Delicious and Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad

Felicia Snodgrass Recipes, Salads , , 0 Comment

Juicy and Tasty Strawberry Spinach Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Sometimes I just crave this Delicious and Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad.  Around ten years ago, my husband and I were at a wedding that served a Strawberry and Spinach Salad. I will be honest, back in the day I wasn’t really willing to try a lot of new things when it came to food.  Up until that point, I would have never considered serving strawberries and spinach together!  In reality, when you mix that fresh flavor of the spinach with the plump and juicy strawberries your mouth gets an explosion of amazing flavors.  Once you try this Delicious Strawberry Spinach Salad you will be hooked!  I am so glad that I tried something new, because I fell in love.

Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad

Perfect Easy Salad for Entertaining

This Strawberry Spinach Salad is perfect for potluck dinners and barbecue’s.  My recommendation for taking this as a side dish is to bring the dressing separately. It will get soggy if you add the dressing before it is ready to be served.  No one wants a soggy salad!

The wonderful thing about this salad is you can really add your own flair.  That original Strawberry Spinach salad I had at that wedding had craisins. Craisins aren’t my favorite, so I don’t add them. You could also add feta or goat cheese. I add plain walnuts, but candied walnuts or pecans may also add a nice flavor.  You can make it different each time to change it up or find that one way you like it best and turn it into a family favorite.

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Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad

Ingredients

  • 10 ounce bag of spinach leaves
  • 2 (16 ounce) containers of fresh strawberries
  • 2.25 ounce of bag of walnuts
  • 1/2 pack of cooked and crumbled bacon
  • Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette to taste
  • Optional items: craisins, feta cheese, goat cheese, candied nuts

Instructions

  1. Cook 1/2 package of bacon and crumble. Cut and quarter fresh strawberries. Place spinach in large bowl, add strawberries, add crumbled bacon, walnuts and slightly toss. Add any optional items and add as little or as much dressing as you prefer.
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This truly is the easiest Strawberry Spinach Salad!  The fresh flavors compliment each other so well. Plus, you will get lots of compliments from friends and family when they try this tasty salad.  Next time you are trying to come up with something that is fresh and easy to make, I highly recommend trying this Strawberry Spinach Salad.

Delicious Strawberry Salad

HP Beats Special Edition Laptop

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HP Vibrant Red Beats Edition Laptop

Hp Laptop

When my sister asked me join her in this journey to blog with her, I decided to purchase the HP Vibrant Red Beats Edition Laptop.  I had previously had an HP and loved it and was confident that I would purchase another HP product. I had been using the same the same laptop for over 6 years!  Crazy I know!

I spent a lot of time searching all the different laptops on the market today. Let me tell you that there are so MANY to choose from.  There are several things I was looking for in a laptop and the HP Vibrant Red Beats Edition had them all!  I wanted a computer that was fast, had plenty of storage and was a great price.

touchscreen HP

Lots of Fun Features on this HP Laptop

When I came home from work the day I received my new HP Laptop, I was so excited that I had to get it opened and up and running immediately!  It took less than 10 minutes to have it set up and ready to play with. I loved the quick start up, especially since I am not exactly technical savvy.

This HP Laptop has a 15.6″ Touch Screen!  With all the cell phones and tablets now days, it was important for me to be able to have a touch screen on my laptop too. This is an awesome feature that makes this laptop even more user friendly. 

I find myself doing a lot of typing in the dark. This Vibrant Red HP Laptop found an awesome solution for people like me. This laptop has a red backlit keyboard. Not only is it highly functional, it looks really COOL!

Touch Screen HP

This Laptop has also won the heart of my daughter, Kaylyn!  It’s so easy to use and she loves the touchscreen as well. Now the best part of this HP Laptop Special Edition is the HP Beats with Dual Speakers and Subwoofer.  At our house we like to crank up some good old Country Music and on this HP Laptop we are left with great music and an awesome sound.  If you are in the market for a new laptop, I highly recommend the HP Vibrant Red with Beats Special Edition!

Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper

Kelsey Baby/Kid Toys, Products We Tried , , , 2 Comments

Clay Loves His Musical Motion Activity Jumper

 

My sister gave us this Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper to use for baby Clay! She used it for her daughter, and wanted to pass it along. This is probably Clay’s favorite thing to play on, he absolutely LOVES this thing! He can jump and jump and pass the time so easily! All the fun activities as he twirls around in his seat helps a lot on keeping him entertained as well! It is super sturdy, and that is a huge plus for us, we don’t have to worry about it falling apart!

baby einstein musical motion activity jumper

I think what makes this jumper really nice is it offers so many different activities to keep him mind busy! He can play music or play music and more. He loves being able to swivel all the way around in the seat, it gives him a 360 degree view of the room!

Activity Jumper Your Baby Will Love

jumper

He has really begun to play with the sun and cloud, he can pull on it as it is flexible so he can bend it down and chew on it! Clay loves to put everything and anything in his mouth these days!!! Another thing I wanted to highlight is you can wipe all this down super easy! If your child spits up or you want to clean it up, use the cleaner of your choice and wipe it down! That is such a nice option, some toys are almost impossible to get clean, so I love how easy this is!

Is this something your baby or a child you know would enjoy! 

Meridian Panel Room Darkening Curtains – Saves on Heating and Cooling Costs!

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Thermal Insulated Backing CurtainsMeridian Panel Room Darkening Curtains

We recently bought these Meridian Panel Room Darkening Curtains, and I am in love! They are so gorgeous, I love the print on them! These are thermal insulated backing curtains that help to block the light as well! We wanted something that offered a neat print but was also effective in saving money for our home. We have older windows, so they are not very energy efficient! In time we will save up and get new windows installed!

These curtains do not fully block out all the light, they block around 75-85%. BUT, with that said, our old curtains when the light was blaring in, it would blind you. You can see the light on the window curtain but it doesn’t blind you at all. With it being Spring the sun is out longer, and we wanted our house to be darker say 7 o’clock time as that is when baby goes to bed. These curtains help do that for our living and dining room area!

Meridian Print Thermal Curtains 

Meridian Print Thermal Curtains

Designed for a look of elegance, the grommets are spaced in such a way that the drapery forms neat pleated gatherings when left partially open. During the day we open ours up to get some natural light in our house. I love how pretty they make the windows look! They are a great way to add a pop of color to a room, and the print makes a fun statement!

Different Colors and Styles to choose from, if you interested! Plus, you can get rods as well if you need them. They have a ton of gorgeous ones to choose from!

If you want a different print or color, they have lots of fun designs to choose from! Plus you can shop your local stores like Walmart, as well to find them! I just love Amazon!

VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker – Interactive Baby Walker

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Sit to Stand Learning Interactive Walker

VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker

For Easter, the Easter Bunny dropped off this fun VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker, for Clay! It is a fun interactive baby walker, that is sit to stand. It is best for age range 9 months to 3 years, but he got his a little early and he is still able to play and have fun with it!

The reason why we picked out this one, is because it has a lot of fun activities he can do, from learning piano, spinning rollers, pretend telephone and more. Plus it has a nice wide handle area for him to place his hands when he begins to work on walking!

Clay can’t stand yet, so for now he plays with it on the floor or we put it on his high chair. The play panel what you see below is what comes right off the walker.

sit to stand baby walker

As you can see here the play panel does clip away from the wheel stand, and he loves to sit with it in his high chair and play. He loves listening to the music, seeing the blinking lights and munching on the phone! This is great for your child as it helps to develop their fine motor skills! 

Vtech Sit to Stand Walker

vtech sit to stand walker

This is a pretty affordable walker and it is so nice that it can be used for such a long time! Plus it is great you can use this before they start walking, I love buying things that will last awhile instead of using them for just 1 month then moving on!

I would recommend this walker to anyone who has a baby or wants to buy one as a gift! Very well made, lots for your child to play and learn from, and helps them learn and grow!

What is one toy you would recommend to parents to help entertain them as they grow?

 

Quick And Easy Shrimp Spring Bowl – Fresh Take on Spring Rolls!

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Light and Refreshing Take to Spring Rolls! Shrimp Spring Bowl

Spring is here and Summer is on the horizon and in that I want light and fresh meals, like this quick and easy shrimp spring bowl! This is a fun new take to the classic spring rolls! No struggle messing with rice paper, just use rice noodles! They are so delicious I seriously can’t get enough of them! Our local Chinese has them and it is a must have when we eat there!

