Archive for Holidays

Deck the Halls with Big Hero 6!

If you haven’t seen Big Hero 6, it is well worth the time and money…at least we thought so. Read our review here.

Big Hero 6 Fa la la

Direct YouTube link: http://youtu.be/8IdMPpKMdcc

Like BIG HERO 6 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyBigHero6

Follow Walt Disney Animation Studios on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyAnimation

Follow BIG HERO 6 on Tumblr: http://bighero6fans.tumblr.com/

Visit the Website: http://www.disney.com/BigHero6

BIG HERO 6 is now playing in theatres everywhere!


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Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to pop on and wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas from all of us here at Faith and Family Reviews! We hope you remember the true meaning of Christmas.

FFR Reflection of trees on water in NS

This photo reminds me of a water color painting but it is one I took with my iPhone on a hike in Nova Scotia on December 1st – I think it is a beautiful view and it was more so in person. More about our trip in the new year!


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The Salvation Army – Red Kettle Reason

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Influence Central for The Salvation Army. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

Red Kettle

 

‘Tis the season to be giving and what better way to give than to The Salvation Army. I’m sure you’ve seen people ringing their bells near that red kettle.

This is one of the oldest and biggest providers. Established in London in 1865, The Salvation Army has been serving people for about 150 years internationally and over 130 years in the United States.

Here are few great facts about The Salvation Army.

  •  “In 2013, The Salvation Army’s 3,600 officers, 59,000 employees, and 3.4 million volunteers served nearly 30 million American in need.  That’s almost one person, every second, every day.”
  • “The Army has nearly 7,600 centers of operation covering nearly every zip code in the country.”

How did The Army’s Red Kettle start? In December of 1891, The Salvation Army’s Captain McFee decided to provide Christmas dinner to the poor. He needed to raise money and put with the approval from the authorities, he place a large pot on the Oakland Ferry Landing in San Francisco. By Christmas of 1895 there were 30 Salvation Army locations.

You can help online or via text messaging! Anyone can become a virtual bell ringer and raise money for their local communities by creating an Online Red Kettle at onlineredkettle.org.” Or “Donors can text the word “KETTLE” to 80888 to make a $10 donation to support the campaign.” End of the year giving is extremely popular and is also tax deductible with the proper documentation, please make your donation by December 31, 2014.

I believe giving is very important throughout the year, however around the holiday’s it seems a bit more meaningful to my family.  I look at what I have and wish that for everyone, I have meals on the table and a loving, healthy family. With a 6 year old daughter it’s sometimes hard for her to understand the real meaning of Christmas. I really have instilled that Christmas is not all about gift, but, giving and thoughtfulness.

Please visit The Salvation Army at RedKettleReason.org.

#RedKettleReason #Sponsored #MC


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Sears #MoreMerry Sale

This is a sponsored post. I am a Sears blogger and all opinions are my own.

Sears #MoreMerry

Are you looking for some last minute Christmas gifts? Sears has some apparel deals going on that you might want to take advantage of:

30% EXTRA off when you spend $150 or more on regular- and sale-priced clothing, accessories, lingerie, sleepwear, shoes & home fashions

Dec_Week_3 Social_FB_Promo_30Off_504x504_v5

25% EXTRA off when you spend $100 – $149.99 on regular- and sale-priced clothing, accessories, lingerie, sleepwear, shoes & home fashions

20% EXTRA off when you spend up to $99.99 on regular- and sale-priced clothing, accessories, lingerie, sleepwear, shoes & home fashions

Simply use this online code: JINGLE

http://bit.ly/1GA5vKc {Coupon is Valid 12/16/14 9:00 AM -12/24/14 11:59 PM}

Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!


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Pet Gift Ideas: Treats

FFR image for posts

We had the opportunity to review some pet treats not so long ago. Most of them were for our dog but we did get a little something for our cats too. We try hard to feed our animals healthy food and treats. We want them to live a long and healthy life and believe a healthy diet is a huge part in achieving this goal. If you have a pet on your Christmas list, Evanger’s has pet gift ideas to consider for the health of your pet. It is a new pet food brand to us, but here are some facts that we like about them:

Holiday and Kosher Pet Foods
Made in the USA
Over 40 certified Kosher meals for Dogs and Cats for Hannukah
Human-grade, USA-sourced ingredients
GMO-Free, No Preservatives
Even Grain Free


About Evanger’s

Dr. Fred Evanger began making pet food for his champion Great Danes in the 1930s. Almost 80 years later, Evanger’s continues to be the choice of top handlers, breeders, and enthusiasts. Our commitment to using the highest quality wholesome ingredients continues to make us the natural choice of conscientious pet owners.

Against the Grain

The following photos are of Against the Grain, Grain Free Jerky and another pellet like grain free treat that Padfoot is eating in the bottom photo.

Dog Treats_

Dog Treats_2_

Dog Treats_4_

Dog Treats_3_

Padfoot LOVED his treats, as you can see in the above photo! He really got into them. :)

Evanger’s Organics for Cats

We do not know about you but we usually share our holiday meals with our dog and cats. We have to get after the children for giving our pets our favorite pieces of meat! Evanger’s Organics for Cats has a healthy option of Turkey Butternut Squash Dinner, which your cat is sure to enjoy this Christmas or Hannukah season! I know ours did. I did not realize until after the fact that my photos of the cats eating did not turn out well so I do not have any photos of them gobbling down their treat. But I assure you they LOVED it!

Cat Treats_1_

You can find more information at www.evangerspetfood.com Your pet is sure to enjoy some of these new holiday favorites!


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Planning a Holiday Road Trip

With the arrival of Christmas, that means holiday travel. This post is a little late in the season, but are you planning a holiday road trip? Maybe these tips will help you as you prepare to travel with your family…

1. Make lists. Your to-do list before you leave, one for items to pack or bring, include food, clothing, toiletries and personal items, and finally, one for to-dos while on vacation – places to see, people to visit or call, etc.

Map to N.S.

2. Map out your journey. GPS and smartphones are wonderful and I love having them available to me. However, they are not always right. So pack a real life map and gather your children around to map out what roads you will take, which states you will drive through and what cities you will pass by. If you have time, plan some side trips too! If you homeschool, make it a school project for your children to learn something new about the state or city in which you will be visiting. Older children could handle doing this for each state and city you pass through.

3. Reserve your lodging ahead of time. Reserving your lodging ahead of time prevents you from the disappointment, not to mention the inconvenience of possibly not finding any a vacancies at hotels you just happen to stop at for the night. The holidays are busy so plan ahead.

4. Check the weather forecast for your destination, as well as any place in between. This will help you be prepared for winter road conditions, enable you to bring the proper attire and possibly prevent you from driving in any bad weather.

5. Share your plans with your family. This could be the family you are visiting, God forbid they leave for their own vacation, not knowing you are coming to visit! Or this could be family you are leaving behind, just so they know where you are going and how long you will be gone for, in case of emergency.


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Melissa & Doug Terrific 25 Giveaway

Melissa

 


Melissa & Doug Terrific 25 Giveaway

It’s Back!! How Exciting! I love Melissa & Doug Terrific 25 Gifts!

Have a car lover? Melissa & Doug has an adorable Mega Race Car Carrier!

Or your budding artist would love the Favorite Things Stamp Set or Princess Design Activity Kit!  

Click here and you can also enter on Melissa & Doug’s Facebook Page to win one of these Terrific 25 Giveaways!

Good Luck! Let us know if your a winner!

 


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Minnie Mouse Costume Review

FFR image for posts

It’s never too early to start thinking about Halloween costumes!  Wholesale Halloween Costumes has a huge line of costumes for every budget and person in your family.

Minnie 1

We received this adorable Minnie Mouse Costume for my daughter (About Minni Mouse). The package came with the dress and ears.  The costume is mostly polyester material. The headband does not have teeth on it, making it easy on your child’s head (I wore the headband myself for about a half hour and it didn’t hurt my head, either).

minnie 2

My daughter looks delightful and ready to have fun in this Queen of Disney costume.  She said it was comfortable and it fit her well.  The costume was easy to put on and has Velcro on the back by her neck.

You can order this costume or choose from many that Wholesale Halloween Costumes offers!


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Mother’s Day Gift Idea: The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook

FFR image for posts

The Greek Yogurt Kitchen Book Cover

As I mentioned before, we love Greek yogurt so when the opportunity to review The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook I took it. I really like the looks of the Eggs Benedict recipe so I have shared it below.

This cookbook would be a great Mother’s Day gift for you or your own mother. It contains over 130 recipes with meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. It also explains the health benefits of Greek Yogurt. I am really looking forward to trying new recipes, which is a change for me because I usually dread it because my family doesn’t really adapt well to new things, at least certain ones.

You can find The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook at any major book retailer.

About the Author

Toby Amidor is the founder of Toby Amidor Nutrition, where she provides nutrition and food safety consulting services. She is a nutrition expert for FoodNetwork.com, writing for their Healthy Eats Blog, a regular contributor to U.S. News and World Report Eat + Run blog, and an adjunct professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Toby trained as a clinical dietitian at New York University. Her expertise includes over 14 years of experience in various areas of food and nutrition. Through ongoing consulting and faculty positions, she has established herself as one of the top experts in culinary nutrition, food safety, and media.

