Quick & Easy Apple Dumplings

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


Apple season is here! Does anyone else get really excited when you walk in to the grocery store this time of year and they have about a billion different apples on display? I do! Nothing gets me ready for the season faster than shiny Granny Smith, Fuji, Macintosh, Gala, Cortland, and my favorite... Honeycrisp, all beckoning for me to fill my cart so I can go home and get my bake on. Last week was nippy, but we're back to air conditioning weather this week. But that didn't mean I couldn't sneak in an early season quick baking session to satisfy my apple cravings, and this Apple Dumplings recipe from Golden Blossom Honey was just what the doctor ordered. 

You know I'm all about the shortcuts lately, and what intrigued me about this recipe was instead of making your own dough, you simply use a can of refrigerated crescent roll dough for the dumplings. It really doesn't get any simpler than that. But, what I liked even more about this recipe was that I could slowly usher in fall while still hanging onto a bit of summer. Combine your warm apple dumplings with a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream and you've got the best of both worlds! 

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1 cup orange juice
1/3 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
2 small Granny Smith apples
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
vanilla ice cream, if desired

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What's your favorite apple variety?

Stay at Charming The Waters Country House in Ballyvaughan

We didn't book any hotels on our Ireland vacation, opting to go with Airbnb rentals instead. I left our sleeping arrangements up to Jason to plan, and while looking for accommodations near Cliffs of Moher, up popped this charming little bed and breakfast called The Waters Country House. We didn't have any plans of booking a b&b since we were trying to pick the cheapest sleeping arrangements possible, but after looking through the website, I knew I would regret it if we didn't make reservations for a stay.

Located in Country Clare, the b&b sits on over 40 acres of farmland at the foot of Burren Hills. You can choose a room with a mountain view or country view when booking your stay, but we booked the Family Suite and got the best of both worlds out of our windows.

Our little bungalow wasn't attached to the main property, but located a few hundred feet away. It gave us the feeling of seclusion and the sense that we were in our own little private universe. One of my favorite things about our Ireland vacation was laying out some blankets in this field of wildflowers late at night and stargazing. I've seen stars in the sky before, but when you're smack dab in the middle of a beautiful Irish countryside without light pollution pouring in, the view is indescribable. I have never seen so many stars in the sky before, and we even caught sight of a few shooting stars! That experience alone is enough to make me want to book another stay here.

Our room was spacious, offering adequate sleeping spots for the 4 of us, a dining area, a sitting area, and our own private bathroom.

You'll find all kinds of welcoming, homey touches at The Waters Country House. Right outside of our room was a little tea/coffee setup so we didn't have to walk to the main house for refreshments.

While we adored our room, we absolutely loved how inviting the main house was. The first thing we noticed was the scent. They had peat logs burning in the fireplaces, giving it a warm, welcoming vibe, and we've even considered fixing our fireplace to recreate that beautiful country scent in our own home. There are several family rooms to kick back and relax in...

A stocked bar, where we were told just take what you want, write it down, and we can settle at checkout. Have I mentioned how much I adore Irish hospitality?

Breakfast is included with your stay, and if you're a people person, you'll love how all of the guests chat across the room to each other, making it feel like one big family affair. You can immediately grab breads, cheeses, fruits and coffee from the breakfast bar, then a waitstaff person will come around to take your hot meal order.

One of the coolest things about Waters Country House is it has its own natural spring to fetch pure, natural, refreshing water from. The house actually draws its name from the wells it sits upon. Bubbling from the limestone caves below, according to Irish legend, the spring water holds magical powers, offering health and wellness to guests who choose to sip from it. The girls couldn't get enough of taking the pitcher down to fill with the crystal clear water.

Walking back to our room, the girls spotted these two beauties in the hill beside our bungalow who wanted to make friends with us.

A word to the wise, that is an electric fence, and yes, I did zap the hell out of myself trying to pet the horses LOL.

If you're headed out around Cliffs of Moher, I would highly recommend booking a stay at The Waters Country House. It's just a short 30 minute drive to the cliffs, or 5 minutes if you just want to explore charming Ballyvaughan. Just for the record, I was not compensated to talk about our stay at The Waters Country House. I don't normally post about our hotels/airbnb rentals, but this b&b is my absolute favorite place we have ever booked a stay at during any of our travels, I thought I'd share so more people could have the same beautiful experience we did here.

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow me on Instagram for more travel related photos!

Hotel, Airbnb, Bed & Breakfast? Which is your preferred method of lodging while traveling? 

Experience the Magic of the Live Adaptation of Aladdin on Blu-ray & DVD September 10!

