Tips

Make Use of Leftover 2-Liters with Champagne Holiday Punch

December 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

Do you have leftover 2-Liters from hosting holiday parties?

This delicious recipe uses Sprite and Ginger-Ale to make raspberry holiday punch. If you love raspberry flavors, you will love this champagne punch! I love making this around Christmas because of the red, festive color. Plus, there is usually champagne in the gift pile, half-used soft drinks and leftover cranberries from decorating.

This recipe is derived from the yummy Cincy Shopper’s Holiday Punch. I took the lazy way out and did not puree the cranberries and raspberries into the punch. I only had cranberries so I only used those for garnish! Also, I forgot to refrigerate the drinks overnight so I only refrigerated everything for a few hours. To quickly chill the champagne, I just added the bottle to a cooler full of ice water for about 30 minutes.

Alternative Versions & Tips

Another thing I love to do is freeze fruits to garnish wine or champagne cocktails. I popped some of the cranberries in the freezer and used those to garnish the drinks. That way, the drink stays cold longer without watering anything down. The ice cream sherbet really helps with that too!

If you want an alcohol free or kid-friendly version of this, just leave off the champagne. Add a whole bottle of the sprite and ginger ale in place of the champagne. Additionally, you can make this a pretty New Years Eve champagne holiday punch by garnishing the glass with gold sprinkles. Other ideas to dress it up for the occasion include adding gold paper straws or gold foil cocktail stirrers. Otherwise, follow the recipe below for a mouthwatering champagne holiday punch!

Champagne Holiday Punch

This is a fantastic champagne punch for Christmas and the holidays and a great way to use up leftover ingredients.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

1/2 liter Sprite
1/2 liter Ginger Ale
32 oz. Cranberry Raspberry Juice
1 bottle Champagne
1 pint Raspberry Sherbet for garnishing
1 handful Cranberries for garnishing

Instructions

Combine chilled Sprite, Ginger Ale, Champagne and Cranberry Raspberry Juice into a pitcher or punch bowl.
Stir well.
Pour into glasses.
Add one scoop of sherbet and a few cranberries to each glass.
Enjoy!

Cookies go Great with Champagne Holiday Punch…

I Secured Dinner Reservations at Be Our Guest Several Times & You Can Too

November 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

Be Our Guest Restaurant is a Must for Disney Fanatics

Headed to Disney soon? Whether you are days away or months out, you still have a chance of getting Be Our Guest dinner reservations.

This Beauty & The Beast themed dining option is infamous for being one of the hardest dining options to secure. Breakfast and lunch are fairly easy to reserve, but dinner is next to impossible if you don’t know the secret tips.

What is so magical about Be Our Guest restaurant?

Disney fans will love the Beauty and the Beast themed rooms presented in a way that only Disney can deliver. As soon as you venture into the castle ahem, restaurant, you will feel as though you have walked onto the movie.

Taste “the grey stuff” from the “Be Our Guest” scene in Beauty and the Best. Also, dinner is the only time Beast makes a character appearance. And, some menu items are only available during dinner.

How to Get Reservations at Be Our Guest

I have been fortunate enough to get reservations a few times now. Each time I used a different approach. Below are the ways that have worked for me.

How to Book Reservations Months Before Your Trip

1) If you have a few months to plan your trip, you are in luck! You can book dining reservations up to six months in advance. If possible, get up very early on exactly six months before you leave and snag reservations. Don’t have time for that? Don’t worry. The next tip will take care of that for you.

This little known secret gives you a very good chance at snagging Be Our Guest Reservations and is the inspiration behind the post…

2) MouseDining.com: This rarely heard of site is the best chance of getting hard to reserve dining at Disney World. Sign up for FREE to get alerts when dining reservations become available. I tested this and it won us reservations at Be Our Guest! Now – you may not be the fastest the first few times but don’t give up! It took three times before I successfully placed reservations.

