"Walkabout" Onion Cheese Soup Recipe

I know I'm not a food blogger (one glimpse at my pictures will tell you that) but I do love to share my favorite recipes from time to time.  I've been making "Walkabout" Onion Cheese Soup for almost ten years now and I'm always in the mood for it when the weather gets cold and I want something to warm me up.  It's based on a Outback Resturant Copycat version I found in Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Restaurant Recipes.

This soup is delicious and super simple to make but comes with a few warnings.  It is mostly cream and cheese - not diet friendly and not for the lactose intolerant.  It is for onion lovers and you will likely smell like onions if you consume large amounts of this soup (as I always do) and your house will smell like an onion factory for a few hours.  SO worth it though and I wish I could offer you a smell-o-vision wiff!

Walkabout Onion Cheese Soup

8 cups of water

5-7 small onions

9 beef bullion cubes

3/4 cup flour

Salt and Pepper

1 cup (1/2 pint) light cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded colby jack cheese

Pour the 8 cups of water into a large soup pan and bring to a boil. Unwrap the bullion cubes and add to the water.  Peel the onions, cut into petals and add to the water as well.  I typically do this by cutting the onion in half, and then in 6ths (with the center cut section down on the board).

Bring to a boil and then turn down to simmer.  Let simmer for at least 30 minutes.  I like my onion with a little body so if you prefer yours more translucent cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Add the flour a sprinkle at a time using a flour sifter or sieve.  I use the sieve set on top of my pot, with the soup at a boil stirring constantly.  I lightly bounce the flour filled sieve on top until all has been added to the soup.

Add salt and pepper - about 1 t each or 8 cranks of your grinders/mills.  Allow to simmer another 15 minutes.

Add light cream and 1 1/2 c cheddar and 1/2 cup colby jack cheeses (reserving the rest to combine and sprinkle on top of each serving).  Simmer for an additional 15 minutes stirring frequently.

TADA!  That's it.  Serve, top with an extra sprinkle of cheese and enjoy.  

Picture Perfect DIY Family Photos with EasyCanvasPrints

I have been an amateur "momtographer" for a little over a year now.  After realizing that my point-and-shoot wasn't doing my gorgeous kids justice, I decided that it was time to find some better gear.  I got a DSLR, took a class and got to practicing - and the rest is history!  I was thrilled then, when Easy Canvas Prints got in touch with an opportunity to partner together for a post!

One of my "must dos" on every vacation to the beach is to get a steller family picture.  With two toddlers, this is much easier said than done.  While I'm no expert, I have learned a thing or two along the way just from experience.  Here are my four little tips for a great DIY family photo with kids!

1 - Happy Kids:  Start with kids that have napped and have full bellies.  Nothing sabotages a shoot more than cranky kids!

2 - Consider your Background: No matter if your camera is on a tripod or in the hands of an untrained family member, pose yourselves in front of something that is pleasant to look at, that won't be a total distraction from the subjects.  We chose the beach dunes which also made it obvious where we were.

3 - Watch your Shadows and Light: One of the hardest parts of getting great family shots at the beach is not having harsh shadows and squinting eyes.  A good rule of thumb for soft light is to always take pictures around the time the sun has set - with enough light to illuminate, but none to cast shadows on the face.  We adapted (sunset was dinner time) and used the time right after the sun set behind our building for a similar effect.  No squinting and no shadows.  Another option is to use a low flash to fill in the shadows and add catch lights to the eyes - but of course I'd left mine in the room and wasn't going back!

4 - Do Whatever it Takes for a Smile:  In our case, this was spinning around for "ring around the rosie" and when we'd turn around the bend, Julie still full of glee, the picture would snap and there we'd be.  Get creative with whatever makes your child smile!

Once we got the perfect shot, I was so excited to see what it looked like on canvas!  We chose the 16" x 20" size and got to work at www.easycanvasprints.com ordering our portrait.  I absolutely loved the ease of using the site - super easy to follow along and practically "goof-proof" for those who are technologically challenged.  I loved that the site allowed me to adjust the photo's cropping to make sure it was centered and balanced.  I appreciated the options for the canvas sides - black, white or a mirrored print of the image.

My canvas arrived expertly packaged and ready to hang.  The image quality was great and it was so sturdy that I knew it'll last the test of time.  Our canvas looks so professionally done that I was proud to hang it in our dining room!  

I am so pleased with my experience with Easy Canvas Prints that I'll definitely be ordering from them in time for the holidays.  What a great gift for family members!  Canvas prints would also make great gifts for new parents, or newlyweds with shots of their baby or wedding.


