Disney Diva @ Home

If you want the best prices for the hottest items this holiday be sure to check out Amazon.com's Top Holiday Deals. These deals will keep going until December 23rd. With many great offers and possibly free shipping what could be better. This is a great way to shop for family that is out of town. Have it shipped directly to them and then you won't have to pay additional shipping costs and wait in long lines at the post office.

Amazon.com is having a 2-day Cyber Monday event November 28-29. Check it out for all the best deals.

Amazon.com will be offering Black Friday deals all week from Monday 11/22 through Saturday 11/27. New deals will continually be added so check back often.Come back for more info on CyberMonday coming soon.

The perfect gift for everyone on your list. Especially perfect for hard to shop for friends and family. Give them the gift of shopping with no bill.

I know we are all busy but I just wanted to check in since I haven't written in a little while. Things have been busy here for lots of reasons. One of the best is because I have joined a travel agency to help you plan magical vacations.

I have had several booking transfers and each family will receive a $50 Disney gift card. If you have a trip booked directly with Disney let me know so that you can also get a $50 gift card to spend on your trip.

I have also started doing quotes. So much fun to help people plan their vacations and help them know they are getting the best price.

I know this is the Disney-Free zone, sort of, so if you want more info then go to my Disney Diva Tips website for more info. You can also request a free quote at the top of the page.

I love a warm bowl of beef stew on a cold, rainy day...so guess what in the crock pot right now.

My beef stew is so easy and gluten free. You can make it in the crockpot by adding the ingredients in the order shown or cook it on the stove.

3 cups V8 or 2 cans 11.5 ounces each
2 cups hot water
1 can petite diced tomatoes
3 beef bullion cubes
2 pounds of beef cubed - use bottom round, rump roast, or London broil
10 ounces slices mushrooms
16 ounces frozen mixed vegetables (this is a great opportunity to use up half bags of frozen vegetables)
2 potatoes cubed
1 small onion chopped

Put it all in the crock pot and let it cook away for 4 to 5 hours on high. If you want to thicken it then make a slurry of corn starch and water and pour it in, stir and let it cook on high until its thick about 1/2 hour.

I have been making an effort to get my ducks in a row, so to speak, this fall. I want to get my house in order and try to be a little more up to date on my household chores. Now before I go any further let me say that the condition of my house, for good or bad, has very little to do with having friends over. I will always welcome my friends into my house, if they are willing, because people are more important than things. Honestly, if you are really my friend then you won't care that I have drips on my kitchen floor and there are more toys out than there is space to walk.

That being said, I am trying to make my house a little more organized and stay up to date on the cleaning so that my husband and I can enjoy a more peaceful and comfortable home. I took some inspiration from All Thing For Mom and made a list of daily and weekly chores. I printed it out and then had it laminated. It is hanging on my fridge and I use a wipe off marker to cross off the items I did that day and also write on additional things I need to do/remember that week. Lets be honest. The best part of any task is the satisfaction of crossing it off.

This has sort of been like learning to juggle. I went through the first week and did a little of each thing, even skipped some, but did a fantastic deep clean on others. The ones I did the deep clean on I have to maintain while I move on to another area the next week. Each area that has been deep cleaned is now a ball that I am trying to juggle as I maintain that area and tackle new ones.

I would say I am successfully juggling a few balls now and I'm motivated to continue. It is really nice to tackle a few tasks each day and not let them build up to one monumental task. I feel I can enjoy my relaxation time, if I get any, because I did all I had to do. Even though there is more to do, I know I will get to it on its scheduled day. 

So after 9 years of marriage and 3 children, I think I am finally learning to take care of my house. Lets hope I can keep it up...

This weekend the kids had a lot of fun with Daddy. It is hard on them when he works a lot and they were so excited to see him this weekend. Of course Daddy has all the best ideas and he decided to do a camp-out in the family room. He talked to me about it and I thought it was a great idea. I guess I didn't know what he meant...

I come into the room to see him setting up our outdoor camping tent. I thought he was going to make something out of cushions and blankets, not this Dad. He had the full tent set up with an air mattress and sleeping bags. The kids were really going to get a camp-in.

My kids know a bit about camping. We have gone camping most summers and actually went twice this summer. They were so excited. They brought all their special things into the tent and were ready for their adventure.

Unlike our regular camping trips they all laid in the tent and watched a movie. They had ice cream and some quality time together. Daddy and Ethan fell asleep before the movie was over though.

Sunday morning I came down to find them all in the tent coloring and having fun. I brought my husband a nice cup of tea (also different than camping trips) and the kids hung out until it was time to get ready for church. Finally, Sunday evening the tent had to come down. The kids were sad but we promised them we would have a camp-in again soon.

What fun activities have you brought in? Share your ideas so we can have ways to beat the boredom when cabin fever sets in.

Nicholas Sparks has got to be one of my favorite authors. I know many of his books have been made into movies like; Message in a Bottle, Nights in Rodanthe, The Last Song, and others. I have seen some of the movies but I prefer to just read his books. I just saw on Amazon.com that he has a new book called Safe Haven


I just got it on my kindle and I'm off to start reading it. I'm sure it will be as good as the rest. Check it out!



 

I just pulled this recipe out of the box. I haven't made it since last year and forgot how good it was. I at the whole thing myself over a few days...ok it was only 2. This is a great recipe for both zucchini lovers and haters. A great vegetarian dish too!

3 Tbs butter
1/2 large sweet onion sliced
2 zucchini 1/4" slices
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbs flour
1/2 c hot milk
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup munster cheese

Melt 2 Tbs butter and cook the onions about 15 min until tender but not brown. Add zucchini and cook covered 10 min. Add salt and flour and cook about a minute to get the raw flour flavor out. Add the milk and bring to a simmer. Cook until it starts to thicken, a few minutes. Pour into a small baking dish (6x8). Mix bread crumbs and cheese and sprinkle over dish. Dot with 1 Tbs of butter. Bake about 25 minutes (until hot, bubbly, and golden) at 400 degrees.

I think you could make this gluten free by just using corn starch to thicken and omit the bread crumbs. If you use the corn starch I would mix it into the milk instead of putting it directly in the pan. I'm sure it would still be good.

I made this again with chopped broccoli and it was just as good. I did share some with my husband this time.

I just read a very interesting article that I had to share. So I told you in my eating healthy post that I have tried to eliminate high fructose corn syrup from our food, especially our "healthy" food. In fact I sent a message to Yoplait to let them know that I don't buy their yogurt now because it contains HFCS. I was not happy with their response. They basically blew me off.

Now I just read an article that said that the Corn Refiners Association just applied to the Federal Government to change the name of HFCS to corn sugar on labels. Very sneaky in my opinion because we are looking for HFCS on the label and we may not see it but will be eating it anyway. For more information on this you can read the article.

What do you think about this? Do you have concerns about HFCS too? Do you think its the same as sugar or that the body processes the fructose differently then the sucrose and therefore is not healthy for the body? Do you think they should be allowed to change the name on labels? Do you agree this is sneaky or do you think its smart? Leave a comment and let me know what you think. I am very interested in other people opinions on this.
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One of my favorite things when I'm cooking is my immersion blender. I used it again today to make my broccoli cheddar soup.  It is so nice to be able to puree your soup without having to dirty the blender or another container. My blender has different attachments that it came with including a little food processor. I used that to make my own bread crumbs from my homemade bread. If you make a lot of soup or do a lot of blending you should check out immersion blenders. They are awesome and one of my favorite things.

This is not the exact one I have but it is similar. Check it out.

This is a little different than your typical pot roast since it has a tangy red sauce. This is a family recipe that has been passed down through several generations. Enjoy!

3-4 pound piece of meat (I prefer chuck roast but you can also use rump or bottom round)
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
2 tsp sugar
4 Tbs ketchup
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 (29 -oz) can crushed tomatoes
1-2 Tbs cornstarch

First brown the meat on all sides in olive oil. After meat is browned on all sides cover meat 1/4 way with water. Add the remaining ingredients (except for cornstarch). Cook for 3 hours , turning every half hour. When its finished remove the meat and thicken the sauce with water and 1-2 Tbs cornstarch.

Tip:
You can also make this in the crock-pot. Brown the meat and then add it to the crock-pot with remaining ingredients and cook on high for 6 hours or until tender.

This is a delicious recipe my kids love. A great way to enjoy veggies too!

2 tsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
2 Yukon gold potatoes, pealed and diced in 1/2 inch pieces
2 small broccoli crowns, chopped (about 3 or 4 cups)
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Saute onions in olive oil until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add potatoes, broccoli, and stock. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 12-15 minutes. Puree the mixture in a blender or use an immersion blender and do it right in the pot.  Stir in the cheese.

Tips:
If the soup is thick you can thin it out a little with chicken stock, vegetable stock, or milk/cream
Use vegetable stock for a vegetarian version.

I don't know about you but I am tired of hot weather. It was such a wonderful surprise to wake up to cooler temperatures this morning. I couldn't help myself. I had to start cooking. We made trail mix cookies, broccoli cheddar soup, and pot roast.

The trail mix cookies came out awesome and I'm definitely going to make them again. You can check out the recipe at All Things For Mom. The kids liked them too so that is always a plus.

The broccoli cheddar soup came out good too. Here is the recipe. My youngest was eating it up. What a great way to get veggies in.

The pot roast isn't done yet but it smells delicious. It is a little different than your typical pot roast since it has a red sauce. It is so good though and a family recipe.

Hurray for cooler weather. I can't wait to make more warm comfort food. Try out these recipes and let me know what you think.

So today was our first day of kindergarten....almost. My daughter is sick and can't go. She is so disappointed. I feel sad too. I did go out and meet the bus driver and let her know we were not coming so she did not wait for us. I almost cried watching the bus drive away without my daughter. I feel like she is missing out on something big. I know she will have her first day soon but it is just so anti-climactic.

I'm sure I will cry when she gets on the bus for real too but today was good practice for me.

How did your first day of school go?

Today my oldest child starts kindergarten. She is riding the bus all by herself and off for a new adventure with out me. I am happy for her but I can't believe how fast these first 5 years have flown past. She has half day afternoon kindergarten and for this I am grateful. It works out great for our schedule and will be a good transition for us. She is excited, confident, and ready. I am so proud!

Do you have a child starting kindergarten this year? Half or full day? Bus or driving? What do you think, are you ready for this? Are they?

This bread is not as "Bananay" as a typical banana bread but it delicious for french toast or peanut butter sandwiches.  This recipe is from the manual for my bread machine and I've modified it a bit. It makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf. Just layer the ingredients in the machine and choose wheat bread.

1/2 cup warm water
1 TBS butter
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup white bread flour
3 TBS wheat gluten
1 banana diced
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast

If you try this recipe let me know how it turns out.

This is my recipe for Honey Whole Wheat Bread that I make in my bread machine. It is from the manual for the bread machine and I have modified it a little. It makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf.

Remember all you have to do is put the ingredients into the bread machine in the order given.

1 1/4 cups warm water
1 TBS canola oil
3 TBS honey
3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 3/4 cups white bread flour
1/4 cup gluten (you can add more if you want the bread softer up to a 1/3 cup is fine)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast

Adjust the settings to 1 1/2 pound loaf, whole wheat bread, and pick your doneness (I choose light). Let the machine do the rest. Enjoy!!

Let me know if you have tried it and how it came out.

In case you haven't guess it...I love to travel. We usually do a few trips a year that include visiting family, camping, other smaller trips and one "big" vacation. I like to do Disney, a cruise, or something similar for our "big" vacation.

This year was a little different mainly due to financial reasons. A "big" trip was out of the question. My husband's side of the family wanted to do a family trip to the Outer Banks area in North Carolina. Now the beach is not my thing but family is important to me and the price was right.

We were in the car for 11 1/2 hours to make the 7 hour trip down to the Outer Banks. That is always a fun time in the car when you have a 5, 3, and 15 month old. After many potty stops and some traffic we made it down there. Thankfully we made it home in only 9 hours.

We rented a 4 bedroom house with 3 1/2 bathrooms. We had two rooms and a bathroom for our family and the two other couples in the family each had a room and bathroom. We planned ahead and brought down all our food in coolers.

The trip could not have been better. We were able to use the pool/beach club of the owners. That meant that after a 2 mile drive we could park once and go to both the pool and beach at the same time. They were just steps apart. There were also bathrooms, showers, and a restaurant by the pool. Most days we would head down with our lunch packed and set up at the beach. When the kids were bored with the sand, too hot, or found enough shells we could grab a towel and take them up to the pool.

I may not be a beach person but I am definitely a pool person and this pool was awesome. Mainly because half the pool was 2-3 feet deep. My big kids could jump in and play without me having to hold on to all the non-swimmers. It was a very relaxing place to be with them.

There was also lots of things to do besides the beach. Based on the ages of our kids we decided to go to the Lost Colony of Roanoke Settlement. They had a great indoor children's  museum that covers the history of the area from when the colonists arrived to present. They also have a full size replica of the Elizabeth II which is the ship colonists came over on and you can walk onto the ship. They also have some outdoor areas that show more about colonial villages (we didn't get to that part). So much to see and learn there. We had a great time.

Kitty Hawk is also in the area and only a couple miles from where we were. This is where the Wright brothers had their first flights. There is a memorial area there too. There is also an aquarium on Roanoke Island.

There is so much to do in the Outer Banks area for families. I highly recommend checking it out for a family vacation. Rent a house and share it between a few families and it can be a very reasonable vacation. It wasn't quite as relaxing as being in a high end hotel since we had no maids and had to cook our own food (of course we chose to cook to save money) but overall it was an awesome experience and we WILL do it again.

Where do you like to vacation? How has your vacations changed because of financial needs?

The journey of potty training my oldest has been a long and difficult journey of 2 1/2 years. I share this story in hopes of helping another child with the same problems. Please pass this along to anyone you know who has a child with similar issues as my daughter.

At the age of 2 1/2 I started to potty train my daughter. After 8 months of working on it I thought we finally got it. She was just over 3. She was using the potty during the day and night pretty well. She seemed to need to use the bathroom often but I figured it was normal. She did well for about 4 months until...

At the age of 3 1/2 I noticed her going to the bathroom VERY often. We were on vacation and so I would have to take her to the bathroom instead of her just going on her own like at home. I noticed that she had to use the bathroom 3 or 4 times while we were at the pool for only an hour or two. Then I started to get concerned.

I checked with the pediatrician and we checked for urinary tract infections and found nothing wrong. She continued to have frequency, started wetting her pants alot, and would wet a few times a night. Although we encouraged her to use the potty we put her back in pull-ups to just help with the laundry. I was pregnant with my 3rd child at this point and so we thought maybe it was her reaction to that.  We gave her some time to try to work it out until she turned 4.

By her 4th birthday I was starting to get concerned. I started keeping track of her frequency and noticed she was using the potty 12-14 times in an 8-10 hour period. Sometimes it was several times an hour. We were referred to urology at CHOP.

We worked with CHOP for a year until she was 5. We did everything from diet, reconditioning her bladder, and medication. We even worked with a pediatric urology psychologist who recommended a potty watch to help us. She would have times when it got a little better but never close to normal.

When she was 5 years old we went back and met with one of the head urologists to decide what to do next. She is 5, starting kindergarten in 6 months and still wetting up to 5 times an hour. Something had to change and fast. The last alternative was a surgical procedure to put botox in her bladder. Although this might sound crazy it is a procedure they use to help relax the muscles of the bladder. I wasn't comfortable with a surgical option at that time.

During this time I was at Bible study and we were discussing our reliance on God and what we try to do in our own strength. I was convicted to not make a decision reguarding the botox until I prayed about it. I prayed all the way home from the appointment. God knows my daughter's problem, loves her even more than I do,  and will help me to make a good decision if I would only trust him and talk to him about it.

There are a few times in my life when I was able to know very clearly what God was telling me and this is one of them. The thought going through my mind over and over while I was praying was to wait. I wanted to have a solution and in my own strength I would have followed the doctors advice and had the procedure but I clearly heard God telling me to wait. I prayed, "If that is what you want, Lord, then please confirm it through others so I know its what you want."

After I explained the Dr's visit to my husband and two friends each one said, "Wait". So, thats what we decided to do. The Dr's office called back twice over the next few weeks to schedule the procedure and I told them I was just waiting.

Soon after that a very dear friend, and I will always be grateful for this, suggested I switch my daughter from baths to showers. Within a week all her symptoms were gone and she started waking up dry for the first time in 2 years. She continued to have success with much less frequency and no wetting.

We had a little relapse when I changed laundry detergent. Now that I know she is just very sensitive I imediately recognized the soap issue. Now I wash her clothes, especially underwear, in Arm & Hammer Free and Clear. I don't use any fabric softener, dryer sheets, or other stain releasers in her wash. After so many years of frustration and difficulty (which is how I discovered the potette potty) we finally have our potty problem solved.

I hope you find this information helpful if you have a daughter or little girl in your life who seems to have trouble potty training.

We are making an effort, as many are, to eat as healthy as we can and this included reducing or eliminating our consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). As I started looking over the things we had in our house I found it everywhere. It was in our 100% whole wheat bread ($3+ bread), yogurt, cereal, and of course condiments. I don't mind if its in junk food since we limit that anyway but I DON'T want it in what I would consider healthy food.

We also went out to Lancaster, Pennsylvania around this time and I was able to buy some fresh bread at the farmers market and I had an idea...I'm going to make my own bread. I have had a bread machine since we got married and I never use it. Why not start making my own bread. I already make my own jam and I love to cook.

I looked up some recipes, learned a little bit, and then modified the recipes to make some delicious and healthy breads. So far I have made a honey whole wheat, banana whole wheat, and a sourdough bread that all came out great. I tried to make a whole wheat sourdough and that one needs some more work. I have found that by adding gluten to the recipe it helps the bread to be lighter and not so dense, especially if its a whole wheat bread.

I feel so good about making fresh bread and feeding it to my family. For this delicious and healthy bread it costs just about $1 a loaf and that is a huge saving over the healthy bread options at the grocery store. I just smile when I make them french toast for breakfast and they gobble it up! I will be posting some of these bread recipes soon. I hope you give them a try. Let me know how they come out.

I don't know if you've ever seen these but I think they look like the coolest things. It seems like such a great way to pack your child's lunch or snack. You don't have to do several containers and look all over for the lids. You can do a week of lunches and stack them in the fridge ready to grab and go.

They also sell insulated lunch bags that can hold up to 3 of the lunchboxes perfectly. Great for lunch and snacks at school or daycare.

This product was developed by a mom (and I love supporting moms) with families in mind. Easy lunchbox products contain NO Lead, Vinyl, PVC, Phthalates, or Bisphenol A (BPA). They are dishwasher and microwave safe too.  I can't wait to try these out. If I like them as much as I think I might then they will become one of my favorite things. 

This is the new Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6. I don't have this one because I got mine for mother's day (right before this one came out) I'm sure this one is only better than the one I have. I love my kindle. I can bring everything with me on a trip or to my room without haveing to pack lots of books. On my kindle I have my Bible, fiction, non-fiction, self help books, books for the kids, and a dictionary. Everything I want to read all in one place, plus its small.

I love the screen. Its not like a computer screan at all. It is so easy to read on since there is no glare. With the text size adjustment I can always read comfortably.

I love the bookmarking and highlighting too. I can go back and just scan the items I highlighted or use the search tool. Either way I can easilly find infomation I am looking for.

There are lots of free books too! You can check out everything I have read and liked under Favorite Things

The battery lasts a long time when fully charged. If I read a few hours every day my battery will last my whole vacation.

I can't say enough. I LOVE my kindle. I only wish I had waited a little longer to get this new one. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6

I never was a crier. Through high school and college I wasn't the weepy, emotional one. I didn't cry through sad movies, graduations, or even funerals. I just wasn't a crier. So I'm driving the car with the kids today and an ambulance comes up behind us and I pull over to the side to let them pass. My kids asked me about it and so I explained that someone is hurt and the ambulance is there to help. As I'm explaining this I am working very hard to hold back the tears.

Now I do realize that it is a sad thing to think about the ambulance and what is happening to a family during that time and crying about it may not be that unusual, but that is just the tip of the iceberg for me. I find that I am crying during the songs on the radio, commercials on TV, and movies that aren't even sad. Since I have had my children I have become much more emotional and I think I would classify myself as a crier. I can't talk about my daughter starting kindergarten without tearing up, I started to during her orientation.

I am not saying that I am a constant emotional wreck and need medication. I'm just saying that my hormone levels have permanently shifted since have 3 children and I am more emotional now than before having children. I also think being a mom brings out a new side you never new before. The love you have for your children is so strong and passionate that it can make you emotional to think about anything happening to them or what another family may be going through.

OK, before I start crying let me wrap this up. Anyone else find themselves more connected with their emotions since becoming a mom and having a better sense of identifying with the grief of others? Just wondering.

Here I am, Disney Diva Tips, at home. I'm not always on vacation, although I wish I was, and yet life at home with three kids can be just as Magical as a trip to Disney, so I thought I would start a blog for my life and family. I keep my Disney Diva Tips blog on topic to help you plan a magical Disney vacation. Here I can rant, rave, and express myself on a more personal level. I hope you will follow along.