5 Heartwarming Ways to Show Gratitude to Veterans

 

Veterans are the brave men and women who’ve sacrificed so much to protect our freedom. Yet, too often, their stories go untold, and their efforts go unrecognized. Well, showing gratitude to these heroes doesn’t always require big gestures—sometimes, it's the simple, sincere acts that mean the most.

If you’re among the ones who are thinking of extending gratitude towards them, then you’re at the right place. In this article, you’ll get to know five meaningful ways to show veterans that we truly appreciate everything they've done for us.

How to Reconnect With Family This Thanksgiving

 

Family can be complicated. It’s easy to drift apart from family members- those within your own home and those outside of it. You may feel the weight of this disconnection and want to do all you can to reconnect.

Celebrate the U.S. Flag this coming President's Day

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

The history of the U.S. flag is something not often talked about. If questioned not many people could even tell you how it came to be. With President’s Day coming up I believe we should celebrate it by learning the history of our nation's flag. Here are some things I didn’t know until I decided to start researching and learning more about the U.S. flag.

5 Tips to Host a Healthier Holiday Party from Purell

Don’t let your guests catch a bug at your house this holiday season!

The holiday season is upon us! This time of year is meant to be spent with friends and family, celebrating the end of another year. But as it’s also flu season, and with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showing regional or widespread activity in half the country,1 we also worry about getting sick and missing out on the festivities and special time spent with loved ones. When preparing your home for a holiday party, spread the love, not the germs, by following these tips offered by the PURELL® Brand.

Clogging and More: Avoid Holiday Emergencies with These Plumbing Tips

The holidays spell a busy time for you and your home. With guests coming over for Christmas gatherings, the kitchen and the bathroom get more than the usual traffic. While you want everything to be perfect, emergencies involving plumbing can dampen the holiday spirit in more ways than one.

So before you open your doors to the first batch of well-wishers, check your toilets, sinks, drains, and all. Preventive maintenance will save you the trouble of calling the plumber in the middle of a toast. Plus, with the tips below, you know how to respond to a holiday plumbing disaster.

The Best of Jewish Children’s Books for the New Year!

For Jewish people worldwide, the new year kicks off on Rosh Hashanah when people wish each other l’shana tova – a sweet new year!  This September, on top of eating delicious apples with honey and making resolutions for the coming year, families raising Jewish children can also kick off the New Year by signing up for PJ Library, a free program that offers monthly, age-appropriate books celebrating Jewish values and culture through the joy of story books.

A program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library sends more than 200,000 books a month to families across North America. Expertly curated, the monthly selections exemplify the best of Jewish children’s literature and offer books that are certain to capture children’s imaginations with cheerful characters, compelling stories, and vibrant illustrations.

PJ Library welcomes all Jewish families, whatever their background, knowledge, family make-up, or observance may be. The stories help families engage with Jewish values, ideas, and traditions on their own terms, and the books are paired with activities and resources for the whole family to learn, create, and play together.

Celebrate the new year by signing up your kiddos for PJ Library. Sign up today!

Cinco de Mayo Cocktails made easy with Sparkling Ice

It's time to get ready for Cinco de Mayo! And with a little help from Sparkling Ice – a lightly carbonated, zero-calorie beverage which combines sparkling water, fruit juice and vitamins it will be  a breeze to make those fancy cocktails.

Spicy Sparkling Margarita

INGREDIENTS
2 parts Blanco Tequila
½ part Cointreau
3 slices of Jalapeño pepper
Juice of 1/8 lime
1 ½ parts Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime

DIRECTIONS
Shake Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and peppers with ice. Pour into rocks glass with salted rim and lime wedge. Top with Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime

Pomegranate Margarita

INGREDIENTS
2oz tequila
2oz pomegranate juice
1oz lime juice
1oz simple syrup
Sparkling Ice Classic Lemonade
Vanilla flake salt rim, for garnish
Lime wedge, for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Rim glass with a lime and dip into salt, fill glass with ice and set to the side. In an ice filled cocktail shaker, combine tequila, pomegranate juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and shake. Strain into glasses and top with Sparkling Ice Classic Lemonade, stir lightly to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Orange Mango Sunrise

INGREDIENTS
Ice
1 lime wedge|
1 oz tequila
1 oz triple sec
Sparkling Ice Orange Mango
1 orange slice

DIRECTIONS
In a cocktail shaker, muddle orange and lime slice. Add tequila, triple sec, and ice and shake. Pour into a margarita glass and top with Sparkling Ice Orange Mango. Garnish with an orange slice and serve.

