National Chocolate Day

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

National Chocolate Day is celebrated annually on October 28. Not only is chocolate delicious by itself, but it also enhances so many dishes and desserts. When I am in the mood for something sweet, chocolate is always one of my top choices. Here are some of my favorite chocolate desserts along with a few fun facts about chocolate:
WHITE CHOCOLATE IS NOT CHOCOLATE.
Because it doesn’t contain cocoa solids or chocolate liquor, white chocolate isn’t chocolate in the strict sense. But it does contain parts of the cacao bean, mainly cocoa butter. This is my favorite type of chocolate!

CHOCOLATE IS ACTUALLY A VEGETABLE—KIND OF.
Milk and dark chocolate come from the cacao bean, which grows on the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), an evergreen from the family Malvaceae. This makes the most important part of the sweet treat a vegetable.

HOT CHOCOLATE WAS THE FIRST CHOCOLATE TREAT.
Cacao was brewed in both Mexican and Aztec culture, though the result was nothing like today’s hot chocolate—it was a typically bitter concoction that was often used for ceremonial occasions like weddings.

BAKER’S CHOCOLATE ISN’T JUST FOR BAKING.
Dr. James Baker and John Hannon founded their chocolate company (later called Walter Baker Chocolate) in 1765. That’s where the term “Baker’s Chocolate” comes from, not to denote chocolate that’s just meant for cooking.

MILTON HERSHEY REALLY WAS A CANDY KING.
The Pennsylvania native may be best known for starting The Hershey Chocolate Company in good old Hershey, PA, but he got his start in candy long before hooking up with chocolate. He founded his first company, The Lancaster Caramel Company, when he was 30 years old.

MILK CHOCOLATE WAS INVENTED IN SWITZERLAND.
Daniel Peter created the tasty treat in 1875—after eight years of trying to make his recipe work. Condensed milk ended up being the key ingredient.

CHOCOLATE HAS A SPECIAL MELTING POINT.
Chocolate is the only edible substance to melt around 93° F, just below the human body temperature. That’s why chocolate melts so easily on your tongue.

I hope you enjoy some chocolate today!

29Sep2020

National Coffee Day

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Today is National Coffee Day! I know most of us are addicted to at least one good cup of coffee a day (or maybe 2 or 3), so here is a great list of National Coffee Day freebies being offered by some of my favorite coffee shops and restaurants today!

7-Eleven: With the 7Rewards app, some users have an offer to get any size coffee for $1. Offers are regional. Download the free app at http://www.7-eleven.com/7rewards and check for deals.

Barnes & Noble: Get a free hot or iced tall coffee with the purchase of any item from the “bake case” at store cafes.

Caribou Coffee: Buy any large beverage and get 50% off any bag of prepackaged beans to take home.

Circle K: Get a free hot or iced coffee in any size with the convenience store chain’s app.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: With any food or beverage purchase over $2, get a free regular size coffee. Also Tuesday through Oct. 5 via Postmates get $3 off a $15 purchase.

Corner Bakery Cafe: This National Coffee Day promotion is getting a late start. The chain is giving loyalty members one free coffee daily for the month of October starting Oct. 1. To take advantage of the daily reward that can be used for one free regular coffee (espresso, cold brew, iced or hand-roasted) or tea, sign up for the loyalty program by 11:59 p.m. CT Oct. 4 at http://www.cornerbakerycafe.com. No purchase is required to get the free drinks but specialty coffee drinks are excluded.

Dunkin’: With any purchase, get a free medium hot or iced coffee at restaurants nationwide.

Godiva: Get 30% off coffee bags at Godiva Boutiques and online.

Jack in the Box: Get a free regular hot or iced coffee with any app purchase.

Krispy Kreme: Everyone can get a free brewed coffee, no purchase necessary. But rewards members get an extra freebie with the free coffee – one free doughnut of their choice. Become a rewards member through the Krispy Kreme app or by visiting http://www.krispykreme.com/rewards. Both deals are valid “via pick-up and drive-thru at participating shops across the U.S.”

McDonald’s: Not a National Coffee Day deal, but with the McDonald’s app, purchase five McCafé drinks and get one free. Download the app at http://www.mcdonalds.com and check for other specials.

Panera Bread: Sign up for the MyPanera+ Coffee Subscription and the first month of unlimited premium hot coffee, iced coffee and hot tea is free. After the free month, pay $8.99 per month. Sign up at http://www.panerabread.com.

Sonic Drive-In: From Monday through Oct. 5, Sonic is offering a free large drink or slush with orders placed in the chain’s app with promo code TEACHERS. One per customer. Download the app at http://www.sonicdrivein.com/app.

