Jazz Up Movie Night and Celebrate Disney Pixar's 'Soul' with Family Friendly Meals from Blue Apron

 Shake up your dinner and a movie routine with a fun and savory mix of family-friendly meals to celebrate the release of Disney Pixar's 'Soul'. In celebration of the new Pixar film streaming on Disney Plus starting Christmas Day, December 25th, Blue Apron is debuting four limited-time recipes to inspire your next themed movie night.

Everything You Need to Know About the Queens International Night Market

Spring in NYC means festival season is in full swing and NYC foodies and visiting tourists are going to get the most bang for their buck at the family-friendly Queens International Night Market. Growing up and raising children in Queens, New York has allowed Mike and I to expose our children to a diverse, variety of cultures that encompasses a beautiful mix of people, delicious flavorful foods and vibrant arts from around the world, without leaving the borough. 

Sneak previews began April 20th and 27th and because of the unexpectedly large turnout on opening nights their first two years, limited $5 tickets were sold to minimize traffic, congestion, and the impact on the surrounding community. At least 20% of the ticket proceeds will go to the charities New York Immigration Coalition and City Harvest. The Queens Night Market will feature 20 new vendors this year and will be free and open to all starting on May 4th and every Saturday night at 5pm through August 17th & from September 28th to October 26th. You can check out our video of the yummy experience we had last year and grab some useful tips on what you should know when you head to the market.

End the Summer Snack Time Struggle with Jif Power Ups

It never fails! Once the kids start summer break us parents know dang well that the one line we'll hear on repeat over and over is "I'm hungry can I have snack?"They don't even care that they just had a fully loaded, protein filled breakfast unlike most school mornings where you toss them a banana and a bagel as you all rush your way out the door. These lil' monsters are un-phased by what time of day it is, or how much time has passed since they last asked for something to eat. They seem to want to munch on goodies non-stop, and god forbid you run out of their favorites! The snack time struggle during summer break can be really funny at times, so to introduce the launch of their new Power Ups chewy bars and creamy clusters Jif invited a few of us parents our for a night of laughs at Caroline's comedy club with funny dad and actor Neil Patrick Harris. 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and the opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Celebrating National Hug Day, the Care Bears 35th Anniversary & a 12th Birthday with Sprinkles #NationalHugDay #SprinklesXCarebears #ad

Disclosure: We were provided cupcakes to celebrate! Opinions expressed are 100% our own.

Can you think of a better way to cheer up on a dreary Friday that tops hugs or Carebears? Keep in mind that this is a kid / family friendly site so please keep all answer PG-13 for the moment, but I can just imagine, lol. Flashbacking in time to the days where 80's babies everywhere belted out the call for a "Carebear stare" makes me realize that like me, these vibrant loving bears are celebrating their 35th anniversary and are aging fantastically! Ha! 

What's even cooler is that my mini me and twin Aquarius son CJ is celebrating his 12th birthday on January 21st which is also "National Hug Day" which is beyond fitting because CJ is the best hugger ever and knows the absolute most comforting times to dole them out. So just imagine how excited I was as a millennial mama to find out that Sprinkles the cupcake bakery had the perfect themed cupcakes to celebrate.

Grab the Popcorn and Pass the Wine! Girls Night In with Groupon Coupons #Sponsored

Can you believe it will be Thanksgiving next week? It may be seasonably warm for this time of year but I'm beyond ready to let the holiday festivities commence. I've already started humming those classic soulful holiday tunes and we might actually get our Christmas tree up over Thanksgiving weekend. This time of year can definitely cause a frenzy of spending and although I do love my quality time with friends and family I'm not trying to go broke! Think about it, decorations, fancy schmancy outfits, the mani-pedis and blowouts, the gift giving...... the list goes on and on. One thing I do know is that I have no intention of having to commute across the five boroughs from one soiree to the next and will gladly partake in a house party or two to avoid the high costs of getting into some of these insanely high priced - so called "trendy" NYC venues. Thanks to Groupons Coupons you can crank up your Penatonix, Jackson Five,  holiday mix and Karaoke the night away with your favorite people while indulge in some popped corn and bubbly in the comfort of your own home.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and opinions expressed are 100% my own 

