This review is in no way sponsored. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
One of my favorite past times is playing video games. A lot of great games have come out this year, and I quickly became addicted to Red Dead Redemption 2. I am a total completionist when it comes to gaming, so that is why I have a love/hate relationship with it. Part of me wants to finish the story and see what is going to happen next while the other part of me wants to collect every single plant and complete every single side mission.
Hours and Hours of Gameplay
Red Dead Redemption 2 is sure to give me hours and hours of gameplay. Because of all the side missions that you can complete. From collecting bounties, to cooking recipes, to hunting animals – there are nearly endless possibilities. If you stay away from the main story line, you could easily spend weeks, even months, playing this game. As a completionist, I pretty much have to do this. It is like an OCD, and I can’t finish a game until I know I will be at 1005 (or very close).
Amazing Story Line
I am obsessed with what I have seen in the story line of Red Dead Redemption 2. You can make Arthur, your character, a good guy or a bad guy. He can spare lives or take them. If you get a bounty on your head, simply pay it off, or kill the bounty hunter. The gameplay has many parts that are open for you to decide, which is something I enjoy a lot.
So, the moral of this story is, I have over 30 hours in this game already, and I see at least another 60 coming. I am literally stopping to kill and skin every animal I see to fill my compendium. HELP! I have a problem – but I love every second of it. As you can see, I am clearly conflicted. I do, however, recommend Red Dead Redemption 2 to pretty much every gamer out there, completionist or not.
From the moment I watched the first trailer for The Kid Who Would Be King I was intrigued. This movie looked like something I could enjoy with my older daughter. Parents, you know it is hard to find movies that we will love and our kids will too. So with my daughter getting older, I am excited to enter a new realm of movies with her! We have been watching Harry Potter together, and The Kid Who Would Be King seems like the same sort of film. I can’t wait to see the new twist they take on King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone.
Exciting News!
As you can probably tell by my reaction to the newest trailer, I am really excited for this movie. I think it looks super cool! I love all things mystical and magical and The Kid Who Would Be King is sure to have all of that! This is something I am really looking forward to taking my 7 year old daughter to see.
Speaking of that… I am THRILLED to announce that I have been invited to attend a press event for The Kid Who Would Be King WITH MY DAUGHTER in January! Be sure to follow along because you know I will be sharing all the inside details of the movie on my social channels. While there, my daughter will train to be a knight – and we will get to interview some of the cast – INCLUDING Sir Patrick Stewart (whatttttt – the X-Men nerd inside me is DYING right now!).
The Kid Who Would Be King Synopsis
Old school magic meets the modern world in the epic adventure THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING. Alex (Ashbourne Serkis) thinks he’s just another nobody, until he stumbles upon the mythical Sword in the Stone, Excalibur. Now, he must unite his friends and enemies into a band of knights and, together with the legendary wizard Merlin (Stewart), take on the wicked enchantress Morgana (Ferguson). With the future at stake, Alex must become the great leader he never dreamed he could be.
THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING in theaters January 25, 2019!
One of my favorite things about the keto diet is the fat bombs. Sounds crazy, I know, but they make the perfect after dinner snack and help curb all of my sweet cravings. Sweets have always been my downfall, so these are the perfect way to help me stay on track, without feeling like it! I tried several different Peanut Butter Cup fat bomb recipes before creating my own. This one is more of a tart recipe than a cup, since they are just layered. Still, they are delicious! I hope you enjoy!
Combine the ingredients for the chocolate layer, mixing well.
Spread chocolate layer in the bottom of the cupcake liners.
Place in freezer for 5 minutes.
While they are in the freezer, combine peanut butter layer ingredients, mixing well.
Remove chocolate layer from freezer and spread peanut butter layer in each cupcake liner.
Freeze for 15 minutes.
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes freeze time (no cook time) Servings: 6 tarts – 4g carbs each – 29g fat each!
What Is a Fat Bomb?
Fat bombs are small snacks or treats that are high in fat and low in carbs that you can eat as a quick breakfast, quick mid-afternoon snack, or as extra fuel during your day. I prefer them at the end of the day, when I know I need a little more fat (and something sweet!). These are perfect for those following the keto, or low carb, diet – which is low carb, high fat.
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Tart Keto Fat Bomb Recipe
Easy and delicious keto / low carb fat bombs!
Chocolate Layer
1/3 cup no sugar added Peanut Butter
3 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon pink himalayan salt
3 Tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons Steviva KetoseSweet+ Liquid
Peanut Butter Layer
3 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
2/3 cup no sugar added Peanut Butter
1/4 cup pink himalayan salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Steviva KetoseSweet+ Liquid
Prepare a muffin tin with cupcake liners (I use these reusable ones).
Combine the ingredients for the chocolate layer, mixing well.
