Caramel Hot Chocolate with a Hershey's Kiss recipe with a free printable

The weather outside is pretty chilly. Sweaters, jackets, gloves and scarfs are out of storage and being worn to keep from freezing. This holiday season stay warm with this tasty beverage that will make you smile.

 

 

All you need is some delicious ingredients from your pantry. I used caramel from Mrs. Calls, because I had that on hand, but you may use any caramel candy that is at your local grocery store such as Brach's, Smucker's or Bequet Caramel ( adjust cooking time for the softer caramel). Click on the image below to get your free printable. (Thank you Jill from Sandy Toes and Popsicles for making this beautiful printable.)

 

Directions: Unwrap the caramel candy and pour into the cup you will be using for the final product.  Melt the caramel in the microwave by heating it for 5 seconds (time may vary depending on the caramel. Less time for Soft Caramel and for a more thick caramel add 5 seconds.) Then  pour the milk over the caramel and add the Hershey Cocoa mix. Stir all ingredients together until it is mixed well. One last time in the microwave for an additional 35 seconds to warm the milk. Take out and stir to mix the ingredients. Taste it  to make sure it is warm enough for you. Add additional time if needed, but not too much. Add the 2 kisses to make it sweet and mix well. Finish by adding your favorite dairy cream such as Cool Whip or Reddi Whip.  If you have extra Hershey kisses add one on top just because. 

    

Each kitchen is different and cooking times may vary.  I enjoy a hot beverage that does not burn my mouth. I have taken that into consideration in this recipe. Use your creative side when making this yummy treat.  Tip: Using bright and seasonal coffee cups can make it a little more fun. I hope you enjoy this recipe.  

 

Ikea is helping Education.

My family and I have been regular customers of Ikea for several years. We love their food, furniture, soft toys, art supplies and live plants. Shopping at their stores is a happy adventure. From the time we walk in until the time we check out, we find new and unique items for the entire home. For years we have been shopping during the holidays at Ikea to support education.

During the shopping season, they offer extreme discounts and that is an added bonus to our experience.  This holiday season, shop and help education through the purchase of a soft toy. For every toy you buy, Ikea will donate to UNICEF and SAVE The Children. Shopping and helping education all at the same time is made easy.  "The Ikea Foundation has donated more than $51 million to UNICEF's education programs for children in Africa and Asia," said Caryl Stern. President and CEO of the U.S. fund for UNICEF." Help continue supporting children throughout the world without leaving your backyard. Help me spread the word. 

 

While you shop you might get hungry, so remember to look at their cafeteria for a snack or a great tasting meal. Their breakfast is our favorite but you have to wake up early. So think about shopping early for the best deals and best food specials. Check with your local store for a list of the menu. This is the menu for the Costa Mesa Store.

This is a piece that we have been wanting for our new place. The collection is extraordinary beautiful and a multi-functional piece of furniture for the home. It is on the Christmas list for this year. It is not on sale, but a matching piece is this Friday November 29, 2013 the EXPEDIT Shelving only $19.99. Can't wait to pick it up and organize my books on the EXPEDIT shelving unit. Find more exciting items on sale: 

Friday, November 29, 2013
EXPEDIT shelving unit for only $19.99 (reg $39.99) Limit 2 per household

Saturday, November 30, 2013
DINERA dinnerware set only $4.99/4pack (reg $9.99/4pk or $14.99/4pk) Limit 4 per household. Offer for brown or gray-blue dishes only.

Sunday, December 1, 2013
BENNO TV unit with casters only $39.99 (reg $79.99) Limit 2 per household

Friday, November 29 – Sunday, December 1, 2013
Get 50% OFF all soft toys all weekend long!
One-day-only offers are valid only for the specified dates. Available in US stores only. Limited quantities. While supplies last. May require assembly. No rainchecks will be given. All textiles are imported.

Check with your local store for events that are happening during the holidays.