Tips:

Bookmark the restaurant pages on your personal computer and phone browser. When my husband and I got the exact same alert, I was able to get the reservation faster on my computer than he was on the phone.
Create alerts for several different time slots. For the free version, you can only get alerts for so many time slots and you will get an alert within a one hour window.

How to Book Reservations Days Before Your Trip

3) The week before and the week of a trip surprisingly tend to show a lot more openings than months out. Check Disney daily for major changes in availability. You can even test this by checking for available reservations this week compared to availability six months away.

How to Book Same Day Reservations During Your Trip

4) Call Disney. You may be surprised that this can actually work. They can see if an opening is available and if you are flexible on a time, you might get lucky. This has worked for me but I have only tried it once. If you are celebrating something special, be sure and let them know. This may help your chances! This can work well because many people simply will not pick up the phone to try this.

If you are able to get reservations, be sure and leave a fantastic review after your phone call. I was in line to ride “Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid” when I called. I made sure to stay on the call for the follow up survey during the ride. It was not the most convenient time to complete a survey but it didn’t take long at all! Hopefully the cast member is encouraged to go the extra mile for future guests.

5) Wait in line and ask. You can always ask the hostess if there are any last minute cancellations. I have not personally tried this but I have heard success stories from other travelers.

Breakfast and lunch are pretty incredible too…

If you don’t get dinner reservations this time, breakfast and lunch are less expensive and you can sit anywhere in the castle. At dinner, seats are chosen by the hostess (although you are still free to walk around to each room for pictures). Plus, you can use a Quick Service dining credit during breakfast and lunch…how awesome is that?!

Have any of these methods worked for you?

Save on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets & More…

Head to McDowell Nature Preserve ASAP to Bask In Fall Leaf Perfection

November 21, 2017 2 Comments

Looking for a place to enjoy fall leaves in the Charlotte area?

The Charlotte and Lake Wylie area are sporting some seriously beautiful fall leaves right now. My family and I went to the McDowell Nature Preserve last weekend, and we were treated to stunning scenery! The weather is absolutely prime for outdoor strolling, and the leaves around Lake Wylie consist of reds, oranges and yellows.

We walked around the Lake Wylie on the Kingfisher Trail and enjoyed a nice walk with the dogs. Even better, this is a free activity to enjoy! There are plenty of places to park and the trail has enough space for everyone. Also, there is no shortage of photo-worthy spots including benches by the water and more. We will definitely be back to McDowell Nature Preserve!

McDowell Nature Preserve Information:

Follow the signs for the Waterfront Deck once you arrive to see the same trails that I did. The address for the preserve is below…

Address:

15222 York Road
Charlotte, NC 28278

Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 9am-5pm, Sunday: 1pm-5pm

Camping:

This preserve is convenient to Charlotte but offers up vibes that feel away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Campers will love these Lake Wylie grounds! Pricing is $36 for county residents and $46 for non-county residents.

You can even rent a whole island for less than $200!

If you don’t like sharing your camping space, have no fear. Rent an entire island on the property, Copperhead Island, for only $134 if you are a Mecklenburg County resident. Non-county residents pay $210 – still a fantastic price for a whole island! Included with your rental is a shelter with an 80 person seating capacity, grills, restrooms, horseshoe pits and more. Head here for more information.

Where is your favorite place to enjoy the fall scenery in Charlotte?

Get up close with nature, donkeys and horses at the Anne Springs Greenway…

The Southern Christmas Show: An Enchanting Tradition

November 10, 2017 Leave a Comment

What is your Christmas Show story?🎄

For as long as I can remember, my mother, sister and I have made one of our holiday traditions attending the Southern Christmas Show. Before that, my mom and her mom went to the Christmas show together. Our family is not alone in this tradition – nearly all my friends from this area also attend yearly. The crowds have grown and the vendor list has changed over the years, but the excitement remains.

