Whether it’s a happy hour party with drinks and appetizers or a full sit-down dinner with main course, sides and desserts, get all the estimates and planning tips you’ll need to have an amazing party that has plenty of food and drink for everyone.

Party Planning Food Amounts

If you’re planning a party and have no idea how much food and drink to plan for you are going to love this post! There’s nothing worse than running out of food and drinks halfway through the party. It’s also painful to blow your budget because you planned for more than you need! So, I’m taking all of the guesswork out and sharing a handy-dandy guide for planning your next party.

I’ve got you covered in all departments – wine, beer, mixed drinks and even ice! In the food department I’m breaking it down for you whether you’re serving simple appetizers or a sit-down dinner or buffet including how to estimate main courses, side dishes, and, of course, desserts.

This guide will help you better estimate what you’ll need and you can adjust based on your guests. You know, because we all have the friend who loves the champagne a little more than the next person or the family member who takes more than their fair share of chicken wings. 

This party food guide is customizable and flexible – use it as a starting point and you’ll be confident you have the right amount of food and drinks to serve your guests.

How do you calculate drinks for a party?

Assume each guest will have a one alcoholic drink per hour, but you know your guests best so use it as a starting point. 

For non-drinkers estimate two drinks in the first hour with one drink an hour after that. 

Tip: Planning a summer party? Estimate more drinks if it’s hot outside!

This list covers the type of drinks per person if that’s the only kind of drink you’re serving. Use it as a starting point depending on your guests and the variety of drinks you want to offer.

Tip: The more drink choices you offer, the less you need of each choice. So, keep this in mind while you’re planning!

• Wine: 2 to 3 glasses or approximately one (750ml) bottle per two guests.
• Champagne: 2 to 3 glasses on average, estimate more if you have a bubbly-loving friend (don’t we all?!).
• Beer: 1 to 2 bottles per hour.
• Punch: 2 glasses. In my experience, people usually switch to wine, beer or cocktails after a couple glasses.
• Cocktails: 3 drinks per person. A 750ml bottle makes approximately 16 drinks if you are doing an average pour. Also, don’t forget the mixers! Plan for a quart of mixers per three guests depending on the kind of cocktails you are serving.
• Non-alcoholic drinks: 2 drinks in the first hour, 1 drink every hour after that.

It’s always a good idea to have extra beer and wine on hand in case you run low on other drinks you’re serving.

How much ice do I need for a party?

It will depend on the kind of drinks you are serving but a good rule of thumb is approximately 1 pound of ice per person. If it’s hot outside you may want to have more.

Great drinks for a party:

• Fruity Vodka Party Punch
• Lemonade Prosecco Punch
• Pineapple Party Punch
• Cranberry Champagne Punch
• Blue Hawaiian Punch

How to Calculate Food for a Party?

Whether it’s appetizers and snacks for a game-day party or a fancy sit-down dinner for a special occasion or holiday dinner one thing is for sure – you don’t want to run out of food! Use my guide for how much food to serve and I think you’ll feel a lot more confident in planning food for your party.

Depending on what you’d like to serve the amount of food will differ. Appetizers only? Buffet-style with main dishes and side dishes? Or a full meal with appetizers, main dishes, side dishes and desserts? I’ve laid it all out here for you so you don’t have to worry about running out before the party is over.

How many appetizers for a party?

Depending on the type of party you’re having you’ll want to estimate different amounts of appetizers to serve.

• Appetizers only: If you’re only planning to serve appetizers and snacks plan on 16 to 20 appetizers per person.
• Appetizers with a main dish: If you’re planning to serve appetizers before a main dish estimate approximately 8 to 12 appetizers servings per person.

Of course, take into account the type of appetizers you’re serving. If they’re light you might want to estimate a few more per person. If they’re on the heavier side you can estimate a little less. Also, like drinks, the more variety you have the less you need to serve of each.

Plan to serve bowls of chips, crackers, nuts or olives that people can snack on, too, in case someone gobbles up your best appetizer!

How much food per person?

If you’re planning a main dish with side dishes here are some estimates to start with as you’re planning your dishes:

• Plan for 6 to 8 ounces per person for your main dish protein.
• For side dishes, estimate 1 cup per person.
• For bread, it’s a good idea to estimate 1 to 2 slices or rolls per person.

How many desserts per person?

Want to offer a sweet treat? Here’s a guide if you want to serve desserts at your party, too!

• For small desserts like cookies estimate 3 to 4 pieces per guest. 
• For big desserts like cake estimate 1 slice per person.

What are good party foods? 

• Pepperoni Pinwheels
• Pizza Dip
• Peanut Butter Football Dip (can be made into a cheeseball!)
• Ham and Cheese Sliders
• BBQ Turkey Sliders
• Any Cake Roll
• A variety of cookie recipes!

