December 2015 - Page 2 of 3 - Over The Top Mommy

Month: December 2015

Our Elf on The Shelf Surprised Us With Shari’s Berries For The Holidays!

December 20, 2015 / Food

Christmas time is almost here! Imagine the joy and surprise in our home, when we woke up one December morning to find that our Elf on the Shelf had left us a surprise from Shari’s Berries under our tree!

It was hard to contain our excitement and our urge to nibble the delicious treats in the Holly Jolly Celebration gift package we received. (from the Shari’s Berries Christmas collection) We gave into the temptation and each grabbed a goody of our choice from the package. The Holly Jolly Celebration Gift Package is a decadent collection, overflowing with all of Shari’s Berries dipped and decorated favorites. The collection includes:

6 Fancy Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (2 Dipped in Milk with Chopped Almonds, 2 Dipped in Dark with Chocolate Chips, and 2 Dipped in White with Dark Swizzles)
6 Handmade Fudgy, Sugar-Shimmered Snowmen Brownie Pops (individually wrapped)
A Decadent Mini Cheesecake Trio ( with a 3″ Classic New York Cheesecake Dipped in Dark Chocolate with Milk Chocolate Swizzles, a 3″ Classic New York Cheesecake Dipped in Dark Chocolate with White Chocolate Shavings, and a 3″ Chocolate Cheesecake Dipped in Dark Chocolate with Nuts and Marshmallows)
A collection of 9 rich, bite-sized cake truffles in popular, gourmet flavors including .1 Chocolate Cake Truffle Dipped in Dark with Cacao Nibs, 1 Vanilla Cake Truffle Dipped in White with White Swizzles, 1 Red Velvet Cake Truffle Dipped in White with Red Velvet Cake Crumbles, 1 Chocolate and Marshmallow Cake Truffle Dipped in Dark with Graham Cracker Crumbles, 1 Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake Truffle Dipped in White with Chocolate Chips, 1 Salted Caramel Cake Truffle Dipped in Dark with Sea Salt, 1 Cookies and Cream Cake Truffle Dipped in White with Cookie Crumbs, 1 Peanut Butter Cake Truffle Dipped in Dark with Peanut Butter Swizzles, and 1 Almond Joyous Cake Truffle Dipped in Dark with Coconut Flakes. All of these handmade treats are sent out fresh from Shari’s Berries to your door and are packed on ice to preserve them while they’re en route. I know it would be nice to leave something out from our collection out for Santa on Christmas Eve, but I’m afraid they won’t last that long in our home. Shari’s Berries are the perfect gift to order online and send to friends and family for any occasion. Their holiday collections are festive and fun. You can still order in time for holiday delivery. Click here to find online discounts they’re offering. To browse their entire collection of goodies and gifts, click here.

Connect with Shari’s Berries on Facebook and Twitter

We received products from Shari’s Berries in order to facilitate this post. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Construction Updates From Great Wolf Lodge®Southern California

December 18, 2015 / California

A couple of months ago, I had the exciting opportunity to take a hardhat tour at the newest Great Wolf Lodge® location here in Southern California. I spent the day touring the site and learning all about what this family mega-resort, built around a 105,000 square-foot waterpark, will be offering its guests and I was completely WOW-ed! Well, I’m here to share some of the latest construction updates with you today. (updates were current as of December 3, 2015.) As the opening date gets closer, I get more and more excited!

Progress at the Resort
The ginormous 105,000-square-foot waterpark is coming to life! More slides and attractions have been installed, such as the Whooping Hollow kiddie slides (see the photos below) and cement has been poured throughout the park.
The Resort’s Grand Lobby is continuing to take shape, including the fireplace where daily Story Time will take place featuring Great Wolf Kids characters. Check out the antler chandeliers ready to be hung in these photos.
From the guest suites to the hallways, the family-friendly accommodations are looking more and more like Great Wolf Lodge every day. See the detailed décor in the photos.
The conference center, featuring 20,000 sq. feet of meeting and banquet space, is well on its way to completion.

The resort is slated to open in late February 2016. Great Wolf Lodge Southern California is offering guests the opportunity to book rooms with their grand opening discount offer! Families have until Dec. 31, 2015 to book their stay and receive up to 25 percent off. To learn more, visit here. This is such a great deal! Don’t wait, book today!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Some photos are property of Great Wolf Lodge.