Four Pomegranate Recipes for Your Next Holiday Dinner #CookwithPOM #Sponsored

Ready or not the holidays are coming, which means for many of us we'll be assuming the role of hostess with the mostest as loved ones near and far come to visit. I absolutely love a house filled with family and friends, good music, laughter and of course yummy food! I'm always looking for easy seasonal dishes that can be whipped up quickly. No fuss no muss or I'm leaving it to the hubby to prepare {he's the professional}. So when my blogger babes and I were invited to a POM- wonderful night out to learn about this trendy fall ingredient and how to mix it up into a combination of savory & sweet dishes, we were all in and of course brought our appetites.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Make it a Family Movie Night with KidFresh and Ice Age Collision Course #KidfreshIceAge #Giveaway

Thank the heavens for quick and easy healthy meal options that can just be popped into the microwave or slid into the oven because these days I just don't have the time. Over the years I rarely cooked to begin with because even when we were dating the hubby has always loved to throw down in the kitchen. I'm the type who worries that the chicken is under cooked and that I'd poison our kids with salmonella contamination so my go to's would be a pasta and veggie dish or a meatloaf {and that's on special occasions, lol}. But ever since he started working the late shift at a fine dining restaurant on the Upper West Side earlier this year, home cooked meals have come far and in between before he leaves in the afternoon. And if it was a day I have to actually head into the office {especially a Monday}, the last thing I want to do when I get home is cook! I'd much rather spend the extra time with my boys on the couch watching a movie. 

Disclosure: We were provided KidFresh meals and Ice Age Collision Course on DVD to facilitate this post, no other compensation was received. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Celebrate Earth Day with Target's Made to Matter Collection #MadetoMatter

There's something about Spring that just makes you pause to think about just how beautiful this planet we live on really, truly is. Maybe it's the simple witnessing of flowers in bloom, the amazingness of babies being born, the change in weather that makes us tidy up our homes so that we can spend more time outdoors, whatever it is don't you simply love it? Earth day is more than just a single day it's a largely significant movement that inspires and challenges all of us by igniting passion and motivating action! Which is why I thought today would be the perfect day to tell you all about Target's Made to Matter line and how they challenged 20 of the brands you purchase daily to make a difference in order to protect our planet. From the brands that supply the food we feed our families, to the products we put on our skin, and that we use to clean our homes they accepted the challenge to create innovative products with a purpose and were all handpicked by Target.

Celebrate Innovation with the 2016 Product of the Year Winners #Giveaway #POYUSA2016

With 50,000 new consumer products introduced each year, when purchasing products for your home and family how do you come to the decision on what's worth your hard earned dollars? Although it may initially spark my interest, just because I've seen the new trendy product in a commercial or magazine ad it doesn't necessarily mean that brand is going to get me to run out to the store or buy it online. I'm a huge fan of reading reviews and word of mouth recommendations, sometimes I make my decisions based solely on how many stars or thumbs up a product receives before purchasing. Haven't you ever wondered what goes into the voting process when a product is named as one of the BEST?

This year I attended the Product of the Year Awards where the most innovative products were

Get Your Eat on at The Village Voice Choice Eats Featuring Over 50 NYC Restaurants #ChoiceEats

Food, Glorious Food— Aside from having a vast number of options to stay entertained in this city, New York is synonymous with good eats, with restaurants, trucks and pop eateries showing up on every corner of every borough inspired by foodie creatives and cuisines from over the world. So it's no wonder that events like The Village Voice Choice Eats Presented by Stella Artois is such a popular one to indulge in the greatest in NYC. I'd never heard of this event before but thought I'd share even thought tickets have sold out. Make sure to keep this on your radar for next year. Your Stomach will thank you!

Lil' Monsters in NYC: Visit Pazzi Pasta for Healthy Eats for the Entire Family!

