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Homemade Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits {RECIPE} 25 May 2021 3:16 AM (4 years ago)

Homemade Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits {RECIPE}

Have you ever eaten at Red Lobster? We don’t go there too often because I don’t eat fish or seafood, but when we do, I load up on their incredibly tasting biscuits! They are so good, I would go there just for the biscuits.

I’ve seen many recipes around the web called Red Lobster Biscuits, but the majority of them have boxed Biscuit Mix in them. Call me a biscuit snob, but I prefer to make mine completely from scratch. It really isn’t that much more difficult and that way I know exactly what ingredients are in the biscuits.

Here is my version of the Red Lobster Biscuits and they look like this:

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/3 cup butter, cold, cut into 6 pieces
2 Tbsp vegetable oil (I like using avocado oil in my baking)
1 heaping cup grated cheddar cheese
2/3 cup milk
a few more Tbsp of milk to moisten biscuit mix as you go (see directions)

TOPPING:
3 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder
shredded cheese (if desired)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and garlic powder. Stir together to combine.
  3. Add chunks of butter. Using a pastry cutter or two knives to cut butter into flour until it is coarse, pea-sized.
  4. Add oil, grated cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup milk. Stir together.
  5. Keep adding milk a bit at a time, just until the dough is moistened and no longer dry and powdery. (Shouldn’t be sticky, just moist enough to hold together. I end up using my hands to really mix it together).
  6. Drop approximately 1/4 cup portions of the dough onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Use hands to roll and flatten each biscuit to desired shape.
  7. Bake for 15-17 minutes.
  8. While biscuits are in the oven, melt butter in microwave.
  9. Stir in garlic powder.

Biscuits are ready to come out of the oven when they are just starting to brown on the top and are firm to touch. Immediately after they come out of the oven, brush butter mixture generously on top of each biscuit.

This recipe makes one dozen biscuits.

Do you love to bake your own bread and biscuits? Check out more recipes here.

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A Magical Nighttime Routine 2 Dec 2020 5:07 AM (4 years ago)

A Magical Nighttime Routine

DISCLAIMER ~ This post is sponsored by Magic Bag. All opinions are my own. I only share content that excites me and I feel would be beneficial to Canadian Moms. If you have difficulty falling asleep, experience pain or discomfort or even have trouble with anxiety, I highly recommend you check out Magic Bag.

Let’s talk about bedtime routines for a minute. Almost everyone has some sort of a bedtime routine. Am I right?

My bedtime routine includes:

These steps have been a part of my nighttime routine for YEARS!

So naturally, when Magic Bag reached out to me I was thrilled to receive a sample kit! I was excited to put them to the test! You know me, I always love to test out new things, they don’t call me Multi-Testing Mommy for nothing – haha!

The Magic Bag can be used as a heating pad to relieve back pain. It can also be used as a cold compress to help ward off inflammation.  Here are some of the highlights of what I love about the Magic Bag:

As a Norwex Consultant, reusable products are very important to me. I am in love with the fact that once you have used your bag for a period of time, you can compost the insides. If you enjoy DIY projects, you can reuse the outer fabric or send it off to textile recycling.

Magic Bag helps me to ease stress, anxiety and pain.

Let me guess, you’ve experienced at least one of these things over the past few months? I know I sure have and so have the members of my family.

For many years, I have gone to bed with a heated beanbag. These bags help me to feel relaxed and often also help to take away any neck or back pain. I especially love the shape of the Neck-to-Back Magic Bag. It wraps nicely around my neck and doesn’t slip off. I have even been known to use it while on Zoom calls for work.

Magic Bag is not just for adults! They also have a kid line – just be mindful of how hot you make them. I recommend that after heating, you hold it on your skin for 30 seconds to test it before giving it to a child. (Just my two cents).

These adorable little friends are made to provide hot or cold relief for children. I remember when my kids were little, we use to heat their bed with a similar type heated friend. We would tuck it down at the foot of the bed each night. And then they would snuggle with their warm friend while they fell asleep.

