Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

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Degroot's Strawberry Farm

Summer Must: A Visit To Degroot’s Strawberry Farm

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One item that is always on our summer bucket list is strawberry picking. My kids often say berry picking is one of their favorite traditions we do each summer! This year we decided to visit Degroot’s Strawberry Farm in Gregory, Mich.

I’ve highlighted Spicer Orchards before, but Degroot’s has a special place in my heart since it’s where I always visited growing up. The property is beautiful and paired with a cute little area of farm animals, it makes for a great outing with kids.

Strawberries are typically in season in mid-to-late June. The season isn’t long, so go while they’re fresh!

How it works at Degroot’s:

  • Park in the grass lot.
  • Grab a container or bring your own.
  • Wait for the tractor to take you into the field where patrons can pick.
  • Hop on the tractor for a quick ride out to the field.
  • Pick your little heart out.
  • Head back on the tractor.
  • Get in line to weigh your berries and pay. Note: Degroot’s is cash or check ONLY.
  • Bring quarters and feed the farm animals!

Perfect little morning!

TIPS FOR PICKING AT DEGROOT’S STRAWBERRY FARM

  • Go early or late. It gets hot and crowded on the weekends and afternoons. Degroot’s is actually open until 8 p.m. during the week, so evenings are a good, cooler time to go as well.
  • The best berries are usually found in the middle of the plant. Dig in and look under the leaves!
  • We chant “the redder the better” with the kids so they understand picking green berries is a bad idea.
  • If you have kids that *need* to hold a container, bring them! Each of my three have their own pail to carry so there’s zero drama over who is holding it. I usually just bring tupperware and then dump all of the berries in the larger container in the end.
  • If you have a baby, wear ’em. Strawberries are planted close together so not ideal for a stroller.
  • Wear sunscreen and bug spray and apply at home.
  • Pack water. I bring a backpack with a few small snacks and water for everyone…Because someone is guaranteed to be hungry and thirsty while in the field.
  • Use the bathroom before heading into the field.
  • Bring quarters if your kids would like to feed the animals. They are very friendly, and will likely charm you into feeding them from the vending machine.
  • Don’t dress the kids too nicely because between strawberry juice and the playground, they are going to get dirty.
  • 2019 pricing is $2.03/pound

HAVE FUN!

Degroot’s is located at 4232 Bull Run Road in Gregory.

Berry picking hours are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visit their website here or Facebook page.

Where is your favorite spot to pick strawberries?

Grab Your Flip-Flops and Score a FREE Smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Cafe on June 14

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I don’t know about you all, but having something on the calendar at least a few times a week is sometimes what gets us by during summer. I especially am attracted to FREE events, because let’s face it — kid stuff adds up!

So I was pretty stoked to see Tropical Smoothie Cafe will be offering FREE 16 oz. Sunshine Smoothies to guests wearing flip-flops on June 14, 2019. Mark your calendar! This will be a fun excuse to get out and enjoy a treat with the kiddos.

This offer is only valid from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Donations to Camp Sunshine are encouraged. Camp Sunshine is based in Casco, Maine, and is an organization that provides memorable experiences for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. How fantastic is that?!

The sunshine smoothie comes with Mango, banana, orange, pineapple and orange juice. It’s delicious!

Find the nearest location to you HERE.

Grab those flip flops and enjoy!

Find more FREE summer fun at this list.

Dairy Queen’s FREE Cone Day 2019

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Like we all need an excuse to go get ice cream…

Dairy Queen’s annual FREE Cone Day 2019 is coming up on Wednesday, March 20. This event happens nationwide and serves as a fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The donation dollar amount you give is completely up to you and flavor choices include chocolate, vanilla, or twist. What a perfect way to welcome the first day of spring, right?!

This year’s Free Cone Day is on Wednesday, March 20. Perfect way to celebrate spring!

Since 1984, Dairy Queen restaurants across the United States have raised more than $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

For my local readers, Southeast Michigan Dairy Queen location donations will benefit Beaumont Children’s Hospital. All money raised will stay in Michigan and benefit Beaumont’s programs and services for children.

Call your local DQ to ensure they are participating.

For more ideas for FREE fun, visit this list!

What flavor cone will you be ordering? I’m a twist girl myself!

10+ Easy Meal Ideas for Busy Weekday Nights

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The post below is sponsored by Sandra’s Chicken. All opinions expressed belong to me.

I always chuckle when someone says to me “Wow, you’re busy!”

I don’t wear busy it as a badge of honor, because I know being too busy has repercussions. I’m just not sure how to not be busy partly because of my personality, and because I have three children that keep me hopping!

One thing I’ve grown to despise is making weeknight meals. I’ve lamented before how we changed our dinnertime to accommodate life. This year, we do our best to eat dinner as a family, but it only works for about half the week. Other nights, our meals need to be a make-ahead meal, or something that is easy to prepare since I’m often cooking while solo parenting, helping the kids with homework, and prepping to head off to an extracurricular activity.

In order to make sure the kids eat, I’m typically the queen of 30-minute meals, jarred sauce, steam-able veggies, and things that can easily be thrown in the oven without a whole lotta chopping involved 😉

I was recently introduced to Sandra’s Chicken Drumsticks, which can be found in the frozen section at Kroger. The drumsticks are made from chicken that is cage-free, raised without antibiotics and fed an all-vegetarian diet. Just pop them out of the package, defrost, and bake. Easy peasy.

I like that they are made with 100 percent natural ingredients, zero grams trans fat, and without hormones, nitrites or preservatives. If you’re going to buy pre-packaged food, this is the way to go!

