My Favorite Things from CES

This was my first time attending CES (Consumer Electronics Show) – the massive tech trade show held each year in Las Vegas. My husband has been going for years and I can’t believe I’ve been missing so much. The show is only open to people in the tech industry and we have a videography business (okay, my husband has a videography business). I could have gone as a media representative due to my work in social media but I really just wanted to go as an observer and experience the show without all the media expectations.

CES is overwhelming. The sheer amount of tech companies that are represented is enormous. There is everything from the largest companies to the smallest start-ups and everyone wants you to know what their newest products are all about. I didn’t have an entire week to spend so I had to make the most of the time I had. I went through the halls pretty quickly because I wanted to get a good feel for the entire scope of the show. I am going back for sure next year and spending much more time. There is so much to see and do.

I wanted to share some of my favorite things from CES this year. I am ALL about anything vintage or retro so you’ll see a lot of that below. So much of this brought me back to my childhood… and they DO say that everything old is new again.

The one thing I told my husband that I had to have was this retro Crosley turntable.

I think it’s time to unpack my box of records that I have stored somewhere in the garage and see if they are too warped after all these years to even be able to play anymore. I’ve always loved the idea of a record player… had one in my room when I was a kid and buying 45’s was everything when I was my kids’ age. Sure, the sound isn’t as good as digital, but there is a deep-rooted nostalgia for me about playing an actual vinyl record. This one has a gorgeous wood base and it’s $179.95 which is a great deal for something that is not only useful but is also a statement piece. Unfortunately, these aren’t sold in stores (turntables like this aren’t a big seller) but you can get it from the Crosley Radio website.

Some other ones that were simply stunning:

In keeping with the retro theme, I’m thinking I need to buy a Victrola retro radio to go with my retro record player.

Pretty awesome, isn’t it? It’s a simple clock radio but I love the vintage feel of it and it would be beautiful next to my bed. For $49.99 I think it’s a bargain for something that has so much character.

Victrola also sells these fun desktop jukeboxes with CD players for $99.99. Wish I had known about these before I bought my kids gifts this past December.

We were walking around trying to find some of the newer televisions when I came across this display and probably bumped into a bunch of people trying to make my way over to see. HELLO KITTY! I can’t believe they make hair dryers and straighteners. Why did I not know this????

Have I spent all my money yet?

I’m pretty sure I passed a few celebrities but I was focused on the brands and products and wasn’t paying too much attention. We saw a photo shoot with someone who looked really familiar – I think he was a musician, but I couldn’t place him. Darn it! We did, however, come across Cat Cora and the food geek in me freaked out a little.

Cat was doing a cooking demonstration for Gourmia, maker of small cooking appliances. Some of these products are really fabulous… and they work with Google Assistant! How cool!

I think the highlight of CES for us was really all the drones we got to see. My husband and daughter love drones and we spent quite a bit of time in the drone section of the show talking with the brand reps.

And it wouldn’t be a tech show if we didn’t try out some of the hundreds (thousands) of earphones on display.

Okay, back to retro.

My kids are crazy about Polaroid cameras and they all have the mini ones in their favorite colors. These newer (older) models come in a bunch of fun colors too and totally remind me of the ones I had as a kid. Obviously, I had to take a photo of the neon green one (Lauryn’s favorite color).

Should we also talk about the 3-D printers? Polaroid has one of those too.

We’ve been looking into home 3-D printers since Amanda has been using them at school in her engineering classes. She really wants one and they are definitely more compact and affordable than ever before. One day, we’ll all have 3-D printers at home. This technology just blows me away.

Okay, so along the lines of 3-D printing, one of the most innovative things I saw at the show was this funny looking desk-type printer that is actually a 2.5D printer called Mofrel by Casio. What is 2.5D printing? So glad you asked. In a nutshell, it is color and texture printing on a flat surface, making it different than 3D. Say you want to get a feel for how fabric would look like on clothes or products… you can actually print that color/texture and try it out without spending the money on printing up actual fabric samples. Seriously… this is totally cool!

I kind of wish I was back working in a design firm so I can use one of these.

