TheMorrisonFamilyBlog

 Irresistible Homemade Pecan At Sherri's, Sundays are all about indulging in the best homemade pecan pie. This delightful treat features a classic recipe with a touch of subtle heat that perfectly complements the buttery pecans. While pumpkin pie takes the spotlight during Thanksgiving and fall, pecan pie often goes unnoticed, unless you're from the south, where it's a staple at every holiday celebration. Unlike pumpkin pie with its custard, pecan pie offers a rich and thick sugary filling that embraces the buttery pecans. This delectable dessert is made with a blend of eggs, butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and meaty pecans baked inside a flaky pie crust. It's a winning combination that's hard to beat. I've experimented with various additions like chocolate, bourbon, and maple syrup, but my personal favorite is the subtle heat that adds an elegant contrast. By incorporating red pepper and chili powder, the pie takes on a whole new dimension. According to MyReci...

 For the last two weeks my immune system has failed me and let a cold take control of my life. I've been run down and trying to keep up. Then two days ago, when the cold medicine I was taking was gone and mucus-busting medication had dried out every orifice in my body to the point I was waking up three to four times a night trying to rehydrate my desert mouth, I remembered Smith Brothers had sent me a full line of products to help support your my immune system, conquer cold and flu symptoms, and help restore my of wellness following a sickness. I busted out my Smith Brothers Wellness pack and put them to use. This is a real-life review as I have used the full assortment of their products. Throat Drops:   Smith Brothers Cough Drops are specially formulated to give fast relief.  While they can be used to soothe sore throats, I have used them to quiet my dry-hacking cough and relieve hoarseness. They are available in eight flavors to include Wild Cherry, Black Licorice,...

 Sometimes there's a brand that is useful and fun. It blazes through social media sites. Right now, Diamond Candles is a brand on fire! We had to find out why. Our addiction began with this: The Lavender Lemon candle. When it arrived, the noses of all family members sniffed and declared it smelled really, really good. We set it on the mantle and lit the wick. My kiddos tend to gravitate to a flickering flame. They are cautious but are mesmerized by the dancing flame. They also want to be the one who gets to put the candle out when it's time. That's when they noticed this: The Divine Miss M read it and then shouted, "Mom! There's a ring in this candle and it could be a $5,000 one!" It's true. Every Diamond Candle comes with a ring nestled inside the soy candles with a surprise value of $10, $100, $1,000 or $5,000! Unlike their boxes of cereal with a hidden surprise, the candle created the issue of "How the heck do we get it out?" And then one ni...

 As a nursing mom for the fourth time, I have had my share of nursing bras - ugly stiff nursing bras.  They aren't fun to buy and definitely not fun to wear.  Cake Maternity has taken nursing wear to the next level with beautiful, comfortable underwear for pregnant and nursing moms. I recently tried the new luxurious Cotton Candy racerback nursing bra and panties.  Silky soft & built for comfort, its carefully positioned double-layered side sling, strength panels and T-back structure are designed to maximize lift and support.  I not only love the color - what girl doesn't find joy in cotton candy pink? - But I love the soft fabric that really supports my chest.  I like the racerback design too.  It is sleek, and it works well with a wide variety of shirts, especially those tank tops that we have to wear in SC!  It is easy to use as a nursing bra too.  The hooks easily come undone, and it's a breeze to get Clara eating in no time!  T...

 Summer is a time of vibrant colors and fun. There's festivals and time just strolling along the river. The Divine Miss M is going through a hippie phase where everything is about peace and love and I wanted to fit in, so we did a review of the Groovey Mama Costume from www.PlusSizeCostumeSuperCenter.com . I love the selection of their Plus size costumes. From superheroes to traditional witches it's all in one place. I wanted something that said summer fun and surprised The Divine Miss M with my laidback hippie vibe in the Groovy Mama costume. The long tye dye skirt with peace signs and hippie flowers attracted me to it. When it arrived The Divine Miss M fell in love with the tiered bohemian hem and purple trim. It is bright and happy and I love how it flows. The costume also includes a long sleeve, low cut black shirt with slit sleeves, gathering at the next and a trim that matches the skir around the sleeves, neckline and bustline. There is a matching long tie under the bust ...

 No matter how gifted the child, everyone needs some extra help every now and again. You want to give your kids every opportunity to succeed and thrive, but sometimes the limits of the pocketbook get in the way. The public school still offers a great education, but what if your child needs some tutoring? Sure, you could hire someone, but you don't always have room in the monthly budget to pick up that extra bill. Luckily, there are several opportunities for tutoring that are either very inexpensive or completely free.If your child needs a little extra help with his schoolwork, but you simply don't have the cash to hire someone, here are a few free tutoring options. How to Find a Free Tutoring Program for Your Child Sure, you could hire someone, but you don't always have room in the monthly budget to pick up that extra bill. Luckily, there are several opportunities for tutoring that are either very inexpensive or completely free. If your child needs a little extra help with ...

Healthy To Go Trim Energy has changed my thinking. Growing up my Mom always made sure that we had a complete meal with all of the food groups for dinner every night. At the time, I was a pretty picky eater and I never understood why it was so important that we eat the things that she cooked. I have many memories of sitting at the table long after everyone else had been excused to finish the plate of liver and onions, which I could only choke down if I drowned them in ketchup.  Now as an adult, I realize the importance of balanced nutrition, but I rarely cook a meal with all of the food groups and I know that sometimes my family does not get all of the essential vitamins and minerals that we need through food alone. Therefore, I am always looking for ways to sneak vitamins and minerals into our diets.  To Go Brands offers easy ways to add those necessary nutrients without eating those foods that we find unappealing. Healthy To Go Trim Energy Offers 4 servings of Fruits an...

 Any big change in life is inherently stressful. Changing jobs. Getting married or divorced. A big swing in your financial situation. They all take adjustment. But one of the most stressful changes can be a large, long distance move. Let's be honest, moving is a nightmare , and your kids can be especially affected. They're leaving behind the home you've all created together, which could very well be the only home they know. They're changing schools, having to meet new friends, and maybe even adapting to much different weather. Your kids may approach the move with excitement, apprehension or sadness, but whatever their feeling about things, there's a lot you can do as their parent to help them adjust. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind as you're preparing for, and recovering from a big move . First off, try to situated in your new neighborhood before your move if at all possible. There will be so much that's unfamiliar to your child when you get there, and ...

 Although it may not be regularly discussed in Forbes magazine or on the news, some of the most powerful business people are not just stockbrokers or CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. No, some of them are right in our midst daily. They're called WAHM, which stands for Work At Home Moms. What makes them powerful is that they are the core of what keeps many families together. And just like other people who tirelessly serve at their jobs, these women should also have a financial plan in place, including investment strategies that they can implement to help to secure their future — perhaps investing in one or many of the top 500 largest stocks. If you are a "WAHM" or if you know one, feel free to pass these five tips for beginning investors along. Beginner Investment Strategies for WAHMS Have solidified goals. We all have heard it said before: " Those who fail to plan, plan to fail ." It's not good enough to just "want to do some investing." There also...

 Finding the perfect bathing suit is a grueling process; it is probably the only shopping event of the year that I actually dread.  Searching through racks of swimwear that range from ultra-skimpy to frumpy is frustrating and usually leaves me feeling utterly depressed. Since I have entered motherhood, my body just isn’t the same as it was ten years ago, and although the mirror is telling me I can’t wear that string bikini anymore, my ego is not quite ready to banish my bikini.  This year Essential Swimwear has saved me from this dreaded experience. The Chocolate Brown Twist Front Top has rapidly become my go-to swimsuit this year. With its retro-style look, and its magical ability to hide my flaws, I feel confident and sexy as I soak up the rays.  The top was designed using extra fabric, which makes it perfect for my long torso. The additional fabric is also great because it creates ruffled pleats around my waist, which helps to camouflage my not so tight middle....

The  Tykoon  website and/or app is helping my children learn about money and responsibility. It's an important lesson and one so many people missed out on considering the average American’s amount of debt is $10,000 ( Money Talks News ).  Tykoon is a fun way to teach about money and goes beyond How Much Allowance Money Should I Give My Child . The user simply logs in to the website and sets up an account. From there, you add any or all of your children and set up an allowance for them, or set up how your child's earnings will be allocated. Like the book Three Cups , Tykoon helps teach children about saving, giving, and spending, and the user determines the percentage of earning to go to each of those three categories. My kiddos loved the wish-list area where they were able to goal-set for more significant items or drop hints about what they wanted to earn. It stirred some great conversation. My eight-year-old wanted concert tickets to see Katy Perry, who is only...