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


I can show you the world. Shining, shimmering, splendid.... As one who lives to travel, it's no wonder that Aladdin has been one of my all time favorite movies. I can still feel the excitement I had walking into the theater with my girlfriends to catch the animated classic way back in 1992, and my love for Aladdin has been going strong ever since. On our recent trip to NY, I wasn't leaving without seeing Aladdin on Broadway. Yes, I went to the show wearing my animated shirt, looking 100% like a tourist. But who cares!? I was just as giddy going into the play that day as I was 17 years ago walking into the movie theater. 

I don't make any secrets about my love for Aladdin, so when I heard that the animated classic was getting a live adaptation... oh, my heart almost couldn't take it. I loaded up my girls and we hit the theater full force, ready to immerse ourselves magic, love, and music. The soundtrack has been playing in my home nonstop since this summer as we've been eagerly awaiting the release of the live-action film on Blu-ray and DVD. If you're on the same carpet as us, the good news is, the wait is almost over. Disney's Live Action Aladdin will be available to purchase on Blu-ray and DVD, this Tuesday, September 10! 

If you missed it in the theaters, now's your chance to get your hands on a copy and find out what you've been missing out on. While it doesn't 100% stick to the original animated version, I loved the changes made for the live-action version and the new song Speechless added to the soundtrack was a welcome addition that my family couldn't get enough of. I think fans of the animated classic as well as new viewers alike are all going to agree that Live-action Aladdin is one of the best films of 2019! I've already got this weekend's movie night all planned out, and it involves genies, flying carpets, magic, mystery and romance. 

The live-action adaptation of the animated classic, Aladdin, lands in homes on Digital and Movies Anywhere August 27 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD September 10. Starring Will Smith, Naomi Scott and Mena Massoud, the release includes all new bonus features, such as deleted scenes, a blooper reel and more!

The release of the live-action adventure coincides with the addition of the original animated classic to the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection, granting Aladdin fans everywhere the opportunity to own both magical movies. In 4K for the first time, the new release features all new bonus content, including alternate endings! 

If you're looking for a special treat to go with your new Aladdin Blu-ray or DVD, why now try this yummy Genie's Fig Jam Cookies recipe from 2 Geeks Who Eat:

Here's a fun craft for the kids to try also:

Disney's Live-action Aladdin will be available this Tuesday, September 10 to purchase on Blu-ray and DVD. Don't let the magic pass you by. Be sure to grab your copy, available at most major retailers nationwide. 


 

Getting Fall Ready with Delicious New Bigelow Tea Varieties #TeaProudly #TryNewBigelowTea

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TeaProudly #CollectiveBias



While it's not technically fall yet, I'm easing into the season like Sunday morning, welcoming it with an open heart and open arms. I know that I'm always boasting about being a summer girl, but there's something about those first few nips in the air that give me a little twinge of delight that autumn is on the horizon. Last weekend, I swapped out all of my summery interior decor for a fall inspired look, then went shopping for new mums to decorate my front porch. Now that the girls are back in school, I love starting my mornings sitting among my new autumn flowers, breathing in the crisp air, while sipping on a freshly brewed cuppa hot tea.

In the summer, I usually start my morning with a cup of black or fruit flavored tea, but now that fall is quickly approaching, I've swapped out my summery flavors for New Bigelow Tea Varieties that are perfect for cool autumn days. After dropping the girls off at school, I treat myself to a quick 20 minute mini "me time" session, collecting my thoughts and coming up with a game plan for how best to tackle the day. Confidence in one hand and New Bigelow Green Tea with Ginger plus Probiotics in the other.

I am a huge fan of green tea in general, but was pretty excited to find this new Bigelow tea variety on the shelf at my local Walmart store. As one with tummy issues, I am always looking to add more probiotics into my daily diet, so I'm thrilled that Bigelow is helping me maintain my health goals. Also, I love the extra warmth of flavor that I get from the ginger. It's just so cozy and inviting!

**Interested in trying my favorites from the NEW Bigelow tea offerings? Hover over the image to click through to purchase directly from Walmart!**

Some mornings I'll be a little extra and add in a baked goodie to my morning routine, because we all deserve to treat ourselves every now and again, right!?

For bedtime though, I like to slow things down a bit. Where the green tea and ginger allows me to start my day with a clear and open mind, at the end of the day it is all about unwinding and letting go of the day's stresses. I'll settle in for a little light reading about a half hour before sleep, and always have a warm cup of tea in hand to help me transition into my nighttime routine with ease. For the past week I have been all over NEW Bigelow Lavender Chamomile Herbal Tea plus Probiotics.