No more guessing! This guide will take all the stress out of planning your party. Everyone will think it was catered and you can focus on having FUN at your party instead of worrying about running out of everything. I hope you’ve found it helpful!

The post How Much Food Do I Need For A Party? appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

So I have to start with MY cookbook – available for pre-sale now. It comes out in February but I’ll have a fun gifting promo going on in December so pre-order them as gifts and you’ll have something to give!

Pre-Order my Cookbook on Amazon HERE!

Here are some of my other favorites this year:

1. Dessert Boards by Kellie Hemmerly
2. Well Plated by Erin Clarke
3. The Big Book of Jo’s Quick & Easy Meals by Joanna Cismaru
4. Spectacular Spreads by Maegen Brown
5. Once Upon a Chef by Jennifer Segal
6. The Stay at Home Chef Slow Cooker Cookbook by Rachel Farnsworth
7. The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook by Tiffany Dahle
8. Meat to the Side by Liren Baker
9. Melissa Griffiths has LOTS of books for sale on her website, including Family Dinner Made Easy
10. Big Boards for Families by Sandy Coughlin
11. Meal Prep In An Instant by Becca Ludlum
12. Dinner Hero by Mama Loves Food and Dinner Hero
13. 8 Weeks of Family Dinners by Yellow Bliss Road

What are your favorite cookbooks?

Check out my Favorite Things Gift Guide, Favorite Things – Kitchen Edition, and Disney Lovers Gift Guide!

The post 2021 Favorite Cookbooks Gift Guide appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

If you love Disney home and accessories then you’ll love this list!

This post contains affiliate links.

There are so many things at Shop Disney, but these are some of my favorites. If you don’t love the characters I chose – don’t worry, search around and I’m sure there is a bag or wallet, or some jewelry with your favorite!

Disney Home Gifts

1. HOME Pillow – I have this and it’s so soft. It makes me think of Disney whenever I look at it.
2. Alice in Wonderland Serving Tray – I have some bowls in this same set and they’re so pretty, you don’t even need to like Alice to want to use them.
3. Sugar Canister and Flour Canister – These are on my Christmas list!
4. Door Mat – Currently in my cart.
5. Disney Waffle Iron – make those Plaza Inn waffles at home!
6. Disney Mickey Wreath – couldn’t get it home in my suitcase so ordered it to my house!
7. Holiday Baking Set – fun for a Disney loving baker (like me!)

Disney Favorite Things Accessories

1. Ear Headband Necklace – I own this and love it – I get compliments whenever I wear it.
2. Mickey Earrings – I own these and wear them all the time, they’re understated and work well when I’m decked out in head to toe Disney!
3. Alex and Ani Bracelets – I’m obsessed, the end.
4. Ear Headbands – Required! They change often online so check a lot to see which ones they have in stock.
5. Wallets – While I am obsessed with the Dooney and Burke version, it’s quite pricey. The Loungefly wallets are fun too – and less expensive. They have lots of options.
6. Loungefly Backpack – I just picked one theme – they have several. Like the headbands they change often so check back a lot.
7. Card Wallet – I have several of these! They’re perfect for clutches or in backpacks!

Disney Gifts from Other Sources

Disney is expensive! Here are some other places to find good quality Disney merchandise:

• Box Lunch (clothing and accessories) – they have TONS of loungefly!
• Etsy (everything – but mostly t-shirts!)
• Jane.com (t-shirts)
• Hot Topic (shirts and Loungefly)
• Kohls and Target often have shirts and pajamas

Check out my Favorite Things and my Favorite Things: Kitchen edition and Favorite COOKBOOKS Guide!

The post 2021 Disney Lovers Gift Guide appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

No matter who you’re buying for, some of these gifts are perfect for everyone on your list. Mom, daughter, wife, husband – you name it there is something for everyone.

I started looking through my purchases for the past year and realized that some of them have truly become my favorite products, so I wanted to share. I feel like word-of-mouth is the best when you’re thinking of buying something new, so these are my tried-and-true favorites from 2021!

Favorite Gifts I Love in 2021

1. Casetify Phone Cases – there is something for everyone and they are amazing at keeping your tech safe.
2. Sugarfix by Bauble Bar (for Target) – I am obsessed with EVERYTHING in this line. The statement earrings are so fun!
3. Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket II ⅞ – These are my go-to workout leggings! They are breathable, comfortable, stay up, have pockets and are cheaper (and better IMO) than Lululemon.
4. Rainbow Peep-Toe Pumps from Unique Vintage – I get so many complements on these. PLUS – they have other colors with this style. They are actually REALLY comfortable – I’ve walked a mile in them, no problem.
5. Target Throw Blanket – We have about 5 of these and love them. They’re stylish, not too big, and really comfy.
6. Stitch Fix – I’ve been getting new clothes lately (a perk of weight loss) and am loving getting fixes, and shopping their curated collections.

