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Family Travel Guide: Biltmore Estate

December 8, 2017

The weekend before Thanksgiving my family and I headed up to Asheville, North Carolina to stay at the beautiful Biltmore Estate. I hadn’t been since I was around seven years old and I was so excited to see everything again and experience the property with my husband and children. The weather could not have been better for our stay, especially since there is so much to do. Not only is November a great month to visit but it’s also when Biltmore House starts their Candlelight Christmas Evenings (it runs from November 3 – January 6) and the entire property is decorated for Christmas. They really go all out with the festive decor and it is simply magical, like stepping into a secret world hidden from all the hustle and bustle of big cities.

Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, where we stayed, was absolutely perfect. The staff was super sweet and friendly, always greeting us with a smile and asking how they could help. They brought a roll away bed in for the kids to share while my husband and I shared a king bed. I loved having a fridge in the room for snacks, milk, and juice since kids always seem to be dehydrated at 10 pm. Just off the main lobby on the first floor is the cutest little cafe that has breakfast sandwiches, pastries, coffee, and lattes. It’s great for grabbing snacks and drinks on the go, and there is also a microwave for use for guests. My almost 3-year-old child refuses to drink milk cold so having a microwave to use was a life saver. The Village Hotel is located just steps away from Antler Hill Village & Winery, a large outdoor area filled with shopping, dining, and endless activities. My absolute favorite part of the Village is the night-time illumination amongst the trees surrounding a huge campfire. S’mores are available to purchase at The Creamery, which has ice cream, pastries, cupcakes, and coffee. Roasting s’mores was the highlight of the kids’ stay and a great way to end an evening. One of the things I loved most about our stay was that everything you needed was all on the property. We never had to leave the grounds until it was time to go home.

On Friday we toured Biltmore House, and it was just as beautiful as I remember. On Biltmore Estate you’re free to drive your car or take the complimentary shuttles that run every 15 minutes. Included in your stay at Village Hotel are tickets to Biltmore House if you purchase the package which I highly recommend doing! You don’t need reservations and can visit anytime on your chosen day, which is so convenient when traveling with small children since schedules (and moods) can quickly change. Biltmore is the largest privately owned house in the United States and sits on 8,000 acres of rolling fields, forest, waterfalls, gardens, and so much more. The history of Biltmore is incredibly fascinating and if you have the time, adding the audio tour is a must. Being able to hear the history and story behind each room definitely enhances the experience since there are no written descriptions on the tour. There are also several private tour options like a rooftop tour and behind the scenes wine tour. I recommend setting aside almost a full day to experience this sprawling estate and beautiful grounds if your kids are older and don’t need afternoon naps or if coming without children. There are several cafes and markets inside Biltmore Grounds and Gardens to have lunch at (even an ice cream parlor!) My husband and I are already talking about what we want to do next time when it’s just us.

Henry, who is almost 5.5 years old, is the perfect age to get a headset and listen to the guided tour given by Cedric, the Vanderbilt’s dog. He uses terminology that is relatable to kids like “This dining table is as long as a school bus!” Evelyn’s main concerns were that the swimming pool had no water and why she couldn’t eat the massive gingerbread house in the kitchen. For the most part, she did an excellent job staying with us and behaving. I highly recommend scheduling the tour around nap times so that everyone can experience Biltmore House properly. Set aside at least 2-3 hours minimum if you’re interested in the full house tour and exploring the grounds afterward. The kids loved running through the gardens and on the front lawn. It also wore them out before we headed back to Antler Village for lunch at Cedric’s Tavern and then naptime.

