try it!!

 



Photo: Food Network



 Grilled Turkey, Brie, Apple Butter Sandwich with Arugula - Tyler Florence, Food Network
I love this grown up grilled cheese!  It's perfect for the kid in me and my hubby.
 

 

Photo: A Spicy Perspective

 

Poblano & Turkey Soup - A Spicy Perspective
There has to be a soup...but it's not your ordinary soup.

Photo: JustATaste.com

Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes - Just A Taste 
I make potato pancakes every year, but these just looked so good that I had to include them.

Photo: Ree Drummond, ThePioneerWoman.com

Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls - The Pioneer Woman
Ree Drummond is my hero.  Somehow she comes up with all sorts of great ideas to keep things fresh and un-boring.

Photo: CookingHawaiianStyle.com

Turkey-Potato Croquettes -  Cooking Hawaiian Style
Mmm, Mmm, Gooooood.

Photo: BakedByRachel.com

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pizza - Baked By Rachel
I have a feeling that this is going to become one of my all-time favorite pizzas. YUMMY!




 

DYI Dryer Sheet - Static Free & Chemical Free!

 I love the smell in the air when I walk past dryer vents in my apartment complex.  They instantly lighten the air with wonderful smells...but all those chemicals are not doing the air any good really.  Yes, they smell good, but as you breath them in what is it that you're letting into your body under the disguise of lovely fragrances?

 

Fragranced dryer sheets do not do the skin of a person with sensitive skin any good at all.  Any time that I have given in and placed one of those sheets in my dryer to make my clothes smell "pretty" and kill static-cling I have paid the price with irritated skin, headaches, and sinus irritation. 

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'Tis The Season For Pies, Pies, Pies!

Pockets Of Love Cherry Pies - TheChattyMom

This week we walk smack-dab into the season of pies.  This is when there are pies aplenty adorning everyone's tables and hanging out in just about every fridge on the block. 

Now, I am not a master pie maker, there is still much for me to learn in the area of making pie crust. That being said, it doesn't keep me from trying my hand at a pie now and then.  That's how you get better at doing something, right?  You try over and over until you feel that you've got it mastered...or at least down to a reasonable outcome.

 

Well, in the interest of others who like to bake pies now and then, I have pulled together some wonderful pies from others who have more experience at baking them than I.

Diffuser Blends For The Holidays

I love diffusing different concoctions of essential oils in my home.  Not only do they make the air in the home smell lovely, they also clean it and my family receive benefits from the oils aromatically.  It's a win, win, win situation!

Here are some of the blends that I have been enjoying in my home lately.  Each blend also has a breakdown of the benefits that come from diffusing them.

 

I hope that you enjoy them as much in your home as I have in mine.

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PTSD Blend - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

 

My husband served in the Navy during the first Gulf War.  So many of our service men  & women have paid a high cost while serving our country. 

My husband was recently diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome...which is not the same as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but is still a price that was paid while in the service.  While the two differ from one another, we have a great deal of respect for all of our military servicemen and anything that I can pass along to help one will be shared.  There is something about being able to give back to those who have been willing to sign their lives away for our freedoms.  (It's the very least I can do.)

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Giveaways Ending Soon

I have been out of the giveaway scene since this time last year.  Pregnancy and a new baby will do that to you.

My apologies.  It's about time that I shared some great giveaways with you. 

Here we GO!

1)  The most beautiful WOK ever created by Le Creuset, enter to win today! US only, MSRP: $280 Click HERE to enter.

2) Win one of eight personalized Peppa Pig Book adventures! Click HERE to enter.

3) Firefly Clue and Yahtzee Board Game.  Click HERE to enter.

4) Plan Toys Sink & Fridge Set Kitchen Set.  Click HERE to enter.

5) $250 Cariloha Bamboo Fit Gift Certificate.  Click HERE to enter.

6)  Heat Storm Mojave Heater . Click HERE to enter.

7) $100 Bump Boxes Gift Certificate. Click HERE to enter.

8) Choice of a wall-mount or handheld Aroma Sense Vitamin C Shower Head. Cllick HERE to enter.