‘The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure’ All-New Story Opening Feb 6 at LEGOLAND® California Resort

December 17, 2015 / Legoland, San Diego, SoCal Fun

Such exciting news for LEGO fans of all ages! For the first time ever, LEGOLAND® Parks are offering a first look at an exciting new theme park attraction that reunites the stars of “The LEGO® Movie™” in an all-new story appearing exclusively at LEGOLAND® theme parks and LEGOLAND® Discovery Centers in 2016. The 30-second clip gives fans the first glimpse of what happened after the blockbuster movie, when Emmet, Wyldstyle, Unikitty, MetalBeard and Benny reunite at the invitation of a shady new character, Risky Business, who plans to open a curious theme park bearing a suspicious resemblance to LEGOLAND®.

Returning to voice their iconic characters are the following actors:

Elizabeth Banks (Wyldstyle)
Nick Offerman (MetalBeard)
Charlie Day (Benny)
Alison Brie (Unikitty)
Actor, writer and comedian Patton Oswalt lends his voice to the scheming Risky Business, whose Evil Secret Plot requires the heroes to call on the Master Builder skills of a surprise ally to save the day.

The short 3D film will play several times a day at each LEGOLAND® site, with “4D” effects such as wind, water, fog and more bringing the action bursting off the screen and into the audience.

“The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure” will premiere at both LEGOLAND® Florida Resort on Friday, January 28, followed by LEGOLAND® California Resort on Saturday, Feb. 6. The attraction will debut later at LEGOLAND® theme parks and LEGOLAND® Discovery Centers worldwide.

Los Angeles-based Pure Imagination Studios is creating “The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure” with input from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the talented writer-directors who brought “The LEGO® Movie™” to life, along with contributions from Rob Schrab, who is directing the movie’s eagerly awaited sequel, due in 2018.

Stay tuned for more details as the opening dates approach!

For more information, visit LEGOLAND California Resort here and LEGOLAND Florida Resort here.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Video and images property of LEGOLAND.

2015 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Kicks off December 16

December 14, 2015 / Uncategorized

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade will return for five nights of festive fun starting Wednesday, Dec. 16. Drawing thousands of visitors annually, The parade draws thousands of visitors annually, is the longest-running lighted holiday boat parade in the nation, and the largest harbor parade in California. The Christmas Boat Parade is hosted by the Commodores Club of the Chamber of Commerce and will take place nightly from December 16- Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. It will feature approximately 100 festive boats and this year’s theme is “Seas the Holidays.” For the first time in its history, multiple nights of the parade will include Grand Marshal appearances in addition to fireworks and other festivities:

Wednesday, Dec. 16 – Arte Moreno: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim owner Arte Moreno has guided the Major League Baseball team to six American League West Division championships over the past 12 years. A leader both on and off the field, Moreno established the Angels Baseball Foundation in 2004 to invest in education, healthcare, arts and sciences and community-related youth programs throughout the region.
Fireworks will start this year’s event with a bang, lighting the sky over the Newport Beach Pier at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 17 – Amy Rodriguez, Christen Press and Whitney Engen: U.S. Women’s National Soccer players Amy Rodriguez, Christen Press and Whitney Engen will kick off the second night of holiday fun on the harbor with a fan meet and greet at ExplorOcean (600 E. Bay Ave.) starting at 4:30 p.m.
Orange County native Amy Rodriguez has won two Olympic gold medals and has played in two World Cup games, while Christen Press is a World Cup champion who holds the title of all-time leading scorer for the Stanford University women’s soccer team. Defender Whitney Engen, also a native Southern Californian, was a highly decorated player on the University of North Carolina’s women’s soccer team and currently plays with the Boston Breakers.
Friday, Dec. 18 – “The Voice” Season 8 Contestants: Four alumni from the hit NBC singing show “The Voice” will bring their talents to Newport Harbor including: Brian Johnson, whose impressive vocals and range landed him a spot on the top 12 of the competition; Jacob Rummell, a singer-songwriter with powerful vocals reminiscent of Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars; Bay Brooks, a free-spirited singer with her own unique, soulful spin on country music; and Barry Minniefield, the soulful singer also known as “Hollywood’s Singing Chef” for his extraordinary talents in acting, singing and cooking.
Saturday, Dec. 19 – Tournament of Roses Queen and Court: For the second consecutive year, the Tournament of Roses Royal Court will dazzle onlookers before the official Rose Parade® on January 1, 2016. The Royal Court’s participation in the Christmas Boat Parade celebrates the extensive history of both beloved SoCal events. The 2016 Rose Queen® is Erika Karen Winter and the Royal Court® includes Donaly Marquez, Sarah Shaklan, Natalie Hernandez-Barber, Rachelle Liu, Regina Pullens and Bryce Bakewell.
Sunday, Dec. 20 – Fireworks Finale: A stunning fireworks show will conclude the five-day holiday celebration. Visitors are encouraged to secure a spot near the Balboa Pier to view the show, which starts at 9 p.m.