Thankfully, many Christmas Show favorites are still around from my childhood. The Doll House Room in Enchanted Village, beautifully decorated Christmas trees on Christmas tree lane and apple strudels are just a few of the things we always look forward to. We also have wonderful memories of vendors we miss too, such as The Original Gourd Lady.

Show Information:

November 9 – 19, 2017
Sundays – Tuesdays: 10am – 6pm
Wednesdays – Saturdays: 10am – 9pm
The Park Expo and Conference Center
800 Briar Creek Road
Charlotte, NC 28205

Our Favorite Christmas Show Traditions

Christmas Trees on Christmas Tree Lane and Interior Decor in Designer Rooms

As you walk into the show, you will be in the design awards area. Decked out Christmas trees and showrooms decorated by local designers will get you in the holiday mood!

Visiting the Doll House Room in Enchanted Village

Perhaps our favorite part of the show, the Doll House Room is such a magical experience. The incredible detail of doll house artists will blow your mind. Be prepared for close quarters due to the popularity of this exhibit!

Christmas Mouse

If you are looking for a specific ornament for someone, Christmas Mouse is the place to be! From musical instruments to sports teams, there is probably an ornament at this store. We always spend way too much in this store. Be sure and check for signs near the register for any ornament specials going on. This store stays very crowded!

Trains

We are always so excited to see the miniature trains in the little train village. This is definitely a fun spot for all ages!

Eating Apple Strudels

When you go down the ramp to get to the food vendors, you can already smell the deliciousness. Apple strudels are a food staple for us every year! We just can’t get enough.

Southern Christmas Show Tips:

Where to Get Discount Tickets:

The best deal on Southern Christmas Show tickets is at Harris Teeter. Pay $9.50 per adult ticket when you use your VIC card at participating Harris Teeter stores. Even if your store is not on the list, your store may have tickets available. The Belmont, NC Harris Teeter is not on the list but they do have tickets.

You can also get the $9.50 price if you are with a group of 20 or more. The next best price on tickets is with advance online purchase at $10 per adult ticket. Tickets are $12 at the door for adults, $3 for children 6-12 and free for children under 5.

Bring Cash:

Bring cash for parking (cash only) and some vendors that do not take cards. Most vendors, thankfully, do take cards though! Cash is also the best attempt at staying on budget at the Christmas Show. 😉

What to Wear to the Southern Christmas Show:

Practical Answer: I recommend comfortable clothes because there is a lot of walking if you want to see all of the vendors. After walking around in the crowds, the temperature tends to run kind of high. Some spots can be chilly though, such as eating areas. Layers are the best way to prepare for the changing temperatures.

*Photo Source: The Southern Christmas Show Facebook Page*

Alternative Answer: Many people wear very festive clothing – you may be surprised at some of the fun outfits you see! You might even get awarded for your festive outfit from an undercover elf! Undercover elves award $5 gift certificates to be used anywhere in the show to some lucky shoppers! Have you ever been awarded this honor?

Parking:

All I can say is be prepared to search. There is a drop off area, but finding a close spot is difficult. Parking is $8 cash only, or you can pay $18 for valet parking when available. See more information here.

Is this a tradition for your family or friends? Please share in the comments!

Photo Sources: The Southern Christmas Show Facebook Page, The Christmas Show Facebook Page, The Charlotte Observer site

Get your southern cooking on with this Homemade Chicken Casserole Recipe…

Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany’s DIY Inspired Makeup Organizer Carousel

October 11, 2017 Leave a Comment

This Breakfast at Tiffany’s DIY will Glam Up Your Makeup Organization

Like many others, I am a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn. I love the classic and timeless looks she offers, especially in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

I have some of the clear acrylic organizers but I am just so bored with them. Plus, most of them are so bulky and I like using as much vertical space as possible.

I was stoked to find a tall carousel style makeup organizer on Amazon. Even better, they offer this style in black, which doesn’t show makeup stains as easy as clear or white.

