Easy Craft Ideas * Snow

With the wintry stormy weather outside here are some easy craft ideas that celebrate all this snow! Why no craft away this snow covered Janurary with the kids or with your friends.

These super cute and easy to make Handmade Deer Snow Globe Ornament's from Pitter and Glink are made with dollar store items!

Here is an easy craft idea for kids that will make playing inside fun when it gets too cold outside. Make some Play Snow. You can find the recipe on Huckleberry Love.

This kids will love to help you make some Melted Snowman Bark to eat while crafting and playing. Find the supplies and directions on Princess Pinky Girl.

Decorate your house with these Sweet & Simple Snow Covered Pinecones from Ella Claire.

I just love this Pink Snow Wreath made with an old sweater from Kara's Party Ideas. I love how it's pink rather than auqua which we often see if snow themed crafts.

Happy Snow Day!

It's Snowing * Cozy Up Collection of Ideas

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful," for many of us this week. Massive amounts of snow have been dumped. Did you see that time lapse video of the snow falling on someone's back porch in Virginia? The snow buried their patio furniture!

I wander into Food 52's online shop today and saw this photo and was immediately inspired by it. I just love sitting next to my fireplace with a nice fire going. As you can see in their photo if you don't have a working fireplace some great pillar candles will do a in a pinch.

I have some Cozy ideas for those of you staying inside and staying warm. Maybe a date night idea for this weekend? Or a nice cozy evening after winter snow fun?

Let's pop some popcorn the old fashioned way over an open fire. The long handle and those stars on the top! Plus it's only $30!! A fun night in by the fire with a popcorn treat.
Old Fashioned Popcorn Popper Food 52

Cozying up in the winter requires a nice warm throw or blanket. Pottery Barn has a lovely collection of faux fur throws and pillow covers or you can go for a gray one from Target.
I bought one for Christmas and it's everyone's favorite. I think I will be ordering more so no one has to fight over it.
Pottery Barn Faux Fur Throw
Threshold Faux Fur Throw Blanket

Hot cocoa is a must for snow days. For a while my son Tanner had to have a cup of hot cocoa every day. He would it with some crunchy toast for breakfast.
Popcorn and creamy frothy cocoa in front of the fire after a day of playing in the snow sledding, building snowmen or skiing some like the perfect evening.
Breville Milk Cafe Electric Frother

For family night or a date night in skip your dessert and make some decadent hot chocolate. This recipes look amazingly delicious and sure to tempt you.

1. Crockpot Coconut Hot Chocolate
2. Spicy Hot Chocolate Mocha
3. S'mores Hot Chocolate
4. Cheesecake Hot Chocolate-I know! I'm intrigued by this and must try it.

Board games are so fun to play together. Everyone gets a chance to sit down and play, visit and bond. It's one of my favorite family time activities. Plus it's free. Gather the fresh popped popcorn, yummy hot chocolate and wrap up in your cozy blanket to play games.

Loving the Luxury Edition of Clue. 

Get to know you games are great even if you think you know someone really well. You might be surprised. 

Game of Things

If it's a date night in why not learn some new card games together. Loving this instructional book.

Ultimate Book of Card Games 

What do you do to cosy up with it cold outside?

xo April

Macy's Holiday Event Salt Lake City * Home & Entertaining

It's the most wonderful time of the year full of delicious foods, family activities and holiday traditions. I believe that traditions are very important part of family life. Most of our family traditions began 20 years ago when my family first began. We always go together to pick out a fresh Christmas Tree.

Our traditions officially started with one of our beloved traditions of reading Clement Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas in our new Christmas pajamas around the Christmas tree.  Each year we've added to the collection of The Night Before Christmas books. Everyone chooses one to use to read along. As my kids grew we added taking Christmas light rides while listening to classic Christmas songs.  As the kids got a little bit older we added watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on tv and waiting to see the Santa Claus.

Then came making candy covered gingerbread houses out of graham crackers while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's Christmas Time again Charlie Brown while sipping hot cocoa.
We always fit in a Christmas play or two and a Christmas musical performance.
We still do all these cheery holiday activities as a family. Do you have a favorite Christmas time tradition?

An old tradition is back in Salt Lake City, the Christmas Candy windows. This holiday season Macy's is having my very most favorite Christmas character Snoopy, in candy!

