Pages

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Happy Holidays!





Thanks for all your support in 2015.  
The New Year is going to start off slow for my blog, but I hope to be back in action by March.
Wishing you all a Happy 2016!


Pin It

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Portable North Pole Christmas Videos


I'm so excited to share with you the super fun and magical Portable North Pole videos and phone calls this year!  Christmas is such a magical time of year, especially with little ones. You can make it even more special with personalized video messages and phone calls from Santa Claus, delivered directly from his North Pole village! It's a great family tradition that my girls (and I!) look forward to every year.

And the best news ... one of you will receive a voucher for a FREE Gold Pass!! The Gold Pass costs $12.99 and allows you to create as many premium videos and phone calls as you'd like.  You can also download your videos in HD.  Keep reading to find out how to enter to win an Gold Pass!


VIDEOS
Last year I created free PNP video messages from Santa for each of the girls.  I even did a free grown-up video for Tim :) The girls still remind him about how he was on Santa's naughty list!  This year I created unique premium video messages for each of the girls. There are 7 storylines to choose from so each of my girls will receive a different message from Santa.  Click here to see some examples of the premium videos. Portable North Pole donates 5% of all proceeds from online sales to children’s hospitals around the world. Since 2012, PNP has donated over $100,000!


PHONE CALLS
There are 17 different phone calls to choose from and one was perfect for my girls - the "Not home for Christmas?" call. We are living at my parents' house right now because our home looks like this...

Ava wrote Elvis, our Elf on the Shelf, a note with detailed instructions on how to get to Nana and Papa's house in the hopes that he'd relay the message to Santa :)  I can't wait for her to get Santa's phone call on Christmas Eve!!!  She's going to FREAK OUT!


MOBILE APP
Don't forget to check out the PNP Mobile App.  You can create, watch and send videos and calls from your mobile devices.  Your kids will love the exclusive kid-friendly section with fun games and activities!

ENTER TO WIN!!
Leave a comment below by Saturday, December 19th and I will randomly select a winner on December 20th.  Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you with your voucher code for your GOLD PASS!

Merry Christmas from my 3 little elves!

And thank you for all your support in 2015!

Pin It

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Pumpkin Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies


I love baking with pumpkin.  This is the new pumpkin recipe that I tried out this year.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups packed light-brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg 
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin puree
1 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger for 30 seconds, set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until creamy (occasionally stop and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl throughout entire mixing process). 
4. Blend in egg then blend in vanilla extract and pumpkin puree. 
5. Mix in chocolate chips (if you want some chocolate to show through set some aside to press into tops before baking). 
6. Let batter rest 5 - 10 minutes (this just gives the oats some time to absorb the liquids so batter isn't so sticky and cookies don't spread so much).
7. Scoop dough out 2 Tbsp at a time and drop onto parchment paper lined baking sheets, spacing cookies 2-inches apart. 
8. Bake in preheated oven 12 - 14 minutes. Allow to cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Yield:
4 dozen cookies


Step 2


Step 4

Step 5

Step 7




The muffins turned out great too!


Happy Holidays!



Pin It

Sunday, November 1, 2015

2015 St. Louis Holiday Events

Happy Holidays St. Louis!!!  My list is a work in process.  Some popular St. Louis locations have not yet posted their holiday events online so be sure to check back. If you have any events to add, please leave them in the Comments section.  Also be sure to check the website links for accurate dates and times of operation.

