An Experience Like No Other: Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament {Review}

Although I'm not a huge fan of living in the Midwest when winter rolls around, I do love our little city and have a difficult time imagining living anywhere else.

Plus, along with having just about everything that we could ask for right here in the 'burbs, we also have the added benefit of being within driving distance to larger cities for whenever we are looking to head over for a visit.

Case in point, our recent jaunt to Chicago to check out the fun and excitement of Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament!

As I mentioned last month, there are 11 Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament locations throughout North America that provide far more than a simple meal and show for their visitors.

Instead, guests are transported back in time to the age of heroic knights on spirited horses, thrilling swordplay, a master falconer and his gorgeous flying companion, javelins being thrown, a "hands-on" feast (who needs silverware?), and much more.

It definitely didn't take any convincing for the entire family to be excited for our own visit to the Medieval Times castle in Chicago!

After we arrived and were checked in, we marveled at the wide array of items and beverages for sale before being invited in to the arena. It was time to head in and get ready to cheer on the Yellow Knight (when you receive your tickets, guests are assigned to one of the six different color areas and the corresponding knight)!

While we had discussed what the evening would ensue, Little Sister B still had lots of questions pertaining to the horses, knights, and more. What was going to happen? Would people get hurt? Would there be real horses? Were they real knights? When was the food going to be served?

Fortunately, not long after we were seated our friendly server appeared and the night was underway. I couldn't get enough of seeing the looks on both of my girls' faces as they took everything in in complete amazement!

I have to admit that as much as I chuckled at Little Sister B's incredulous looks, I too had a difficult time tearing my eyes away from the showmanship and performance that is Medieval Times from start to finish.

The king and princess, the falconer, the knights' authentic armor and real metal weapons... when jousting, they charge at speeds of approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour and reach an impact velocity speed of about 30 to 40 miles per hour! Where else are you going to see something like that?

Not to mention that while all of this incredible performance is happening, we were served course after course (each quite a large portion) of delicious foods. I was thrilled that Medieval Times also caters to vegetarians, as our plates were far from empty.

Definitely plan your visit to the castle when you are hungry, because there is a lot of eating to be done!

By the time the night was coming to an end, both Big Sister E and Little Sister B had eaten their fill and were fully into the action of cheering on our Yellow Knight as he worked to defeat his enemies — not only did they love him because we were assigned to his section, he had thrown each of them a carnation at various times during the show!

Besides, just as Big Sister E said when she turned to me partway through with a glint in her eye, where else would they be encouraged to scream and yell as loud as they could while indoors and in public?!

For a completely unique experience that your family is sure to be talking about for quite some time to come (we still like to randomly pull out our yellow flags and towels and cheer for the Yellow Knight while at home!) check out Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament at MedievalTimes.com.

Plus, now is a great time to buy tickets with this money-saving promotional offer! Right now you can purchase adult tickets for $36.95 and child tickets (12 and under) for $29.95 by using the coupon code MT3629 through February 28, 2017. Simply click here to take advantage of this great offer!

Other than the tickets I was provided for my family to experience Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about our experience.

The #1 Dinner Attraction in North America: Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament {Coupon Code}

While it isn't difficult to find a restaurant in just about any city across the country, on some level they're all pretty much the same. Sure, the food won't be the same and the service levels may vary wildly, but in the end you walk in, sit down, eat what is placed in front of you, and leave.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking going out to eat. But what if you are looking for more than just a dining establishment? Somewhere that takes dinner to an entirely new level with beauty, pageantry, entertainment, excitement, and much more?

It's no wonder that I can't wait to take my family to Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in person later this month!

Located in nine 11th century-style castles throughout North America, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament brings visitors back through time. Who doesn't want to be a guest of the king ten centuries ago?

The experience includes heroic knights on spirited horses, thrilling swordplay, a master falconer and his gorgeous flying companion, the javelin throw, incredible music and light effects, a "hands-on" feast (who needs silverware?), and much more. It all comes together to make one unforgettable experience for the whole family!

We are fortunate to live within driving distance to the Chicago Medieval Times location and I have no doubt that my kids' jaws are going to drop as soon as we arrive. What could be better than a delicious, four-course dinner while watching and cheering on a royal tournament that is part equestrian spectacle, part fairy tale, and part sword-clashing adrenaline?

Have you visited Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament with your own family? Head over to MedievalTimes.com to find out much more about the locations and experience and stay tuned for my future review.