Of course I have to throw this out there - if you're going to drink, drink responsibly and don't drive. There's no reason you can't celebrate and have fun, just be safe about it!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate

Chocolate allows us to connect to our past, more richly experience our present and look forward to our future. AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate believes that everyone has a unique ‘chocolate history’ and strives to create connections through authentic, rich, personal stories - all with chocolate. Along those lines, we are thrilled to share the perfect Chocolate Grasshopper Mocha with Chocolate Dipped Mint Leaves. It's guaranteed to enhance your time with family and friends this St. Patrick’s Day.

Chocolate Grasshopper Mocha
The Grasshopper, named for its green color, gained popularity during the 1950s and 1960s throughout the American South where it become the cocktail du jour. Check out our chocolatey, mocktail version which can be served hot or cold.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk with 1/2 drop of green food coloring (optional)
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
2 tablespoons AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate Syrup
1/2 cup strong coffee
whipped cream
Garnish with chocolate dipped mint leaves

Directions
1. Spoon the chocolate syrup into a 8 ounce glass.
2. Slowly pour the mint milk/cream over the chocolate syrup.
3. Over the back of a spoon, pour the coffee slowly over the milk.
4. Add a dollop of whip cream and garnish with chocolate dipped mint leaves.

AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate Syrup

Ingredients
1 cup AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate Finely Grated Drink Mix
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon coconut oil

Directions
1.  In a small sauce pan cook the sugar in the water till melted.
2.  Place the AHC Grated Drink Mix in a bowl and slowly add the sugar water, stirring till melted and smooth consistency.
3.  Set aside till ready to use.

Chocolate Dipped Mint leaves

Ingredients
Bunch of mint leaves
1 cup AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate Finely Grated Drink Mix
2 tablespoons coconut oil

Directions
1. In a small microwaveable bowl, combine chocolate and coconut oil.
2. Microwave on low till melted, stopping every 30 seconds to stir.
3. Dip clean dry mint leaves in melted chocolate.  Let dry on rack or parchment paper.

About:
AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate, conceived and crafted in 2006 by a dedicated team of historians and Forrest E. Mars, Jr., the legendary advocate of American history and chocolate's unique story in the Americas. AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate is the result of painstaking years of research by a multi-disciplinary team of more than 115 experts from around the globe. Using research culled from the archives of some of the country’s most venerated institutions, libraries and private collections, and in consultation with leading food historians, the team passionately developed a chocolate product with a flavor profile drawn directly from the annals of chocolate’s historic past. With its historic pedigree providing an inspiring, versatile way to make, bake, test, explore, play, share and show love, AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate offers individuals a culinary partner for making new stories of their own. The mildly spicy and slightly sweet recipe is flavored with a blend of 11 spices and ingredients available during the 18th century that range from the heat of chili peppers, to the warmth of vanilla, to the freshness of orange peel. Used in baking and cooking — from sweet to savory — AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate gives any dish or baked item a richer, fuller taste. Enjoy!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

The Year of the Dog Themed Birthday Party

If you don't already know this year is the Year of the Dog for the Chinese Zodiac New Year. The only reason I know this is because my daughter will be 12 this year so it was the Year of the Dog when she was born. Oh and because she told me all about it. She decided that this year is a special birthday since she will be turning 12 and her Chinese Zodiac from when she was born has made it's way back around. If you didn't know they rotate every 12 years. I'll admit I had no idea until she filled me in with her pitch about her Year of the Dog Chinese Zodiac themed birthday party. So after talking with her dad we decided that if she had educated herself that much on something without any prompting than she deserved a birthday party for it. And thus began the quest to find things for her party.