Starbucks: The coffee giant kicks off a week of offers, games and “exciting ways” for loyalty members to earn stars toward free drinks and food Monday with the start of the Starland contest at http://www.starbucksrewardsstarland.com. On Tuesday, order a grande or larger handcrafted beverage and get a free drink offer loaded to your account. On Thursday, members can collect triple stars on orders.

Wawa: New and existing Wawa Rewards members get one free any size coffee. New members must register by 8 p.m. Tuesday to get the offer.

Wendy’s: Starting Tuesday through Nov. 4, participating Wendy’s in select parts of the country are giving free hot coffee with the purchase of a breakfast sandwich. The participating markets are Boston; Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts; and Cleveland/Youngstown, Ohio. In other parts of the country, check the Wendy’s app for offers.

Have you had your coffee today? I hope you took advantage of one of these great deals!

3Aug2020

10 Dorm Must Haves

Posted in Family, Lifestyle by listen2mama

Five months have passed since our daughter came home for Spring Break and never returned to school as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here we are in early August and we find ourselves packing to head back to Notre Dame for move-in. Time sure does fly even when you are not having fun (although we have loved the family quality time this quarantine has afforded us). Move-in can be a very overwhelming time as dorm rooms are so tiny (most of them anyway) and it’s hard to imagine where everything will fit. Last year when our daughter first moved in, she had made lists of everything she thought she would need. Needless to say, many trips were made to Target and Bed Bath & Beyond for returns and exchanges. Remember, less is more, especially when living with roommates in very tight quarters. Here is my list of 10 dorm room must-haves for college students. It goes without say that in addition to these items it’s always smart to have a good supply of cleaning products on hand (Lysol, cleaning wipes, etc.), a first aid kit with essentials, an additional phone charger, some cute bedding and wall decor and an Amazon prime subscription for things they can order throughout the year as they become necessary.

Bedside 4-Drawer Storage Cart By far my daughter tells me this is the best item she brought with her last year. She says it’s the perfect place to keep her important items near to her bed. They come in different configurations and colors to choose from and they are a huge help.

4-Drawer Storage Cart; $50 at Bed Bath & Beyond

Keurig Mini single serve coffee maker College students have a hard time waking up in the mornings. Having the ability to make a quick cup of coffee in their room before they leave for class, saves them the time of passing by the dining hall or campus Starbucks. These come in very handy and also come in a variety of colors.

Keurig K-Mini Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker; $80 at Target

Over the door hanging mirror This is also a necessity as there is no other place for them to look at themselves once they’re dressed anywhere in the dorm (I have been told this is super important). My daughter’s room last year thankfully had one on the inside door of the closet, but not all dorm rooms have these.

Over-The-Door Hanging Mirror; $25 at Bed Bath & Beyond

Command strips and wall ledges These were fantastic. We basically hung up EVERYTHING with these command strips, hooks and wall ledges. Just be careful when it’s time to move out as they can be a bit tricky to remove.

Command Clear Variety Kit; $20 and Command Quartz 4 In. Floating Wall Ledges; $12 both available at Amazon

Rolling cart These can be used to store snacks, cleaning supplies, books, jewelry, just about anything. They come in a variety of colors and the convenient casters let you move it around.

Lexington 3-Tier Rolling Cart; $30 at Michaels

Foam mattress topper It is no secret that the mattresses supplied in the dorms are super thin and quite uncomfortable. Your child will have a much better night’s sleep with a mattress topper. It will make the bed feel much more like the one from home. Here is a good one, a bit pricey but definitely worth it.

Therapedic Dreamy 2.5-Inch Serene Foam Performance Mattress Topper; $150 at Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed risers These are definitely necessary if your child’s furniture is not modular and cannot be lofted, which was our case last year. These risers will provide additional space below the bed for portable plastic drawers and allow for extra storage. You can even purchase ones with integrated USB ports and plugs.

Bed Risers with Power Outlet and USB Ports – 7.25 Inch Size Furniture Risers; $35 at Amazon

Over the door hook rack This is another item that we purchased last minute and was a huge life saver for hanging coats, robes and even towels.

Home Basics® Over-the-Door Hook; $10 at Bed Bath & Beyond

Collapsible laundry basket These come in very handy, as again, space is very tight in the rooms and this basket can be put away in the closet or you can stand it up against a wall after you’re done using it. Any item that is space saving is a winner.