I can't even express how important this new Bigelow tea variety has been in my nightly routine recently. I've been under a lot of stress for the past few months, but after sipping on a warm cup of Bigelow Lavender Chamomile Herbal Tea plus Probiotics, I feel so relaxed and my mind is at ease and ready to slip into a peaceful slumber. I'm sure this new tea variety is going to be a constant staple in my nighttime routine from here on out, even as the seasons continuously change.

Bigelow has always been my #1 choice when shopping for tea because I know that I am going to get high quality teas every time. The company spans 3 family generations, is US manufactured, and because the bags are securely packaged in foil, I'm getting the freshest tea possible. I never pass the tea aisle when shopping at Walmart because I love stocking up on my favorite Bigelow varieties and hunting for new varieties as well.

If you'd like to learn more about these New Bigelow Tea Varieties that are perfect for transitioning into fall, be sure to head to your local Walmart store to stock up. This girl right here is definitely fall ready, cabinets stock with my favorite Bigelow teas, ready to welcome the new season comfortably and cozy. And, once you stock up on your fall favorites, use the hashtag  #TryNewBigelowTea on social media so we can see what you're sipping on!

How have you started gearing up for fall?

Vegetable Stir Fried Rice

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


In an effort to get my kids more involved in the kitchen, I decided to take a page out of my friend Alissa's book (visit her over at An Apel A Day) and have made the girls responsible for coming up with one dinner that they are totally responsible for each week. Actually, one girl will be responsible for finding, planning, and making one dinner and the other girl will be responsible for finding, planning, and making one dessert. The following week, they will swap roles. Allison made my Baked Penne Rigate a few weeks ago, and while it was a bit too cheesy, the end result was actually darn near perfect. If you know my kid, she's always up for Asian inspired dishes, so this week I gently nudged her into making  Vegetable Stir Fried Rice, a Golden Blossom Honey recipe.  

This is a great recipe for beginning and seasoned cooks alike. I was able to sit back and supervise, only offering very minimal help when asked. I ended up buying a bag of pre-cut carrots to make the prep a little easier, and also broke out my rice cooker for the rice, but I think she could have handled this recipe without the little shortcuts. All in all, she did great on her second dinner, and I'd say she'll be ready to take over this blog in no time (yes, she's still coming up with a master plan to boot me outta here lol). 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 large carrots, cut into matchstick-size strips
1/2 pound snow peas, cut in half lengthwise
1/2 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 cups mung bean sprouts
4 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup cashews

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

At what age did you learn to cook on your own?

Gliding Into BTS Season with the Hover-1 Journey Electric Scooter

I received a Best Buy gift card courtesy of the sponsor to help facilitate this post. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. 


We just sent our oldest daughter back to college to start her Junior year. Time sure is flying! For her first two years, she opted to stay on campus in the dorms, but this year she thought she'd flex her independence a little more and chose an off-campus apartment for her living arrangements. Thankfully, campus isn't too far from her apartment, but as a mom, I still worry about her getting to class on time, as well as her safety walking to and from classes and back home again. While touring the campus (something we like to do at the start of every school year), I noticed many of the students whizzing by on electric scooters. "How nifty are those?" I thought. While I also noticed a lot of bike riders, it seems like electric scooters are rising in popularity among students on campus because they are light, fast, and convenient for getting to where they need to go without a lot of fuss.

My daughter has never been much of a bike rider, but I know she'd totally be on board for using an electric scooter for getting around campus. I've been doing some research on them these past few weeks, and decided we'll be getting her an early Christmas gift- a Hover-1 Journey Electric Scooter from Best Buy. 

Why are we going with the Hover-1 Journey Electric Scooter? Because it has many features that both my daughter and I think make it the perfect mode of transportation for getting around campus. 

• Top speed of 14 miles per hour, a 16 mile battery life span (battery is easy to charge!), and a bright LED headlight for safety

• Tackles hills and angles up to 15 degrees effortlessly, so you can ride practically anywhere

•  Electronic and foot brakes help the rider come to a complete safe stop

• 8.5 inch tires offer stability and can tackle tough terrain without a problem

• Lightweight- At 27 pounds, it's light enough to fold and stow once you get to where you need to go

• Space saving- The Hover-1 Journey neatly folds in half for easy storage

 
After a lot of time spent comparing Ridebles, it's a no-brainer on why we think the Hover-1 Journey Electric Scooter is the best option for back-to-school and campus life. If you have a student headed back to college this year, be sure to check out Best Buy in-store and online to learn more about the Hover-1 Journey. You can also shop for other electric scooters, plus electric boards and bikes to make getting around campus a breeze! 

*Ride Responsibly! 
The purchaser and rider of this product are responsible for knowing and obeying all state and local regulations regarding the use of this product. It is highly encouraged that you read and follow the product instructions, including all safety precautions and use protective gear. Find protective gear at www.bestbuy.com/protectivegear.