If you've ever searched for Chinese Zodiac party supplies you know there are actually quite a few out there. Some are very specific to the theme too, like these cute treat bags I found on the Oriental Trading website. They are super cute and will be great for holding all of the other dog themed goodies I found. They also match a bunch of other party supplies on their website. Besides the specific supplies we also did some general "dog" themed things too. We decided to do some stuffed plush mini-dogs, Squishy dogs (since they are so popular right now), and some DIY ceramic dog banks (great for birthday party crafting). Oh and of course lots of fortune cookies! I mean what Chinese New Year themed party would be complete without some fortune cookies. We already taste tested a few of them so I can confirm that they are just as good as the ones you get with your Chinese take-out orders.

Connect with Oriental Trading: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays - Life Simplified

Have you been looking for a way to simplify your holiday gatherings? Or maybe just want to have something quick and easy on hand for those sports games at home that turn into a full house of fans. For me I'm always looking for both. It never seems to surprise me anymore when my husband calls after work and tells me he's bring home a few buddies to watch a game on TV. And for that exact reason I try to always keep snack foods on hand that are quick and easy to prepare at a moments notice.

A great solution to have on hand is HORMEL GATHERINGS Party Trays. They are jam packed with meat, cheese, crackers, and some even have olives. Each food is individually packaged so they won't dry out waiting to be used.

HORMEL GATHERINGS® party trays come in three delectable choices: Hard Salami & Pepperoni, Honey Ham & Turkey, and Supreme. I guess it was just my luck that Walmart only had the Supreme trays because they were the biggest and looked the best to me. The tray I purchased featured Hormel hard and genoa salami, Sargento Colby Jack and Pepper Jack cheeses, two rounds of crispy crackers and a container of assorted pitted olives. I really like that all of the contents are individually wrapped so they didn't touch inside of the tray. Speaking of the tray, I love having it so I don't have to search for something to serve all of the foods on. The tray is the perfect shape and size to hold everything in it's own neat little compartments.

So next time you're at the store why not stop by the deli and pick up a HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Tray. Even if you don't need it for a last minute gathering they are perfect for family game nights, or just snacking on through out the week!

HORMEL GATHERINGS® Party Trays are available at Walmart, or use the store locator to locate the store nearest you.

Connect with Hormel: Facebook  | Pinterest

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received monetary compensation or product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Keep your family safe this holiday season with EZVIZ

With the holiday season seeming to be hopping into full swing already this year it's the perfect time to think about home safety. For many families Thanksgiving and Christmas means trips out of town to visit family and friends. And that means leaving their homes empty and vulnerable to intruders. It's not something anyone likes to think would ever happen to them, but the reality is in the present day it's a fact of life. And sadly it seems like break-ins and theft are becoming more and more common. Not everyone has the big bucks to spend on high dollar security systems and protection, but that doesn't mean you can't still protect yourself. For us that meant going with a few products from the EZVIZ line.

First off we got the EZVIZ Husky and installed it outside of our house. (Sorry not going to show you where because we did a good job of hiding it.) With the Husky we can monitor and be notified if someone is outside of our house any time day or night. I love this because now my teenage son can't claim he was home on time if he really wasn't - mom now knows better!

Secondly we got the EZVIZ Mini Plus for inside of the house. As I'm sure you all know there's always that chance that your outside camera may miss something, and it can't cover every square inch all the way around the house. So having a back-up plan inside is always a good solution. It's small enough you can hide it pretty much anywhere and it will go unseen. And with motion alerts you'll know the moment anyone enters the viewing range of the camera. This is also nice if you have teenagers that want to try sneaking out. My son wasn't trying to sneak out, but I sure did catch him off guard when he was getting a late night snack from the fridge. I talked to him through the two-way mic and scared him stiff! Well, at least I know it works right?

EZVIZ Mini Plus is a compact indoor camera and can mount almost anywhere with its optional magnet base. The camera offers a 135-degree viewing angle and two-way audio that lets customers talk to people back at home.

EZVIZ Husky offers wide-angle video recording with an IP66 rating. Suitable for outdoors, the camera is dustproof, waterproof and can handle a wide range of temperatures. With a built-in IR sensor, the camera can see objects in the dark up to 100 feet away.

Connect with EZVIZ: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Are you ready for a 4th of July backyard BBQ?

Thanks to the awesome array of 4th of July products I received from Oriental Trading we are going to have a backyard BBQ to remember this year. If you ask me the most important thing to have when hosting a backyard BBQ is a dining table that stands out. For me that means using something beyond  your basic white paper plates and napkins. And I really like to liven it up when there's a holiday theme I can incorporate. That's why I like the 4th of July so much. It's so easy to decorate and make your table stand out and be noticed.

Five Ingredient Guacamole for Cinco de Mayo!

It's time for Cinco de Mayo! Whose with me when it comes to choosing fresh made dips over store bought? To me they just have a better overall flavor to them that really stands out. I've been getting more creative in the kitchen lately making my own salsa and guacamole dips so we have some yummy treats for our Cinco de Mayo themed dinner tonight.

I recently received a T-fal Ingenio 5 Second Chopper to test out and I have to say it's made dip making a breeze! In a matter of seconds I can start with a half of an onion (in chunks) and end up with nice diced up pieces perfect for my homemade salsa and other dips! It's super easy to use, and super easy to clean after you're done too. That's probably my second favorite part. I love kitchen gadgets that are easy to clean after use.

Five Ingredient Guacamole Recipe
Serves 6

INGREDIENTS
2 tomatoes
½ red onion
3 avocados
1 lime, juiced
Minced cilantro (optional)
Jalapeno pepper, seeded (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste

Finely dice tomatoes, avocados and red onion
(Pro Tip: to make this step faster than ever, I recommend using The T-fal Ingenio 5 Second Chopper)
Combine with lime juice, jalapeno and cilantro in a medium bowl.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation or product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Ready for a poppin' good time?

There's just something about popcorn that makes it so universal. It's a great snack (for us and the critters outdoors), can be used for crafting/decorating, and it's great for gift giving when it's dressed up with a tasty coating and put in a fancy package. I mean who can go to the movies and not get some popcorn? I know I can't, it's what makes going out to the movies special if you ask me. I also like to keep some on hand during the holidays to give as gifts. You never know when you'll be invited to a holiday gathering and need to bring a gift..or a tasty treat. The Popcorn Factory is a great place to take care of all of your popcorn needs all in one place. They have a wide variety of popcorn flavors and sizes of packages. Take for instance the Holiday Kettle Corn and Peppermint Bark containers above. They are a nice size for having a snack with the family during movie night, or putting in a bag with some tissue paper for a gift. Of course in my house popcorn doesn't always last long enough to be given as a gift. It tends to get opened as soon as it's seen sitting in the kitchen on the counter. It's one of those treats you can enjoy just one handful at a time and be satisfied. The sweet and salty flavor of their kettle corn is one I'm usually victim to breaking into myself. My kids on the other hand like the peppermint bark a lot because it's covered in white candy coating. Either way you go I promise you won't be disappointed, and neither will the recipient (if they make it out of the house as gifts).

About:
Peppermint Bark Popcorn
This specialty flavor starts with fresh-popped, premium kernels covered in luscious creamy white coating and then sprinkled generously with refreshing peppermint pieces.

Holiday Kettle Corn
Our premium, all-natural Kettle corn is all dressed up for the holidays! A little bit salty and a whole lot of crunchy sweetness, each bit reminds you of why you love popcorn as much as you do!

Visit The Popcorn Factory online for all of your popcorn giving (and eating) needs!

Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

From Maker Toys to Beauty Essentials: This Season's Must-Haves!

Be the "Host with the Most" this Thanksgiving

Want to be the "Host with the Most" this Thanksgiving? Then you'll definitely want to check out these easy-to-make cocktail recipes with Sparkling Ice.

Quittin’ Thyme
1 ½ Parts Aperol
1 ½ Parts Gin
1 dash of Angostura Bitters
1 Part Pink Grapefruit Sparkling Ice
Sprig of Thyme

Rub Thyme sprig on rim of chilled martini glasses. Shake Aperol & Gin with ice and pour into glass. Top with Pink Grapefruit Sparkling Ice and garnish with a sprig of thyme

Black Sage
1 Part Coffee Liqueur
1 Part Black Raspberry Sparkling Ice
A Splash of Heavy Cream
Sage Leaf for garnish

Mix coffee liqueur and Black Raspberry Sparkling Ice in cocktail glass. Just before serving, gently add cream and garnish with a sage leaf

Cranberry Aperol Spritzer
2 oz. Aperol
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
4 oz. Sparkling Ice Essence Of Tangerine
Orange Peels for garnish

