Roasted Beanz
This #ShareABear sponsored post has been compensated on behalf of Snuggle®. As always, my opinions are my own.
Every parent implores the rhetoric “sharing is caring”. Hopefully this lesson starts with kids at a young age. Even more gainfully, its a lesson led by example. So this SeptemBEAR, take a peek at how I am teaching this very thing.
This #FROZENFun sponsored post has been brought to you by a #CollectiveBias social shopper amplification campaign and its advertiser. So while we’re still waiting to bring back summer, I hope you enjoy warm hugs {and Olaf} as much as I do!
I have a new favorite Disney movie. And while I’ll always love those classic Disney animations I grew up with, last Thanksgiving 2013 Disney gave me something to treasure even more. His name is Olaf, and he likes warm hugs.
Turns out I like warm blankets and its been a match made in heaven ever since. Seriously though, while Elsa and Anna may get all of Kristoff’s attention, its Olaf that stole the show for me before it was even released. Do you remember the original trailer released by Disney Animation Studios back in June of 2013? There has yet to be a movie that I was as excited and giddy to take my daughter to see, then Disney FROZEN.
And it also seems like everyone could also place themselves at my local Walmart this week when the Disney released FROZEN March 18th. Because let me tell you, there was a rush to the shelves to find that $14.96 discounted price. Always the first to grab the latest Disney dvd, I’ve never seen the shelves so empty that first day! Unlike other dvd releases, buying FROZEN simply made me want to celebrate watching it with the kids. Plus I have to admit, I am pining for an Olaf talking plush, so I was shopping for more then just the movie.
Sure enough, I found some great FROZEN toys like the Elsa and Anna Toddler, Sparkle, and Fashion dolls. But Olaf plushies were as scarce as a snowman in summer. So in the end, I brought home a great flourish patterned no-sew microfleece throw kit that mimicked the FROZEN stencils seen in the castle and {most notably} on Elsa’s bedroom door. We have our blanket to keep warm, so I bought FROZEN books for reading as well as hot cocoa and lots of marshmallows. Cause hey, don’t you wanna build a snowman?
We started our FROZEN fun with unwrapping our throw kit. I love no-sew microfleece blankets. Its so easy to head to your local Walmart fabric section and cut two fleece fabrics to the size of 49×63 inches. Of course you can go bigger or smaller but this dimension crafts a nice blanket. Of course you could also walk to the shelf with the pre-cut coordinating microfleece fabrics and buy the ready-made fleece blanket kits too. At least that comes with these handy-dandy instructions…fancy that huh?
And its just that easy folks. I prepped and cut the blanket and my 5-year-old helped knot it around. Just remember its not about being perfect, its about being warm and snuggly for the movie. During this time I slowly heated milk on the stove to mix into our hot cocoa. Then proceeded to cover the top with a mountain of whipped cream before handing it over to eager hands. Then we curled up for a wonder of FROZEN movie delights and sing-a-longs.
Afterward, we let the credits roll to enjoy the soundtrack {and a certain final movie clip at the end} as I deluged our coffee table with marshmallows of all sizes. In the mix were chocolate sno-caps for buttons, orange starburst candies to roll into carrot noses, pretzel sticks for arms, and marshmallow fluff for well…mortar. Only beware mixing said marshmallow mortar with previously used fleece blanket. That said, the sky is your snowman marshy limit, then again, it doesn’t have to be a snowman.
In the end, we are days into watching and replaying our new Disney movie. And with each new start, I am even more enamored with Olaf and his sunny, giggly disposition. I’m drawn to the innocence he represents between Anna and her sister, Elsa. I’m elated in how Disney preserved such wide-eyed and childlike joy in his character.
But what I really relate to in Olaf, is motherhood. Its identifying that lop-sided, imperfect yet pure-hearted loveliness that you know you’ll look back on and miss. And I am reminded that fostering great childhood memories now can continue to bring my children together for years to come.
So remember its all about the little things with your little ones. The small tasks to be present and attentive. The deluge of marshmallows on a coffee table or a blanket full of knots that somehow remains immensely comfortable. Or simply snuggling up to watch a movie with a funny snowman with marshmallows, candy, and pretzel sticks. Who cares if we all don’t stay awake right?
And that was our Disney FROZEN fun day. Life is beautiful and memories are more priceless. The days have started to get longer and the sun will finally melt all this snow around us. Our cabin fever will be replaced with sunscreen and shorts. But hopefully we still find time to stack marshmallows and watch our favorite snowman dream about loving summer too.
Are you ready now to pick up your own copy of the FROZEN Dvd? This new Disney favorite is in Walmart stores now and with special discount pricing of only $14.96! Want to save even more? Then venture into the frozen section of Walmart and grab specially marked packages of Eggo Waffles {24 count} for a $5 coupon off the Dvd as well. Brrrr! Now all we need is Oaken’s Sauna!
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias® and its advertiser. As always, I strive for authentic posts that relate to my readers as much as they do my household. Enjoy…and thanks for another cup of coffee. #FROZENFun #shop #cbias
This joyus Blogger Tour of Christmas Trees post has been brought to you for pure holiday enjoyment. As always my thoughts, opinions, and Christmas #BlogEase goodness are my own.
Merry Christmas and welcome to the 2013 Tour of Christmas Trees for 2013! Always a fan of the season, I’ve joined up with some fantastic bloggers to give you a peak insides homes. A fun selection from across the United States, here’s what our families will look forward to waking up to. So kick back, grab some coffee and pass the cinnamon rolls…ready?
