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Teaching Kids to Follow their Dreams with VTech Flipsies + Win a Flipsies Clementine Birthday Party and Bakery Set
This review is sponsored. Product was exchanged for an honest review VTech Flipsies.

If you could be anything, what would you be? What are your dreams? Are you living them? The new Flipsies line from VTech helps inspire our kids to dream whatever they want, and go after it. Dream of being a baker, teacher, astronaut, or parent – the Flipsies dolls teach kids that dreams are good to have, and even achievable! I’ve talked about my dreams before, but now it’s time to talk about the kids.

Meet Clementine. She dreams of becoming a baker. With her Birthday Party and Bakery playset, Clementine can live out her dreams baking goodies and serving them up to her friends at birthday parties. I’m pretty impressed with how well made the playset is, for having parts that detach for expanded play. Everything is sturdy, and allows plenty of room for all 4 of the kids hang out and dream together.

Look how fun this is! With bright colors, and attention to all the details, my kids have been playing with these on a daily basis, and with little to no fighting! Along with Clementine we got Sandy and her surfboard. Sandy dreams of becoming a Marine Biologist, but in our house enjoys taking breaks from surfing with her dolphins to grab a treat and chat at Clemetine’s Bakery.

Cute story time! I had Clementine hiding in my room for an opportune time to share with the kids. Little Prince comes in early one morning and finds it. I tell him to go show the girls, knowing it will being squeals of delight. I lay in bed patiently waiting to hear their reaction, and am not disappointed. Here’s how it went –
Little Prince walks in, and turns their light on then in a sing song voice calls out “Happppyyyyy Birthdaayyyy”
Knowing it’s none of their birthdays, the girls angrily tell him to turn off the light, it’s not time to get up yet. But then! There’s a pause. “Wait! WHAT?! What is that?!! MOOOMMMMMM, is this for us? Can we play with it?!”

Ah the joys of knowing you completely surprised your children for once, and put a huge smile on their face is priceless. I’ll always have that sing song voice in my head though, because Little Prince wanted to play with his sisters and knew it would make them happy too.

Later while playing with their new Flipsies Doll and Playset, I pulled the girls aside to ask them about their dreams.
- What do you like to pretend to be when you play?
- Who is your favorite Flipsie doll, and why? (great for Christmas present ideas!)
- If you could transform like a Flipsie, what would you turn into?
These are great questions to get conversation started and learn more about your kids dreams of the future. Something I think is important to always be aware of as a parent.

Curious how my kids answered? Me too! Venice, my oldest would transform into “Sleepyhead” because she loves to sleep. Truth you all, if she doesn’t sleep enough her emotions are more like a teen then a 9 year old. If she could get a job sleeping when she’s older, she’d be living her dream – and in her dreams, lol. Her favorite flipsies are Jazz and Styla because she too likes to make things and play music.

Chloe loves to pretend she’s Elsa, but loves the Flipsie Lexi who dreams of becoming a teacher like herself. Why a teacher? According to Chloe, teachers are important. Something I’m so glad she realizes this early on in her life.

Rosalina, my baby girl loves Sandy because hello – she has a surfboard! Her dreams are to become a surfer girl just like Sandy. Which may mean we need to move closer to the ocean…

Share your Dreams with VTech Flipsies on Facebook or Twitter

Want to win Clementines Birthday Party and Bakery? Enter below! Giveaway open to US readers 18+. Ends 12/7/15

a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 1, 2015
Weekend Bites #56 Soups

Warm up this fall with Soups! Come part with Weekend Bites – find a new recipe and share yours

New to Weekend Bites? Here’s the run down
Visit my cohost Debi at Practical Parenting

1. Link up your any food related post below

2. Browse the linky, visit some new blogs, and share if you feel so inclined.

3. Please only link up 3 posts. This lets us visit as many of you as possible.
4. By linking up you give me permission to feature your photos on Home Maid Simple (always linking back to you of course!)

5. Each month I send out a newsletter with the most popular links from that month – you may be featured!! This is a once a month newsletter, every first Friday of the month, no spamming involved. Subscribe!

I’m sitting here feeling a chill run through my bones. The kind that once again has me debating turning on the heat. Fall has officially arrived, and our nights and mornings are pretty cool, but midday still gets up in the 70’s. Until it drops to lower 60’s I just don’t think I can bring myself to turn up that heat. So until then, you can probably find me curled under some quilts my grandma made, with a pot of soup cooking on the stove.

I personally love a good broccoli cheese soup, followed by tomato and chili. My kids love any soup as long as bread is served along the side for some dipping. To comply with their tastes I picked up some more yeast this week, and will be busy baking our own bread again.