Spread chocolate layer in the bottom of the cupcake liners.
Place in freezer for 5 minutes.
While they are in the freezer, combine peanut butter layer ingredients, mixing well.
Remove chocolate layer from freezer and spread peanut butter layer in each cupcake liner.
Freeze for 15 minutes.
Super easy fat bombs for the keto / low carb diet!
Staying on track with keto and low carb living can be hard. Especially when you like to unwind on the holidays (or weekends – let’s be honest) with an alcoholic beverage. Since I have been living this way for about a year now, I have come up with a list of my favorite keto alcoholic beverages. Yup, all of these are keto friendly and low carb approved so enjoy!
Low Carb Bloody Mary
I have never been one to enjoy a Bloody Mary, but I have many friends and family who do. They are especially great when nursing a hangover. So these might be a good New Year’s Day drink to serve. Get the recipe over at Thyme and Joy.
Pickled Beet Dirty Martini
Capturing the clean simple taste of a classic dirty martini, this cocktail “twist” contains a crisp and savory flavor with a subtle dash of sweet beet finish. Pickled beet brine contains a little garlic and a lot of dill, so it’s perfect for a dirty (or filthy) martini. Grab this delicious recipe over at Just Beet It.
This Keto Mulled Wine is a delicious, warming, healthier-for-you cocktail that is bursting with amazing flavors! It’s low-carb, vegan, gluten-free, and contains no added sugar. The perfect winter skinny adult beverage! Get the recipe at VegAnnie.
Now these are my favorites if you are looking for something you can pop open and drink. If I feel like making a beverage, then I will often choose a Vodka drink. These are delicious – seriously the flavors are amazing! And they are only 2 carbs each! You cannot go wrong with that!
Michelob Ultra
If you are looking for a beer, this is the one that tops my list. There are a few others out there that are keto approved, however Michelob Ultra only has 2.6 carbs per can and one of the better flavors (in my opinion). This is my husband’s go to after a long week at work!
It took me a long time to find one that the whole family loves. I finally found a decent recipe, and then had to tweak it just a bit to make it ours. Here is our go to keto mac and cheese – that takes less than 10 minutes to make!
Ingredients for Keto Mac and Cheese
3/4 stick unsalted butter
3 ounces softened cream cheese
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup bacon bits
2 cups zucchini noodles (or 3 large zucchinis, noodled)
salt
pepper
Directions for Keto Mac and Cheese
Melt butter over medium heat.
Still in cubed cream cheese and broth.
Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until melted and thickened.
Reduce heat to low and add cheddar and Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until cheese is melted.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour over warmed zoodles.
Top with halved tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and bacon bits, as preferred.
This is my FAVORITE keto mac and cheese recipe! Even my daughter who lives on mac and cheese eats it and has no clue it isn’t pasta. She even asks for it by name. My favorite part about it is how easy it is to make! Of course, if you don’t have bacon bits or tomatoes, you can go without those and it will be just as delicious. Or add something else in for fun (my mom loves to add chopped up ham!).
Gourmet Keto “Mac” and Cheese Recipe That The Whole Family Will Love
Make delicious keto mac and cheese in less than 10 minutes.
3/4 stick unsalted butter
3 ounces softened cream cheese
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup bacon bits
2 cups zucchini noodles (or 3 large zucchinis, noodled)
salt
pepper
Melt butter over medium heat.
Still in cubed cream cheese and broth.
Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until melted and thickened.
Reduce heat to low and add cheddar and Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until cheese is melted.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour over warmed zoodles.
Top with halved tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and bacon bits, as preferred.
A super easy keto dinner that the whole family loves! Three carbs per serving.
You might have seen my DIY Thanksgiving centerpiece I posted a while back? Well, we decided to take the basis for that, and create a Christmas one! My girls have loved making these, and showing them off to friends and family. One of the coolest things about it is that you can take the bowl and fill it with just about anything to match the holiday or event. Think birthdays, Valentine’s Day – the possibilities are endless!
To create this centerpiece, start by putting the string lights and clear beads in the bowl. Make sure they are weaved throughout so that when you light it up, you can see the lights from every angle. Put your tree in the center, and spread out the mini presents and candy canes. Then add whatever else you would like to. For example, we added in a Santa Stop Here sign, and several other fun items like a reindeer.
The best part about this centerpiece is that it is totally customizable! You can use all sorts of different items, and could potentially use items you find around the house! My daughters loved putting this together and cannot wait to show it off to our whole family. When the holiday is over, simply pack your themed items away in a bag for next year. Be sure to pin this how to so that you can easily find this post when you need it!
This review is in no way sponsored. All opinions expressed are my own.
