Artificial vs Real Trees

Where do you stand on this debate?
What kind of tree do you have?

Personally I have an artificial tree, but I do know many folks that have "real" trees.  Some of those with "real" trees are cut trees, others have "balled" trees so that they can replant them after the season.  We did have one of those balled trees years and years ago and replanted it.  One of the things I didn't like about that was that we had to get it into the ground much too early for me.  It was within days of Christmas, as I remember, so we didn't get to enjoy our Christmas tree.  Oh and unfortunately I don't think it lasted more than a few years.  Perhaps that was because we live in the Northeast.

One of the things I found interesting though, is that we really aren't alone or different in getting an artificial tree.  
The folks at TreeClassics shared some interesting graphics with me.  Since they are celebrating their 40th year I would think they have some idea what they are talking about.

There are more than 61% of households that are doing the same as we do - having an artificial tree for the Christmas holidays.  What I did find interesting though is where artificial trees have been purchased.

I bought my last tree online and couldn't be happier with it.  I had replaced my "original" tree after ... are you ready? ... 33 years!  I had originally purchased that tree from a Home Improvement Store after Christmas when they had decent things remaining after Christmas.

If you are thinking about doing an artificial tree this year, or if you have taken your last years tree out of the closet and think it should have been replaced ... check out TreeClassics.com.  If you remember, they sponsored one of my giveaways here.

Just to add a little more frivolity to the post, check out Santa.

Merry Christmas to all ...

French Onion Soup

I know for me, the winter cold calls to me for soup dinners.  
The warmth of the soup makes the insides warm and "comfy" so that deep down cold, that I always seem to have in winter, is gone at least for a little while.

I also like that this one is not loaded with heavy creams so that you can have a nice french baguette with melted cheese or butter without feeling too guilty about it.  Now there is nothing wrong with those creamy soups, I love those too, but some times you just need something lighter.  This one definitely fits the bill.

Ingredients

• 4–6 small or medium onions, peeled
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped using Chop ’N Prep 
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. coarse kosher salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Crostini

• 1 baguette, cut into 8 slices
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Instructions

1. Set Mandoline round knob to #2, triangular knob to “lock” and select the straight v-shaped blade insert.
2. Using food guider, slice onions.
3. In 6-Qt. pot over medium heat, melt butter.
4. Add onions to pot, stirring occasionally until softened and beginning to brown, 15–20 minutes.
5. Once onions are browned and softened, add wine and garlic. Stir, scraping along the bottom of the pot to pick up any browned onion bits that have collected there.
6. Add beef and chicken broth to pot.
7. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20–30 minutes.

Crostini

1. To create crostini while soup simmers, preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Bake baguette slices 5 minutes. Flip, add cheese and bake 5 minutes more, until cheese has melted.

Serve soup topped with crostini.

Check out all these Tupperware products and so much more on my Tupperware Site.  Have a question?  Leave me a message/email and I will get back to you asap .. cause you know I love my Tupperware!

December Holiday Shopping Event

I had posted a "snip-it" on my FB page earlier this week, but today starts the Christmas Holiday Vendor Event on Facebook. 

One of the things I like about it is that its a vendor event where the vendors come to you so you could be shopping from the comfort of your couch in your PJs,

There are a diverse group of vendors at this event so you get to check out all kinds of products that you could be getting for Christmas gifts.  Or it could be for something that you give as a gift to yourself.

Another thing I love about this is that it goes on even AFTER Christmas, so that you could be getting gifts toward the new year.  Or maybe you got money for Christmas so that you could get what you really wanted ... you could be shopping here for that too because it will be open until January 5, 2016!

Here's the only catch ... you need an invite to join in on this Facebook Event.  
Want to come join in?  
Leave me a message and I will get you an invite.  Then you can check it out every day if you want to see what is offered (bet things will be changing every day or week for sales and products) between today and January 5th.

I'll be there ... will you?

Come check us out.

7 Thoughts for Success

I received this in an email from a Tupperware Director (thanks so much Joan) that I thought needed to be shared.  Maybe something we should be sharing with our kids from an early age.

7 Thoughts for Success

All the answers were right inside my room.