Magic Bag products make a fantastic stocking stuffer or gift idea!


You can check out Magic Bag on Facebook and Instagram.

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Goulash for a Cold Winter’s Day 3 Jan 2020 12:59 PM (5 years ago)

Goulash and Dumplings

Goulash is similar to stew in ingredients. Once made, it simmers on the stove until you’re ready to add the delicious dumplings and serve. This is the perfect recipe for a cold winter’s day.

Here is how our family discovered Goulash and Dumplings…

One day this holiday, my hubby woke up and said to me, “One of us needs to go grocery shopping this morning.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“I’m making goulash today.”

“Oh?”

“Yup.”

“But… you haven’t made goulash before.”

“Nope.”

“OK.”

I’ve said this before, but my husband is a good cook. He has fabulous instincts in the kitchen, and can make things up on the fly. So, when he decided he was making goulash, I knew it would turn out.

I just didn’t know it would turn out this well. We have a local Hungarian restaurant that is famous for its goulash, and I personally think this is even better.

Now, to be fair, he didn’t just set up in the kitchen and start throwing ingredients into a pot. He read a few recipes to get different takes on the dish, then set to work making dinner for our family.

Inspired, my daughter and I volunteered as sous-chefs, prepping the vegetables, while hubby got the job of cutting the raw meat (ick). In the end, this is what we came up with.

For the main part of the Goulash recipe, you’ll need:

  1. Cook the onion and the garlic in oil over medium heat in a cast iron dutch oven until onion is translucent.
  2. Add meat meat to pot and continue cooking.
  3. Add the tomato paste, both types of paprika, Vegeta and stock.
  4. Stir in the carrots and potatoes. If necessary, add a bit more water until everything is submerged.
  5. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for two hours (or more).

About an hour before serving, prepare the Dumplings:

  1. Combine the above and knead in a stand mixer for five minutes.
  2. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rest for 45 minutes.
  3. Oil hands well (the dough is very sticky!) and roll into small balls.
  4. Drop balls into the pot of goulash (or you can boil them separately).
  5. Cook dumplings for 20-25 minutes.

And there you have it! Goulash ala hubby.

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Paint Your Outdoors with 16 Million Colours in Outdoor Lights 14 Aug 2019 6:27 PM (6 years ago)

Philips-Hue-Outdoor-Spotlight-5-PIN

DISCLAIMER ~ This post is sponsored by the Philips Hue. All opinions are my own. I only share content that excites me and I feel would be beneficial to Canadian Moms. If you have an outdoor space that could use some outdoor lights to jazz it up, I highly recommend you consider the Philips Hue system.

Parties, low-key nights and day to day outdoor ambiance. The Philip Hue Lily Outdoor Spot Light does it all; creating an ambient vibe for your home.

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy CHOICE and OPTIONS. Is that you?

I am often non-committal to something permanent or semi-permanent, unless there are options included.

When I learned about the Lily Outdoor Spot Lights from Philips Hue, and the fact that you can create what seems like unlimited combinations of colours with the 16 million colour combinations available, I was on board to test them out.

 

I was equally excited when I arrived home one day to the lights fully installed by my husband and son. What a treat! Their feedback was that they were quite simple to install. And they are semi-permanent because we have the small electrical box screwed into the side of our home. AND I’m ok with that because these lights are here to stay.

A light up front walkway.

We decided to install them in our front walk-way as we have had multiple spotlight options over the years, specifically during the winter months and it really excites me to be able to light it up year round.


This light setup is super convenient as it is connected to the Philips Bridge and therefore we can turn the lights on, off or change their colour from a quick touch in the app on our phones.


AND there are even timer options available – hello! Imagine this…you’re lying in bed when all of a sudden, you realize that you forgot to turn off the outdoor lights. This is the reality of Mom life, isn’t it? The solution involves rolling over, picking up your phone and opening the app to turn off the lights. It makes these outdoor lights even ore enticing, doesn’t it?