SAMMART Collapsible 3 Handled Plastic Laundry Basket – Foldable Pop Up Storage Container/Organizer; $30 at Amazon

Mini Fridge And last but not least, all college dorm rooms need a mini fridge to store cold drinks and snacks as well as left over food. I would suggest waiting until you can see the size of the dorm room as many of these fridges vary slightly in size.

blue-frigidaire-mini-fridges-efr376-blue-64_1000

Mini Fridge; $160 at Home Depot

I hope you enjoy your child’s move-in experience. I know we were all very happy when the room was completed and everything was in its place. I hope we have the same luck this year.

17Mar2020

Gifts for Teen Girls

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Our sweet daughter was born in January. Coincidentally, most of my family was (except me). What to gift her for her birthday, 2 weeks after Christmas? This is my dilemma every year, and as she gets older, the choices become more difficult. This past January was extremely hard, as all she desires anymore are gift cards to her favorite stores. While there is nothing wrong with gift cards, I prefer to buy her gifts, as I feel it’s more of the thought that usually counts. So here is a list I put together for anyone out there experiencing this issue with their teen daughter, niece, goddaughter or friend:

Barrington personalized bags & accessories Barrington Gifts offers high quality leather bags, totes, duffle bags, wallets, cabin bags, writing instruments, crossbody bags, passport and laptop cases. Customizable in many colors and prints.

A subscription to Disney+ Our daughter just recently asked us if she could subscribe to this service, so I think any teenager would enjoy it.

A relaxing spa set Any young lady would enjoy a relaxing spa set, which may include scented candles, bath bombs and face masks.

A pink Echo Dot Who doesn’t love Alexa??

Alex and Ani Flying Butterfly Duo Charm Bangle Set Alex and Ani have so many options of adorable bracelets, rings and necklaces. Tons of options to choose from, wherever your young lady’s interests may lie.

Adidas Originals Women’s Gazelle Sneaker Adidas sneakers are so popular nowadays, and there is a large variety to choose from.

Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette This is a very nice palette for any make-up loving teen.

Pink Colorblock Felt Letter Board These boards have become very popular for room decor and even at parties and gatherings. They come in a variety of colors as well.

HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer Since no one uses cameras anymore, especially the younger generations, these little photo printers allow them to print photos directly from their cell phones.

Sunrise Alarm Clark We know teens have a very hard time waking up in the mornings. Sunrise clocks are designed to mimic the sun rising by slowly filling your room with light. When the alarm finally rings, your room is bright, which makes waking up less abrupt. It also includes an FM radio and USB charging port. (This may be a huge hit for college freshman).

And of course you can never go wrong with Apple AirPods.

Shopping for teens can be very difficult at times, I hope this list gives you some ideas. I would love to hear what you have gifted teens?

3Feb2020

Valentine’s Gifts for All

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that tends to sneak up on me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s advertised everywhere since December 26^th, impossible not to realize it’s coming up. But for me it’s right after Christmas AND hubby’s birthday. So, gift ideas are running scarce for me by the time February comes around. Every year I like to come up with a Valentine gift guide to help those that are in my same situation. Here are a few options for all the loved ones in your life:

Kate Spade Pop Hearts Oblong Scarf, available at Kate Spade stores or katespade.com, $98. Great gift for any young lady.
I Love You Like Lavender Gift Set, available naplessoap.com, $125. I love the scent of lavender and this is a great gift set which contains a Lavender Vanilla 9 oz. Body Butter, Lavender Vanilla 9 oz. Sea Salt Scrub, Lavender Buds Natural Soap, Lavender Vanilla Moisturizer Stick, Lavender Vanilla Bath Bomb, Lavender Infused Honey, Lavender Floral Elixir, and Primal SWAK and Heart of Hearts.
Double Heart Pendant Necklace by Lily Nily, available at lilynily.com, $23. A perfect gift for the little girl in your life.
Beaded Neck Heart Print Dress by Stella McCartney, available at Nordstrom, $168. A little pricey for some, but sure makes for a special Valentine dress for any little girl.
Lavender 4 Elements Bundle with Genuine Badger Brush, available at theartofshaving.com, $95. To keep in theme with the lavender scent I love, this makes a very nice gift set for the special man in your life.
Kate Spade Tom & Jerry Key Fob, available at Kate Spade stores or katespade.com, $78. For all the Tom & Jerry lovers in your life, very cute.
Valentine’s Day Collection – 12 Jars, available at Goldbelly.com, $120. This is a great gift for anyone who has a sweet tooth!
Valentine’s Day Pie Punches, available at any Williams Sonoma store or williamssonoma.com, $19. These are great for the baker in your life.
Valentine’s Day Pajama Pants, available at vineyardvines.com, $60. Very comfy and cozy for a night in.
Color Infusion Heart Huggie Hoop Earrings, available at alexandani.com, $58. I really like these hoops, very nice for the special lady in your life.
Instax Mini 9 Camera, available at instax.com, available at amazon.com, $70. These also come in sets which include a camera case and packs of film. Great gift for a teenager.
Stripe Monogram Petite Bag in Red, available at apolisglobal.com, $78. These bags can also be customized and personalized. Comes in several sizes as well.