The parade will begin each night at Bay Island at 6:30 p.m. and end at the same site at approximately 9 p.m, completing a 14.7-mile route around Newport Harbor. The route offers multiple viewing spots around the harbor for residents and visitors to enjoy for free, as well as a number of restaurants around town offering beautiful harbor views.
Open December 5, Marina Park will be a brand new viewing area for this year’s parade. The 10.5-acre recreational center will provide ample space for parade-goers, with family-friendly activities planned there each night. A full route map with all viewing locations and corresponding times can be found online here.
With a wide variety of participating vessels, the festively-decorated yachts, dinghies and kayaks will vie for the top prize in categories including Best Animation/Special Effects, Best Humor/Originality, Best Music and, of course, Best Lights.
Serving as the backdrop for the parade is the annual “Ring of Lights” contest. A spectacle all its own, beautifully decorated bayside homes and businesses surrounding the harbor go all out with their own holiday spirit, featuring everything from rooftop animated scenes to dancing Christmas trees. With its own judged categories and prizes awarded, the “Ring of Lights” has become as celebrated as the boat parade itself.
Presenting sponsors of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights are Simple Green and Meguiar’s, and Community Sponsors are the City of Newport Beach and Visit Newport Beach, Inc., with marketing and promotional support from Newport Beach & Company.

For more information about the 107th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, please visit http://www.christmasboatparade.com.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Logo and video are property of Newport Beach Boat Parade.

Save $10 on Mountain High Lift Tickets Through December 18 During Holiday Toy and Food Drive

December 12, 2015 / Uncategorized

Mountain High, in association with The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul, is hosting its annual holiday toy and food drive to support Southern California families in need. From December 12 through December 18, any guest who brings an unwrapped new toy or three non-perishable food items to Mountain High will receive $10 off one adult, 8-hour lift ticket rate or $5 off one adult night ticket rate.

Mountain High season pass holders who make a donation will also receive a food voucher from the Big Pines Lodge. Ticket(s) must be purchased at the time of donation. This promotion may not be used in conjunction with any other discount or offer. Donation(s) may not be redeemed for cash.

The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul helps to alleviate suffering for families and individuals in need regardless of religion, race, age, gender or orientation. More than 10,000 people were served by the group in its most recent fiscal year. The Catholic organization operates solely on donations of food, clothing and money from its parishioners, community members and local businesses.

Blessed Junipero Serra in Phelan, Calif. and Our Lady of the Snows in Wrightwood serve the tri-community area of Wrightwood, Phelan and Pinion Hills, Calif. Locally, both parishes operate a food pantry on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month that is open to anyone in need. Help also comes in the way of financial assistance with propane and other household utilities as funds permit.

If you’re interested in donating to Mountain High’s holiday food and toy drive, please visit the resort during regular operating hours or call 888-754-7878.

Connect with Mountain High on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logo property of Mountain High.

2015 Holiday Snow Days + Winter Nights at LEGOLAND California Through January 3

December 10, 2015 / Family Fun, LEGOLAND, Lifestyle, San Diego

One of the advantages to living in Southern California is the getting to celebrate the holidays at LEGOLAND® California while getting a tan! Their annual winter celebration, Holiday Snow Days + Winter Nights is so much fun and having snow to play in while visiting the Park makes the day even “cooler”! Now through Jan.3, 2016, LEGOLAND® guests can enjoy seasonal treats and food offerings, holiday entertainment, festive decor, and family fun snow play activities. The Holiday Snow Days + Winter Nights activities are included in the price of your regular admission ticket! This year’s event promises more snow play areas than ever before, too. In addition to snow play, our LEGO^® Christmas Tree, and holiday treats.. Guests can also enjoy Holiday Fireworks at 7pm on December 26-30th nightly fireworks from Dec. 26 through Dec. 31, 2015. As you enter the Park’s Fun Town area, you’ll see that it’s been transformed into a winter wonderland with beautiful decor throughout, as well as giant LEGO^® Christmas Tree in the center of it all. The LEGO Christmas tree stands more than 30-feet-tall, is made of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO bricks and is adorned with more than 400 LEGO ornaments including special movie clapper ornaments in honor of “The LEGO® Movie 4D A New Adventure” premiering Feb. 6 at LEGOLAND California, The tree is surrounded by packages and LEGO characters the whole family can enjoy. Next to the tree you’ll find a life-sized LEGO Brick Santa and reindeer. You can take a photo with Santa and find many other fun holiday photo opportunities all around. Fun Town is also where you’ll find two snow play areas piled high with real snow! In the snowy play areas, families can:

throw snowballs at LEGO® themed targets

build snowmen using LEGO accessories
have fun sledding down a slope.

