This Full House Reviews

The Gift of a Lopsided Christmas Tree

I am very honored to be working with Hallmark as a Life is a Special Occasion featured blogger and for their sponsoring this blog post, allowing me to share personal stories, insights and inspirations in enjoying simple, every day moments, with you (yes, YOU!)

Like most of the kids in our neighborhood, my twin brother and I eagerly counted down the days until Christmas, however, we were perhaps the ONLY family in town without a Christmas tree. 

"Not until Christmas Eve."

Steve and I would sit and sulk in the back of our station wagon, on the way home from the laundromat every weekend, as our folks marveled at other people's houses.  Still.  No tree.

"In Hungary, kids had to wait until after midnight for the Christmas Angel."

Oh, there were plenty of stories.  About trees and drunken angels.  Like, the year my paternal grandfather decided to celebrate Christmas...on the way home from work...tripped on the entrance of the small apartment my father and his sisters grew up in, and dropped their tree...decorations and all.

"It was the Angel, I tell you, I saw it drinking on the trolley!"

I'm sure my grandmother didn't appreciate my grandfather's holiday-infused humor, just as much as my brother and I couldn't understand my father's excitement at finding a pair of socks, or a foil wrapped orange under their Christmas tree.

Still.  We listened and Christmas Eve just could NOT come fast enough.

"Daddy's home and he's got our tree!"

My father worked for a landscaper throughout our elementary school years and sold Christmas trees in the parking lot of a garden center, before being laid-off from work for the rest of the winter.

"It's beautiful, Daddy!"

Every Christmas Eve, rain or shine, holiday bonus or no, Apu would come home with the most beautiful tree he'd tagged in the lot...sometimes as early as Thanksgiving Day.

If you were to ask me what Christmas gift I remember the most, thirty-something years ago, I would have answered the Barbie Country Camper.

Their great-grandmother would have LOVED such a tree!

Today, it's stories of drunken Christmas Angels, lopsided tabletop trees and old world holiday traditions that help make Christmastime special for me and my family.

My inspiration behind today's story: the vintage look and feel of this awesome keepsake ornament from Hallmark.

This year, we are once again counting down the days until Christmas and, even though my kids are older...well, you know...I am a firm believer that you are NEVER too old to believe in the magic of Christmastime... right?!?  RIGHT?!?

Riiiiiiiiight.  

As my time as a Life is a Special Occasion blogger comes to a close, I would like to take this moment to thank my very good friends at Hallmark for allowing me to  share some of my favorite stories and (hopefully) help inspire other families (like mine) to celebrate each and every day as if it were a special occasion.

Happy Holidays, may your days be merry and filled with lopsided Christmas trees :)

© 2003 - 2012 This Full House

Disclosure:   I am being compensated for my services for the length of the program.  The stories, opinions and words shared here are all mine.  To receive notices on Hallmark products and special offers, feel free to sign up for the newsletter (when you have time, of course!)

A Healthier Holiday Table: Surviving the Holidaze With Heather's Cranberry Applesauce Bread

When my kids were younger, we would countdown the holidays with how many more sleeps were left until Christmas Day.  Now that they're older (ditto) they seem to be just as excited (if not more) counting down the days until winter break.

In our house, we are also celebrating the season of birthdays (3 out of 4 of my children celebrate birthdays in November, December and January) or, what I've come to fondly refer to as, the holidaze.

 This time last year, I had the pleasure of working with the American Cancer Society on their Less Cancer, More Birthdays campaign.  This year, I have the honor of being invited to participate in their A Healthier Holiday Table campaign:  a handy repository of holiday recipes, to help raise awareness about and promote healthier eating -- which I'm beginning to understand is an important preventative measure to fighting cancer.

With 4 females in the house (UTI's are the devil) we're pretty big on cranberries -- antioxidant superstars, they are -- most especially, this time of year.   

I'm sharing my middle girl's awesome recipe for Cranberry Applesauce Bread:   swapping out HALF the butter and uses apple sauce instead.

Our good friends at the ACS have provided us with some really useful information on the relation of nutrition to cancer prevention to share with you, as well:

Happy Thanksgiving, or a reasonable facsimile thereof!