FREE Children Crafts in the Entrance at the Costa Mesa Store:
IKEA Orange County Costa Mesa
1475 South Coast Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Phone: 888-888-4532
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm
Sun 10am-8pm

● Friday, November 29 from 12pm – 2pm: Face painter

● Saturday, November 30 from 2pm - 4pm: Balloon Art

● Friday, December 6 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Ornament

● Friday, December 13 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Wreaths

● Friday, December 20 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Reindeer Hats

● Sunday, December 22 from 2pm – 4pm: Photos w/ Santa Claus & frame craft

● Friday, December 27 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Handprint Mittens

Confirm dates and times through their homepage Ikea Activities

 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Times and dates were copied from their website for accuracy. All thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting education.

 

Giveaway: Post-it Brand prize package.

The great people of Post-it Brand mailed me this great ruby red Pop-up note dispenser to try out. I am completely over the moon about it. I do have to say it made me laugh, because I had been wishing for a diamond and God sent me this gorgeous Ruby Red diamond desk dispenser. I do love paper and pencils, so I was very grateful for the diamond dispenser. To make the gift even more special the Post-it Brand are sponsoring a holiday package that includes  a chance to win Assorted Post-it products including: Post-it Super Sticky Notes,  block Note Holder, Full Adhesive Roll, and post-it Pockets. 

 

Courtesy Post-it

 

Let me just tell you a little about what great gifts you can find with Post-it brand. This holiday season they are introducing the Post-it Ruby Pop-up Note dispenser along with Post-it Note Holder and Picture frame, Post-it Jax Pop-up Note Dispenser and Post-it Pop-up Note Karate Dispenser. These items will make a great gift for co-workers, teachers, and family. The prices start from $2.50 and up. To find out all the other items that Post-it has to offer and get great gift ideas go to their website Post-it Brand.  This year make your holiday shopping a little less stressful and shop on-line. Post-it Brand can help you bring holiday cheer to your friends and loves ones.   

 

Disclaimer: Giveaway is being sponsored by Post-it brand. There was no monetary compensation for this review. I did receive one post-it item for review. All thoughts and opinions are all my own.   

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My first edible Turkey Art -

 

Last week, I made my first edible art Turkey project for a party decoration.  It is cute in it's own funny way and I wanted to share it with my readers. The best part of this project is that it was super easy and you can eat the fruit after it's been used as your table decoration.  For this project, I used a melon, a Bosc pear, bell peppers, grapes, blueberries and Gala apples.  I had also purchased strawberries to add to my turkey but the kids ate them before I had the chance to decorate with them.  I had to use what was left over and this is what it looked like after I was done.  There are many fruits and vegetables you can use to make your own edible art however my supply list and instructions on how to make it are below.  This is just in time for Thanksgiving and won't take you away from all of the other cooking for too long.

 

You will need a few things to get started. Different size skewers and one mallet (hammer). I used toothpicks, apple skewers and the larger size kabob skewers as seen above. These can be found at your local market but I recommend going to the Dollar Store. The mallet makes it easier to hammer the toothpicks and skewers into the fruit that you are using. This is similar to non-carving fruit.  Don't forget a cutting board to protect your countertop.

 

You can use any type of melon or cantaloupe to make the body.  Find a large round fruit like a melon or cantaloupe that will sit firmly on the table without rolling around too much. The head can be a Bosc pear because of the color of the peel.  The feet are orange bell peppers and feathers can be apples.  Next, use the blueberries for the eyes.  Remember that the large skewers will add weight to the fruit and tilt it just a little, so keep that in mind when build it.

 

First, start with the pear and blueberries. Apple size skewers are best to attach the blueberries to the pear and melon. The pear should be attached with the tail facing down to give it character and the appearance of the head and neck. It should be positioned towards the top half of the fruit.  Once you know where you want the head (Bosc pear) to be secured then use the mallet to push it through gently without pushing the skewer all the way in.  Make sure to use 2 or 3 skewers to ensure the head stays secure to the body.  By now, you will see the head with the eyes and neck.

