Welcome to the Party! It's Fall Y'all- Week 2

Welcome to It's Fall Y'all - the BIGGEST & BEST Fall party! This year, we have 10 fun hosts - meaning your link-ups will show up on 10 different blogs!

Let's meet the hosts, shall we?

This party is for all of your Fall related projects, recipes, crafts, decorating tips, tablescapes, DIY, printables, costumes, Halloween stuff, Thanksgiving stuff, etc .... By the way, they don't even have to be new posts - share your stuff from previous years as well and let's get them recirculated in bloggyland!

Everything and anything Fall is welcome!


Did you know, you can help spread the word and make this an even bigger party by placing this button on your post or blog .... or even by sharing a link back to the party. It's not mandatory, but we appreciate the bloggy love! :)

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/" title="It's Fall Y'all 2013" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s368/lovebakesgoodcakes/ItsFallYall2013Button2_zps13637cae.png" alt="It's Fall Y'all 2013" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

We also have a Pinterest board for this party - Everything that gets linked up will get pinned for even more exposure! 
You can follow our board here:

Let's get this party started ... we're excited to see all of the great stuff you have! Just a quick note - by linking up, you are giving us permission to promote your links on social media - If we use your picture, it will either link directly back to your site or to your corresponding number in the party which links directly back to you. Let's have fun! :)


Don't forget to share and comment ♥

Video Review and a Giveaway: "Tad the Explorer"

I am a member of the Entertainment New Media Network, and we help promote, sometimes for a promotional fee, entertainment industry projects we find meaningful. As always all opinions are my own. For a full disclaimer, visit www.ENMNetwork.com/disclaimer.

I'm a proud thirty-something One Direction fan, so I was elated to receive the "Tad the Explorer" DVD and I couldn't wait to review this family-friendly movie that features music by the British boy band sensations One Direction.

The film is voiced by an all-star cast including comic legend Cheech Marin and star of the Emmy-winning "Modern Family", Ariel Winter. The film enjoyed a successful run in movie theatres internationally, winning three Goya Awards, which are Spain’s version of an Academy Award®, including the award for Best Animation Film. The cast does a wonderful job bringing this film to life through their voices.

I was immediately taken by the fun, bright colors in the animation and right away, could easily see the family-friendly movie is perfect for all ages. The message conveyed throughout the film is the importance of following your dreams and I love that they show through the main character Tad that there is no age limit when it comes to making your dreams come true. He is a construction worker who has long dreamed of being an adventurer. On what was a seemingly ordinary day, Tad is mistaken for a famous archeologist and begins a journey that finds him living out his biggest dreams. He is transported to the country of Peru, where he joins a professor and his daughter searching for a lost city and battles greedy treasure hunters. This movie is full of holsum humor and is action-packed from beginning to end.

The wonderful music by One Direction is perfectly-paired with this movie and reinforces the inspiring theme. The movie will be available on October 8 exclusively at WalMart stores and Sam's Club on Blu-ray 3D combo pack with DVD, valued at $19.97 and a single-disc DVD, valued at $19.95. It will be available digitally everywhere from STUDIOCANAL and Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment.

One of you will win your own copy of "Tad the Explorer"! To enter, leave a comment below and let me know which you would rather have if you are the winner: the Blu-ray 3D combo pack or a single-disc DVD. Entries close on Friday, September 27 at 6:00 pm EST. Good luck!

Welcome to the Party, It's Fall Y'all!

I'm so happy to be participating in a fun linky party to celebrate all things fall and thank you to my fabulous foodie friend Jamie at Love Bakes Good Cakes for giving me the opportunity to be a hostess! I am among 10 bloggers who have come together this fall season to bring you an autumn bounty full of fall recipes and craft ideas!

Welcome to It's Fall Y'all - the BIGGEST & BEST Fall party! This year, we have 10 fun hosts - meaning your link-ups will show up on 10 different blogs!

Let's meet the hosts, shall we?

This party is for all of your Fall related projects, recipes, crafts, decorating tips, tablescapes, DIY, printables, costumes, Halloween stuff, Thanksgiving stuff, etc .... By the way, they don't even have to be new posts - share your stuff from previous years as well and let's get them recirculated in bloggyland!

Everything and anything Fall is welcome!


