My PB + J

colgate holiday packs #cbias #holidaysmiles

I am more than excited for the holiday season this year and honestly I have been counting down Payton’s third Christmas since the day she was born. I knew age three would bring excitement, wonder and believing in the magic of the season. Since her birthday is exactly one week before the holiday we have to do as much as we can to ensure both are equally celebrated. Now, we’re not huge on bribing our children but sometimes parents have to bring exciting things to get the kids to do what they want. Payton often gets bored with the idea of brushing her teeth and she tends to wake-up around 1 am and sneaks into our bed. We had the idea that bribing her with a Christmas tree in her room would get her to stay in there all night and getting her a few items like a new holiday tooth brush would build some excitement for our everyday routines. Since I had toe surgery last week, my Mom drove Payton and I to our local Walmart to pick-up some holiday items to start the season and our new routines off right!

As soon as we made our way down the main aisle we saw two large Colgate displays. I knew right away that the Dora the Explorer holiday pack would be great to place under her tree. I don’t know about your kids, but with Payton she gets easily turned off from her tooth brush and we find ourselves having to purchase new, fun designs with her favorite characters every month or so. Dora is one of her favorites right now as well as Sponge Bob so I knew that either one of the Colgate holiday packs would get her excited in the morning. The great thing about these holiday packs is that it includes the tooth brush and tooth paste for an all-in-one. If you have more than one child they sell the same holiday electronic spin-brushes without the toothpaste. For under $6 these would make for great stocking stuffers or as a Christmas Eve present paired with new pajamas and a holiday movie. This is a tradition I am looking forward to doing each year for both kids. 

We quickly made our way to the holiday section where we found the perfect white Christmas tree, mini princess ornaments and picked up the Dora and Sponge Bob holiday DVDs to get her into the spirit. I was also attending a spa party that evening so I found some great cranberry red nail polish and clay masks to bring. The trip was fun just to look around and see the excitement in Payton’s eyes. She especially loved looking at the inflatable Santa decorations. It’s crazy the amount of holiday decorations Walmart has! I could literally spend hours looking through everything, plus, I am slightly obsessed! 

The next morning I had the holiday tooth brush and tooth paste placed underneath her fully decorated tree. She was so excited! She ran straight into the bathroom and began showing me how the tooth brush worked, “up is on, down is off”. She loved that she had control over the spinning and could use it without as well. After a few minutes she declared that all the buggies were off her teeth. She gave me her best holiday smile and we set out to the family room to watch Dora’s Christmas Carol. It is safe to say that a huge smile was brought to her face that morning! To see the rest of our holiday shopping trip visit my Google+ album. 

If you’re looking for a simple, yet fun stocking stuffer idea or just something to get your children on board I highly recommend the Colgate Holiday Packs this season!


To learn more visit: Colgate’s Website – Colgate’s Facebook Page – Colgate on Twitter.


Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Colgate. #CBias #HolidaySmiles #SocialFabric. Regardless, I only review products that my family personally uses or feel my readers would enjoy.

{treat} a loved ones mailbox


I am a lover of sending personalized notes. My friend’s husband said a few months back that I am one of the few people he knows that still sends snail mail. I take that as a compliment and something I am proud of. Why have people stopped this simple and surprising gesture? It’s not like 45¢ is a lot to send a piece of mail. I love receiving mail and I have a few dear friends that love it just as much as I do. The thoughtfulness behind it says a lot so why not {treat} your loved ones to a little surprise in their mailbox more often? 
Treat is Shutterfly’s exciting new greeting card brand that makes it easy for people to create and send one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Treat cards are perfect for holidays, birthdays, congrats, thank yous and every occasion in between. It’s crazy fun. It’s super easy. And it’s totally personal. Exactly what I look for when sending cards to our family and friends.
Your holiday checklist just got shorter. Create and send a totally personalized greeting card from Treat for FREE. Whether saying thanks for Thanksgiving, wishing a best friend a holiday birthday, or simply sharing the holiday cheer with a just because card, Treat lets you create a one-of-a-kind card that is sure to impress.
Send a thoughtful surprise to a loved ones mailbox for FREE using the code: TREATBLOGR

sesame street playset giveaway {#HJJubilee12}

It’s Thanksgiving week and we all know what that means! We’re officially into the swing of the holiday season. You’re checking your lists and checking them twice as you gear up for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and everything else that falls in between! Why not check one or several items off your list with the Holly Jolly Jubilee giveaway hop! There’s ninety fabulous blogs participating, each blog has their own prize package valued over $25. There’s one grand prize giveaway package valued at $135 for a Little Tikes kitchen and an Amazon.com gift card. 
My PB+J is giving away one of our family favorites, the Sesame Street Neighborhood Playset. Bring  Sesame Street to life in your home as Elmo and Cookie Monster stroll down the street, have a spinning good time at the fruit stand, play in Big Bird’s nest and take a visit to Mr. Hooper’s store. The playset is foldable and portable for your child to take from room-to-room or on a play date with friends. This toy is perfect for any child 18 months and up. There are additional characters available to purchase to bring the whole gang to life! 

Want to win the Sesame Street Neighborhood Playset valued at $35? Enter the Rafflecopter form below and make sure to come back each day for additional entries. The giveaway starts today, November 19th and will end at midnight Saturday, December 1st. Now get entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Disclosure: This giveaway is fully sponsored by MY PB+J.  Formula Mom, Fabulous Finds by Tiffany, and the Holly Jolly Jubilee bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that fail to fulfill their prizes.

ultimate individual sweet potato casserole {recipe}

One side dish that I love reinventing each year is my sweet potato casserole. Some years I hit the ball out of the park and some have just been so-so. Now, let me begin by saying, we’re not talking about candied yams out of can topped with marshmallows. I am talking fresh sweet potatoes, orange zest, a scrumptous walnut crumble and a light and airy toasted merignue. If you were never a fan of your aunts candied yams I urge you to impress your guests with individual servings of my ultimate sweet potato casserole.

Ingredients:

For the Filling:
5 sweet potatoes, peeled, steamed and mashed
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter, melted
2 teaspoons maple extract or 3 teaspoons pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons orange zest
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs, lightly beaten

For the Crumble:
1 cup flour
1/2 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

For the Meringue:
4 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Prepare the filling. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Take eight ramekins or a 9×13-inch pan and lightly spray cooking spray. Evenly distribute the filling in ramekins or pan. Set aside.

2. Prepare the crumble. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine flour and brown sugar. Once combined slowly add in the butter. The mixture should form pea sized balls after a minute or two. Add in the walnuts and mix for a few seconds. Add the crumble to the top of the sweet potato mixture.

3. Prepare the merignue: In a very clean mixing bowl add in the egg whites. Begin whipping on high until the egg whites begin to foam. Slowly add in the sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.

4. Bake the casseroles at 350º for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and place dollops of meringue onto each ramekin. Continue to bake until meringue starts to slightly brown, about 10-15 minutes. Serve immediately.

5. enjoy!