Important: For your own safety, closed toe shoes are required to enter the snow play area. I recommend wearing tennis shoes or boots with good traction on the bottom. Guests are also invited to join in the Holiday Village Build at the LEGO Clubhouse in Fun Town. It’s sometimes fun to take a break, go inside, and have some “down time” while building with LEGO bricks! This year’s live holiday entertainment schedule is packed with holiday fun that’s bound to get you in the holiday spirit. You’ll want to check out:

performances by Jingle Jammers
a Holiday Character Dance Party featuring the LEGOLAND elves, Jingle Joe and Tinsel Toe
a holiday show from the LEGO Friends

*Be sure to check the days and times for these first thing in the morning, so you can be sure to fit them all into your day! SEA LIFE® Aquarium is getting in on the fun with a holiday-themed Daily Dive Show, crafting events and “green” holiday tips. Visit both places for some holiday fun with a Park Hopper ticket!

LEGOLAND California Resort has extended Park hours for the winter holidays on the following dates: Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 5, 12, 19 – 23 and 26 – 31. LEGOLAND California Resort is also offering a gift for holiday guests. Receive a FREE ticket to return when you visit LEGOLAND between December 26 – January 3, 2016. Present any paid admission ticket at the Our Gift To You kiosk inside the Park, and receive a ticket to return to LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Aquarium between January 4 – February 29, 2016.*
* You must request your free return ticket on the day of your paid visit. Free tickets valid only between January 4 – February 29, 2016. Additional restrictions may apply. For more Holiday Snow Days information about Holiday Snow Days, click here or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

Disclosure: We were invited to a Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights media day. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own

Celebrate the Magical Holiday Season at the Disneyland Resort!

December 9, 2015 / Disney, SoCal Fun

If you haven’t visited the Disneyland Resort during the holiday season yet, it’s something I highly recommend because it’s even more magical than ever and there is so much happening this time of year. A visit to the Disneyland Resort during the holiday season, especially during Disney’s Diamond Celebration, will make you feel like a kid in a candy store. You’re bound to make a ton of new family memories together on your visit, which you’ll cherish forever!I’m excited to share a few of my personal favorites and must-dos with you, in hopes that it will help make the most of your day at “The Merriest Place on Earth“! There’s actually a ton to see and do and if possible, I suggest a 2-day visit at minimum so you can fit it all in.

Take a Family Tree Photo

Whether you choose to visit Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park first, prepare to be in constant awe….not only by the glamorous decorations adorning both of the parks, but also the larger-than-life Christmas tree that stands in each one. There’s also a tree standing tall in Downtown Disney and inside each of the hotels. A Disney Christmas Tree is the perfect holiday backdrop for photos and you’ll find the friendly Disney PhotoPass Photographers standing by to snap your pictures, using their professional equipment. PhotoPass pictures are easily accessed online afterwards and available for purchase.

*Tip: Take advantage of Disney PhotoPass services available in both parks. The high quality photographs would look beautiful on your holiday cards and in your family’s memory album.
Check out the Festive Attractions

During the holiday season, a few attractions get extra special holiday makeovers and are all dressed up for the holidays. You’ll definitely want to make it onto all of these out during your trip to the parks.

Haunted Mansion Holiday – the Haunted Mansion is transformed during the holidays with jack o’ lanterns and wreaths, terrifying toys and kooky characters from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
“it’s a small world” Holiday – Take an enchanting cruise around the world and experience how the holidays are celebrated internationally! Both the inside and outside of this attraction are adorned with some of the most beautiful decorations you’ll see and there are colorful twinkle lights around! Be prepared to sing along in all of the different languages.
Jingle Cruise – Take an extra jolly cruise through the jungle with The Jungle Cruise skippers and see how they, along with the native tribes, celebrate this time of year.

*Tip: Try grabbing your first Fast Pass for one of these popular festive attractions, first thing in the day.