Plus, ready to buy your own tickets? Then why not save money when you do! Right now you can purchase adult tickets for $36.95 and child tickets (12 and under) for $29.95 by using the coupon code MT3629 through February 28, 2017. Simply click here to take advantage of this great offer!

I am being provided free tickets for my family to visit the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, however, all information shared here is honest and my own.

Lance Sandwich Crackers Keep Kids Fueled for After School Activities! {Review & $25 Visa Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway}

With yet another first day of school coming and going (or only a short time away) for kids across the country, parents everywhere are working to get back into the school year routine.

No, I'm not talking about packing lunches or hurrying to the bus stop on time. I'm talking about the frantic search for items needed for group projects, the scheduling of car pools, the hunt for a missing soccer cleat, the rush to get to piano or violin lessons on time, and more.

Sound familiar? That's because it's no secret that it isn't so much school itself that moms like me have to focus on, it's the after school activities that have us running. Whether your kids are playing sports, practicing their instrument, attending a club, meeting with Boy/Girl Scouts, or more, they all kick off with a snack.

My own children arrive home from school near-starving and ready to devour anything and everything in sight, so I'm always sure to have a delicious, wholesome, satisfying option waiting for them. If it is portable and perfect for on-the-go as we head out the door, even better.

Which is why this year they will be fueling up with a variety of sandwich crackers from Lance!

For more than 100 years, Lance has been fueling America with its sandwich crackers – two crunchy crackers with an incredible filling in the middle. With more than 20 varieties that are made with baked, crispy crackers and freshly ground peanut butter and real cheese, Lance sandwich crackers are perfect for the entire family to enjoy just about anytime, anywhere.

In short, moms love that Lance sandwich crackers are made with wholesome ingredients and are packed with protein, fiber, and whole grains, while kids love the taste and the way that Lance lets them stay fuller longer. I don't know how these could be any more perfect as an incredible snack choice to keep kids fueled for each and every after-school activity they may have!

Did I mention that there are five grams of protein in each package of these ToastChee and Whole Grain sandwich crackers and four grams in the Toasty sandwich crackers?

So whether my girls are popping these into their lunchbox or grabbing them as we head out the door for swim team practice, they'll be ready to keep their bodies going (and their mouths from complaining about being hungry... for at least a little while)!

Along with the classic ways that Lance has clued-in to what moms want in wholesome snacks, I love that they have continued to stay on top of things as the years have progressed. They now not only steer clear of preservatives and have removed trans fat and high fructose corn syrup, but they have launched new products such as their great gluten-free options.

These have all the real peanut butter and cheddar cheese flavors that Lance fans have come to expect, just now in the perfect bite size gluten free form!

If you're in the market for a convenient, great-tasting, and nutritious way to satisfy your family after school (or anytime!), be sure to turn to Lance. Their full line-up of products is available at retailers across the country (hint: use their product locator to find your nearest store), where each box of sandwich crackers and cookies contains eight individually wrapped packages of six sandwiches.

To find out much more information, nutrition facts, other products, and more, visit Lance.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be able to see how quick, easy and tasty it can be to keep their kids fueled and ready for after-school activities as well, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 Visa gift card and prize pack of Lance sandwich crackers!

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A big thank you to Lance for providing sandwich crackers and compensation for me as well as a prize pack for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Summer Fun with Kemps Craveable Ice Cream Flavors {Giveaway - 5 winners!}

This post is sponsored by Kemps, but my love for their ice cream is all my own!

While spring was coming to an end and the hot days of summer began to roll in, this year I focused on staying realistic about what the season would entail.

Although I'd like to say that I pictured leisurely, relaxing days — the kids are out of school, so we'll have plenty of time to enjoy the park or go on a picnic or just kick back and play in the yard, right? — I also knew that the various camps, sports, lessons, classes and events that my girls were signed up for would greatly impede on that daydream.

Therefore, I wanted to be sure to carve out plenty of those carefree moments, for myself as well as for my family. After all, when we all look back, the most memorable days are going to be the ones spent together laughing and having fun, right?

Plus, this summer I found my inspiration in a unique location. Instead of spending time planning, organizing and preparing, I simply opened up my freezer and had the answer: Kemps ice cream.

There’s nothing more special than spending quality time together in the summer, whether just the family or with a few friends. So why not make it even sweeter by adding in one or more of Kemps' craveable ice cream flavors?

