family night idea
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Family Night Idea – Love is Contagious (she: Veronica)

ByVeronica

Even though Valentine’s Day is over, the month of love is still going strong!! I thought it would be fun to share a quick and easy Family Night about love. Of course we love our families, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded! There is great power in loving each other. When love is shown, there tends to be more patience, forgiveness comes more easily and there will always be more joy in our home. Just by loving each other. SO EASY…yet so hard sometimes. I thought it would be fun to explain how contagious it is when we choose to love. It rubs off on everyone. Even your cranky teenagers can’t escape the effects of love. So…on to our Family Night!

Sunday Sunshine ~ Week 5

Sunday Sunshine ~ Week 5

ByMariel

So all week, I was trying to decide what topic I wanted to share today for Sunday Sunshine. We talked about some really great things in church, but I wasn’t quite sure if they were what I wanted to share. Then last night, I was thumbing through Instagram and noticed a ‘follow friday’ suggestion. That’s when someone on Instagram recommends another Instagrammer to follow… on Friday. Anyway, one of the suggestions was this gal, I shall not name, but dang… her photos were beautiful. SHE is beautiful. Her home is beautiful, her clothes are high-end, and on and on. Literally, everything was picture perfect.

It was sorta… fascinating.

Chocolate Chai Banana Bread - An incredibly indulgent banana bread loaded with chocolate, chai, and bits of caramel filled chocolate chips
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Chocolate Chai Banana Bread (she: Jen from Baked by an Introvert)

ByJen Lynn

Jen from Baked by an Introvert back with another great recipe for you! I am a huge fan of baking with bananas. Seriously, it seems like I create one banana inspired recipe a week. From muffins to cupcakes to cookies, I’m hooked on all things banana.

I had some over ripe bananas on my counter so I decided to whip up a super moist bread. An incredibly indulgent banana bread loaded with chocolate, chai, and bits of caramel filled chocolate chips.

Cooking with Kids - Pizza Mac 'n' Cheese
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Cooking with Kids: Pizza Mac ‘n’ Cheese (she: Nicky)

ByNicky

Given the opportunity to get messy, dip fingers in and lick the spoon, I think most kids love cooking. Cooking with kids is so important because it not only teaches them important skills, but being involved often gets them more excited to eat meals.

My kids – Gracey aged 8 and Lewis aged 5 – have been making kitchen creations since they were toddlers.

I told Gracey I needed her to help in creating a lovely dinner for ‘Or So She Says’ and she jumped off the sofa and immediately started rummaging through her growing collection of cook books. Click on through to see what she decided to make for you today:

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad (she: Sam)
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BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad (she: Sam)

BySam

Since becoming a mom, saving money on healthy meals has been a huge part of my stay-at-home job. The most effective way I have found to save big is through pairing coupons with great deals at my local store – 10 for $10 sales are my very favorite! Most of these sales, are generally on canned goods which has really challenged me to get creative with the things I make; because making healthy things that my family will actually eat is top of the priority list.

To make sure I’m using up my sale items, I have given myself a goal of creating at least one meal a week with mostly canned pantry items. Generally, I make these meals on Thursday: when my husband works late, and I’m too exhausted after a day with the boys to spend a lot of time cooking!

easy nutella ganache
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Easy Nutella Ganache Recipe (she: Susan)

BySusan

Did you know world Nutella Day was February 5th? You’re not alone, neither did I!

My children love Nutella so I’m always looking for new ways to use it. Typically, I use it alone on a sandwich or with peanut butter. I created an easy Nutella ganache recipe to dip some favorite snacks in. We dipped strawberries, animal crackers and pretzels- all were a hit. Ganache can be made with a few simple ingredients. One note- it doesn’t harden like tempered chocolate; it’s a bit softer. You should refrigerate to set it before serving.

Hearty Chicken Stew w/ Butternut Squash & Quinoa ~ Olives from Spain
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Hearty Chicken Stew w/ Butternut Squash & Quinoa ~ Olives from Spain

ByRebecca

Olives are one of my favorite foods! Maybe it’s because of my Greek ancestory, or maybe it’s because olives are just plain awesome. They’re naturally sugar-free and have lots of good monounsaturated fats. They’re delicious in salads, soups, spreads, or just by themselves. I love the variety of colors, flavors and how healthy they are….

traveling with kids
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Traveling with Kids Tips (she: Liz)

ByLiz

Hi there! It’s Liz again, from Liz on Call. My family and I just recently returned home from a trip to Disneyland! We had such a fun time and I can’t wait to see what Disney will reveal in celebration of their 60th Anniversary. I have 3 young children, and if you’ve even had to go on a road trip with one child, you know it has potential for disaster. Today I’m excited to be sharing some fun tips for traveling with kids.

This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is a favorite Olive Garden copycat recipe. It's a perfect winter soup that's easy-to-make and family friendly! www.orsoshesays.com #chickensoup #gnocchi #olivegarden #chickengnocchisoup #soup
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Chicken Gnocchi Soup ~ Olive Garden Knock-Off!

ByMariel

Maybe it’s because I’ve had a cold since… oh, Christmas. Really! Is this happening to anyone else?? The never-ending sickness? Right when I think it’s starting to get better, the next day it’s worse than before. Sooooo annoying. Anyway, I want soup for every meal of the day right now. The hotness feels so good on my throat and warms my chills. Mmmmm…. soup.

One of my favorite places to get soup is at Olive Garden. You could probably relate, I’m sure. They have some great ones! My latest fave has been their Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

Leprechaun Bark Treat Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day Craft and Free Printable (she: Jen)

ByJennifer from PinkWhen

Hello again! It’s Jen from PinkWhen back to share another fun printable and craft idea. St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite little days to give gifts and treats. There are so many fun ideas to share, and today I thought I would share a St. Patrick’s Day printable that is simple and easy for your little ones to make and share with their friends at school. You could use this free printable for any little gift you’d like for St. Patrick’s Day, so hopefully this idea gets the creative juices flowing. This is so simple to make, just add the printable and it’s all complete.

Sunday Sunshine ~ Week 4
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Sunday Sunshine ~ Week 4

ByMariel

Happy Sunday! Last week at church, I took GREAT notes… at least, I thought so. But, I lost them. Lost my whole dang note book. Grrr… So, rather than guessing at my favorite quotes, I’m going to share another great video about making the best of situations in life and a favorite scripture that was shared in it. Sometimes it’s fun to share these things anyway. I hope you enjoy your day!