Parenting Healthy

The recipe is my own and I was supplied product from Khor Vodka for feature

Have you ever baked with alcohol? I haven’t, but have read many articles and recipes and adding vodka or even some rum to recipes is actually quite easy. Children? I typically will not serve kids baked foods with alcohol because not a lot of alcohol evaporates when baking. If I cook and boil (sauces) with vodka then I feel much better about serving to the entire family. So, these brownies are for the office party and adult time. Although I use very little in this recipe (under 1/4 C for the entire dessert).

So, let’s give it a try and I am taking you on a journey as I make my first Brownies with Vodka. I actually just add a little vodka to a standard homemade brownie recipe. I will also add mint chips because chocolate brownies are delicious, but mint chocolate brownies are divine!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:9]

[bctt tweet=”You have got to try this Mint Brownies with Vodka Recipe! @khortytsa_USA Yum! #Holiday #recipe” username=”3sonshavei”]

In the recipe I used Khor Vodka. Khor “uses a local organic filter containing schungite (a unique natural mineral) which allows it to get as close as possible to the structure of natural water. The filtration process is further enhanced with special birch and alder-tree charcoal and quartz sand sourced near the famous Ural Mountains.” If I am going to start baking with alcohol, it has to be premium and natural or I feel like you won’t get the taste that is preferred.

Gift Guides, Holiday Gift Guide 2017

5 Thanksgiving Dinner Prep Products You Need

October 20, 2017October 18, 2017 Erin Sluka

I have partnered with T-Fal for this feature

Because some of you may be using very outdated kitchen gadgets (I am guilty on some items that are 10+ years old), maybe it is time to update them. Before the Holidays hit are a great time to stock back up on the utensils you will need to cook the big meals fro family and friends.

T–fal Ingenio Garlic Press

If you are prepping stuffing, salads, sauces and even breads then chances are you have garlic on the ingredient list. This one is great if you suffer from arthritis or other hand ailments where pressing and squeezing is uncomfortable. This is because you simply set on the counter, add garlic and use your body weight to press down. No squeezing handles. Then use the red bumper to push the minced garlic out. It is that easy!

T–fal Ingenio Baster

The turkey baster! How old is yours? I don’t even ant to guess how old some basters sitting in kitchen drawers can be. Update it to this baster that includes a brush attachment and cleaning tool. After dinner clean up won’t be wasted sifting water over ad over through the baster to clean the grease. It is dishwasher safe.

T–fal Ingenio Multi Grater

Save time when you can grate in both directions. While pulling your food up and down the grader you are grating both ways to save time. You can grate over the food or collect it. Take the grater out and reverse sides for a course or fine grate and a sleeve protects your hands. Saved time while holiday cooking is the best time.

T–fal AirBake Natural Aluminum Cookie Sheet

You will offer baked treats over the Holidays, right? That’s a silly question! Have you updated your cookie sheets lately? Now is a great time and this natural aluminum sheet is large. This is the Air Bake pan and distributes pockets of air that provide even heating of the baking surface, thus decreasing bake times by up to 15% over traditional insulated bakeware.

T–fal Ingenio Blade Spatula

Now that you have the fresh cake and cookie batter ready to pour, make sure you don’t waste a drop leaving it to be washed in the bowl. This spatula makes scraping sides of the bowl or folding cake/cookie mixtures a breeze. Featuring a special hook on handle that prevents the spatula from sliding into the bowl.

Go ahead and update your gadgets. You will be busy and providing for others and you deserve something new! Best yet, all of these items are on Amazon and are Prime qualifiers so you can be read in as little as 2 days!

Education, Holiday Gift Guide 2017, Kids, Reviews by Anthony

IXL Online Learning Program for Kids

October 20, 2017August 3, 2025 Erin Sluka

I have partnered with IXL for the feature

IXL Online Learning Program for Kids

Every night since Anthony was an infant I grab a book, sit on a chair and we read. By the age of 2 I was pointing to letters and teaching him a focus letter a day. By 4 he was reading 2-3 letter words. He is 9 and an advanced reader. It sounds cliche to say a child who is read to is at an advantage, but it is true and we are proof. Never was I too tired or didn’t have time. Unless I am apart from him we read. Traveling? We looked up books online.