EVENTS
November 7 @ 10am - 12pm @ West County Center

Painting with a Twist: Neon Snowman Family Friendly Class

November 7 @ 12 - 1:30pm

Old Webster Holiday Open House
November 14 - December 24

November 14 @ 9am - 3pm

Holiday Boutique with Santa and his live reindeer
November 14 @ 9am - 3pm @ Berkshire Hathaway's Town & Country Office

Taubman Prestige Outlets Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 14 @ 4-7 pm

Victorian Christmas at the Tower Grove House
November 18 -  January 3 @ 10am - 4pm

Winter Movie Night at Ballpark Village: How to Train your Dragon
November 18 @ 5pm

AB Brewery Lights
November 19 - January 3 @ 5 - 10pm (Thursdays - Sundays)

St. Peters Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 20 @ 6:30 - 9pm

November 20 - December 31

MO Botanical Garden: Gardenland Express
November 21 - January 3

November 21 @ 9:30am

Friends of the Libary Children's Holiday Shopping
November 21 @ 10am - 2pm @ Kirkwood Library Children's Room 

November 21 @ 1 – 2pm

American Girl Store: Together, We Make the Holidays
November 21; December 5, 12, 19

Painting with a Twist: Crazy Reindeer Family Class
November 21 @ 12:30 - 2:30pm (St. Peter's location)

Painting with a Twist: Curly Christmas Tree Teen Family Class

November 21 @ 1 - 3pm (St. Peter's location)

Eureka: Holiday Tree Lighting
November 21 @ 5 - 8pm

The Gingerbread House Experience
November 23 - December 25 @ 7am - 9pm

Santa vs. the Snowman @ OMNIMAX Theater at the Science Center 
November 23 @ 10am

Ameren MO Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 26 @8:45am @ 7th and Market Street

E. Desmond Lee Holiday Train Display @ Museum of Transportation
November 27 - December 30 (Thursday - Sunday)

Visit with Santa @ Museum of Transportation
November 27 @ 10am - 2pm & December 12 @ 1 - 4pm

Christmas in Historic St. Charles
November 27 – December 24 on Historic Main Street

Big Joel's Winter Wonderland
November 27 – December 20

Butterfly House: Winter Jewels
November 27 – January 3 @ 10am to 3pm (Tuesday through Sunday)

Gander Mountain Holiday Express
November 27 - December 23 @ 10am - 8pm (Fenton location)

Pinot's Palette: Family Day Open Studio
November 27 @ 11am - 1pm (Chesterfield location)

Santa vs. the Snowman @ OMNIMAX Theater at the Science Center 
November 27 - 29 @ 12pm

Painting with a Twist: Winter Whimsey Tree
November 27 @ 1 - 3pm (O'Fallon location)

Painting with a Twist: Neon Christmas Tree Family Class
November 27 @ 2 - 3:30pm (St. Peter's location)

Historic St. Charles Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 27 @ 5pm @ Berthold Square

Ritz Carlton: Teddy Bear Tea in The Lobby 
November 28 & 29; December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23
Seatings at 11am & 2:30pm

Mommy and Me: Gingerbread Houses at Schnucks Des Peres
November 28 @ 10am - 12pm
Ages 5 - 8

Painting with a Twist: "Frozen" Class! Melting for You
November 28 @ 10am - 12pm (O'Fallon location)

Painting with a Twist: Frosty Family Class
November 28 @ 10:30am - 12pm (St. Peter's location)

Holidays in The Loop
November 28 - December 19 (weekends) @ 11am - 5pm

Holiday Caroling
November 28, December 5, 12 & 19 @ 12 - 1pm @ Taubman Prestige Outlets

Saturday’s Kids: Gingerbread Houses at Schnucks Des Peres
November 28 @ 2 - 4pm
Ages 9 - 12

Sweet Traditions…Gingerbread Houses at Dierbergs
Parent & Child Grades K–4th
Bogey Hills: November 28 @ 11am - 12:30pm
Southroads: November 28 @ 10 - 11:30am & 12:30 - 2pm
West Oak: November 28 @ 10 - 11:30am
Clarkson: December 5 @ 10 - 11:30am

Thornhill Library: Marshmallow Igloos
November 28 @ 11am - 12:15pm

St. Charles Holiday Electric Parade
November 28 @ 5:30pm

Northern Lights Christmas Market and Lighted Parade
November 29 @ Ferguson Citywalk

