All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel
Winter in Florida is the best. The temperature is great, it’s slightly windy, there is no rain. I certainly love summer, but Florida in the winter is just as wonderful. Maybe it’s because I am still enjoying all the ‘SNOW IS HITTING THE NORTHEAST HARDDDD!!!!! weather forecasts and I am still loving my snow free life. I’m determined to make the most out of it all and we are getting out hike on now!
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Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s Council Oak restaurant hosts a ‘Social Hour’ that is putting Happy Hour on its head with amazing shareable dishes & elegantly made classic cocktails. Come, be social, leave full!
I was invited to enjoy dinner at Council Oak with other Tampa Bay bloggers to try out their new “Social Hour” menu. This will fast become the place to be to celebrate happy hour at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.
Every time I tell people that I am going out to Council Oak, I get “ooohs” and “aaaahs”. Its reputation is well deserved because of their dedication for creating notable meals and well- crafted drinks. Any time you go, you’ll be in for a real experience.
I recently enjoyed a dinner at Council Oak in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa. I was there with a wonderful group of fellow Tampa Bay based bloggers. The intimate group allowed us to converse about must dine at Tampa restaurants, the crazy things our kids do, and how to best use credit card points to allow you to travel more. Of course, the conversations were great, but the star of the show was the incredible food and drinks.
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These Chocolaty Toffee Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies are the perfect cookie to satisfy your chocolate and toffee cravings. You won’t be able to have just one!
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Are you ready for Christmas!?!?! It’s one week away!! I sorta feel prepared but I am sure I am forgetting 500 things. It always happens.
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Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats are a fun holiday treat that tastes just like hot cocoa and has mini marshmallows dotting throughout the yummy treat.
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We went to our first Christmas party this past weekend. I was so ready to hang with friends, get dressed up, and have some fun. Woooohooooo!!!!
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A few weeks ago, while Autumn was on VPK Thanksgiving break, we headed over to Disney Springs with my friend Aliya and her 2 kids for a day. We all wanted to check out the Christmas Tree Trail!
The Christmas Tree Trail started in 2016 and since then has grown with more trees. There are so many beautiful ornaments, lights, garlands, and tree toppers. So many perfect photo ops because there is something cute and magical everywhere you look!
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Flutternutter Bars- The classic sandwich that has been created into a delicious dessert. You’ll love these bars, especially the marshmallow buttercream!
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Florida has been experiencing winter this week!
It’s basically been unbearable in the mornings! It’s been in the low 40’s!!!! OMG!!! It’s the end of the world!!!
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You’ll want to run away with the Super American Circus after watching a fun performance filled with sky high stunts, acrobatics, and death defying acts!
Thank you to Super American Circus for inviting us to enjoy a great afternoon at the circus.
To celebrate Autumn’s 5th birthday, we went to the the circus for an afternoon of high flying fun.
The Super American Circus was in town before setting off on their 2019 tour across the US. They previously sold out their inaugural tour of Hawaii where they left everyone speechless with their high flying acts.
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2018 was a wonderful year for new Cookbooks! This round up of 15 cookbooks is perfect for everyone, of every skill level. Something for everyone!
Gift giving can be tricky at times, but with this list of 15 Must Give Cookbooks For Christmas 2018, you’ll be all set for everyone on your list.
There have been so many new cookbooks published in 2018. So many scrumptious recipes, drool worthy pictures, and wonderful story telling in each of these cookbooks. Famous chefs, food critics, actresses, and awesome bloggers have all created wonderful collections of their favorite recipes.
Everyone from your mothers, fathers, boss, cousin, and the guy down the road will love to get a new cookbook. You’ll just need to find the one that is perfect for them. This round of up cookbooks in 2018 is sure to have something for everyone.
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Move over Ben & Jerry’s, who ever you gift this to will be on their way to creating their own ice cream empire. The recipes are fun, creative, and, most importantly, delicious.
Gifting this cookbook along with an ice cream maker will make you the gift winner!
I know we all fall into a dinner time ruts every now and then, so this will help everyone get out of it and get a fun, easy dinner on the table. Recipes are ready in under an hour and can be prepared in advanced as well to make week nights a breeze
My blogging buddy created this new cookbook of untraditional desserts that are fun mash-up’s of your favorite things, like Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding and Blueberry Muffin Cheesecake. This book is great for bakers of all skill levels.