Did you know, you can help spread the word and make this an even bigger party by placing this button on your post or blog .... or even by sharing a link back to the party. It's not mandatory, but we appreciate the bloggy love! :)

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/" title="It's Fall Y'all 2013" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s368/lovebakesgoodcakes/ItsFallYall2013Button2_zps13637cae.png" alt="It's Fall Y'all 2013" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

We also have a Pinterest board for this party - Everything that gets linked up will get pinned for even more exposure! 
You can follow our board here:

Let's get this party started ... we're excited to see all of the great stuff you have! Just a quick note - by linking up, you are giving us permission to promote your links on social media - If we use your picture, it will either link directly back to your site or to your corresponding number in the party which links directly back to you. Let's have fun! :)


Don't forget to share and comment ♥

Book Review and Giveaway: "Bash and the Pirate Pig"

Since I was a child, one of my interests has long been books and the joy of reading. With the holiday season nearing, I want to share with you some book reviews that I think would make great gift ideas and fun reading for cooler weather days. 

The first book review in this series is for young people ages 8-14. "Bash and the Pirate Pig" is written by Burton Cole and illustrated by Tom Bancroft. It has a retail value of $12.99 and is literally hot off the presses, released this month.  

The illustrator Tom Bancroft has more than twenty years of experience in the animation and illustration industry and has worked with Disney on films and also done work for DC Comics. His talent is apparent with this book as I was immediately drawn to the fun illustrations, both on the colorful cover and within the pages of the book.  

The author Burton Cole is a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist and recipient of more than fifty humor writing awards.  He weaves a colorful tale with such an important message in this technological day and age: the joys found in putting down the electronic devices and exploring the fun that can be found outdoors.

Even though his family lives by the ocean, Raymond "Beamer" Boxby is a city kid who loves staying indoors to play video games. When his parents send him to spend the summer on a farm with relatives, he decides he will have no use for the wide open outdoors one bit. His cousin Bash has a "Fishin' and Farmin' book" (The Bible) that he shares with Beamer, and this special book leads to a summer full of all kinds of adventures outdoors along with some important lessons that will be learned. I love the values this book teaches along with the humorous and entertaining story.

The book is available for purchase through B&H Publishing Group's website and is available in both Kindle and hardcover editions on Amazon. 

One of you will win a hardcover copy of this book to share with a special young person in your life. To enter, leave a comment below and let me know the who you would like to share this book with if you are the winner. Winner must reside in the US or Canada. Entries close on Friday, September 20 at 6:00 pm EST. Good luck!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Crockpot Cookin': Fiesta White Chicken Chili

The arrival of fall always brings a special kind of joy to my heart. My late mother's birthday falls during this season and my late Grandma Cleva always marked when the calendar would once again turn to "Golden October". The sights and sounds of autumn bring an extra gleam to my smile. This is a favorite crockpot recipe in our household for the fall season that fills our home with a hearty fiesta aroma along with some lightened-up ingredients. You can add as many fun garnishes as you like. I love to sprinkle ours with miniature tortilla crisps I find in the salad section of the grocery store along with 2% shredded cheese and a dollop of light sour cream. I hope the arrival of fall brings you and yours many happy new memories! 

"Southern Fried Bride's Crockpot Fiesta White Chicken Chili"

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked OR raw, chopped

3 cups water

1 (10.5 oz.) can Campbell's low-sodium chicken broth

1 (15 oz.) can Great Northern white beans

1 packet McCormick's "White Chicken Chili" seasoning

Optional garnishes: 2% shredded cheese

                              light sour cream

                              tortilla crisps

Place chicken in bottom of crockpot. In separate bowl, combine water and chicken broth. Add packet of seasoning and stir well. Add white beans and stir until well-combined. Pour mixture over chicken in crockpot. Set crockpot on low and cook for 8 hours. Serve, if desired, with shredded cheese, sour cream and tortilla crisps. Enjoy!

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Labor Day Cookout Memories: "Grandma Cleva's Potato Salad"

Labor Day cookouts bring precious memories of my Grandma Cleva, who would dazzle with her potato salad everywhere from potlucks to picnics. Exploring the ins and outs of everything potato salad was a fun kitchen adventure for me. Maybe you will take this recipe and embark on your own kitchen adventure and share it with your family or loved ones at a gathering. Most of all, I hope this end of summer season finds you creating some treasured memories of your own with friends and loved ones!

“Grandma Cleva's Potato Salad”

6 medium potatoes (about 2 pounds), peeled, cubed & cooked

1 cup light mayonnaise

1 heaping tablespoon yellow mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup sweet pickles, chopped

2 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and chopped

Optional: 1 teaspoon parsley

1 teaspoon paprika

1 egg, hard-boiled & chopped

Peel potatoes, dice into cubes. In large pot, bring water to a boil and add potatoes. Cook 25-30 minutes or until tender. Drain. Place cubed potatoes in large bowl. Stir in mayonnaise. Add mustard and salt to mixture. Add onions, pickles and eggs. Toss gently to combine well. Transfer into serving bowl. Garnish, if desired, with parsley, paprika and chopped egg. Serve warm or cover and chill at least 1 hour before serving. Serves 10-12. Enjoy!