Read. Write. Mom!

Holiday Traditions With Hickory Farms Gift Baskets

Posted on December 11, 2011January 10, 2016 by Mandy

One of my favorite parts of the holidays is all of the wonderful FOOD! It seems like Hickory Farms has always been a staple of our holiday get-togethers. I can definitely recall seeing those huge gift baskets in our home growing up and being so excited to try out all of the amazing sausages, jellies, and cheeses. Even today I still think the holiday is not complete without one!

My family and I were recently given the opportunity to try out a Hickory Farms gift basket and we were sent the Summer Sausage basket.

This basket included 2 Signature Summer Beef Sausages, Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese, Smoked Cheddar Blend, and Smoked Gouda, my favorite. It was all fresh and delicious and we enjoyed snacking on it as we put up our Christmas tree. As a special thank-you, my item also included a flash drive, which I can always use and was very much appreciated!

Not only do Hickory Farms gift baskets make excellent foods to enjoy at home during the holidays, but they also make wonderful gifts. Hickory Farms currently has a $3, 3-day shipping special going on, so if you need a gift shipped, this would be an excellent deal! Don’t forget about those friends, relatives, and business contacts living out-of-town!

With such a great selection of gift baskets, there is definitely something for everyone at Hickory Farms. It will also make your holiday food and snack prep so much easier.

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 and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Sam’s Club-Chex Party Mix-change & Giveaway

Posted on December 10, 2011January 10, 2016 by Mandy

If there is one snack food that I can remember always being around during the holidays ever since I was a little girl, it’s definitely Chex Mix. Not only does it make a great party snack, but it also make a great food gift!

This year, Sam’s Club and Chex wants to provide one of my lucky readers with everything they need to host their own Chex Party Mix-change. Think of the classic cookie exchange with a twist! Grab some friends and family (you can invite them using these awesome printable invitations). Next, print off some of these mouth-watering recipe cards. Finally, print off this handy shopping list for everything you’ll need to make some amazing Chex Mix snacks.

PARTY TIPS:

• Set up a special table to keep all the Chex® Party Mixes on. Have cards and pens handy to label the mixes with.
• Create a “mix it up” bar with sparkling water, fruit juices and other beverages for guests to
create their own special blends.
• Have Chex® Party Mix recipe cards on hand for guests to take home and enjoy.
• Take pictures at the party and create memory books as gifts you can send to friends and
family later.
• Buy large gift bags for guests to carry home all their Chex® Party Mixes in.
• A great way to help the community is to ask guests to bring an extra box of Chex® for the local food shelter or pantry.
• Don’t limit yourself to evening parties. Mix it up with a lunch hour party or an after-work
“happy hour” Mix-Change. Breakfasts can also be great as guests get a fun start and then have the rest of the day for other holiday activities.
• Get fun and festive with the packaging. Some simple ideas to try:
– Chinese takeout containers
– Party hats
– Cellophane bags
– Cupcake liners in decorative boxes
– Tins

Visit ChexPartyMixChange.com for even more party-planning tips and be sure to also check out Sam’s Club, your one stop Chex spot that has everything you need to throw a Chex Party Mix-Change!

WIN IT:
One lucky reader will win a prize pack including a box of Chex Mix and a $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card. Giveaway will close on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11 PM Central. Sorry, U.S. only.

TO ENTER:

Christmas Humor

Posted on December 6, 2011January 10, 2016 by Mandy

A few of the best funny Christmas pictures I’ve seen going viral on social networking sites. Enjoy!

Review- The Cult of Lego

Posted on November 27, 2011January 10, 2016 by Mandy

If anyone ever accused us of having too many Lego’s in our home, they would be absolutely correct. My son is just obsessed with them (remember the lego cake he had to have for his birthday?)and it’s the one toy he consistently plays with on a daily basis. We have seen so much creativity come to life in our home because of it, so when I was asked if I wanted to review a copy of the book The Cult of Lego, I agreed immediately.

The Cult of Lego is written by John Baichtal, a contributor to MAKE magazine and Wired’s GeekDad blog, and Joe Meno, who is the founder of BrickJournal, a print and online LEGO fan magazine. This book is filled with beautiful photos and tells the story of the Lego community, it’s people, and their creations.

AFOL’s (Adult Fans of Lego) and kids alike will enjoy this book. Besides featuring some of the most amazing creations ever made with Legos (think life-sized stegosaurus’, for one) it also highlights conventions, collectors and their collections, and even how Legos are used in therapy with autistic children. There’s definitely something to interest everyone in this book and it would definitely make a great gift for any Lego enthusiast this holiday season. The book is 304 pages and is $39.95 USD, published by No Starch Press.

Funny Animal Pictures- Sunday Funday

Posted on November 27, 2011January 10, 2016 by Mandy

It’s Sunday, and I’m totally bummed out that I have to go back to work tomorrow after a whole week off for Thanksgiving holidays. Naturally, this calls for funny stuff, and lots of it!

Black Friday Smackdown- $2 Waffle Iron Style

Posted on November 25, 2011November 26, 2017 by Mandy

I’ve mentioned before I don’t do Black Friday sales. After reading all of the play-by-play updates on Facebook from those brave enough to take on our local Walmart last night, I’m convinced I made the right decision to stay in and avoid all of the craziness. I was literally laughing until I cried over some of the Facebook posts I read. As usual, it was a Black Friday Smackdown.

Apparently, towels were flying. Sheet sets were causing grown women to lose their minds and play tug of war right there in the aisle. Nasty, heated words were exchanged over kid’s battery operated vehicles, people were bear-hugging electronics until the word was given, and according to one source, the body odor in the air because everyone was packed into different sections like sardines was quite overwhelming. And? The $2 waffle irons were all the rage, causing literal rage.

One friend was physically pushed over into the towel bin. One’s finger was cut. One was hit on the head by a flying elbow. Police were out in full force, and as far as I know, nobody was seriously injured and no arrests were made. I also follow news stations in the bigger cities that are nearest to us. Apparently, folks in some of those places were not so fortunate.

By the end of the night when people were checking out, the consensus was split. Most vowed they would never, ever participate in a Black Friday sales event ever again and that the shoving and fighting over things weren’t worth it. Some walked away mad after standing in line for hours for an item they were unable to get. Still, others seemed to be high on that “I got what I needed and I did it!!!” adrenaline rush, claiming it was all worth it. They did it for the kids, etc.

However, one Facebook friend of mine seemed to sum up my sentiments exactly over all the Black Friday craziness:

All the “stuff” people are going to be knocking themselves in the head for, today, will either be broken 2 years from now, be outgrown 1 year from now, be boring and grown tired of 6 months from now, and 5 years from now, nobody will probably give a rat’s tail nor remember WHAT they got this year, anyway.
……but they WILL remember the time to spent with them, and the way you made them feel, for a lifetime.

Did you go to any sales? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

And…this video shows the riot over the $2 waffle makers at a WalMart…lawd, have mercy!