Family * Travel * Food

Show Dad Your Appreciation With A Gourmet Gift Basket This Father's Day

It's June and that means Father's Day is on its way. I start thinking about Father's Day gifts well in advance when it comes to my husband. He is fairly easy to buy for, but I know a lot of people struggle with their spouse or dad. One great idea that you can't ever go wrong with is food. I mean, what dad does not like food? If you have limited time to go shopping, no worries, GourmetGiftBaskets.com has exactly what dad will want and is only a few clicks away!

You can browse their wide selection of gourmet gift baskets to suit every dad's taste. Whether he loves beer, cheese, cookies, snacks or healthier fare, you will find the perfect gift. They offer free shipping and have gifts to fit every budget. The best part is you simply order and Gourmet Gift Baskets will take it from there. Each basket is packed with care and filled with high quality goodies. I chose the Orchard's Abundance gift basket for my husband since he is very health conscious. This basket is filled with enormous fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, peanuts, a couple chocolaty treats, and the most incredible sea salt caramel sauce for those crispy apples!


The package will arrive at your doorstep complete with the card attached to the outside of the box. The recipient can read the special message before tearing into the package. I guarantee any dad would have a huge smile on his face receiving a gift like this.


You can really see the care that goes into packing these beautiful baskets. They really do use premium products. This is a very well received gift not just for dads, but anyone! If you get stuck on what to give dad, give GourmetGiftBaskets.com a try. They have same day shipping so you can be sure the gift will get there fast. My advice is to make sure the recipient will be home to collect the gift since it does contain food items. You wouldn't want it sitting out on the front porch for very long.


Check out the amazing selection of gourmet gifts and order something for the special dads in your life today. They will love it like my husband did. Follow Gourmet Gift Baskets on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest promotions and updates. Don't delay! Hurry and order your dad or husband a Gourmet Gift Basket today!

Disclosure: We received a gift basket for review. All opinions are 100% our own as always.
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Get A Catalyst iPhone Case For Your Summer Adventures! (Giveaway)

School is officially out for the summer in most parts of the country, and the weather is already beach/pool friendly. Many of us are hitting the road looking for adventure this summer. Of course, you can't go anywhere without your trusty iPhone! Even when you are on the sandy beach, hanging out on the lake in a boat, hiking on dusty mountains, or just chillin' poolside, you have to keep an eye on your phone so you don't have an unfortunate accident.

Water, dust, dirt, snow, moisture, and general accidents can destroy your phone. How many times have you 'fatally dropped' your phone? I think I do this daily! Good news, Catalyst cases for the iPhone 7 are made to withstand all of the elements. When you invest in such a great phone (especially for the camera like I did), you want to get the most out of it. It's important to also invest in a good case to protect your precious phone. My theory is if you invest in quality, you won't have to buy it again any time soon.


Why choose Catalyst? It's simple. You can drop your phone on the ground, drop it in water, and get caught in the rain and your phone will be safe. Catalyst cases are waterproof to 10m (33ft)! This means you can take your iPhone under the sea or pool to record your scuba diving excursion or cool underwater pool tricks.

Why do we like this case? It has a clear front and back to show off your phone's color. So this means that pretty silver, black or rose gold color can still be seen. The sides are all shock-proof and the case in itself fits really snug and slim. I like that since I am not a fan of bulky phone cases. Also, if you need to take it off, you don't need the jaws of life to do so. I once had a phone case that got permanently stuck on my phone! The Catalyst case is easy to remove.  Another great thing is you can still hear phone calls clearly as well as listening to video or music. The charging port is easy to get to with no obstruction.


The directions to install your case is done with not only with text, but photos. It makes it a lot easier! There are simple steps to water test it. Check out these videos for details.


The Catalyst case is a must have for summer travel and would make a great Father's Day gift to the dad who lives an active lifestyle. Or if your husband is like mine, he might simply be careless with his phone. You can get full details about the Catalyst case and purchase one here for $79.99. It comes in two colors: Stealth Black & Alpine White. And don't forget a case for your Air Pods! They start at $24.99. The ones pictured below glow in the dark. Catalyst makes other products for your Apple devices as well.
Giveaway: One lucky reader will win a Catalyst Case for the iPhone 7! Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and will end on June 18, 2017. Please follow all rules in the Rafflecopter widget and be sure to use a valid email. One winner will be selected and contacted via email to claim prize. Please be aware that Mom Files is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged prizes. Good luck!

