Layout Image

Archive for Review

IMG_5559
Our first evening in Destin, FL we ate at La Famiglia. To start we had some very yummy bread and olive oil with spices. Our next course a fresh salad which prepped our appetite for fettuccine alfredo and penne pasta with meat sauce. I love alfredo and this was SO yummy! We then got a yummy palette cleanser before ending with talipia. I choose a yummy cream filled cannoli. If you want italian food right on the harbor…go there!

The Emerald Grande hosted us for breakfastI choose the Grande Vista Sunrise with scrambled eggs, bacon, and wheat toast. Super yummy and the bacon was so crispy!

IMG_5585

If you want a yummy family friendly restaurant on the Harbor for lunch… try Harry T’s in HarborWalk Village. I had a grilled Chicken salad. It was huge and more then I could eat. The prices are great and the view of the harbor is awesome…you can sit indoor with the outdoor feel…windows open and breeze blowing in.

IMG_5571

Jim ‘N Nick’s took care of our meal on the pirate ship. They catered BBQ, potato salad , cole slaw, and the best homemade desserts I have ever had! It was amazing! They have an actual restaurant not far from the harbor. If you want a hearty meal…go there!

Starbucks is right on the Harbor and they delivered yummy coffee and scones, muffins, and sandwiches to our rooms. You know their quality is awesome and it was great having a familiar place to stop in and refuel on the Harbor.

The Emerald Grande also serves lunch and dinner. I had a golden pecan fried chicken salad. It was so yummy! The bread and sauce before was so yummy and fresh! I always think that Salad prepared by someone else is GOURMET! This truly was!

The final meal I had while in Destin, FL was Crab Island Cantina. This was a lively happenin’ place! Tons of live music and dancing! They have the yummiest thin chips with very flavorful salsa! I ordered the fajita taco salad and it was HUGE! The prices were great and I couldn’t even eat half of it…it was so tasty!

There are tons of restaurants in HarborWalk Village and on the rest of the island. Destin is a family friendly destination! Read more posts about Destin here!

Photos by Kim from What's That Smell

Photos by Kim from What’s That Smell

If you are looking for Family Fun things to do while you visit Destin, FL then you will want to check out this list of fun!

Water Taxi: To get to the beautiful sandy beaches, you will need to take a Water Taxi. This runs from 11:AM until early morning. (Don’t quote me, but I think they said it was around $10 for unlimited rides a day…)

Destin Snorkel: They offer Snorkel, Snuba and Dolphin Tours. I personally went on a Snorkel tour with them and they were awesome! Very friendly and professional. They provide everything you need to snorkel or snuba and the beach that they take you to has beautiful think sand. This is where I also Kayaked. I am not sure if they provided them or if someone else did, but the water was clear and perfect for snorkeling and kayaking as well!

Kitty Hawk Kites: They offer several fun adventures! I was planning to Paddle board with them but unfortunately the time slot that was scheduled for this didn’t work out due to very strong winds. The guide was extremely friendly and I know I would have had a great time on this excursion. They have a store on the harbor in Destin that is full of their awesome kites! I took a small one home to my 8 yr old who LOVES it! They are quality kites in fun packaging!

Boogie Water Sports Jet Ski Rentals: This is where we got our jet ski rentals from! Be prepared to show your Drivers License and have it on hand when you go on your jet ski. Getting one rented and playing was super easy. I was not a huge dare devil but did get it up to around 35 miles an hour. That was plenty fast for me! We did see dolphins while we were out on the jet skis! Looks like they do Parasailing as well!

Pirate Cruise: Climb aboard the pirate cruise and enjoy the fun banter of the night. Participate in dancing and minute to win it games. Definately something out of the box and fun! (Dress up for added fun!)

Shopping: There are tons of shops on the Harbour that you can shop at! I loved shopping in Del Sol. I got nail polish that changes in the sun! It’s so cool! My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Zip Line: They are putting in a new Zipline that will be open in June 2013. I hate that we missed out on that. I do love zip lining!

Kayaking: Destin Snorkel also provided kayaking for us. It was super easy. I had never done it before but would do it again in a heart beat. You really don’t need any instruction to do this…just hop in and get to work paddling!

I also saw water trampolines and other fun things to do on the Harbour.

*Several of the items listed above were provided for the Brandcation trip,  as a way for us to review. All opinions are my own!

 

61VOYfkG0KL._SY300_

I have three really big Mickey Mouse fans in my house! They were very excited to review Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for Crystal Mickey on DVD. This DVD has four extra episodes of Disney Junior’s Emmy®-nominated series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” (which is over 2 hours of content!) and a FREE Adventure Activity Map plus Stickers.

