LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, NY is a great place to stay cool this summer @USFG {Giveaway}

Disclosure:  I received this information through my relationship with US Family Guide. In exchange for sharing this information I have the opportunity to receive 4 free tickets to visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. 

Maybe you are like me and totally did not know that  LEGOLAND Discovery Center had opened up last year in Yonkers, NY.  Even more exciting, this is the only LEGOLAND Discovery Center on the entire East Coast of the United States.  Who doesn't like Legos? Well then, welcome to one of Westchester's top kids attractions and one of the world's biggest boxes of LEGO bricks! This isn't just Legos though, this new family friendly spot offers tons of indoor fun, even rides, interactive stations and this huge play structure for kids to get some energy expended for a good nights sleep (heh, heh, heh...that is always the plan!)

Bring the whole family to explore LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester and see New York's top landmarks like the Empire State Building made entirely out of LEGO bricks. Get up close and learn secrets from the Master Model Builder while you are there.  Get the kids moving and take a break from the heat outside and experience their indoor soft play and score big on our LEGO rides.

This is an ideal getaway for children aged 3-10 years and LEGOLAND Discovery Center is perfect for the biggest fans of LEGO families! Think about it: there are 15 different attractions all included in the admission price.  You can make it super easy by purchasing tickets online...that way you guarantee entry to the Center as tickets are limited.  They have a special deal now with $5 off LEGOLAND discount tickets here through US Family Guide. Even more exciting...now you can totally ave on individual and family 4-packs of annual passes to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. Sale is valid from July 7 – 31. Individual passes will be $55 and family 4-packs are $190. As you might know, annual pass holders receive the following perks:


 

• Unlimited entry to LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center Westchester 12 months.
• 10% off purchases in the LEGO^® Shop
• 20% discount on food and beverages in the café
• 10% discount on birthday parties
• Subscription to the LEGO^® Club magazine
• Invitation to sneak preview event days

  It all starts with a single brick! LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is offering fans to build their dream creation with new Master Model Builder Veronica Watson. Create a sign that says “I want to build ______” and include what object you want to create in the blank space and pose next to it in your picture.  Upload to social media using #IWantToBuild and #LDCWestchester.  Entry deadline is August 29 and you can enter as many times as you want!

Now you have the opportunity to win four tickets to Legoland in Westchester as well. Enter my Rafflecopter giveaway and lots of luck to you! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Razor Red Knife Sharpener Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

It can be hard to decide on the best knife sharpener when you are looking at all of the options. How do you choose?  You need to think about price, durability and how easy it is to use to start with. Then don't forget storage.  Small and compact is always better for me...I am running out of space. Those are key elements and I know because I have purchased a few kitchen tools here and there (LOL) over the years. My husband and I both cook and we are very particular about our tools such as knives. We only buy very high quality knives. It really makes a difference in how easy it is to prep a meal. You do need to keep those knives sharp and to do that you need a decent sharpener. The prices vary a lot though so you have to consider a variety of factors like I just mentioned. Price does not always equal quality. You can get a really good knife sharpener like the Razor Red for a reasonable price.

I recently received the Razor Red to try out in my own home and I wanted to share my experience.  First off I was so surprised how small it is. It can fit right in the palm of your hand. Perfect for holding and storage. Right out of the box it was simple to use. There were no complicated instructions and my tween daughter was excited that this was another tool that she could use with a little supervision.  We believe it is important for kids to learn how to cook and taking care of their cooking tools (with adult supervision!!) is part of the learning process.  The Razor Red sharpened several of our knives very quickly and I liked that I could secure it during operation with the suction cup.  The price is right and it does the job that a much pricier sharpener does with a huge cost savings!

Features of the Razor Red kitchen knife sharpener

• Works in seconds and so Easy even a Child can use it Safely
• Sharpens any knife with Diamond Precision Quickly and Easily
• Strong Suction Cup Mount for Safe Bench Use - Great for Seniors
• Changes Blunt Old Knives into Just Like New - No Need to Buy New Knives
• Use on Kitchen Cutlery, Gardening Shears and even Lawnmower Blades!

You can buy it right on Amazon too and by going to the Razor Red website and taking a peek at their video you can take advantage of a nice little coupon to save a few dollars as well.  Let me know your thoughts and share any good recipes like this yummy fast quesadilla one I recently made!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Drink Duets Bottle Tags and Glass Skirts Perfect for the next party or BBQ: a review #drinkduets

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Summer is the time for parties, barbeques and get togethers. Well, I don't know about you but we really entertain all year long but summer is something else. Between our house and the beach house it is non-stop visitors on the weekends. Nothing gets me nuttier than half finished drinks because people are mixing up the beverages.  Those cute little wine tags help but I never have enough. Besides, some people, who will remain nameless, forget what their little character or tag is. I recently heard about a great way to solve that problem simply and in a cute way that fits with my entertaining style too.

