The pilots invited the boys in to try out some gears. This was very fun to do before sitting in our seats.
The Vanderpools embarked on a whirlwind 3-night weekend escape from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the enchanting landscapes of Asheville, North Carolina. Our family had a delightful journey filled with brewery joys, wildlife wonders, Biltmore magic, snow tubing laughter, and unforgettable family moments.
After touching down in Asheville, our first stop was Sierra Nevada Brewery. Imagine delicious drinks, a cozy dinner, and a play area for the kids that made our hearts smile. We then checked into the luxurious Grand Bohemian Hotel, where they welcomed us with open arms and a little bubbly for the grown-ups and the cutest stuffed animal boars for the kids.
The next morning started with a scrumptious hotel breakfast, followed by a visit to the Nature Center, where we met adorable red pandas. We cozied up with hot chocolates at a French bakery downtown before diving into the two-day Biltmore adventure, exploring gardens, playgrounds, and enjoying a family lunch at Cedrics. After discovering the Biltmore cellar, we headed back to downtown. We found the coolest spot to play board games, and enjoyed savoring BBQ at a local spot made for a delightful evening that both the kids and us adults loved.
Sunday morning after a delicious breakfast at the hotel we headed for more family-friendly fun continued with snow tubing in Mars Hill (kids are free), followed by a breathtaking visit to Pisgah National Forest waterfall. We unwound with a Mexican lunch downtown, explored Biltmore gardens, and explored more of the Biltmore farm and playground, treating the family to ice cream. Later, we enjoyed a relaxing hotel break before a laid-back evening at Mellow Mushroom.
A final breakfast at the hotel preceded a swift return to the airport, concluding our unforgettable weekend. From brewery delights to wildlife wonders and Biltmore exploration, our Asheville adventure was a perfect mix of family fun. 10/10 I recommend taking Allegiant non-stop flights!
Undoubtedly, these homemade bbq ribs are a tender delight, with a straightforward preparation that demands only a handful of essential ingredients.
Ingredients: – Pork ribs – BBQ sauce – Red pepper – Green pepper – White onion – Salt and pepper
Instructions: 1) Start by preheating your oven to 250. 2) Season the pork ribs with salt and pepper. 3) Prepare the vegetables by slicing the red pepper, green pepper, and white onion. 4) Place the ribs in the oven and cook for 2.5 hours. 5) Transfer the vegetables onto a sheet of aluminum foil and place them on a grill. 6) Brush BBQ sauce on one side of the ribs and place them on the grill. 7) While the ribs are grilling, apply BBQ sauce to the side facing up. 8) Grill the ribs until they have a desirable char and are heated through. 9) Once done, remove from the grill, cut the ribs, and savor your delicious meal. Enjoy!
For a full video from start to finish check out my Instagram using this link and follow me for more! Enjoy! 🫶🏻
Mini pumpkin cheese balls make a delightful addition to your Thanksgiving dinner, allowing each guest to savor their own personal appetizer. These bite-sized cheese treats are a breeze to prepare, requiring minimal ingredients and only a short amount of time to assemble.
In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and pumpkin puree using a fork or a kitchen mixer. Opting for a fork is convenient with less cleanup, and it takes only a few minutes.
Scoop out portions about the size of a large grape or cherry with your hands to shape them into small balls. They are easy to roll, but remember that the mixture is quite sticky. I was able to make 15 balls using the precise measurements listed above. Place them on parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Using a toothpick or a skewer (as I did), gently press into each ball to create an outer pumpkin shape. Use your index finger to make a slight depression in the center of each ball. Then, refrigerate for an hour to firm them up.
After removing them from the fridge, break a pretzel stick in half and chop a few strips of chives. Attach one half of the pretzel and a piece of chive to each individual “pumpkin.” This will transform your cheese balls into the most adorable mini pumpkins.
Arrange these on a serving board and provide extra Ritz crackers so your guests can enjoy their mini pumpkin as a delightful spread on their plates.
