Month: November 2015

Christmas Appetizer: Tortilla Roll-Ups

This post is sponsored by Mezzetta.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s the holiday season and I sure do love to eat good food during this time of year.  We just finished Thanksgiving and I’ve got a little “turkey hangover” going on.  I love spending time with family and friends.  We also get to eat some of my FAVORITE foods during this time too!

One of my favorite recipes is tortilla roll-ups.  My Mom used to make these for everyone to snack on because you know it takes a good while for the turkey to cook.  You may plan to eat at noon and actually eat at 2 pm.  That’s why it’s nice to have appetizers and finger foods to snack on.

Here’s my recipe for Tortilla Roll-Ups:

Ingredients

  • 1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese
  • 1 package bacon flavored cream cheese or bacon bits
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
  • 1/4 C. chopped Mezzetta (Petite Blend) olives, pitted and chopped (These have great flavor, and the red and green colors are extra festive!)
  • 5 flour tortillas (10 inches), room temperature

Directions

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, olives, bacon, green chilies, & sour cream.

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Spread over tortillas.

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Roll up tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate over night or until firm.

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Unwrap and cut into 1-inch slices.

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Serve with salsa

Find inspiration for your holiday entertaining and enter for a chance to win the holiday memories sharing pack HERE.

  • Grand Prize (1) – Instant Print Digital Camera plus an Ultimate Olive Lover’s Gift Basket including Mezzetta Olives, Olive Spoon, Cutting Board, Olive Bowl, Cocktail Napkins and Recipe Card.
  • Runner Up Prizes (10) – Ultimate Olive Lover’s Gift Basket including Mezzetta Olives, Olive Spoon, Cutting Board, Olive Bowl, Cocktail Napkins and Recipe Card.

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What’s your favorite recipe during the holidays?  I’d love for you to share 🙂

ICE! 2015 at The Gaylord Texan #VisitICE2015

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We have enjoyed ICE! every year for the past few years here in our home town of Grapevine, TX.  I can’t even put it into words how wonderful it is…but I shall try.

Nothing puts me in a more festive mood than visiting ICE! at the Gaylord Texan.  There is something about all the lights and decorations that you just can’t help but walk around with a wide smile on your face 🙂

This year we were invited to the Gaylord for the first annual Blogger Fam event.  It was so fun and we got a behind the scenes look at how ICE! is created each year.  There is a different theme every year…this year’s theme was “Christmas Around the World”.

You can see our previous visits to ICE! HERE & HERE  & check out the themes over the years.

I’ll let most of the pictures do the talking.  It’s amazing how all this is created in such a short amount of time.

Here are some facts about ICE!:

Experience the magic of Christmas Around the World as you journey through colorful holiday displays. It takes 40 remarkable ice artisans from Harbin, China to create this winter wonderland.  Bring a hat and gloves because it’s a chilly 9 degrees! There are more than TWO MILLION pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures during the Lone Star Christmas celebration in Grapevine, TX.  It also takes two million lights, two million pounds of real Texas snow, 15,000 ornaments, and a 54-foot Christmas tree!

Celebrate cultural traditions from around the world featuring holiday scenes and children from Mexico, Germany, and more!

Enjoy two-story tall ice slides, an enchanting Parade of Toys and larger-than-life ornaments.

Travel through the North Pole and sit inside Santa’s sleigh!

Experience the Frostbite Factory – an interactive ice carving station.

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Conclude your experience with the majesty of a full nativity in stunning, crystal clear ice.

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Hanging out on Santa’s sleigh

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The ice slide 🙂BBP_2140 BBP_2135 BBP_2134

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Snow tubing

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I got to spend a lot of time with these two lovely gals!

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All three of our boys are in Kindergarten this year…they had a blast.  The Three Stooges.BBP_2100 BBP_2090

The inside of the Gaylord Texan is so beautiful!

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Thank you Gaylord Texan for a WONDERFUL stay and we will for sure be back next year for more fun!

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Don’t forget you have a couple of days left to get this deal for 50% off ICE! tickets:

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And the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders event is coming up too! Learn cheers and chants, dance moves, and take fun photos while the whole family enjoys a lavish brunch filled with delicious buttermilk pancakes, brioche French toast, breakfast tacos, pastries, and so much more.