Do you typically buy Valentine’s Day gifts? If so, I hope you enjoyed these suggestions. What would you like to receive?

2Jan2020

Happy 2020!

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Happy New Year to all of my readers! I apologize, I have not been on here for a while (very busy past 4 years) but I finally have some time again to dedicate to this special place, which I have always enjoyed so much. I look forward to continue sharing travel tips, vacation planning (my personal favorite), restaurant recommendations, book reviews, gift suggestions, parenting advice, etc. I’m certainly not one to stick with resolutions but I will share this one quote, which I believe is a great one for starting the new year:

May 2020 bring all of you many blessings, good fortune, love, health and happiness!!!

What are you most looking forward to in the coming year? I’d love to hear…

14Mar2016

Sunday Night Blues

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

As far as I can remember, I have experienced the Sunday Night Blues. It all started when I was very young and I was terrified of going to school. Once Sundays came around, I would get very anxious and my stomach would start to rumble and I would ask my parents if I could sleep with them. Of course my mom would say yes, and once I was sound asleep my dad would carry me back to my own bed. This continued for a while. Eventually I got over the fear of school (heck, I even have a MBA), and I was always an excellent student, but my dislike and anxiousness for Sundays, sadly, still exists today. I can’t explain it, my favorite night of the week is actually Thursday, not Friday like most would think. This is because Fridays have always been fun days, whether at school (in college I would always try to take a very heavy load of courses Monday through Thursday just to have Fridays off), and even at work. People are always in such a great mood on Fridays, they go out to lunch, discuss weekend plans…

And of course I love Saturdays too, a fun day to spend with family and friends, doing just about anything you want. However, come Sunday morning, and it’s a completely different story. Something inside my brain starts to shift and the feelings of sadness and anxiousness begin. The pit in the stomach feeling. Dread. Even now, that I am a mom, and I am finished with school and I’m not currently working outside the house. So I ask myself “Why do I still feel this way?” And I just cannot come up with an answer.

Well, I guess I am not alone in this after all. I recently read somewhere that even if you’re lucky enough to not hate your job, Sunday nights are rough. In a 2015 poll from the career site Monster.com, 76% of American respondents said they get Sunday-night blues…and 59% said they experience them “really bad.”

To me, Sundays feel the same as when I return from a great vacation. I always say that some of the best moments of a trip for me are the planning and anticipation. I always get very sad after returning from great trips and also feel this way right after Christmas, or when summer ends and my daughter goes back to school. And I think that’s how I feel every Sunday night. The weekend is over. Back to the same weekly routine. Fridays are like the planning phase of a vacation, while Sundays are the end of the vacation. And I don’t know about many of you, but in my family, we all experience the Sunday Blues, so Sunday nights are not much fun. Everyone is anticipating the horrible Monday that is creeping up, sooner rather than later.

I’ve read many articles on this topic, which suggest strategies such as, identifying your triggers, better organizing your week ahead, meditation, finding a new direction and/or a new job, scheduling fun things for Sunday instead of Saturdays, etc, etc, etc…

Unfortunately, I can tell you that none of these things work for me. This is not one of those posts that will enlighten you on how to rid yourself of this feeling. I will simply always feel this way on Sunday nights. I wish I didn’t, but I do.

Do you experience the Sunday Night Blues? If you do, what do you do to alleviate your anxiety, depression or worries? I’d love to hear.

23Feb2016

Fun Facts…

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Every once in a while I come across these fun and interesting blog questionnaires. I am a sucker for those and I think it’s a fun way for bloggers to get to know each other better. So, here it goes:

1. Something you will…
refuse to do for the rest of your life: Stop traveling. I know many folks feel that it’s not as necessary once you’re older, but I completely disagree. I love to travel, and some of my best memories are from my trips. God willing I will have the means and health to continue traveling into my golden years.
always do forever: Continue to work on my very elaborate scrapbooks! To me, they are the best reminders of family gatherings, fantastic vacations, and important moments in our lives. I not only enjoy working on them but also love to look at them often and reminisce.