In this DVD, you will join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto in the newest Clubhouse crusade. The legendary Crystal Mickey goes missing, so Mickey and friends go on an adventure to save the Clubhouse from losing its magic. The Greedy Plunderin’ Pete is the one who snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Don’t worry, Mickey didn’t let that happen! Of course, he needed our help along side the Mouseketools so he can journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. Of course, Pete had some tricky traps!

You will find this in stores starting on May 21, 2013 or you can order on Amazon. Preorder now and you will have it at your home on the 21st!

My kids highly recommend this DVD. They said that it was fun, interactive, and they loved helping solve the mystery.

0 Categories : Review, Review/Giveaway

Screen Shot 2013-05-14 at 9.03.01 PM

Totsy currently has a sale that you will want to check out if you have kiddos! My oldest is 8 and I feel like I am constantly fighting her to take better care of herself! I was recently sent TooFruit, a sweetly scented and fun skincare line for kids. I gave it to Chloe and she LOVED the “kid” smells!

Screen Shot 2013-05-14 at 9.02.23 PM

I buy anti-aging items for me because that is what MY skin needs. My kids do NOT need that for their skin! This is why TooFruit is such a great product! It’s make for kids and is natural and organic! TooFruit has a Filmo-Protect Complex to keep kids’ skin hydrated and protected.

Head over to Totsy and grab it while it’s on sale! Prices start at just $5.99. We have been using it for about a week and I’ve taught my daughter that a dot does a lot…so we haven’t used much! I think it will last quite a while and you will love the fresh fruit scents!

*I was sent TooFruit products to try for this review as a Totsy Mom Blogger. All opinions are my own. 

0 Categories : Deals, Online, Review, Review/Giveaway

photo-8

I would say that I wear work out gear about 80% of the time. With that being said I am always on the look out for fun, adorable yet practical workout clothes! I picked out the two fun items from Ellie that you see above and am very happy with both! The top is the Black Widow Tank and it’s very comfy! I like that it’s a longer top and covers my hips! I noticed that it doesn’t roll up or work it’s way up as I run…unlike some other brands that I have bought! I like that a lot!

I decided to get fun pants and got the To Dye For Capri pants! They are so fun and very comfy! I felt like they supported me while also wicking the moisture away. I wore them to zumba and was able to move and shake with confidence. (I love looking cute at Zumba…silly I know!)

Overall, I think Ellie workout clothes are very well made and are made from quality materials. Ellie items come in sizes XS-L. I normally wear a size 6-8 and could easily fit in a size medium.

Click here to check out their adorable new Coral Crush line!

Ellie offers women a chic new line in women’s fitness apparel. Save 20% Now.

Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for more info!

*I was sent the two items above for review! All opinions are my own.

0 Categories : Review, Review/Giveaway

If you follow me on Twitter then you saw a TON of pictures from my trip this past weekend to Destin, Florida. I was on a Brandcation trip (much like my Pigeon Forge trip last October!) where I got to experience all that Destin has to offer! I love doing these trips as I get so much great info and content to bring back and share with my readers! I can’t wait to take my family back to Destin! If you are planning a Family Vacation to Destin, Florida then you won’t want to miss this review!

We stayed at the beautiful Emerald Grande. You can find them on Facebook here. It was so beautiful! We had breath taking views of the ocean and it has everything you need, right there on property! We were in a 3 bedroom condo. One King, One Queen, then bunk beds! Plenty of room for everyone to spread out! The kitchen was super night and the bathrooms made me want to build a new house! They were spacious and beautiful! There were TWO balconies to enjoy and we sat outside almost every night because the weather was so perfect! (You can get a 1, 2 or 3 bedroom condo!)

From my room, we had a pool view. I also had a view of the area used for weddings and actually saw a few of the weddings that were there over the weekend. The parking is FREE, which is great as most places charge for this. Also once you are at Emerald Grande, you will not need a car! You can get to so many eating, shopping, play areas without it! Since Emerald Grande is RIGHT on the harbor, you can enjoy all of the water play that you want! Starting next month they will have fireworks from the pier each week…and I know you don’t want to miss out on that!

They have an awesome, YUMMY, restaurant right inside the hotel as well! I think you can order room service as well, but we ate breakfast and lunch both in the restaurant and it was so GOOD! The breakfast was a full, meat/potatoes/eggs type breakfast! YUMMY! At lunch I had the best salad. It was so fresh and was pecans were a great added bonus to give it the perfect flavor and crunch. I can’t speak highly enough of this restaurant! Very quick service as well!

Make sure to follow my new few posts about Destin, because I will talk more about all of the fun things that you can do there!

(Thank you to Momdot for the photos in this post and for planning this fun adventure!)