Disclosure: We received products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% our own. 
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Perfect Turkey Meatball Recipe

I was talking with a good blog friend of mine the other day and she was telling me how she drools when she looks at my Insta feed. I am always in the kitchen baking or cooking up something. Today I made some super simple turkey meatballs and they came out perfectly seasoned and not dry like turkey tends to get. Since I get asked for recipes all the time, I decided I better get busy and throw them on the blog as often as I can. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients:

  • One pound of ground turkey (I use the less lean variety since I don't want dry meatballs)
  • finely minced onion, garlic, herbs (I use thyme, rosemary, and parsley), and jalapenos 
  • 1/4 grated Parmesan cheese
  • assorted dry seasonings (here are my staples
  • Olive oil
  • Cookware: a cast iron skillet or heavy skillet, tongs, spatula, flat tray lined with parchment paper
What to do:

Simply add all of the fresh ingredients into a bowl with the ground turkey. Add desired seasonings. I like to add a few shakes of red pepper flakes for added spice. Throw in the Parmesan and mix everything together with a fork. Use a spoon to help scoop even amounts of turkey and roll into balls. Place them on parchment lined tray as you roll. Place tray in freezer for about 5-10 minutes so they can firm up a bit. Heat skillet on medium-high and add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Gently, but quickly place meatballs in hot skillet and let them start browning without moving them for a few minutes. Carefully use tongs to flip them. If they start to fall apart, you can use a spatula to help keep them together. Let them get brown and crispy all over. That's it! 

I like to serve these meatballs with sides like smashed sweet potatoes, regular mashed potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, or any vegetable my family likes. You can also add them in your favorite pasta sauce for spaghetti and meatballs, or eat them as is. They are the perfect protein-packed snack! 

I hope you will try this recipe soon. Thanks for stopping by xo 

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New Baby Dove Moisture Rich Product Line (Giveaway)

Did you know that Dove makes baby products? I did not know until recently and thought, it's about time! Dove has been a reliable household favorite for decades. You can't beat that gentle clean with powerful moisturizers. Now you can give that same thing to your baby or little one. The new Baby Dove Rich Moisture product line offers a tip-to-toe wash, baby lotion, baby bar, shampoo, and baby wipes.


Each product is made with your delicate baby's skin in mind. All products are dermatologist and pediatrician tested. Here is a little information on each product:

  • Rich Moisture Tip to Toe Wash - As gentle as water, tear-free, hypoallergenic, pH-neutral baby wash and shampoo in one. It contains super mild cleansers for baby's skin and helps more moisture and nutrients stay in the skin. Retails for $5.99 for 13oz or $7.99 for 20oz. 
  • Rich Moisture Baby Lotion - Soothes dry skin and leaves baby's skin extra soft and delicately scented. Retails for $5.99 for 13oz or $7.99 for 20oz.
  • Rich Moisture Baby Bar - This is like junior version of the adult bar and retails for $2.49 for 3.17oz. 
  • Rich Moisture Shampoo - Unlike regular baby shampoos, this one contains 1/4 moisturizing cream. Retails for $5.99 for 13oz.
  • Rich Moisture Baby Wipes - As gentle as water and effectively removes impurities while moisturizing baby's delicate skin. They are hypoallergenic and alcohol-free. Retails for $4.49 for 30 wipes. Great for travel! 
Although my son William is no longer a baby, I still have to use gentle products for his skin. The Baby Dove Rich Moisture Line is excellent and I suspect will last for a long time. I confess, I love the very light scent that is reminiscent of a freshly bathed baby. There is also a sensitive skin version of these products as well. This is one of those times I wish I had these skin care items for all of my babies when they were babies. 

You can find Baby Dove products at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and Amazon. If you are looking for a great baby shower gift, I suggest this entire product line. I know that the recipient would love it! Of course, I know you will love these products for your own baby. For more details on these products, visit the Baby Dove site. 