The hubby and I really enjoyed the sweet and spicy flavor, though it did have a kick. The kids demolished the savory herb ones…Because who doesn’t love gnawing on a drumstick? Even my kid that’s missing most of her front teeth enjoyed it 😉

I would buy these again in a heartbeat. Love a simple dinner, and the opportunities for easy sides are endless!

In addition to sharing about this fantastic, quick meal helper, I wanted to share some other fantastic and kid-friendly recipes from some of my favorite Michigan bloggers for when you are in need some easy weeknight mealtime inspiration, too!

10+ Easy Meal Ideas for Busy Weekday Nights

ABOUT SANDRA’S

Sandra’s is a line of all natural chicken products made at Serenade Foods in Milford, Indiana. Since 1976, the family-owned company has manufactured chicken products, including flavored drumsticks, stuffed chicken minis and entrées.

For more information, visit www.sandraschicken.com or check them out on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest or Instagram.

What’s your go-to meal for those busy week nights?

Recipe: Summer Salsa With Feta Dip

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I put my hand up on your hip, when I dip, you dip, we dip.

That song is definitely an anthem from my adolescence and awkward pre-teen dancing, but now it just gives me the munchies. Because is there anything better in summer than sitting lakeside or poolside with an amazing DIP? I think not!

My neighbor makes the most amazing dip ever…It’s delicious, addictive, and relatively healthy. There are tons of variations out there of this dip, but this one — with feta — is my absolute favorite! She gave me permission to share with the world because it’s that good.

I can’t wait to make this for an upcoming girl’s night. I like that I can easily grab all of the ingredients at Aldi and it’s super afforable to make.

Also? There isn’t spice to it, so it’s easily enjoyed by a variety of taste buds.

Make it and I promise it will be hard not to eat the entire batch 😉

Summer Salsa with Feta Dip

  • 1 can of corn, drained
  • 1 can of black beans, drained
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • 5 oz. feta cheese {block preferred, but pre-packaged works too!}
  • 1 bunch of green onions {ends trimmed}
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate. This dip lasts a few days in the fridge, but definitely is tastiest when made just before serving.

Enjoy!

What is your go-to summer dip? I need to expand my horizons!

Doorganics Michigan: Produce Delivered To Your Door

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The post below is sponsored by Doorganics Michigan. All opinions express belong to me.

I often joke that I need a farm to feed my kids. I knew having three kiddos would increase my grocery bill, but I seriously underestimated by how much. The amount of food we go through in a week is INSANE.

As much as I’d love to shop once a week, it’s just not possible. More realistic is shopping twice a week, once a week for my bigger items, and once strictly for produce/small items. I love Farmers Markets during summer, but with travel and events, it’s impossible for us to get there every week.

Doorganics Michigan

As the saying goes “You only get 18 summers with your kids,” so I’m always looking for ways to make life a bit easier in summer. One way to do this? Ordering produce delivered by Doorganics.

(P.S. Continue reading to receive a discount on your first Doorganics delivery!)

The Grand Rapids-based company is Michigan’s only organic delivery service, and they just began delivering organic-and-local groceries to Ann Arbor, metro Detroit, and even Livingston County. They also deliver to the Lakeshore and Traverse City. They have been serving customers in West Michigan since 2011.

Doorganics Michigan

Doorganics deliveriesstart with a customizable produce box full of local and organic fruits and veggies. Customers can then shop from more than 150 different Michigan-made grocery itemsincluding farm eggs, pastured meats, fresh baked breads, cheeses, as well as organic deli salads and prepared meals.

Doorganics Michigan

Last year, Doorganics purchased more than $250,000 worth of food items from small local producers. It makes me happy to know the company is helping to impact local small businesses.

Many produce itemsare local to Michigan, but of course that depends on the season. I am looking forward to all local produce once Michigan is in its full agricultural swing coming up soon {typically July-November}. The fact that this service is organic and costs about the same as the grocery store is a major bonus, too.

I have enjoyed trying some new-to-me Michigan-based products, and even have snagged some items that were perfect snacks for the kiddos.

The produce I have received has been of a beautiful quality and the amount of produce has been perfect for our family. The packaging is really stellar, so food stays cool, even on a hot day, and there’s no need to be home when your delivery arrives. I love that they company will pick up your packaging after too, to ensure it is recycled.

Once you create an account, it’s easy to swap out items to things you will use {each order gets up to four swaps, and there are plenty of great options}, and we’ve had no trouble going through the items fast enough. Everything has tasted fresh and delicious!

In fact, about once every week or so, we do a “snack tray” type meal — my kids LOVE doing these, and I love seeing them gobble up so much good stuff. Our orders have been fantastic for this!

PRICING

Doorganics has a variety of delivery sizes(or bins) ranging from $29.99 to $49.99. There are plenty of options for add-on groceries too. Honestly, I spend pretty close to $30 each week on produce, and it’s not even all organic. Delivery is included in the price, and customers have full control of their delivery schedule inside an online member portal.

I feel like it’s a decent value for your money. As I always say to fellow mamas — “What’s your time worth?”

Mine is definitely better spent hanging with my crew and laughing over playing with our food than doing more shopping!

I love that the summer will bring even more local and organic produce to Doorganics. This service is such a great concept for busy families that lead healthy lifestyles, and I look forward to watching the company grow to even more zip codes across Michigan!

DOORGANICS PROMO CODE

I’m excited to offer my readers the chance to try Doorganics at a discounted rate. Just enter MRSWEBER into the promo code box for $12 off your first order. Try it out! If you don’t enjoy it, simply cancel future orders at any time. Visit HERE to sign-up!

Learn more about Doorganics on their website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter.