1. Neck Fan – it’s actually called a sport fan, but let’s be honest, if you’re over 40 it’s a hot flash fan and it’s amazing. Stops the hot flashes before they start.
2. Apple Watch – a splurge but I love mine. I’ve had it for years and started wearing it religiously this year. I love feeling competition with myself to close my rings!
3. Milanese Band for Apple Watch – it’s stylish and comfortable. I wear it working out and all day too.
4. UGG Slippers – I use these as shoes, seriously. They’re my go-to slip on flats all winter. Fun colors too!
5. Desk Fan – see #1 lol – if you’re over 40 you need this. I was gifted it and I use it religiously all year long.

Favorite Products I always Use

This is my go-to list for makeup. I use the under eye, powder and mascara every single day and feel naked without it!

• IT Cosmetics: I use the Bye Bye Under Eye every day
• THRIVE Lash Extensions Mascara – my go-to
• Wander Beauty Powder Foundation – another go-to
• DryBarDry Shampoo (I also love Jumpstart and Hot Toddy)
• Shape Tape – my foundation when I’m filming
• Benefit Cosmetics Brow Liner – my favorite!
• POREfessional Primer – like an IG filter for your face IRL
• MAC Cosmetics Ruby Woo – the BEST red lipstick ever! Get a lip liner too.
• Rinna Beauty Lip Kits – I’m obsessed with Birthday Suit.

Favorite Macro-Friendly Snacks

• Built Bars – I eat one EVERY DAY, taste like candy bars. Favorites are Coconut, Brownie Coconut and Cookie Dough. Don’t love the Mint or PB Brownie ones. Use CRAZYFORCRUST for 10% off.
• Catalina Crunch Snack Mix – I cannot get enough!! Favorite is Spicy!
• Magic Spoon Cereal or Wonderworks Cereal – great for snacking or a quick protein breakfast
• Premiere Protein Shakes – Chocolate is my fav

Favorite Websites for Shopping All Year

The Little Market is a gorgeous online store that sells all sorts of fun things, from house wares to candles to bath and body. I am in love with their wooden platters and candles – they have so many fun scents! Each purchase supports women around the world – different causes for different products.

Bark Box : Abby LOVES her Bark Box and looks forward to it every month. Some of her favorite toys have come out of that box – like the Chinese dumpling container above. I’m actually getting her a new one for Christmas because her old one is destroyed.

CHATBOOKS!! I have a subscription to Chatbooks and get a new one in the mail every time I post 40 photos to Facebook. You connect FB or Instagram to the app and it pulls in your photos. You can omit and add as you wish – this is the best way to get your photos off your computer since no one prints them anymore. I’ve gone back and had it print ALL the photos I’ve put on FB since I first got an account – finally I have baby books for Jordan.

Farm Girl Flowers: Always fresh, always on time and always gorgeous.

SugarWish: This is so fun to give, and you only need an email address. They have candy, popcorn, cookies, coffee, even dog treats!

See my favorite kitchen items – they’re great gifts too! And the Disney Lovers Gift Guide and my Favorite Cookbooks Guide!

The post 2021 Favorite Things Gift Guide appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

I curated these kitchen gifts with things I actually have purchased and used so you know you’re getting the best items! From my favorite cooking appliances to cookie tools, this list has something for everyone.

Whether you want to buy a small kitchen appliance for someone or just need an easy hostess gift, this list has something for everyone on your list!

Small Appliances

These are my most used small kitchen appliances that would make great gifts!

1. AIR FRYER – This is my most used appliance – we use it daily. I upgraded to the Corsori this year. It’s a GAME CHANGER – does a whole chicken that tastes better than rotisserie!
2. NESPRESSO Vertuo – Did you know that the official Nespresso pods are recyclable? I just gather them up and mail them bag in the free bags they send you.
3. Cuisinart GRIDDLER
4. INSTANT POT
5. KitchenAid Stand Mixer
6. Cuisinart Food Processor – I recommend a big one!
7. Hand Mixer – I love my Cuisinart!

Tools and Gadgets

I own every one of these items and use them daily!

1. This is the kitchen scale I use – an OXO 11lb one with pull out front. I’ve tried several and go back to this one every time.
2. Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer – I use this ALL THE TIME. You can’t get them on amazon and I used to recommend the cheap version but no more, not now that I’ve used the original. Plus: no batteries corroding when washing!
3. Cookie Scoops are always on my list and make a great stocking stuffer – they come in all sorts of sizes!
4. I use my Silpats every time I bake – they are fantastic for people who love cookies.
5. I love the Dash Mini Waffle Makers – and they have griddles too. These are great single serve – it was great when I was losing weight – and would be fantastic for a college student in a dorm.