Our next stop was to look at the new camera equipment. I had purchased a Sony A6000 last year, one of their mirrorless cameras. This year, they were promoting their A6500. It’s a great camera but then I saw the new Canon lenses and started missing my old DLSR. A Canon was my very first DLSR and I loved it to death. I don’t even remember what happened to it but I’ve since had a Nikon that I wasn’t enthralled with… and now the Sony. Still haven’t found my dream camera… but I’m still looking.

I really did like this Canon printer, though. The Selphy CP1300 prints beautiful photos (the best of a small consumer printer that I’ve seen). And you can print a variety of sizes, up to 4 x 6. I would love to have one of these at home since I’m finding that I really need to print an actual photo every now and then.

Ready for more?

Another incredible product we were oohing and aahing over was this one. It’s an alternative (kind of) to 3D printing… a wood pen. There is some kind of wood filament in this pen that is liquid and lets you actually “write” in 3D… with real wood finishes. It’s kind of crazy and kind of incredible… and it’s really geared towards professional designers and engineers. Polaroid isn’t offering this for sale here in the United States (yet). Not sure why but they really need to bring this here soon.

Getting tired? The last product I’m going to show you made me laugh… and think. It’s a Flexispot ergonomic exercise bike called the Deskcise Pro V9. This is an exercise bike with an attached desk so you can widdle down your middle while getting your work done. I was skeptical at first… who wants to work and exercise at the same time? Well, it was actually fun to do… and when you are focused on work, you just kind of keep peddling without giving it much thought. It’s quite a brilliant idea, really. What do you think? Should I get one?

It was a really long day… topped off by Southwest canceling our return flight. We managed to get on an earlier flight, thank goodness. I do wish I had more time to spend at CES this year… but there is always next year.

family

Take Action

Happy New Year!

Every year I choose one word that I focus on throughout the entire year. This year my word is

ACTION

It seemed fitting since I spent the last day of 2018 telling my husband that it’s time we start taking more risks for what we want. We have both been stuck in a rut for a long time – always doing our best and making a living but not really living life to its fullest. There are so many things we want to do and we have been procrastinating for far too long.

Like most of you, it’s been a hard year for us. We lost someone dear and watched too many friends and family suffer through their own tragedies. Life is too short to sit on the sidelines or take the easy road.

So here is to great adventures, making memories, and taking action! Set goals, make resolutions, write out those lists, or create a vision board. Do whatever you need to do to take the next step towards your dreams. We are doing just that! There is so much to be grateful for and we are embracing all that 2018 has to offer.

Take a step in the right direction… take action and make it happen! Only YOU can.

DIY

Back to My Interior Design Roots

It’s happening again. After giving up my glamorous interior design career (Relax, that’s a joke.), I’ve kind of gotten the design itch again. Tired of my outdated house and not really having the money to put into it, I’m digging deep into my bag of tricks and I’m going to start doing what I do best… redesign on a budget.

I’ve hated my kitchen ever since I moved into this house and we never really got around to gutting it like I wanted to do. Since new cabinets are just not in the budget, I decided to paint the cabinets. I know, HUGE job and it will take me days (weeks) to do but I’m determined that I’m going to have a decent looking kitchen. I didn’t go into this lightly. I read dozens of articles on painting cabinets and I’ll fill you in on what it took when I have the finished product. Right now, I wanted to share what this tired old kitchen looked like before. Only I kind of forgot to take a photo of the complete kitchen so what you see is after we started taking off the cabinet faces.

My countertops are that old, ugly white tile that was all the rage back in the 90’s. Sorry… not the rage anymore. But, getting custom countertops is pricey so I’ve got a trick to make those ratty white tiles looking fresh and clean again.

The one thing I do love about my kitchen is that we have that open floor plan. The only problem with that is every single wall is painted the exact same. So, if I painted the kitchen a different color, I’d technically have to paint ALL the walls in my dining/living/hall a different color. Not happening. So I think my plan will be to only paint the one back wall in the kitchen to give that part of the room a little more depth. I’m going to wait until the cabinets are painted, however, and see what color pops out at me. I’m not into trendy colors so it might not be worth redoing the paint at all. We’ll see.

I have a ton of other projects that I’ll be working on in the house as well. If you are like me and want a big change with a small dollar amount… follow along and let’s see what we can do.