Enjoy! What other ways do you streamline life during summer?

Now Open: Buddy’s Pizza Ann Arbor {+ Gift Card Giveaway}

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The post below is sponsored by Buddy’s Pizza. All opinions expressed belong to me.

Rejoice! Buddy’s Pizza Ann Arbor is now open!

When I make lists of my favorite iconic Detroit food eats, you betcha Vernor’s, Sanders and Better Made is on it.

But when it comes to a restaurant, there’s nothing more iconic D-town than Buddy’s, which started on the corner of Conant and Six Mile in 1946. Buddy’s is THE reason “Detroit style” pizza exists. I may be a little bias, but move over New York and Chicago, Detroit is truly the BEST when it comes to pizza.

That deep crunchy crust combined with Wisconsin brick cheese and Sicilian style pepperoni…Oh, come to mama!

Buddy's Pizza Ann Arbor

After 71 years of serving pies throughout metro Detroit, the family owned business has now expanded to Ann Arbor with its 12th location.

The 6,500 square foot restaurant opened last week and when I visited on opening day, the place was packed! Guess it’s safe to say Ann Arbor-ites are excited about the new guy in town.

Who wouldn’t love another amazing pizza joint?

Buddy's Pizza Ann Arbor

The interior design has a very cool, industrial feel — a nod to Detroit’s roots. Rich, warm colors are showcased throughout, with metal, brick and wood detail.

Buddy's Pizza Ann Arbor

The full-service location seats 200 patrons in a main dining room and feature a main lobby, an outdoor dining area, main bar, banquet room, carry-out area, restrooms and kitchen.

Conveniently situated near I-94 and just minutes from the Big House, the new location will surely provide locals and visitors with a new tradition for football Saturdays and the Buddy’s Pizza flavors they know and love, closer to home.

LOCATION & HOURS

Buddy’s Pizza – Ann Arbor is located in the Pittsfield Plaza at 3153 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.

Hours are as follows:

  • Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Friday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Sunday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

MORE ABOUT BUDDY’S PIZZA

For more information, visit www.buddyspizza.com or connect with Buddy’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

GIVEAWAY

I have a $25 gift card to any Buddy’s Pizza location to giveaway. Enter following the form below. Giveaway ends on October 31 at midnight. Good luck!

Buddy's Pizza Ann Arbor

$25 Gift Card to Buddy’s Pizza

Michigan Applebee’s Restaurants Celebrate Anniversary With Fun 9/18-22 {+ $25 Gift Card Giveaway!}

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The post below is sponsored by TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants. All opinions expressed belong to me.

TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants (TSFR), a Michigan-based family-owned restaurant group with an expansive portfolio of casual, quick service and family dining restaurants throughout the state, is celebrating five years of ownership of its 64 Applebee’s restaurants statewide with a five-day celebration September 18-22, 2017.

During the celebration, TSFR is expected to giveaway $1.2 million in gift cards and free meals to its guests.

Here are the details of the special promotions:

Free Kids Meals: September 18-20

TSFR Applebee’s restaurants will offer free meals to kids on Monday, Sept. 18 – Wednesday, Sept. 20 {limit 2 kids meals free with every adult entrée}.

Discount to Vets and Active Military: September 18-22

Each TSFR Applebee’s location will provide veterans and active military personnel 30 percent off their meals Monday thru Friday.

All-In Burger Deal: September 18

Applebee’s will offer its all-in burgers for $6.99 on National Cheeseburger Day — Monday, September 18. Additionally, grab a mucho and craft brewtus drink for $5 all week long, too. Yum!

Gift Card Giveaway: September 20

On Wednesday, September 20, Applebee’s will be giving a free $5 gift card to every guest dining in to celebrate the anniversary. Five lucky guests will also win free Applebee’s for a year {two visits per month valued at $25 per visit or $600 for the year}.

About TEAM Schostak Restaurants

Since purchasing the 64 Michigan Applebee’s in 2012, TSFR has elevated the dining experience for guests by undergoing a more than $12 million revitalization of 60 Applebee’s restaurants and building an additional four new locations in key communities. As part of its commitment to giving back to the communities it serves, TSFR has donated more than $1 million in funds and free meals to local schools, youth athletics, families and veterans/active military personnel in need and nonprofit organizations.

For more information about TSFR and its Applebee’s anniversary celebrations, visit www.teamschostak.com or on Facebook.

GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

I have one $25 gift card to giveaway to a lucky winner! Must be a Michigan resident to win. Enter using the prompts below. Giveaway ends on September 22, 2017 at midnight.

Michigan Applebee's Restaurants Celebrate Anniversary With Fun

Free Cone Day at Dairy Queen 2017

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Like we all need an excuse to go get ice cream…

Dairy Queen’s annual FREE Cone Day is coming up tomorrow — Monday, March 20, 2017. This event happens nationwide and serves as a fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The donation dollar amount you give is completely up to you.

Since 1984, Dairy Queen restaurants across the United States have raised more than $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

For my local readers, Southeast Michigan Dairy Queen location donations will benefit Beaumont Children’s Hospital. All money raised will stay in Michigan and benefit Beaumont’s programs and services for children.

Free Cone Day is an annual tradition in our family! My girls in 2016.

