A Sea of Light-Christmas Celebration

The holidays are always a magical time.  The air is different.  It is the time of year where the world is lit up.  Since my daughter is a December baby, we wanted to make things very special for her.  

Thanks to Seaworld for the special invitation to join them at the Seaworld Christmas Celebration.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Our daughter loves Christmas and everything about it.  This year we decided to make a list of the holiday activities she wanted to do to celebrate it.  And the the top of her list were some very fun things that everyone in the family would enjoy.  While decorating our house, our daughter pulled out some ornaments from Seaworld.  I realized that she had never visited during the holidays.  I had been looking for a special way to surprise our daughter and she had guided me to the perfect gift for her.  

We did not tell her about the surprise.  We only told her we were going on a weekend getaway.  She likes adventures.  This was enough of a gift for her.  Our trip almost got cancelled due to bad weather.  I am so glad we did not cancel it because our daughter loved her surprise.  

We wanted to take her to SEA a winter wonderland.  I think nine million lights are enough to light up a little girls eyes.  And light up her eyes we did.  She smiled from ear to ear.

  

We got to check off a lot of items off her list, like seeing real reindeer.  Did you know both male and female reindeer grow antlers?  

The most special part of the day was dinner because we got to Dine with Rudolph and Friends.  She even made a new special friend or two.  

  

At the end of the day, she said this was the best day ever!  I mean nine million lights, meeting Rudolph, and finishing it off with a Christmas parade would be any littles best day.  

Tips if you are planning a trip to Seaworld Christmas Celebration:

1)  Holiday Hours-Go online to check the holiday park hours.  The celebration goes on from now until January 6th.  

2)  Plan Ahead-Make your reservations early for Dine with Rudolph and friends or Dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Spots fill up quickly.

3)  Schedule-Grab one at the front of the park to guide your day.  Don't forget about the parade.  Grab a spot before the good spots are taken.  

The highlight of the night is when the park lights up and there are lights are far as the eyes can see.    

Holiday Parties Made Simple with Punchbowl

This time of year can be chaotic.  December came so fast for me this year.  I usually am on top of my game.  Party planning is my jam.  I start planning my daughter's birthday party a year in advance.  And this year, I have yet to send out a single invitation.  Am I too late?

Disclosure-This is a compensated post.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Nothing gives me more anxiety than running out of time.  I rather not throw a party, then not plan it correctly.  A party starts with an invitation.  You really cannot have a party without guests?  So before I start hyperventilating because this party is not planned, I need to get some invitations in the mail.  I do not have time for that though.  What I do have time for is, creating something on my phone and hitting the send button!

Where do I start?  logging on Punchbowl.com or downloading Punchbowl ® app

With so little time on my hands, the app works for me.  I can work on the invitation and it is at the reach of my hands.  I can search by theme, category, girl birthday, etc... 

There are so many of my daughter's favorite characters.  It was hard to choose one theme.  It is easy to play around with invitations and saving drafts to come back to.  

With a birthday so close to Christmas, we have decided on a Christmas theme this year versus her usual.  We are really into the holiday spirit.  We have a few favorites chosen but I think we may have a winner!  What do you think?

Now, that was easy!  Punchbowl ® is the gold standard in online invitations.  These invitations combine the look and feel of paper with the convenience of digital that can be delivered by text message, email or social media.  It is a simple, easy way to plan any unforgettable celebration.  Customizing the invite in minutes, delivers instantly, and trackable RSVPs, what else can a party planner ask for?  

Now let the party planning begin!

Holiday Gift Guide 2015-Stocking Stuffers

***Disclosure-Sample products were received for review..  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experiences. 

Every Christmas I love to give stockings stuffed with goodies to my family.  Growing up we did not get gifts.  The years we did, we really appreciated them.  When I started working I bought everyone lots of gifts to make up for the ones we did not get before.  And that is how the stocking stuffers started as a tradition for us.  Stocking stuffers do not have to be expensive.  They can be small items.  Thoughtful gifts. 
Here are some of my suggestions:

For the Kids-
1)  Peeps has a full line of holiday Peeps that are sure the kiddos will love. 
2)  Kidz Bop has tooth tunes.  My daughter loves her tooth tunes toothbrush. 
3)  Redan Magazines are perfect for the kids to get them into reading. 