Think it might be difficult to find one that the whole family will enjoy? Not when Kemps has 40 delicious flavors to choose from that are smooth and creamy and loaded with delicious add-ins!

Chocolate lovers will find bliss in delicious flavors like Moose Tracks Double Fudge, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup and Old Fashioned Toasted Almond Fudge. Candy lovers will adore unique offerings like Pearson’s Mint Patties, Nut Goodie and Salted Nut Roll. And around the holidays we can all celebrate with our families with tasty bowls of Pumpkin Pie, Candy Cane and Holiday Vanilla!

We opted to try two new-to-us flavors recently and there is no doubt that the Caramel Cow Tracks and the Double Caramel Cookie Crunch have been a huge hit.

Whether we are hanging out after a long, hot day or are enjoying the company of amazing friends, there is just no comparison to the old-fashioned goodness of Kemps ice cream. The only negative is when you look down at your empty dish or realize in dismay that your cone is quickly disappearing!

Ready to kick back with your own scoop of Kemps deliciousness? In celebration of July being National Ice Cream Month, FIVE lucky winners will receive $5 coupons for Kemps ice cream so that they too can kick back and have a summer filled with creamy goodness!

Entry is easy! Simply visit Kemps here and then leave a comment below telling me which of their incredible flavor(s) you would like to try first. This giveaway ends on July 20, 2016 at 11:59pm CST!

Hosting Tips with Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods! {#TasteAndBelieve}

This post was sponsored by Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

Even though my husband might complain that I'm a bit of a homebody sometimes (can I help it if I'd rather stay comfy on the couch in my pj's instead of going out some nights?), I do have a special place in my heart for hosting. There's something just so satisfying about inviting family and friends over for food or drinks or games or celebrations or simply to hang out and chat!

That's not to say that hosting isn't a little daunting sometimes though, right? The house needs to be cleaned, food needs to be prepared, all of my daughters' socks need to be collected and removed from the living room, etc, etc. My house doesn't typically end up looking like this, but at least I like to know that I've vacuumed up the cat hairs and have put out a clean hand towel in the bathroom!

However, over the years I've found that a few simple tips have helped tremendously in removing the stresses of hosting everything from large, detailed birthday parties to small, intimate gatherings.

They include...

Relax! This is the one that I need to remember most, as it always seems like I'm rushing to get things done right up until the last minute. But leaving yourself an hour before the party starts to change and sit and enjoy the silence for a bit can help put you in an even more welcoming, cheerful mood. Who doesn't want that for any sort of gathering?

Plan ahead. Seems pretty obvious, right? But if you're anything like me, there's always a chance that you'll wait until the last minute and will end up pushing your husband out the door to go get the forgotten balloons, more wine or the plastic forks that have mysteriously gone missing. Staying organized and planning ahead in the weeks before your event are extremely important for just about everyone's sanity.

Cater to your guests. Again, it makes sense that a birthday party or play date will feature juice boxes and finger foods while a moms' brunch will have coffee and homemade bread, but I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has been met with confused looks when I put out a bowl of pasta salad in front of 5-year-olds or cute cut up sandwiches for adults.

For the latter, I also have a secret weapon that not only provides delicious flavor but also always ends up a talking point for anyone and everyone. I can't tell you how many friends I've surprised by introducing them to Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods and the way that it is possible for me to indulge my sweet tooth without going overboard in calories! For them, Tasting Is Believing!

So, so, so good. These Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods Salted Caramel Brownie Bliss are a sweet and salty decadent treat that delivers the perfect combination of rich chocolate brownie and real caramel at only 80 calories and 4 SmartPoints®.

To be honest, the lower calories wouldn't really matter to me if these individually wrapped little brownies tasted like pretty much every other low-cal dessert that I've ever tried (which tend to leave my cravings less than satisfied). However, in this case Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods has actually done it! The Salted Caramel Brownie Bliss is really truly bliss!

However, if you don't want to take my word for it, then you still have no excuse to not try Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods right now due to their Love It Or It's Free Challenge.

Easy as that. Simply purchase any Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods treats until May 31st and, if you aren't in love, you'll get a full refund (complete details and full customer reactions can be found at TastingIsBelieving.com).

In my opinion, I can't imagine even a single rebate being issued after people have tried the Salted Caramel Brownie Bliss. They're just that fantastic!