I still wanted something a little less plain and the scallop shapes were just begging for embellishment. Plus, I am all about the easy crafts and this craft is so easy a kid could do it!

I linked to the supplies I used below but feel free to be creative and glam up your own organizers. I didn’t have luck finding the flat pearls at any of my local craft stores but you may be able to.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s DIY Makeup Organizer Carousel

Supplies:

Black Makeup Carousel
2 Packs of Flat adhesive pearls – note: you can get away with one pack if you don’t want as many pearls.
Rhinestones (these took forever forever forever to arrive but they finally made it)
Glue Gun

Directions:

Put the carousel together: My package did not come with instructions but there are instructions on the item page. Luckily it was pretty obvious to put together – the part that acts as the lazy Susan goes on the bottom (the bottom left item in the image above). The big flat pieces (bottom right in image above) slide into the slots. The top piece sits on top, just make sure the scallops on the top piece are pointing to the ceiling (top left item in image above, but flip over). Insert the trays (top right items in image above) in the slots based on how tall your items are. Secure the trays with the included rubber bands (shown in baggies in the middle of image above).
Secure rhinestones: Use a hot glue gun to secure the large rhinestone pearls to each section of the top. Hold the rhinestone on for a few moments to make sure it will stay in place.

Place adhesive pearls: I placed the smallest size adhesive between each scallop at the top of the carousel and medium ones at every fourth of the way at the top. At the bottom, I used the largest size pearl flats. I didn’t add many to the bottom but I may add more later. If you want the bottom to be even, place the pearl flat every fourth of the way and two and a half scallops in between (whoops – I accidentally did two and then realized it should have been 2 & 1/2!).

These Rose Gold Craft Supplies are Seriously Swoonworthy…

Dog Grooming Bandana Repurpose MiniSeries: Reusable Dog Wipes – Great for Tear Stains

October 4, 2017 Leave a Comment

Part 3 of 3 in the Dog Grooming Bandana Repurpose MiniSeries

This is the last week in the dog groomer bandana repurpose miniseries – ideas to re-purpose dog bandanas from the groomer. If you have a creative use for these bandanas, feel free to let me know in the comments! Be sure and check out Part 1 and Part 2 for even more ideas (listed below):

Today’s post will show how to easily make homemade, reusable cloth dog wipes from bandanas from the groomer. Even better, this is a natural solution and you will know exactly what goes in it.

After you have used a wipe, just throw it in the laundry and wash as you normally would. This way you can get a lot more use out of the wipes versus disposable ones. Even better, you will save a lot of money instead of buying $5+ packs of dog wipes.

If the thought of cloth wipes freaks you out, you can use a roll of paper towels cut in half instead of the bandanas. This is a great way to have wipes when you travel without having to worry about getting them washed. You can also add paper towels to the jar if you don’t have many bandanas.

Reusable Dog Wipes

Materials:

1 tablespoon of any Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (I used lavender)
1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil (I used Trader Joe’s Organic Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil)
1 empty jar with lid
Bandanas from the groomer (I used nine)
Boiled or Distilled Water

Directions:

Place bandanas in empty jar. You can fold them or roll them up, whichever you prefer. Set aside.
Combine castile soap, water in a small bowl and mix well.
Heat mixture in microwave for 2 minutes, then stir well.
Pour mixture over wipes in jar.
Shake closed jar until solution has saturated the wipes, then let sit for an hour.
Drain jar of excess liquid, then seal the jar with the lid.
Enjoy!

Tip:

Put a few in a ziploc bag to have ready for on-the-go moments. I love having wipes handy when the dogs join me for a road trip. You just never know when you will be walking through mud!
If the coconut oil is too heavy for your dog’s fur, you could use it as paw or eye wipes. My dogs have long hair that gets tangled easy so this solution is perfect for them.
Tie a bandana on the outside of the jar to make it cute! 🙂