Fill glass with ice. Combine Aperol and Cranberry Juice and pour into glass, then top with Sparkling Ice Essence Of Tangerine stirring gently. Garnish with an orange peel

Fall Sangria
1/2 Apple, sliced
1 Orange, sliced
1/2 Pear, sliced
Cinnamon Sticks
1 Bottle of Red Wine (recommend Santa Margherita’s Chianti Classico Riserva)
1/2 Cup of Brandy
1 Cup Sparkling Ice Essence Of Tangerine

Cut fruit into equal sizes and place in pitcher with the cinnamon sticks. Pour in the bottle of red wine, bourbon, and Sparkling Ice Essence Of Tangerine over fruit. Gently stir and combine. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours, up to 2 days. Serve cold over ice

Pomegranate Margarita
2 oz. Tequila
2 oz. Pomegranate Juice
1 oz. Lime Juice
1 oz. Simple Syrup
1 Cup of Sparkling Ice Essence Of Lemon Lime
salt rim, for garnish
Lime Wedge for garnish

Rim glass with a lime and dip into salt. Fill glass with ice and set aside. In an ice filled cocktail shaker, combine tequila, pomegranate juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and shake. Strain into glass and top with Sparkling Ice Essence Of Lemon Lime, stir lightly to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge

Fall Punch
1 Cup Apple Cider
1 Cup Hard Cider
1/4 Cup Bourbon
1 Bottle Unflavored Sparkling Ice Essence Of Water
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
Cinnamon Sticks for garnish
Cinnamon Sugar rim, for garnish

Rim the glass with lemon and dip into cinnamon sugar, set aside. Combine ciders, bourbon and unflavored Sparkling Ice Essence Of, and lemon juice in a pitcher. Stir until well combined. Fill glasses with ice, then punch and garnish with cinnamon sticks before serving.

Grapefruit Rosemary
1 oz. Vodka
0.5 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
2 oz. Grapefruit juice
0.5 oz. Vanilla Syrup
1 Bottle Unflavored Sparkling Ice Essence Of Water
Rosemary Sprig for garnish
Grapefruit Slice for garnish

Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Combine vodka, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice and vanilla syrup-shake until cold. Strain into an ice filled glass and top with Unflavored Sparkling Ice Essence Of Water. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and grapefruit slice then serve

Connect with Sparkling Ice:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

They're back: Thanksgiving flavored potato chips!

I've always been one that's open to trying new things. And trying out the limited edition Thanksgiving-flavored potato chips from Boulder Canyon was no different. I was actually really excited when I heard about them. I mean who wouldn't want to try out potato chips that taste like pumpkin pie? At first the flavors might seem a bit strange, but once you've tried them you'll probably enjoy them as much as I have. So far I've only tried the pumpkin pie and the turkey and gravy and thought they were both pretty spot on with the flavors. It was actually quite interesting to see if I could pick out the various spices that would be in pumpkin pie and stuffing as I enjoyed the chips. I'm now looking forward to trying the stuffing and cranberry varieties next. I mean who would I be if I didn't finish off my Thanksgiving meal in potato chip form right? I'm actually thinking about picking up bags of all four flavors to take to our annual family Thanksgiving so everyone else in my family can try them too. Sadly these didn't make it further than a Friday movie night in our house.

Skip the extra calories this Cinco de Mayo with Cascade Ice!

Did you know that one regular Margarita is over 600 calories per serving? Using Cascade Ice, you can knock that down to just around 55.

Below are a few festive drink recipes Cascade Ice recommends mixing up for Cinco de Mayo. Low-cal, but full of flavor!

• For a family affair, whip up the Pink Grapefruit Lemonade. Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour 6oz of Pink Grapefruit Cascade Ice and 2 oz of Lemonade Cascade Ice over the ice. Squeeze the lemon juice from a fresh lemon into your glass and make sure to strain the lemon seeds. Add a couple slices of fresh lemon to garnish.

• This Watermelon Slushie is oh-so-delicious! In a blender, combine a few handfuls of ice, several seedless watermelon chunks and 8oz Blueberry Watermelon Cascade Ice. Then, pour in 6oz of club soda. Blend to desired consistency and enjoy!