I am very honored to be working with Hallmark as a Life is a Special Occasion featured blogger and for their sponsoring this blog post, allowing me to share personal stories, insights and inspirations in enjoying simple, every day moments, with you (yes, YOU!)

If it weren't for Hurricane Sandy, our Halloween decorations would STILL be up.

Hey you...yeah, YOU!...Thanksgiving is only eight days away -- seven,  if you're sitting here and blogging (like me!) when I should be scrubbing tiles, herding killer dust bunnies, hiding the laundry and preparing for a houseful of company.

Then again, it's not like my mother-in-law is going to check under the beds or my father-in-law comes over to hunt dust bunnies or anything -- although, it is sort of difficult to NOT notice all the dust when it rolls up and greets you at the front door.

Unless our sock-eating, bone-headed chocolate lab (a.k.a. Doofus-Dawg) beats them to it, then jumps on my mother and probably breaks her new arm -- on the other hand, where can I put a 90 pound dog...I'm sort of running out of hiding places with ALL this laundry...and what the heck IS that smell...anyway?!?

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore having family over for the holidays.  It's just that, as the kids get older (me, too), I find myself worrying less about stuff like:

• The table setting -- nope, it does NOT match.
• The food preparation -- yes, some of it comes out of a can.
• The house -- dust bunnies are like pets, really.  I've even named a few of the less rabid ones.

The truth of the matter is, no matter how my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I try, we've come to accept the simple fact that some things just don't go right -- before you can say "Pass the potatoes," someone's puking all over your nice, clean and mostly shiny floors.

Because, in our house, it isn't the holidays unless someone in the family is sick or scheduled for a surgical procedure.

Then, last month, Hurricane Sandy hit (a.k.a. #Frankenstorm, or #Frigginstorm if you're from Jersey) and literally gave us a whole new perspective on stuff, like:  

• Helping our next neighbors pull a tree off of their roof
• Watching fire trucks put out the house that caught fire down the corner where my kids catch the school bus
• Finally venturing out to try and find a gas station with working gas pumps (or gas) and getting a bird's eye view of the devastation, just outside our own backyard

My husband and I can't help but still feel as if we had dodged the perverbial bullet. 

Our kids got to celebrate Halloween...twice...and can't WAIT to see what happens at Thanksgiving (sort of).

We're still trying to get back to [the new] normal here on the Jersey coast and, well, concerns over mis-matched table settings and tacky floors have now become insignificant, even insensitive, in the face of a natural disaster. 

Photo credit: Hallmark Recordable Storybooks

For me, the true meaning of the holidaze is and always has been a very simple one:   each and every moment we spend together with those we love -- no matter how difficult, unplanned, or imperfect it may be -- is truly a gift, my friends.

You know, now that I think on it some more, celebrating Christmas in July may not be such a bad idea after all...at our house, anyways...right?!?

How about you?  Have you experienced some "perfectly imperfect" moments preparing for the holidaze?

In the meantime, bring on the Christmas specials and have a wonderful Thanksgiving (or a reasonable facsimile, thereof) my friends!

© 2003 - 2012 This Full House

Disclosure:   I am being compensated for my services for the length of the program.  The stories, opinions and words shared here are all mine.  To receive notices on Hallmark products and special offers, feel free to sign up for the newsletter (when you have time, of course!)

Hershey's Camp Bondfire: Celebrating Independence with Red White and S'mores

The bonds of friendship, just as tight, 56 years later!

My parents were teenagers when they immigrated to America during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956.  My mother was 14 and my father (pictured above on the far right) was my oldest daughter’s age when he first stepped onto U.S. soil with his two best childhood friends.

Band of Brothers, reunited once again: Martin, My Dad and Joe

With the rest of our family living overseas, it was a natural fit for my kids and I to adopt Joe and Martin as honorary Uncles:  so, as you can imagine, Independence Day is a big deal at our house.

Recently, we gathered together with family and friends to celebrate our oldest daughter Holly’s high school graduation, our youngest daughter Hope's fifth grade promotion and her 11th birthday with a Happy Everything party.

