Celebrating Winter * Recipes - Crafts - Travel - Fun

Wintertime is for us is filled with lots of snow, warm treats and soups, snowy inspired crafts and home decor. We love to cozy up by a blazing fire with a nice cup of hot cocoa to read a book or to watch one of our favorite movies or TV shows on Netflix.

After a day out in the now sledding or building a snowman some fresh hot benneigns are the perfect treat. Here is my recipe for Mini Beignets ( French doughnuts).

If need something a little more substantial my mom's recipe for White Chicken Chili is soooo good!

Are you thinking about visiting the love snowy Rocky Mountains?  We loved our visit to the Montage at Deer Valley, Utah with ski in ski out access, delicious complementary s'more around the fire pit and soaking in the hot tub under the falling snow.

Happy winter!

Walking Shoes * Walking on Clouds with Reebok

This post was sponsored by Reebok as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central

 and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Every evening I go for a walk to destress from the day. It helps me relax and spend a little time for myself. With that and how much I love to travel and explore I'm always looking for a great stylish walking shoes to keep me going. How many of feel that same way? You want something to wear that makes you still feel cute and stylish while keeping your feet happy.

 I found out about these Reebok DMX Cloud Ride walking shoes and knew I needed them. I LOVE these shoes. I'm so glad I found them.They are lightweight with a flexible sole that has the coolest sole with encapsulated air that makes it feel like you're walking on a cloud. They're totally comfortable and will take you through a long day of walking.I could walk my full 3 mile nightly route and my were totally fine.

One thing I really like is that Reebok is standing behind their design with a Cloud-like comfort or your money back. If you aren't 100% happy with the with Reebok DMX Cloud Ride walking shoes you can get your money back, within 30 days of course.

I love the basic colors they offer in black and white. They go with anything and still look stylish. You can buy them at select Famous Footwear stores and online at FamousFootwear.com  The nice this is they run true to size so you can easily order online.

Guess what I'm taking with me the next time I head out of town on my next adventure? Yep, you guessed it my black Reebok DMX Cloud Ride walking shoes. Can you even imagine all the hours I can keep going at Disneyland. Or how much easier it will be trying to run across the airport in Atlanta to catch my connecting flight. I'm really excited to have them and I bet you will be to. Guess what!?! BONUS: I just checked the Famous Footwear website and they are on sale for 38% off making them only $49.99 a pair.

Visiting Family During the Holidays * Pottery Barn Teens

sponsored by Pottery Barn Teens

Aren't these the sweetest Pintuck Sleeping Bag + Pillowcases in Pool Sweethearts

Are your teens ready for your holiday trip to visit the family? One of my favorite things growing up was piling up in the living room with my cousins with our sleeping bags and staying up way to late whispering and laughing.
When my kids were small I decided that each of them need a good duffle for weekend trips including up to visit my grandparents on their farm especially during the holidays. Pottery Barn Teens has some great travel pieces your teens will love.

The boys will love the Rugby Stripe Sleeping Bag + Pillowcase in Blue and Navy. They also come in blue and red, blue and green, blue and orange.

PB Teens also have great coordinating travel bags to go along with the sleeping bags. The Getaway Blue and Navy Rugby Rolling Duffle Bag is pictured above. The Jet-Set Pool Hearts Carry-On Spinner pictured below.

It's always nice to be prepared with a charging kit in tote- Stay Charged Travel Accessories.

Don't forget the teens will need to bring along their own toiletries. The guys Hanging Toiletry Kit comes in the blue or a grey to coordinate with their luggage, pictured above. The girls Ultimate Hanging Toiletry, pictured below has room for makeup jewelry and more.



Bonus, they can all be personalized with monograms. Happy Holiday traveling!

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.

2015 Toyota Prius V * Roomy Car for the Family * Sweet Ride 2015

Toyota did it again this year with my favorite Prius V- 2015. I didn't think it was possible but they added even a little bit more to make it even better.

I took the 2015 Prius V on a road trip to St. George, Utah to get a good feel of the space of the vehicle for a long road trip.

As you can see in the back seat there is plenty of legroom. The back seat also slide and recline for extra comfort. The dual sunroofs give the feel of even more room.

The Prius has been know for get fuel efficiency. The Hybrid Systems Indicator helps you learn to drive to get even better gas mileage. You can drive a long way on one tank of gas at 42 miles to the gallon! The Prius v is also rated as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle.