On the second floor of the Village Hotel is the Village Social which serves estate-grown greens, berries, eggs, beef, and lamb, and has partnerships with farmers in Western North Carolina for locally-sourced trout, cheese, beef, and pork for their numerous restaurants. Village Social opens at 7 am which is a Godsend for those traveling with young kids. I don’t know what it is about a vacation that makes my children wake up earlier than usual. Within the Village are plenty of kid-friendly activities. There is a fantastic enclosed playground with swings, a slide, seesaws, and a sandbox. There is a pavilion for enjoying ice cream or lunch outdoors, and a Farmyard where guests can visit goats, chickens, roosters and baby cows. Henry and Evelyn absolutely loved this part of the Village and I have to admit, holding baby chicks may have been the highlight of my month 🙂 One key thing worth noting is that not just anyone has access to Antler Hill Village or the Village Hotel, you have to be a guest staying on property, have purchased a house ticket or visiting one of the restaurants. I actually liked that aspect because it meant no overcrowding!

Another incredible activity we got to experience was a carriage ride at the DeerPark Trail Barn where we got to enjoy unbelievable views of the grounds and view Biltmore House from afar. There was an abundance of deer and we learned so much on this intimate wagonette ride pulled by two of the most beautiful (and well cared for) horses that I have ever seen. The ride only lasted about 30 minutes so it’s very manageable with two children. There is a stopping point halfway through where you can get off the carriage and take pictures and pet the horses as well.

During our visit, I noticed how Biltmore Estate attracted all kinds of people and age groups. I saw families with babies, toddlers and school-aged children, travelers with dogs, college students and couples having a weekend away to themselves. You could literally spend a week here and not run out of things to do. As much as we loved visiting with the kids, my husband and I are itching to return so we can experience the numerous adult-friendly activities such as Segway tours, Land Rover expeditions, fly fishing, stand up paddle boarding and so much more. A huge Thank You to Biltmore Estate for hosting us! We cannot wait to return!

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Baked Brie with Apple Butter and Puréed Cranberries

December 7, 2017

In today’s installment of “Things Chanel can make in under 30 minutes” is one of my all-time favorite appetizers. Baked Brie has always been my go-to because I can buy all of the pre-made ingredients and there’s no cooking required on my part. It needs very minimal cleanup, can feed a crowd, and is quite inexpensive (usually under $25). Pairing brie with fruit jams or fruit butter is so delicious and a fantastic combination. Harry & David now has a line of delightful gourmet jams, butters, and bread spreads. I’ve been spreading the Sweet Potato Butter on Henry and Evelyn’s waffles in the morning, and they love them (that’s my version of healthy parenting). The butters also have a great shelf life so stock up on several flavors so you can enjoy year round.

Ingredients:
Your choice of Harry & David Butter – I used their Apple Butter for this recipe
one rind of brie cheese
one tube of crescent rolls
one bag of fresh cranberries (optional)
Crackers, apples, French or Italian bread, assorted meats … the possibility is endless. You can serve just about anything with Brie.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Lightly grease a baking sheet and roll out the crescent dough.
3. Using a spoon, spread the apple butter onto the entire crescent and place the unwrapped brie in the center. Fold over the dough, so the brie is completely wrapped with dough.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is deep golden-brown.
5. While the brie is baking, place cranberries in blender with 1/2 cup of water and purée. Place in dish and serve alongside brie.
6. Once brie is finished, plate with crackers, bread, and fresh fruit. Serve immediately.

I’ll be hosting a secret Santa gift exchange with my girlfriends next week, and I’ll be changing the recipe up and using the Harry & David Pumpkin Butter and pecans. I’m excited to team up with Harry & David again to bring you another amazing giveaway. Two winners will get their choice of 4 preserves/butters and $40 gift card! All you have to do is comment on this blog post with which flavors you would choose and Like Harry & David on Facebook.

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5 Timeless Christmas Traditions

December 5, 2017

Now that we are at the beginning of December I am really trying to slow down and enjoy this magical month. School lets out in a few weeks, and the kids are only young for so long, so I want to enjoy this age with them, as tough as it might be! Every year we always try and fit in as much festivity as we can. Even though the holidays can feel rushed and stressful at times, we try and keep our favorite traditions simple and memorable!