For a full video from start to finish check out my Instagram using this link and follow me for more! Enjoy! 🫶🏻
When it comes to the heart of the home, the kitchen, nothing brings more joy and satisfaction than quality appliances that reflect a blend of innovation and timeless Italian craftsmanship. Fulgor Milano, a family-owned business with deep roots in Italy’s Veneto region, has been perfecting the art of creating exquisite home appliances for over 75 years. Their passion for quality, contemporary design, and the Italian way of life is evident in every appliance they craft.
In this blog post, I explore Fulgor Milano’s exceptional range of kitchen appliances that have been installed in my kitchen, including the Sofia Professional Line and Distinto Collection, which is designed to cater to the diverse needs of modern families and homeowners.
Sofia Professional Line: The Sofia Professional Line by Fulgor Milano is a testament to the brand’s commitment to excellence in both design and functionality. Let’s dive into some of the key features that make this line stand out:
1. 30” Sofia Pro Double Oven
The dual convection technology ensures precise oven temperatures and even cooking at multiple levels. Say goodbye to inconsistent results and hello to perfectly cooked meals every time.
2. Cool Touch Soft-Close Doors
With cool-touch soft-close doors, this line ensures the safety of your family, especially those with small children. These doors close gently, preventing accidental slams and potential hazards.
3. Digital Controls for Precision
The user-friendly digital controls make it easy to set and maintain precise temperatures, enhancing your cooking experience and ensuring that your dishes come out just the way you want them.
4. Self-Cleaning Abilities
The self-cleaning feature eliminates the need for harsh chemical cleaners. Enjoy a cleaner, safer kitchen environment with ease.
5. Multiple Cooking Modes
The Sofia Professional Line offers a wide range of cooking modes, from defrosting to broiling and convection baking. Whatever your recipe, there’s a mode for it.
6. Customizable and Personalized
Choose from seven finishes, including stainless steel, Venetian Red, Gondola Black, and more, to match your kitchen’s aesthetic. You can even create a personalized nameplate for the lower oven door, adding a personal touch to your appliances.
Make Dishwashing a Breeze
Fulgor Milano doesn’t stop at ovens. The 24″ Stainless Steel Built-In Dishwasher offers a wide range of features designed to make your life easier:
1. Versatile Program Options
With six programs, including a fast wash cycle, you can select the perfect option for your daily needs. Whether it’s a quick meal or a large feast, this dishwasher has you covered.
2. Adaptive Cleaning
The dishwasher automatically adjusts water volume, pressure, and temperature according to load size, soil levels, and program settings. It’s smart and efficient.
3. All-in-One Single Tablet Detergent Function
No more fussing with multiple products. This dishwasher handles it all with ease.
4. Customizable Racks
The adjustable height system allows you to customize the racks to your liking, making loading and unloading a breeze.
Sofia Professional Line Fridge: Keeping Food Fresh
The Sofia Professional Line extends to refrigerators, ensuring your food stays fresher for longer:
1. Micro Beaded Stainless Steel Crisper Drawers
These drawers reduce bacteria transfer and keep your produce fresh, increasing the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables.
2. Laterally Evaporator
This feature provides better airflow and increased depth compared to most luxury built-ins, offering improved space utilization for trays and pizza boxes.
3. Various Modes and Functions
From Max Cool Fridge to deep freezing and holiday mode, this fridge caters to all your needs.
4. The FlexZone
This feature offers three configurations, allowing you to decide how you want to use the space. Perfect for when you need extra fridge or freezer space.
5. Customization
Choose stainless steel finishing to match your kitchen decor.