OTHER PROJECTS

Fix my Pergo laminate flooring that has chips in it.
Redo master bathroom and the kids’ bathroom.
Landscape needs to be replaced.
Outside deck decorated.
Front porch decorated.
Finish up the kids’ bedroom designs.

I figured it was time to practice what I preach… you CAN makeover your house with a small budget. I’m going to show you how!

DIY

Designing Exteriors for the Best Curb Appeal

This post is sponsored by Placer Exteriors. All opinions are entirely my own.

I have to admit, we’ve been sitting on doing anything with the exterior of our house for a long time. We know exactly what we want to do but then we end up working on the interior of the house and neglecting the outside. The thing is, the exterior is just as important (and maybe even more so) than the interior. Curb appeal (or… un-appeal) can totally make the difference between someone loving your house and someone hating it.

And updating your exterior doesn’t have to be the chore you think it is. There is something so satisfying about driving up to a beautiful house, don’t you think? I wanted to share some simple ideas on how to get that fabulous curb appeal without costing you an arm and a leg.

Front Porch – not everyone has a front porch but everyone DOES have a front door.

We just spent several weeks getting our front (and back) porch and deck redone. We needed boards replaced and sanding done, but it was really the final coat of fresh, white paint that made the porch come back to life. Never underestimate the effect of a fresh can of paint.

Buy the best paint you can afford – you don’t want it chipping or fading after you’ve gone to all that work.
Remember to sand and fix any wood that is damaged first.
Make sure to cover ALL the risers, treads, trim, handrails, etc. Even with the exact same color paint as before, the fresh paint will look new and the old paint will clash.

Want the most impact? Re-evaluate your front door and windows. If your door is in good condition, consider a fresh coat of paint (and maybe even a fun, new color). If you’ve been thinking of replacing your front doors or windows, make sure to get energy efficient ones. A new door/windows can completely turn around the curb appeal of your home.

Landscaping – don’t panic, this doesn’t have to be complicated.

Many years ago we received a bunch of free rose bushes that we planted around the perimeter of the front of our house. They were great… until we got sick and tired of rose bushes and wanted a big change. We put off doing much about it until we redid our front porch and were kind of forced to rip out the bushes to get to a part of the porch. We decided now would be a great time to revisit the front landscaping. We had a few ideas of easy fixes: they don’t take much money, but they will take you a bit of time.

Add a trellis along a front exterior wall and plant some floral vines. This is such a great way to cover your home, especially those areas that are unsightly.
Consider xeriscape landscaping to save on water and labor.
Easy to install pavers or wood chips or artificial turf can be very low maintenance and add a big impact.

Added Touches – it’s all in the details.

Whether you have the time and money to jazz up your front exterior or not, these simple touches can add just as much bang to your curb appeal.

Solar lighting. I’m not talking about solar panels, just the solar lights that you can stick into the ground to light a path to your front door (or highlight your driveway). They come in all price ranges and can be picked up at your local home improvement store. Not only do they light the way, they can add some interest to your property.
Home numbers. I’m talking about your actual house number that people sometimes have near their front door or garage. If your homeowner’s association doesn’t mind a change, consider updating those numbers in a pretty font or different finish.
Decor. I love front porches that are warm and welcoming. A few chairs and a small table, a rocking chair or two, or just a pretty planted flowering tree makes your home seem cozy. Take a weekend morning and visit a few yard sales if cost is a factor. You can usually pick up some cute outdoor furnishings for next to nothing.

Let me know what other ideas you have and make sure to check in with Placer Exteriors to get more great energy efficient ideas.

Category 2 travel

The Benefits of Study Abroad

This post has been sponsored by Kalu Yala. All opinions are entirely my own.

While you were in high school or college, did you have the opportunity to study abroad? I didn’t, or at least, I don’t think I did. Looking back, it’s kind of all a blur but I don’t remember if it was ever discussed and I’m not sure I would have felt comfortable traveling to another country all by myself. What I did do, however, is take an amazing trip to Europe with a group of friends after I graduated from college – an experience of a lifetime.

Now that I am in the thick of college prep with my daughter, we have been talking about study abroad programs a lot. It’s on top of her bucket list for deciding which college she’ll attend. She wants to experience living in another country, speaking another language, and building her resume with unique opportunities she might not get here.

As a mom, I’m nervous for her but also proud and excited that she even wants to go off and have these experiences. I think that travel (for any purpose) is something everyone should have the chance to do. If you are on the fence if a study abroad program is right for your child, check out why I think it is probably a great idea.

Questions About Study Abroad Programs

But what about fulfilling my college requirements?

The amazing thing about study abroad programs these days is that the college you attend usually works closely with a school abroad to provide you the same excellent educational classes that you would take here. They align with your requirements so you aren’t “missing out” on any of the classes you need to graduate. You also have the unique opportunity to take classes that aren’t available at your school but can still be taken for credit.

What if I don’t speak another language?

There are plenty of great study abroad programs in countries that speak fluent English. Most of the courses you will take will be taught by English speaking professors so no worries there. The beauty of choosing a country where English is not the primary language is that you can become absorbed in the culture and learn the language more quickly than if you studied it here in the United States. And if you had language classes in high school, all the better for getting a chance to practice that skill. My daughters are taking French in school so they are definitely considering France for their study abroad programs.

I’m an inexperienced traveler. How would I manage by myself?

Not a problem. Many schools have guides that go with your group (if you are studying abroad with a group) who have experience with foreign languages and money conversions, etc. A college would not send off a student without having a game plan and all the details you need to live and study abroad. Talk to the previous study abroad students as well to get a feel for the experience and what you need to know. Travel is something that everyone should do as part of their unique life experience. Sure, it may be scary, but you will be all the better for it. If you are really unsure about traveling alone, grab a buddy who is studying something similar to you and plan the trip together.

How would I pay for all this?

Ahhh, this is the big question. I know the expense of travel cares off many people. Many of the colleges we researched include these programs in your regular tuition rate. And, there are plenty of scholarships available (from inside the school and outside the school) to help with the extra costs of airfare, housing, and food. One company, Kalu Yala, provides a scholarship of $1,000 to high school seniors who have been accepted to college and want to study abroad. Simply write a 500 word essay on “The Main Benefits of Studying Abroad”. How easy can that be?

Let Kalu Yala inspire you and I encourage everyone to consider a study abroad program.

Not only do you get to travel but you will be talking college courses that align with your major… and you also might have the chance to do an internship while you are abroad.

If you want to instill a love of travel in your kids, get out and take them with you. We started early with simple road trips and have taken the kids to Hawaii and on several cruises. It warms my heart that my girls all love traveling and want to do much more of it in their lives.

Did you study abroad or are you considering it for your student? I’d love to hear all about it.

family

20 Things I’ve Learned in 20 Years of Marriage

I know you expected to come read some wise words of marriage wisdom. The truth is, I don’t really have any. Today marks our 20th anniversary. 20 years is a long time to spend with someone. We joke all the time that they said it wouldn’t last. Who they is isn’t clearly defined… but maybe we didn’t think it would last.

Still, we managed to make it through 3 pregnancies and are kind of rocking this 3 teenage daughter thing. And while we aren’t where we thought we’d be after 20 years, we really have nothing to complain about.

So here is what I’ve personally learned after 20 years of being married.

Date night might not happen often but when you get the chance, sneak away for a cup of coffee or a slice of pie. Even an hour together away from the house and kids is enough to remind you that you still kind of like each other.
Do one thing (at least) that the other person likes, even though you may hate it. I hate ironing clothes… but I iron his shirts for work. He hates rubbing my feet but he knows how much it relaxes me.
Let it go. You’ll both have baggage that seems silly to the other person. Go with it anyway and have faith they know how to deal with it themselves. Don’t get in the middle of it.
Go to bed angry or go to bed having made up… but for God’s sake… go to bed. Things will look different in the morning after you’ve had some sleep.
A marriage is a partnership where each person should be doing what they do best. Don’t make him cook dinner if he doesn’t like cooking… and don’t make her take the car to the body shop if she hates doing that. It’s okay that everything isn’t fair.
Talk. I mean, really talk about things. If you can’t tell your spouse how you are really feeling then you have a pretty big problem.
You don’t have to agree on how to parent, but you have to stick by a spouse’s parenting decision.
If you have children, let them see you argue… and make up. Let them learn from you about how to be a kind and caring couple. Let them see what a good marriage is all about.
The trick to staying together is pretty simple: you have to both want to. It’s about honoring your commitment and weathering the rough patches.
Be goofy. Dance in the kitchen and sing in the car. If you can’t be yourself with your spouse, you’re in trouble.
Sometimes you just need to listen. Don’t talk. Don’t Comment. Don’t try and fix things. Just listen.
Say “I love you” often. If you don’t remember the last time you said it… say it now.
Check in with each other during the day. A simple “How are things?” text is fine.
Surprise each other every now and then. Watch a football game with him or buy her favorite coffee. It truly is the little things that mean the most.
Have at least one big goal together – to travel, to buy a house, etc.
Remember your marriage is unlike anyone else’s. Don’t compare.
Stand up for each other… always.
Respect personal space. It’s okay to want to spend some time alone.
Have your own little routines and rituals – something special to just the two of you.
Don’t let an anniversary pass without a card and a kiss. The greatest gift is remembering that you made it through another year… together.

family

Teaching Kids Healthy Eating Habits

This time of year, I always start thinking of all the kids who don’t have the opportunities that my own kids do. It’s the perfect time to open your eyes and start giving back.

When I was young, my mother built us a garden out in our backyard. It was one of those super awesome ones, raised bed, wood plank outline. We grew lettuce and carrots and beans and probably a bunch of other things I can’t remember. I DO remember going into that garden and picking fresh veggies (even though I didn’t really like veggies as a kid). And then there was the day we found a bunch of baby rabbits and took them inside and protected them until they were big enough to go back out on their own.

My point is, we were fortunate to be raised learning how to grow our own food. And despite the fact that I never really cooked as a child, I certainly watched my mother and grandmother in the kitchen and picked up tips and tricks on how to create dishes for my family.

I know I was fortunate to have been exposed to all this and I also know that too many children don’t have this opportunity. This is why I really connected to this new video from got milk? called California Thrives on Milk. It’s a documentary that shares how California kids are learning how to eat better, grow their own food, and more importantly, how they can take this knowledge back to their families to help turn the tide of obesity.

What’s that old saying? Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Let’s give our kids the tools to be healthy for a lifetime!

See how @gotmilk is helping California youth make healthier food choices. https://youtu.be/-ENswX7_ThA #CAThrivesOnMilk

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Uncategorized

All in a Day’s Work: Organize Your Day and Find Time For You!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #SnackHonestly #CollectiveBias

I work from home and absolutely love it. But it can be very isolating sometimes and since my work consists of all computer work, it’s sometimes hard to figure out how to get everything done when the laundry is calling, the kids need help with homework, and I either forget to eat or eat too much. I get asked a lot about how I manage everything and honestly, it’s taken me a few years to get into my groove. I have my hands in a lot of different businesses, and I have 3 teenage daughters, so being organized is absolutely necessary for me.

Part of “getting it all done” means you really need to focus on the task at hand, whatever that might be. Take a look at what works for me and try and apply some of these tips to your own busy life.

