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Busy Mom Solution: #IcedCoffee in a Carton!! #CBias

International Delight Iced Coffee

“A morning without coffee is like…. sleep.” – Author Unknown

I’m a coffee junkie. As hardcore as you can get. Without my coffee, I’m like a tired, floppy, useless jellyfish… Well, you know, if jellyfish had deadlines and toddlers and laundry and stuff. But just like Clark Kent could emerge from a phone booth transformed into Superman – Each morning, after a couple of cups of coffee, I emerge from my “mom-cave” office as a Super Mom.

Iced Coffee in a Carton

“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” – Flash Rosenberg

Here’s the problem though… Jellyfish struggle to make coffee. I cannot even tell you how many times I have totally failed at brewing my first pot of the day. I’ll add water, but no coffee. I’ll add the coffee and the water – but forget the filter. And best of all – Forget to even turn the darn thing ON. There are only 4 steps – water, filter, coffee grounds, on switch. It should be simple. But when you’re a morning jellyfish type, it’s not. When I heard about this new International Delights Iced Coffee, that comes right in a ready to chug container, I was intrigued – but skeptical. I’ve never been a big fan of other ready-to-drink coffee beverages. But I figured hey, this will be a great option for those mornings when my first pot of coffee is a disaster, right?

{FYI – My computer crashed this week, and I lost some of my pictures. So – A few other lovely ladies that sampled this coffee let me borrow a few of their pics, so I could show you how much this stuff rocked! This pic above is from The Gunny Sack – Check out her idea for Peppermint Frappe!}

Iced Coffee at Home

“Chocolate, men, coffee – some things are better rich.” – Leon Truong

{This picture of iced coffee deliciousness comes from Southern Yankee Mix – Doesn’t is just make your mouth water?} I love ANY type of coffee – But a good iced coffee is the best. But – here’s the problem – All of the ready-made coffee drinks are too artificial tasting for me. So – You’re wondering – “How was this new International Delights Iced Coffee?? Get to the point already!!” – Drum roll…. It totally knocked my socks off!

Iced Coffee for Mom

“Coffee is a beverage that puts one to sleep when not drank.” – Alphonse Allais

This International Delights Iced Coffee comes in a carton like juice or milk, and there are three different flavors to choose from – Mocha, Vanilla, and Original. {This pic of a refreshing glass of creamy coffee goodness is from the super-lovely Someday I’ll Learn} They’re all totally perfect, but in different ways. Here’s the scoop – The Vanilla was my favorite. Sweet, but not too fake-sugary sweet. Just pour it over ice and drink. So good. The Mocha obviously is more of a chocolate-y flavor, a hint of sweetness. The Original is less sweet for those of you that like your coffee a little more basic – and is a PERFECT base if you like to mix in other flavors.

“Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee.” – Stephanie Piro

There you have it – a super simple solution to those of you who, like me, need buckets of coffee to live. You can get these soon {January 15th!} at your local Walmart – I’ve been stalking mine like crazy, waiting for this to come in. I drank all 3 cartons I got within just a few days. Let me know when you see it in your neighborhood – and let me know if you’re lovin’ it too.

Stop by and give big THANK YOU’s to the lovely ladies who shared pics to help me write this post for ya…. Someday I’ll Learn, The Gunny Sack, and Southern Yankee Mix! They rock :)

And make sure to stop by International Delights on Facebook to stay updated on new products and promotions!

{Disclaimer: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All overuse of exclamation points is my own real enthusiasm.}

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Halloween Party Foods: Spiderweb Spookamole Recipe

Halloween Party Foods…. Avocados from Mexico can be found at your local grocery store year-round, but this is such a great time of year for them. They’re in season- move from the tree to table in less than a week- and are PERFECT for fall celebrations like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Football parties! Check out their easy peasy tips on buying and storing Avocados too.

Did you know….

  • The world’s first avocado was grown and cultivated in Mexico countless generations ago?
  • That Mexico is the only place in the world where avocado trees naturally bloom four times a year?
  • All Avocados from Mexico are hand-picked and freshly shipped
  • By packers who uniformly exceed international standards?
If you’re a big fan of avocados too – this is the perfect time of year to stock up on some amazingly fresh ones this time of year, make sure to check out the Avocados from Mexico site for more awesome recipes and tips on how to prep, store, and serve them. And then, if you’re planning any type of Halloween entertaining, check out my Spiderweb Spookamole Recipe that’s super simple, yet super fun.