I just got back from watching Mary Poppins Returns with my daughters – and it was a purely magical experience. Within the first few moments, I felt like a kid again. And that is no exaggeration. When Mary Poppins arrives on Cherry Tree Lane it is in perfect Mary Poppins fashion, and it only gets better from there. The music is phenomenal and I left the theater wanting to go see it again. Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and – well – every single actor in this film – were practically perfect in every way. Oh yea, and I cried. Like a lot. But would you expect anything else from me?
Lin-Manuel Miranda is Jack in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS, which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.
Lin-Manuel Miranda & Emily Blunt Are Amazing
I knew that both Lin-Manuel Miranda and Emily Blunt were ridiculously talented – but WOW! Both of them shine in Mary Poppins Returns. Lin-Manuel plays Jack, the light-hearted lamplighter, and Emily of course, plays Mary Poppins. Emily had some big shoes to fill and she does so perfectly. Lin-Manuel did as well, as Mary’s sidekick throughout the film, and trust me, he does. Both of their singing and dancing is contagious, and I have had the soundtrack on repeat since coming home.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is Jack in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS, which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.
All New Original Songs
At first I was bummed to hear that none of my favorite songs from the original Mary Poppins, but after seeing the movie I am SO GLAD that there wasn’t any. My friend Amiyrah over at 4 Hats and Frugal did tell me to listen closely at the end for the music from original songs (thank you for that!). I loved every single song (that bathtub scene!!!) and it is hard to pick a favorite. But I would have to go with A Cover is Not the Book for so many reasons. Not only is that scene just incredible in every single way – the costumes, the dancing, the… colors! – but also the lyrics are great. There is something to be said about these songs. They all teach a lesson, which leads me in to my next part of this review.
Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins and Nathanael Saleh is John in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS, which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.
Lessons to be Learned
As with any Disney movie, we are given a lot of lessons to be learned in Mary Poppins Returns. I refuse to give spoilers because I think that this movie is something everyone should experience with fresh eyes, but there is one line Mary says that really stuck with me. It something I really needed to hear because I am a classic overthinker, which causes me to stress. A lot. She says, “Some people think too much, of that I am certain“. In 2019, I hope to stop thinking so much.
Overall, I highly recommend this movie to pretty much every single human. If you are a fan of the original, you will love it. If you know nothing of the original, you will love it. This film has something for everyone. From the moment it starts, you are sure to become a child at heart, just like Lin-Manuel’s character Jack.
About Mary Poppins Returns
In Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.
Kids can keep warm in the winter months with this awesome hat and gloves set. PJ Masks are on their way to save the snow day! Help your little hero get ready for action in these cute and colorful set featuring his favorite characters from PJ Masks Catboy, Owlette and Gekko. Let the magic of PJ Masks warm your heart while it warms his head and hands. Just like when the kids from PJ Masks put on their pajamas and activate their animal amulets, your little super hero can slip on these warm set to prepare for fun and adventure.
Gekko Inflatable Holiday Decoration
Your house will be the coolest on the block with this giant Gecko inflatable holiday decoration. Standing at 3.5 feet tall, Gekko is holiday a candy cane to help everyone get in the holiday spirit. Airblown Gekko with Candy Cane will delight your children with a fun character from their favorite Disney Junior tv show series, PJ Masks! Airblown gives your decor maximum impact with minimum effort and it comes with everything you need for quick and easy set-up. You just stake it down and plug it in. Lights up with clear LED lights Self-inflates in seconds Deflates for easy storage.
PJ Masks 2019 Calendar
With this 2019 calendar, you can celebrate with the PJ Masks all year long. By day Connor, Amaya, and Greg go to school like everyone else. But when something goes awry in the city, these special 6-year-olds, filled with curiosity and a sense of justice, get their pajamas on and become superheroes Catboy, Owlette. and Gekko. The PJ Masks are on their way into the night to save the day in the 2019 PJ Masks wall calendar. Bedtime is the right time to fight crime! Sixteen-month wall calendars include each month in 2019 as well as the last four months of 2018, printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
PJ Masks Snuggle Wrap
This snuggle wrap is great for rest time and play time! It can either be a super comfy blanket wrap or a wicked cool cape! Kids are sure to love it!
PJ Masks Toothbrushes
My kids always get a toothbrush in their stocking for Christmas. Brushing your teeth is made fun with these PJ Masks toothbrushes. They feature multi-height bristles to clean teeth big and small as well as our unique soft tongue cleaner to encourage good oral care habits early on.
There is nothing my kids and I love more than binging a series on Netflix. Pretty much gone are the days of having to wait for your favorite show to return each week. My girls will never understand that struggle! One show we are all really excited about as a family is 3Below: Tales of Arcadia. We enjoyed Trollhunters and found out that this is a spin-off so you know we have been counting the days!