Shrimp Spring Bowl

As you can see this is a gorgeous meal, and also very fresh! I love the veggies on the side, you are welcome to chop them up smaller so they are bite size if you don’t want them in bigger chunks. For this recipe I used the smaller shrimp, it works wonderful for salads. If you have fresh shrimp on hand feel free to use that!

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Quick And Easy Shrimp Spring Bowl

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup small (salad) shrimp, cooked and cleaned.
  • 1 cup rice noodles
  • 1/2 ripe avocado, sliced
  • 1 large carrot, washed and sliced
  • 4 large pieces of romaine lettuce, chopped
  • *3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
  • *1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
  • (*Note: Can substitute with Sweet and Sour Sauce*)

Instructions

  1. Prepare rice noodles as directed, rinse with cold water, and drain.
  2. Add the rice noodles to a bowl.
  3. Add lettuce, carrots, avocado, and shrimp to the top of the noodles.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together sweet chili sauce and fish sauce. (Skip this step if substituting)
  5. Pour sauce over prepared bowl, and enjoy.
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Quick and Easy Shrimp Spring Bowl

So as you can see this is super quick to whip up, and of course this is something that is great to save and eat the next day. Just keep the items separate and then create another bowl when you are wanting more! You can 100% play around with the veggies you want to add to it. If you don’t like something keep it out and feel free to replace it with something different. Just keep in mind the sauce and think what could go good with it.

If you are interested in the fun bowl and spoon like I have here, I will link some below that are similar! They really make a fun presentation to the meal! They are fun to have on hand when you are hosting a party, or just want some fun dinnerware to match your delicious meal like this!

 

Is this a meal you think you would enjoy!? 

Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker – Delicious Espresso with Touch of a Button

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Espresso In Your Home With the Touch of A Button Nespresso Inissia

I got this Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker a few months back. I thought it would be fun to have on hand to create Iced Lattes at home. I am not completely tough enough for a straight espresso! That is something that is a bit to strong for me, even the mild blends! BUT, if you are a fan of straight espresso this machine works really well! I am a fan of creating iced lattes! 

Iced Latte

I chose this one, because it is a nice compact size, so it doesn’t take up to much room! This machine is energy efficient, which is a pretty big must these days, and it automatically shuts off after 9 minutes of inactivity! If you stop and think about it, this is around the same price as buying a Keurig or any other type of single serve machine! This though doesn’t do coffee, it does espresso and hot chocolate. You can make a tall cup of espresso to help tame the flavor so it is not as strong, and can be somewhat close to coffee.


Now, you can buy reusable pods, or buy pods that are already filled with the flavor you want! There are so many brands out there you can buy that are compatible with the machine, which will help save money! You can also try out regular coffee and see how it taste, I personally haven’t tried that so I can’t vouch for it!

espresso

I do think this is a great investment if you are an espresso drinker! It will save you from paying $5 or so for an Espresso at your local coffee shop, and you can make it in seconds and not have to get out of your pj’s! 

They do have different styles of machines to choose from!

KitchenAid Stand Mixer – Great Investment!

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Classic White KitchenAid Stand Mixerkitchenaid stand mixer

My husband, Adam, bought me my KitchenAid Stand Mixer a few years back I think for Christmas! When he did I was beyond excited as I had been dreaming of owning one for years! I love to bake and cook so I knew it would be a huge asset for me! What I love about this mixer is it is so versatile. You can whip up cookies, mashed potatoes, shred meat and more! You really can use this mixer for so many things, it is amazing!

I have the 4.5 quart KitchenAid Mixer, they do offer a bigger size. For me, this size fits me well, I don’t need the bigger one. The mixer does hold a lot, I was surprised at just how much it can. The one thing is when you are pouring in say flour, you have to be careful if it is running as it can fly out the sides. So I normally stop it, and pour the flour and then fix. I am a messy cook, so that could be the problem! Plus their are so many attachments you can buy for them! I want the ice cream maker attachment! 

Kitchenaid 4.5 qt Classic Plus Stand Mixer – My Sidekick! 

kitchenaid 4.5 qt classic plus stand mixer

As you can see it does offer multiple speeds. I normally stir on 1-3, rarely have I ever done more. For like frostings and such I have went over but for the most of items I use it for I use a lower speed. The 10 setting is so fast it is crazy! I truly love my mixer, and it is a little pricey but it is worth the investment! It is very well made, and they can last a lifetime! 