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Valentine Coupons for Kids 12 Feb 2019 10:06 AM (6 years ago)

Valentine Coupons

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is a romantic celebration. However, in our family, we celebrate it with all people that we love and that includes our children. The kids always love and appreciate fun and creative surprises on Valentine’s Day, so this year, I have created some Valentine Coupons that can printed and given as a gift.

If there is one thing that children love, it is having the ability to regain control. Often, due to rules and routines, children live life feeling like they are struggling to gain control. A simple gift like printable Valentine Coupons can give them the opportunity to gain some control (notice I say SOME) in a situation where they often do not experience much; like bedtime.

There are a few different ways you can give these coupons:

These coupons are available, right now for download (to be printed by you) for only $1 (plus applicable taxes). Included in this Valentine Coupons Package is also a blank template that you can use to add your own unique coupons, perhaps even for your partner!

Grab Your Valentine Coupons NOW!

I hope you and your family enjoy Valentine’s Day! I would LOVE to hear how your child reacted to their surprise gift of Valentine Coupons. Please feel free to email me any time!

Oh! And I almost forgot….many people enjoy baking for Valentine’s Day. Are you one of them? Try out our Sugar Cookie recipe and cut them into hearts!

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Run for the Hills FAST Once Your Home is Prepped for an Open House and You Have Kids! 3 Dec 2018 12:57 PM (6 years ago)

Run for the Hills FAST Once Your Home is Prepped for an Open House and You Have Kids!

DISCLAIMER ~ This post is sponsored by the Real Estate Council of Ontario. All opinions are my own. I only share content that excites me and I feel would be beneficial to Canadian Moms. If you are moving in the near future, having an Open House is inevitable. Planning for an Open House can be stressful. Planning for an Open House with children involved is even more challenging.

Run for the HILLS and FAST

… once your home is all ready and organized for an Open House. This is our number one tip! Why? Because we all know how quickly kids can make a mess. Right?

The biggest concern for many people when it comes to Open Houses, is privacy and security. Remember to talk over any concerns with your sales person. When you choose a sales person that you feel is a good fit for you, your concerns will be listened to and you will likely feel more at ease.

When you talk to your salesperson, ask how they will run the open house. It’s a best practice to have a salesperson accompany visitors at all times when they tour your home. You could also request that a second salesperson help out by greeting visitors at the door, and asking visitors to first provide identification and contact information, and then wait in the hallway until your primary representative is available to show them around.

You can also consider the following suggestions for your Open House:

Speaking of hazards – when you have young children, toys are a HUGE concern for Open Houses. As a parent, I KNOW first hand how much it hurts to step on random, unexpected Lego bits. One strategy (if it is possible) is to be the last person to leave. This means the rest of the family is waiting for you outside or in the car. Your job as the last person in the house is to do a quick and final walk through to ensure that everything is in order.

The other thing you can do when you have children is to give them each a job before you leave the house. Depending on their age, this can help them understand how much work is involved in preparation for an Open House. The intention here is that they will create less of a mess in between each Open House.

If your Open House is scheduled after a meal time, you might consider going out for that meal (or even take a picnic, weather pending of course). This means one less area of the home to clean last minute. Meal time with kids can be a very messy endeavour! While it may not save your wallet, it will definitely save on stress and mess.

For more tips about buying or selling a home, check out www.reco.on.ca/family.

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A Rockstar Fundraiser for Mental Health 31 Oct 2018 9:07 AM (6 years ago)

mental-health-awareness

My friend Judy Brunton in my world is a hero. She is a hero for Mental Health Awareness. This woman is known around her community as someone who is extremely passionate about raising awareness and funds for mental health. If you are local to the Greater Toronto Area and you would like to support one of her biggest fundraising efforts, you can attend her Annual Fundraiser for Mental Health this Saturday, November 3 from 10am – 4pm.