This coming November 19 join me at this free event...
Macy's Candy Window Unveiling
Macy's City Creek in Salt Lake City
Thursday, November 19 at 6pm
S. Main Street Candy Windows

"Starting at 5pm bring the family to the women's department on 2 for festive activities like hot cocoa, face painting, balloon artistry, letter writing to santa, and much more! Plus don't miss an exclusive sneak peak of the Pioneer Theater Company's production of It Happened One Christmas. Then, just before 6pm, follow the cast outside to the Candy Windows of S. Main Street for our grand unveiling along with our very own Holiday Ambassador, Snoopy!"

 Visit Macy's Holiday Events for more info

Thanks to Macy's Department store for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine #macysbelieve

Traveling with Kids * Tools of the Trade * Travel

Traveling with kids can be fun and exciting way to experience the world together. As a mom of 3 and two of them twins I know that coming up with a good strategic plan for all the paraphernalia required for a comfortable trip is essential. Properly prepared you can have a great time together making memories to last a lifetime. 

Diapers and wipes, check.. changing pad, check... change of clothes, check ... a stylish backpack for dad to carry everything check without looking like he has a purse, check. We love the Picos Pack from Pacapod. It doesn't even look like a diaper bag which was always my goal when choosing a diaper bag for my kids.

The Diono Monterey High Back Expandable Booster Seat is for kids 40 lb to 120 lb. I first like the grow with me feature so it lasts as your kids grow. The 11 position adjustable headrest and the dial should width adjustment makes sure it's a good fit as they grow. Second it's durable to withstand an active kids who we all know can really beat up their stuff. My favorite travel feature is that the booster bottom is detachable which makes it easy to bring on the airplane and in rental cars while traveling. Diono also has a travel bag to put your car seat in for easy carrying. My favorite comfort travel feature is the two sided cup holders are perfect for a snack on one side and a drink on the other. I think the moms need one of these too!

Snacks and drinks are a must when traveling with kids. Heck there a must for me too! I love love love the Pura Kiki 100% plastic free bottles. They are stainless steel with a wide opening for the best cleaning. No more rotten stinky plastic sippy cups. They have thier own silicone nipps and sippy tops but are also compatible with most high quality brand nipples and sippy tops. They also have a screw on top to use as a snack cup too. Bonus, they come in such cute bright colors and offer an insulated version.

Moms know a stroller is a much kids and babies need a place to sit while you run through the airport. Our favorite is the Maclaren Twin Techno Stroller. Even if you have one kid the twin stroller gives you a place to put all your luggage and bags needed. It can hold up to 110 lbs. It fully reclines, has  undercarriage storage space and folds up nicely to be checked at the gate right before boarding the plane. Bonus, Maclaren offer some great accessories for the stroller plus a sturdy travel bag cover.

Food & Drink * Cilantro Lime Chicken Enchiladas with Avocado

Our savory cilantro lime chicken enchilada stuffed with avocado are so easy to make. Your family will love them. You will be craving them. The kids can help you make them. Enjoy!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Enchiladas with Avocado 
makes 4 servings

• 2 large chicken breasts
• 8 white corn tortillas
• 1 pound pepper jack cheese shredded
• 3 ripe haas avocados
• 1/3 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 fresh lime
• 1- 16 once container of sour cream
• 1/2 cup of diced Hatch chilis
• 1- 4 once can of diced jalapenos
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• salt and black pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Place each chicken breast in a large square of aluminium foil. Salt and pepper chicken then wrap up chicken. Place on a baking sheet and cook in over for 20 minutes of until cooked through. Set aside to cool to touch.

5 minutes before chicken is done cooking, wrap corn tortillas in foil and place in over to warm-this makes the tortillas easier to work with and helps prevent breaking when rolling.

In a medium mixing bowl add sour cream, cilantro, garlic, green chilis, jalapenos then mix together. Squeeze juice of one lime into mixture. Add zest of 1 lime them mix together. 

Slice avocados. Chop chicken into small bite size pieces. 

Layer about a tablespoon of sour cream mixture, chicken shredded cheese and two slice of avocado. Roll and place in baking dish. Once all tortillas are rolled spread remaining sour cream sauce over enchiladas. Top with shredded cheese. Bake for 18-20 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve topped with sour cream and slice of avocado.