 The Q2 Internet Radio is one of the few items that has had my husband excited. It is absolutely awesome and getting a lot of use at our house! If you have never heard of Q2, allow me to show you just how cool (and cute) it is: This little box proves dynamite comes in small packages, at just four inches square, and is available in five fun colors, the Q2 has no button, no switches, no dials, and no screens. It's 100% motion-controlled, making this radio an interactive experience. It requires a wi-fi connection and allows you to listen to local, national or international radio stations. I use mine to tune into Adam Corolla and Joe Rogan's podcasts and the kiddos claim it to listen to Radio Disney . There are no service fees or subscriptions, which you gotta love! [caption id="attachment_15668" align="aligncenter" width="431"] The five colors available for the Q2 Internet Radio[/caption] The Q2 works with a PC or a Mac and offers incredible sound an...

 One of the best parts of being a parent is watching your children grow and develop - the worst part is how fast it goes. So instead of mourning that your little tykes are turning into adolescents before your very eyes, focus on ways to celebrate their biological advancement by planning the spectacular birthday parties that they'll remember for the rest of their lives. This could mean bringing together all the elements that go into creating a theme party, arranging for some spectacular kids' entertainment (clowns are out, singing waiters dressed like Disney characters are in), or choosing a venue that is a little off the beaten path (water park, race track, etc.). And you can have a lot of fun with all the little touches, including the gift bags full of favors for your kids' friends to take home at the end of the party. If you choose to do a theme party, you can easily come up with party favors that will play into it. For example, many young girls want a party with a Disne...

 Growing a life inside your body, while miraculous, pregnancy also puts your health at higher risk. While most women experience a healthy pregnancy , your immune system doesn't function as well as it normally does, so you're more likely to get sick and contract infections. Infections may not be life-threatening for Mom but can cause problems for the baby if you leave them untreated. There are three major kinds of infections that put babies at risk: congenital, perinatal, and postnatal. Congenital infections are one that passes through the placenta from mom to baby. These kinds of infections include everything from the herpes simplex virus to rubella to listeria. You can do a thorough screening if you're concerned about any of these. Many of them can be treated, and your doctor will need to know if any are present in Mom to help prevent passing on the infection during labor. Perinatal infections transfer during labor and are mostly limited to STDs. Postnatal infections can b...

When I was 13, we lived in rural Appalachia. I remember waking up one morning and seeing this big, ugly, gray mass on my thigh. It was a tick that had been indulging in my blood all night long, maybe longer. As an adult, I monitor my children and pets to ensure ticks aren't feasting on anyone. School’s out, and it’s almost time to send the kids off to camp.  Parents across the country are packing travel bags filled with swim goggles, sunscreen, and other summertime necessities for their children, but one of the most important things parents need to remember as their young ones head off to summer camp is tick prevention.   The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance  (TBDA) has compiled a list of the top five “must-have” items in a  Tick-Prevention Summer Camp Survival Kit  that every parent should include in their child’s travel bags this summer. Lyme disease is the fastest-growing infectious disease and the most common tick-borne disease in the country, according...

 It's summer and while the days are longer and life seems to slow down a bit, it's important to remember safety. Here are some tips to keep you, your family and your home safe all summer long. 1.) Stay Hydrated: Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink, try and drink two to four glasses of fluid each hour. Avoid sugary drinks or drinks with high alcohol content when in the heat. Monitor your children and make sure they are getting plenty of fluids while playing. 2.) Grilling is an outdoor activity: Use grills outside and don't put pits or grills too close to your home. If you use charcoal when grilling be sure to dispose of them once they are completely cool. 3.) Keep your lawn safe: Keep kiddos away from lawnmowers and never let them ride on the mower. Keep your grass clippings at a minimum as they invite ticks. 4.) Home Sweet Home: Put blind strings out of reach from small children . Review boundaries with your children when they play outside and require the bud...