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Date:  Sunday, December 13
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Yellow Rose Ballroom
Price:

  • $39.99* Adults
  • $19.99 Children (ages 4-12)
  • Children 3 & under: Free

*Pricing includes tax, gratuity and self-parking. Adult beverages for those ages 21 and up available for purchase. One adult cannot accompany more than six children.

Limited seating is available. Reserve your spot today!
Purchase tickets online or call 1-817-778-1000

Take a Load Off With Massage Envy #BecauseMoment #IC

This post was sponsored by Massage Envy as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. 

This season has been so busy.  I love, love, love taking family Christmas pictures and the feeling that the Christmas season brings.  I love helping families create lasting memories even more.  The only thing I don’t like is the toll it takes on my body.

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Carrying around a heavy DSLR camera and huge lens just about does me in.  After a long day of shooting my neck and shoulders are so sore.  It’s hard to put yourself first & it’s easy to just let your body suffer.  Terence and I decided mid last year that we would both start getting massages to help with our overall health.  Because something I love to do should’nt hurt.

Massage Envy is a great place to visit to take care of all your aches and pains.  I truly believe good massages help you live longer!  Everyone in the world takes on daily stress and it effects our bodies, no matter what we are doing.

Getting a massage isn’t just for a holiday or a special occasion, it should be a part of your overall wellness routine.  When I leave a massage I feel like a whole new woman and I can’t tell you how much better I feel.  It’s like my body has just released all it was holding on to and now I can breathe again.

I want to be the best person I can be.  I want to do what I love.  Getting massages regularly helps me do that.  I take care of myself so I can do the best I can for others.  I’m a better wife, mom, and overall person.

And THAT makes me happy! 🙂

So I can help create moments like this…

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Keep up with the latest Massage Envy deals and steals on Facebook & Twitter.

Check out this video below, I know I can relate.

Making the Most of Christmas with #Hallmark

This post is sponsored by Hallmark but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. #ad

Christmas time is here * Happiness and cheer * Fun for all that children call * Their favorite time of the year*

I love everything that comes with the Christmas season.  Gathering with family and friends, a visit with Santa, shopping for gifts, and Christmas cards in the mail.  One of my favorite places to shop during the holidays is Hallmark.  They have the cutest gifts and the best stocking stuffers.  From candles, soaps, fluffy socks, stuffed animals, and candy galore….they have it all!

Have you checked out all the Star Wars stuff Hallmark has lately?  Let me just say we have a certain 5-year-old who is counting down the days until the Star Wars movie premier.  It’s everything Star Wars for this kiddo this Christmas.

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Cute little Christmas Yoda, Darth Vader, and Storm Trooper.  The Star Wars wrapping paper is also available at Hallmark stores.

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If you searching for a gift for a co-worker or friend the Crafters & Co. gifts at Hallmark are perfect!  Everything from chocolates, artisan-made hand soaps, tea, and candles.  Just a little something extra to show someone you care.

Being a photographer I’m always looking for fun photo backdrops. One of my favorite things to do (and easiest) is to take wrapping paper and hang it behind my subject in a picture.   Nothing fancy…it just makes for a really cute photo!

I got this candy cane wrapping paper at Hallmark, I love their wrapping paper by the way because it’s not the thin, flimsy paper.  It holds up well to folding and taping 🙂

My photo backdrop:

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My handsome subject:

(The reindeer hat and mittens are also a Hallmark find!  Soooo cute and only $9.99 for the set)

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I hope you all have fun shopping, decorating, and gathering this Christmas!

Check out our video below for a sneak peek of all the fun holiday goodies at Hallmark this year.

Chocolate is My Love Language: Hershey’s KISSES Deluxe #SayMore #IC

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Hershey’s KISSES Deluxe. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

If you know me well or have been around me a decent amout of time you know my absolute LOVE for all things chocolate!  I recently tried the Hershey’s KISSES Deluxe chocolates and oh my gosh y’all!  Soooo good!  These KISSES are filled with whole roasted hazelnut, creamy layers and delicate crisps.

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Christmas is all about sharing love and spreading cheer.  What better way to say you care about someone than a box full of chocolates???

When I was growing up we would go to church on Sundays and my Dad would ask all the ladies if they wanted a “kiss“.  Of course they would smile and laugh at him…then sort of look at him like he was crazy!  Ha ha!  My Dad would smile back and place a Hershey’s KISS in their hand.  It tickled them and it made their day.  The looks on their faces was priceless when they realized it was a chocolate he was handing them 🙂

My Daddy is awesome like that.  He always thinks of everyone before himself.