We have great news! One very lucky Mom Files reader will win the entire Baby Dove Rich Moisture product line. Enter below:

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and will end on June 16, 2017. Please follow all rules in the Rafflecopter widget and be sure to use a valid email. One winner will be selected and contacted via email to claim prize. Please be aware that Mom Files is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged prizes. Good luck! 

Disclosure: We received products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% our own. 
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Celebrate Your Graduate Safely: Tips on Hosting a Foodborne Illness-Free Party

The final exams are taken, the diploma is framed and the cap is thrown in the air. Now it’s time to celebrate your graduate’s latest major life milestone! For those hosting large parties, preparing large amounts of food for friends and family is hard enough but ensuring food is safe and pathogen free can be downright stressful.


"Hosting parties take a great deal of work and we often focus so much on preparing and serving food in a timely fashion that we don’t think about preparing and serving food safely," says Deirdre Schlunegger, CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness , a national, nonprofit, public health organization dedicated to preventing illness and death from foodborne pathogens. To help ensure you are serving food that won’t spread foodborne illness, Stop has put together a list of food safety tips to help party hosts put out their best and safest food when celebrating their graduates.

For hosting a party, Stop Foodborne Illness suggests:

  • Have a plan! Cooking such an important meal for a large gathering of friends and family can be stressful and lead to subpar approaches to handling food. Think about your refrigerator, freezer and oven space, and how you'll manage to keep hot foods at 140 degrees or higher and cold foods at 40 degrees or below. If you need to use coolers, make sure you have plenty of clean ice. Whatever you do, don’t rely on the natural outdoor or indoor temperatures to keep foods at proper temperature!
  • Wash your hands. When preparing food, Stop Foodborne Illness emphasizes the importance of washing your hands thoroughly and keeping all surfaces you’re working on clean.
  • Wash produce. Stop Foodborne Illness recommends washing even prepackaged greens, to minimize potential bacterial contamination.
  • Keep cooking surfaces clean and sanitized. Preparing raw meat and poultry on the same surfaces as food that does not get cooked could lead to cross-contamination. Make sure kitchen counters, sponges, cutting boards, and knives are all well-scrubbed.
  • Defrost Safely. Properly defrost meat by allocating 24 hours per 5 pounds to defrost in the refrigerator. If you need to defrost quicker, place the meat a large bowl filled with cold water and change the cold water bath every 30 minutes.
  • Cook to proper temperature. And use a thermometer to ensure food has been cooked enough to kill bacteria. Find out more with this safe food temperature guide.
  • Food brought by party guests. While help is always appreciated, remind guests to transport cold foods in a cooler below 40 F and bring hot foods in an insulated carrier to ensure the temperature stays at or above 140 F. Prepared foods must be refrigerated or thrown out after two hours.
  • Refrigerate leftovers. Many people don’t think twice about leaving food out on the counter all day. Two hours is the limit. Allowing food to sit out longer is one of the easiest food safety mistakes to make since food left in the danger zone—above 40 degrees and below 140 degrees–facilitates bacterial growth. To avoid this, Stop recommends storing leftovers in 2-inch deep, shallow containers within two hours of serving.

Remember, practicing safe cooking procedures is not just for the host. For those attending graduation parties as guests, bring dishes, not pathogens. Here are a few things guests can do to help prevent the spread of foodborne illness:

  • Wash your hands. Even if you don’t prepare food you should still wash your hands before you eat.
  • Pack hot foods while hot. If you’re preparing a hot dish at home and bringing it to the party, pack it right away! Don’t wait for hot foods to cool down before packing. If you reheat at the party, remember to check the temperature with a thermometer.

About Stop Foodborne Illness
Stop Foodborne Illness is a national nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing illness and death from foodborne pathogens by advocating for sound public policies, building public awareness and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness. For more food safety tips please visit www.STOPfoodborneillness.org/awareness/. If you think you have been sickened from food , contact your local health professional. You may subscribe to receive Stop Foodborne Illness e-Alerts and eNews here: www.STOPfoodborneillness.org/take-action/sign-up-for-e-alerts/ and follow their news at their newsroom here: http://www.newsline360.com/stopfoodborneillness.
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