Thomas & Friends Spills & Thrills DVD Review and Giveaway #sponsored

When you have four small grandchildren like I do, you start becoming familiar again with popular cartoons and their characters.

Thomas and Friends are some of their favorites, and it's always a fun time when the kids watch him.

It's all aboard for Spills and Thrills with Thomas and His Friends in this fun, new DVD. Bonus features include Biff Bash Bosh Game, Go Go Thomas! Karaoke Music Video, and Guess Who? Puzzles.
And introducing New Engine Porter!

Your kids or grandkids will enjoy this new addition to the fun filled Thomas &Friends DVDs.

We are giving away one copy of Thomas & Friends Spills & Thrills to one of our readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts Feb. 25, 2014 and ends on March 11, 2014 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

* I was provided a copy of this DVD for review. All opinions are my own.

Apple Cake Recipe From Smitten Kitchen

One of my very favorite food blogs is Smitten Kitchen. Deb Perelman is such an inspiration, and what I love about her recipes is that they are all completely doable, even for beginning cooks.

This recipe for an apple cake is from the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. Let me just say that I think this is the most delicious thing I have ever baked. This cake is so moist, so full of apple tasting goodness, and it will fill your whole house with the most wonderful scent.

It is now on my list of fall and winter favorite desserts to make. And it's certainly a dessert that would be welcome for a party or celebration of any kind.

Recipe for Smitten Kitchen Apple Cake

Ingredients:

Butter or nonstick spray for the pan
6 apples (2 1/2 - 3 pounds) McIntosh apples
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 cups plus 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
Confectioners' sugar, to finish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch tube pan, or coat it with nonstick spray. Peel, core, and chop the apples into 1/2 - 3/4 inch chunks. Toss them with all of the cinnamon and the 5 tablespoons  granulated sugar, and set them aside.

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, orange juice, and remaining 2 cups of granulated sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ones, then scrape down the bowl to make sure all the ingredients are evenly incorporated. Stir in the walnuts if you are using them.

Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Spread half the apple chunks over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples, and arrange the remaining apples on top.
Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean, then transfer to a cake rack to cool.
Cool completely before taking cake out of pan and place onto a serving platter. Dust with Confectioners' sugar and serve.

Serves 12-16

Enjoy!!

Giada De Laurentiis' Turkey, Kale, and Browm Rice Soup

I love eating vegetables. I love shopping for them too, and I can't wait until warmer weather, and the Farmer's Markets open up again.

Meanwhile, I have found this wonderfully delicious soup from Giada De Laurentiis' new book. Even if you are not a fan of kale, this delicious soup just might change your mind.

This soup is hearty, healthy, and a really lovely thing to make and eat on a cold winter day.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 to 6 large shallots, chopped
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 1/3 cups)
• 1 large red bell peppers cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 cups
• 8 ounces ground white turkey meat, broken into small chunks
• 1 tablespoon herbes de Provence
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more as needed
• One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice, drained
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 small bunch kale, coarsely chopped (about 4 packed cups)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, carrots and bell pepper and sauté, stirring frequently, until the vegetables begin to brown and soften slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ground turkey and stir until the meat turns white and begins to color very slightly around the edges, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the herbes de Provence and stir, 1 minute. Add 4 cups broth, tomatoes and rice. Bring to a boil. Stir in the kale and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and the freshly ground black pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle each serving with parsley and Parmesan, if using, and serve.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Enjoy!!

Making A Natural Probiotic A Part Of My Healthy Lifestyle Plan

Even though I still feel young, the reality is that I'm in my mid-fifties now. So I've developed a healthy, everyday morning routine that includes, a glass of orange juice, a women's multi-vitamin, and a natural probiotic that aides my digestive system balance.

I've come to realize that it isn't just one thing that keeps me healthy, but a combination of things that are smart and easy for me to do. I know how important it is to start taking better care of myself if I want to have decades of life ahead of me.

I have wonderful grown children and grandchildren that I want to enjoy for many years to come. And a pretty long bucket list of things I still want to do and accomplish.

For me, a major part of feeling well is having good digestive health. I think we all know what it feels like when our digestive system isn't working properly. Terrible, right?

When I was shopping at Walgreens awhile back, I came across Insync Probiotic. Now, I've used lots of different kinds of probiotics before, but Insync is a #naturalprobiotic.

This is a gradual release probiotic that includes six strains of natural probiotics to help keep your digestive system healthy and functioning.