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I look forward to the holiday season because of the feeling in the air and everyone just seems to be a little bit nicer.  People give more, do more, and say more.  These KISSES are twice the size of an original KISSES Chocolate.  More to love!  Ha ha!

I’m going to give someone a KISS this holiday….are you?

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Look at the hazelnut center.  I can’t wait to make someone’s day and make them feel special.

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Enter to win one of 50 Hershey’s KISSES Deluxe 75 – piece gift box valued at $35

Contest opens on November 6, 2015 and closes December 14, 2015

Hershey’s KISSES Deluxe Giveaway

*I-C will randomly select fifty winners from all program entries and will handle fulfillment of the winning prizes.

Keep up with Hershey’s Kisses on Facebook & Twitter

This video touched my heart.  As Mom’s so many things we do go unnoticed and it’s so sweet what her kids did.  Melt my heart….literally.

How will you make someone’s day this holiday?

 

Friday Favorites + Enter to win Velvet Eyewear!

The blog has been put on the back burner lately…I’ve been booked every weekend with photo shoots.  Thankfully booked!  I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by.  Maybe it’s because all the changes we’ve had, but seriously I cannot believe it’s almost Christmas.

Hopefully next year we’ll have a house to decorate again.  It is sort of freeing not to take everything out this year.  (Remind me I said that next year) In the mean time I found a tree at Target for $20 bucks and I’m just as happy as a clam with it!  Connor and I decorated it this week.

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I found some Buddy the Elf stickers at Target too.  It’s one of our favorite movies.  My friend Sarah makes the cutest Buddy the Elf shirts for the holiday season for kids.  Check them out HERE.

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My favorite Aromatique candle of all time was Amaretto Nog.  They don’t make it very much anymore….but this year I found a new scent that is surprisingly similar called “Winterberry” and I LOVE it too!  Smells soooo good!

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And last, but not least favorite of the week are my new Velvet Eyewear Sunglasses.

Velvet Eyewear has some of the most stylish shades.  Check them out HERE.  What makes them so special?

Velvet® Lenses – Block in Beauty

The Velvet®  {BB} Lens™ is an exclusive sunglass lens that is formulated with specific attributes that block out 100% of harmful UV rays, and reduce heat and eye strain. Velvet’s {BB} Lens™ Sunglass Protection helps prevent crow’s feet, fine lines, and the effects of aging in and around the eyes caused by the environment. When worn regularly, the Velvet {BB} Lens™ can slow down the signs of aging and Block in Beauty.

I’ve been wearing these beauties all week and they are super chic and comfortable.  I’m sure a lot of your girlfriends would love a pair for Christmas this year **HINT…**HINT**

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I love Velvet Eyewear so much I’m excited to give away one pair to a The Java Mama reader!

ENTER TO WIN BELOW

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Win Tickets To See Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 from Studio Movie Grill

If you love the Hunger Games series then welcome everyone!

“Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” is about to hit theaters and in the spirit if giving thanks this month Studio Movie Grill is donating 10% of the proceeds raised from online sales of Hunger Games-themed digital gift cards to partnering food banks.

Gift cards make great holiday offerings and will be available online from October 23 – November 25 at www.studiomoviegrill.com.
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When: Friday, October 23 – Wednesday, November 25

Where: Purchase online at: www.studiomoviegrill.com

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SMG exists to open hearts and minds one story at a time, and with this campaign we hope to make the issue of hunger a little bit easier for those less fortunate in our communities.

“As illustrated in Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, tremendous things can happen when people come together for a good cause. I’m extremely proud of our own SMG team members who have also taken it upon themselves to volunteer at their local food banks at this time, demonstrating that each of us can affect change.” – Brian Schultz, SMG Founder and CEO.

About Studio Movie Grill

Studio Movie Grill modernized the traditional movie-going experience by combining first-run movies with full-service, in-theater dining. Established in 2000, SMG has swiftly grown to 23 locations in 10 states. SMG, long considered the leader of in-theater dining exhibition, recently announced a major expansion initiative with plans for additional sites throughout the country.

With the addition of over 50 new screens this year, SMG now ranks the 20th largest exhibitor in the U.S. For additional information, visit www.studiomoviegrill.com

“And may the odds be ever in your favor.”

WIN 4 PASSES TO STUDIO MOVIE GRILL BELOW:

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