9) Win an iPad mini 3 16GB Wi-Fi, valued at $399.  Click HERE to enter.

10) win an Aden + Anais Adult Bamboo Daydream Blanket in Latticework (ARV $170) from Rock Pretty! Click HERE to enter.

11) Coach Handbag – Winner’s Choice . Click HERE to enter.

12) Nexia Smart Home System. Click HERE to enter.

13) Barbar Ionic Professional Hair Dryer $150 Value. Click HERE to enter.

14) Win a fabulous Tart Cherry Prize Pack ($550 ARV).  Click HERE to enter.

15) Win a $50 Walmart Gift Card.  Click HERE to enter.

16) Win a Barbie bike and $100 Toys R Us Gift Card! (2 winners).  Click HERE to enter.

17) Win a $500 Walmart Gift Card! Click HERE to enter.

18) Win a $75 Kmart Gift Card.  Click HERE to enter.


19) Acer C720 Chromebook Giveaway Click HERE to enter.
20)  Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Click HERE to enter.
 

Happy Wednesday - Really!

It may be overcast and very grey outside this morning.  However, this morning has been one very nice one I must say.

 

My son woke me up bright and early at 6AM, had a bottle and went right back to sleep. I love it when this happens!

 

My girls got up and ready for school without any fighting!!!  That is a miracle in and of itself...the fighting part.

 

My husband was sent off to work with a kiss and a smile.  (Nothing new there.)

 

With everyone off to do their daily "doings", I made a pot of Vanilla Biscotti coffee and settled down at my laptop to join a Twitter Party. (I love Twitter parties...you just have to keep up.)

 

Magic Arrives March 2015

I have one little girl in our household that just can't wait until March comes. 

Why?

The magic of Disney is coming once again!  This time one of our absolute favorite movies is being brought to life...

Which one? 

Cinderella!

We just watched the official trailer and the little girl inside of me just might be just as excited as my daughter is.

 

Tonight is just the beginning of a very long waiting process in a 10-year-old's eyes.  How will I be able to handle the constant questions?

 

"How many more days?"

 

"Are we going?"

 

"When do we get to go see Cinderella?

 

"Do you have our movie tickets yet?"

 

"Is it EVER going to be March?!"

 

Hopefully March will come swiftly enough that I don't go completely out of my mind.  I'm going to be dreaming of glass slippers for weeks.  I mean, SHE's going to be dreaming about glass slippers.

 

Teething & Flu...Oh My!

Last week was a real drainer.  There's nothing like  a 7 month old teething and two little girls with the flu bug to get a week started.

It started with my little James and his teething.  I'm convinced that teething is parental  abuse.  It's horrible for the baby and I hate that they have to go through it, but it's also a terrible time for the parents.

Sunday it all started at around 9:00pm with a fever of 100.3F.  Fortunately I had my arsenal ready with Peppermint and Lavender oils.  Peppermint to bring down the fever and lavender to calm some of the pain his poor little gums were experiencing.  It was amazing how quickly the Peppermint worked to start bringing down his fever!  Literally .5-1.0 degree lower within 5-10 minutes! 

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Thanksgiving Goodie Ideas ~ We All Need Them

Before I know it, Thanksgiving is going to be crashing through my door wanting to know where to land.  This is my way of being prepared and having plenty to occupy my kiddles as the holiday approaches.

In my search for all things Thanksgiving, I have come across some great blog sites.  Because I'm so nice, and I know that there are other mommies out there looking for activities and recipes too, I'm going to share them with you.  

Tummy Troubles Big and Small

James at 7 months

As all of us moms know, tummy trouble does not hit at the best of times.  It tends to rise up in the middle of making dinner, sleeping or while we're out and about.  Neither do they only attack the young, but us more matured as well.

 

This is my little James.  At 7 months old I have had countless battles with tummy trouble since the day he was born.  All of my children have had tummy troubles as babies, my oldest Grace and youngest James had it the worst.  They couldn't tolerate my milk...which is so frustrating as a new mommy.  Our milk is supposed to be the best thing for them and yet mine caused so much pain.  Was I watching what I ate?  Absolutely.  I was ridiculously careful about what I ate.
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