Easy Canvas Prints has generously offered to give away a free 8x10 canvas print for one of our readers!  Enter using the rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Easy Canvas Prints.  I did receive free product for my review, but all opinions remain my own.

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Healthy Mamas and Healthy Kids with Spray Active

In my book, one of the worst experiences of motherhood is when you find yourself sick trying to care for little ones.  As you lay there miserable on the couch, the chaos seems louder and wilder in your inability to help keep the calm.

As a busy mom running a business and a blog, I often push my body to it's limits, going on less sleep than I need and drinking coffee late into the night.  I know I'm draining my energy with each late night, but I have such a hard time shutting it all off and heading to bed.

I recently had the opportunity to try some innovative products from Spray Active and they are life savers for moms on the go!  Spray Active recently launched their line of spray vitamins, focusing on the needs of both adults and kids.  Anyone who has a challenge taking pills (like my dear husband) will love these products as two sprays under the tongue gives you a full dose!  Even those of us who are okay with pills will appreciate the simplicity of this delivery system.  No water is needed and the small bottle size makes them convenient to keep in your purse or bag.  I was truly surprised to learn that "Research has shown that intra-oral sprays are nine times more readily absorbed than pills" according to a recent fact sheet from Spray Active.  As a lover of all things efficient, this seems to be an incredible solution for so many people!

 I had the pleasure of trying out two of the Spray Active products - the Defense Spray and the Energy Spray.  Busy moms like me are desperate for both because who wants to be stuck sick on the couch or dragging behind from exhaustion?  Read on to find out how you too can try out these fabulous sprays to keep you at your best!

Both sprays had a bit of a citrus flavor and were simple to administer.  Two sprays and that's it!
The Energy Spray contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 along with Eleuthero Root Extract. The vitamins and nutrients in the Energy Spray boosts every levels and promotes mental alertness while supporting proper digestion and balanced food absorption. The Spray improves mood and the Eleuthero Root Extract works to enhance antioxidant defense systems in the body.  Personally, I definitely did feel like I had more energy after using the spray.  I was more alert and energetic without any jittery feelings.  This makes sense because the Energy Spray is sugar free and natural, containing no caffeine or stimulants.

*

As the weather chills, and school begins, colds and flu season unfortunately begins to take hold.  I've used numerous zinc products in the past and have always found them to be tremendously effective in their ability to fight off whatever bug I felt coming on.  The Defense Spray contains Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea that enhance the immune system and help protect against colds and the flu. The Defense Spray also acts as a
powerful antioxidant. While it's hard to pinpoint causation, I have not been sick in my time trying the Defense Spray.  I'll be continuing to use the spray throughout the winter months as it is much easier, more appetizing and convenient than other immunity boosting products I've tried.

Overall, I'd really recommend Spray Active products to anyone who could use a little boost - whether that be for Energy, Defense, Vitality, Sleep or even carbohydrate Control.  Two of the products Defense and Vitality) are even approved for use by children over four - a great way to keep little ones healthy and strong!

The Defense and Energy Sprays, along with the other Spray Active™ sprays can be purchased at http://www.sprayactive.com.

We're excited to be offering one of our lucky readers the opportunity to try the Energy Spray and Defense Spray from Spray Active out for themselves!  Just complete the rafflecopter form below for your chance to win.

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Disclosure: I did receive free product in order to review and give my honest opinion about these products.  All opinions remain my own.

Please take a quick moment to vote for us using the links below!  These sites are the way many of our partners find our site and your vote will help us offer more great giveaways in the future.

Anything Worth Having - A Twin Mom Rant

I think back to those words I first spoke when I found out we were having twins - "how will we pay for college?"  I was so completely unaware to the challenges of parenting multiples that I was oblivious that the 18 years prior to sending them to college would be way more of an issue than figuring out the financial aid.

Today was a really tough twin day - one where my bag of Chic-fil-a burst open pouring onto the concrete as I struggled to carry both to the car, and then in an attempt to get my keys and open my van door, one child darts out of my reach, running though the parking lot as a drag the other to catch up and get him before a car did.

Thank God for the sweet (random) woman who came up and asked how she could help - I shoved Brayden into her arms, and went back to fishing for my keys.  "I think you lost a binky" she said.  "I think I'm loosing it all" I responded.