Elevate Your Wine Collection with the Best: Fulgor Milano’s 24″ Pro Wine Cellar
For wine enthusiasts, this Pro Wine Cellar is a game-changer. Boasting a generous 54-bottle capacity, it’s the best solution for preserving and showcasing your wine collection. What sets it apart is the innovative ‘FlexZone’ drawer, which can be converted for various functions, including rapid deep freezing to chill your white wine in no time. With natural beechwood shelves that accommodate bottles of all sizes, humidity and temperature control, and triple-pane glass doors to reduce UV rays, your wines will age gracefully. And for the final touch of elegance, it’s available in a stylish stainless steel finish. Fulgor Milano’s Pro Wine Cellar truly is the best choice for wine connoisseurs.
Distinto Line: A Touch of Elegance
Fulgor Milano’s Distinto Line brings a touch of elegance to your kitchen with appliances that are as beautiful as they are functional:
1. 36″ Induction Cooktop
This cooktop offers five induction cooking zones with independent timers, delivering a sustainable heat source with all the benefits of gas cooking where gas is not available or electric is preferred.
2. 24″ Drawer Microwave
This built-in drawer microwave has hidden controls for a seamless look, is tall enough for an average 20oz cup, and can fit up to a 4qt casserole dish. I think this is secretly my favorite appliance because of how “cool” it is and easily hidden.
3. 34″ Insert Hood S600
This insert hood design keeps your kitchen environment free from smoke, cooking residue, and excess heat. Plus, it operates at a noise level similar to a conversation or background music.
Fulgor Milano understands that the kitchen is the heart of the home and has crafted its appliances to meet the needs of modern families while adding a touch of Italian elegance. With Fulgor Milano, you not only get top-notch functionality but also appliances that enhance the aesthetics of your kitchen. Whether you opt for the Sofia Professional Line, Distinto Line, or any other appliance from their extensive range, you can be sure of one thing – a fulfilling, effortless cooking and dining experience. I truly have never been so excited to prep and cook/bake any day, at anytime!
If you go to Starbucks and order the Egg Bites with Bacon & Gruyère and feel guilty spending money, like me? Then this recipe is SIMPLE to follow. Truly follow this and you will have 12 Egg Bites with Bacon & Gruyère in your fridge for under $20.
Ingredients
6 eggs
4 slices bacon
1¼ cups cottage cheese
1¼ cups shredded Gruyère
2 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon hot sauce
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Cook your bacon, I chose to bake mine for 20 minutes at 450 degrees. Then paper towel dry and dice bacon. Set aside.
Boil water in a pan or kettle.
Place eggs, cottage cheese, shredded Gruyère, cornstarch, hot sauce, salt and pepper in a blender. Blend for 20-30 seconds.
Spray your muffin pan using cooking spray.
Divide the egg mixture into each muffin pan.
Top each muffin with bacon.
Place in oven a metal or ceramic baking dish (I used a 9 x 9 OXO baking dish) on the bottom self. This is to steam your oven for the eggs!
Place the muffin tin in the middle of the oven and bake until you see the edge’s coming off of the sides. Took mine about 30 minutes.
Let stand for 10 minutes.
Use a spoon to take the egg bites out and ENJOY! 😋
Baked bacon is the best! Ingredients I used minus the salt and pepper.The eggs, cottage cheese, shredded Gruyère, cornstarch, hot sauce, salt and pepper go into the blender. See the back egg bite, that is how they should look when they are ready to come out of the oven! Done!! Enjoy.
If you’re looking for the best spot to stay when traveling to Napa Valley, look no further because the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa is the perfect spot. The hotel is in the heart of Napa Valley and right off the highway. It truly is the perfect location if you plan on touring all around this area. To me this is a classic hotel and even better, you can see how much hard work they put into the beautiful renovations.
THIS IS YOUR CALLING – BOOK YOU NEXT HOLIDAY VACATION NOW!! I never imagined traveling for the holidays, but we did!! We stayed at the @ritzcarltonreynoldslakeoconee during Christmas and midway through Hanukkah. The amount of holiday magic here is endless and all throughout the resorts! From decorations to events, truly there is so much to do!!!