• Try a delicious Skinny Daiquiri. To create this sweet treat, add 1.5 cups of ice and 1.5 cups frozen strawberries into your blender. Pour in 8oz Cascade Ice Wild Berry and your choice of rum. Blend until smooth. Pour into a chilled glass and garnish with fresh fruit.

You can find more great recipes on the Cascade Ice website.

Connect with Cascade Ice:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Enjoy limited time only holiday items at IHOP® Restaurants

Enjoy the tastes of the season with new holiday items and returning holiday favorites at your local IHOP® Restaurant! My husband and I went to IHOP® the other night and I had the Caramel Bon Bon Pancakes. And let me tell you they were AWESOME! I like to order breakfast when we go to IHOP® so I was pretty excited to see their holiday menu had several limited time only breakfast choices. I think we are even planning to make a family trip for breakfast Christmas Eve since my husband is also off work. I want to be able to enjoy a stress free day and breakfast at IHOP® sounds to me like the perfect way to start it off. And of course that means I don't have to start my day out cooking.

In addition to the return of the seasonal favorite Caramel Bon Bon Pancakes, guests can indulge in IHOP restaurant’s newest innovation: Banana Bread French Toast which brings the warm, beloved taste of rich banana bread grilled in vanilla French Toast batter and topped with the sweetness of caramel sauce.  

Pumpkin is one of the most popular flavors of the holiday season, and this year, IHOP restaurants is giving pumpkin lovers a host of new dishes to choose from, including: Pumpkin Spice Waffles, Chicken & Pumpkin Spice Waffles or Pumpkin Waffle Sundaes.

Guests can also enjoy holiday beverages from IHOP restaurants, including Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate and Pumpkin Coffee.  And friends and family can come to IHOP for the traditional holiday lunch or dinner of Roasted Turkey with all the favorite trimmings.

These menu items will be available at participating IHOP restaurants from now through January 3:

• NEW Banana Bread French Toast - Banana bread with cinnamon bits, dipped in our vanilla French toast batter, then grilled and topped with caramel sauce, powdered sugar and whipped topping.

• NEW Pumpkin Spice Waffle - Our Belgian waffle made with real pumpkin, sprinkled with pumpkin spice sugar and whipped topping.

• NEW Chicken & Pumpkin Spice Waffle - Our Belgian waffle made with real pumpkin, topped with pumpkin spice sugar and candied pecans. Served with all white meat crispy chicken.

• NEW Pumpkin Waffle Sundae - Our Belgian waffle made with real pumpkin, topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, candied pecans and pumpkin spice sugar.

• NEW Roasted Turkey & Fixings - Sliced roasted turkey breast topped with warm gravy.  Served with cornbread stuffing, Parmesan mashed potatoes, steamed fresh broccoli & a side of Lingonberries.

• Caramel Bon Bon Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes layered with Dulce de Leche cream then topped with a drizzle of caramel sauce and whipped topping.

• Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate - Hot chocolate flavored with Toasted Marshmallow syrup, finished with whipped topping and finished with cocoa powder.

• Pumpkin Coffee - IHOP restaurants’ 100% Arabica International House Roast Original™ coffee with a touch of pumpkin syrup, made with real pumpkin, and then crowned with whipped topping and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice sugar.

Santa's Little Helper DVD

Looking for a holiday hit that will have the whole family laughing? Then you'll definitely want to check out Santa's Little Helper. It's full of holiday fun and I guarantee everyone will be laughing. We always watch holiday themed movies as a family as Christmas approaches. We actually have a stack of DVD's we always go through and plan to add this one to it cause we all liked it so much.

Ho-ho-hold on tight for holiday hijinks in this hilarious family comedy starring WWE®  Superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin®, WWE Diva Paige™ and AnnaLynne McCord. After losing his job, a slick-talking businessman is given the chance of a lifetime—to be Santa’s second-in-command. But to earn the coveted position, he’ll have to wage an outrageous battle against a scheming elf who wants the gig for herself!

Giveaway CLOSED - The winner has been notified via email and confirmed.

Win it:  One lucky reader will win a Santa's Little Helper DVD. This giveaway will end December 8th at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen.  Prize fulfillment will be made by the sponsor, I am not responsible for prize delivery or lost or stolen deliveries. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method:  Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.