I was really excited when DreamWorks TV sent me a fun package to help celebrate this show. It included the softest blanket in the whole word and a comfy Corgi butt pillow! There was also a holiday card from Aja and Krel which my daughters hung up on their bulletin board. This has me even more excited to tune in tomorrow. If you aren’t excited yet (how are you not?!), just watch the trailer and I am sure you will be!
See! I told you! This show is going to be so much fun and I am really looking forward to binging it all (gosh, I love Netflix!). We all are going to have time over the holidays, so it is the perfect time for a fun new show to be released!
About 3Below Tales of Arcadia
3Below Tales of Arcadia is the second chapter in the Tales of Arcadia trilogy from Academy-Award winning director Guillermo del Toro and is coming exclusively to Netflix on 12/21 (tomorrow!!).
Fans of the 7 time Emmy®-winning Trollhunters can expect to find several familiar faces in 3Below when two royal teenage aliens and their bodyguard flee a surprise takeover of their home planet by an evil dictator and crash land in Arcadia. Now on the run from intergalactic bounty hunters, they struggle to blend in and adapt to the bizarre world of high school all the while attempting to repair their ship so they can return and defend their home planet.
If you didn’t know, I am a big comic book collector and reader. I have been reading comic books since I was about 8 years old, but the last 12 years I have been REALLY in to them. One of my favorite characters has always been Carol Danvers. I loved her as Ms. Marvel (and adore the new Ms. Marvel too!). When she took up the mantle of Captain Marvel, I was super excited! With the hype of the new movie coming in early 2019, a new 5 issue run came out – The Life of Captain Marvel. We learned a lot about Carol’s past in this mini series and I cannot wait to see if any of it ties in to the film.
WARNING: Spoilers of the series ahead!
Carol Goes Home
The series opens with Carol lashing out on a villain a bit harder than she should. It is Father’s Day and she is having issues with some memories of her dad as being abusive, so she decides to go home. She has it out with her brother while at her father’s grave and lets him drive off drunk. Then BAM – accident. He ends up in a coma and she decides to ditch Tony and the Avengers for a while to stay home with her mom and brother.
Her Father’s Past
In staying at home, she discovers some letters that her father wrote to a woman he was having an affair with (she assumes). Inside the box was also a strange device. She has no clue what it is, and even tries to smash it open after she notices a hing. This activates some kind of beacon that we see shoot in to space, and create someone (we don’t know who) and tells that someone (we also don’t know who) is on Earth.
The Arrival
We then see something arrive on Earth. I immediately assumed she was a Kree because of the blue skin. It looks like she is trying to find her way to Carol. In the meantime, Carol is getting close with someone from her past, “Little Louis” and it is really obvious he has liked her for a long time. I would love to see him, or a nod to him, in the MCU’s Captain Marvel.
Joe Wakes Up
Carol’s brother Joe, also wakes up from his coma, but has no use of legs. Yea, there is a LOT going on in this series. All of which is amazing and exciting. Joe and Carol discuss the fact that their father was cheating on their mother. Joe brings back a memory of Carol’s where they all saw him kissing another woman. Someone from another world. Carol’s mother also finds that device in the garage and yells that “it belonged to her”, which tips Carol off that her mother knew also. And that infuriates her.
Her Mother’s Past
So this creature from space makes it’s way to where Carol is and she prepares for a big fight. Then, her mom stops her. Telling her it is her battle to fight. Because – get this – she is a Kree soldier – WHAT! That’s right, Carol’s Kree powers were just activated during her accident with the Kree ship, not created. She is, indeed, half human and half Kree. Mind blown! Her mother tells her she is Car-Ell, daughter of Mari-Ell, captain first of the supreme protectorate, champion of the Kree empire, daughter of Hala by Bloodright and Starlight. She explains that the creature is a Kree Kleaner and is there to bring her back to face judgement, since she abandoned her job to stay on Earth and raise Carol.
We find out that Carol’s father just wanted to keep her safe, because of her background. And knowing she was half Kree, and could attain powers at any moment drove him to drink. Her mother’s story brings us back to when Carol ran away from home. That is when her mom lost not only Carol, but also her father, Joe.
The Conclusion
Major spoilers to the ending here, so if you don’t want to know, stop reading here. Mari-Ell and Car-Ell take on the Kree Kleaner and chase her down to get Joe back. They combine their powers, which is flipping amazing to see for the record. Eventually the Kree Kleaner tries to kill Car-Ell, and Mari-Ell flies in front and sacrifices herself. Car-Ell (or Carol) takes her mother to the lighthouse, where she first saw her “real mother” and her father together so many years ago. In the end, she joins back up with the Avengers.
Even if you read this whole article and not the comics, I highly recommend picking them up. There are so many things I couldn’t capture in my descriptions. This series is worth reading a thousand times over. Or at least pick up the trade paperback when it comes out in February. Trust me.
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