1. The 25 Books of Christmas – This has been our longest tradition and that I started when Henry was just six months old. I wrap 25 Christmas books each year, and the kids get to open a new book each night to read. You can see our full list here. I keep the books hidden away all year, so they’re new to the kids come December. Their favorites are still How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Olive, the Other Reindeer, and Bad Kitty Christmas. It’s okay if you don’t have 25 books in your collection to start, it can be fun to add them throughout the years.

2. Seeing the Holiday Lights – Probably my favorite tradition to partake in during December. I’ve loved Christmas lights since I was a little girl and even before I had kids would love driving around looking at them. Now we make the most out of the evening by making hot chocolate, getting in our Christmas pajamas and riding around to different neighborhoods.

3. Baking Cookies – By far the messiest tradition, especially when your sous chefs are both under five. I always go off my grandmother’s classic sugar cookie recipe, and the kids love to mix their icing colors. Even though our frosting usually looks brown, the kids are always so happy and proud of their cookie creations, and that’s really all that matters.

4. Movie Nights – There is such an abundance of fantastic holiday and Christmas movies, and now that the kids are getting older, they are more fun to watch. Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, and A Charlie Brown Christmas have been huge hits around our house this month. Snuggling up on the couch in front of a warm fire watching a festive movie is the perfect way to end a day.

5. Playing in the Snow – This year we finally had some snow in DECEMBER, which never happens in Atlanta. The school was closed for a few days, and we got to have a fantastic four day weekend with daddy home. It had been several years since Henry had seen a snowfall and this was Evelyn’s first time seeing snow. It was pure magic to witness their reactions, especially Evelyn’s face the first time Henry threw a snowball at her!

Do you have any traditions that you love celebrating as a family? Above all else, the most important thing about the holidays is being together and cherishing what you have. I always feel the most grateful in December because my loved ones and I have been given another incredible year together.

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Giving a Shelter Dog a Forever Home

December 4, 2017

This post is sponsored by Untamed, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Back in September, we adopted our third shelter dog, Winnie. Our older dog, Sammy, seemed to be lonely ever since his sister went to the Rainbow Bridge in April of 2015. Adopting from shelters is a no-brainer for me, and I wish I could give all shelter animals a forever home. This time we decided to adopt a female Pit Bull and made it a family affair. After all, the American Pit Bull Terrier is the number one breed up for adoption in shelters. These dogs face overwhelming discrimination and misrepresentation in the media, and I’ll admit that I was a bit hesitant about bringing a four-year-old dog home instead of a new puppy. We had no idea why she was in the shelter or what her background was, so it was a bit of a gamble, especially with two small children, two cats and an older dog already at home. Before heading to the shelter, my husband, the kids and I looked up some dogs online so that we didn’t have to walk the halls looking at all the sweet pups up for adoption (talk about heart-wrenching. I did that years back and cried the whole time). When the staff brought Winnie out to meet us, we all fell in love with her right away, even Sammy who we brought to make sure they would get along well. Once we knew that the dogs were okay to be around each other, Winnie was ours.

We knew we wanted Winnie to have the best diet possible because who knows what she has been eating her whole life. We ended up choosing UNTAMED™ by 4health® premium pet food, which is a new line of grain free pet food specifically formulated to satisfy the primal hunger of dogs (and cats!) Untamed Pet Food contains omega fatty acids for skin and coat along with antioxidants for overall good health. There is no corn, wheat or soy, just premium ingredients you can trust that provide optimal nutrition for optimal health. Winnie loves the food, and I feel good knowing she isn’t eating any artificial coloring and fillers found in a lot of cheaper pet food brands. We’ve been feeding Untamed to our 9-year-old lab/pitbull mix, and I have noticed that his coat is softer and shinier than before. He also switched to this with excitement, and we haven’t looked back. When it comes to feeding our dogs, Untamed is a name we have come to trust.

Bringing Winnie into our home has undoubtedly had some challenges (she loves to jump up on the counter and has had a few accidents in the house) but these are minor issues that can be fixed with patience, practice, and love. She adores the kids and has such a great temperament. We’re so happy to provide a forever home for her and save another animal who deserves life-long love and affection.