Participating Michigan locations include:

  • Algonac – 1307 St. Clair River Drive
  • Ann Arbor – 2430 W Stadium
  • Auburn Hills – 3053 Walton Blvd
  • Bloomfield Twp – 6622 Telegraph
  • Brighton – 321 W. Grand River Ave
  • Burton – 4145 S. Saginaw
  • Burton – 2444 S. Center
  • Cadillac – 901 S. Mitchell
  • Canton – 266 N. Canton Center Rd
  • Charlotte – 407 S. Cochran
  • Cheboygan – 117 North Main
  • Clinton Township – 42345 Garfield Rd
  • Commerce Township – 1599 Union Lake Rd
  • Detroit – 24671 Grand River
  • East China – 1980 River Rd
  • East Tawas – 118 W. Bay St
  • Farmington – 22290 Middlebelt
  • Farmington – 33326 12 Mile Rd
  • Farmington – 34414 8 Mile Rd
  • Flat Rock – 28918 Telegraph
  • Fraser – 34513 Utica Rd
  • Garden City – 28825 Ford Rd
  • Gibraltar – 30030 S. Gilbraltar
  • Grand Blanc – 2251 Hill Rd
  • Greenville – 1015 W. Washington
  • Harrison – 3187 N. Clare Ave
  • Hartland – 10490 Highland Rd (M-59)
  • Highland – 2330 S. Milford Rd
  • Holly – 1120 N Saginaw
  • Indian River- 3808 S. Straits
  • Keego Harbor – 2886 Orchard Lake Rd
  • Lapeer – 888 S. Main St.
  • Lincoln Park – 2356 Dix Hwy
  • Madison Heights – 29371 Dequindre Rd
  • Marine City – 236 Fairbanks
  • Midland – 917 S Saginaw Rd
  • Mt Clemens – 353 Gratiot Ave
  • Novi – 41490 Grand River
  • Pontiac – 1525 Baldwin Rd
  • Richmond – 68020 Main St
  • Rochester – 743 N. Main St
  • Romeo – 268 S. Main
  • Roseville – 29580 Gratiot
  • Royal Oak – 3201 Rochester Rd
  • Shelby Township – 54804 Shelby
  • South Lyon – 22253 Pontiac Trail
  • Utica – 45814 Van Dyke Ave
  • Walled Lake – 551 N Pontiac Trail
  • Warren – 26633 Hoover Rd
  • Warren – 23515 Ryan Rd
  • Waterford – 4683 Dixie Hwy
  • Waterford – 5608 Highland Rd
  • Wayne – 3007 Wayne Road S
  • West Bloomfield – 6931 Orchard Lake Rd
  • White Lake – 10531 Highland Rd
  • Wixom – 49062 Pontiac Trail
  • Ypsilanti – 101 E Michigan Ave

To make your donation more meaningful, here is a profile of a Beaumont family and how these small donations can add up to make a big difference for families who need the hospital’s services:

Laura went into labor at 23 weeks and 6 days and gave birth to triplets, Stella, Lillian and Charlie who were only 9 inches long and 1.5 pounds with only a 10% chance of survival.

Three days later, one of the NICU doctors told them one or more of the babies wouldn’t make it through the night. One of the nurses prayed with them that night, it showed how much the nurses cared about saving the babies.

Charlie was struggling with his digestive system and Dr. Nathan Novotny was going to do a procedure to try to save Charlie. The next evening, Dr. Novotny came in on his own to check on him even though he wasn’t on call. The surgery didn’t help Charlie and they took Charlie off of life support on the morning of July 20th , which was the first time they got to hold their son.

Laura and Graham were given a box of mementos, a Bereavement Box partly funded by CMN, to remember Charlie. Later on, they put on a concert in Charlie’s honor to help support the NICU and raised over $15,000 in five weeks. Now there are two brand new blanket warmers in the NICU honoring Charlie.

After Charlie’s passing, the girls were still fighting and spent the next 130 days in the NICU with multiple eye surgeries, battles with lung disease, many moments where lifesaving CPR was needed and more.

In November, Lily and Stella were able to come home on oxygen and heart monitors with both of them being over 7 pounds.

In April of 2016, Stella became very sick with pneumonia, which can be fatal to babies with their history, and had an emergency surgery for an obstructed bowel. She spent 24 days in the PICU, where they almost lost her on multiple occasions. The doctors and nurses saved Stella’s life, and they had so many visits from NICU staff on multiple occasions while they were in the PICU.

Today, the girls like Little Einsteins shows, books, their Fisher Price house, The “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and the “Wheels on the Bus” and swinging. Stella loves her speedy walker and her pacifier, while Lillian loves her baby doll.

What flavor cone will you be ordering? I’m a twist girl myself!

2017 FREE Pancakes at IHOP {Benefitting Beaumont Children’s Hospital}

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What is better than pancakes? Pancakes for a GREAT cause!

Pancakes are among the favorite foods of our house. I know all of my kids are all in whenever I make them, so when we dine out, I love picking places that serve breakfast all day long because I know my kids will actually eat!

On Tuesday, March 7, 2017 IHOP restaurants will once again offer each guest a free short stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes on National Pancake Day. This family-friendly tradition aims to raise needed funds and awareness for Beaumont Children’s Hospital, the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals affiliate in Southeast Michigan.


IHOP guests will be invited to make a voluntary donation to Beaumont Children’s to help improve the lives of pediatric patients through life-saving treatments, programs and medical equipment.

Southeast Michigan locations benefitting Beaumont Children’s include:

  • Bloomfield Hills
  • Brighton
  • Canton
  • Dearborn Heights
  • Detroit
  • Livonia
  • Monroe
  • Novi
  • Roseville
  • Royal Oak
  • Sterling Heights
  • Woodhaven
  • Ypsilanti

Learn more about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, visit here.

What are your favorite pancake toppings? You can always add them for a small fee!

Incredible Kid Giveaway with MOD Pizza in Metro Detroit

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The post below is sponsored by TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants.