In fact, at my most recent gathering (having an amazing group of ladies over for Moms Night Out), I immediately knew that Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods would be a bigger hit than if I spent time baking or buying more traditional desserts. Quite a few of my friends live fairly healthy lifestyles and I knew that they wouldn't touch calorie-laden snacks anyway!

I couldn't help but just one plate of cookies!

Filling my table with mainly fresh fruits and vegetables for this informal gathering, I added in a plate of Salted Caramel Brownie Bliss and waited for my guests to arrive.

Without question, eyes lit up around the room as soon as people took a look at these little bites of perfection. And then when they bit into the Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods Salted Caramel Brownie Bliss the reactions were just as positive. I knew that they would love these!

Only after everyone had tried the Salted Caramel Brownie Bliss did I spill the beans that they are from the line of Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods — words that were met with complete shock and quite a few, "I never would have guessed that!" responses. How something so incredibly delicious can only contain 80 calories and 4 SmartPoints® still baffles me as well!

What are you waiting for? Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods Salted Caramel Brownie Bliss are available at grocery stores now for a suggested retail price beginning at $3.29 per box. Or, if chocolate and caramel isn't your thing, other Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods products include Red Velvet Crème Cake, Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss, Mint Chocolate Brownie Bliss, Carrot Crème Cake, Oatmeal Raising Cookies, and more.

Find out much more about all of the delicious Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods products, where to purchase them, the Love It Or It's Free Challenge, and more at TastingIsBelieving.com.

Baked from Scratch with Love: The Mixing Bowl Bakery in Sauk City, WI {#ReviewCrew}

While my family enjoys hopping on a plane to travel far and wide, we also try to take advantage of the times when the kids have a few days off of school to take a smaller trip that is closer to home.

In particular, we are fortunate to live less than an hour from Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world — and who doesn't love to take a trip zooming down a waterslide outdoors in the heat or indoors in the middle of winter?

Recently, prior to one of our jaunts to the Dells, we took a look at Restaurant.com and discovered that one 10-minute pit stop could provide us with a plethora of incredible baked-from-scratch goodies to delight our taste buds. How have we made this drive so many times and never stopped off at The Mixing Bowl Bakery?

Conveniently located in Sauk City, Wisconsin, The Mixing Bowl Bakery is on a mission to "satisfy your baked goods desires by making all our items from scratch." This family-run bakery never uses any pre-made batters, doughs, or fillings while also opting for as many non-GMO and organic products as possible.

The end result? Muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, scones, pies, cheesecakes (as well as coffee, espresso, tea, yogurt, honey) and much more in a quaint, friendly atmosphere that makes you feel right at home!

Right inside the doors of The Mixing Bowl Bakery and I was struck with the way that the ambiance felt more like a friend's living room than a formal restaurant.

This isn't a stiff, traditional room filled with rows and rows of tables. Instead, this spacious bakery is filled with plenty of seating to enjoy your tasty food; as well as overstuffed leather couches and chairs; a bookshelf filled with games, puzzles and books; a counter and stools with a view right into the kitchen to watch the magic happen; and even a back corner with a large television and children's toys to keep little ones occupied and happy.

One table was even set up with a large, colorful puzzle for customers to spend a little or a lot of time working together to get it all together!

But no matter how welcome a restaurant or cafe makes you feel, it's all about the selection, quality, and taste of the foods, right?

Never fear, The Mixing Bowl Bakery fulfills that aspect just as well!

The most difficult part of visiting is definitely deciding which of these (plus many more) goodies to try first!

Fortunately, the staff of The Mixing Bowl Bakery were very patient with us as we went back and forth trying to pick our favorites... and eventually we had our box of baked goods picked out, boxed up, and ready to go.

After admiring the hard work that the younger family members were putting in to help out throughout the bakery (there was an adorable baby in an exersaucer and multiple preschool-aged children helping bring tools and supplies in from a large truck), we were back in our car and on the road. Had we not wanted to take a good look around and see the full selection, we could have saved even more time by going through the drive thru!

A short while later we were at our destination and couldn't help but lay out our goodies to admire them.

There may or may not also have been two smoothies that were devoured during the drive and a large chocolate chip cookie that mysteriously disappeared. Ahem.

Just from the photo you can probably tell how amazing these baked goods tasted! Everything was soft, fresh, and flavorful and the items that we saved until the following morning were still just as delicious. The only problem is that once we ran out, the rest of our breakfast wasn't nearly as tasty or fulfilling!