Our digestive system plays such an important role in our overall health, that I am happy to take my Insync Probiotic caplet every morning. I like that the box includes two bottles, so that when I am done with one, I'll know it's time to head to Walgreens again for another box. No running out of it, like I do with other brands when I am down to my last dose and forget to buy more.  #CollectiveBias                                 

I am so lucky that I love all kinds of fruits and veggies, and eat some every day. They provide fiber that our bodies need to be healthy.

I've learned to love kale, and it's very good in salads, soups, or sautéed with olive oil and a little garlic. And avocados contain healthy fats that are good for us, so I put them in my salad or on my sandwiches whenever I can.

What I choose to eat is within my control, and so I'm really trying to eat a healthy diet because I know how important it is. Eating healthy certainly does play a role in good digestive health, I know how my system gets out of whack when I don't.

I enjoy walking for exercise, but in the winter months, the freezing rain and winds usually keep me indoors. That's one of the reasons I love my yoga so much, I can do it at home or in a class, and it doesn't matter one bit if we are having bad weather.

I've been doing yoga for a few years now, and I honestly can't say enough about how good it is for me. It helps me maintain flexible joints, steadies my balance, keeps me calm, and there are even poses that help you digest your food better.

There is such a difference in how I feel when I take my daily probiotic and do my yoga, that I really try not to skip doing either of them.

I still have to have my early morning cup of coffee with creamer, and I don't want to give that up. But instead of having more coffee during the day, with all that sugar and calories, I've started drinking green tea.

There are lots of different kinds of green tea, and my favorites are with lemon, or mint. Green tea is actually very healthy for you, and offers so many benefits to drinking it.

I slowly cut back on the sugar I added, and now I can drink it and enjoy it with no sugar at all.

Of course, like lots of other people, my New Year's resolution was to lose weight and be healthier.

That went out the door, about three days later, because all those yummy holiday treats were still around, and I couldn't help myself.

That's when I knew I had to take control of my body, and do everything I can to make it as healthy and well functioning as I possibly can.

So, I'm eating better, doing my yoga, drinking my green tea, taking my multi-vitamin, and my Insync Probiotic caplet.

 And my digestive health is really good right now. My tummy feels good, morning and night, and that makes me happy.

If you'd like to find out more information on Insync Probiotic, you can visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.

Disney on Ice Rockin' Ever After in Sacramento CA Show Review #ad

Disney on Ice Rockin' Ever After is in Sacramento until Feb. 17th. It is the perfect opportunity to take your family to see their favorite Disney princesses and Mickey Mouse. We attended the show last night as our family Valentine's Day activity. We had a wonderful time seeing the show. This winter was the first time my son tried ice skating and went to Disneyland so this show was a perfect family event to go to.

The children attending the show we so cute! Many of the little girls were dressed in Disney character outfits and bringing along their favorite Disney toys. I brought my son's Mickey Mouse ears from Disneyland but sadly forgot it in the car. I know for next time that he can dress up in his Buzz Lightyear outfit and he will fit right in. This show is somewhat geared towards princesses but my little prince had a wonderful time.

The best part of the show for my family was when we first saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the crowd went wild. My son was genuinely giggling when he saw Goofy being silly. Having just been to Disneyland my son was talking about each character we saw and the ride or event he saw them at.

My son with his King Triton trident 

Rapunzel from Tangled and Merida from Brave are two princesses that my son considers to be "cool" enough to get excited about. He clapped along with the songs and was wowed by the lights. I thought it was a well put together show that kept the kids interested. I loved the ice skating and my favorite Disney princess, Belle. My favorite scene from Beauty and the Beast where the dishes all come alive was displayed with wonderment. I will never forget what my son said when Beast gifts his whole library to Belle, he said " Mom so sweet!" I love that he was so into the show that he could see the love between the characters in the story. My son does not know about Belle, Beast and Gaston but I am sure after this show I will have to let him see the movie.

The lighting and the props of the show were great. The finale to the show was perfect! This is my first time attending a Disney on Ice show and I highly recommend it for Disney fans. The Rockin part of the show was nice too, they included non Disney music and dancing that had everyone dancing in their seats and many kids dancing in the the aisles. We did sit very far up in the arena seating so I do recommend spending a little more money and get seats close enough for your kids too see the ice skating. We did still love the show from any seat we were in. I think this would be a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day. The show in Sacramento at the Sleep Train Arena will be going on now until Feb. 17th, 2014. You can purchase your tickets from Ticketmaster.

*This is not a paid post. We were guest of the show and was provided tickets to attend.