For starters…Christmas morning for me is ALL about the breakfast. And this year we brought up an assortment of fresh fruit and these amazing cinnamon crumb muffins. Absolutely divine, Sams Club seriously makes me want to learn to bake these myself.
Christmas came early for us this year. For the first time in nearly five years we were able to get together with my family in mid-Michigan. One thing my Mother-In-Law has always done, is to collect the best Hallmark ornaments each year. Each family member would pick a series, and it has been a wonderful tradition to collect each new version at Christmas. After the kids have grown up and moved out she passes them on for our own trees. Amazingly enough, the Eskimo series that my Husband picked as a child is still going strong!
That said, she’s begun to collect the ornaments for the grand-kids now. However Otis only has eyes for Grandpa’s trucks. So its not a tough guess to know what kind of Hallmark staple he’ll be contributing to the tree one day! But as you can see, her tree is always the epitome of this awesome, family-inspired collective.
And as with witnessing any Hallmark devotee…I am always in awe of not only the Christmas Tree itself but the entire wall of holiday decor. One day I’d love to have a mantle like this to hang our stockings by! This year, I finally accomplished finding the perfect star to top our tree. Must like this one, its the perfect topper to let you focus on the lights and ornaments.
Don’t stop there! Keep the Christmas joy flowing with these spectacular bloggers to see how they’ll greet Santa on Christmas morning too. What does your holiday morning look like?
THRIFTY MOM’S REVIEWS AND MORE!
Disclosure: Roasted Beanz is a member of the awesomely fantabulous blogging group Blog Ease. Kick back and enjoy, we love sharing our view of the world!
The following NickMom #MotherFunny sponsored post has been brought to you by a Collective Bias social shopper insights study. As always my thoughts, opinions, and sarcastically laced humor are my own.
I’m in #MotherFunny hiding. That means I’m as hidden as one can be while staying within earshot for tending fussy kids yet avoiding a cranky Husband. The silence would be intoxicating if not for the endless rumbly-tumbling of my dryer. Its nearly midnight now and this self-imposed respite is for my quieter chores. Its here in these late {and early} hours that blog posts, dishwasher cycles, and handling laundry the temperature of hot molten lava gives way to that downtime that we all crave.
And after the day I had, tonight was all about cruising nickmom.com for a touch of MotherFunny sanity. Once there, I am immersed in a NickMom collective relating how amazing this life is we {mothers} lead. And I am comforted by all those posts that conclude I’m not the only Mom who’s kid pooped fairy glitter, that my shoes say I’m broke, or that my wine screams “cheap” as loud as my kids think an indoor voice sounds. And nothing made me snort said cheap wine farther up my nose then laughing at this snack-time digital treat.
Because while I’m bashful to call myself a food blogger, I can most definitely label myself a foodie blogger. {As if the “ie” gives me the excuse to not go all Pioneer Woman on you.} Or in the case of a too-true picture of MotherFunny snack-worthiness; That I too can fail miserably in my snack time efforts. Well that and my slack-jawed thoughts at seeing that random bitty bento served up in my Instagram feed. Right down to the cookie bribed yogurt cup, I felt those ants-on-a-log talking to me. And suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone in my parental ponderings on the nutritional value of fruit snacks vs another kiddie tantrum.
So thank you NickMom for bringing back my MotherFunny sense of humor. Its blog posts like yours, that help prep my kitchen {and bolster myself} for the new day ahead. Its so nice to know I’m not alone in this plight of household haste or hurry. And it renews my faith to bake up a new day for that perfect snack-time treasure to remember.
The kitchen is my therapy I tell you, and a warm batch of pumpkin spice mini-bundt cakes to hand-dip in chocolate prove the best medicine. Which you better believe I made sure and post to Instagram. Take that bitty bento.
Parenting is tough. Find your own daily inspiration with Nickelodeon’s NickMom site too by visiting them online as well as on Twitter and Facebook. Which post speaks your MotherFunny language?
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and their client. As always, my thoughts – opinions – and overall enthusiasm are my own. Thank you. #MotherFunny #cbias #SocialFabric
I am so tired I feel like my eyeballs are going to shrivel up and implode.
And after further pondering, I do believe that they must have edited out the chapter “Extreme Sleep Deprivation” from all my baby books. I’d even gone back to check at one point, {newbie that I was} and honestly people! At what point after you’ve realized what is going to be popping out your va-jayjay could they miss a SLEEP chapter? Because its just that bad, that’s why.
Or else it isn’t. And then you get to listen to doctors every 3 months suggest reading books on how to make it better. Reading books…they’re funny. If I can’t Google it, search it, or scan it in less time then it takes for sibling rivalry to reach WWIII over cheesy puffs then it ain’t happening.
Frankly, I’m thinking that a better baby shower gift to the new mommy would be an instructional booklet on how to climb Mt. Everest. With your bare hands…backwards. All while also mounting a few handsprings to simply make it look pretty. Now THAT would more adequately describe the journey of {impending} motherhood.
Because you get drugs in the hospital for that initial {WTF} enlightenment. God even makes sure your flooded with pride when that kid clamps on to your boob the first time. {And every agonizing time afterward till your officially as tough as an udder.} And there are even OTC pills for when Mother Nature reminds you of how much she missed you for ten+ months. But no. All I get now is some cheeky young MD telling me to read a book and “nap when they do”. Okay doc…what if they NEVER nap??? Her reply? “Read the book.”
And with that I can suddenly envision what viral {re}action creates the first zombie.