2. Something you think is…
certifiably disgusting: Oh, wow, where to start? I find many things disgusting but I must admit I really hate it when people look like they have not showered in days (and no, I am not talking about the poor homeless). I mean seriously, how hard is it to brush your hair and brush your teeth everyday, and let’s not forget some deodorant too!
absolutely amazing: My faith. It has kept me going through some tough moments in life and I am so thankful for it.

3. A compliment you’ve been given that’s made you…
feel on top of the world: That I am very creative. I love to work on many projects and have been told many times that I should start my own party planning business. I love to hear that because I put a lot of effort and time into all of my projects, and I love to see people happy with my creations.
pretty upset: Not really sure about this one, if it makes me upset then it’s not a compliment, right?

4. A name you…
hate: Ofelia. My apologies in advance to any Ofelias out there who may be reading this, but it just sounds like an old granny name. Have never liked it 😦
love: Aside from Carolina and Isabel (my daughter’s names) I also love Olivia. I always said that if I had another daughter (which I did not 😦 ) I would name her Olivia Marie.

5. Something people say about you that you…
know is entirely false: That I am very tough. Definitely not true…if anything I am one of the most emotional and sensitive people I know, I mean, I cry watching TV commercials and listening to certain church songs…many things can actually set off my waterworks!
think is on point: That I am the most organized person they have ever met, and I probably am!

6. A taste you…
can’t stand: Not sure about this one either…hmmm
can’t get enough of: Condensed milk, really, I can have it every single day, right out of the can!

7. A movie you always…
turn off immediately: any westerns, sorry, just not into them at all!
watch a million times: ooh, so many movies I love, but what the heck, I am a die hard Sound of Music fan, and I also love The Devil Wears Prada, Pitch Perfect, The Object of My Affection and Love Actually (yeah, I love my movies)!

8. Animal you…
fear: Oh I think I would hate to come across a bit rat. Just thinking about it is making the hairs on my arms stand!
need in your life right this instant: truly, none. I am just not an animal person, although who can resist a cute tiny puppy?

9. Something you…
will never ever eat: There are many gross things I have seen people eat but I don’t think I could ever put a fried tarantula in my mouth…UGH!
would eat for every meal if you were given the chance: Pasta, any type really!

10. To enhance your looks you…
would love to, but would probably never resort to: getting laser surgery to correct my vision, but would absolutely never have the courage to have someone work on my eyes! I have a huge fear of being blind and heck, I have a hard time putting on my contacts everyday!
just stick to: My regular mani/pedis. I think it’s so important for people to have nice looking hands and feet. I have been getting manicures on a regular basis since I was 16!

So, how would you answer some of these questions? I’d love to hear!

9Feb2016

Valentine’s Gifts for Him

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Many of you are still in New Year’s mode, but January has come and gone (I think I missed the entire month this year) and in just less than a week, it’s Valentine’s Day! While I myself do not make a huge deal on this holiday, I know many of my readers do. So this year I decided to round up some pretty nifty gift ideas for that special man in your life. I hope you like the goodies I came across, take a look:

Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarer Sunglasses, available at Bloomingdale’s, $155. Great gift for any guy on the go.
Hugo Boss Polka Dot Dress Socks, available at Bloomingdale’s, $15. Very stylish and elegant socks.
50 Cars to Drive by Dennis Adler, available anywhere books are sold, hardcover $33. A perfect gift for the car lover.
Fitbit Charge HR, http://www.fitbit.com, $150. Available in various other colors too. Perfect for the man who likes to stay fit.
XO Boxers by J.Crew. http://www.jcrew.com, $18.50. A fun pair of boxers for this day full of love.
The Art of Shaving Pro-Glide Power Shave Set, available at Bloomingdale’s, $175. Another great gift any guy would enjoy.
Men’s Long Sleeve I Whale You Pocket T-Shirt, http://www.vineyardvines.com, $48. This is a really cool t-shirt for the preppy guy in your life.
Ralph Lauren Polo Red Gift Set, available at Macy’s, $89. Everyone loves the classic, clean scent of Polo.
Ermenegildo Zegna Dot Silk Tie, available at Nordstrom, $205. A bit of a splurge but Zegna ties are always beautiful, they’re my hubby’s favorites.
Single Malt Scotch Cordials, available at http://www.sugarfina.com, $20. The gentleman’s cordial, imported from Germany. A rich dark chocolate shell holds a mini dram of Scotland’s finest.

Have you bought any Valentine’s Day gifts yet? I hope you can get some ideas from my list. What would you like to receive?

31Dec2015

Happy 2016!

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

As I am writing my 100th post on the last day of 2015, I thought it would be a good time to share some inspirational quotes for 2016, which I just know will be a refreshing and fantastic new year! Here we go: