Holiday Fun – Twin Cities

Image from Bloomingtonmn.org – See More Holiday Events HERE!

I am fully enthrawled with the holiday spirit now that Thanksgiving has passed! I just love this season! I like to get in as many Holiday-esque activities as possible before the season is over with. Here is a great list of Holiday activities to do in the Twin Cities this season!

1. Holidazzle Parade – November 23, 2012 – December 23, 2012 (Thur-Sat) **FREE**

2. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Children’s Theater – November 6, 2012 – December 30, 2012

3. “Elf” at the Ordway Theater – December 5, 2012 – December 20, 2012

4. Sleigh Rides at Woodland Hills Winery – November 24, 2012 – December 22, 2012 **FREE**

5. Macy’s Minneapolis Annual Santaland – November 21, 2012 – December 24, 2012 **FREE**

What Holiday event(s) are you excited for this year!?

Love, Macy

Stocking Stuffer Ideas – Girl

I Love this store! Nordstrom Rack. Thought this stuff was cute – and as always a great price!

Love, Macy

Deal Alert! Holiday Cards

The Card Store is offering Holiday Cards for an amazing $0.39 with FREE Shipping!!! They will even send them to your friends and family for FREE (save big bucks on postage!!!)!

The deal is only good for TODAY – Cyber Monday!!! So get those Holiday cards ordered and sent!

Use promo code: CCN2639

Enjoy 🙂

Love, Macy

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting – Yummmmmmmmy!

I am not the best in the kitchen, but I do enjoy baking from time to time – and more so, enjoying delicious baked goods! I am always searching for delicious recipes that are a) easy b) quick and c) Made of ingredients that I am likely to have already. Pinterest has been amazing for this search! Some of the recipes are duds, which is always disappointing. But this recent recipe was a total winner!!! It is probably the most delicious thing I have ever made! I just had to share the recipe with all of our wonderful readers! Enjoy! And don’t forget to let me know if you like it!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Bars photo by Taste of Home

4 eggs

1 2/3 c. sugar

1 c. vegetable oil

1 14oz. can pure organic pumpkin

2 c. all-purpose flour

2 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 t. cinnamon

* I also added a few shakes of cloves and allspice, since I love my pumpkin treats a little spicy!

Frosting:

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature

1 t. vanilla

2 c. confectioners’ sugar, sifted

* For me, this yielded enough frosting for 2 batches. I like just a thin layer of sweetness on top.

1. For the Bars: Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Butter and flour a 9×13 pan and set aside. Mix flour, soda, powder and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl and set aside.

2. In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment mix the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until completely smooth and blended. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients until fully combined. Stop as needed to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.

3. Spread the batter into the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is set and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely to room temperature before frosting.

For the Frosting:

In a mix whip together cream cheese and butter. Then add sugar and vanilla. Blend until smooth.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1/24 bars) equals 260 calories, 13 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 226 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Original recipe found here 🙂

Enjoy! And don’t forget to let me know if you like it!

Love, Macy

Sweetest Bug Bows: Review and Giveaway!

****THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ENTERING OUR GIVEAWAY!!! STAY TUNED FOR SEVERAL GREAT GIVEAWAYS COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS!****

****CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER: Stephanie G!!!!****

****Don’t forget: You can get FREE shipping on your orders from Sweetest Bug Bows until Christmas using Promo code: REALHOUSEWIVES! Pick up some adorable Christmas gifts and the final touches for those sweet holiday outfits!

As a mom of a little girl, with another on the way, I am obsessed with adorable bows to put in their hair. My little one (now almost 2 years old) rarely went a day without something in her hair as a baby and I always needed the perfect bow for each holiday! I am so lucky and honored to be given the chance to review an absolutely adorable winter headband made by the very talented Sweetest Bug Bows!

I can’t even begin to explain how absolutely adorable this headband is in person! The detail and sparkle is sure to catch the eye of many admirers! My daughter will be wearing this all winter!

Another benefit of these adorable pieces…they are SO affordable! Sweetest Bug Bows has bows and headbands for every occasion ranging from $3.00-$12.00.

PLUS, as an exclusive offer to our readers, get FREE SHIPPING now through Christmas! Use promo code: REALHOUSEWIVES at checkout. Here are just a couple of my favorites…

So go check out her website, stock up on adorable headbands and bows for the holiday season, get free shipping, AND last but not least, be sure to enter our giveaway!!!

Sweetest Bug Bows will be giving away to one lucky winner the bow or headband of your choice!!! Good luck!

TO ENTER: Leave a comment for each option you complete below.

(+1) Visit the Sweetest Bug Bows website and leave a comment below with your favorite bow or headband.
(+1) Sweetest Bug Bows on Facebook
(+1) Like the Real Housewives of MN on Facebook

Note that the giveaway will end on November 14th at 7:00pm CST

Love, Macy

Disclosure: I was not paid for my opinions in this review. Sweetest Bug Bows did provide me with the sample to review, but all opinions are my own.

Pottery Barn Teen – Twin Cities Launch!!!

Yes, it’s true!!! Pottery Barn is one of the BEST stores for filling your home with the most adorable things… Minnesota is blessed with Pottery Barn Kids/Baby, Pottery Barn, and Now, the trio will be complete!

Pottery Barn Teen will be opening it’s first Minnesota store Wednesday, November 7th at The Galleria in Edina, MN!!!!!

But there’s more!!!! They are offering a special gift to the first 250 customers at their Grand Opening, with a chance to win a $250 Pottery Barn Gift Card!!!! Wholly moly! So Exciting!

So mark your calendars, Minnesota Mommas – And get your Christmas list ready!!!! See you at Pottery Barn Teen at The Galleria on Wednesday, November 7th! Doors open at 10:00am.

See more details in their Press Release 🙂

Love, Macy

My Holiday To-Do List

Photo via Frog Prince Paperie

I love the holiday season in Minnesota! All the snow glistening with the lights. The fresh cut Christmas trees. Holiday productions in Minneapolis. I could go on and on! There are always so many things I want to do during the Holiday season, but it is nearly impossible to do everything! After all, I’m not made of time OR money! 😉 This year, I decided I would make a list of my Top 10 Holiday To-Dos! It’s like a Holiday Bucket List – made special for just this year!

1. Decorate the inside and outside of the house with wreaths, Christmas lights and garland

St. Paul Winter Carnival – Ice Palace

2. Go see a holiday event downtown with my hubby

3. Make Christmas cookies with my mom

4. Give cutely wrapped Christmas goodies (cookies, breads) to friends and family

5. Wrap Christmas gifts in a creative way

6. See Santa with the little one

7. See the Christmas lights near-by

8. Don’t over-eat this holiday season (aka find the balance between enjoying the yummy holiday treats and completely devouring everything in sight!)

9. Focus on relaxing and spending quality time with family instead of getting overwhelmed with stress

10. Remember the reason for the Christmas season 🙂

What are some of your Holiday To-Dos this year? I hope all of our readers truly enjoy this Holiday season!

Love, M