Do you know an incredible kid? If so, I have a fun contest for those of you located near MOD Pizza locations in metro Detroit.

In honor of Incredible Kid Day on March 16, TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants, a Michigan-based family-owned restaurant group and its eight MOD Pizza restaurants, will celebrate by giving a free pizza party from each of its locations to eight students’ classrooms.

MOD Pizza is seeking parents, guardians or friends to nominate students who have gone above and beyond to create a ripple effect for good in the communities MOD Pizza serves.

The winning students, as selected by each of the eight MOD Squads, will receive a free pizza party for his/her entire classroom.

Kindergarteners through fifth grade in the following school districts are eligible:

  • Brighton
  • Canton
  • Chesterfield
  • Livonia
  • Northville
  • Rochester Hills
  • Shelby Township
  • Woodhaven

Those interested in nominating a student need to fill out the online form, complete with the nominator’s name, the student’s name and age, the nominee’s school, contact information, and 200 words or less explaining why the student should be selected as a MOD Pizza Incredible Kid. Access the form here.‎

Nominations will be accepted through Sunday, March 19. The grand prize pizza party winners will be selected and notified by Friday, March 24.

Each student in the winning classroom will also receive a coupon for a free MOD sized pizza.

For more information, visit: http://teamschostak.com/mod-pizza-incredible-kid-contest/. ‎

If you aren’t familiar, MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas are made on demand, using fresh dough and signature sauces. Guests can create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of more than 30 fresh-featured toppings, or they can choose from a menu of MOD classics.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of the MOD Pizza brand and their commitment to the communities they serve. We love visiting as a family {my kids love their cinnamon strips!} and I love that they are so supportive of our schools and local nonprofits.

For more information on TSFR and its MOD Pizza locations {with more to come to Michigan!}, visit www.teamschostak.com.

GIVEAWAY

I have a $25 gift card to give away to one lucky winner. Use the form below to enter. Giveaway is open to Michigan resident only and ends on March 17, 2017.  Good luck!
MOD Pizza $25 Gift Card

Copycat Cheese Soup From Hudson’s

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cheese-soup

One of my favorite questions to ask friends is “What would your last meal on earth be?”

I think you can tell a lot about a person from their choice, ya know? Mine would definitely be made by someone else because there is no way I’d be cooking if it was my last day 😉

My answer has been the same for years…A glass of wine, a Maurice salad and a bowl of Canadian cheese soup from Hudson’s {yes, the department store is now called Macy’s…I still call it Hudson’s at times though}. Honestly, it’s my favorite meal ever and I order it every time I visit Macy’s Lakeshore Grill.

I was beyond thrilled when I found an old Hudson’s cook book at my local Salvation Army with recipes for BOTH. Now I can make my favorites at home!

copycat-cheese-soup-from-hudsons

I modified the Canadian cheese soup recipe to my liking, and I am impressed that it tastes pretty close to the original recipe. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make, and it truly makes the BEST leftovers.

I also love how you can easily customize this by adding chicken, bacon, broccoli, or whatever your heart desires.

Paired with some crusty bread and a salad, this indulgent soup is perfect for hitting the spot on a cool evening.

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This recipe makes 8 1-cup servings. Easy to double for holiday gatherings!

cheese-soup-recipe-like-hudsons

What would your last meal on earth be?

Garlic Ranch Grilled Chicken Recipe

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Garlic Ranch Grilled Chicken

Nicer weather = time to get grilling!

I’ve been watching what I eat a bit closer after taking some time off, but there is one thing I can never seem to nix entirely: Ranch.

But instead of slathering it on my pizza and French fries {sad trombone for being done with that phase in my life}, I’ve found another way to incorporate it without going too crazy: Using it for a marinade. I love the Boathouse Farms yogurt-based dressings for a healthier option {found in the produce area at Meijer} since they have half the calories.

Garlic Ranch Grilled Chicken

This simple marinade makes the chicken SO amazing. When grilled to perfection, it pretty much falls apart in your mouth.

In this recipe I used pantry staples versus fresh herbs, but as most of you may know fresh is even more amazing! I just wanted to make it a little more realistic for those of us who can’t be running to the store daily 😉

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I love to eat it up with a side salad and roasted veggies, but it also tastes great in wraps or in a salad. Double the recipe and use it all week for lunches!

Garlic Ranch Grilled Chicken

Another important item to note: I have found my kids eat MUCH more of their dinner when we eat outside. Suffice to say, we love dining on our deck as much as possible, and this recipe gets a big thumbs up from all 3 of my little monkeys, especially this crazy guy:

Miles' Cheese Face

What delicious things have you been grilling up lately? Three cheers for awesome grilling weather lately!

No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bites

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No Bake Protein Bites

I don’t know about you all, but my kids have been awful about eating breakfast lately, so I’ve been experimenting with all kinds of new recipes. They pretty much have been refusing everything, with the exception of cereal. As a busy mom, I love the convenience of cereal, but it just doesn’t keep them full…Which means I hear the “I’m hungry” an hour later.

I have a few go-to snacks for mid-morning like yogurt, trail mix and fresh fruit, but for something more fun, I turn to these simple No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bites. I love that they are loaded with fiber and protein and give a little bit of that sweet kick every kid craves.

No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bites

There are tons of variations out there, but this is the recipe I follow, which is inspired by a recipe my neighbor gave me. I always double it to have enough to last our family of 5 a few days. This recipe makes approximately 32 small bites.

  • 2 cup dry oatmeal
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup ground flax
  • 2/3 cup honey
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • Optional – 1 teaspoon chia seeds

I’ve used natural peanut butter, but the house favorite is classic JIF. You can easily use agave too, just use a little less since it’s twice as sweet.