1. Roof said "Aim High"
2. Fan said "Be Cool"
3. Clock said "Every Minute is Precious"
4. Mirror said "Reflect before you Act"
5. Window said "See the World"
6. Calendar said "Be up to Date"
7. Door said "Push open to achieve your goals and believe in yourself!!"

So what do you think?
Don't you think it would be something that our kids would understand and perhaps put into practice, if we taught them this from an early age??

Sweet Potato Soup for Your Winter Meals

I don't know if I like the idea of sweet potato soup or not. I have to be honest here.  I'm not a  big fan of sweet potatoes, although I do like sweet potato fries and a new recipe I made for Thanksgiving with sweet potatoes and apples (I will share that one later), but I know some people a die hard sweet potato lovers.  

This could  be a winner for your winter meals.

Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1” chunks
• 4 cups veggie stock
• 1 onion, chopped in Power Chef System 
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dried rosemary or ½ tsp fresh rosemary
• Sour cream or Parmesan (optional)
• Toasted walnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in base of Microwave Pressure Cooker
2. Seal and microwave on high power 30 minutes.
3. Remove from microwave and allow pressure to release naturally until red pressure indicator fully lowers, about 10 – 15 minutes.
4. Pour cooked soup* in base of Power Chef System fitted with blade attachment. Cover and pull cord to process until smooth. (*Please note that the Power Chef System will not fit all of the soup, so you may have to repeat this step 2-3 times.)
5. Top with sour cream or Parmesan and toasted walnuts.

Need some of the Tupperware pieces mentioned here?  Check out my Tupperware Site for info and purchase options.

#GotMeTipsy Favorite Child Mug

I received this product for free to facilitate my review, in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information regarding product review, please refer to my media kit. 

I don't know about your family, but I know we are a family of kidders and teasers.  This mug is perfect for us.  

From early on my sister and brothers and I would always tease each other about something.  Who was the "angel" of the family.  Who was the "perfect" child.  And of course, who was mom or dad's favorite.  And of course that would be me, but to this day that is still being "debated".  But I am sure that you know I am correct .. it is me.

I can't wait for Christmas to come so that I can bring this out on Christmas morning and "share my proof" via I'm Your Favorite Child Funny Glass Coffee Mug.  I can just see my brother John rolling on the floor laughing.  Oh yes it will definitely be fun, especially since sarcasm reigns in my family!

This is the perfect size for your morning coffee ... 13 ounces.  It is perfect for the mug setting on my Keurig machine, leaving just enough room for creamer.  
It's also dishwasher safe!  Many times you find cute mugs and they have to be hand washed because the print will wash off.  Not so with this one.  The bright white printing will last they say, even washing in the dishwasher.  So far I have had no problems, it still looks perfect.

Oh and with the printing on both sides of the mug, it can be seen no matter which hand you use to hold your mug!  So righties and lefties will both be able to flaunt their knowledge of who is the favorite child.

I may just have to pick up a few more of these to share with my siblings this Christmas so that we can all have a chuckle drinking our morning (or any time) cup of java complements of .....

Product was received from Modern Goods as part of the Tomoso.com review program in exchange for my honest opinion. Please read more on our review policy in our Media Kit

Southwest Chicken Chili

I love finding all the wonderful recipes that Tupperware has to offer, especially when I can put them into my monthly dinners and actually have hubby like them too.
I will be making this one very very soon, because I think this one would be an easy one that he will enjoy as much as I will

Ingredients

• 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and quartered
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and quartered
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and quartered
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. coarse kosher salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 28 oz. can whole tomatoes, roughly chopped in Quick Chef® Pro System
• 15.5 oz. can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp. Southwest Chipotle Seasoning Blend
• 2 tbsp. cilantro, chopped using the Chop ’N Prep 

Instructions

1. Place onions, garlic and peppers in base of Quick Chef® Pro System. Cover and turn
2. handle to roughly chop.
3. Place vegetables in TupperWave® Stack Cooker 3-Qt. Casserole and stir in olive oil.
4. Place chicken in Colander, stack on Casserole and cover.
5. Microwave on high 8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
6. Add chicken to onion and pepper mixture along with red pepper flakes through cilantro.
7. Cover and microwave on high 8 minutes.

I hope you will try this one as well.  If you do, come on back and let us know what you thought.  If you want any of the Tupperware products mentioned here, you can always visit my Tupperware Site and get more information and make purchases too.