If you want to be inspired by someone who truly cares about people, her family and her community, get to know Judy a bit better by reading her story below.

I have been married to my husband for 16 years and we are the proud parents of 2 healthy boys. When I was growing up, I always wanted to help kids. This led me to fundraise for two different organizations.

Back in 2014 I was trying to find a different fundraiser to participate in since my then 7 year old son loved to ride his bike. I accidentally came across the Ride Don’t Hide GTA, which is put on by the Canadian Mental Health Association York and South Simcoe. Right then, I knew I had to do this.

My extremely strong sister was diagnosed when she was a teenager with her first mental illness. I admire her for her strength. My passion for mental health awareness started in honor of Laurie, my sister. I do this also in memory of my big brother Dave and my cousin Geoff – who both suffered and sadly passed away.

 

I fundraise for Mental Health Awareness for my family members who have been affected by Mental Health

My sisters, Laurie and Ally, my big brother Dave and my cousin Geoff
are my strength to keep doing what I am doing.

I commit to raise awareness and funds for youth on a daily basis. I want them to receive the help that my sister experienced as a teen. Everyone, especially youth, deserve the best mental health care and support they can get. They don’t always get this care from home, so the money I raise helps them get it elsewhere.

One of the largest initiatives that the money I raise goes towards is the MOBYSS youth mobility clinic. Youth aged 12-24 can go on this bus and get immediate help by speaking with a nurse practioner, child and youth worker, and a peer support specialist. Topics of support include: mental, physical and sexual health concerns. Thanks to the MOBYSS bus – we have been able to save a number of youth who were in an acute suicide state. Since ten people die by suicide in Canada each day, having these resources are so very crucial.

I raise awareness and funds by hosting a number of 3rd party fundraisers. Over the past 4 years, I have raised just over $60,000 – and am hoping to raise another $25K for the June 2019 Ride Don’t Hide. I have been setting my goal at $20K each year in order to raise money so we can have these programs (which are not free) offered to as many youth as possible.

My largest fundraiser I do every year has (for the past 3 years) brought in $6K alone

I am hoping that this years One Stop Shopping Event in York Region will bring in $8K.

The OSS for Youth Mental Health is a fundraiser I hold on the first Saturday of every November at the Newmarket Community Centre. This event includes over 40 vendors , a pampering area where guests will pay money to receive different services (hair, makeup, manicure, massage, photography, psychic and medium readings), a large silent auction area and more. This event gets better each year with the support of our community.

I know the importance isn’t just about raising money as awareness is so important too. I do feel that the money will help get the programs running and keep them running.

You can learn more here:
www.judybrunton.ca
www.mobyss.ca
www.cmha-yr.on.ca

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Looking to Move? Consider These Tips Before You Get Started 24 Oct 2018 4:24 PM (6 years ago)

move

DISCLAIMER ~ This post is sponsored by the Real Estate Council of Ontario. All opinions are my own. I only share content that excites me and I feel would be beneficial to Canadian Moms. If you are considering a move in the near future, get organized ahead of time with the following tips.

 

Is a move on your horizon?


If you’re a planner like me, you will want to get all of your ducks in a row at the beginning to avoid unnecessary stress.

They say that the experience of a move is up there in stress levels with a death in the family, starting a new job, marriage/divorce, and I believe it! There are so many things to take into consideration. It can be very overwhelming. AND once the ball starts to roll, things can move quite fast.

Growing up, my family only moved once, and to be honest, all I remember from that time was the excitement of moving into a new, bigger home. Ok, I also remember my Mom having us declutter and giveaway some of our toys. I had no idea all of the stress and preparation that my parents had on their plates (kudos to them for “hiding” that from me and my sister).

My parents moved again when I was in University, and let’s be honest…at that time, I was a little self involved.

Now, I find myself once again experiencing a move as my parents move out of their Summer Home/Cottage. A new chapter in their lives is beginning to unfold. And this time, as an adult, I am more in tune with the process; both on an emotional level as with the entire process.