 

Work on putting fruit on skewers to make the tail feathers of the turkey.  Use the long skewers for grapes, strawberries and blueberries are great for making these feathers. Play with the combination of bite size fruits on the skewers to make it your own creation.  One suggestion I would like to share is skewer the grapes length wise, because you will use less fruit and cover more area.  It is up to you which fruits or veggies you use for this part.  Five skewers worked for me on a honeydew melon.  Remember it gets top heavy and it starts to lose balance if you put too much weight, so choose your fruits or veggies carefully.  Once you have skewered the fruit, use your mallet again and hammer them on the back of the body.  I suggest use five fingers from the Bosc Pear to the skewered fruit.  You will have to use your own judgment as fruit comes in different sizes.

 

Cut the beak, snood and feet out of a yellow and red bell pepper. Make a triangle out of a yellow bell pepper and secure it with toothpicks. The snood can be made from the red bell pepper. Cut it in the shape of a wobbly candy cane. The snood is the piece that hangs off the beak. (My picture doesn't show it, because it fell off at the party.)  Once  you have completed this step your are done!  Congratulations you made your first edible turkey art. It is fun if you include your kids in the process or a friend.  Try it and surprise your family with this fun food project.

 

You can see more great ideas on this subject by visiting these great websites.

Spoonful by Disney

Happy Home Fairy.com

Eating with food Allergies

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Disclaimer: Personal blog all thoughts and ideas are all my own.  

Knott's Berry Farm Holiday Celebrations- MerryFarm

Disclaimer: Thank you to Knott's Berry Farm for inviting us to media day. Thank you GigaSavvy for supplying a photo and details on the entertainment. All thoughts and opinions are all my own.

 

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year! Yes, it is that time of the year, when we all celebrate the holidays and gather with our loved ones. We have been going to Knott's Berry Farm since we were little kids to celebrate this joyous time. It is a great way for us to enjoy the season with our friends and family.  As you can tell by the picture above, we had a great time with Snoopy last year. So naturally, we are going this year to see all the new shows Knott's Berry Farm has and have some amazing fun. We have heard that this holiday season, Knott's will have several incredible attractions including Santa's Christmas Cabin, Snoopy's Merriest Tree Lighting and Snoopy's Magical Nights of Lights. There will lots of fun, entertainment and holiday cheer for even the biggest Scrooge to get in the spirit of the holidays. To help you plan your day, we are sharing this great list of must see and do:

1. It's Christmas Snoopy! - Charles M. Schulz Theatre

This show promises to have live doves and snow.

 

2. Santa's Christmas Cabin- Will host some delicious treats for purchase.

Tell Santa your wish list and take photos with him for a small fee.  

 Santa’s Sundae Bar - homemade cookies, sundae bar, decadent hot chocolate topped with hand carved chocolate shavings.

 

3. Snoopy's Tree Lighting - Calico Square

 

4. Christmas Aboard Engine 41 – Calico Steam Train

Join the Ghost Town residents as you ride along with them and they tell you about their exciting holiday plans.

 

5. Lucy's Wish List– Camp Snoopy Theatre

Sing and Dance with Lucy, Linus and Charley Brown in a magical holiday show.

 

6. Calico Saloon Christmas Show – Calico Saloon

A turn of the century holiday celebration

 

7. “A Christmas Carol” and “The Gift of a Magi” – Bird Cage Theatre

Dickens and O'Henry classics that are a must see for the entire family.

 

8. Calico Carolers – Throughout Ghost Town

 

9. The Ghost Town Miners – Spurs stage

A Christmas Bluegrass music extravaganza that you can't miss.

 

10. Snoopy's Magical Nights of Lights – Camp Snoopy

Camp Snoopy illuminates with thousands of Christmas lights from Nov 28th thru Jan 5th
 

 11. Christmas Crafts Fair- Ghost Town

Wood, Glass and Iron crafters selling beautiful handmade items. You can find one of kind gifts for all of your friends and family. 

