Unplugging: Can You Do It? Your Family Will Love You For It

I don't know about you but my family craves my attention all the time. I have learned that unplugging every now and then is the best thing a mom can do for her family. Put that phone away, close your computer and get out and live life without technology for a little while. Take a walk, go outside and play with the kids, do some housework without looking at your phone every 5 min. Your family and your stress level will thank you for unplugging. Not to mention you will sleep better without the light from your phone. This can be painless momma, its not forever.

Get health and fitness tips at Greatist.com

Do-It-Yourself Cleaning Solutions #diy #frugal

Credit to Picklee for this cute infographic
I have used all of these and they all work fabulously, save money and time! Just follow the directions and find your new go to cleaning solutions.

Merry Christmas Blessings

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Wishing your family a wonderful and joyous holiday season. Praying that you find the joy in Jesus that our family shares.

The birth of one small child in a stable on a starry night in Bethlehem is the reason for the season of joy!

Share it with someone you love.

 

 

Frisbee Strikes Again #elfontheshelf

What's your Elf up to? Ours has been busy hanging around and decorating the doggies...lol

Daisy and Buttons (our pug/schnauzer mix babies) awoke to find jingle bell red and green matching collars around their fat little piggie necks. He left matching Santa hats for them to wear also...so stinkin cute.

What has your Elf been up to? Tell me in the comments.

 

 

Festive Fruit Pizza A Family Favorite At Our House #recipes #holiday

Every time I need to make and take a dessert to a get together my family shouts out "Fruit Pizza"! They love this luscious fruity pizza like pie. I sorta combined recipes over the years to make my own concoction, so bear with me trying to post the ingredient list.
This time my daughter Sarah who is 10 wanted to make her own pie for our family as I made one to take to work for a co-workers birthday party. You will be amazed at the chef-like creation my 10 yr old daughter whipped up. Mommy helped minimally.

Sarah's Fruit Pizza!

My Fruit Pizza Creation!

Ingredient List :

• Sugar cookie dough- I buy the rolls or big bucket at "SAMs", I have made from scratch but find it work better premade and already chilled.
• Cream cheese-softened-2 blocks per pizza
• Cool whip -1-8oz container per pizza( use vanilla if you want extra yummy)
• Heavy whipping cream ( optional-makes base creamier)
• Sugar -1cup per pizza
• Lemon zest or juice--or almond extract (your taste in base)
• Confectioners sugar -for glaze
• Juice of an orange -for glaze
• Assorted fresh fruit in season drained of juices-I like kiwi, blueberries,strawberries,mandarin oranges,raspberries,blackberries, bananas (slice and pat juices with paper towel so it does not run)

 How To:

• Start with a pizza pan /stone or a baking/cookie sheet, place parchment paper or aluminum foil on pan to ease clean up. 
• Grease foil pan with coconut oil(my preference-works great in baking).
• Take your sugar cookie dough and begin to form a huge cookie bottom on your pan. 
• If you are using slice rolls , cut then approx 1in wide or so and put them down on the pan. Roll out or use your hands ( grease them first) to press the dough all over the pan. 
• Your choice if you want an edge or roll around the edges.

Now bake cookie dough as directed on your dough directions.

Let cool completely

You can start mixing the base or pizza sauce for your pizza while the cookie is baking and cooling.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, whipped cream, lemon zest or extract (or your choice of flavorings), and sugar. Pour heavy whipping cream in as you mix with your beaters or free standing mixer.

When the base is a totally mixed and whipped together to your liking, apply to the baked cookie crust
of your pizza. I use a spatula to ease the spread of the mixture.

Get all your fruits ready to go, sliced, dry and no dripping juices to run.

The pizza is now ready to be your canvas to place all your fruits in any patterns you desire. Anything goes, you can get as creative as you please. I start from the center and work my way out, rotating colors.

When you are all done, mix your glaze, the confectioners sugar and juice of an orange or a lemon, with a whisk. Use a pastry brush to paint the glaze over all the fruit to give it an extra shine and help keep it fresh.

Place your pizzas in the fridge to chill, cut with a pizza cutter and serve. Your family will enjoy I promise. The longer this delight sits the better it gets. Yummy....... just shake out all those calories.

Choose Your $50 Gift Card Giveaway! Live until 12/14 #giveaway

Welcome to the Choose Your $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

Hosted By: Simply Southern Couponers

Co-Hosted By: Tales From A Southern Mom, Sweet Southern Lovin, My Silly Gang, An Exercise in Frugality, Romania and Missions, The Breezy Mama, Deliciously Savvy, Delightful Ideas, Fun Fierce Fab Beauty Over 50 and Love Me Some Coupons!