Recipe from The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook

Eggs Benedict-6593

Eggs Benedict with Lighter Hollandaise
Serves 4

Hollandaise sauce is typically made with a stick or two of butter to serve four people. The fat and calories can easily be slashed by substituting nonfat Greek yogurt for much of the butter, while still using a touch of butter to maintain the traditional flavor.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons unseasoned rice vinegar
4 large eggs
2 whole wheat English muffins
Cooking spray
4 slices turkey bacon (about 1/4 pound)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cloves garlic, minced
12 medium asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:
In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil over high heat.
Add the vinegar and lower the heat until it is no longer at a rolling boil.
Crack an egg into a small cup, dish, or wineglass.
Holding it near the surface of the water, gently slide the egg into the hot water.
Repeat with the remaining eggs.
Cover the saucepan and allow the eggs to cook for exactly 6 minutes.
Remove each egg carefully with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel.
Toast the English muffins.
Coat a medium skillet with cooking spray and heat it over medium heat.
Cook the bacon until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
Place a slice of bacon on each toasted English muffin half.
In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat.
Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the asparagus, cover the pan, and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon butter with the yogurt, egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, cayenne, and salt.
Transfer the mixture to the top of a double boiler, set it over simmering water, and heat it, whisking continuously until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
Immediately remove from the heat.
To assemble the dish, place 3 asparagus spears over the bacon on each muffin half, and top with 1 poached egg and 2 tablespoons of the hollandaise sauce.

NUTRITION INFORMATION (PER SERVING): Calories: 241; Total Fat: 13 grams; Saturated Fat: 6 grams; Protein: 15 grams; Total Carbohydrates: 16 grams; Sugars: 3 grams; Fiber: 3 grams; Cholesterol: 295 milligrams; Sodium: 301 milligrams

Enjoy!


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VTech Alternative Easter Basket Ideas and Giveaway

“The VTech product, gift card, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by VTech.”

Easter is only days away, are you ready? VTech has some alternative Easter basket ideas and a giveaway to help you celebrate this spring holiday!

Did you know that VTech consults with a panel of experts on the development of its learning products? VTech supports you as your child continues to grow and reach new developmental milestones by offering a variety of age-appropriate toys. Here are the VTech products we reviewed:

InnoTab®Doc McStuffins Software Cartridge (Ages 4-7 years; MSRP: $24.99)

- Learn reading, vocabulary, observation, logic, memory, math, visual skills, creativity, healthy living and more! The Doc is in!

– Read a story about Lambie and Doc in an e-book, color in Doc’s Big Book of Boo-Boos and play games with Doc and her friends.

Our Review: This was great for all three of our younger children. Considering the fact they all love animals and we just got our own lamb, it was very cute and timely! Our children love their InnoTab 3S so I don’t think we could go wrong in any cartridge at this point!

VTech Innotab 3S Sofia the First

InnoTab Sofia the First Software Cartridge (Ages 3-6 years; MSRP: $24.99)

- Seven learning games and two creative activities teach counting, colors, patterns, problem solving and more! Join Sofia on this wild and thrilling day!

– Learn how Sofia becomes a princess in Story Mode with the interactive e-book. Take pictures with favorite characters and scenes (camera activity compatible with any InnoTab® system with a camera).

Our Review: Our eight year old daughter loves princesses so Princess Sofia was perfect for her. Even though it is geared towards younger children she enjoyed playing the activities. Our younger boys benefited from the educational activities as well as had fun in the process.

Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Vehicles (Ages 1-5 years; MSRP: $7.99)

- These electronic play vehicles are perfectly sized for little hands and entertain children with a light-up button that activates music and sounds.

– Little ones will also learn about different letters and vehicle names through pretend play.

Our Review: Our three year old loved his VTech bulldozer. Everything about it. If he couldn’t find it, he was asking where it was and the hunt was on! We’ll see how long it lasts. Parents may not like the sounds it makes though!

FFR Vtech Easter Basket Collage_

Switch & Go Dinos®Turbo Assortment (Ages 3-8 years; MSRP: $9.99)

- Kids can rev up the action with flywheels that let the dinos race and roar across the floor. Each dino also emits realistic vehicle and dinosaur sounds and phrases that teach fun facts about each dino.

– The range features six new dinos, including Dart the Triceratops, Zipp the T-Rex, Spur the Stegosaurus, Fray the Ankylosaurus, Cruz the Spinosaurus and Spinner the Stygimoloch.

Our Review: Our six year old really liked this product. I am not sure if he took it apart at all yet but he has been playing with it and taking really good care of it, as is characteristic of him and his belongings. We haven’t had it long enough to see how long it will last long term but so far so good.

You can stay up to date with VTech at the links below:

· VTech website

· VTech Twitter

· VTech Facebook

VTech Easter Basket and Giveaway

Wanna win? Enter to win your own VTech products in the giveaway below! Ends 4/30. Happy Easter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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