Lafayette Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 29 @ 5 - 7pm

Find Manchester's Elf, Buddy!
November 30 - December 4

Chase Park Plaza Holiday Celebration
December 1 @ 5pm

Mom and Son Pre-Chanukah Night Out
December 3 @ 5:30 - 7pm

Santa vs. the Snowman @ OMNIMAX Theater at the Science Center 
December 4 - 6

Santa Visits West County by Fire Truck
December 4 @ 4 - 7pm @ Town & Country EMS & Fire Protection District

Carolers Sing & Mrs. Claus Read @ Chase Park Plaza
December 4 - 19 (Friday & Saturdays only) @ 5:30 - 7:30pm

Candlelight Christmas Walk in August, MO
December 4 and December 11 @ 5-10pm

December 4-5 & 11-12 @ 5:30pm

14th Annual Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk
December 4 @ 6pm

Free Carriage Rides at Westport Plaza
December 4 & 5 @ 6 - 8pm

It's a Wonderful Life Radio Play
December 4 @ 6:30 - 8:30pm @ St. Louis Community College - Wildwood Campus - FREE

Webster: Santas on the Loose 5K Run & 100 Yard Dash
December 5 @ 8am (5K) & 9am (100 Yard Dash)

December 5 - 31 @ 8am - 5pm
December 5 @ 9am

Candy Cane Hunt in O'Fallon
December 5 @ 9 - 10:30am @ Renaud Spirit Center

Candy Cane Hunt at Queeny Park
December 5 @ 9:50am

Holiday with Santa @ Westport Plaza
December 5 @ 10am - 12pm

Painting with a Twist: Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel
December 5 @ 10am - 12pm (Creve Coeur location)

Christmas on the Hill
December 5 @ 12pm

December 5 & 6

Christmas Cookie Spree on Cherokee Antique Row
December 5 & 6
December 5 @ 1 - 3pm


December 5 @ 2pm

Santa Visits West County by Fire Truck
December 5 & 6 @ 2 - 7pm @ Manchester/Ballwin EMS & Fire Protection District

Santa the Caboose
December 5 & 6 @ 2 - 4pm @ Frisco Train Store

Bridgeton Trails Library: Holiday Concert - River City Pops
December 5 @ 2 - 3pm

Kristkindl Markt in Hermann, MO
Stone Hill Winery: December 5-6 @ 10am
Hermannhof Winery: December 12-14 @ 10am

World's Largest Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
December 5 @ 7pm @ Ballpark Village

Hands on Chanukah @ Barnes & Noble (Ladue)
December 6 @ 10 - 11:30am

Painting with a Twist: Christmas Tree
December 6 @ 10am - 12pm (Creve Coeur location)

Painting with a Twist: Neon Snowman
December 6 @ 10am - 12pm (South County)

Family Sunday @ SLAM: Wonderful Winter
December 6 & 20 @ 12 - 4pm

Chanukah: Festival of Lights
December 6 @ 12 - 4pm @ MO Botanical Garden

Hanukkah Music Celebration
December 6 @ 1 - 3pm @ Chase Park Plaza

Community Chanukah Concert
December 6 @ 3 - 5pm @ Sha’are Emeth Congregation

KEZK Acapella Christmas
December 6 @ 3 - 5pm @ St. Louis Union Station Grand Hall

Santa Claus is Coming to Affton
December 6 @ 5 - 6pm @ Affton White-Rodgers Community Center 

JCC Family Hanukkah Party
December 7 @ 4:15 - 5pm

Winter Movie Night at Ballpark Village: ELF
December 9 @ 5pm

Kid's Club Holiday Cookie Decorating
December 10 @ 5 - 7pm @ Lucky's Market (Rock Hill)

December 11 @ 5-9pm; December 12 & 13 @ 1-4pm

December 11 (6-9 pm) & 12 (6-9pm)

Jingle Bounce - Cookies with Santa @ BounceU
December 12 @ 9 - 10:30am

Nagle's Christmas Open House
December 12 @ 9am - 9pm

Candy Cane Hunt at the Kirkwood Park Lion's Pavilion
December 12 @ 10am - Come early to decorate a bag!