A special thanks to all of the bloggers participating and helping promote this event! This giveaway could not be possible without all of them, so be sure to stop by and send them a thank you.

One lucky winner will receive a $50 Gift Card of their choice.

(Old Navy, Target, Kohl's, Walmart, Toys R Us or Amazon)

Chips Off The Old Block blog is delighted to help promote this giveaway. Winning a gift card from any of the choice stores can help with your last minute gift buying, a stocking stuffer, secret Santa gift for someone special or you can use it to shop for you yourself! 
I am liking that Amazon gift card, my favorite spot the shop.....my couch..online.

Good Luck!! Let me know if you win, that would be so exciting. 

Event Details:

December 1st - December 14th

Open to US Residents only.

Must be 18+ to enter.

How to Enter:

Enter using the Entry Form below. By entering you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions listed on the Entry Form. All winning entries will be verified. Winner will receive an email from Jennifer at simplysoutherncouponers@gmail.com and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thanks for entering.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Chips On The Old Block blog  received no compensation for this post. Simply Southern Couponers is responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed by, affiliated with, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google or any other social media platform. If you have any questions please email Jennifer at simplysoutherncouponers@gmail.com.

   

Homeschool Domination: Why These Kids Will Take You Down [infographic]

Interesting facts about Homeschooling vs Public schooling, you wonder why more and more parents are turning to homeschooling, this shows you why.

Bring That Special Christmas Joy To Your Loved Ones

For years now, The Mommies Network has provided an easy way to bring special Christmas joy to the children in your life with letters from Santa himself. This year we've partnered with Top Santa Letters to make it better than ever!

With help from Top Santa Letters we are able to offer more personalization, more letters, and add on gifts and prizes! And because the elves at The Mommies Network don’t have to print, ship, and repost those letters, you know yours will arrive in about 4 days- direct from the North Pole.

Here are just some of the things you can expect from your Mommies Network exclusive letter packages: -FREE and fast shipping -Full editing capability to make a truly unique letter. -Order for more than one child in a single transaction. -Stickers, activity pages and more!

Ordering your Santa letters from Top Santa Letters through The Mommies Network allows us to raise funds that maintain our sites across the country and support moms daily both online & offline. Great products for a great cause! Get on Santa’s Nice List and order today.

Black Friday 2013 is here! No Waiting

   
This post does contain affiliate links 

I don't know about your area of the country, but here in North Carolina it is going to be a cool, I mean cold as a well diggers butt cold-- 20 some degrees tonight. This girl is not going out to the shopping madness in the cold to fight somebody over a TV. I am gonna sit right here on my hiney and shop online. Amazon is my favorite online shopping spot, and they have some fantastic deals right now.

 Black Friday 2013 is here! You won't have to wait until midnight or stand in a long line to get the best Black Friday deals because you can get them right here, right now. Amazon has been searching for the best Black Friday deals everywhere--including deals other stores have--so they can bring them to you even earlier. These limited-supply deals will go quickly, but they will add new ones now through Black Friday, so you can skip the long lines and still save a bundle.

Wow, just scanning thru the Black Friday page (click here) I see so much I want to buy, 40%, 50%, 60% and even 70% off. With my Amazon Prime membership the shipping will be free too!! Can't beat that! 

 Happy Savings and Shopping Day (or night)

Have A Blessed Thanksgiving!

From our house to yours we wish you a safe and blessed Thanksgiving Day. Count your blessings, no matter how small, and praise our Father above for all the goodness he bestows upon us daily.

Happy Thanksgiving

How To Cook A Turkey 101 & Thanksgiving Gift Card Giveaway

 I think all Moms love to save money on holiday meals, I know I do. Feels like the holidays are always so stressful financially around here.
Here is a Thanksgiving Gift card Giveaway that is so easy to enter via Whole Mom. I love this site it is full of giveaways, funny stuff and interesting news that moms like me crave somedays.
Just click the photo banner and "like" the WholeMom Facebook page, enter to win $150 for your holiday meal. Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pie!
Now grab a bottle of your favorite wine and let me show you how to cook that bird......lol

Love it, thats what happens when momma cooks the turkey all by herself without any help, lessons learned it guess....lol

Remember to enter to win your chance at the gift card and check out all the other cool giveaways posted on the Whole Mom website.

Enjoy these savings at the grocery store: