Author: cvegnad

November 8, 2019

Celebrating Family Around the Table with Hamilton Beach: Bread Maker

My favourite memories as a child and teenager were spent in the kitchen cooking with my Dad. I loved the holidays as we would prepare cannelloni, lasagna, veal and all types of desserts. I would spend half my time helping prepare the meals and the other half eating the ingredients (cannelloni stuffing is still my favourite – all of that delicious spinach and cheese goodness).

Good food and family were the two most important things we had growing up in our home. They were the centre of every happy, fun moment and especially around the holiday season. This is the gift I want to give my own kids – family and good food.

The one thing I always wished I learned how to do in my youth? Make bread.

There is nothing better then fresh, warm bread to accompany your meal (it is like a giant hug on a bad day). We always had a loaf of bread with every meal and I was always the first to volunteer to go pick one up at the bakery (I loved the smell and how the bag would just heat up). Not to mention, bread is the best way to clean up those dirty sauce pots over the holidays!

My only problem? I have been incapable of making bread from scratch – it doesn’t rise, it is still uncooked after it is finished cooking in the oven or it is rock solid. After many failed attempts, I gave up (my pride couldn’t handle the bad loaves and the teasing from the kids).

We were able to test out the Hamilton Beach Premium Dough and Bread maker leading up to the holiday season and I can honestly say that I am in love with this machine.

The Hamilton Beach Premium Dough and Bread maker is on the bigger size but it does tuck away perfectly in our pantry closet, although I tend to leave it on my counter as it fits right in the corner. It has a beautiful, sleek stainless steel design so it can match any kitchen decor and will fit in with your other appliances.

The bread maker looks intimidating at first but it is actually very simple to use. You adjust each setting with the turn of the dial (which for me was the hardest part to learn) – making changes for the type of bread, loaf size and the crust colour (light, medium or dark). Once you have added all of your ingredients, adjusted the settings – it does the rest for you. You can literally just step away and enjoy the smell of the bread rising, warming and baking.

The clean up? Surprisingly very simple. My husband teased me a bit thinking that the machine would be messy on the inside but I could clean the inside with a paper towel. There was no sticky dough left in the machine (similar to when you make the bread by hand) and the pan that contains the ingredients was simple to wash in the sink. Nothing stuck to any of the parts, except for a bit of dry crust on the mixer piece.

Hamilton Beach has a great selection of recipes on their website – we have been using the French bread and Italian Parmesan recipes. Both have become huge hits in our home and take roughly three to four hours to bake with roughly a five minute prep time. So no excuses for not being able to make fresh bread, you can whip those ingredients out and have them in the machine in five to ten minutes.

The bread always came out perfectly, despite being paranoid the whole time that it wouldn’t work. The first time we made the french bread we realized we didn’t like the recommended crust colour (it came out a bit harder, which I know french bread can be but my kids like their bread softer) so the next time we went for a medium and it was perfect. Be careful when you are removing the pan from the machine, it gets very hot! I burnt the edge of my finger on the fourth time, but everyone was so excited to snag a piece of bread that they didn’t notice I hurt myself (no worries, it didn’t even blister!).

The bread maker made it possible for us to enjoy delicious home made bread with minimal effort, mess and clean up. Every recipe came out exactly as expected and added that missing piece from my childhood.

Do you have a baker in the family? This would make a perfect gift for the holiday season for them. The machine is roughly $149 Canadian, you can find more details on their website here.

Make sure to follow Hamilton Beach on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest recipes and products!

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 5, 2019

How To Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind): Real World Tips and Practical Solutions for Traveling with Children

Do you feel that you have to suppress your sense of wanderlust now that you’re a parent? It is time to think again!

About How To Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)

In How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind), passionate world travelers and parents Natasha Sandhir and AJ Ratani share their travel philosophy, Be F.L.E.X.I.B.L.E. which turns conventional thinking on its head and presents parents with real-world solutions to the most common kid-related travel concerns.

After spending several years climbing the corporate ladder, Natasha and AJ decided to pursue their dreams of traveling the world and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with their almost two-year-old son. They have traveled to 44 countries, taken 79 flights, and visited 115 unique destinations as a family. Along the way, they have discovered innovative tips and tricks that make traveling with kids no only doable, but enjoyable!

In this book you will discover:

Why you shouldn’t wait until your children are older to travel.
8 potty secrets that will save your trip.
AJ and Natasha’s Exclusive Plane Seat Hacking Strategy, designed to give you extra space on a plane for FREE!
5 steps to handle travel tantrums LIKE A BOSS.
Their top 12 tips to making any flight fuss-free.
Guidelines for choosing kid-friendly accommodations.
The Mary Poppins Packing Method.
How to help your child sleep anywhere and instantly adjust to a new schedule.
9 things you wouldn’t believe that you could do with your kids while traveling.
How to travel stress-free and happy with 1, 2, or even 3 kids (special guest chapter!).
And so much more!

Complete with comprehensive packing lists, suggested travel destinations for every occasion, and anecdotes from AJ and Natasha’s travels, How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind) will leave you feeling empowered, inspired and excited to indulge your love of travel and make memories with your loved ones that will last forever.

My Thoughts

One of the scariest things you can mentally prepare for as a parent? Travel. When you think of the unpredictability, the unknown, the change of routine and everything in between – it can be terrifying!

AJ and Natasha have done an amazing job in this book to break down those mental barriers that we as parents have when it comes to thoughts around travel. They make you realize that travel is possible and it is very important to raising well rounded children. They help you open up the doors to the possible and make you comfortable with the unknown. For me personally, loss of control has always been my worst fear – I like to feel that I am in control at all times and travel sometimes stops you from having this control. This book helped me re-frame this way of thinking to be equip me for travel with my kids (which is one of the most rewarding experiences you can do together as a family unit).

This book follows their own principle of Be F.L.E.X.I.B.L.E – one of the most important lessons and skills that we can learn as parents. Each letter is broken down into helpful, real world advice. I appreciated this the most as a parent – I did not feel like I was being lectured or made to feel bad. Instead, it was a conversation with a fantastic friend giving the best possible solutions to a non-perfect situation.

Kids can make any situations impossible to completely plan for (tantrums, illness, diaper disasters) but AJ and Natasha are there to help you. They share their own mistakes and the how and why their solutions work. I loved their solutions for flying on airplanes (which to be honest I wish I had seen before we travel to South Africa three years ago!). There are so many practical tips that you can implement when traveling.

This book covers all types of traveling – from air to train to bus to car to cruise. You can apply their tips to short and long travel itineraries, the possibilities really are endless. This is a well written, fun and personal book that parents of children all ages will love. It will help you reclaim that sense of adventure, stashing away your fear of travel.

You can purchase a copy of this book here and on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Authors

The world can be your oyster—even if you have kids! And we should know because we have firsthand knowledge of traveling it, all while keeping our toddler close at hand. We are so happy that you have taken the time to visit our blog—so let us take a moment to introduce ourselves to you.

We are AJ Ratani and Natasha Sandhir—and our son, Aarav. Beginning in the summer of 2017, we embarked upon a journey together—a big one that spanned 31 countries, comprised of 39 flights, 3 cruises, and almost a 100 destinations. But we are getting ahead of ourselves—let us tell you how this all got started!.

You can connect with them on their website.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 4, 2019

Great Kids Don’t Just Happen Book Spotlight

In Great Kids Don’t Just Happen you will learn how to use elements to nurture the children in your life.

About Great Kids Don’t Just Happen

Physically and emotionally healthy children are Great Kids. They are happier when young and thrive as adults.

Pediatrician Dr. Paul Smolen identifies five essential parenting elements which help develop happy and successful kids.

In Great Kids Don’t Just Happen you will learn how to use those elements and nurture the children in your life.

The author’s observations and advice are supported by scientific studies referenced throughout the book and personal observations from his many years of practice as a pediatrician. The five essential elements and how to apply them are made easy to understand in the warm words of one who knows, practices, and teaches from research, observation, and experience.

Learn how to provide:

Realistic praise
Consistent limits
A healthy emotional environment
Strong parental commitment
Stability

Dr. Smolen’s research and wisdom are sure to be of great help for your family and loved ones.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Torchflame.

Book Trailer

About the Author

Dr. Paul Smolen, also known as Doc Smo by his friends, is a pediatrician with 37 years of experience caring for children and families. He is a graduate of Duke University (1974), Rutgers Medical School (1978), and Wake Forest University-N.C. Baptist Hospital (1982). At Wake Forest University he completed a residency in general pediatrics, served as chief resident, and completed a fellowship in ambulatory pediatrics. Subsequently, he became board certified in the American Academy of Pediatrics (1983) and completed his recertification in 2014. For the last 37 years, he has been an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, helping to train a generation of medical students and pediatric residents as well as author several research papers. He is also the author of a parenting book called, Can Doesn’t Mean Should. With 37 years under his belt, Doc Smo is a bona-fide expert in knowing what parents want and need to know about parenting and child health. Imparting practical and useful advice is the goal of every “Pedcast”. Smiling along the way can’t hurt!

Connect with him on his website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway

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Disclosure: This is a spotlight post, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 1, 2019

Explore the Wonders of Crab Lake with the Beautiful Children’s Book Series

Marvel at nature’s miracles, spread joy wherever you can, experience earth’s infinite wonders. This is what led David Mulford to create the Crab Lake series. Explore the author’s world through Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas and Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales.

About Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas

All the animals in the forest are abuzz. Jeannie, the kindest and most beautiful lady they know, is coming to Crab Lake for Christmas! The animals love to watch Jeannie from a distance when she visits in the summer, but they have never had a chance to talk to her before now — for, as everyone knows, animals can only talk in the winter. This time, however, they can finally say a proper hello.

So come to Crab Lake for Christmas, and spend the evening with Jeannie and her forest friends: bear cub Pudgey and his family, kindly Mr. Woodchuck, distinguished Bellknap Beaver, and the deer, the wolves, the cardinals, and more! Beautiful illustrations by Christine Cathers Donohue bring them all to life in Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas, David Mulford’s charming tale of friendship, family and fun.

About Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales

In this second book, winter has come back to Crab Lake, Wisconsin. Reunite with Jeannie and her woodland friends as they catch up and share the joy of the season and the holidays. All your favourite characters are back to teach you that friendship and helping others is what truly leads to the greatest of life’s adventures.

Our Thoughts

These beautiful, sweet books featuring Jeannie and the wildlife of Crab Lake, will become a story that you can treasure up to and during the holiday season.

Jeannie is a special woman. She is kind, loving and thoughtful. Those around her can sense these strong values and kindness and love her very much for this. I am a firm believer that animals can sense good and bad people, and the animals in these stories love her so very much.

Both books take place at Crab Lake and I love how the author makes the location come to life (especially as someone who has never visited these areas). You feel like you are visiting Crab Lake and the surrounding area yourself. The author uses descriptive language that brings to life the lakes, hills and forest in this area, while the illustrations help to deliver that message. We become part of the festivities and excitement of the holidays (I can’t wait for the simple things like family gatherings, fireplaces, and hot buttered rum) that is so often described throughout the story.

The animals play a huge role in this story, as we learn that the animals can speak and be heard by humans but only in the winter! As someone who loves animals, I truly wish this would come true (I can only imagine what our dogs would tell us – ‘how dare you not let me sleep in your bed when you are not home’). We found ourselves giving certain characters their own accents (especially Mr. Woodchuck, Mr. Beaver and the bears) and it fit well into the story (I found myself naturally using a British accent at times when I was reading the story to my son).

The story in both books is on the longer side but would make for an excellent bedtime story with your child or after dinner reading in front of the Christmas tree. Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales is a bit longer but worth every minute. I loved the illustrations, they felt soft, warm and engaging. It fit the characters and tone of the story perfectly. The books are well written and remind you of all the important things in life – family, harmony, love and helping other captured in a manner that children of all ages will appreciate. It is both fun and serious, with such important messaging for young children today.

As a side note – I loved that David wrote these stories for his wife, Jeannie. It is so beautiful and touching, the love that he feels for her and the time they spent at Crab Lake is captured so well in these stories.

These books will make a great addition to your holiday reading list and you can purchase a copy of this book here.

About the Author

For David Mulford and his wife, Jeannie, Christmas would not be complete without their visits to the beautiful Wisconsin waters of Crab Lake. These magical journeys provide the inspiration for David’s whimsical tales. In addition to writing, David has a PhD from Oxford University, serves as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and has enjoyed a long and notable career in international finance and diplomacy. For the last twenty-seven years, David’s Christmas gift to Jeannie, no matter where they are in the world, has been a story of Christmas at Crab Lake. When not traveling, David and Jeannie reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 30, 2019

Travel and Defend the Universe with Klikbots

Do you have a creative child that loves to discover and come up with new ideas, plays and action dram? Do they love adventure and protecting the world from evil? Then the Klikbots are the perfect gift for them!

What are Klikbots?

Klikbots are a line of action figures that children can use to create their own action clips with. The figures have interchangeable pieces, articulating limbs, and action accessories. The figures come with their own app to create their clips with called, the Klikbot Studio.

Klikbot History

Helix is the brain of the Klikbots. She is a science whiz, and loves to experiment, tinker and fix any problem along the way. After the group discovers a precious metal, they are confronted by the evil Modulus. The group is thrust into a battle they were not prepared for. Will they choose to become heroes to save the planet?

These super cute toys are easy to use and manipulate into place. They literally click into place when you move their joints (I had a giggle over this one – not sure if it was done intentionally with the name and sound these toys make as you move them into place). They have suction cups on the bottom of their feet so it was easy to stick them in place on the table for capturing images and setting up scenes. There is nothing worse then trying to set up a scene and have all of your characters falling down (the joys of my own childhood).

Klikbots can be purchased in single packs or in a studio pack. There are four Klikbots in total: Helix, Axil, Cannon and Cosmo. Each character has their own specific colour. The studio pack also comes with a creature as well to help your child do battle. This variety really allows your child to create their own theatrical piece to fit their own creative plot. They can have the whole gang protect the universe or perhaps they have a special connection to just one specific character and that is the hero of the day.

The Klikbots use the StikBot Studio app, so if you already have those other character sets you more than likely have this app installed. The app is extremely easy to use, your child will have no problem creating stills and videos. I went over it once with my son, and he was off on his own creating his own imagery.

Klikbots will make an excellent holiday gift for the creative child who loves adventure and dreaming up stories. They can fully take charge and call all the shots with these characters. They can be purchased just in time for the holidays from Toys R Us in Canada and Target in the USA.

Make sure to follow Zing on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with all the newest additions.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.