There are so many things to consider BEFORE you put your house on the market and the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) has provided us with some tips to consider. A recent survey by RECO found that the majority of Ontarians who bought or sold a home in the last five years weren’t in the market for very long.

When you’re ready to make a move, stop and take a deep breath, create a plan and do your research before you enter the market. After all, you may begin by casually browsing listings only to stumble across the home of your dreams. And next, you suddenly find yourself making a major purchase faster than you had originally thought.

By being informed right from the start, you’ll have confidence in the decisions you are making, even if they do happen quickly.

These four tips will help you feel prepared for your upcoming move:

  1. Shop around when choosing a salesperson/broker BEFORE you shop around for a home.
    Real estate salespeople and brokerages vary widely in terms of experience, expertise and services provided, so meet with at least three salespeople before you sign an agreement.

    When you have a shortlist of representatives, ask each of them questions to determine which one is right for you:

    • Walk me through your real estate experience.
    • Describe your general approach to buying and selling, and how your approach will best suit my needs.
    • Tell me about the fees and commissions I’ll have to pay.
    • Which services does your brokerage provide, and are any of them included in our agreement?
    • How often will you provide me with progress updates, and how will we communicate?
    • Could you please provide me with some references?
  2. Look them up.
    Before you meet with any salespeople or brokers, be sure to look them up using the “Look up a real estate salesperson, broker or brokerage” search tool in the top right-hand corner of RECO’s website. It will tell you if they’re registered and in good standing, and if they have faced any disciplinary action.
  3. Read and understand everything.
    Whenever you’re presented with a document that requires a signature, read it and understand it thoroughly. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification, or request that your representative walk you through it, line by line. If you’re still unsure about something, consider asking your lawyer for advice. Two legal documents that you will be required to sign are an agreement with your real estate representative as well as when you are buying or selling your home.
  4. Be an active participant in the process.
    Your salesperson is a knowledgeable resource who can help you make informed decisions, and you should always remember that you’re the one in the driver’s seat. You have a responsibility to perform your own due diligence: asking questions, understanding any required paperwork, conducting your own research (when necessary), and being an active participant through every step.

I love using this saying, because it is important for all of us to remember during different times in our lives:

 

You are not alone.

 

When was the last time you moved? Did you have any ah-ha moments during the process that you would like to share with others?

Remember Moms…we are a community, helping and learning together.

For more tips about buying or selling a home, check out www.reco.on.ca/family.

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Should I Use a Dehumidifier in My Home? 17 Sep 2018 2:44 AM (7 years ago)

dehumidifier

DISCLAIMER ~ This post is sponsored by LG Electronics Canada Inc. All opinions are my own. I only share content that excites me and I feel would be beneficial to Canadian Moms. If you have a basement and/or if you have allergies, you will want to learn why you should consider using a dehumidifier in your home.

I remember when I lived at home with my parents, their basement smelled rather musty and everything that was in it did too. There were some important keepsakes and items that we actually had to dispose of because of their smell. I didn’t want this for our new home, and I knew that I had to take immediate action in prevention when we moved.

A dehumidifier was the only long-term answer for me.

Dust mites, mold and mildew thrive in humid environments. And I do not do well when my allergies flare up, therefore with all of this heat we’ve been having, combined with the time of year, I know how important it is to ensure that I continue to regulate the humidity levels and air quality in my home to keep my allergies at bay.

Allergies are no fun!

The stuffy nose and itchy, watery eyes are what drive me CRAZY! I have a difficult time getting anything done with focus when I’m suffering from allergy symptoms. Not only that, I scare my family when I have a sneeze attack because my sneezes are a wee bit outrageous. Mom sneezes are the worse, so I’ve been told.

Short Term AND Long Term Benefits of Using a Dehumidifier:

I received an LG PuriCare Dehumidifier to test out in our home.