Additionally, you can use plain ground flax, but I prefer to use the flax/chia blend to get the most protein and fiber possible. I also think the chia seeds help keep the balls together better.

No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bites

How can you go wrong with those delicious ingredients? These don’t last long around our house!

See also: Recipe for chocolate coconut peanut butter bars…Yum!

What are your favorite no bake treats?

Vanilla Cupcake Smoothie Recipe {With siggi’s Icelandic Style Yogurt}

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I am a member of the siggi’s Culture Club and receive periodic coupons and insider information. I love this stuff, so believe me when I say that the opinions expressed are mine 😉

We have a food product obsession in our house: siggi’s Icelandic style skyr, which is found in the yogurt aisle at the grocery store. Have you heard of it? It’s SO tasty!

We have been on the lookout for a yogurt option with low sugar and high protein for a while. Unfortunately, so many brands really aren’t very healthy at all. Not cool when I am hoping to consider it part of my breakfast, not dessert!

When I spotted siggi’s on sale awhile back, I decided to give it a shot. Now we don’t buy any other brand. We generally stick to the 0% variety, but for those indulgent days, this baby is my personal favorite:

Siggi's Skyr

I love that siggi’s doesn’t contain aspartame, sucralose, gelatin, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors or preservatives. The ingredients are simple, and it uses 4 times the milk of regular yogurt, making it have a higher protein count, and keeping you fuller longer.

My absolute favorite flavor right now is vanilla & cardamon {it’s seasonal}, but we love all of the flavors. They even have some great unique ones such as pumpkin & spice, strawberry & rhubarb, orange & ginger and more. My kids love their strawberry and blueberry squeezable yogurt tubes, too — and I love that they are healthier than the other kid-friendly options out there.

I’m a smoothie fan, and love using siggi’s for added protein for a post-workout treat. I always share them with the kids to sneak some more greens in their diet, too. Trust me when I say they have ZERO clue I put spinach in every single one…It disguises itself beautifully.

I have quite a few combos I love, but this vanilla cupcake smoothie is my favorite! Makes 2 servings, or enough for 2 adults, or in my case — 1 adult and 3 little ones.

Vanilla Cupcake Smoothie Recipe

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Can you tell my middle baby was so excited to eat it? She even snuck into my photo shoot!

Vanilla Cupcake Smoothie Recipe with Siggi's

You can find siggi’s in the yogurt aisle at Meijer, Kroger, VG’s, Whole Foods and more. Learn more by visiting siggisdairy.com.

What is your favorite way to incorporate yogurt into a recipe?

Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

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Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

There is one thing I miss most about my life before kids: Traveling. My bucket list is a mile long with places I would like to go. I was bit with the travel bug at a young age and have been lucky to travel to some really cool places {a few favorites include Hungary, Switzerland, England and Germany}.

With three young kids, exotic travel is far off my radar. I know many people take their small children places, and I seriously applaud that. But my kids just aren’t ready, and honestly, I’m not willing to spend a lot of money on a trip we can’t all enjoy.

So until my kids are older, we just travel with our minds 😉 I am slightly obsessed with books that help us learn about other cultures, and I never turn down a meal at a foreign restaurant, even if I don’t know what half the food is. I love learning!

I live in a pretty white suburban area, so the lack of diverse restaurants is tough for me. I’ve decided to take it upon myself to make more ethnic-inspired foods in my home this year.

One type of food I hope to experiment with more is Indian food. I love curry, coconut milk and the many spices that go along with the foods, so I’ve decided to dive right in to try some new things.

One dish a friend introduced me to that I love is Chicken Tikka Masala. Funny enough, it has Indian roots, but was actually invented in the United Kingdom.

Chicken Tikka Masala Spices

Aren’t all the spices together just beautiful? Reminds me of the sunset!

It’s chicken in a delicious sauce that can easily be spicy – or not. It’s extremely flavorful and a welcome addition to my ever-growing list of great crock pot recipes. I tweaked a few recipes and found one I will be making often! Best of all, it’s SUPER flavorful, high in protein, but not too high in the calorie department.

Also, I already had most of the spices in my cupboard, so it was relatively inexpensive to make. The only item I needed to purchase was Garam Masala, which was worth every penny of its $5 cost. Deee-lish!

Chicken Tikka Masala with Raita

Here’s how it’s made:

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I love that this dish makes a lot of leftovers for our family, and tastes even better the few days after its made. I also love that it’s easily adjustable to your liking. My son loved it; it was a bit spicy for my girls, though they are very picky with anything that has flavor.

I recommend serving it on a bed of rice of your choosing, and a piece of Naan bread. My favorites are the mini naan that Stonefire makes and are available at Costco.

I recently was introduced to Raita, a savory yogurt by a Michigan mom-run company, South Asian Flavors. I fell in love with these yogurts! The cucumber with cilantro and mint was the perfect addition to this dish.

My favorite for veggies, naan and crackers was the tomato with cumin and coriander, while my husband enjoyed the spicy carrot. Give them a try if you see them! See this list of locations where they can be found across metro Detroit and Ann Arbor, and stayed tuned for expansion news.

Raita Savory Yogurt by South Asian Flavors

What is your favorite ethnic recipe? Give me some ideas on where I should “travel” to next!

Holiday Dinner Idea: Comfort Food Bar {+ Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe}

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PotPiePlease #CollectiveBias

Comfort Food Bar

With the holiday season in full swing, there are sure to be a few parties on your list, right? I love having friends and family over for dinner, and have fun creating a menu, but I do not always love the stress that can go along with it. Have you ever tried to keep your house clean before people come over with 3 kids running around? Uggggh. Pure torture!