Hostess or Fun Anyone Gifts

These are all fun things to give as a hostess gift or to someone who you’re just not sure what to buy them. Some of these might actually be on MY list…

1. Wilton Navy & Gold Collection: There is always a reason to have more measuring tools and tips, especially when they’re pretty.
2. Fun Bar Tools: I love the gold collection – would pop in any room.
3. Coffee Accessories, like the mug+heater – perfect for the coffee lovers!
4. For the pet lover: these molds would be great if they want to make my blueberry dog treats!
5. Brown Sugar Saver: These come in handy and will keep brown sugar moist.
6. Mud Pie Dip Set: I’m a sucker for anything Mud Pie – this set is cute!

For more great gift ideas, be sure to check out my (non food) Favorite Things list!

The post 2021 Favorite Things: Kitchen Gifts appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

This is my guide to Amazon Prime Day 2020. I’m going to share all the best kitchen deals and deals for my favorite things. Be sure to check back on this post often because I’ll be updating it as I get notifications of new items that pop onto the list.

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is a 48 hour sale across all categories of Amazon. Prime Day 2020 delivers in a big way with more deals than any Prime Day event before. Additionally, members can shop featured lightning deals, which offer jaw-dropping prices on top-tier brands and products.

You do have to be an Amazon Prime member to get the deals. The service is totally worth it: not only do you get fast free shipping all year long, but you also get access to all the Prime Video content. It’s only $12.99/month or $119 for the year if you pay it annually. Get a 30 day free trial just in time for Prime Day!

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day 2020 is October 13-14, a full 48 hours of deals!

QUICK SALE LINKS

KITCHEN PRIME DAY HUB

• Ring Doorbell + Echo Show for $149.99
• Echo Dot for $18.99
• Instant Pot Sale
• Le Crust Griddle $89
• CORSORI Air Fryer XL $99
• Pyrex Deals (I love the 3-set bowls, measuring cups and pie plates!)
• Crockpot Deals

Small Business Prime Day Sales

• Save up to 20% on handcrafted gifts and décor from Amazon Handmade

• Save 20% on pumpkin bakery soy candles from Lorenzen Candle Co
• Save 20% on rose embossing rolling pins from Algis Crafts
• Save 20% on blue simulated turquoise hoop earrings from MJLuLu

Best Prime Day Sales for Kitchen/Baking

This list will be updated as the deals go live – so be sure to check back!

• Save over 40% on select KitchenAid Items
• Save up to 50% on some Instant Pot models
• Save up to 30% on some Cuisinart items and cookware
• Save up to 37% on some Ninja Kitchen items
• Save up to 40% on kitchen essentials from some of my favorite brands: Le Cruset, Pyrex, and more

Favorite Things Prime Day Sales

This list will be updated as the deals go live – so be sure to check back!

• My favorite home assistant, the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is 60% off at only $18.99
• Watch recipe videos and more with the Echo Show! Get the Echo Show 5 for $44.99, Echo Show 8 for $64.99, and Echo Show (2nd Gen) for $149.99
• Save 30% on Ring Video Doorbell devices and get Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) for $69.99 – I love our Ring Doorbell SO much.
• Get your smart home started with Ring Video Doorbell 3 and Echo Show 5, just $149.99 – this is such a great deal and you can see who is at your door even without your phone.
• Save up to 33% on iRobot Roomba vacuums: If you have a dog, or hate vacuuming, get your own iRobot! I may get a new one, our Maude gave out after years of use.

Amazon Services I Love

Kindle Unlimited – this is how I read lots of Kindle books practically for free. For only $9.99 a month you can read as many books as you like that come free under the Kindle Unlimited umbrella. You can try it free for 30 days too!

Audible – listen to audio books anywhere and anytime. I love these in the car! Now if you try Audible FREE for 30 days you get 2 FREE books.

Amazon Music Unlimited: For just $0.99, Prime members who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited can get four months of the premium streaming tier with unlimited access to more than 60 million songs ad-free, and now a wide selection of popular podcasts.

Prime Video: Enjoy a selection of titles to rent or buy at up to 50% off and for a limited time, customers will be able to subscribe to select channels for $0.99 per month for up to two months if they are not already subscribed. Only pay for the channels you want and cancel anytime. A full list of Prime Video deals, including the offer window for each, can be found at amazon.com/primememberdeals.

Amazon Gift Cards: On October 13 and 14, Prime members will receive a $10 promotional credit when they purchase an Amazon Gift Card of $40 or more (including newly-launched Amazon Video eGift Cards, available on mobile) or reload their own gift card balance with $40 or more. This limited-time offer is available while supplies last and has a limit of one per Amazon customer account. The promotional credit will expire on November 29, 2020. Other restrictions apply.