Indulge in some extra special holiday treats During the holiday season at Disneyland Resort, you’ll find some extra special treats in both parks. I can never get enough popcorn or Mickey pretzels, but this time of year, there are also many other treats to sample during holiday time. Mickey apples are a popular choice as are chocolate and peppermint-covered Tigger Tails. Why not try a few different treats? They’re even perfect for sharing.

*Tip: If you have someone in your party with special dietary needs, be sure to stop by City Hall and request a list of eateries that offer choices for special dietary needs.

Holiday Entertainment Schedule

Disneyland Resort has an extensive year-round schedule of entertainment which includes some special holiday additions to the schedule that you won’t want to miss.

“A Christmas Fantasy” parade (Disneyland Park) – Guests can catch Mickey, Minnie, and an entire parade of all their favorite Disney characters, dancing and singing and celebrating the season, from the top of Main Street, U.S.A. to ‘It’s a Small World”. Don’t forget to wave to Santa and tell him what you’re wishing for this year.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party (Disney California Adventure Park) – This vibrant street celebration will give you a taste of some Latino holiday traditions and features festive music, dancing, and storytelling. Donald and his friends Panchito and Jose sing and dance up on their float while Folklorico dancers, mariachi and samba musicians and get the party going on the street. There are also 12-feet tall mojiganga puppets, including 2 of Santa and Mrs. Claus that join in the celebration too! Be prepared to sing and dance along as you join in on some of the Latino holiday celebrations of la Navidad!
Disneyland Forever Fireworks (Disneyland Park) – Fireworks are a favorite of park guests of all ages. There are several great viewing spots throughout Disneyland Park but the fireworks can actually be seen across the Resort.

*Tip: Plan out which entertainment you’d like to fit into your day’s schedule right when you arrive at the Resort. There are sometimes advanced dining and dessert packages available for some features. Stop by Guest Services to obtain more information.

Get Festive with Holiday Merchandise

Whether you’re shopping for souvenirs to commemorate your trip or need to grab some holiday gifts to put under the tree, there’s so much festive holiday merchandise available throughout the parks. Some of the most popular items this year include:

Character Plush – You’ll find plush characters of all sizes, wearing their special holiday attire. It’s often difficult to choose just one, which is why we end up purchasing several.
Holiday Balloons – A Disney holiday balloon is guaranteed to bring a smile to any child’s face.
Holiday “Ears” and hats – There are special holiday hats and festive pairs of EARS to purchase in shops and carts throughout the Resort.
Holiday Glow Necklaces – These are so much fun to wear, especially at night!

Keep Your Eye Out For Santa!

There are multiple opportunities at the Resort to see Santa. He’s easy to spot in “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade. You can also find him in the parks to take photos with. It’s hard to think about the holidays without thinking about “The Big Guy”, isn’t it?

Consider Purchasing a Disney Annual Pass for Yourself or Someone Else

One of the most Magical gifts anyone could receive is a Disney Annual Passport. Visits to the parks, discounts on food and merchandise and other benefits are just some of the reasons to purchase one. During your visit to the Resort, you’ll have the opportunity to apply the cost of your Park ticket towards the purchase of an Annual Passport. Click here for more information about Disney Annual Passports. Have YOU had the opportunity to visit Disneyland Resort during the holidays? If so, what’s your favorite thing to see or do? Leave a comment below and share with me! Happy Holidays!

Disclosure: My family and I were invited to Holiday Family Media day at Disneyland Resort and were provided with park tickets. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Easy To Make Star Wars™ Mini Donuts

December 8, 2015 / Food, Recipes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AwakenYourTastebuds #CollectiveBias

Easy-to-make-Star-Wars-Mini-Donuts-Cover

I don’t think there’s a dad out there who isn’t excited for the Star Wars: The Force Awakens to hit theaters on December 17th! I know my own husband and daughter can’t wait. I love that they spend time talking about their mutual enthusiasm for Star Wars™ and that it isn’t a gender specific topic. The trilogy was a big part of my own childhood and it’s very exciting that my daughter’s generation will also have the thrill of Star Wars™ as it continues.

The other day, when I was grocery shopping at Walmart, I spotted Star Wars™Cereal on the cereal aisle! I also found the coordinating Star Wars™ Go-Gurt in the dairy section! I tossed both items into my basket and headed home to make a batch of special Star Wars™ mini donuts for my husband and my daughter to enjoy with their breakfast. How fun is that?