Full disclosure is that I didn’t use it in my basement as the unit is rather heavy and it was a temporary fixture in our home. However, I need to admit to you that I really would like to keep this unit as its features are much better than the one we own and it also seems to grab moisture at a faster rate.

While the unit is rather tall, it is also quite slim so it doesn’t take up much space. I love that it comes with wheels attached that make it easy to move around. The LG PuriCare Dehumidifier is available in two sizes, 55 and 70 pints, based on the size of your space.

One of my favourite features of this unit is the Power Failure Auto Restart function. I can tell you that there have been a few times when we have gone away for a couple of days, only to find out that our dehumidifier wasn’t running due to a power blip or failure. Frustrating!

The water tank is a decent size and has a VERY stable handle (which is a big pro for me!). It also has the ability to attach a drainage hose if desired.

The digital controls are easy to use, in fact I didn’t even feel like I needed to read the manual, BONUS! What busy Mom has time for that?

Overall, you and your home will function better when you use a dehumidifier, this is a small appliance that in my world is a non-negotiable item. . To learn more about LG products, visit LG.ca.

Do you own a dehumidifier?

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Should We Homeschool Our Children? 4 Sep 2018 4:35 PM (7 years ago)

Homeschool

Last year my husband decided to move. One that would take us out of the school district we currently lived in. For me, it was the school board that I had taught within. It was an education system that I knew VERY well, and, when you have children with special needs, that’s a HUGE asset for a parent. Little did I know that our move was going to be the final push that I needed to make the decision to homeschool our children.

I went to work connecting with other parents (of both autistic and neurotypical children) over Facebook to see what their experiences had been with the board we would be living in. The answers were not good. Feeling discouraged about our prospects, I was at a loss regarding what to do next.

We all want what’s best for our children:

During my online hunt for information, I noticed a number of groups dedicated to homeschooling. Something I had always (secretly) wished to do, I was happy to see a thriving community so close to home. Curious about what would be my reality, I reached out to a seasoned homeschooling parent I knew. She gave me the lay of the land and the pros and cons. She left me brimming with inspiration. At this point, I knew that this was the best decision for us.

A Candid Conversation: To Homeschool or Not

The next step was to have the discussion with my husband. As I worked from home already, his biggest concerns were:

Why can’t they go to school like we did? I went through everything I had learned from my conversations with parents in the area. While some of the issues were a risk in our old school, it was not the prevailing norm that it would be in our new board.

Would I have the time to homeschool effectively and run a business? This was a valid question. We cannot afford to be a one-income household. Additionally, I am a better parent BECAUSE I work, and my husband knows that. But I was willing to make sacrifices in timelines to make this possible. Nothing had to be tomorrow. Consistent progress in the right direction, at any speed, would still get me where I wanted to go.

What about the other naysayers?

“What about socialization?” they asked. So important for every child, it is especially important for a high-functioning autistic child who yearns for social connection and acceptance, but doesn’t know how to make it happen. Traditionally, my daughter struggles to initiate play in age appropriate ways, maintain conversations and develop friendships. As this type of social communication isn’t taught in our schools in a way the autistic mind can understand, interaction would happen that left her frustrated and confused. I wouldn’t hear about them until later through her limited understanding, making it hard for me to support her.

Being part of our homeschooling community has allowed us to meet a group of like-minded families. We have been able to have meaningful experiences where my daughter can practice her skills and grow without losing friends or being labelled the weird kid. We have been able to scaffold and explicitly teach the socialization skills and habits that Penny never would’ve learned.

A reflection on our first year as a homeschool family:

One year has passed, and my children are flourishing. We use what they are interested in an entry point to bigger conversations and skill growth. We chunk learning throughout the day with adequate sensory breaks built in, something that is not available to us in the traditional school setting.

But, the biggest win for us has been watching our children become responsible for their own learning, make decisions from themselves (no home work fights here), and have access to the resources and expertise that will be relevant to their future. All thanks to the decision that we made to homeschool our children.

We haven’t looked back.

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