FEATURES

Slow Cooker Tomato Soup

from The Jenny Evolution

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

from Pancake Warriors

Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup

from Busy Being Jennifer

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

from Clean & Scentsible

An InLinkz Link-up

October 16, 2015
Currently In October

I’m very thrilled to be back this month sharing what I’m currently up to. It’s been a few months since I last joined Choose Happy’s link party. I’d love to hear what you’re currently up to!

Reading.. The Astronaut Wives Club. Our book club picked this one for September, but I didn’t quite finish it then. I’m still in the middle of it, and really enjoy taking a peek into the lives of the Astronaut’s families. It’s a great reminder that no matter how famous someone is, life isn’t always perfect, and people are people no matter what.

Ponderizing.. In the recent LDS General Conference, Elder Durrant coined a new word “Ponderize”. It’s a mix of pondering the scriptures and memorizing them. This week I’m ponderizing Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19

Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his dilligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

Making A List.. I have never been a list person. No particular reason for that, it’s just not something I’ve done. Until now. My life has had so many roads going through it now, that I’ve decided it’s time to start making a list. Hopefully it will organize my brain so I don’t forget things, and I’ll feel less like a crazy person.

Chaperoning.. I’m going on my first school field trip with Princess V this week! Ever since the kids started school, I’ve wanted to chaperon a field trip. I found a babysitter for Little Prince so Thursday I can hang out with 3rd graders at Conner Prairie. A month ago Little Prince and I checked out this cool place, so here’s a photo from that day.

What are you Currently up to? Share with me in the comments or in your own post!

October 13, 2015
One Room Challenge: The Everything Room

I’m so excited to be sharing my One Room Challenge with you all this month. Each week I’ll give you a little peek into what I’ve been doing to make our Family Room/Everything Room the best place it can be.

There’s 6 of us in this house, and I’ve come to realize that 3 bedrooms, a kitchen/dining room and 1 family/living space is a bit cramped. We use this space for family relaxing, chatting with visitors, and folding laundry.

As much as I would love just one extra room to split those activities apart, I don’t have it. So it’s time to work with what I have, and really make it a fun place, right? The following pictures may be overwhelming…but by November 12th it’s going to be a world of difference!

Yeah, that makes me feel almost too exposed! This is the first room people see coming into my home, and I need it to look better than this! We’ve already started redoing this room, but it has a ways to go still – obviously!

A week ago that was my bookshelf – eeee! Frightening really. As my dear sister in law described it, the “college styled” bookshelf had to go! Mark built me a fantastic wooden window seat/bookshelf. It holds all the books plus some more, and provides extra seating in the room. I’ll be making a cushion to go on top this month, for a little more color and comfort.

It’s been a long time since we’ve owned a new couch. When we moved here I decided it was high time we had a nice couch that actually fit in the space we had. I fell in love with this charcoal piece, and it fit so perfectly. Everyone loves sitting here. The space above needed some art though. I’ve got an old painting from my college art days that I’ll be use to teach you how to stretch your own canvas painting for hanging.

Finally, the big elephant in the room – we have 2 pianos! Very recently we paid off our used upright. It was our Christmas present to ourselves 3 years ago. Recently Mark had an idea to turn an old baby ground piano into a bookshelf. So we managed to acquire one for absolutely FREE!

The problem? While the company was going to throw out this baby grand, there’s really not that much wrong with it – so instead of turning it into a bookshelf, we’re toying with the idea of having it tuned and fixed up. Until that happens though, we’re hanging onto both pianos! AHH!

Thanks to Calling It Home for hosting this One Room Challenge!

Check out the linky to see what other bloggers are working on.

October 9, 2015
Weekend Bites #55 Comfort Food

Share, browse and enjoy some of the best recipes around on Weekend Bites!

New to Weekend Bites? Here’s the run down
Visit my cohost Debi at Practical Parenting

1. Link up your any food related post below

2. Browse the linky, visit some new blogs, and share if you feel so inclined.

3. Please only link up 3 posts. This lets us visit as many of you as possible.
4. By linking up you give me permission to feature your photos on Home Maid Simple (always linking back to you of course!)

5. Each month I send out a newsletter with the most popular links from that month – you may be featured!! This is a once a month newsletter, every first Friday of the month, no spamming involved. Subscribe!

I have been sick for exactly one week now. Somedays I think YES! I’m getting better! and then it takes a downturn again. Currently I seem to have lost some hearing on my right side, which is quite an interesting effect. To make myself feel a little better, I’ve been browsing your recipes, and pulled four to feature this week that speak total comfort to me.
Whether you’re sick too, or just ready for good fall comfort recipes, enjoy these features!

FEATURES

Pumpkin Apple Chimichangas

from Home Cooking Memories

Easy Butternut Squash Soup

from A Dish of Daily Life

Spicy Asian Vegan Meatballs

from Small Green Kitchen

White Chocolate Dipped Cannoli with Strawberry Cream

from Atta Girl Says

Grab a Featured Button!

An InLinkz Link-up

October 9, 2015
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker on Tour! + Discount Tickets

I will receive tickets to attend Moscow Ballet’s Great Russion Nutcracker in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love love love the ballet! When I was 3 I remember my mom taking me to see a performance (either Swan Lake or The Nutcracker). Since I was only 3 they weren’t going to allow me in, but my Mom convinced the teller that I would be perfectly quiet, and possibly better than some of the others there – so they let me in!

I was sold on the beauty. While I wanted to take lessons, I knew I would never dance professionally. When my oldest turned 3 however, I got her into dance classes. She has grown into a beautiful young lady, and truly has the perfect dancers body. She loves dancing, and it is during her classes I see her really shine with a smile on her face that’s hard to come by most days.

When I heard Moscow Ballet’s Great Russion Nutcracker would be going on tour this fall, and that we lived close enough to one of the performances, I’ve been a bit stalkerish, lol. This is something I would love to take all my girls to, but for the sake of the audience, will probably be just the oldest and myself going.

The production includes over 200 costumes and 10 foot tall playful animal puppets! There’s a life sized Matrushka Doll – the nesting dollw – and a puppet show that shadows the Nutcracker Story at the opening Chrismas Party. The really cool part I’ve never seen, a golden cannon shoots roses out during the battle between the Nutcracker and the Rat Kind. Finally in Act II there is a “Dove of Peace” with a 20 foot wingspan with 2 dancers on each wing.

I seriously can not wait for November 28th to roll around! Find the full tour schedule here.

Get your Discount Tickets!

Use the code JOY for the biggest discount around!

October 8, 2015
DIY Oil Change Date Night + Printable Notecards!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DIYOilChange #CollectiveBias

Looking for a really fun date night that will have your man smiling the whole time? What would any guy like more on date night than to do something they enjoy? Last week that’s exactly what we did! I’ve decided it’s high time I learn some more handy skills around the house – like how to change my cars oil.

I told Mark I wanted to learn how to change the oil, I could tell he was pretty stoked with the idea. When I came out wearing his shirt and my holey jeans, he was definitely a happy man.

First was a stop at Walmart to pick up everything we needed – namely Pennzoil Platinum Full synthetic motor oil! Along with the new oil we also grabbed an oil catcher, oil filter, and air filter. According to Mark the air filter should be changed with every other oil filter.
Be sure to check what weight and grade oil your car needs. I would have had no idea to even check that if it weren’t for Mark! You can check your cars manual, or possibly on the oil cap like mine was. Thankfully Walmart has this cool device to find exactly what oil filter you need for your car too.

So let’s get started! Now that I know how to change my cars oil, I’m ready to teach you.

*Please use standard safety procedures when changing your oil. You should always refer to your own car’s manual before changing your oil.*

DIY Oil Change

You will need:

Pennzoil Platinum Full synthetic motor oil – it’s high quality oil is designed to fully protect my car’s engine!

Oil catcher

Car Jack

Car Jack Stand

Oil filter

Allen Wrench

Oil Filter Wrench

First things first is to get the car lifted. I learned that my awesome car has built in reinforced areas on the frame specifically for jacking up the car. How cool is that?! OK maybe that’s standard on most vehicles these days, I thought it was nifty. Don’t forget to block the back tires for an added safety measure!

Once you have both sides lifted on their jacks, it’s time to move to the oil changing part. Before you head under the car, you want to get some air flow going in the oil pan. This I knew, because it’s like emptying any other can of liquid – good airflow means a steady stream, bad airflow and the liquid galumps out this way and that – similar to your laundry detergent bottles.

Unscrew the oil cap, and pull the dipstick out to allow extra air flow. Now it’s time to head under the car! When I first scooted myself underneath I looked at Mark and said

“this makes me really anxious being under the car”

To which he responded

“Good. It should!”

So I felt completely capable at this point knowing I was normal to be anxious. At this point you need to locate the oil pan, and the screw bolt holding the oil in. For this part you need the Allen Wrench fitted with the right size bolt, and the oil catcher. A great reason to do this for date night, is your date can hand you the tools as you need them, so you’re not sliding in and out a bunch.