The 2015 Prius V is packed full of the latest technology from the Entune Premium JBL Audio with Navigation and App Suite, navigation,backup camera display, single LED projector headlights to my favorite feature the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Prius v automatically adjusts its speed to help maintain a preset following distance between you and the car traveling directly in front of you.

This means you turn on the cruise control, set a speed and if you come up on a car that is slowing down the car slows down for you then speeds up again when the car in front of you does. It is super cool!

If you haven't driven a vehicle with the dynamic radar cruise control go out and test drive the 2015 Prius V now!! Take it on the freeway and test out this amazing cruise control. It is the ultimate road trip comfort tool.

The color selection is super nice this year. My favorites are the clear sky metallic and the blue ribbon metallic. 

It lives up to the Toyota Prius V space savvy family friend motto. It's my favorite all around 2015 vehicle so far.

2015 Toyota Prius V
$26,675
starting msrp

Sweet Ride 2015 * 2015 Hyundai Genesis

Our first Sweet Ride of 2015 is the 2015 Hyundai Genesis and it IS Sweet! We are so impressed with what Hyundai has done with it's mid-size luxury sedan. The look and design is a nice blend of contemporary and classic elegant design that is all about comfort and luxury.

Starting with the panorama glass roof we love the details in the Genesis cabin. The sunroof expands your feeling of room in the cabin but it's not just a feeling the Genesis brags one of the roomiest cabins in it's class at 123.0 cubic feet. We enjoyed driving the Genesis up the canyon with a full view of the waterfalls and mountains unobstructed by the roof over head. Though the view is good it did not let in too much light during the day making it a very nice feature.

Just look at this amazing interior. You are seeing real wood and metal features. The center console is arranged intuitively with arm rests, hidden drink holders in a comfortable position to place and remove your drink. The joystick style Nice armrest drink holders are in the back with a center arm rest for the rear seat. "Real" back seats are formed for comfort for all the passengers in the car. The options for matte look like shown above or a more classic shiny interior cater to all style tastes.

Favorite Features:

• The In Cabin CO2 monitor that makes sure you are safe on the road. This is only found in Hyundai and I hope other manufacturers follow suit.
• At night when you unlock the Genesis a very fun feature appears on the road just outside the door, an approach lamp that shows a lighted logo reading Genesis lights up the road for you to step into the car.
• The trunk opens for you! Just walk up to the back with the key fob in purse or pocket wait 3 seconds and pop it's open for you when you need an extra hand. LOVE IT!
• Heads up display. This means that you don't have to take your eyes off the road to check your speed and other display features.

BONUS: 
The 2015 Hyundai Genesis offers all the luxury seen in Lexus, BMW or Mercedes- Benz and with a price tag thousands of dollars lower. I am so impressed with Hyundai stepping up to the luxury plate.


NEW this year I'm including a checklist of things I find as a must have in a new vehicle. You know those things you just expect a car to in 2014. We will be including them in all the 2015 Sweet Ride reviews. 

My 2015 Sweet Ride Check List:

The Basics

• USB Ports......................................................  Done and Done!
• Center Armrest..............................................  Done and Done! Both front and back
• Ample Drink Holders {we like our drinks!}.. Done and Done and Done!
• Automatic Seats............................................  Done and Done!
• Automatic Windows { For everyone. Done!
• Good Gas Mileage {because we don't like to feed our paychecks to the tank}16/25 mpg Done
• Keyless {no need to look for those keys just have your fob in your pocket or handbag} Done!
• Rear backup camera{I am amazed some markers are still excluding this feature} Done!
• Full media and navigation systems {it's a must have in 2015} Done! includes SiriusXM® Radio, HD Radio, and iPod/USB auxiliary media input  

Worth Getting

• Heated Seats................................................... Done!
• Cooled Seats................................................... Done!
• Heated Steering Wheel..................................  Done!
• All Wheel Drive............................................. Done! HTRAC® AWD
• Rear Auto Window Shades............................ Done! Manual side and auto back
• Eco Sport and Normal Modes........................ Done!

Over all we want the 2015 Hyundai Genesis and we didn't want to give it back and would love it if Hyundai wanted to drop one off for us for Christmas. Go give it a test ride and you will see what I mean!

2014 Volkswagen Jetta * Sweet Ride 2014

The 2014 Volkswagen Jetta has a nicely designed interior and exterior which a smooth ride makes for a good solid mid-size sedan. The new turbocharged gas engine gives the 2014 model a good get up and go. The standard independent rear suspension adds to the smooth ride.