Build a Holiday Train @ Lowe's in Chesterfield Valley
December 12 @ 10am

December 12 @ 10am - 2pm

Bridgeton Trails: Gingerbread House Fun
December 12 @ 10 - 10:30am

Purina Farms Pet-acular Holiday Bazaar
December 12 & 13 @ 11am - 4pm

December 12 @ 11am - 4pm
December 12 @ 11am - 2pm (Chesterfield location)
December 12 @ 1 - 4pm @ MO Botanical Garden

Santa Visits West County by Fire Truck & Pictures with Santa
December 12 @ 1 - 4pm @ Fire Station #1 (223 Henry Ave)
December 12 @ 2 - 3pm

December 13 @ 10am - 5pm

'Twas The Night Before Christmas
December 13 @ 12 - 4pm @ First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site

Mommy & Me Painting Mini Canvases @ Pinot's Palette
December 13 @ 2 - 4pm (Chesterfield Location)

Magic House Storytime with Santa Members-Only Morning
December 14 @ 9 am – 12 pm @ The Magic House

Winter Wonderland Holiday Story Hour
December 14 & 15 @ 10 - 10:45am @ Whole Foods (Town & Country)

KCS Holiday Express at Union Station
December 14 @ 10am - 3:30pm

Family Holiday Evening at The Foundry Art Centre
December 16 @ 5:30 - 8pm

Magic House Evening Storytime with Santa
December 16 & 17 @ 6 - 8pm @ The Magic House

Family Hanukkah Celebration
December 17 @ 4:15pm @ Marilyn Fox Building, Chesterfield

Storytime with Santa at The Woman's Exchange
December 17 @ 6 - 7pm

The Nutcracker presented by the Saint Louis Ballet
December 17 - 23 @ Touhill Performing Arts Center

Victorian Christmas Open House
December 18 & 19 @ 5pm @ The Campbell House Museum

Holiday Movie Extravaganza
December 18 @ 6:30 - 8:30pm @ Lucky's Market (Ellisville)

Mommy & Me Painting @ Pinot's Palette
December 19 @ 1 - 3pm (Webster location)

Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Claus & her Elves
December 20 @ 1 - 3pm @ Chase Park Plaza

Free Family Day at Laumeier Sculpture Park
December 20 @ 2 - 4pm
December 22 @ 10 - 11:15am 

Painting with a Twist: Holiday Kid's Class
December 22 @ 11am - 1pm (Creve Coeur location)

December 22 @ 1 - 2pm 

Mommy & Me Painting Mini Canvases @ Pinot's Palette
December 22 @ 2 - 4pm (Chesterfield Location)

Show-Me-Reindeer & Santa Claus
December 23 @ 12 - 2pm @ Whole Foods (Town & Country)

Painting with a Twist: Holiday Kid's Class
December 23 @ 12:30 - 2pm (Creve Coeur location)

Painting with a Twist: Neon Christmas Tree
December 23 @ 1 - 3pm (South County)

MO History Museum: Winter Getaway
December 26 - 30 @ 10:30am - 2:30pm

December 26 @ 11am - 12:15pm

Downtown Kirkwood Winter Fireworks Festival
December 26 @ 5pm @ Station Plaza

December 27 @ 12 - 4pm

December 27 @ 2 - 4pm (Chesterfield location)

Story Time & Pinecone Scavenger Hunt
December 28 & 29 @ 10 - 10:45am @ Whole Foods (Town & Country)
December 28 @ 11am - 1pm
December 30 @ 12 - 3pm @ MO Botanical Garden
December 30 @ 12pm @ Kirkwood Community Center
December 31 @ 11am - 2pm @ The Magic House

Noon-Time New Year's Eve
December 31 @ 11am @ Whole Foods (Town & Country)
December 31 @ 6pm @ Westport Plaza

January 1 @ 2 - 4pm (Chesterfield location)