Halloween Party Foods - Spiderweb Spookamole Recipe

It’s Spookamole Time: Spiderweb Spookamole Recipe

This is a super fun, super simple, and super yummy dish to make for Halloween parties and entertaining – or just as a perfect snack to fill up on before heading out to Trick or Treat. {A bit of food helps stop those belly aches kids get from sneaking too much candy…} How to make Spiderweb Spookamole for Halloween:

  • Grab a big plate.
  • Shmear a layer of refried beans over the plate, to about an inch from the edges.
  • Mix up some Guacamole- use your own favorite recipe, or use the amazing Spookamole recipe that I used. Then spread a thick layer of this over the beans.
  • Add some tortilla chips around the edges, and layer with cheese, tomato, onion, and ground beef.
  • Now, the fun part: Put about a cup or so of sour cream into a zip-loc style baggie. Cut a small corner off, so you can use it like a decorating bag.
  • Next, use the baggie to draw circles of sour cream, from the edges of the chips, and getting smaller as you move to the center.
  • After all of the circles are completed, use a knife or toothpick to make the spiderweb- start at the inside circle, and drag it outwards through the other circles. Do this every inch or so through the whole thing, and you’ll see the web appear! Watch a tutorial of how this works- Spiderweb Cake Decorating
  • Last, make the spider- Place one whole olive on your web, then add olive slices to each side for the legs. To make him extra creepy, use a small tube of red cake decorating gel to dot on two little eyes.
  • The kids will love it!

It’s seriously so simple to make. And even if you make a minor mistake or two, trust me, it’ll still come out great. I love recipes like this that are deceptively simple, and make people think you’re a master of the kitchen, lol. You can use this same idea for a ton of other fun Halloween food ideas too – cake tops, on frosted sugar cookies, a pudding dessert – {chocolate or pistachio pudding with the web made from whipped cream on top. Add plastic spider rings to top it off!} The ideas are endless.

If you create a spiderweb dish too – come share your fave photos on my Facebook wall!!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a Spookamole blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Avocados from Mexico and received avocado items to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

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Tech For the Mistress of the Grill

First, let’s put an end to that myth that grills are the men’s domain. We do most of the cooking indoors so why should that be any different when we move outdoors? This week we did a round up of some of the best tech out there to make you a barbecue rock star.

women and grilling
Cookin’ up some summer fun…

First up the Char-Broil Infrared Electric Grill that heats up super hot to sear and lowers quickly enough to seal in flavor, and, ok, it happens to be really cute. Then, onto The Omaha Steak’s Steak Time App which solves the age-old question, how long does this (fill in the blank) need to cook?  Lastly we are off to every chef’s nirvana for recipes that… well, let’s just say they’re a very good thing. So check out this week’s episode where Carley gets all up in your grill.

Who’s Ready to Get Grillin’?

I admit it… I’ve always been intimidated by the grill. I do pretty much all of the cooking around our house… But it’s my brother that does all of the grilling for dinners, BBQ’s, and parties. I totally love the idea behind the Char-Broil Patio Bistro Infrared Electric Grill, and how simple it would be to use. I had NO IDEA that you could get a grill that you simply plug-in and go. Easy peasy! Totally the type of grill that even I could handle, since I’ll have to learn to do it myself when my brother moves out. Plus, we host so many get-together’s all summer, from kids birthday bashes to the best pool parties, we totally rock outdoor living.

Yep, there’s an app for that

The Omaha Steak’s Steak Time App sounds awesome! I’ll definitely have to go check it out, and I know we’ll use it a ton. I love that it even reminds you when to flip! And the best part? It’s free. That’s my favorite price. Martha Stewart has some of the most amazing recipes on her site, and you’re sure to find tons of great new grilling ideas and inspiration. Some of her meals are a bit too complicated for me and my lazy cooking, {lol} but I’ve found plenty of simple options too. Both of these tech solutions will help you a ton this summer. {Want more fun party food ideas? Check out my Luau Party Ideas, and other Party Foods inspiration on Pinterest. So much fun stuff…}

Become a Mistress of the Grill this Summer

So, time to get over that fear of the grill, use the Steak Time app to look like a total pro while you’re cooking, {no one needs to know you’re cheating!} and try out some of those great Martha Stewart recipes at YOUR next outdoor party!

Digitwirl.com – Making Tech Work for You!

Digitwirl, Carely, Bio picDigitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3 minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.

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