Being a twin mom is ROUGH sometimes almost all the time.  I've read too many Twiniversity posts where moms debate back and forth on what's harder - infancy or toddlerhood.  The reality is that none of it is easy, it's all impossible.

My mom has asked me lately why it is that being a "stay-at-home" mom isn't enough for me, like it was for her back in the 80s and 90s.  I wasn't able to put my finger on an answer when she asked.  Maybe it was because she'd already had a full teaching career before she stayed home?  Maybe it's because more women work today and I want to still be part of that world.  It wasn't until today that I realized that without this blog and GiggleBuzz, I'd likely go off the deep end.  If I was purely measuring my success on days like today, I'd honestly feel like such a failure.

I still struggle to not get frustrated by those who poo-poo the struggles.

• "Oh I have two kids too - I know how it is."
• "I'm sure in some ways twins are easier - they always have someone to play with."
• "I would never put my kids on a leash, I just taught them to stay near me in the parking lot."

To the writer of that last remark (on another twiniversity facebook post), I just want to say "bless your heart - I'm so happy for you."  My kids must be broken, 'cause despite my best attempts to persuade/baricade/duct tape them to my legs, they just aren't learning to stay.  It's these type of statements that really make me shake my head.  The first two are oblivious about this level of chaos, but moms - especially other twin moms - who try and act like they have it all together aren't kidding anyone.  And even if they're way better at this than I am (which I'm sure many are) it's certainly helping no one to shove your success in our failing faces.

I think though, about all of the ways I've changed in the past 21 months I've been a mom.  Two years ago there are so many things I would have "never ever done" that are now are just part of my reality.  For instance, prior to running through the parking lot, I allowed my child to walk around the restaurant waving at people.  She wasn't trying to escape, wasn't crying, and was within sight - I counted it as a good strategy.  Even while she was sitting on the floor in the middle of the restaurant walkway, I lost my drive to care what people thought about her antics and figured they could just walk around.

Before our lunch debacle, we ventured to pick some apples at a local farm.  While Brayden was scared of the branches and hid in his stroller (figures) Julie took the opportunity to bite every apple she could find from the ground.  She was a connoisseur of dirt coated, grass glazed, bug crawled apples - and I just turned around and let her have at it.  Meh - she won't die I figured.   

It's kind of sad that that is our new standard of success - not dying.  Truly Dan and I had this conversation today.  It went something like this:

Dan: Well at least they didn't get hurt, that's your job Heather - keep them from getting hurt.

Me: But that's part of the problem, how can I ever prevent that when there's only one of me?  There will be a day when one gets hurt because I don't have enough hands to protect them both.

Dan: Well then - at least they don't die.  There it is, your job is to ensure their survival.

Mom and I mused at the potentials on how to prototype some device that would join the babies together (with a strong belt around their chests, with a device somewhat like one used for guide dogs) to keep them running in the same direction so I could follow.  If they run in separate directions while strapped together, at least they'd slow each other down.

After my adrenaline had cooled, and my heart slowed down, I came to realize the truth of twin motherhood.  If every day was like today, I would gladly struggle through, than to have had only one.  They say anything worth having is worth fighting for.  Today may have been quite the fight, but it's one I'd gladly take on for the joy and abundant blessing of mothering my sweet babes.  

Twin mom friends - I won't pretend I've got it all together.  I'm a very obvious hot mess circus leader who has been broken to no longer care what people think.  To those new twin moms who'd ask "does it get easier?" The answer most will say is "it only gets different."  I can only agree.

I recently realized though, one amazing truth.  I am happier than I ever anticipated I'd be in my life.  Also more tired than anticipated, but definitely happier.  I'll take all the fits, the dirt, the binkies and tears, - so glad that I've been granted the beautiful opportunity to fight for these wonderful kids who are so worth having.

House of SASS

From the moment my fingers curled around the ribbon as I finished my very first hair bow, I have been excited about the potential of what I can create.  As owner of GiggleBuzz, a Pittsburgh hair bow company, I spend countless hours gathering the right supplies, considering themes, prints and colors, and make bows late into the night to finish my creations.  I take so much pride in the products I create, knowing that I have given each of them a piece of myself in their design.

It's because of this pride, that I believe the way I present these products to the world must be of the same caliber.  My packaging must be crisp and clean, reflecting the workman ship of my pieces.  Today's artist marketplace no longer solely lives in a downtown district or in a popup park festival.  Our lives are increasingly digital spaces and as artists, crafters, and creators, we need to also consider the digital "packaging" we choose to present our product to our customers.  Is it attractive? Easy to use? Convenient?  Does it reflect the workmanship, time and love we've put into these cherished products?