1 Categories : Review, Review/Giveaway

Screen Shot 2013-04-28 at 11.54.54 PM

Graeter’s ice cream is making this summer a little sweeter with the addition of its newest flavor, Black Cherry Chocolate Chip. The new flavor is now available in Kroger Stores in Dallas.

The new Black Cherry Chocolate Chip, is all-natural black cherry ice cream made with heavy cream, pure cane sugar and loaded with fresh black cherries and Graeter’s signature dark chocolate chunks. (The chocolate is SOOO smooth and YUMMY!)

My kids love the cherry and chocolate combo and I think we have a new favorite in our house! Graeter’s is made with quality ingredients and once you try it you will be HOOKED!

(We were sent some of this new yummy flavor to review! All opinions are our own!)

0 Categories : Review, Review/Giveaway

Chick-fil-A is helping you make today #FreshMade, by creating new menu options that you can feel good about! They are introducing 3 new premium salads and an improved wrap all under 430 calories made with premium ingredients.

GIVEAWAY: Wanna win two coupons to take your honey or friend out to try out the new salads? Leave a comment on which of the 4 you would like to try most! You can get an additional entry by taking the Starter Quiz and leaving your results in the comments as well. This giveaway will end on 5/20 at 5PM CST and is open to US Residents only, no PO Boxes allowed.

See how the salads are made here!

Disclosure: I am working with Chick-fil-A, and Chick-fil-A supplied these materials to you me. All opinions are my own.

Screen Shot 2013-04-28 at 11.03.53 PM

Cooking with Bertolli Olive Oil is not only easy, but it’s awesome so yummy and light! This is one of my families favorite recipes and it’s so simple!

Simply wash and cut up your fresh veggies. Put them in your favorite baking dish, then drizzle Bertolli Olive oil over the top and bake at 400 for 45 minutes.

Screen Shot 2013-04-28 at 11.04.07 PM I cover mine for the first 30-40 minutes, then leave it uncovered for the last 10 minutes until desired color.

Screen Shot 2013-04-28 at 11.04.19 PM

Print this coupon to save $1/1 Bertolli Olive Oil. The coupon is redeemable a BJ’s Wholesale club!

Check out this other awesome recipe with Bertolli Olive oil!

Chef Fabio Viviani’s Creamy Apple Walnut Chicken Salad Recipe

Serve: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
1 Tbsp. Bertolli® Extra Light™ Tasting Olive Oil
¼ cup lowfat sour cream
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. stone ground mustard
2 apples, cored and cubed in bite-size pieces
2 ribs celery, thinly sliced diagonally
½ cup chopped Walnuts
1 Tbsp. chopped chives

Season chicken with salt and ground black pepper. Heat Bertolli Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken, turning once, about 10 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Cool chicken completely and cut into bite-size pieces.

Combine sour cream, mustard, and lemon juice in medium bowl. Stir in chicken, apples, celery, walnuts and chives. Serve cold. Serve, if desired, with crusty Italian bread or over greens.

GIVEAWAY: Want to win some Bertolli Olive Oil? Leave a comment on this blog post with how you use Olive Oil in your house! If you have a simple recipe, I would love to see that too! Three will win! Giveaway ends on 5/10 at 5PM CST.

Follow Bertolli on Facebook to keep up with their latest and greatest news!

Screen Shot 2013-04-21 at 10.15.39 PM
Fantastic Sams has an awesome $10 OFF a Cut and Full Highlight Service coupon right now on Facebook! With summer around the corner, you might thinking about a cut that is easy to manage, and if you live in Texas, you are thinking about what is not going to be HOT for the summer! I know a lot of people who also do highlights for the summer as well. I can’t do them as my hair is so dark and the grey shows up too quickly. I do color my hair every 4-6 weeks and a trim always makes it feel healthy!

I was given some Fantastic Sam’s Shampoo and conditioner to use and I LOVE the lavender mint scent. I love the salon quality, yet not feeling like I would break the budget to buy and use these hair car products! My family also got to check out a local Fantastic Sam’s Salon. Hubby and my 4 yr old went for haircuts. They got in quickly with a call a head appointment. Since it was my hubbys first time to go, he got a wash and cut for just $10.99! Such a great price. Getting my hair washed by someone else is one of my favorite things to do. I love how relaxing it is and how much it helps me to have confidence about my new cut.

Try out your local Fantastic Sam’s and don’t forget to print a coupon for $10 off cut and full highlights.

GIVEAWAY: Want to win some hair products and a $25 giftcard to your local Fantastic Sams? Leave a comment on this blog post with which service you would like to try there and I will pick a winner on April 30th at 5PM CST. (You will need to have a salon close by to enjoy this prize, so please check to make sure you do by clicking here!)

*I was given hair care products and a gift certificate to try out this salon for my review. All opinions are my own and are honest.