Here’s a little more inside look to this picture
- Anxiety
- I totally got this!
- Ahh! The wind picked up! note to self and everyone else – don’t do it on a windy day!
- There goes the oil! My hand’s dripping, probably should hold that over the pan until I get a rag.
Totally fun right! Mark was having a blast watching my facial expressions and snapping these photos for me. At this point I knew I was totally glad I put on HIS tee-shirt and my holey jeans. He loves when I wear his clothes, and I didn’t care that I was getting dirty.

Once the oil is all out, replace the bolt! You don’t want to put your new oil in, and have it all spill out the bottom!

For the oil filter you’ll use that REALLY BIG WRENCH, and unscrew the whole filter. It’s pretty close to the oil pan, and just hanging down, so you shouldn’t have too hard a time finding it. There will be oil in it, so keep that oil catcher nearby, and then go ahead and put the filter inside the catcher as well. Rub some oil on the new filter, and screw it on. Here’s some key points for the oil filter change:
- Make sure you get the old rubber washer off with the old filter. You don’t want it doubled up!
- Rub oil on the new filter’s washer before replacing.
- Screw new filter on just hand tight.
- Make sure you’re screwing it on straight and not crossing threads.
A second pair of hands and eyes was great to have. Mark enjoyed checking my work, and felt impressed with how tight I was able to get that filter back on.

Once you’ve finished up under the car, go ahead and take the car off the jacks. Please remember safety first! Lift the car up with the jack, remove the car stands, and lower the car down.

Now we’re ready to add our new oil! Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil keeps my cars pistons cleaner than 40% of the toughest industry standard. It’s also great for fuel economy, allowing us to drive an extra 550 miles a year vs driving with a dirty engine. Plus with Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil we get a 10 year/300,000 mile Lubrication Limited Warranty!

To replace oil, put a funnel in the oil intake hole – so not the technical term here guys! – and pour in your oil. Check your cars owner manual to see how much oil your car needs. Ours took a full 5 qts.

Replace the oil cap, push the dipstick back in, and feel accomplished. WAIT! We’re not quite done. To make sure you’ve got enough oil in, and you did it properly, run the motor for a minute or two to push the oil through the engine. Turn off the car and check the dipstick. To do this you pull it out, clean it off, and dip it back in. You’re now good to go if the oil is in the right area on your dipstick.

WELL DONE! You’ve now changed your oil. To make it even simpler, I’ve created these printable note cards for you! Print, cut, attach a ring, and you can change your oil anytime all on your own.

PRINT PAGE 1

PRINT PAGE 2

Check out these 5 great tips from Eric The Car Guy!

BONUS: If you’re ready to change the air filter, it’s so simple! There are 4 screws holding the air filter in. Unscrew those, remove the old filter, and put in your new one. Now you’re really rocking it!

Do you know how to change your car’s oil? Make it a Date Night and tell me all about it! Check out more tips and tricks for a #DIYOilChange
October 6, 2015
Weekend Bites #54 Halloween Treats

New to Weekend Bites? Here’s the run down
Visit my cohost Debi at Practical Parenting

1. Link up your any food related post below

2. Browse the linky, visit some new blogs, and share if you feel so inclined.

3. Please only link up 3 posts. This lets us visit as many of you as possible.
4. By linking up you give me permission to feature your photos on Home Maid Simple (always linking back to you of course!)

5. Each month I send out a newsletter with the most popular links from that month – you may be featured!! This is a once a month newsletter, every first Friday of the month, no spamming involved. Subscribe!

Oh so many good recipes were shared last week. I finally narrowed it down to some Halloween goodies to feature for you. I’ve pulled my minimal Halloween decor out this week, and the kids are raving about our Family Costume idea. We’re going as the emotions from Inside Out. Since there’s 6 of us though, and only 5 emotions I’ll be dressing up as Bing Bong. I’m pretty stoked about how it’s coming together, and can’t wait to show you later this month.

I hope you’ve all had a fantastic week! I’m looking forward to browsing your recipes as I make this next week’s menu plan.

FEATURES

Monster Chocolate Covered Pretzels

from Whimsy & Hope

No-Bake Spiderweb Cheesecake

from Inspiration For Moms

Ghost Chocolate Cream Pie Bites

from Sugar & Soul

Halloween Beverage Bar

from Clean and Scentsible

Grab a Featured Button!