Have an organizational system or planner. I’ve been using this workflow system for a few months and it’s the best thing I’ve found to keep me on track and make sure I don’t overlook anything I have to do. I call it a workflow system because having a planner just isn’t enough. I have an awesome binder and I’ve separated each section into tabs for days of the week, tabs for all the businesses I’m involved in, and tabs for all the tasks I need to get done. If you are the type of person who is happy with just a planner, go for it. The trick is to do what keeps YOU on track.
Get into a daily habit. What works for me might not work for you but my day is pretty much scheduled so that I can actually get work done AND have time for myself and my family. In addition to my workflow binder, I am also a creature of habit and after I drop off my daughter at school every day, I come home and sit down with a cup of coffee and go through my email and daily to-d0 list. This helps me focus on the really important things. Depending on what needs to get done that day, I’ll work on my computer for a few hours and then either get some house stuff done (cleaning, laundry, cooking) or run errands. I try and be back home to work a few more hours before I need to do school pick-up. Afternoons are for more errands or spending time with the kids. I like to sit down and work some more after dinner for a few hours.Mondays are usually grocery shopping days and Fridays are usually cleaning days. I’ll only schedule meetings or coffee with friends on Thursdays or Fridays since those are my least work-busy days. Tuesdays and Wednesdays seem to be the busiest for me in terms of work so I like to keep those open to be online or near my phone.
Do the tasks on your to-do list for the day that you absolutely hate FIRST. Usually, those are the things you procrastinate until the end of the day and then they ended up getting added to your tomorrow’s to-do list. You don’t want to kick the can down the road so DO IT FIRST! You will feel SO accomplished. Whether that be a phone call you don’t really want to make or a trip to the post office that you’ve been dreading… if you get it done first, the rest of your day will be a breeze.
Keep a running list of those accomplishments. In addition to a gratitude journal, start an accomplishment journal. Write down everything you get done each day and you will be shocked how much you really DO get done.
Prioritize eating. I am not a breakfast person but I know that if I don’t have food around when I do start to get hungry that I’ll overeat later in the day or at night and that’s a killer for my waistline. I always prep my coffee pot the night before so I have fresh coffee in the morning. I have to stock my fridge and pantry with snacks that will get me throughout the day. I have a special area in the cupboard and in the fridge just for those better-for-you snacks. If I don’t have them, I just eat foods that make me feel guilty later.
Allow yourself to fail. And by fail I mean don’t stress if you don’t get a task done or you have to put off something to another day. We beat ourselves up over not getting it all done that we end up feeling overwhelmed by all the things we have to do. STOP! It’s not productive and it’s detrimental to our well-being. (This is why I love the accomplishment journal.)

Monday afternoon is usually my huge Walmart run. I have been trying really hard to go with a complete list and menu plan for the week so I don’t have to waste time running back to the store multiple times. If I don’t consciously put snacks (for me) on the list, I either don’t eat anything or I snack on crap. One of the things I tend to feel deprived of is protein. You know how you start feeling that slump in the afternoon and you want to snack but it’s too close to dinner to really have a meal and a piece of fruit doesn’t always cut the hunger. One of the things I found satisfies is Lorissa’s Kitchen™ Protein Snacks. I admit, I kind of have to hide these from the rest of the family because they’d be gone in no time.

Lorissa’s Kitchen™ products are high in protein, low in carbs, low in fat, they have no MSG or preservatives, and if it’s important to you, they are gluten-free. So much better for you than the other stuff I’ve been buying. We all want to feel good about what we snack on, right?

You can find Lorissa’s Kitchen™ in Korean Barbeque Beef, Sweet Chili Port, Ginger Teriyaki Chicken, and Szechuan Peppercorn Beef. Look at the endcaps near the check out aisle at Walmart, that’s where I found mine.

And when you are picking up a few bags, grab some Organic Honest Tea®, also found near the check out aisles (in the coolers). I have a really hard time drinking water during the day. I’ll drink it as much as possible but when I’m having a snack, I want something a little more substantial. Honest Teas are “Just a Tad Sweet” and are the perfect accompaniment to Lorissa’s Kitchen™ Protein Snacks.

You can earn $1.00 cash back when you shop at Walmart and purchase both products:

Lorissa’s Kitchen™ Premium Protein Snacks – Any variety – 2.25 oz. bag

Honest Tea® – Any variety – Single bottle only

Both products must be purchased on the same receipt to receive credit for this rebate

Having trouble with organizing your day? Feel free to reach out and I’d be happy to help.

Recipes

Celebrate Halloween with These Spooky Punch Drink Recipes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and the Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #FrightAndDelight #CollectiveBias

I miss being a kid and dressing up on Halloween. I miss going door to door and getting candy and then coming home to spend hours sorting through it all. (Yes, I said hours.) I miss that my kids are getting too old to even want to go out anymore. This year, all they want to do is invite some friends over and watch scary movies. Hey, at least they want to be home instead of at someone else’s house.

So we stocked up on some of my favorite scary movies from when I was younger – because they creep me out too much now. And because I have trouble having guests over without going all out to entertain them, I’m whipping up some really fun drinks and snacks that even teenagers will appreciate.

These drinks were inspired by Fanta and their wide selection of soft drinks. I love the different flavors (Orange, Grape, Strawberry, and Pineapple) and colors. All of these are non-alcoholic so they are perfect for spooks of all ages. Look for the fun, Halloween-printed packaging at Albertsons or Safeway. The drinks would be great alone OR you can do what I did… create some Spooky Punch Drinks. (Shhh…. don’t tell anyone what’s in them… part of the fun is having them discover what they are themselves.)