We love the spacious rear seat and trunk. If you are driving around a family with teens means the long legs have room-hooray. There is plenty of room for the families gear in the trunk even enough room for a double stroller.

A stylish interior minus the standard dials, the great drink holder placement, comfortable seats, and nice two toned colored interiors make it appealing to the eye and the drivers comfort.

Unfortunately it seem Volkswagen is lacking in areas we find should be standard for a car in this class. Again rear backup cameras are not standard and there are no usb ports in the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta but is a bonus for the apple product fans. They do have charges for ipad/iphone/ipods. The 23/29 mpg is ok but we were hope for better. 

Over we enjoyed driving the Jetta and will put it on our list of possibilities. I guess it all depends if you upgrade and own apple products. 

2014 Nissan Versa Note * Sweet Rides 2014

The 2014 Nissan Versa Note is leaving us hot and cold, yes and no when it comes to the features this little car brings us.

We really like the flexibility of the seats and folding capabilities. With a small vehicle and experience as a young driver in college it's nice to be able to haul around your stuff from apartment to apartment without having to find someone with a truck. I remember the days dating an art major hauling around his big canvases. This would have been a great car.

Are far as get up and go the 2014 Nissan Versa Note is a dud. BUT it's great for a college student to run around town in. I wouldn't how ever want to take it on a long trip. It feels more like the power of a scooter and should be left for around town driving. It boasts a fairly good 27/36 mpg which is good for a student budget. With an average price of around 15k the cost of buying isn't too bad either.

 

All in all we are as we said and hot and cold on the Nissan Versa Note. It's nicer looking than most in it's class. It's a pretty basic vehicle. It has 5 doors and a tight seating for 5 which brings us to... yes, we would put it on our list for teen/college student cars but not for the grownups.

2014 Volkswagen Tiguan * Sweet Ride 2014

The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan sports a nice new quality interior but with the other Volkswagens we have tested this year leaves us wanting to like it more.

With beautiful quality of it's premium interior styling and materials the Volkswagen Tiguan is a bit tight for a vehicle in the SUV category.  This compact crossover is a bit too compact with very little cargo space and cramped back seats.

The 20/26 mpg does not impress us. We would like to see better gas milage for this smaller SUV. Another thing we noticed is that rear view backup camera is NOT standard which surprises us on any 2014 make or model. In 2018 a rear view camera will be mandatory by law.

With the lack of good gas milage, rear view backup camera and no USB ports and the extra space you need for gear, groceries and other goods we will have to pass on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. Hopefully the 2015 model will show some improvements. 

Travel * Carry on Essentials

We travel a lot. Sometimes it's a short weekend trip other times it's a week long trip or more. Either way we have come to find there are a few things that are essential to have in our carry on bags. You never know when your flight may be canceled or delayed so this is part of our boy scout - be prepared kit. We love these products because they are natural and free of sulfates, parabens and artificial fillers. They will keep you fresh and smelling good.

1. Dessert Essence Travel Size Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash
2. Pacifica Island Vanilla Lotion Wipes
3. BlowPro Faux Dry, Dry Shampoo
4. completely bare Wax on the Go-G
5. Shavetec Personal Shaver

2014 Nissan Altima * Sweet Ride 2014

The 2014 Nissan Altima Sedan is a comfortable ride with plenty of user friendly tech savvy extras to make the carpool lane or road trip easy. 

 With the introduction of the NissanConnect Apps and the smart phone integration platform listening to your favorite Pandora station as well as keeping up with your Facebook feed is easy when wanting for the kids in the school carpool lane or while on a long road trip to visit mom. The a six-speaker sound system keeps you jamming to the kids Disney Pandora station or your favorite throwback tune from high school. I hear some Simple Minds 'Don't You Forget About Me' and remembering the time I went to see Breakfast Club which was my first R rated movie at the movie theater. 

The intuitive features such as the auto dimming rear view mirror, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alerts and a lane departure warning system all makes you feel more in control of your ride on the road.
 

The Altima's interior cabin has a beautiful upscale feel with quality materials and design. There is great drink holder placement, a nice armrest console and a touch screen control panel.
The 38-mpg fuel economy rating is a respectable number and one of the important number I look at with all vehicles. Who wants to waixs time and cash at the pump. No thanks not me. 

Overall we put it in our would buy it list for comfort, intuitive and tech functional - Sweet Ride 2014.