Posts made in April 2020

Florida Prepaid College Plans Open Enrollment Extension & Payment Deferral

This post is sponsored by Florida Prepaid College Plans. Use Florida Prepaid College Plans promo code SWEET1920 for your application fee to be waived. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy. 

Life has changed a lot this past month. From homeschooling my boys to the endless amounts of laundry and cooking, and everything in between, I often feel overwhelmed. Am I doing a good job? Are my boys learning? Are we making the most of this time at home? It is during these moments of defeat, that I stop and realize that all of this is temporary. Happier days are ahead, but for now, I am living in the moment and treasuring these times that we have at home. Instead of complaining, I am choosing happiness! I am choosing to enjoy the extra baking and cooking, the daily bike rides and walks, and yes, even the extra piles of laundry.

Before I know it, my precious boys are going to be leaving and heading off to pursue their own dreams and goals. I want them to look back on these times and to treasure the moments that we have had together as a family. I know that the challenges and circumstances we are currently facing will prepare them for what is to come. They will be strong, courageous young men and for that I am thankful.

As I sit at the table and watch my boys do their schoolwork, I often ponder on all that I have to be thankful for. Honestly, I am overwhelmed with the blessings in my life and never want to take those for granted. I am also thankful for the peace of mind that I have in knowing that Florida Prepaid College Plans is here for us.

Florida Prepaid College Plans knows what families are going through and they are committed to their mission of making college savings attainable and affordable for Florida families while providing flexibility and financial relief during this time. In fact, earlier this year Florida Prepaid announced a huge rollback in Florida Prepaid Plans pricing! Pricing is the lowest that it has been in 5 years! Now, more than ever, it is a great time to start thinking about your children’s future education.

Florida Prepaid College Plans Deferral

I have some other good news! To help in this time of uncertainty, Florida Prepaid College Plans is deferring Prepaid Plan payment due dates until July 2020 to provide flexibility to families as they navigate the challenges related to COVID-19. The Board is also deferring all payments for April, May and June for current customers. All payments will resume July 2020, and payment schedules will be extended by three months. Families can continue to make payments as previously scheduled if they choose to do so. For 24/7 account access, please login to your account at myfloridaprepaid.com. Routine account functions can be completed online, including making one-time payments, adjusting recurring payments and adding new Plans. If you prefer, you can call the wonderful customer service team at 1-800-552-4723 and they will be happy to assist with any questions or concerns that you may have about your plan(s).

Florida Prepaid College Plans Open Enrollment Has Been Extended

As I mentioned previously, today is the perfect time to start thinking about your children’s future education. In addition to Prepaid College Plans payment deferral, Open Enrollment has been extended through May 31, and they are waiving the $50 application fee with promo code SWEET1920! This is exciting news!

What does extended Open Enrollment mean for you? With plan pricing the lowest that it has been in five years, you can open up a Florida Prepaid College Plan for as low as $44 a month! At pricing this low, and the waived application fee, there is nothing to lose. I love the hope that Florida Prepaid continues to provide to families so that we can know our children’s college education is safe, secure and guaranteed by the state of Florida.

As a parent, I invest in my boy’s lives on a daily basis. Investing in their future education on a long-term basis is something that I want to plan for now. Even though times may be uncertain, I cannot put a price tag on my boy’s education. Now is the time to invest. You too can invest in your children’s future plans and dreams with a Florida Prepaid College Plan. Lock in future college costs today and sign up using promo code SWEET1920 for your application fee to be waived. Join the over 1 million Florida families who have said yes to Florida Prepaid and have invested in their children’s future education.

Take a deep breath, friends. We will get through these days of uncertainty TOGETHER! In the meantime, will you join me in being joyful about the little things?

Be sure to follow Florida Prepaid College Plans on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube to stay up to date with information on open enrollment, tips and promotional offers.

Three Ingredient Pretzel Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders

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I don’t know about you, but the name of the game for dinner lately is definitely Easy. I had some chicken tenders in the freezer and thought to myself how it would be good to mix honey mustard and pretzels as a topping for the chicken. Boy, was I on to something. My boys could not stop talking about these Three Ingredient Pretzel Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders! Give it a try. I think that you will love this delicious and super easy dish as much as we did. How can you go wrong with a three ingredient dish?