Pumpkin Juice

I’ve had this glass pumpkin for years and other than putting candy in it, I never really had a use for it. It is perfect for this drink! So easy and this would be an amazing cocktail to whip up for Thanksgiving as well.

Ingredients:

Orange Fanta
Apple Cider
Ice

Chill the Fanta and Cider well – this drink tastes best when cold. Mix to taste – I used about 2/3 split – 2 parts cider and 3 parts Fanta.

Zombie Punch

I have this weird fetish with cauldrons. I just love them. I wish I could find a really huge one to put out on my front porch every Halloween (if you see one, let me know). I purchased this smaller one that will contain some spooky Zombie Punch.

Ingredients:

Strawberry Fanta
Lemonade
Fruit flavored sherbet

Mix equal parts Fanta and Lemonade and drop in scoops of the sherbet. Watch it all fizz up. (This one is our favorite.)

Pick Your Poison

This is so much fun. I found some inexpensive colored bottles and labels that were perfect for Halloween.

Ingredients:

Pineapple Fanta
Coconut Juice

For this I used equal parts of the Fanta and the coconut juice (or coconut water). Mix in another container and use a funnel to pour it into the bottles.

Add some spooky snacks like eyeball popcorn (Use Pop-Secret Popcorn and mix in some gummy eyeballs – please always use edible eyeballs, not the plastic ones).

And serve up some bloody fingers by cutting a Red Baron pizza into finger shapes and adding slivers of almonds to look like fingernails.

It’s so easy to throw together a fun Halloween-themed party or invite some friends over to watch some spooky movies. That’s what we’re doing this Halloween. The fun and variety of fruity Fanta flavors will make you the star of your party and your family will think you’re all kinds of cool.

Follow Fanta on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more unique ideas.

Purchase Fanta, Pop-Secret, and Red Baron at Albertsons and Safeway.

#FrightAndDelight

family parenting

Parenting – Are We Making It Harder Than It Has To Be?

Parenting isn’t that hard. Really, it isn’t. We make it harder on ourselves because we listen to all the noise around us telling us that we have to discipline more, check grades every day, create chore charts, and limit screen time. We are so focused on being a great parent and having our children love and respect us that we end up creating children who get annoyed with everything we do and have no respect for us at all.

I have friends tell me all the time what great kids I have. Of course, every day isn’t great, but for the most part, I am proud of the people my children have become. They have empathy, they are kind, and most importantly, they are respectful. Maybe not of their own parents all the time, but out in the world, they are.

I remember back to when I was growing up and the things that I didn’t like.

having to sit at the children’s table
my feelings not being taken into consideration
never being asked what I thought
being treated as a child
being spoken to in a demeaning manner

Even at a young age, it was humiliating. I felt less than, and I didn’t know why. Being young didn’t mean that I had no voice. It just wasn’t being heard.

So I try hard to treat my own children like people, not like property. We often ask our kids what they want, how they feel, where they’d like to go. I stop and listen when they talk. And I try hard as hell to let go. It’s so hard because I DO want to put them in a bubble sometimes. But being a great parent means taking the chance that our kids will make the right choices and be just fine.

So when my 17 year old wants to have lunch with her friend an hour away, I let her go.

When my 12 year old wants to go to Magic Mountain with her friends (and no adults), I let her go.

When my 14 year old wants to travel to another State with her robotics team, I say… when do you leave?

We have the same problems as any other family – too much screen time, talking back, not doing chores or homework, but the difference is that we discuss the situation and listen to our kids’ point of view. Of course we argue and don’t see eye-to-eye on everything and that is exactly what we want, isn’t it? We want our kids to tell us why they think they are right, we want them to feel comfortable telling us.

In many ways, we live in a very different world than when we grew up. In many ways, it’s exactly the same. Kids want to be included. They want their voices to be heard. They want us to listen without judging. You know… the same things we adults want.

If you think parenting is hard… maybe you should ask your kids what you can be doing better. And maybe you should listen to their answers with honest interest and respect.

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