My daughter loves to sort out her cereals when they contain more than one kind of cereal in the box. In this case, she likes to separate the “regular cereal” from the little marshmallows. I’ll admit, I immediately reached into the box and ate a few of the marshmallows, myself. They are so yummy I decided to use some of the little marshmallows as toppers on my mini donuts for this recipe. It’s hard to resist a donut, especially when it has marshmallows on top!

I was really excited about how my mini donuts turned out. I hope my husband and daughter have a fun little Star Wars™breakfast together!

For the donut batter:

2 cups packaged cookie mix, dry
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon vinegar

For the icing:

1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/4 teaspoon milk
your choice of toppings (I’m using marshmallows from the Star Wars™Darth Vader Cereal.)

I’m putting these time savers and tips before the recipe instructions because I know I sometimes jump into recipes without reading to the bottom. These tips are honestly valuable and I learned some of them from doing the wrong way the first time around on this recipe.

I used a package of store bought dry cookie mix in this recipe. I don’t call it “cheating”, I just call it being a smart mom who likes to save time. I chose a package of sugar cookie mix, but you could probably use any flavor or variety.
Most donut batter recipes call for buttermilk. Since I didn’t want to buy a whole container of buttermilk and waste the leftovers, I just whipped up a buttermilk substitute with milk and vinegar. (see recipe instructions).
When your batter is ready to put into the mini donut pan, it is SO much easier to stick it into a ziploc bag and cut the tip off, before pouring it in. (a baker’s bag with a tip would also work). It’s also important that you DON’T overfill each one because your donuts won’t look like donuts.
Before frosting your mini donuts, allow them to cool down completely. Oh and I give you permission to eat the ones that aren’t “usable”, meaning the ones that didn’t hold the perfect donut shape. I wouldn’t want them to go to waste.

Donut Batter Preparation

Preheat your oven to 475 degrees
Spray mini donut pan with vegetable oil and set aside.
Mix milk and vinegar in a bowl and set aside for a minimum of 5 minutes to allow curdling.
In a separate bowl, combine cookie mix and baking soda. Add in the egg, butter, and vegetable oil and mix well.
Place donut batter into pastry bag or sealable plastic bag and cut a tiny hole in the end. (you could also use a tip for this.)
Fill each section of the mini donut baking pan. I recommend only filling each one half way or less. DO NOT OVERFILL.
Place pan in oven and bake 4-6 minutes or until golden. You’ll want to keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn.
Remove donuts from oven and place on rack to completely cool down before frosting them.

Frosting Preparation

Place wax paper underneath cooling rack where you’ll place donuts after frosting. This will catch the dripping frosting.
Have your toppings nearby and ready to go.
Combine powdered sugar and milk in a bowl. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk. The frosting will thicken quickly, so continue stirring after every few donuts.
Dip the top of each donut into the bowl and move in a circular motion until it’s frosted to your liking.
Place back onto the cooling rack and apply toppings to each donut immediately before the frosting hardens.
Keep donuts in an airtight container, so they’ll stay fresh, if you’re not serving them immediately.

Well, I hope the recipe was easy for you to follow and simple to make. Is your family as excited about the big release weekend as ours is? Leave a comment and tell me how you show your love for the greatest movie series in the galaxy in your home!

Hallmark Holiday Savings

December 7, 2015 / Uncategorized

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SendHallmark #CollectiveBias

Happy Holidays! Make sure that you send love and joy this season by using Hallmark Greeting Cards to tell your friends and family how much you care! Click here to save $1.00 off of a two Hallmark Greeting Card purchase at Walmart, minimum $1.00 purchase required. Take advantage of the savings and #SendHallmark this holiday season!

Offer:

Save $1.00 off 2 Hallmark cards at Walmart (minimum $1 purchase required)

Legal:

Consumer: Coupon valid at participating retailers in the U.S.A. on any purchase of two Hallmark (including Sunrise) and Connections from Hallmark greeting cards totaling $1.00 or more from participating Walmart stores. Not valid for online purchases. Limit one $1.00 savings per coupon and one coupon per customer. Coupon must be surrendered at time of purchase. May not be combined with other offers, including coupons and promotional merchandise. Excludes gift enclosures and packaged and boxed cards. Not valid on gift card purchases or past purchases. See store for any additional exclusions. No cash value. Tax not included. Offer may be cancelled or modified at any time. This offer is exclusive for you; coupon may not be redistributed. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. No photocopied, photographed, scanned mechanically or digitally reproduced or altered coupon accepted. Coupon fraud is punishable by law. DO NOT DOUBLE.

Mail to: Hallmark Cards, PO Box 880224, El Paso, TX, 88588-0224