If there's any one thing you should know about my family, it's that my monsters, hubby and I absolutely love good food. As parents, the hubby and I are advocates for having our children try varied foods whether it's during a home cooked meal prepared by their daddy or while enjoying local eats at a favorite restaurant or trying out a menu some place new. 

Over the summer we were invited out to visit family owned, Pazzi Pasta in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn which was the perfect way to spend our afternoon before walking over to the Barclay Center for this years WWE Summer Slam. Who doesn't love a warm, tummy filling bowl of Pasta right? 

Husband-and-wife team Dr. Giovanni Campanile and Dr. Sandra Cammarata with their children Dan (pictured with the boys above) and Francesca Campanile created Pazzi Pasta, which serves up a variety of wholesome, organic pasta dishes made with ancient grains, locally grown produce and are topped with delicious, made from scratch sauces. So there's no need to feel guilt ridden while digging into a bowl of anything they've got on the menu. 

So why should you eat at Pazzi Pasta? While keeping true to authentic southern Italian traditions of pasta making and inspired by Sandra's mother - a gourmet chef in Italy- paired with Dan's ingenuity in conceiving the concept, the family wanted to make sure that New Yorkers had a unique and interactive experience that wouldn't break the bank. Without sacrificing freshness or mind-blowingly great taste their dishes come out quickly and you won't be disappointed because it's just so good. Customers will enjoy being able to pick and choose from their healthy choices of hand-made pasta, their rich sauces and varied toppings.

Pasta: kamut semolina, farro, spinach or tomato, nero di seppia (cuttlefish ink), gnocchi, and ravioli; gluten-free choices are also available.

Sauces: San Marzano tomato, ragù Bolognese, pesto, four cheese, smoked salmon and gorgonzola, funghi boscaoiola (mushroom sauce), puttanesca and cauliflower with garlic and almond

Slow-cooked toppings: meatballs, veg-balls (zucchini, eggplant, ricotta, egg white, wheat breadcrumbs), grilled chicken, pan-fried eggplant and zucchini, mixed forest mushrooms, and peas and pancetta

The space itself is quite charming and not overly designed, just lots of  bright natural lighting and seating. It was really relaxing and inviting when you step foot in the door and makes for a great place to dine with family friends. The lil' monsters loved the kids korner and got in a few rounds of connect four after talking to Dan and while they waited for their food. And while it's definitely great for family dinners, I actually thought it was a cute spot for date night too! With a lovely outdoor patio in the back and offerings of wines and deserts, I told the hubby he and I would have to go back on our on one day and bring back sweets for the boys.

CJ couldn't resist being offered the chance to try out the sauces. His favorite by far was the smoked salmon with Gorgonzola because to him it tasted like bacon.

Our mini foodies with not so mini appetites were so excited when they found out we'd be taste testing  a few pasta dishes and couldn't wait to dig in and try them all. Despite being a bit under the weather, even 4 year old Tristan was ready to stuff his cheeks.

We'll admit we were a bit skeptical about trying the cuttle fish ink pasta, something about black pasta just didn't seem appealing but it was AMAZING! Honestly, it paired with the smoked salmon sauce was really good. The pasta didn't taste like anything out of the ordinary because of it's coloring and was surprisingly our favorite out of all the ones we tried. We even insisted that one of the staff members (who had never tried it) trust our judgement and invited him over to dig in.

Hands down, really good!

The monsters can't wait to head back and try a pasta making class. If you're ever in the neighborhood we'd recommend you stop by and enjoy the serene space, friendly staff and healthy eats!

Pazzi Pasta

227 Smith Street

Brooklyn, NY

(347) 916 - 1076

Instagram // Facebook 

Disclosure: We were invited for a complimentary meal in order to facilitate this review, no other compensation was received.

Snacks for Lil' Monsters: 9 Popsicle Recipes to Celebrate National Watermelon Day

No summer is complete without a few moments of indulgence, while enjoying juicy, sweet watermelon. When the weather becomes unbearable we usually grab a few Popsicles to cool off, well the boys may actually treat themselves to two. In honor of National Watermelon Day we've rounded up a few Popsicle recipes we spotted on the web to keep you and the lil' monsters cool through the rest of Summer. 