PERFORMANCES
Vienna Boys Choir Holiday Concert
November 21 @ 8am @ Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

City of Florissant Thanksgiving Holiday Special: FLY GUY & OTHER STORIES
November 22, 27 & 28 @ 2pm @ Florissant Civic Center Theatre

Fox Theater
- Irving Berlin's White Christmas: November 17-22
Straight No Chaser: November 27
- Great Russian Nutcracker: November 30
- Cirque Dreams Holidaze: December 4-6
- Wicked: December 9 - January 3

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Musical
November 18 @ 4pm & 7pm @ Chaifetz Arena

Peter and the Wolf
November 27 @ 8pm @ Powell Hall

Kramer's Marionnette Theater: A Christmas Fantasy
November 27 - December 31

TeamSTAGES Holiday Concert
December 1 @ 7:30pm @ The Sheldon

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens
December 3 - 5 @ 7:30pm @ The Lindenwood Theater

The Nutcracker
December 3 - 5 @ 7pm & December 5 & 6 @ 2pm @ Visitation Academy

December 4 @ 8pm @ Purser Auditorium, Logan University

Into the Woods 
Holiday pre-show activities plus milk and cookies and a visit from Santa
December 4 - 6 @ Stages

Y98 Mistletoe Show
December 4 @ 6pm @ Family Arena

UMSL's Jazz for the Holidays
December 6 @ 3pm @ Touhill Performing Arts Center

Peter and the Wolf
December 6 @ 3pm @ Logan University

The Nutcracker @ Carol Bowman Academy of Dance
December 6 @ 3pm & 5pm

92.3 WIL's JingleFest
December 10 @ 7pm @ Family Arena

December 11 @ Scottrade Center

December 11 @ 7pm & December 12 @ 5pm @ St. Peters Rec-Plex

Sounds of the Season
December 11 - 13 @ Touhill Performing Arts Center

It's a Wonderful Redneck Mystery!
December 11 (6pm) & 12 (12pm) @ Old Spaghetti Factory, Chesterfield

COCA
- The Little Dancer: December 12-14
- The Little Dancer Tea: December 13 @ 2-3pm

December 12 @ 8pm & December 13 @ 2:30pm

Holiday Ice Show at Kirkwood Ice Arena
December 12 @ 3:45 - 5:15pm

The Nutcracker on Ice
December 12 & 13 @ 2pm & 5pm @ Webster Groves Ice Arena

Candlelight Christmas Concert
December 12 @ 7 - 8pm @ First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site

Town & Country Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert Surprise
December 13 @ 2:30pm @ Principia


Touhill Performing Arts Center
- Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon: December 19-20

Macy’s Holiday Celebration
December 18, 19 & 20 @ Powell Hall

MO Ballet Theatre: Nutcracker
December 18-20

December 18-23 @ Nerinx Hall High School

December 19 @ 7pm & December 20 @ 6pm

The Elves and the Shoemaker
December 19 - 23 @ The Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall High School

A Christmas Carol
December 20 @ 2pm @ Florissant Civic Center Theatre

Concert Band's 17th Annual Holiday Spectacular Concert
December 21 @ 7:30pm @ Powell Hall

Elf: The Musical
December 26 & 27 @ Peabody Opera House

December 27 @ Scottrade Center

January 2 @ 7pm @ Powell Symphony Hall


HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAYS
November 13 – January 3 @ 5:30pm

Way of Lights @ Our Lady of the Snows
November 20 - January 1 @ 5-9pm

Winter Wonder Walk
November 20 - 22 @ Tilles Park Winter Wonderland

November 21

November 21 – December 18 @ 5pm – 9:30pm

November 25 - January 2 @ 5:30pm - 9:30pm

US Bank Wild Lights at St. Louis Zoo
Novmeber 27 - January 3 @ 5:30 - 8:30pm

Celebration of Lights in O'Fallon
November 27 – December 30

Wentzville Holiday Night Lights
November 27 - December 30 @ Rotary Park @ 6 - 9:30pm

