Discover The Magical Island Of Mykonos

Image Credit: Ion Androutsopoulos

Christmas is coming!

The holiday season means a well-earned rest from work plus opportunities to visit loved ones, not to mention plenty of time to plan your next amazing travel adventure! Whether you’re travelling with friends, family or just fancy a romantic rendezvous for two, the quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is the ideal moment to book a holiday.

Thanks to its golden sandy beaches, turquoise skies and hours of endless sunshine, the Greek island of Mykonos is the perfect place for a sunny spring vacation. Mykonos, located in the Aegean sea, is fondly known as Greece’s ‘designer island’ and is home to opulent hotels, exclusive villas, and luxurious boutiques. Here, bougainvillea-lined boulevards are teeming with upscale restaurants, colourful bars famous for their signature cocktails and VIP nightclubs where renowned DJs show off their skills.

The best beaches are to be found on the south side of the island and where many beach bars, surf shops, and jet ski rentals stay open till late. Visitors are charmed by the soft golden sands and crystal waters of Paradise, Super Paradise and Lia as well as the chance to try their hand at kite surfing, jet skiing, snorkelling and so much more!

Paradise Beach, Mykonos: Image Credit: Iris

On Mykonos, accommodation options are endless with a range of holiday resorts, elegant hotels, and luxurious villas all nestled amid the spacious island. Mykonos Villas offer all their guests a superb ‘home away from home’ experience with a range of luxury properties featuring stunning views, private terraces and pristine infinity pools - perfect for family gatherings, private parties, and intimate celebrations.

Some of the freshest, tastiest food can be found amongst the numerous taverns, restaurants, cafes and even within local houses. For an incredible culinary experience and outstanding five-star service why not head to M-Eating? Loved by locals and tourists alike this restaurant is a gorgeous, intimate venue in the heart of Mykonos Town.

M-Eating has a romantic outdoor terrace, spacious garden dining and, for those special occasions, you can even book an exclusive private table. Their stylish menu features a range of mouthwatering dishes such as a Trilogy of Goat Cheeses, Rib-eye veal as well as the Mini Gateaux Cappuccino.

Little Venice: Image Credit Steve Summers

Mykonos was once voted the best European island to visit, and it’s not hard to see why so many visitors fall in love with its picturesque landscape. This beautiful region is steeped in culture and each year thousands of tourists visit the medieval Panagia Paraportiani, the Church of Our Lady, one of the most photographed buildings in all of Greece. Countless writers and artists are inspired by the charming paved streets of Little Venice, where the balconies of these colourful fishing houses overhang the sea.

Mykonos at sunset: Image Credit David Schroeder

Once belonging to wealthy merchants and boasting underground passages, people believed that the absent owners of these unique dwellings were secret pirates! These days, this row of magnificent houses plays host to art galleries, little shops, and cafes as well as providing loving couples a quiet, romantic spot to watch the sunset.

How to make the perfect cookies for Santa Claus

Are you leaving cookies out for Santa this year?  He will love these Ginger Cookies!  Get the kids in the kitchen to help make these delicious cookies.



Items needed:

2 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 ½ teaspoons Ground Ginger
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
3/4 cup Vegetable Shortening
1/2 cup Sugar, plus additional for rolling
1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Molasses
1 large Egg
Non-Stick Cooking Spray

Spray an 11x17 inch pan with cooking spray, set aside. Place a small amount of sugar in a bowl, set aside. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Sift into a medium size mixing bowl, set aside. In a large mixing bowl and with an electric mixer, beat vegetable shortening while adding ½ cup sugar. Add dark brown sugar and beat. Add molasses and beat. Beat in egg. Beat in flour mixture. Roll dough into 1 ½ inch balls. Roll dough around in small bowl of sugar. Place on greased pan. Gently press on dough and flatten slightly with fingers. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees on the top (1st) rack for 7 to 9 minutes.

Why outdoor play is important

This post is sponsored by The Voice of Play.

You can do so many things to encourage outdoor play when the weather is cooler.  We took this opportunity to visit a local park and enjoy the sights while we played along the trails in Tallulah Falls.  Kids love to play outside and when you can show them the beauty of nature, you can create a learning experience, too.

When your kids are playing outside and getting fresh air, it does your body and soul good! You can go to your local playground , state park, or even your backyard for outdoor play  The possibilities are endless. Bottom line, outdoor play is FREE and you should take advantage of it every chance you get.

Ask your friends to tag along for outdoor play!  There is not anything more beautiful than seeing kids playing with one another outdoors.  The clean crisp air this time of year is perfect for outdoor play.

Your kids can play year round.  It keeps kids moving, lets them get exercise, and encourages their imaginations. I cannot think of anything better you can do for your child than outdoor play!

Visit Voice of Play to learn more about this initiative.  

The post is brought to you by Activate by Bloglovin and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

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Butterball Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway

Nothing says Thanksgiving quite like a delicious Butterball Turkey! Two readers will win!


Want even more chances to win?  Another BUTTERBALL TURKEY GIVEAWAY is here! 


I have teamed up with Momma Lew to ensure you make the perfect Thanksgiving turkey this year! You can find her recipe for the perfect turkey using a Butterball turkey right HERE. An addition, find out the more than 9 ways that Butterball can help you this Thanksgiving if you find yourself in a turkey conundrum! Butterball is giving away 2 coupons for free turkeys to my readers. Giveaway is open to US Residents, 18+, one entry per household. Giveaway ends 11/15 at 11:59p ET. Good luck!

Want even more chances to win?  Another BUTTERBALL TURKEY GIVEAWAY is here!