Photo courtesy of Gigasavvy and Knott's Berry Farm

The Peanuts characters will be there for photograph opportunities throughout the day. Look for them after the shows or while you are waiting for a ride and capture your holiday moment.

 

The best way to enjoy the park is by purchasing annual passes. This way you may visit often without the pressure of doing it all in one day.  Please remember to wear comfortable shoes and check the time for the shows. We hope to see you at Knott's Merry Farm this holiday season. 
 Knott's Berry Farm is located at:
 

Knott's Berry Farm - 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park CA 90620

 

Tickets and Discounts- There are many discount opportunities for Military, Fire and Police, Qualified companies with 100 or more employees can access special savings at Knott’s Berry Farm. Make sure you don't miss this great opportunity to visit during the holidays.

 

May all your holiday wishes come true. Happy Holidays!

Giveaway 3 - Puritan's Pride Healthy ingredients for cooking this holiday season.

Want to get healthy and make a change in how you cook. Choose healthy ingredients like Raw Honey, Almonds, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extra and Almond flour for your pancakes, cupcakes, breakfast foods and yummy sweet treats. To get you started on a healthy holiday season the people at Puritan's Pride have offered to host a giveaway package to FieldTripMom.com readers. Here is what you will receive:

Raw Honey

Raw Honey is sweeter and denser than white sugar, so you may find yourself using less.  

Almonds

Almonds are one of the most nutritious of all nuts. A 1 oz. serving of almonds provides a good source of Vitamin E and Magnesium.  Yummy and delicious, a handful will ward off hunger and tastes great, too!  

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice with a sweet and warm fragrance and is great for use on desserts during the holidays—especially apple and pumpkin-infused dishes.  Cinnamon is an ancient herb that has been referenced in Chinese texts dating back thousands of years.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Extract has a honey-like scent and sweet flavor. Try it as an ingredient in virtually dessert – ice cream, cakes, cookies, pies, custards, frosting, meringues, smoothies and puddings. 

Almond Flour

This unblanched, gluten-free flour that is an excellent low-carb substitute for other flours used in baking, either wholly or in part. With Almond Flour, you can add color, texture, richness, and flavor to your baked goods, as well as everyday meals.
I can't wait to make French toast, pancakes and cupcakes with these delicious healthy ingredients that are gluten free. Thank you to the good people of Puritan's Pride for sponsoring this great giveaway.

 

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The description of the ingredients were taken from their Puritan's Pride to ensure accuracy. I received samples for review only.

Giveaway 2 - Irvine Park Railroad 18th annual Christmas Train opens on Friday, November 29th

Photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad

It is that time of the year when Santa Claus comes to the Irvine Park Railroad. This is a great experience that reminds me of the movie Polar Express. The train takes you to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus on the other side of the park every evening starting November 29th.  Arrive early to make sure you find parking and don't miss your time. This is a popular event and sometimes there is a crowd. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your fun side. I recommend you dress in warm clothing because it gets very cold once the sun goes down. If you have never been, this is an event you will enjoy. The Irvine Park brings Christmas to life in the middle of nature. Before you ride the train, they also have plenty of activities for the kids.

Photos with Santa Claus
$10.00 per photo - $6.00 for each additional photo.

Picture Stands
Free for all visitors.
Story Time with Mrs. Claus
Free for all visitors

Christmas Coloring Corner
Free for all visitors.

Christmas Carnival Games
1 activity ticket per child

Santa Bounce House Jumper
1 activity ticket per child for 10 minutes of jump time.

Great Food

Hot Dogs, Soda, popcorn, hot chocolate and coffee.

Tickets are on sale now online. This year they will be selling them on their website only. The link is here to purchase tickets Christmas Tickets Irvine Park

Their website recommends the following for a great experience:

• Christmas Train tickets may only be purchased online. A limited amount of tickets are available each hour.
• Tickets may not be purchased in person or by telephone. If tickets are sold out, please select another date and time to ride the Christmas Train.

• Important Note:  If you plan to ride the Christmas Train with friends and family, we strongly encourage you to purchase tickets for your entire group via one transaction.

I am so happy to say that I am able to give away tickets for this event.  This giveaway includes (4) Christmas Train Tickets, (6) Christmas Train activity tickets and (1) Wheel Fun Rental (coupe Bike Rental) to one lucky reader. Thank you to the great people of the Irvine Park Railroad for sponsoring this giveaway.

Address:

1 Irvine Park Road

Orange, CA 92869

Find them online: Irvine Park Railroad or OC Parks

 

Disclosure: This is not a paid sponsor. I have been invited to attend their media nigh. I have personally visited their Christmas event in previous years. All thoughts and opinions are all my own.  

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Giveaway 1: Holiday handmade Tutu's

Yes, I am crafter. I make Tulle Tutu's for Sale. This holiday season I will be making these beautiful tutu gift packages for sale. I have been cutting and knotting to make beautiful pink girly tutu's for ages zero months up to adult size.

Selling these handmade items will help me continue to fund family field trips and this blog. I traditional make them every year around this same time and I sell them around town. This year I am going to sell them online. My hope is to sell enough to help me save for a few want items that are on my wish list. But for now I will be happy if I just sell a few a week.

 

To get everyone excited about my tutu's I am giving one away this week to a lucky reader. All you have to do is tell me why you want to win one and what size you need it in.   I will randomly pick a winner.

Tutu Lengths

0-3 months--- 5 inches

3-6 months--- 6 inches

6-12 months--- 8 inches

12-18 months---8.5 inches

2t------------------10 inches

3t------------------10.5 inches

4t------------------11 inches

5/6------------------11.5 inches

7------------------12 inches

Waist sizes
0-3 months--- 12 inches
3-6 months--- 14 inches
6-12 months--- 16 inches
12-18 months---18 inches
2t------------------19.5 inches
3t------------------20 inches
4t------------------21 inches
5/6----------------22.5 inches
7------------------------23.5

You can find last years pictures Christmas Tutu.
find me: Handmade Tulle Tutu dressup skirt by Loveclothes2 http://etsy.me/19dMZ6Y via @Etsy

 

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog all thoughts and opinions are all my own.

 

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Testing DerMend skin healing moisturizing cream.

Six weeks ago, I began a testing of a new cream for bruised skin. DerMend is a moisturizing cream.  The ingredients include Arnica oil, cermides, retinol, glycolic acid according to their website. The cream was created to help heal and improve the appearance of a bruise. I was curious because of one of the main ingredients, Arnica oil. Arnica in my family is a must use for bruises and scrapes on the skin.

I remember as a young child getting hurt very badly and my parents rushing to rub Arnica cream on my injury. The smell was so vivid that I tried avoiding getting it on my body. This time, I was pleasantly surprised that DerMend did not have a heavy scent. As I rubbed it on my arm, I could feel a silky blanket protecting my skin. It felt great to my skin. Recently, my son fell down and bruised his knee which I felt confident and applied it on his knee. He doesn’t like creams with strong scent either but since there was no smell, he did not complain about using the product.

Days go by and the bruises have started healing. For best results, I suggest you apply it 2 times a day and keep it open to have air hit the skin. I tested the product because I know many of you want to know about new ways to help your skin. Remember diet, hydration and sleep help your skin stay looking healthy.  DerMend is just an added bonus to help all the other things you are currently doing to care for your skin.

Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. I received product for review only.
ALL thoughts and ideas are all my own.

 

Travel: Sunday Morning Quotes

Sunday is the best day for getting your travel quotes. Here are a few of my favorite that I am taking to heart. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. 

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." Saint Augustine

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

“We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” – John Hope Franklin

"I am a passionate traveler, and from the time I was a child, travel formed me as much as my formal education.” – David Rockefeller

"I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain

“Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you traveled.” – Mohammed

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost

Disclaimer: Quotes were share from Roughguides.com and EverythingEverywhere.com I was not compensated to share their quotes. This is a personal blog sharing my own opinions and ideas.