Drink Duets are a fun and functional way to tag those bottles of water or soda or any other bottled beverage in a colorful way.   Bottle Tags are colorful, soft, reusable tags which you slip over the neck of a bottled beverage.  They come in 12 different colors and can also be written on with a sharpie or stick on initials if having different colors isn't enough to differentiate (we won't say names, will we).  The end result:  saving money on drinks (water, beer soda, sport drinks), saving time and trips to the grocery store, and no more spreading of germs by accidentally sharing bottles. It also is greener and better for the environment because you are not wasting and throwing away so much. This is totally great for the drink cooler too at the beach, picnic or sports field! The kids can easily identify their drinks.

The creator of Drink Duets also has an elegant option that is so much better than your traditional wine glass tag. Those wine charms are so last year and at this point seem so dated.  Here is the perfect hostess gift to bring...you can attach it to a lovely bottle of wine and add it to your gift. They are called Glass Skirts and are perfect for any kind of formal or informal event.  Glass Skirts come 8 to a package so you want to get a bunch and stock up for all your summer parties. They are made of the same material  as the Drink Duets and spiral around the stem of a wine glass. They are the perfect complement to the bottle tags at your next party, BBQ or gathering.  Pretty and very practical. They are so much more modern than those traditional wine charms.

Available on the Drink Duets website by the pack or you can inquire about custom or bulk ordering for weddings or corporate events. It will be the talk of your next party too.They are available at select retailers which are listed on the site as well.

Drink Duets has a special promotion just for my readers too:  Mention Glamamamas Goodies and use Promo Code GMG when you buy 2 packages of Bottle Tags you will get a 3rd pack of Bottle Tags free!




sf
s



ksfdjaskfjs'kadljf
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Yummy Spring Butternut Squash Black Bean Quesadillas

What do you do with a giant butternut squash in the spring? This is an interesting recipe for Butternut Squash Black Bean Quesadillas that I just cooked up in my head.  I had a big 'ole butternut squash sitting on the counter and I needed something interesting to do with it that was a little more spring like and fun. You could also use frozen chunks of butternut squash for a faster prep.

In hindsight, I would roast the butternut squash and cut it up a day before to save time and cleanup. Or use frozen....

So I cut a whole butternut squash in half the long way...be careful! I then put both halves face down in a big Pyrex glass dish in the oven. I added enough water to cover the bottom of the dish. I roasted. It at 400 degrees for about an hour...cook it until a fork pierces the inside easily. Let it cool and cut it up into small chunks. You can use half of the squash or the whole one if you have more people in your family. 

Onion is sauteeing and I just added celery.

Celery and onion cooking away.

Meanwhile chop up half an onion and sauté in a bit of oil or vegetable or chicken broth if you are saving calories. About two minutes. Add 2 ribs celery chopped and one or two thinly sliced carrots then 3 or 4 small chopped peppers or one large pepper to the sauté pan. Cook on medium adding broth or oil as needed until soft 5-8 minutes.  Then add two cans black beans and cook 2 minutes or until mixture is warm. 

I used these cute medium sweet peppers that I found this week at ShopRite.

I like to use organic beans that I know have cans that are BPA free.

Slicing up the carrots thinly and chopping the peppers.

Sauteeing the peppers and carrots with the onions and celery.

Then I added the cooked squash to the sauteed vegetables.

Adding the roasted chunks of butternut squash to the mixture. Season as you like with salt and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes to warm.

Get out your tortillas, I like the whole wheat ones from Trader Joes.

Either use grated cheese or grate it yourself.

Spoon mixture on tortilla in hot non-stick pan. Add cheese to top and bottom in quantity you like.

Cover with second tortilla. Cook about 2-3 minutes on medium flame until lightly brown and then....flip it. Repeat.

Plate each one and repeat. I like to cut them into triangles. Dip into salsa or eat plain. Delicious!

Get out non stick frying pan place one whole wheat tortilla in warm pan. Add mixture including butternut squash chopped and top with a bit of Monterey Jack or your choice of cheese and too with another tortilla. Cook on medium 2 or 3 minutes until lightly brown. Flip with spatula and repeat on other side. Remove onto plate and slice into triangles. Repeat process with other tortillas and enjoy!