Views From the Ville

Keeping Our Home Holiday Fresh with Arm & Hammer

Dec 092013

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Arm & Hammer. I received an Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

There are days that I don’t know how my Mom did all that she did, especially when it comes to laundry. I remember each day going to toss a few things into the hamper and it would be full. Not because my Mom hadn’t done the wash, but because with myself, two rough-and-tumble younger brothers, and clothes dirty from working on the farm or in the garden, there just was never an end.

During winter and around the holidays there was always even more. Wet clothes and socks from being out in the snow, tablecloths and linens with gravy stains from holiday meals, my brothers’ basketball uniforms. Seriously, she must have felt like the only four walls she saw that time of year were the ones in the laundry room.

Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent Keeps Us #HolidayFresh #MC

ICE! Featuring Frosty the Snowman at the Gaylord Opryland

Christmas, travel 36 Responses »

Dec 072013

Thank you to the Gaylord Opryland for providing accommodations and tickets to ICE!. All thoughts and words are my own.

Our family has always talked about going to see the lights at the Gaylord Opryland just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. We enjoy driving around and seeing our local light displays; we even once visited a display set to music. And the Gaylord Opryland also has other fun holiday events, like a Shrek Holiday Feast, ICE! Featuring Frosty the Snowman, shops, a nativity, and more.

So when the lovely folks at the hotel offered for us to come down and check out the ICE! Featuring Frosty the Snowman display, we of course accepted. I thought Bubbles would get a kick out of the brightly-colored ice figurines and spending a night on such a beautiful property sounded great, too. And as the Gaylord Opryland is within convenient driving distance from us, it was a good fit to go.

Gaylord Opryland

Waterfall in the Cascades Atrium of the Gaylord Opryland

Cascades American Cafe at the Gaylord Opryland

After checking in, we wound our way up through a beautiful indoor atrium in what is called the Cascades area. It’s aptly named as there’s actually a cascading waterfall on one side of the atrium. On the other is one the hotel’s main restaurants, the Cascades American Cafe. The dress is casual – the seating is open to the atrium – and upon check in it was the eatery recommended to us as one of the most family-friendly spots in the hotel. Continue reading »

Bing Smart Search Makes Finding Christmas Cookie Recipes Easy

Recipes 21 Responses »

Dec 062013

This post on Christmas cookie Recipes is brought to you by Bing. All thoughts and words are my own. #ThisIsBing

I have quite a collection of go-to Christmas cookie recipes. Between my own that I’ve accumulated over the years plus family-favorites that I make every season, I’m never at a loss for something to bake. But sometimes I like to browse online and see if there’s anything new out there that catches my eye, or even an old favorite that I’ve forgotten about.

Christmas Cookie Recipes: Sugar Cookies

One way to look for great recipes is with Bing Smart Search. You don’t even need to open a browser, you can just swipe and tap to get started. The search results are really visual; you get a web preview without even having to click. I love that feature, especially when I’m searching for recipes or crafts. Cutting down on unnecessary clicks saves me time. Continue reading »

Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe

Recipes 92 Responses »

Dec 062013

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PAM Cooking Spray.

I’ve always found it interesting that depending on where you are in the country, you’ll find different favorite foods. Especially around the holidays, traditional dishes and desserts begin being baked and served

Growing up in Maine, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners both came with a crazy amount of desserts, especially considering the number of people that were there to consume them. We had cheesecake, fudge, brownies, and more pies than we knew what to do with: pumpkin, chocolate, butterscotch, apple, pecan, even mince meat. There was no shortage of tasty treats.

Kentucky Derby Pie Recipe (without Bourbon) #PAMSmartTips

When I moved to Kentucky I found that some of those favorites were favorites here, as well. But I also found a new addition to the pie line up that I had never even heard of: a pie to celebrate the Kentucky Derby race (a.k.a. The Pie Which Must Not Be Named, as I received a request to remove the “official” name of this pie from my post). It’s kind of like a pecan pie with chocolate chips, with a bit of a gooey filling. Continue reading »

Little Ones Can Play Mommy with a Nenuco Sleep With Me Doll and Cradle

For the Kids, For Toddlers 23 Responses »

Dec 052013

I received a Nenuco doll and cradle set in order to facilitate my review. No additional compensation was received; all thoughts and words are my own.

Bubbles has been a fan of dolls since she started playing with toys. Before that, actually. I received a soft-body baby doll as a shower gift and I would tuck it next to Bubbles when she was in her electric swing. Sometimes she wouldn’t even settle in without it.

Last year for Christmas Bubbles received a stroller for her dolls and that completely excited her. She’d load up a purse with a toy bottle and diaper and take her baby for “walks” around the house. It was fun to see her play Mommy and learn about taking care of someone or something.

Nenuco Doll and Sleep With me Cradle Set

She was doing such a good job with the stroller and her improvised diaper bag that I thought maybe she would like a new way to take care of her babies. Then I ran across the Nenuco Sleep With Me Cradle set. We already were enjoying other products by the manufacturer, Famosa, so I thought we would probably enjoy this, also. Continue reading »

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