With that said, we are lucky to have some amazing neighbors, so I let my house go with kid clutter for the sake of having them over for dinner. With 9 kids between us, I loved planning this comfort food bar that even the kids could enjoy, too!

It took me a few years, but I have learned to not over do it with food so I am stuck in the kitchen and not with my glass of wine 😉 I usually have a three item rule when cooking for others: A meat, a starch/carb and something green.

For this meal, my meat item was a few different Marie Callender’s Pot Pies. I love that these are super easy to bake, and taste good too. An occasional pot pie was always in the mix of my mom’s dinner rotations, and Marie Callender’s was always the brand choice because of the flaky crust. {Seriously, it’s the BEST store-bought crust for fruit pies too.} Tastes like homemade!

Marie Callender Pot Pies at Walmart

We found them at our local Walmart. My husband loves the beef pot pies, while I like the traditional chicken or turkey. For our gathering, we had one of each. We popped them in an hour and a half before the party and they stayed hot while sitting out for quite some time.

TIP: To ensure the crust doesn’t burn, cover the edges with aluminum foil!

For my green item, I chose a simple salad, with dressings and toppings as a choice.

For the starch/carb, I chose mashed potatoes. I love these because they are cheap to buy, pretty much everyone loves them, and they’re a great comfort food during cooler weather.

I typically make my potatoes from scratch, but they involve a lot of extra dishes, which isn’t always conducive to entertaining. Instead, a crock pot works great!

Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes for a crowd

Here’s how to make them in the crock pot for a group of 10-12 people:

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Ideas for toppings:

  • Cheese
  • Sour cream {or plain Greek yogurt}
  • Bacon
  • Mini broccoli pieces {Walmart has a small bag in the produce area that makes steaming a cinch!}
  • Green onions
  • Chopped ham
  • Gravy
  • Salsa
  • Horseradish
  • Fried onion straws
  • Diced tomatoes

Mashed Potato Bar Toppings

I love how easy mashed potatoes are to customize! Makes it super easy when entertaining a group with kids who tend to be picky.

Paired with a Marie Callender pot pie, this meal is sure to be a hit. I mean, who doesn’t love comfort foods during the holidays? And bonus: It all tastes amazing reheated, too!

Comfort Food Bar Pot Pies and Mashed Potatoes

Save money on Marie Callender’s pot pies by visiting here for a printable coupon! Or join Ibotta for a rebate on the 10 oz size or the family size portion. Yum!

Learn more about Marie Callender’s meal ideas by following the brand on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram and Pinterest.

What are your favorite foods for winter and holiday entertaining?

Holiday Entertaining: Easy Cranberry Lime Martini

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Cranberry Lime Martini

This post is part of an ongoing partnership with Absopure. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m so excited to share my new favorite drink because ’tis the season for entertaining, right?!

In social situations, I’m typically a beer drinker, but I can see my love for craft beers hitting my waistline fast with the holidays here. With that in mind, I’m always on the hunt for a delicious low-calorie cocktail.

I’ve always loved a traditional Cosmopolitan, so thought I would make a refreshed version with one of my new favorite beverages: Absopure’s Cap10 All Natural Sparkling Mineral Water in Cranberry-Lime.

Best of all? These are only around 100 calories per drink. Makes indulging a bit more of a guilt-free experience.

Cranberry Lime Martini with Cap10

In addition to being lower in the calorie department, I love the nutritional benefits offered by cranberries:

  • They are full of antioxidants that protect our bodies from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is what causes aging. Boo!
  • They have a ton of vitamin C, which can keep you healthy this holiday season.
  • They can lower your risk of a urinary tract infections, which are common among women.

Bonus for my local readers: The Michigan Cranberry Company is a great business support, and their bags of fresh cranberries can be purchased inexpensively at Meijer and Walmart.

I am what I like to call a real-life drinker, so you won’t find 10 fancy schmancy ingredients or even a shaker involved. Shoot, this may not even qualify as a martini considering it doesn’t have vermouth. Whatever. All that matters is that it tastes on point, ya’ll. I love that both cranberry and lime cut the taste of alcohol, making this a very smooth drink, even for the pickier drinkers out there.

Grab a shot glass and get pouring. This recipe is perfect for holiday entertaining!

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Can’t you feel the stress of the holidays just melting away? I know I can…If only I could find someone to move our elf for me, I’d be all set 😉

Cranberry Lime Cocktail

Absopure Cap10 is available in many Michigan grocery and specialty stores and select Better Health stores. You can even get it delivered directly to your house or place of business, in addition to the other products Absopure offers, including Sparkling Absopure, Absopure Plus, K-Cups and more. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and get a five-gallon water cooler Call (800) 499-9938 to learn more.

What are your favorite cocktails for entertaining during the holidays?

Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnackAndGo #CollectiveBias

Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups

My kids are obsessed with bugs and dirt…OBSESSED. At first I just thought it was my crazy girls, but I quickly realized every time they are playing with dirt in our yard, they draw a crowd of other neighbor kids who are also obsessed. I am so blessed to be in a neighborhood where all of us parents are pretty laid back and just let our kids do their thing…Even if we all shriek a little when we see the layers of dirt under our kid’s nails. {Worst thing ever, right?!}

To gear up for Halloween, we’ve done lots of pumpkin-inspired crafts and visiting plenty of pumpkin patches and cider mills, so I thought I’d make a pumpkin-inspired treat to celebrate the season, and include the kids’ favorite nature element: Dirt! OK, really it’s Oreo crumbs, but close enough 😉

These pumpkin patch dirt cups are easy and fun to make, and SO delicious! They make for the perfect playdate treat or for a Halloween party.