But now that we made the discovery of such a unique and delectable, locally-owned, family-run establishment, I have no doubt that we'll stop in to visit The Mixing Bowl Bakery again in the future. Our smoothies and bakery items were amazing, we saved a bundle by using a Restaurant.com certificate (SO easy to just pull it up right on my phone!), and everyone ended up happy!

If you have yet to try out Restaurant.com, you're missing out on all sorts of unique dining options in your local area as well as where you might be traveling. I love using their convenient app to look up locations when we're on the go and the Deals Near Me feature makes it a snap to find one-of-a-kind tasty locations when we're out and about and getting hungry. Don't miss out!

For more information about The Mixing Bowl Bakery, their location, their huge coffee selection, their daily specials, and more, connect with them on their website and Facebook. To find out about all of the money-saving options that Restaurant.com has to offer in your area (or in an area that you are planning to visit), head over to Restaurant.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

As a member of the Restaurant.com Review Crew, I have been provided gift cards and compensation in order to facilitate my reviews. However, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own. 

Lance Seasonal Favorites Cookie Sandwiches {$50 Visa Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway}

 

While I don't always believe the phrase Absence makes the heart grow fonder as being completely accurate (clothes often go "absent" in my closet and I typically don't yearn more for them, I just forget that I own them), I do think that it is quite apt when it comes to foods.

After all, would pumpkin spice lattes be so incredibly popular if they were available all year long instead of just in the fall? Would you really be so inclined to have a glass of eggnog during the holidays if you could also have it in June?

Similarly, while I'm typically a standard chocolate chip cookie kind of girl, there is just no way to not get into the excitement of flavors specific to certain times when they come in the form of Seasonal Favorites Cookie Sandwiches from Lance!

For more than a century, Lance has been fueling America with its sandwich crackers – two crunchy crackers with an incredible filling in the middle. With more than 20 varieties that are made with baked, crispy crackers and real peanut butter and cheese, Lance sandwich crackers are perfect for the entire family to enjoy just about anytime, anywhere.

So why not take their already-delicious products and dress them up for the holidays? That's exactly what they've done, as now your snacking just wouldn't be complete without Lance's three specialty cookie flavors that are sure to get anyone into the holiday spirit!

The hardest decision is which of these delicious seasonal favorites to try first, as each of the varieties is made up of two sweet cookies with a flavorful and indulgent filling in the middle!

First up, for the large number of mint-lovers out there, Nekot with Mint. This smooth and creamy combination blends chocolate with mint perfectly!

Second, what fall seasonal flavor compilation would be complete without pumpkin? Lance has the answer for all of us who have pumpkin on the brain with their amazing Nekot with Pumpkin Cheesecake sandwich cookies. Yum!

Finally, for those that reach right for the sugar cookies in the spread of holiday treats, Sprinkled Sugar Cookie with Sweet Creme. I didn't expect to like these so much, but they are extremely tasty (and a big hit with both kids)!

But there's something even more delicious about these delectable cookies this holiday season, as this year when you buy Lance's seasonal favorites, you won't just get a tasty treat, you also will support military families through the brand's partnership with Toys for Tots.

That's right! Select retailers will have specially-marked Toys for Tots displays with seasonal snacks from the Snyder's-Lance family of brands, including Lance cookie sandwiches. For the first 500,000 packages sold, Snyder's-Lance will make a contribution to support Toys for Tots up to $25,000 through December 31st!

Sweets for me and a donation to a great cause at the same time? Lance sure knows the way to my heart this holiday season!

Lance seasonal cookie sandwiches are available at grocery stores and mass market retailers nationwide (hint: use their product locator to find your nearest store) for a suggested retail price of $2.99... but only from November through December, while supplies last. So keep an eye out the next time you are out shopping so that you don't miss them!

Each box of Lance Seasonal Favorites Cookie Sandwiches contains six individually wrapped packages of six sandwiches, as they are the perfectly sweet on-the-go snack. You can also find out much more information, nutrition facts, other products, and more by visiting Lance.com and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be able to see how delicious it can be to celebrate the holidays with Lance as well, because...

One lucky person will win a Lance Seasonal Favorites Cookie Sandwiches Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes a $50 Visa prepaid gift card and (1) each of the Lance Seasonal Favorites Cookie Sandwiches varieties: Nekot with Mint, Nekot with Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Sprinkled Sugar Cookie with Sweet Creme.