Then, we had our own little after party and, well, now that our kids are ALL grown up (mostly) it's really, really nice to be able to take a self-imposed time out...together!

This week, I am very honored to partner with TheMotherhood.com and Hershey's in helping families celebrate summertime and our favorite fireside treat...S'mores!...as a featured blogger for their Camp Bondfire campaign on Facebook!

I hope you join me for fun tips, great stories and a chance to win a fire pit, every week!  Here's how:

Kellogg's Rice Krispies: Hidden Suprise Easter Egg Treats Giveaway Kit

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be able to share this awesome Easter kit with you Janet W. (comment #23) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Hidden Surprise Easter Egg Treats

I am beyond excited and very honored to partner with Kelloggs in helping families (like mine) achieve great starts to their days AND, as a Champions of Great Starts Mom Ambassador, I get the chance to share really cool stuff with you too :)

For Easter, Kellogg’s created a fun and festive take on the Original Rice Krispies Treats and have kindly offered to send one of our online friends a kit to make the Hidden Surprise Easter Egg Treats at home with your family too.

Because, we roll like that!

The Bagster Bag Blogger Challenge Update: When It Rains, It Pours!

 
Thanks to TheBagster.com for sponsoring my writing about our latest home improvement project and the Bagster Bag Blog Challenge.   

When I first told my husband about this challenge, he was all, like, I've seen these guys on HGTV (I missed that episode, dangit!) and, seeing as we can't afford to rent a dumpster, right now (or, probably never) he also thought The Bagster Bag was a perfect fit for us.

Unfortunately, our renovation plans have not gone...well, as planned...and here is why:

How about you?  Got any renovations coming up in the new year?  Have you had any home improvement projects go, you know, NOT as you quite planned?

FIND IT HERE:  TheBagster.com

The Bagster Bag on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/bagsterbag)

The Bagster Bag on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/bagsterbag)

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  Waste Management partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its The Bagster Bag Blogger Challenge.  As part of the program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the The Bagster Bag Blogger Challenge. Waste Management believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Waste Management’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

JCPenney Santa Tags: Send Along a Little Magic - Record a Special Holiday Message With QR Codes!

I know, I know, not everyone likes suprises.  In fact, I know quite a few people who can't stand them.

I am NOT one of those people. 

Especially, when I used to work full-time (in a real office, with an actual door, I mean) I loved participating in Secret Santas.

Which is why I am excited to be a part of the JCPenney Secret Santa Blog Tour this holiday season, featuring their new Santa Tag: an easy-to-use QR code that gift recipients can scan and listen to when they open their gift.

Which means, I got to play Santa and gift another blogger with something on his or her wish list.

Sounds fun, right?  Still, there's a reason why it's called the holi"daze," and just how easy is it?

Our Favorite Holiday Treat: Heather's Cranberry Apple Bread & Giveaway

Thanks to International Delight for sponsoring my writing about our family's holiday traditions. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win a $200 Walmart gift card from Blog Frog.

The kids and I get so FIRED UP this time of year -- especially, when it comes to homemade treats -- we ALL have such GRAND plans about baking just about every cookie imaginable and gifting them to family and friends.

Then, before we know it, it's Christmas Eve and, well, you know.

Then again, that's what attending church bake sales and those last minute Hail Mary runs to [insert your favorite local bakery, here]are for, right?

There is one baked treat, however, that remains a favorite family tradition, beginning on Thanksgiving Eve and carrying us right through to January 6th, or what my parents call, "Little Christmas."

It just wouldn't be the holidays without my almost-16-year old daughter Heather's awesome Cranberry Apple Bread.

Our Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition: Thanksgiving Tree

Only one more sleep until Thanksgiving (YAY!) 

One of our favorite holiday traditions started when my youngest brought home a craft she made in 1^st grade out of popsicle sticks.

Come by and visit with me at PlaydatePlace.com where I am sharing our favorite Thanksgiving family tradition:  creating a Thanksgiving Tree.