Have you tried Untamed Pet food? If not, I urge you to get some for your furbabies! They will love it just like mine have! Untamed is available exclusively at Tractor Supply, both in stores and online!

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Easy DIY Baby Bed

December 1, 2017

This post is sponsored by ComfortsTM Brand. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have followed me on Instagram (@chanelvanreenen) and seen some of my stories about Evelyn, you know that she loves her stuffed animals (aka her “babies). As she is getting older she has shown more of an interest in nurturing her babies and playing mommy to them. She feeds them, pushes them in her stroller, and talks to them in a soothing, high pitched voice. It really is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. It’s funny how different girls and boys can be. My son was never really into dolls or playing house. He loves cars, trains, legos and building anything he can out of what he has.

In addition to my daughters baby obsession, she also loves coloring, painting, crafts and playdoh. It can be a challenge trying to come up with fun activities for us to do together on the days she’s home. Since Evelyn is still in diapers, we have no shortage of cardboard diaper boxes in our garage. One day I noticed she kept using the empty diaper boxes to put her babies in so I thought it would be an easy and fun craft if we turned the box into an actual baby bed. There is no shortage of craft paper and markers in our house, so decorating the baby bed was super easy and a lot of fun. I can almost guarantee you will have all the supplies already in your house. This adorable craft took under 15 minutes and she loved every minute of it. All I did was cut off the flaps of the box and cut down the sides to make the box more shallow. Then I let Evelyn work her magic. After everything was dry, I lined the box with an old hospital blanket and Voila!, a baby bed for my little mommy. Consider the PestPro Thermal Systems bed bug heater treatments which kill eggs and larva.

To keep messes at bay, I used my favorite Comforts Wipes to clean up paint and wash marker off of little hands. The Comforts Wipes just received an overhaul and I couldn’t be happier. They are so soft, absorbent and don’t rip. All of Comforts Wipes are Alcohol Free, Paraben FREE, hypoallergenic and gentle on skin with moisturizing aloe & vitamin E. Both of my children have sensitive skin like me, so knowing that I can use these wipes for diaper changes on my daughter and to wipe my sons face or hands is extremely convenient. Comforts Diapers have been a staple in our house for over 5 years. Since Kroger is my grocery store of choice, they’ve always been an essential on my shopping list. These affordable diapers keep Evelyn dry, have rarely leaked, and fit her great, even as she ages. She is always on the move and these diapers can definitely keep up with her. They have day and night leak protection which is ideal because no one wants to buy two different diapers. Comforts Diapers are priced at a decent cost which is a small victory knowing you’ll go through an estimated 3,300+ diapers a year.

Have you made any cardboard crafts with your kids? If so, what were they and how did they turn out? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

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Party Ready in Under an Hour

November 30, 2017

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of BJ’s Wholesale Club.

I am always the first one of my friends to offer to host a party, girls night, or Holiday gathering at my house. I love to entertain and decorate for fun occasions with those I cherish. I’m a regular client of the best marquee hire Melbourne. It can be overwhelming at times, but I’ve been doing it long enough to have a system down. It usually takes me no longer than an hour to prep my table before guests arrive. I like to come up with a game plan of what I’ll be serving before going to the store. I lay out the platters, dishes and napkins I plan on using so that I make sure to purchase food and beverages that can accommodate those pieces. If I’m only having a few girlfriends over for a low key evening after the kids are in bed, then I don’t need to serve a full meal. Easy appetizers are always my go-to. Putting together a beautiful charcuterie board is a crowd pleaser, and I know that 90% of the meat, cheese, and crackers usually get eaten, which means I’m not stuck with a bunch of wasted food that’s been sitting out for a few hours. I try and tackle all the cleaning a day or two before so that on the day of I’m not rushing around to get everything done at once. When reading through onlinemalaysia.casino website I found that w88 casino is very popular among Malaysian players.