A new site, House of SASS (www.houseofsass.com) is that virtual embodiment of the "starving artist social scene" - or SASS.  Who is an Artist? In the House of Sass an Artist is neither defined, nor categorized, and does not possess a detailed job description.  It is the place for bakers, designers, photographers, writers, performers and artists to come together to form a creative space where customers can find everything their hearts desire.

Visiting the site, you're welcomed into a beautifully designed space where items and services are showcased for buyers who come seeking all the things you can offer.  With the ability to add multiple full sized photographs and detailed product descriptions, customers will have all of the information needed to choose the right product for them.  Convenient, streamlined checkout ensures a successful customer experience that will bring them back again.

What makes House of SASS different though, is that it offers artists the ability to truly interact with their customer.  Artists are assigned a unique room number, which becomes their virtual storefront.  This unique room number can be shared in the future with new and reoccurring customers. Its an easy way for the buyers to navigate directly to an artist's room where their products can be seen and purchased.  The ability to share media files can bring customers into your space, sharing with them more than than just pictures and words.  A calendar can announce your turnaround time or important dates.  Each Room gives the sellers full access to a blog board - where they can post unlimited entry's to customers announcing new products, features and specials.  These posts also are added to the "Live Feed” blog board, sharing your works with all House of SASS visitors and drawing new customers into your room.  A really neat and convenient bonus is the active calendar that is displayed to potential buyers, who might be interested in booking an event with a Photographer, or a DJ. Its also a great way to view turnaround time frame’s on handcrafted products.

For me, efficiency is a huge component when choosing an artist eCommerce  solution, and House of SASS offers the ability for bulk item uploading - something very few other sites offer.  It's a way to share numerous products with one upload, without tirelessly selecting the same options on screen after screen for individual uploads.  House of Sass is more than an alternative to Big Cartel or site like etsy, it's the focus on the artist that makes this site stand out from the crowd.  

An Artist creates with his or her soul, and reaps the benefits, not with their pocket book, but with their hard earned efforts. House of Sass was created to enhance the riches of the Artists.  This trendy online Art House Hotel was founded by a woman who is not only a Mommy of two, but she is also an Artist. So she knows first hand how frustrating and daunting it can be to work hard to deliver a quality craft, with minimal return. For this reason, House of SASS never takes a portion of your sales, nor do they charge you for each listing you create.  Instead, artists pay a nominal monthly fee as "rent" for their digital room, with three options available to fit everyone's budget.

 Standard Room: The price to rent this room is $4.95/per month. This room was designed for the smaller scale artists, who only sell and push their craft on a part time basis. The total product upload capacity is 15 products to be showcased within their room. This works great for the non “power” sellers who are only looking to showcase on a smaller scale. It also allows for 45MB of Upload Capacity and unlimited access to blog boards and listing services.

Deluxe Room: The price to rent this room is $7.95/per month. This room was designed for the average artists, who sell and push their craft on a more full time basis. The total product upload capacity is 30 products to be showcased within their room. This room comfortably accommodates the average seller who is looking to share their craft with the world! It also allows for 90MB of Upload Capacity and unlimited access to blog boards and listing services.

Penthouse Suite: The price to rent this room is $15.95 per month. This room was designed specifically for the “Power”selling Artists, who rely on their craft on a full time basis. The total product upload capacity is UNLIMITED and can showcase as many products as desired. It also allows for up to 150 MB of upload Capacity and unlimited access to blog boards and listing services.

The House of Sass feeds the services and products, of all types of  Artistic creations! What kind of artist are you? Whether you custom design fashion, furniture pieces, a baker who creates one of a kind wedding cakes, cupcakes, or cookies, an architect, a graphic designer, a photographer, a writer, an interior designer, a tattoo artist, a vintage designer, a DJ, or even a Magician looking to increase bookings. Whatever the case, you have a room ready to rent within the walls of  House of Sass!

A huge focus on our Residents, are stay at home moms, who are literally stitching, sewing, crafting everything by hand.  Now is their time, and House of Sass is their space to show the world all that they have to offer.

The great news is, that House of Sass is offering six months complimentary membership for new artists.  Choose whichever level best suits your needs.  You have nothing to loose and so much to gain in welcoming customers in to see the products you have so carefully created.  Give House of Sass a try by signing up at www.houseofsass.com. Use Coupon Code Sass6 at checkout to get 6 months of membership for FREE!