Strawberry and Watermelon Popsicles spotted on Pick Fresh Foods make for a perfectly healthy solution to beating the heat.

How could a popsicle that looks as delicious as these Ginger Hibiscus and Minty Watermelon ones posted by Half Baked Harvest be resisted? Their deep, rich color make them seem too beautiful to eat.

Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Popsicles 

Creamy 2 Ingredient Popsicles super easy to make just freeze yoplait & watermelon chunks.

Stripes of watermelon, coconut milk, kiwi & chocolate chips make for fun watermelon pops.

 Lime sorbet and chocolate chips watermelon pops are a low calorie treat.

Berry Lemonade popsicle with a watermelon puree.

Watermelon Paletas from Muy Delish 

Delish Watermelon and Kiwi pops, I love that how beautiful the slices look.

National Watermelon Day may only be once a year but these recipes can be enjoyed all summer long! Which ones are you planning on making?

Kicking Off Summer Vacation at Cabana Cove Grill's Blog-B-Q at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

Can you think of a better way to kick off summer vacation then to spend it splashing around in the water, soaking up the sun and diggin' into some delish food on a Friday afternoon? Summer is meant for fun adventures with family and friends, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity to head to Great Adventure's Hurricane Harbor in Jackson, New Jersey to try their assortment of lunches at the new Cabana Cove Grill for a wonderful Blog-B-Q. Unlike the lil' monsters and I, my hubby had been to Hurricane Harbor in the past and couldn't wait to get the boys in the water after we tried out the menu. 

Despite the cloudy skies, the weather was warm and we knew we were going to enjoy the day with our blogger friends and their families. Hurricane Harbor definitely gives you a laid back, mellow feel in comparison to it's counter part Great Adventures. It was great that we couldn't hear the loud whirling rides in the distance an could just kick back. We were greeted by super friendly Cabana Cove staff that guided us to our private cabanas for the day, which was a really nice experience. They were extremely attentive and offered their assistance often, and offered us refreshing fruit smoothies while we got acclimated.

Have you ever rented a Cabana at an amusement park or resort before? Renting one was new to us but everyone enjoyed t for sure. The kids were so excited, they kept referring to the cabanas as "home" and would run from one to the next to visit each other. Each cabana came furnished with a  a few chairs, table, a fan and a fridge for comfort and convenience.  

After we all dropped off our belongings we headed for lunch at the outdoor bar and grill  and gathered around tables that overlooked the wave pool. My boys chose the foot-long hotdog and grilled chicken sandwich with chips, while the hubby ordered a Jerk chicken sandwich {he's Jamaican, so any chance he gets to indulge in Jerk-anything he will} and I had the fresh Jerk chicken Caesar salad. 

The food was prepared in front of us, while the cooks chatted with the kids and we were given large red tumblers that allowed us to get refills on drinks throughout the day. The menu has something for everyone and offered generous size portions that left us all happily full. Sometimes it's nice to just "Go" somewhere without worrying about packing lunches for the day like we normally do for our day excursions. The great thing about renting a cabana is that the packages for up to 4 people provide you with food!

After chowing down and relaxing, it was time to SPLASH AROUND!

It was nice to watch my boys relax after a very hectic school year and I was so proud of them for being brave enough to jump in the Blue Lagoon wave pool with their daddy and friends. The older kids had the best time because there were way more attractions geared towards them, they had a blast on The Cobra and The Bamboo and Reef Runner and the littlest monsters enjoyed a few spins around the lazy river.

If you're looking for a little escape from the hustle and bustle we'd definitely recommend living it up poolside to enjoy the cabana experience and lunch at their outdoor grill and bar Cabana Cove. Thanks for having us Six Flag's Hurricane Harbor, we had a fantastic time!

     
Disclosure: We were invited for a media day with complimentary admittance. Opinions expressed are 100% my own and no compensation was received for this post.