Chanukah: Festival of Lights
December 6 @ 12 - 4pm @ MO Botanical Garden

Holiday Night Lights Walk-Thru
December 7 @ 6pm @ Rotary Park

Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll
December 8 @ 6 - 9pm @ Fort Zumwalt Park

Candy Cane Lane / Angel Avenue / Snowflake Street
The lights are usually up the weekend after Thanksgiving



DINE WITH SANTA
November 28, December 5 and 19 @ 9am
November 29, December 6, 13 & 20 @ 9:30am

Eureka: Pizza with Santa
December 3 & 4 @ 6:30 - 8pm; December 5 @ 11:30am - 1pm

RiverChase Supper With Santa
December 4 @ 6 - 7pm
December 5 @ 9 - 11am

December 5, 12 & 19
Seatings from 9am - 1pm 

Bluebird Park: Breakfast with Santa
December 5 @ 9:30 - 10:30am

December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20 @ 4:30 – 7pm

December 5 @ 8am - 10:30am

Schroeder Park (Manchester): Breakfast with Santa
December 5 @ 8:30am & 9:30am

Breakfast with Santa at the Longview Farm House
December 5 @ 9 - 11 am

December 5, 12 & 19 @ 9am – 1pm

Cookies with Claus @ The Lodge Des Peres
December 5 @ 9am - 12pm

December 6 @ 8:30 am, 9:45 am, 11 am and 5 pm
December 13 @ 8:30 am, 9:45 am and 11 am
December 12 @ 8:30 - 10:30am

Imogene's: Breakfast with Santa
December 12 @ 9am

North County Recreation Complex: Lunch with Santa
December 12 @ 11am - 1pm

December 12 @ 11:30am - 1pm

Chase Park Plaza: Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus
December 13 @ 9am & 11am
PICTURES WITH SANTA
Pictures with Santa and Live Reindeer
November 21 @ 10am - 2pm @ Critter Lane Petting Zoo

Strolling Santa & Mrs. Claus
November 28, December 12 & 19 @ 12 - 3pm @ Taubman Prestige Outlets
Bring your own camera!

Photos with Santa @ Kirkwood Train Station
December 3 & 10 @ 5- 7pm 
December 11 @ 11am - 1pm

Snapshots with Santa @ The Boathouse Forest Park
December 6 @ 11am - 2pm

American Girl Welcomes Santa
December 6 & 13 @ 9 - 10am

Pictures with Santa @ St. Vincent Community Center
December 12 @ 1 - 4pm











SLED / SKI / SKATE

November 20 @ 6:30 - 9pm

Shaw Park Ice Rink: Snowman Skate
December 4 @ 6 - 10pm

December 5 @ 1 - 3pm

Hardee's Iceplex: Holiday Show & Skate with Santa
December 6 @ 2 - 6pm

December 19 @ 1:30 - 3:30pm

Webster Groves Ice Arena: Skate with Santa
December 19 @ 1:45 - 3:15pm

December 21-22 or 28-29 @ 9am - 3pm


KIMMSWICK, MO EVENTS
November 21 @ 10am - 9pm

December 4-6

December 4-6


WASHINGTON, MO EVENTS
November 27 @ 6-8pm

November 29 @ 3-5pm

December 4 @ 5-6pm

December 13 @ 4-7pm


ILLINOIS EVENTS
November 20 - January 1 @ 5-9pm

November 20 @ 6-8pm

November 27 - December 29

November 27 @ 10am

November 27 - December 23 @ Public Square in Belleville, IL

November 27

November 28 & 29, December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 & 20 @ 8am - 12pm

November 28 & 29, December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20 @ 10am - 4pm

December 5 & 21

December 4 @ 6-8pm

December 5 @ 11:30am - 2:30pm

December 12

Visit with Santa at Alton Square Mall


MOVIES & TV
November 13

November 20

November 25

Christmas Eve
December 4

December 18

December 25

December 25


Pin It
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...