Entry-Form

The Whittle Shortline Railroad

The Whittle Shortline Railroad is a family owned, 20 year old, wooden toy train company. We hand craft realistic toy trains that are compatible with Thomas, Brio and Chuggington. Our toy trains are modeled after real trains you would see in your neighborhood. As a part of our 20th anniversary we released over 20 new trains in August of 2016. In December 2016 we will begin a program of releasing a new train each month and expanding our offering to trains around the world! Visit our website right now to watch video's and learn more!

My Readers receive 20% Off High Quality MIXED 5 Car Diesel Engine Toy Train Sets. Enter Promo Code: WeLoveWhittle! in comments section at checkout at https://www.woodentrain.com 
For Ongoing Special Offers Save This link to the Whittle Shortline Railroad online coupon: http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=13138&dealid=3063

How to get your kids in the kitchen and make Turkey Cake Pops

I love for my kids to help in the kitchen.  Whether it be chores like washing dishes or FUN, like making these awesome cake pops, it gives your child a sense of responsibility.   Most children have a break from school during Thanksgiving and this is the perfect opportunity to get them in the kitchen and make some delicious treats. I give you cake pops!!!  These Turkey Cake Pops are easy to make and kids love them!  You can make some now and make some to to have at your Thanksgiving dinner.  I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did,  This is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids to work as a team, teach about measurements, and a very tasty art project!

1 Box Duncan Hines Butter Golden Cake Mix

2/3 cup Cream Cheese Frosting
1 bag Vanilla Candy Wafers
2 (14-ounce) bags Milk Chocolate Candy Melts or Wafers
Vegetable Oil
Pretzel Sticks (broken into 2cm sections)
Thanksgiving Feather Sprinkles
Yellow Peanut M&M’s
Edible Black Pen
Orange Candy Coated Rainbow Chips
Heart Shaped Sprinkles
Lollipop Sticks
Treat bags
Large piece of Styrofoam
Foil
Double Boiler

Lay out a couple of ungreased pans, set aside. Cover a large piece of Styrofoam with foil, set aside. Prepare and bake cake according to package directions. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Break apart cake and place in a large bowl, then crumble completely. Stir in frosting, then blend together with hands until you have the texture of play-doh. Melt a small amount of vanilla candy wafers in a small bowl, set aside. Roll cake into an oval shape. Dip tip of lollipop stick into melted candy, then insert a little ways into the ball. Lay flat on pan. Repeat until all dough is used. *You will need to melt your vanilla candy wafers every so often to continue use. Place in fridge for 1 hour. While cake balls are chilling, break pretzel sticks into 2cm sections, set aside. Just before removing from fridge, melt 1 bag of milk chocolate candy wafers along with 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a double boiler. Remove 5 cake pops at a time from the fridge. Carefully, remove from pan and dip most of cake pop in the melted candy. Use a spoon to drizzle the candy coating near the stick. Tap cake pop on the side of the pan so excess will drip off, then use your finger to smooth out the back. Carefully, insert 2 sticks into the bottom sides of turkey for legs. Place in styrofoam. Melt candy wafers as needed to continue use. Pour leftover melted candy in a bowl and save. Let cake pops sit for several hours to set. Reheat leftover hardened candy in bowl and use to seal any cracks in coating with the tip of your finger. Place back in styrofoam to harden. Dip end of feather sprinkles into melted candy and place on back of turkey making sure to hold for a couple of seconds to set. Dab a small amount of melted candy on the back of the peanut M&M’s, then place in center of turkey for face making sure to hold for a couple of seconds to set. With an edible black pen, make eyes. Dab a small amount of melted candy on the back of the orange chips and place on face for a nose making sure to hold for a few seconds to set. Dab a small amount of melted candy on the back of the heart sprinkles, then place upside down under the nose making sure to hold for a couple of seconds to set. Let sit for a few hours. Place a treat bag over each cake pop and tie with ribbon.

*You will need 3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil for each bag of Chocolate Candy Wafers.
*Mike’s Candies or Candy Corn can be used in place of the feather sprinkles.

Handy.com Solving Problems

Handy.com Solving Problems

For anyone looking to find professionals to help them around their home, the search can be long and frustrating. Finding good, quality help seems like an impossible task. That was the issue that 19-year-old college student Osin Hanrahan was having. From this issue, he and a fellow college classmate found a solution to this problem.

Osin had been buying and developing apartments in Eastern Europe. He was having trouble finding quality handymen to help him with his business. A few years later, Osin met Umang Dua while they were both attending Harvard Business School. Umang expressed how he was having the same issues finding quality workers. This is when the idea of handy.com was born.

The idea behind handy.com is to be the connection between household service professionals and those who need their services. Currently, this website is available in 35 cities located in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The cities are larger in size such as Chicago, London, and Toronto.

The types of services that are provided cover four categories. Those are plumbing, electrical, cleaning, and handyman services. This provides a wide variety and should suit the needs of most people. The wide variety is a definite plus.

The process of scheduling a service seems fairly streamlined. The website states that it takes roughly 60 seconds to complete your transaction. This does seem to be the case as basic information is needed to complete your request. You need to enter what type of service you are requesting, how long you think it should take, and when you need your service done. Before you pay for your service request, a quote is given so you know the exact cost before anything is set in stone.

All professionals that are available through handy.com are screened and checked before they are added to the system. All and given a background and identity check. This does give some piece of mind that all employees are worthy and will be reliable.

Handy.com offers a 100% money back guarantee, they have customer service available 24/7, and they state that their rates are affordable. When it came to customer service, it was a bit tough to get in touch with an actual person. There is no phone number listed on their site and to even get closer to getting a phone number to call, you will need to create an account on the site. There is a large frequently asked questions section that does answer most questions and concerns but having a number to call would be nice.