FIND IT HERE:  http://playdateplace.kmart.com/2011/11/the-thanksgiving-tree-that-almost-wasn%E2%80%99t/?intcmp=PlaydatePlace

I'll leave the porch light on for you, thanks!

LOOK! MORE STUFF WE'RE SHARING:

• Check out my latest (as in, last week) bathroom makeover and sharing a $20.00 gift card to Home Depot.

• Also, we would LOVE to share this awesome Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect Bundle with one of our online friends, this holiday season!

Because, we roll like that -- Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!

Extreme Home Do-Over: Glidden Oil Gloss Paint Review and Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be able to share this awesome gift card with you Donna B. (comment #44) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

So, there I was, just sitting, reading the latest issue of Cottage Living and minding my own (ahem) business, when, all of the sudden, RRRRRRRRIIIIIIPPPPP.

Last week, I spontaneously started de-constructing our bathroom and, even though we've used other people's half-bathrooms that were WAY BIGGER (hrmph) when it comes to prepping walls for paint, size does NOT matter.

Having nearly painted myself into a coronary on Friday and then coming under the wire, late Saturday night (stupid #NaBloPoMo) 12 cups of coffee, 6 trips to Home Depot and way too many potty stops I'd care to mention, at the moment (you're welcome!)  my spontaneous bathroom makeover is FINALLY complete!!!

To help mask the imperfections left behind by the stupid wallpaper, I came up with an idea:  I received a sample of Glidden's oil gloss paint eariler in the month and used it to add a cool reflective texture.

Want to see?

Deal Alert: AT&T's Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals Announced!

Feel free to read my review and how the Impulse 4G by Huawei helped me overcome my smartphone envy - when you have time, of course.

Guess what?  I haven't broken my new cell phone from AT&T [knocks on wood until knuckles bleed] not yet, anyway.

However, I'm still having a hard time convincing my kids that, in this case, it's okay NOT to share.

I don't blame them.  It's really a smart-looking phone.

Most especially, since I've gifted myself with prettiful phone bling (it's my first smartphone, don't judge) although, I can't help but feel a little sad that my phone dresses up nicer than I do.

Hrmph.

Aaaaanyway, have any techy-type stuff on your shopping list?!?  EXCELLENT!!!

AT&T just announced their Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals on ATT.com.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, November 25th, the following promotions will be available for online shoppers while supplies last. FREE SHIPPING and WAIVED ACTIVATION is included:

Friday, November 25, 12:01 a.m. ET

• Touchscreen devices, including tablets.

Saturday, November 26, 12:01 a.m. ET

• All Windows 7 and select Android devices, for just $.01

Sunday, November 27, 12:01 a.m. ET

• BlackBerry 9860 for  only $.01, HTC Red Inspire for $29.99

Monday, November 28, 12:01 a.m. ET

• A lineup of some of AT&T’s most popular smartphones—Motorola ATRIX 4G, Samsung Infuse 4G, BlackBerry 9810, HTC Inspire 4G and LG Thrill 4G—all for only one cent!

Aaaaand, you don't even have to leave home, or change out of your pajamas, to take advantage of these really great deals. 

How awesome is that, right?  Don't tell my kids, okay?

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  No payment, product or any other consideration, besides perhaps helping families (like mine) save a little extra milk money, was received for this blog post. 

Deal Alert: Free Shipping Day, December 16, 2011

Last Christmas, I saved a bundle ordering stuff online AND taking advantage of free shipping offered on selected items.

This year, I learned about an awesome event called Free Shipping Day where over 1,000 merchants have already registered to offer FREE SHIPPING for a 24-hour period with delivery by Christmas Eve!

Including some of my family's favorite brands:   Kmart, Lands' End, JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble and many more.

ALL FREE SHIPPING DAY OFFERS WILL BE REVEALED:  at 12:00am EST on Friday, December 16, 2011 on their website at FreeShippingDay.com!

Also, feel free to check out FreeShipping.org for FREE shipping codes posted daily -- because, free is good -- when you have time, of course!!!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

  ^{Feed me, see more!!}

Disclosure:  No payment, product or any other consideration, besides the satisfaction of knowing I may be helping families (like mine) save a little extra milk money, was received for this blog post.