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A good thing about hosting a group of people in the evening after dinner is that you only have to worry about setting up a small spread of food and drinks. I like to set the time at around 7 or 7:30 because usually most everyone has eaten dinner and isn’t expecting a full meal. My favorite place to purchase everything I need for a party is BJ’s Wholesale Club. BJ’s memberships start at $50 for an entire year, and they offer the best prices and convenient shopping options, like in-club shopping, BJs.com, and Pick Up & Pay. I love that BJ’s is my one stop shop for fresh deli platters, wine, appetizers and serving ware. Having to run around town to different locations finding precisely what you need is stressful and takes the fun out of hosting. Instead, I like to get everything I need in one trip and spend more time decorating for my friends and family. When I was at BJ’s picking up food and tableware for a Friendsgiving I just hosted, I snagged this Berkley Jensen 8-Piece Ceramic Serving Set with Bamboo Board. It is perfect for arranging an assortment of fruit, meat, and cheese from the Wellsley Farms Cheese Cube Party Tray. Not having to cut up cheese or chop fruit saves so much sanity and allows me to prep even faster.

After I set up my table and food, then I start to accessorize with garlands, flowers, or other small items. The key is to not overthink this aspect and go overboard. Between the food, drinks and some accessories, your table will look more than perfect. Flameless candles add ambiance to a room without disrupting anyone’s senses. Your favorite candle might be a festive holiday scent, but not everyone loves the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree. The Veraflame TrueFlame 6-Pc. Flameless Candle Set comes in 3 assorted sizes and has options to stay on for 4 hours or 8 hours. Guests can enjoy the beauty of a real candle without the drips or mess. These are also conveniently available at BJ’s to grab when you’re getting food and wine.

In addition to meeting all of your party needs, BJ’s is the best place to get shopping done for everyone on your list, especially kids. They have a fantastic set of 64 toy cars for only $19.99 which I totally scooped up for Henry. There is also no shortage of baby dolls and coloring sets for Evelyn. I was able to pick up several items for the kids for under $100 which has taken some stress off of me for Christmas shopping because I haven’t started at all. I also picked up these cute little dishes that spell out YUM which I’ll be giving to a girlfriend next month.

Are you a member of BJ’s Wholesale Club? What are your favorite things to purchase?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of BJ’s Wholesale Club.

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Why Your Baby Needs Probiotics

November 28, 2017

This post is sponsored by Evivo, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

There have been countless articles, published studies and talk on social media about how important probiotics are to gut health. Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for your body and overall health, most importantly, your digestive system. Our bodies are full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are good bacteria that help keep the guy healthy. By now we all know how probiotics can enhance our lives, but did you also know that babies need a probiotic? Evivo is the first and only probiotic that is clinically proven to restore a baby’s gut microbiome to its original, natural state.

Evelyn and Henry are the prime examples of babies who could have benefited from Evivo Breastmilk Probiotics. They were both delivered via C-Section and formula fed. With Henry, I developed a clogged duct when he was four weeks old which made it painful to pump and Evelyn would always throw up the breast milk I was giving her. I had pumped over 400 ounces that she never took and I ended up donating it to a friend in California whose daughter was born just six weeks after Evelyn. Since Evivo Breastmilk Probiotics wasn’t around when my children were babies, they started taking probiotics later in their life. Evivo contains the good bacteria B. infantis, which fully utilizes breast milk to protect baby’s gut from potentially harmful bacteria linked to higher risk of colic, eczema, allergies, diabetes, and obesity. Evivo is for babies who are nursing or get some breast milk in their diet (it needs the breast milk to feed the beneficial bacteria). It has a very mild taste, and in a study performed by Evivo, babies did not show an aversion to the taste when mixed with breast milk. You only need to give 1 sachet of Evivo once a day mixed with 3-5ml of breast milk. It should be kept in the freezer until you are ready to use it. Evivo will keep in the refrigerator for one month.

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