However, the past few weeks our reading routine began to change. We started our membership at IXL. IXL is an online education site with different skill packages to choose from by grade from K-12. We are in Fourth grade and have the Core Subjects Package which gives up Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. Anthony is addicted to the Social Studies section. A history lover at heart like his Mama!

He now wants to log on and choose a new learning topic to do together before we read. So at age 9 we learn AND read before bed and he is really into it. He loves that one on one time with me and I am not pulling him from playtime or relax time to learn. It is a time of day that works for both of us and it becomes fun.

Here we are doing a lesson. This one is

IXL Learning Features
K-12th Grade Learinng
Focus on 1 subject or all core subjects
Spanish lessons are another option
Unlock achievements
Parent progress reports and certificate alerts
Personalized skill recommendations
Mobile Ap option for on-the-go learning

Setting Up Online Learning for Your Child

As you can see, there are so many advantages of online learning for your child. Whether you’re homeschooling, or you’re supporting their learning outside of their in-person curriculum, it’s so important to take the time to set up online learning properly. First and foremost, you need to research the most appropriate programs and read reviews on their success rates. Every child will have unique needs, so it’s important to find a learning platform that is going to suit them, and help them to get the most out of the process. You should also ensure you are fully equipped to support their learning at home but finding reliable internet options by address. Having a secure, fast and consistent internet connection at home means that your child can enjoy their learning programs online without being interrupted. All in all, online learning is extremely beneficial for children, so find a well-suited program for their needs and get everything set up at home so that their experience is smooth, positive and enjoyable.

Start your online learning today at IXL.

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Education

The Nocturnals Book Series for Tweens about Bullying

October 18, 2017February 8, 2018 Erin Sluka

Sample copies for the book series were sent for feature

The Nocturnals Book Series for Tweens about Bullying

Book 1 – The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions

The 3 friends: Dawn, a serious fox, Tobin, a sweet pangolin, and Bismark, the loud mouthed, pint sized sugar glider work together to find the mystery of disappearing animals at night. Wit the helps of some other nocturnal friends they use teamwork, friendships and some humor in their journey to solve this mystery.

Book 2 – The Nocturnals: The Ominous Eye

The 3 friends set out again to find the source of violent jolt that fractures the earth. Turns out it is a giant beast who is likely to attack again. They find an animal that can help, but isn’t easily trusted.

Book 3 – The Nocturnals: The Fallen Star

All of the forest’s pomelos have been mysteriously poisoned! Dawn, Tobin and Bismark need to find the cause as other animals are falling ill including Tobin! It is suggested it is monsters from the moon, but the 3 are doubtful. It is a race against time to find the mystery illness source.

My advice? Just buy all 3 books at once because they are so engaging you want more. It was hard for Anthony to put the books down as he got into the story. They are very well written leaving the reader so curious and really wanting to know the end result. To have book 2 and 3 waiting will encourage this excitement and keep them reading. Anthony is 9 and in the fourth grade. He followed along very well.

If they want even more make sure they visit the Nocturnals website. It is full of so much fun related to the stories. There are videos, discussions, games and more.

About the Author, Tracey Hecht

Tracey Hecht is a writer and entrepreneur who has written, directed and produced for film. Her first middle grade series, The Nocturnals was launched in 2016 with The Mysterious Abductions and The Ominous Eye. The American Bookselling Association chose The Mysterious Abductions as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick. Her third book, The Fallen Star was released in May 2017.

In partnership with the New York Public Library, Tracey created a Read Aloud Writing Program in 10 schools around New York City. During the year, she continued to conduct this program in over 35 schools, libraries and bookstores across the country. In June 2017, she launched a partnership with The Ryan Seacrest Foundation with The Nocturnals program at the broadcast media centers within pediatric hospitals. The first hospital was the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC.

When Tracey isn’t writing, she can be found hiking, reading or spending time with her family. Tracey currently splits her time between New York City and Oquossoc, Maine with her husband and four children.