 

Disney Store's Share the Magic 2011 Holiday Collection & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: Looking forward to sharing this awesome gift with one of you, real soon :)

My kids LOVED going to "the mall" when they were little:  truth be told, for me it was an easy excuse to get out of the house, grab a quick cup of coffee and clock in a few good laps with the double-stroller.

Aaaaand, if my kids promised to be good, we'd make a stop at the Disney Store, before heading home for naptime (theirs and mine!)

Now that they're older, not so much.

There are, however, three things the kids and I still love to do when "doing" the mall:  grab a cup of coffee, go window shopping and visit the Disney Store.

Especially, a few weeks before Thanksgiving, when the stores are pretty much finished decorating for the holidays and, hopefully, way before the rest of the folks, here in New Jersey, along with their friends, family AND extended relatives magically appear, out of nowhere.

PHEW!  Move over, Rover, mommy needs a cup of coffee...STAT!

This holiday season, in partnership with the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, guests at the Disney Store are asked to "Share the Magic" to help make a child's wish come true: 

Now, thru December 11, 2011 -- for every Mickey or Minnie Mouse Holiday Plush sold in-store and on DisneyStore.com, Disney Store will donate $1.00 (up to $50,000) to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

We received a lovely surprise package in the mail (thank you, Disney Store) and, I can honestly tell you, these holiday plushes really are SO adorable and totally hug-worthy, too!

Want one?!?  EXCELLENT!!!

Deal Alert: Annual Kmart Family & Friends Sale, This Weekend!

Now that the Halloween stuff is ALL put away (almost) I feel it safe to tell you that:

Only 51 more sleeps until Christmas!

[ducks to avoid flying desk calendars]

Frankly, after experiencing our first snowstorm of the season IN OCTOBER I'm hoping to get my holiday stuff done this year (early!)

Kmart is holding its annual Family & Friends Sale this weekend – it's a great time to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH - ALL DAY NATIONWIDE:

• Get 20% 0ff all regular and clearance-priced merchandise for Apparel, Infant Hardlines, Accessories, Jewelry, and Footwear.

• Get 10% of all regular and clearance-priced merchandise for Sporting Goods, Toys, Season, Edibles, Consumables, Hardware, Appliances (not major appliances) Hard Home, Soft Home, Stationery, Beauty, Health, Electronics, Entertainment and Auto.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH - ALL DAY IN THESE SELECT AREAS:

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Utah, Idaho, and New Jersey stores: Westwood, Elmwood Park, Closter, Paramus and Lodi.

Feel free to download the flyer for more information: http://www.kmart.com/social4me

Also, we received our Kmart Toy Book at the house this week (pages have been clipped, already!) but, you can check it out online, too:  http://kmrt.us/ureQda

In the meantime, wishing you ALL happy shopping and may the force be with you!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  I am a Kmart Featured Blogger and Playdate Place Parent.

#CostcoPork Recipe Challenge & Giveaway: Slow-Roasted Rack of Pork, Served Good JuJu Style

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  So happy to be sharing this awesome prize with you, Elena (comment #37) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

Earlier this week, I shared some great ways families (like mine) can save on the very extravagent looking, yet budget-friendly rack of pork at Costco.

Throughout the month of October, bloggers (like me) have been challenged by TheMotherHood, Costco AND the National Pork Board to create a recipe, using different cuts of pork.

Today, I had the pleasure of preparing Sunday dinner for the grandparents and tested out my recipe -- YES!  I warned them, ahead of time AND they decided to come over, anyway!

Now that the dishes are done (mostly) and in celebration of National Pork Month, I'm very happy to have the chance to share with you my recipe for Slow-Roasted Rack of Pork with Honey Mustard & Balsamic Fig Glaze.

In keeping with my Hungarian roots (my parents immigrated to America in 1956) I will be preparing it again, during the holidaze, as pork is traditionally served on New Year's Day for good luck!

Heaven knows we could ALL use some extra good JuJu, right?!?

Plus, I'm hosting a $25.00 Costco Cash Giveaway to one (1) of our online friends, because we roll like that!