The basis of the treat is NABISCO Go-Paks! cups, which are plastic and won’t leak. Also, they are only about half full of product so it’s easy to add ingredients right to the container {holla for no extra dishes!}. I have loved these for an easy treat to keep in the car, too. Perfect snacking to make portion control easy for me the kids since there is a lid 😉

NABISCO Go-Paks! cups

Paired with Snack Pack® pudding and Reddi-Wip, they make for an easy treat!

Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cup Supplies

Here’s the recipe for what’s inside:

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Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups Steps

All of the items were super easy to find at Walmart. The NABISCO Go-Paks! cups are located near the registers and are just $1 each {how great would these be to pass out on Halloween?!}, the Snack Pack® pudding cups are in the snack aisle and Reddi-Wip is in the dairy case near the milk.

Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups at Walmart

I had fun decorating our containers with faux burlap, a ribbon and a piece of yarn. I used a spoon to look like a shovel, and placed each child’s name on it. Easy peasy with help of a glue gun!

Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups 1

I thought it would be fun to add a game element as well, so I decided to hide a candy eyeball inside for the kids to dig up for a prize. They loved it!

Eyeball in Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups

The kids loved digging through {a paper plate is crucial for this part} and showing me their worms, too. Yuuuuum!

KInley and Pumpkin Dirt Cups

Of course since I have small kiddos, everyone was a winner once they found the eyeball, and got a little goody bag. Instead of more sugary goods, we opted for other fun prizes. I mean, what kid doesn’t love vampire teeth? Walmart had TONS of little fun items for a great price.

Karina with Vampire Teeth
After, the kids played with all of the creepy crawly bugs we had on the table and did some Halloween painting. The NABISCO Go-Paks! cups are pretty large, so we saved the leftovers for a treat the next day, and they still tasted great. Just pop the lid back on and place it in the fridge until you’re ready to snack.

COUPON

Currently there is a great coupon for these items. Buy ONE (1) Snack Pack® Pudding and get ONE (1) FREE (up to $1.00) NABISCO Go-Paks! (2.25 oz. or larger). Here’s the link for the coupon: http://cbi.as/utwr Enjoy!

Check out more fun ideas for NABISCO Go-Paks! here. What pumpkin-inspired items have you been making lately?

3 Simple Halloween Treat Ideas

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I have an ongoing partnership with Meijer and am compensated for posts. All opinions and content belong to me.

I’ll admit it: I’m a bit Halloween obsessed. We have mums, LOTS of pumpkins and gourds, Halloween signs and even lights on our porch this year. I can’t help myself — my kids totally put me in the spirit since they love the holiday so much. I’m thinking I need a fog machine next to take it to the next level 😉

Last weekend, we had a rainy Saturday with very few plans, so we decided to have a little last-minute playdate with friends to gear up for the Halloween fun ahead. I made us some fun treats, they ran around like crazy kids, and we watched a Scooby-Doo Halloween movie we rented from the library.

Simple Halloween Treat Ideas1

Can you spy my little photo bomber?

Here’s what we served: Frankenstein pudding cups, monster mash popcorn and candy pretzel eyeballs. All of these ideas are inexpensive and can be made with store-bought items, and I was easily able to find everything I could need at Meijer. I love shopping in the Wilton Halloween aisle — there are so many neat items that inspire me to get creative in the kitchen!

Make sure to always check your mPerks for candy deals, too. There are several out right now, with more coming in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

If you’re looking for some simple Halloween treat ideas to serve in a classroom or at a party, check out these easy Halloween recipes:

Monster Mash Popcorn

  • Bag of Meijer Kettle Corn {found in the chip aisle}
  • 4 oz. Baker’s White Chocolate Baking Bar {found in the baking aisle}
  • 2 handfuls of candy corn
  • 2 handfuls of candy corn-flavored M&M’s
  • 2 handfuls of Wilton Candy Eyeballs

Spread popcorn on a baking sheet covered with wax paper. Melt chocolate in the microwave and drizzle onto popcorn with a spoon. Let sit out for 3 hours and then break it apart to serve. {Or stick it in the fridge or freezer for 30 minutes}. Voila! Delicious and easy monster popcorn. This recipe makes two trays full.

Monster Mash Popcorn

{How cute are the bags?! Found in the Halloween aisle at Meijer.}

Frankenstein Pudding Cups

Serves 8

  • Two packs of vanilla pudding cups, totaling 8
  • 16 Oreo cookies {or two cookies for each individual pudding cup}
  • Green food coloring

Using a black Sharpie, draw a fun face on the outside of the pudding cup. Place 5-6 drops of green food coloring in opened pudding pack and use a small spatula to stir until consistently green. Crush Oreos in a plastic sandwich bag and sprinkle on top. Serve immediately.

Frankenstein Pudding Cups

Pretzel Eye Bites

  • Bag of Meijer pretzels
  • Wilton Candy Melts in white
  • Chocolate chips
  • Red sprinkles

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Place candy melts inside pretzels, face down. Bake for about 3 minutes or until chocolate is soft and starting to melt. Place a chocolate chip face down in the center and finish by topping with red sprinkles.

Pretzel Eye Bites

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There you have it — a few ideas to get you started on planning Halloween! Are you all as excited as I am that it’s on a Saturday this year?! Woot!

Don’t forget: Meijer has an expansive array of home décor, baking and party decorations to fit everyone’s Halloween needs. Get lots of great ideas for other spooky treats here. Happy shopping!

Simple Halloween Treat Ideas

What are your go-to treats for Halloween?

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