Three Ingredient Pretzel Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders

Ingredients: 

2 lb. Chicken Tenders

1 bag of your favorite pretzels crushed (I used GF pretzels to make this a GF dish) I would suggest that you keep some of the pieces larger for a crunchy texture on the chicken

1 bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the crushed pretzels onto a plate.

Squeeze about 3/4 of the bottle of Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce onto a plate. You can save the rest of the sauce in the bottle to dunk your tenders in when you serve them.

Dip each tender in the Honey Mustard then into the crushed pretzels to coat.

Place on a baking pan that has been covered with aluminum foil. This just allows for no sticking and easy cleanup.

Bake at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the pretzel topping is golden brown.

Serve with your favorite veggie and enjoy!

Pamper-In-Place with Number 4 Hair Care + Giveaway!

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UPDATE: The winner is Dina!

I don’t know about you, but during these times of uncertainty, I am finding that self-care is more important than ever. Since most spas and salons are closed right now, I wanted to share some ideas from Number 4 High Performance Hair Care on how you can pamper-in-place:

  • Try some new makeup looks and skin care treatments at home, but resist the temptation to cut your own hair. If split ends are driving you crazy, try Super Comb Prep & Protect Leave-in Conditioner. This will help strengthen the hair and seal up split ends until the salons re-open.
  • Relax and restore your tresses: At Number 4 our favorite pampering tip is to apply our Reconstructing Masque to damp hair and then wrap hair in a hot towel. Sit back and relax for 15-20 min and then rinse.
  • Take a relaxing spa-style bath in your own home, complete with candles, lighting, and  soft music. Seal in moisture by applying Hydrating Body Lotion after your bath. 
  • All of the extra cooking,  dishes and disinfecting has likely taken a toll on your hands. Give yourself an at-home hand treatment by applying a generous amount of our Lumiere d’hiver Body Lotion to hands and put a sock (or a disposable glove if you can spare!) over each hand to seal in moisture. Leave the socks or gloves on while you Netflix and chill. Even just 10-20 minutes will help re-hydrate hands. 
  • Decompress from all the stress, uncertainty and unexpected homeschooling with an at-home massage. Take turns with your spouse or roommate giving each other a back or neck massage. Mix Fleurs de Temps Body Lotion with Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil for an amazing massage lotion.
  • Got bored kids at home? Enlist their help and let them get a taste of a cosmetology career by helping to groom Dad’s beard. A dollop of Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil is all Dad needs to spruce up his beard before his next Zoom Conference Call. 
  • Practice and perfect a new hair style. Take advantage of the slower pace of life and try out those new hairstyles you’ve been eye-balling.

The wonderful folks at Number 4 High Performance Hair Care recently sent me some products to try. They know that social distancing and salon closures have us singing the quarantine beauty blues and they want us to still enjoy self-care during this time. I have to say, the products were such a treat! I especially love the Reconstructing Hair Masque as my hair has become quite dry. This Mask has my hair feeling soft and full of life! I also loved The Hydrating Body Lotion as it is so luminous and makes my skin feel soft for hours! 

I am excited to let you know that Number 4 Hair Care is going to give away one of their Pamper-In-Place Packages (RV $60) to you!

This kit includes everything that you will need to pamper in place:

*Hydrating Body Lotion (1.5 oz),
*Super Comb Prep and Protect (1.45 oz),
*Reconstructing Hair Masque (1.5 oz) and
*a full size bottle of Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil, (2.0 oz)

In the meantime, if you want to treat yourself, the Pamper-In-Place Kit and other products are on sale right now at an amazing discount. GO HERE to check out all of the products currently on sale.

Now on to the giveaway!

To enter, leave a comment on this post letting me know which product in the Pamper-In-Place Kit that you are most excited to try.

This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents ages 18 years and older through April 30, 2020.

Good luck, everyone!

Be sure to follow Number 4 High Performance Hair Care for all the latest updates, offers and tips!

Follow them on Twitter, Instagram an Facebook.

Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls

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Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls

Since Brady was diagnosed with Celiac Disease last year, I have been making an effort to find ways to revamp his favorite dishes so that he can enjoy them. One of the things that you cannot find in the store (I have yet to find them) is Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls. I decided to give them a whirl here are home, and they turned out delicious! I hope that you will enjoy them as much as we did!

Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls (recipe adapted from Momables)

Dough: 

  • 1 1/4 cups plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (this is my favorite brand)
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter (the original recipe calls for 4, but I needed 6 to get the dough to where it needed to be. Just keep adding melted butter if the dough is not sticking together)
  • 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (if your gluten-free flour already has this you can omit)
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Filling: 

  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Icing: 

2 cups confectioner’s powdered sugar

1 stick softened butter

1 8oz. package of softened cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla

Delicious Cinnamon Rolls in a Muffin Tray

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Coat a 12-count muffin tin or a 9-inch-round baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, begin making your dough by adding the greek yogurt and 4 tablespoons of melted butter.

Add in the gluten free flour, xantham gum (if needed), sugar, baking powder and baking soda.

Mix together until soft dough forms. The mixture will be crumbly.

Take your dough and place on a floured surface. Knead with your hands until smooth. If you need more melted butter so your dough is not crumbly, add it now.

Form the dough into about a 12×9-inch rectangle, then brush it with the remaining 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. 

In a separate bowl, make filling mixture by combining brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Spread mixture evenly onto the dough leaving a 1/2-inch border. Push the filling firmly into the dough.

Cinnamon Roll Dough

Starting with the long side, begin to slowly roll the dough into a tight log. If you feel it is too sticky, you may need to flour your fingers lightly. 

Pinch seams to seal the log, then cut into 12 rolls.

Place into a greased 12-count muffin tin or baking dish.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until rolls are golden brown. Do not overbake as they will be hard. I suggest checking on them around the 15 minute mark.

While the rolls are baking, mix together the confectioner’s powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Mix until you have a frosting consistency. You may need to add a splash of half and half or milk if mixture seems to thick.

After rolls have cooled, frost them with the icing, serve and enjoy!

These are SO delicious! My entire family love them!

Finished Cinnamon Rolls

 

The Perfect Summer Dress from Walmart for $13.88!

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Gorgeous Blue Dress

Ladies, I have found the perfect Spring and Summer dress from Walmart! This adorable Time and Tru tiered knit dress is only $13.88 and comes in 7 color options. It is available in sizes XS-XXL. It is a knit material so it literally feels like you are wearing pajamas! I love that this dress can be dressed up or down depending on how you want to wear it that day. I am wearing it with my leopard sandals that I found on Amazon last week and it looks so cute!

I personally love the Time and Tru line at Walmart, and if you haven’t yet tried a piece, this is a great way to give it a try! I will tell you that this particular dress runs big. I am in the Small for reference. I also ordered the Magenta but it hasn’t arrived yet. Let me know if you order and send me a pic!

Different Colors of the Dress

Quarantine Snacks Round Up!

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Are the kiddos eating you out of house and home yet? Are they always asking for a snack? I put together a round-up of some great deals that I found over on Amazon. These items will shipped right to your front door so you don’t even have to leave your house! Prices and stock are current at the time of this post. Most of these items are even cheaper if you choose Subscribe and Save!

  1. Pringles Flavored Variety Pack Potato Crisps – Original, Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream and Onion,12.9 oz (18 Count) $6.48 prime shipped! (even less with S&S) 
  2. Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps Variety Pack, Individual 1.5 Ounce Snack Packs, 24 Count $13.98 prime shipped! (even less wit S&S) 
  3. Grandma’s Cookies Variety Pack of 30 $14.98 prime shipped! (even less with S&S)
  4. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Sweet & Savory Variety Pack Crackers, 19.5 Ounce Snack Packs, 20 Count $7.99 prime shipped! (even less with S&S)
  5. Annie’s Variety Snack Pack, Cheddar Bunnies, Friends Bunny Grahams and Cheddar Squares, Baked Snack Crackers, 12 (11 oz.) Pouches $5.99 prime shipped!
  6. Nabisco Savory Cracker Variety Pack, 20 count pack $6.98 prime shipped!
  7. Black Forest Organic Fruit Snacks, Berry Medley, 0.8 Ounce, Pack of 24 $7.97 prime shipped! (even less with S&S)
  8. Keebler, Cookies and Crackers, Variety Pack, 31.2 Oz (30 Count) $9.86 prime shipped! (even less with S&S)
  9. Nabisco Cookies Sweet Treats Variety Pack Cookies – with Oreo, Chips Ahoy, & Golden Oreo – 30 Snack Pack $6.32 prime shipped! (even less with S&S)

Easy Shepherd’s Pie

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For many of us, cooking from what we have in our pantries right now is essential! One of my boys’ favorite things that I make very often on rotation is this Easy Shepherd’s Pie. This recipe couldn’t be easier to prepare and you can use whatever veggies that you have on hand. It really is such a versatile recipe. You can even use a Onion Soup packet to give it more flavor and change up the cheeses for a different taste!

We even make a BBQ Chicken version of this that you can find HERE.

Easy Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef or ground turkey

1/4 onion

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 can of corn, drained (you can use whatever veggies your family prefers)

1 can of green beans, drained

1/4 cup shredded mozarella cheese

1 container of Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes (you can also use instant if that is what you have on hand, but these are BOGO this week at Publix) I suggest that you cook these in the microwave for around 3 minutes.

Seasoned Salt/Pepper for Taste

Several pats of butter

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a skillet sautee the onion and garlic together just until soft.

Add in the ground beef and cook through.

Toss in the drained canned vegetables and toss together with the hamburger mixture.

Add seasoned salt and pepper to taste.

In a square baking/casserole dish add the hamburger/veggie mixture.

Top with 1/4 cup shredded mozarella cheese.

Place the microwaved mashed potatoes on top.

I like to take a fork to “rake” out the potatoes on top of the dish.

Add 5-6 pats of butter on top of the dish. I also like to sprinkle on some seasoned salt and pepper on the top.

Cook in a preheated 350 degree oven for around 20-25 minutes.

For the last 5 minutes of baking, I like to turn the broiler on in the oven and let it brown the potatoes slightly.

Serve and Enjoy! Be sure to let me know if you make this!

2 Free Months of Amazon Kindle Unlimited! (Access Over 1 Million Books, Audiobooks + More)

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Through April 30,  you can score 2 Free months of Amazon Kindle Unlimited! Kindle Unlimited offers over 1 million eBooks, audiobooks and popular magazines! This is a great time to take advantage of this offer! 

Costco Wholesale Membership Deal!

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Now more than ever is a great time for a warehouse membership! Right now you can score a Costco Membership deal!

When you sign up for a Gold Star Membership, you will receive a $10 Costco Shop Card. If you sign up for a Gold Star Executive Membership, you will receive a $20 Costco Shop Card. 

Here is how to take advantage of this offer:

  1. GO HERE to sign up for the membership of your choice (choose from the options listed above)
  2. You will receive your Costco Membership Activation Certificate to the email that you sign up with. 
  3. Bring your Costco Membership Activation Certificate to any U.S. or Puerto Rico Costco location to join as a new member.
  4. Enjoy your savings!

Set of TWO Nonstick Donut Pans at a Fabulous Price!

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This deal is back!

I purchased this set of 2 Bellemain Nonstick 6-Well Donut Pans and it is one of my favorite Amazon purchases to date! The boys couldn’t wait for me to make donuts and I know that we are going to have so much fun creating new varieties of donuts. I am even going to try making homemade bagels as well! This set of 2 pans is only $12.95! I promise you will get so much use out of them! The donuts come right out of the pan without sticking and the possibilities here are endless! I used a prepackaged chocolate chip muffin mix to create these donuts, but I am going to create other varieties as well. My boys loved them and I know that we are going to have so much fun with these donut pans especially during now while we are at home!