An InLinkz Link-up

October 2, 2015
Celebrate Fall with New Barber Foods Chicken Cordon Bleu

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SimplySpecialMeals #CollectiveBias

Anyone with picky kids understands the struggle of finding a meal everyone will eat without complaining. So when I say I was shouting with joy and telling everyone about our meal last week that every single one of my kids ate without complaint, you’ll understand. It was also one of the simplest meals we’ve had in awhile. Chicken Cordon Bleu, steamed broccoli, and S&P Rice.

Growing up I always looked forward to New Years Eve because it meant eating my Aunt’s homemade Chicken Cordon Bleu. I was in love with that dish, and often wondered why she didn’t make it more often. Her response was that it’s time consuming, and difficult, so only for a special occasion – namely New Years Eve.

I’ve made her recipe a handful of times myself now, and yeah, while I love it, it’s not a regular from scratch meal. I saw Barber Foods at Kroger, and noticed they had new packaging with a brand new recipe for their stuffed chickens. It was almost the first day of fall, so I thought to myself

Adelina – Get your favorite dish and throw a party for the kids. You deserve it!

SAVE $1.00 Off Original Stuffed Chicken Breasts

So I did just that! I grabbed a couple boxes of the Chicken Cordon Bleu, some sparkling grape juice, and fresh broccoli. To me, chicken cordon bleu just goes perfectly with a side of steamed broccoli and perfectly cooked rice. The bubbly as we call it, just rounds out a good celebration dinner.

Three ingredients for the perfect meal that had all the kids eating? YES! You guys, we may have been celebrating the first day of fall last week, but for me the real celebration was a dinner with happy kids eating good food.

One thing I noticed and was surprised about the Barber Foods Chicken is that it’s not actually precooked. You’re buying raw chicken that’s been stuffed and breaded – ready to be cooked. To me that just feels more fresh. Follow the cooking directions on the box, and be sure to get the internal temp to 165 F.

Once you have the chicken in the oven, get your broccoli and rice going. Start your rice first as it takes the longest.

Rice

1 cup uncooked long grain rice

2 cups water

1 tbs butter

Pour all the ingredients into a medium sauce pan. Place over medium-low heat. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. I like to check it about twice during cooking, and give it a good stir. This helps keep the rice on the bottom from burning to the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper.

Steamed Broccoli

2 medium Broccoli stalks

Water

Chop up the broccoli into bite sized trees. Place in the top of a steamer pan. Fill the bottom of the steamer with water. Place over medium-high heat. Cover and steam until broccoli is soft.

While the dinner is cooking, I made some Confetti Poppers for the kids. Any good celebration has confetti right? These are simple, and lots of fun.

DIY Confetti Poppers

Colored construction paper

cardboard tube

tissue paper

ribbon

Cut your construction paper into confetti pieces.

Cut the cardboard tube in half. Place the ends next to each other, on top of your tissue paper. Roll the tissue paper around the tube.

Tie off one end of the tissue with a ribbon.

Fill the tube with your confetti. Tie off the other end.

Decorate as you please!

Do you know what’s another great thing to celebrate – dinner being at the same time! The chicken, rice and broccoli, when cooked in the order I gave, will all be done within 2-3 minutes of each other.

The kids thought the Barber Chicken Cordon Bleu was like a humongous chicken nugget, and when they found the cheese in the middle it was like a treasure. Rice is always a winner with thems, and the broccoli while not a favorite, they overlooked complaining about as they were so enthralled with the chicken.

Follow Barber Foods

Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

What are you celebrating this month? Tell me what you’d pair with the new Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken.

September 28, 2015
Weekend Bites #53 Fall Flavors

New to Weekend Bites? Here’s the run down
Visit my cohost Debi at Practical Parenting

1. Link up your any food related post below

2. Browse the linky, visit some new blogs, and share if you feel so inclined.

3. Please only link up 3 posts. This lets us visit as many of you as possible.
4. By linking up you give me permission to feature your photos on Home Maid Simple (always linking back to you of course!)

5. Each month I send out a newsletter with the most popular links from that month – you may be featured!! This is a once a month newsletter, every first Friday of the month, no spamming involved. Subscribe!

Fall is here ya’ll! Autumn is my favorite season of all! The leaves change color, the weather is a perfect blend of cool and warm. You can still play outside, then cuddle up under a blanket with a cup of cocoa or a bowl of soup to warm up in the evenings. The first day of fall was on Wednesday, and that has me all kinds of happy! So this week, enjoy the fall flavors.

FEATURES

Apple Ginger Slow Cooker Ham

from Lemons for Lulu

Pumpkin Orange Crescent Rolls

from Just Us Four

Sweet Potato Apple Dish

from Little House Living

Hearty Fish Chowder

from A Pretty Life

Grab a Featured Button!

An InLinkz Link-up

September 25, 2015