Holiday Cheer 2018 {3} - Holiday Lights, Magical Nights!

For those of you who haven't gone to this light display before, here are the details. The Holiday Lights display in Decorah is put on by Helping Services for Youth & Families. The Pulpit Rock campground is set up each year with TONS of light displays and it stays up from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Volunteers staff it each night as drivers pass through and you're encouraged to make a free-will donation. They also tell you to turn your radio to a local station for Christmas tunes as you drive through and some nights, even Santa is there!

While there is a sidewalk that takes you right up to the campground thanks to the Trout Run Trail, you can also catch a ride from a local bus company. The boys are still obsessed with buses so we always park in the nearby parking area by the soccer fields and ride in an Earl bus to the campground. Even better, if you decide to go on the night with the walking tour, you'll be greeted by food and cookies from local vendors.

This year's annual walking tour for Holiday Lights Magical Nights came on the last day of our vacation. We decided before we left that we still wanted to attend this event so we made our way back just in time for the festivities. We knew the boys needed to go to bed early because they didn't nap so we kept our visit briiieeeeeffff. The boys beelined towards the firetruck so we got some cute shots of them posing. After that, we headed straight towards Santa and were able to take photos with him as well as with another photographer! We didn't realize this was going to be there so that was a treat! After that, we grabbed some delicious cookies and then waited for the bus to pick us up again. Like I said, short and sweet!

Family Photos by Rachel Reilly Photography

Holiday Cheer 2018 {2} - Santa Sightings

We saw Santa SOOOOOOOOO many times this year, we really out did ourselves with this. The boys seemed excited every time and enjoyed telling Santa what they wanted. For the most part, Jack wanted spray toys (what we call water guns) and then it switched to a reindeer for most of the Santas. Owen also wanted spray toys but at the end, he wanted 58 firetrucks. At one point though, when one Santa asked what Owen wanted, he was like, "Really? I already told you!"

Below are all the festive photos we have with the big guy. Seriously, we are so darn lucky that the boys take awesome photos and photographers in the area provide free photography!

Wednesday, November 21 - Holiday Lights Walk-Through - Photos by Andera Photography

Thursday, November 29 - Decorah's Holiday Parade & Santa Photos! - Photos by Nick Chill Photography

Wednesday, December 5 - Christmas in the Union - Photos by Luther students

Tuesday, December 11 - Santa at Sunflower! - Photos by ME :)

Sunday, December 16 - Rubaiyat Restaurant - Photos by Gspice

See you next year, Santa!

Holiday Cheer 2018 {1} - My Favorite Holiday Tunes this year!

Oh by golly, it's already Christmas time! Hard to believe that with one more sleep, we'll be opening up all of Santa's gifts with the kids. They are going to be so freakin' excited. We Santa got them a lot of awesome things this year.

With that, here is the first installment of Holiday Cheer 2018!!! I have a lot of holiday cheer to spread this year so hold on tight. I think I will have at least seven different posts if all goes as planned!!

I cannot describe how much I love the tunes I'll be sharing. I discovered the album a week or two ago and literally listen to it on repeat, which for me means over and over and over again. For instance, I've been listening to it for so long this morning, I'm on my fourth, maybe fifth repeat as I do allllll the things on my to-do list for today.

#kidsareatdaycare  #ihatewashingdishes

I also heard it playing at Walmart one night I was by myself last week and it made me buy so many more things, all holiday related of course. Good thinking, Walmart. Good thinking.

Below is the first song of their Christmas is Here album.  You can listen to the rest through Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora or Youtube of course!
 

Come back tomorrow for the next installment of Holiday Cheer 2018!

Beautycounter - We ALL Deserve Better!

Some of you may have noticed that I've been chatting more and more about Beautycounter, or even heard from me directly through social media. If you've never heard of this company before, it's a company that will change the world as their products reach more and more people.

Since turning 30 last year, I've been on a journey to better myself in any way I can. I still have a long way to go but I've certainly made some healthy progress. I started reading more about self care and empowerment, changed my hair care routine, tried out a new way of eating, along with using safer skin care and beauty products. That's where Beautycounter comes in. I blogged about a lot of these things already but I never did with this topic and that's going to change!

One thing that I've learned as I'm going through this journey of self improvement, I crave authenticity. Once I find it, I hold on for dear life. When I work with people who are genuine and authentic, it motivates me; when I have friendships with people who are thoughtful and authentic, I will be their best friend forever. And when I find a company that is so transparent as well as authentic, you bet I'm on board. Wouldn't you be too?

Beautycounter's mission is simple, yet profound: To get safer products into the hands of everyone.

Products from their Holiday collections!

At first, I really didn't know this about the company but as I've done more and more reading, it's clear that they are trying to change the world. We expose ourselves to toxic chemicals all the time - washing our hair, makeup we put on our faces, the foods we consume, as well as how we clean our homes. When you think of it like this, it's really scary!

What I love about Beautycounter is that they think this too and are actually working tirelessly to change the way the beauty industry works. Right now, there are only 30 partially banned toxins in the United States. Beautycounter? They prohibit the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals while also producing high quality and high performing skin care, makeup,  and bath & body products. They have products for the whole family!

WE DESERVE BETTER, AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

If you agree, let's get started! Would you like a sample? Can I come over with my makeup kit? Would you like to host a get together so you can earn awesome rewards like FREE products?

Right now, they currently have a 30% off sale for their annual Winter Sale! This sale is designed to clear out their inventory so be sure to catch a peek at the options before they sell out! I personally use a lot of the products that are up for sale so let me know if you have any questions!

What's for Dinner {46} - Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Most who know me know that I love a good red sauce for my pastas. It was time to select what I was going to make for the annual Pasta Night for students staying over break and I decided it was time for a change. As I searched for crockpot recipes, this one stood out immediately. I'm so glad I decided to try it - I can still smell the wondrous aroma coming from the crockpot as this cooked for eight hours of my workday last Monday.

The boys were able to stop by for a hot second but didn't end up staying too long. They got to try a lot of the different pastas available but sadly, the boys didn't seem to like mine too much, nor did Gspice. I'm just going to blame that on him not feeling so well because I really liked it. I'm also guessing the color didn't appease them like a normal red sauce might. However, it made excellent left overs so I can still make it for myself :) The best part of the night though was definitely the RAs washing all of the dishes!

Next time I make this, I may try to leave out the cream cheese to see how that works for the recipe. It was super creamy and delicious but without it would make it a bit more healthy! As we gear up for a fun holiday season and the coldness it brings, be sure to add this recipe to your menu planning!

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff from Creme de la Crumb

• 1 1/2 - 2 lb  stew meat
• 2 t Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper, to taste (I used about 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper)
• 2 c beef broth (I used low sodium)
• 1 c sliced mushrooms (I of course left this out!)
• 3 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1 T minced garlic
• 1 T dijon mustard
• 1 c sour cream
• 6 oz cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes, softened
• 4 T corn starch (or flour) + 1/2 cup beef broth
• 12 ounces short pasta noodles, cooked according to package instructions (egg noodles are traditionally served with stroganoff but penne, macaroni, or spiral all work well)

Instructions

1. Lightly grease your slow cooker, then add stew meat and sprinkle Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste over the top. Add mushrooms, beef broth, garlic, Dijon mustard, and worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours.
2. About 30 minutes before serving, stir corn starch (or flour) into 1/2 cup beef broth and stir mixture into slow cooker. Add cream cheese and sour cream to slow cooker then cook another 20-30 minutes on high, stirring occasionally until cream cheese and sour cream are incorporated and sauce is thickened. 
3. Taste, add salt and pepper to your personal taste if needed, and stir in noodles. Serve immediately garnished with cracked black pepper and fresh thyme if desired.
   
   **This recipe makes great leftovers!

If you would like to see previous recipes that I have made for this event, check out the recipes below!

2017

What's for Dinner {43} - Shortcut Vegetable Ragu

2016

What's for Dinner {39} - Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

2015

What's for Dinner {37} - One Pot Red Pepper Sausage Alfredo with Marscarpone