Amazon Gift Guides

Not sure what to buy for gifts? Amazon Gift Guides have launched in time for Prime Day!

The post Amazon Prime Day 2020: Best Kitchen Deals + Favorite Things appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

I honestly don’t even know where to begin this post, so I’ll just dive right in. If you’re taking the time to read this, you probably have been around for awhile. Maybe you’ve been following me since the beginning, or maybe you’re new-ish. Maybe you’re another blogger or maybe you’re a mom or a grandma reading this from your couch with your coffee on a Sunday morning.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, thank you. Without YOU, the die-hard fan, the one who reads my words and the recipe, are the reason I’m sitting here writing this love letter.

You probably already know how this blog started, how I didn’t know what blogging was but wanted to do something for myself, how I created a site and posted recipes on a whim, and learned how to blog and do all the blogging things as I went along.

I’ve spent the last few months looking back at old posts, old designs, and taking stock of who blogging has helped me become and really, when I look at 2010 Dorothy I don’t even recognize her.

2010 Dorothy was a stay-at-home mom to a 5-year-old, unhappy in her SAHM-ness, itching for something else, something bigger, something that didn’t involve crayons or Barbie or carpool.

She was a woman with anxiety but didn’t know she had anxiety, someone without the confidence to make a decision or speak her mind or make close friends. She was shy, and timid and nervous, and let people railroad over her whenever they chose.

I’ve often said that deciding to start a blog was the one and only time in my life that I have had a spiritual moment. Maybe it was God, maybe it was the psychic part of my brain, I don’t know, but something or someone whispered in my ear that I needed to start a blog, so I did.

To say that doing that was out of character for my 2010 self is an understatement. That girl didn’t take chances, or do anything not known or planned. That girl would never have started something that would have become…THIS…but she did.

Moral of the story: listen to your gut.

Would I have become the person I am today without blogging? Maybe. But I don’t think so.

While I am not perfect, and I still suffer from anxiety, and depression, and I still struggle with confidence and self-esteem, I know who I am now. I know what I want, I know what is important, and I really owe that all to that moment I decided to push publish on my first blog post.

Every Accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

Unknown

That is one of my favorite quotes because it’s SO true! Before blogging I was afraid to try, afraid to be me, afraid to do what wasn’t expected of me.

Over the last 10 years I have tried and succeeded, tried and failed, and tried again. I feel like on a daily basis I make decisions for my business that make me question myself – but in a good way. Trying and sometimes succeeding has given me the confidence I always longed for earlier in my life.

If I had never had the courage to publish that first post, and to keep going when no one was reading, I wouldn’t be here today. I remember so many times being upset about my lack of following, or a lack of shares on a social post, or being frustrated because no one understood my job or thought I actually worked, when I was working 14 hour days. But never once did I think about quitting – I knew that THIS was what I was meant to do.

What’s the best part about blogging?

That’s a question I get asked a lot and it’s funny because I don’t have just one answer. I mean of course, I love being my own boss. I love making my own hours. And at the core of my job, the work is pretty fun: I make dessert and take pictures. When it’s safe, I get to travel and work with brands I love. It’s a pretty cool gig.

There is a lot I don’t like about blogging (social media, never really getting a day off, mean commenters, the drama that sometimes happens) but the things I do love are the things that have made the biggest impact on my life.

Internet friends are real friends

Unkown

I first saw that on a meme around 2012 and it really resonated with me. Back then it was weird to have “internet friends” and believe me, my friends in real life gave me quite the looks when I’d talk about all the people I met online.

One of the best parts about blogging are the friendships I’ve made.

As an adult I struggled with friendships. We moved a few times, and I am shy, and it’s really hard for me to open up to people. Blogging allowed me to talk about myself and be who I really was, something I struggled with in real life.

In real life I was a mom without an in-person job, so all my interactions were because of my kid. If you’ve done the mom-group or school-friend thing, you know what I mean. It takes time and effort and a lot of patience to find a group of people who you can really open up to – and even then you’re lucky if you can weed through the sea of them to find even one person who can be the friend we all need.

One of the best things about blogging was that all I had was time. We weren’t working around playdates – we could text and message each other whenever and that was normal.

Over the last 10 years I have met several women that I consider family. Sisters, even. As an only child, I replace siblings with friends, and I’ve found some really good ones. We are friends outside of blogging; we travel together and celebrate milestones with each other.

Through blogging I truly found my people, my circle, the people that love me for me. And that is probably the best thing that’s happened to me, because through them I’ve managed to find myself, and that is priceless.

I’m not going to name names, but I’m pretty sure they all know who they are, and if you’re reading this then know I’m sending you hugs and kisses.

Never underestimate the influence you have on others.

Laurie Buchanan

It would be remiss if I didn’t mention all of YOU reading this too. Knowing that I’ve reached people of all ages, all over the world – there’s something amazing about that.