For Her-
4)  Luca & Danni has many things to choose from for the lady in your life.
5)  Trudeau has cookie cutters, Daisy wine charms, Flex pot clips, Zest Graters, etc...and so much more.

For Him-
6)  Is he techy?  Monster has plenty of gifts for the guys.

For the Family-
7)  My mother in law loves to get pictures of the kids.  Why not print your favorite picture, favorite memory, or memorable day, and stuff them into the stockings.  The dollar store has frames for a dollar to make it even more special.  The person receiving it can display it in their home.  Capturing a moment is the best gift to share.  Don't have a printer?

Give yourself a gift this year that everyone will enjoy! 

HP Envy All-In-One Printer has a free ink offer.  Got to HP Instant Ink for more information, and don't forget to sign up before Dec 31, 2015.

Thirsty Thursday-Tempranillo Day

 *** Disclosure-I received sample product for review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Where did the year go?  The holidays are here.  This is one of my favorite times of the year.  We get to spend time to celebrate family, history, our cultural heritage and traditions.  Today is Tempranillo Day. One of the greatest expressions of the Tempranillo grape is found in Rioja, Spain, a region near and dear to our hearts.

Campo Viejo Rioja ~ Reserva 2007

Varieties: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo

It is aged for 18 months.  It is Ruby-red colour.  I like it, very smooth.  A great aroma.  

One of our family traditions is to get together at my in laws to make tamales prior to the upcoming holiday.  It is a girl's day which includes wine, laughs, and tamale making.  We each have a wine glass and apron.  We come ready to hit the assembly line.  Tamales are hardwork but they are so yummy.  

Rioja wines are a great pairing for Latin cuisine and traditional holiday favorites like tamales and chicken mole.  We all enjoyed this bottle!

Stocking Stuffers-Sofia The First Holiday in Enchancia

***Disclosure-Sample product was received for review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal opinion.

The holidays are here.  Did you get all your shopping down on Black Friday? 

I like to make a list of all the people we are going to buy for and maybe a suggestion next to their name of something I would like to buy them.  Do you do stocking stuffers?

Growing up we didn't have much to open but open a lot of little things made it so much fun.  We have a lot of little ones in our family.  It is so much fun seeing them open presents one by one.  I love to stuff their stockings with little fun things I know they will enjoy.

My daughter is so in love with Sofia the First.  Sofia is a new princess who loves adventure, reminds me of my little one.  She was not always royal since her mom married the KING.  I like all the adventures that she goes on with lessons attached.  This is a series she loves and can watch over and over.  It is not only for girls but for boys too.  Sofia's step-brother Prince James and the rest of the royal kids from all around the kingdoms are always around.

Just in time for the holidays-Sofia The First: Holiday in Enchancia has been released.  This DVD contains adventure, 4 additional episodes, and a FREE light up holiday ornament. 

Synopsis:  When a snowstorm prevents King Roland from returning home in time for the holidays, Sofia leads her family on a brave expedition to find him.  Princess Aurora from Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" makes a special appearance to help Sofia and her animal friends reunite the royal family.

I like the message of the movie.  The holidays are about family and being together.  Sometimes we forget all that with everything else going on in our lives.  This movie is great for those that are traveling this holiday as it is approx. 118 minutes.  This will keep your little ones entertained as they follow the adventures of Sofia and her family.  Along the way Sofia will discover the inner character of kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty, and grace.  And of course, this are the things a real princess is made of!  You can also catch the series on Disney Jr.