Make the Flutternutter Bars- to die for!!!
Chrissy Teigen is the best. Her first book was awesome, and this one is just as awesome- if not better. There are creative recipes that mash up flavors that will become family favorites in no time. Her banana bread became famous on Twitter, and it is clear to see why- so incredible! My favorite section is “Thai Mom” that features recipes from Chrissy’s mom, Pepper. Everyone will love the easy, flavorful recipes that are comforting for every kind of craving.
The Austin Cookbook is basically a love letter to Austin as it is a wonderful collection of recipes from the cities best chefs. Stories, recipes, and bright beautiful photos adorn this cookbook. It will make whoever opens this to book a flight to Austin ASAP!!!
Tiffani Thiessen graduated from Bayside to the Cooking Channel. She created a wonderful cookbook filled with recipes that every one will love. Everyone will want to gather around the table, pull up a chair, and dig into recipes like enchilada, pies, deviled eggs, and stuffed french toast. This book is great for everyone as it features fun Movie Night recipes for the kids to An All Dressed Up Cocktail Hour that is delightfully adults only.
Joanna does it all and now so can you! Or at least you can make up her family favorite recipes. Grab a Demo Day shirt and you’ll be a hit with any fan of Fixer Upper.
Better Homes and Garden has outdone themselves with this latest edition of their New Cookbook. It’s jam packed full of recipes that everyone will love. All recipes are accompanied with beautiful photos. Plus, there are plenty of informative guides that break down basics as well as more complicated processes. Perfect for everyone who is hungry.
Air Fryer’s are the new Instant Pot. It’s this seasons must get kitchen gaget. This cookbook has 100 recipes that you won’t believe were all cooked in an air fryer. Of course, the chicken wings are wonderful, but you won’t believe that you can create desserts in there too!!
Reese created a beautiful life style cookbook that will have you smiling along with her silly stories. Whip up some breakfast while you wear your hot rollers. Be Southern fabulous.
Gaby’s infectious personality shines through with this cookbook. Her Everyday California Food is all about having something tasty to eat. Recipes like Chimichurri Cauliflower Rice Bowl with Grilled Fish, Taco Skillet Bake, and Street Corn Pizza will transport you to the coast. Ingredients are simple but the end result are breathtakingly beautiful.
The perfect mixology book for long summer afternoons hanging by the lake or at the beach drinking the afternoon away. The low-alcohol drinks allow you to enjoy a full day of drinking, but without the heavy buzz and hangover the next day. This would be a great gift for your favorite hostess, along with some glasses or a bottle of their favorite spirit.
This would pair perfectly with the cocktails book, because you always need a snack when you are enjoying a drink. Beautiful boards arranged with veggies, fruit, meats, crackers, and spreads will make you hungry flipping through the book. Gift with a large wooden cutting board.
This is fun for the person in your life who is addicted to watching those crazy food videos and scrolling through Instagram for food pictures. The food and pictures are drool worth. Most of the over 275 recipes are cheat day worthy, but always fun.
The follow up to their original River Cafe Cookbook (which I have and love!), celebrates the 30th anniversary of the iconic London restaurant. This cookbook revisits the Italian recipes that became famous and adds new ones. Mixed among the recipes are snap shots sharing the history.
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Have a great holiday season gifting wonderful cookbooks!
Leave a comment below telling me what you are looking forward to this holiday season for your chance to win a copy of Tiffani Theissen’s Pull up a Chair!
Ends 12/7/18, midnight.
Slow Cooker Almond Joy Chocolate Clusters are great to whip up for homemade holiday gifts. Making them is basically hands off as you use a slow cooker!
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It’s time to get baking cooking, making candy, and decking halls. Fa la la la la, la la la la.
I’m sure that you are just as stuffed as we are from Thanksgiving, but I’m still ready to cook up a storm. I’m not running out looking for the best deals today. I don’t do all that Black Friday Hoopla. I’m just going to get cozy with some cookbooks and plan out all that baking I am going to be doing this Holiday Season.
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This Easy Classic Thanksgiving Pecan Pie will be the hit of your dessert table. Everyone will love a slice, and you’ll love that it is no fuss baking!
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What is your favorite pie for Thanksgiving? I LOVE pecan pie.
I am basically only looking forward to Thanksgiving this year so that I can enjoy a BIG slice. And some roasted brussels sprouts.
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