I’ve written posts about anxiety and about fertility, and those are the ones that have resonated with so many people. Knowing I can open up about how I feel and have it help someone – that is empowering and inspiring.

When I get DMs or emails from people with snapshots of my recipes they’ve made, and comments about how their dad/mom/child loved it – those make my day. I love knowing that my cakes and pies and brownies have held candles for birthdays, been given as gifts, and put smiles on so many faces.

10 Years of Learning

Kind of like that kindergarten poem, I’m going to end this with Everything I’ve learned about life, I’ve learned through blogging:

Listen to your gut – it’s rarely wrong.

Don’t be afraid to fail; failing is just part of trying. If you’re not failing, you haven’t tried.

You don’t have to be perfect at something to start. Just start – then work on working up to perfect. (Also: nothing is ever perfect!!)

Be yourself. Be authentic, always.

If someone doesn’t like you because you’re being yourself then let them go. They aren’t worth your time or energy.

Celebrate the milestones and the accomplishments – big and small. They’re worth it, and so are you.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey – readers, bloggers, friends, family…I couldn’t have done any of this without you.

xo,
Dorothy

The post 10 Years appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

I have 8 ways to keep busy right now, new things to learn, try and do that will keep your mind occupied (and off the news app). These ideas are the perfect distraction!

During the first few weeks of this weird time, I became a pro at:

• Eating
• Drinking
• Scrolling Facebook
• Watching Netflix

Now that this is our new normal for awhile, I’ve started focusing on working out at home, planning my next trip, and finding something for my kid to do that isn’t making a TikTok.

I have a feeling you’re in the same boat, so today I’m sharing some new fun things I’ve recently found to pass the time (and I’m learning something too!)

Each of these resources is completely FREE. They’re email courses I’ve been taking over the last week, and they’ve been super helpful.

1. Cookie Baking Hacks to bake better cookies!

This is my free email course that I know you’ll love, because who doesn’t love cookies?

In this course you’ll learn:

• My EASY Hacks for baking better cookies
• Some of my favorite easy cookie recipes

2. For Disney Lovers: Crafts, games, and activities!

These stay-at-home activities all have a Disney theme! You’ll get crafts, Disney-themed games, and screen-free activities to engage your child’s imagination.

You might not be able to GO to Disney right now, but you can still enjoy Disney fun!

3. Learn Culinary School Secrets to Transform your Cooking

Once you master a few basics it’s a lot easier to whip up dinner with whatever you have in your pantry. Right now, that’s really important!

This course will teach you about cooking chicken perfectly, grilling the best steak, how to make the perfect rice PLUS the secret formula for roasting vegetables!

4. 14 day Kids Activities Challenge

If your kids are bored then THIS is the guide for them!! Are you looking for activities that are easy to set up, easy to do, and might actually teach them something?

This email course includes 14 days of FREE kids activities, from science to engineering and art and so many more. Keep your kids busy for the next two weeks!

5. Stress Free Travel Planning

I know, we can’t travel right now, but we will be able to again. This email series is perfect for you to do NOW so that when we can book travel again you can go for it right away.

Learn how to save money, how to get started, and so much more! If you’re ever thinking of planning a trip you don’t want to miss these ideas.

6. Learn to use that Instant Pot!

Is your instant pot still in the box? Well, use this time to get it up and running. These 5 easy recipes will for sure get you going and give new Instant Pot cooks the confidence to use your pressure cooker!

7. 2 weeks of FREE Home Workouts

We can’t go to the gym so we’re ALL stuck working out from home right now. If you’re like me that can get boring or confusing FAST. Don’t give up your workouts – this series not only shares free workouts but also tips for making home workouts easier AND sample meal plans!

8. Keep your kids reading – without the library!

Public and school libraries are great resources for kids and a great place to get new reading material if you’re like me and don’t buy books. But what do you do if your library is closed? This 5-day course, No Library? No Problem: 5 Secrets for Reading During Quarantine is going to help you keep your kids interest in reading even now!

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I’ve been to Napa a handful of times but a few years ago I attended a press lunch given by Sonoma County Tourism. I’d always thought of Sonoma as a college town and Santa Rosa as just an extension of San Francisco but I was way off base: the entire area is ripe with wineries and delicious restaurants, just like Napa Valley.

After spending a week in Sonoma County I realized something: I like it so much more than Napa. It’s much more relaxed and just as beautiful with just as much amazing wine and food. From now on I will be heading to Sonoma and Santa Rosa when I plan our wine country trips (it doesn’t help I joined TWO wine clubs while we were in town!)

Sonoma County has amazing wineries and food and is more laidback and accessible than Napa!