Sofia The First: Holiday in Enchancia

***Disclosure-Sample product was received.  All opinions stated are my own based on my own experience.

My daughter is one of the #1 fans of Sofia the First.  She loves watching her on Disney Jr.  If your daughter is a #1 fan as well I have news for you:

Disney Jr. is releasing Sofia The First: Holiday in Enchancia on DVD, Tuesday, November 4^th

Deck the halls and ring in the season! It may be the coldest day of winter, but it's also the warmest, merriest adventure ever for SOFIA THE FIRST. Welcome to the most magical time of the year! This is Sofia's first Winter Holiday in the castle with her new family, but when King Roland goes missing in a raging snowstorm, Sofia leaders her mother, Amber and James on a brave expedition aboard a flying sleigh to find him. As the blizzard whirls around them, their hopes are nearly dashed -- until Princess Aurora appears and reminds Sofia that her animal friends might hold the key to finding her dad and reuniting her family. Sparkling with festive fun -- plus four additional song-filled episodes -- HOLIDAY IN ENCHANCIA celebrates the greatest gift of all: spending special days with the people you love!

This is a very cute movie about family.  I love the messages taught in all the episodes.  Holiday In Enchancia was great to watch with our entire family.  We love the songs.  And of course our princess cannot get enough of Sofia The First.

My Wish For You #HolidaysConBritax

Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays whatever you celebrate; we are all gone through 12 months.  What a year it has been? 

This month has really been a world wind for us.  It really seems like we have been in fast-forward mode since Halloween.  Thanksgiving came and went.  Christmas flew right on by as well.  The month of December has become a full month for us from day 1 to 31.  But December is always one of my favorite months.

Have you heard the song The Twelve Days of Christmas?  It is said that this starts Christmas Day or the day after Christmas, hmm????  Today.

Here is my version:

On the Twelve months of thousand thir - teen (13), my true loves shared with me:

12 - Months of Laughter

11 - Million Memories

10 - New Adventures

9 - Beautiful Blessings

8 - Jolly Minos (dad's name is Mino - so we are Minos)

Seventy times 7

6 - Armfuls of Love

5 - Gleeming with Glee - eee-eee

4 - Seasons for Traveling

3 - Simple Wishes



2 - Turtle Dreams (to start the race, and to finish)

And a HAPPYYYYY NNNEWWWWW YYYEAARRRRR!!!!

This year has brought a lot of challenges but they are all lessons learned.  Like my motto says, LIVE LIFE AND DONT LET LIFE LIVE YOU!!!  I hope you are surrounded by your loved ones all year long, make new friends along the way, and reconnect with those long lost dreams, goals, and challenges.  Thanks to Britax for this sponsored conversation that made me reflect on such a wonderful year I have had!  Cheers to you my friends!

As a Britax Latina Blogger/Advisory Board Member (and in partnership with Mami Innovative Media), this post is part of a sponsored outreach. All opinions expressed are my own.

HoneyBaked’s New Recipe Turkey Breast

HoneyBaked is proud to be a family tradition for more than 40 years, but more than just holiday time, HoneyBaked knows that memories are made every day.  While HoneyBaked has been selling turkey for more than 20 years, this year, they reformulated this product and the new recipe is more tender and flavorful than ever.  There’s never been a better time for an easy weeknight meal with HoneyBaked New Recipe Turkey.  Get the conversation flowing and gobble up the good times.

Features:

98% fat free

100% turkey breast meat

Slow roasted for that home-cooked flavor

Moist and tender

Available roasted or smoked

Each turkey breast is sliced for convenient serving and is hand-finished with our signature sweet and crunchy HoneyBaked glaze.

Regular price $22.99

My thoughts:  We love HoneyBaked Ham and is part of our holiday tradition every year.  HoneyBaked's new recipe turkey breast is so good.  My husband could not wait for me to reheat the sides.  It was ready to eat.  He popped the package open and him and my son started gobbling it up.  It was really juicy.  Even Lil Bit had a handful of turkey.  It was Thanksgiving in October at our house.  I placed my order and it was ready for me to pick up on the way home.  I reheated the sides, and served it up.  And what a meal this was!!  My family was completely satisfied with the new recipe.

If you would like to try HoneyBaked's New Recipe Turkey Breast, click here and receive a $3 off coupon.
***Disclosure-Thanks to HoneyBaked my family received this dinner.  HoneyBaked's New Recipe Turkey Breast has been Independentmami and family tested and Independentmami and family approved.  These are our own honest opinions.