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A big thank you to Lance for this sponsored opportunity and for providing samples for me to review and a prize pack for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Stay Warm this Winter with Fun Indoor Activities for Kids and Tasty Jack's Pizza {#RealCheeseRealLife}

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Jack's Pizza. All thoughts and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

What is the chance that if I continue to tell myself that winter won't arrive that it will come true? One percent? Zero? Sigh.

While I will prepare for the (unfortunately) upcoming winter with standard actions — digging out boots, mittens and snow pants — experience has also taught me that having a variety of indoor activity ideas pays off for the long, dark, cold days when the kids are bored and the stuck-insideness begins to drive us all a little batty. You can't ever have too many crafts, apps, recipes, games, books, and more to fall back on!

With that in mind, here are five fun ways to "Win the Day" this winter and beyond...

Indoor Obstacle Course

Kids have energy; lots of energy. Along with turning on music and having a dance party, we love to pull out chairs, blankets, pillows, cardboard boxes, toys, and more to create an obstacle course to crawl in, climb on, shimmy through, jump over, and, in general, get us up and moving.

There is no wrong way to do this and kids love helping build as well as participating. It all adds up to hours of entertainment while also using up some extra energy!

Paper Snowflakes and Cut Paper Winter Art

We all grew up making snowflakes out of a piece of paper, right? Simply fold in half, in half again, in half again, etc, and then make different shape cut-outs. Just unfold the paper to see the results and, if your snowflake needs tweaking, fold it back up and continue expressing your artistic skills!

But then why not take things a step further and use all the little paper scraps that were cut out from your snowflakes? All it takes is some construction paper for the background, glue to attach, and creativity to design just about any sort of winter scene a child can imagine!

Paper Snowmen

Even though I have lived in the Midwest all of my life, I'm just not a fan of playing out in the snow. Therefore, I much prefer to join my kids in making snowmen when we can do them in the warmth and comfort of our living room in the form of paper snowmen!

Use any sort of paper you have — we like to recycle old newspaper — and crumple, adhering with masking tape when needed. Just like in the snow, start with a smaller ball and add on to make it bigger and bigger... then stack, decorate, and enjoy your happy snowman. Added bonus: no melting!

Indoor Ice Skating

A friend introduced us to this unique way to ice skate indoors and the interest has yet to lessen! Just have your child stand on a piece of wax paper, bunch it up around their ankle, and hold in place using rubber bands.

The "ice rink" is just about any type of flooring, but be warned that some are much more slippery than others. Little Sister B prefers to stay more on the carpet or rug so that she can slide and spin while Big Sister E is more of a daredevil and can sometimes barely stand up on the hardwood!

Cooking and Baking

I have yet to meet a child that doesn't love to help out in the kitchen! No matter if I'm baking cookies, cooking spaghetti or simply chopping veggies for a salad, my kids want to be involved in every possible way. Along with appreciating the help (mostly), being a part of the cooking process has a way of making kids extremely excited to eat the finished product!

So, while we oftentimes have to compromise on what flavor muffins or exactly which toppings will be offered in our sandwich buffet, there is never any question on what brand of pizza to pull out of the freezer. Nothing beats the quality, value, and taste of Jack's Pizza!

Created from 100 percent real Wisconsin cheese and a preservative-free crust, Jack's is made here in the Midwest with pride and never receives a single complaint. My entire family will happily come to the table to reach for a fresh slice and I'm always thrilled that in just 15 minutes I've got a meal on the table that everyone will enjoy!

Want to talk more about how stocking up on Jack's Pizza is a quick and easy solution for family dinners? Then be sure to join in the #RealCheeseRealLife Twitter Party this week!

When: Wednesday, November 11 at 1 p.m. CT

Where: #RealCheeseRealLife

Hosts: @TheMotherhood, @TMChatHost, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

Prizes: Four prize packs will be handed out to randomly selected participants who answer the trivia questions correctly. Each prize includes a $50 Visa gift card! (Prizes limited to U.S. participants only. See official rules for more.)

RSVP: Find out more and RSVP here.

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The next time you are looking for a meal option that will let you customize it perfectly to meet everyone's tastes, check out the full line of Jack's Pizza varieties – they even offer great pairing ideas to include your pizza in a complete, well-balanced meal!

Find out more about the quality, value, and time-saving delectable options that Jack's has to offer by visiting JacksPizza.com and connecting with them on Facebook. When you're feeding your family, give them the best!