If you’re looking for a few ideas for restaurants and wineries in Sonoma County, read on. These are some of my favorite places and I know you’ll all love them too!

Where to Eat in Sonoma County

1. The Girl and the Fig

I cannot recommend The Girl & The Fig enough. It’s an absolutely fabulous restaurant with amazing food. We enjoyed their Fig Royale (a Kir Royale made with fig liquor instead of Chambord) as well as charcuterie, several of their specialties and desserts. My favorite dessert was a Lavender Creme Brûlée that was so good. I’m making a copycat as I write this! I’ve told my husband our next wine trip will be to Sonoma, and I’m planning to eat here again (and again).

2. Cafe Citti

We stayed at a house in Kenwood which is midway between Sonoma and Santa Rosa. There weren’t a ton of restaurants super close to the house but Cafe Citti was one of them. It was recommended by two people before our trip and since we could walk from the house it was a no-brainer. It’s an order-then-sit restaurant but has waiters to bring out your food and it was so good. Italian food is my favorite and this was one of the better meals I’ve had. We tried several pasta dishes as well as a half chicken and shared them – very good! (There is no bar, just wine and beer, so keep that in mind.)

3. Palooza Brewery & Gastropub

Also down the road from our Kenwood home, Palooza was a nice find for lunch. It was easy and fresh with delicious cocktails and fried pickles on the menu. It’s a great place to grab some hearty food in between wine tastings too.

Wineries to visit in Sonoma County

Sonoma County, like Napa, is a long and spread out valley full of vineyards as far as the eye can see. Benziger, Chateau St. Jean, and La Cream are just a few of the more recognizable wineries in Sonoma County.

When you’re planning a winery tour you want to think ahead about a few things:

• How many wineries will you visit in a day?
• Transportation to and from – don’t drink and drive!
• Is there food at the winery? Or other things to do besides taste?

Personally I like one or two winery visits max in one day or I get so tipsy I can’t remember anything – and then I pass out before dinner. When I planned this Sonoma retreat I decided on one winery each day. We selected wineries that also had food pairings or experiences because I like exploring the vineyards, etc. If you’re just in and out of the car tasting, it’s not much fun.

4. St. Francis Winery

One of the wineries we visited is located on the tip of Santa Rosa and Kenwood, just 2 miles from where we were staying. The property is absolutely gorgeous and you’re allowed to walk in the vineyards while you’re on site. It was a super hot day when we were there so we couldn’t walk as much as we wanted to, but it would be fantastic to go in spring or fall when the temps are in an it’s-ok-to-be-outdoors range.

St. Francis has several wine experiences, some that are just tastings and a few that are food pairings. I’d heard amazing things about the Wine & Food Pairing and we were able to attend one while we visited.

The visit to St. Francis starts with a glass of their chardonnay as a welcome. You’re able to walk in the vineyards or lounge on the patio overlooking the valley while you wait for your tasting.

The tasting is a complete five course meal where each course is paired with one of their signature wines. The menu is seasonal, so we had their summer menu which included melon salad, an amazing pasta dish, and that cake with white nectarines and Whipped Vanilla Crème Fraîche. The meal was epic, seriously and I will plan to do it again with my husband.

After the meal I asked to taste their Rosé, and everyone else asked too, and they brought out tastings for all of us…in one carry!

St. Francis is known for their Zinfandel, but I truly enjoyed their Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé. I’m not a huge red wine drinker but the Pinot Noir was so good I brought home a bottle of that as well…and I joined their wine club so it’s only a matter of time before I visit them again to pick up my shipment.

5. Jordan Winery

Located in Alexander Valley outside Healdsburg, Jordan Winery only makes two wines: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. My husband and I love Jordan Chardonnay and order it quite often in restaurants. Jordan Winery has been family owned and operated since 1972. The Jordan Family loved French wine and brought the French style of wine making to Sonoma County.

There are several tastings to choose from at Jordan Winery, from simple to elaborate. We were able to attend a Chateau Block Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Tasting during our visit. This tasting takes place above the vineyard (bring your walking shoes!) on picnic tables overlooking their newest “baby” vineyard.

We were welcomed to the estate with a glass of chardonnay (my favorite!) and then headed up to the vineyard for the tasting. Our tasting included different Cabernet Sauvignon wines as well as local charcuterie from Journeyman Meat Co. in Healdsburg. We also got to taste Jordan Olive Oil which was, no joke, the best olive oil I’ve ever tasted. I brought some home to enjoy with bread and charcuterie…or in a glass.

I really enjoyed the different Cabernets we tasted and along with the view and good company I highly recommend this tasting.

Jordan Winery doesn’t have a traditional wine club per se, but instead they have a rewards system. Each visit or purchase accumulates points which you can use towards tastings, events or even staying overnight at the estate. You can join the club here.