🎄Ice skating: Enjoy the beautiful 5,000 square-foot ice rink and hot cocoa! 🎄Breakfast with Santa: The most festive breakfast and experience with Santa Claus! 🎄Story time with Mrs. Claus: Hear numerous classic Christmas tales by your truly! 🎄Build a Buddy: Build your own holiday friend. 🎄Gingerbread Workshop: Decorate a prebuilt gingerbread house with the best supplies ever! 🎄Decorate ornaments: Create a final ornament for your Christmas tree. 🎄Hang out around the life-sized Gingerbread Cottage: This is SO GORGEOUS and directly in the lobby near a beautiful fireplace! 🎄Caroling on the Linger Longer Express: Decked out train ride. 🎄Elf Special Delivery: Create some magic while you are away, by having Santa’s Elves drop off a special surprise and/or receive a special visit from Santa’s Elves and hear a bedtime story with goodies!
Truly this Christmas is filled with many festive experiences to create memories that last a lifetime. 🥹
✨From our family to yours, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve. 🎄🎅🤶 #rcmemories
ICE! attraction has officially returned this year featuring Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas at @gaylordpalms!! The event runs now through January 1st, 2023 and is perfect for the entire family. 🤶🎅🎄❄️
Christmas at Gaylord Palms features a large variety of Holiday activities which require a separate ticket, but there are bundles available (I had the GOLD play & save, which included everything and highly recommend).
ACTIVITIES: ❄️ The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt: Scavenger Hunt Booklets and Prizes can be redeemed at Alpine Village Guest Services between 10:00am and 8:00pm. ❄️Snow Flow Mountain at Snow Factory at Alpine Village: You must be at least 42” tall and be able to carry your own tube to ride this ride. ❄️Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions at Alpine Village: retelling of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas and cookies/milk. Approximately 25 minutes. ❄️Gingerbread Decorating Corner at Alpine Village: Decorate a Gingerbread House or Cookie (this could be based off your package, as my package stated a gingerbread house). ❄️ Snowball Build and Blast: With a little Christmas magic, you’ll receive a tub of snow so you can build and toss real snowballs to boost the power of the snowmaking machines. Take your best aim at the targets and let the snowballs fly. ❄️ ICE! featuring Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Be transported to Whoville with larger than life ice sculptures that are hand carved by master artisans from China. Two million pounds of colorful ice is used to create an amazing walk through experience. I STRONGLY recommend laying up, using snow gloves, hats, and scarfs because it is 9 degrees Fahrenheit inside this attraction. 🥶 Everyone is provided a parka and you must wear closed toes shoes. ❄️ Elf Training Academy: Choose a nutcracker or snowman ornament and paint away! When you’re done they blow dry and wrap them. ❄️Cirque-styled Christmas show: This performance has dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts. Approximately 35 minutes.
And SNOW much to do! If you have any questions, comment below! 💚
Looking for a much needed family vacation?! Look no further because the Naples Grande Resort with the family for the ultimate trip. The staff at the resort from the moment you arrive, to checking in, house keeping, servers, bartenders, the list can go on and on; went above and beyond! The location is the best spot when traveling to Naples, Florida. This resort offers; golf, spa, pool with a slide and service, restaurants, coffee shop, lobby bar, convention center, and even more! Truly there is something for the whole family!!
LobbyIf you are a pool family (like us), this is an amazing pool! One side is 0 feet – beach access, which is perfect for the little ones and then is a slide with a lifeguard. If your kiddo can swim, they can swim alone. If not, then an adult must go down with them. Every single kid kept telling their parent “again” to continue to ride the slide.Oasis pool side restaurant and service Dinner at The Catch15th Floor double queen room
So, if you are looking to travel to Naples, Florida – make sure to check out Naples Grande Resort. You and your family will love the amenities this resort has to offer. Head to my Instagram page, CLICK HERE and follow me plus take a closer look and check out the highlight on my feed labeled “Naples Grande”.
lifestyle mama 