They offer different colors and sizes to choose from! 

Recipes That I have used the KitchenAid With! 

baked oatmeal cups

Baked Oatmeal Cups– these are great for quick breakfast on the go! I like them cold but you can also pop in microwave for like 20 seconds to give them a little bit of warmth!

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread– This is so fast to whip up and nice and filling! I love it, and speaking of it, I need to make some real soon!

Do you own a KitchenAid Mixer? If So what are your thoughts on it?! 

Infantino Activity Triangle for Babies – 6 months and Older

Kelsey 6 months and up, Baby/Kid Toys, Products We Tried , , , 0 Comment


Clay Loves His Activity Triangle Infantino Activity Triangle

Awhile back I ordered this Infantino Activity Triangle at a discounted price. I thought it would be something fun for Clay to play with. This is great for age of 6 months or older. It is a triangle toy that offers many fun activities for your kiddo to enjoy! From rattle beads, spinning knobs, texture wheels and more. Clay loves to pick it up and move it around and find new fun activities to play with.

This is a great way for your child to develop hand-eye coordination, and I love that. I am a firm believer in buying toys that your child can benefit from in their growth and have fun while doing it! 

Activity Toy Your Child Will Love

Activity Toy for Babies

He is playing with it here, and you can see he gets pretty interested in it. All the different colors and activities really keeps him intrigued! Plus it makes a lot of different noise as it twist and turns around, which is a lot of fun!

I am so glad we bought this for him, it has really been a fun toy for him. He played with this activity triangle before he could sit up, and it was nice. He would just lay on his  tummy or side and reach out and play with it. Now that he is sitting up good, he can hold it and play even more.

This would be a great toy for a gift for a birthday or holiday for a kiddo in the 6 month or up age range! 

The Best Easy Lasagna Recipe

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A Delicious Lasagna Recipe you can use over and over!

We are huge lasagna lovers at our house and I have been making The Best Easy Lasagna Recipe for years!  I tried to think back to when I first came across this recipe, but I have been making it so long I can’t even remember! It is perfect for our household of picky eaters!

Lasagna Ingredients

I would like to point out that in this photo I show a 3 lb. package of hamburger. I did brown all 3 lbs. so I could use the other 2 lbs. for other meals.  I like to freeze it and use it for quick dinners.  One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time and put it in the refrigerator or freezer and bake it later!  This can also make a great gift.  This is perfect if you are looking for a meal that you can give someone that they can bake at their convenience. I do this for families who have just had a baby or someone who has lost a loved one. If you want to freeze it, just cover it with aluminum foil and put it in an aluminum pan with the lid. I always write the directions for temperature and time on the plastic lid. This way if it’s a gift they don’t have to figure it out on their own.  You will want to make sure to thaw it really well before baking!

Lasagna

The other great thing I want to mention about this recipe is how versatile it is!  If you like to add some extra items like onions, peppers, mushrooms or olives you can always add them in. Feel free to adjust this recipe to meet your families needs. To make a complete meal you can add a nice garden side salad, garlic bread or some fresh fruit.Easy Lasagna

I don’t know if you are as obsessed with Ree Drunmmod as much as I am, but the plate you see in this photo is from the Pioneer Women Dinnerware Set.  I LOVE these dishes and couldn’t keep it a secret! Now it’s time to enjoy your tasty dinner!  

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The Best Easy Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients

  • 16 ounce container of cottage cheese
  • 16 ounce bag of mozzarella cheese
  • can of petite cut diced tomatoes
  • 1 jar of pasta sauce (whatever your preference)
  • lasgna noodles
  • 1 lb. of browned hamburger
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Begin by browning your hamburger and adding salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Drain hamburger and put in a large bowl.
  4. Add the cottage cheese, diced tomatoes and pasta sauce.
  5. Mix all the ingredients together.
  6. Take approximately 3/4 cup of the sauce mixture and spread on the bottom of a 13 x 9 pan.
  7. Then place a layer of lasagna noodles. (uncooked, you do NOT have to use oven ready noodles)
  8. Put another layer of sauce and then cover with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
  9. Continue layers until you run out of ingredients.
  10. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
  11. Bake for 45 minutes.
  12. After 45 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15 - 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly brown.
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