Other fun things to do when you visit Sonoma County:

6. Rent a house instead of a hotel!

We stayed at Casa Bella in Kenwood. It was a 10 bedroom property that would be perfect for families or large groups like ours. There are other smaller options in the area too, and it’s nice to be able to go home after a long day and just make charcuterie for dinner.

Oriental Trading Company helped sponsor our trip so one night we put on a Gothic Halloween Party with their new line. You can also make custom shirts through Oriental Trading Company now. Amy from Living Locurto made us all “May Contain Wine” shirts to wear. I have to admit – I don’t normally like those printable t-shirts – they never fit right – but these were super comfortable. Best custom shirts ever, seriously.

We also made an epic charcuterie board that spanned the entire dining room table! After a day of charcuterie at Jordan Winery we ate more charcuterie for dinner…you can never have too much cheese!

Another thing I like about staying at a house is that we could make our own breakfast. One morning we made Hummus Toast (have you ever had it? SO GOOD). Sabra was a sponsor of our trip and it was so much fun to see what everyone did with their #hummustoast.

7. Shop in Downtown Healdsburg or Sonoma

After our trip to Jordan Winery, we stopped in Healdsburg to shop. The downtown square has tons of cute shops and restaurants and we spent an hour wandering around. I think it would be perfect to do as a full day trip: eat, visit the tasting rooms and shop.

We got ice cream and pie at Noble Folk. They had traditional flavors but also this maple cornflake ice cream which was surprisingly good and very refreshing. The pies were bomb too!

The 10 of us had a fabulous week in Sonoma County and I can’t wait to go back. I want to give a thanks to our sponsors: Mediavine, Danish Creamery, Tamron USA, Oriental Trading and Sabra. Also a huge thank you goes to The Girl & The Fig, St. Francis Winery and Jordan Winery for hosting us.

Photo credit for some photos used in this post: Amy from Living Locurto (my co-host).

This post was sponsored by the companies listed above. All opinions and my love of Sonoma County is my own.

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This post is sponsored by Mirum. All opinions are my own.

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I’ll never forget walking downtown and getting ice cream during the summer when I was young. First we’d go as a family and as I got older I’d go with friends and it was always an event I looked forward too.

In fact, the only reason I didn’t hate camping as a kid was because we’d go to the campground store and get ice cream and snacks. Ice cream can make even camping better!

Every year I have all sorts of goals for the summer. This year I decided to compile them all into one fun Summer Bucket List! This list is geared towards my favorite kind of people: foodies and ice cream lovers, just like me and my family.

All of these ideas are fun and simple and can be done super inexpensively, especially when you stock up on ice cream from Breyers, Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s from Albertsons.

This FREE printable Summer Bucket List for foodies and ice cream lovers is the perfect family fun this summer!

Be sure to click here to get the FREE printable PDF download!

Have you heard of Albertsons Ice Cream Rewards? It’s back for summer so be sure to check out IceCreamRewards.com, where you can earn a $5 reward when you spend $20 on your favorite Unilever ice cream brands! And – you could be one of 21 weekly winners of a year’s supply of ice cream from your local Albertsons Companies store! Check out all the details below.

I cannot wait to stock up on my favorite ice creams for summer:

• Breyer’s 2-in-1’s (two flavors in one carton!)
• Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Core (GASP)
• Magnum Minis and Double Tubs (minis are the perfect after dinner treat!)

We’re going to celebrate summer by working our way through my summer bucket list for foodies!

Some of my favorite items on the list are:

Make s’mores with ICE CREAM! Sandwich Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Core ice cream with melted marshmallows and graham crackers for a new and fun type of s’more. My daughter proclaimed this the “BEST IDEA EVER” – ice cream s’mores are going to be a hit this year.

Make Ice Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Make homemade lemonade.

Eat pizza for breakfast.

Pack a cooler full of Magnum Minis and Magnum Double Tubs for a beach or picnic day and have an ice cream bar picnic!

These ice cream bars are perfect for small hands (or for big hands too – if you want a small treat!)

Pick a new recipe to try for dinner.

Host an ice cream social.

Skip dinner and have an ice cream sundae instead! (Your kids will thank you.)

Have pancakes for dinner.

Make cupcakes for your dog.

Have an ice cream scoop fight.

Make root beer floats with Magnum Double Tubs: the chocolate and vanilla pair so well with root beer!

Plus those double tubs are fun to crack!

Watch an outdoor movie with popcorn.

Make homemade iced coffee (and add ice cream!)

The best part about this printable Summer Bucket List are the memories you’re going to make with your family!

Don’t forget to head over to IceCreamRewards.com! One weekly winner will be chosen at random (one a week for 21 weeks) to receive a year’s supply of free ice cream (awarded as a $250 gift card to your participating Albertsons Companies store).

Just remember BUY, SNAP, CHOOSE:

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