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Entertaining on a budget with ALDI Supermarket

We all know that entertaining during the holidays can get rather expensive. As a family of 6, we are always trying to save money wherever we can but we still want to be able to provide our friends and family with great food, drinks and fun when visiting over the holidays. This year when planning for our holiday festivities, we turned to ALDI Supermarket to supply us with all that we needed.

A lot of people are not aware of the wide selection of foods and wines that ALDI Supermarket has to offer or of the great prices they sell for.

For under $50, we were able to provide our guests with a meal consisting of chicken parmigiana, spaghetti, and garlic bread, in addition to appetizers consisting of an assortment of crackers, baked brie cheese, feta cheese dip. Not only did we serve all of this food, we also picked up a couple bottles of wine and dessert as well.

Yes.

All that for under $50.

One of the biggest expenses when entertaining can often times become what you are serving your guests to drink. ALDI Supermarket offers wine that tastes great, has a wide selection and is available at an affordable cost. We served the Landshut Riesling and Winking Owl Chardonnay. I was pleasantly surprised with just how good both wines were in addition to our delicious food.

With one holiday now behind us and another fast approaching at the end of this week, we are looking forward to making another trip to ALDI Supermarket to pick up a few items to entertain the family for our New Year’s Eve celebration.

What do you do to curb costs when entertaining for the holidays?

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ALDI and received a gift certificate to facilitate my review.

My Baby Bean

As I mentioned a few days ago, my little Baby Ellie has arrived.  Right now we are still at the hospital.  I have been discharged and am taking advantage of the hospitals Bed & Breakfast program so I can continue to stay at the hospital with her until she is ready to go home.  Since Ellie was born at 36 weeks gestation, she is considered a late term preemie and she has been facing a few hurdles.  A few hours after birth she did experience a few issues with breathing but she quickly jumped that hurdle.  She has also been struggling to maintain her body temperature, eat and gain weight and has been a little jaundiced.

While we continue to do everything we can to get her to where she needs to be and work towards our goal of going home, I wanted to take a moment and share some pictures with you.

Enjoy!

Monitoring her breathing shortly after birth
Daddy loving her up
Totally in love after meeting his baby sister.
Happy she FINALLY has a baby sister
The oldest and youngest and proud to be her biggest brother
Checking out her new surroundings

She’s Here!!! She’s Here!!!

The Alex, Zack, Libby, Alexander and I are all pleased to announce that Baby Ellie has arrived!!!

Born December 17th, 2011 at 1:48 am (CST) at 36 weeks gestation, weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces and 18.5 inches long.

She is doing great and so is mom!!!

We are looking forward to leaving the hospital soon and heading home.

Watch for a post including her complete and interesting birth story!!

Apples to Apples now available in the XBOX Marketplace

Back in October, I mentioned that one of our favorite family games, Apples to Apples was coming to the XBOX Marketplace.

I am pleased to report that Apples to Apples is now available for download from XBox LIVE Arcade*! Outwit and anticipate your opponent’s preferences in this hilarious word comparison game that requires strategic thinking. Connect with friends and family this Holiday Season- in the same room or across the world. Share play time in an online game and advocate for your selections via XBox LIVE Chat! Apples to Apples features single-player, local and online modes for up to 6 players.

Apples to Apples comes packed with all-new customizable play modes, vibrant backgrounds, and Golden Apple cards, which can be used to change the rules in fun new ways. Participants can choose between 16 animated avatars such as Pirate Apple, Quarterback Apple and Ballerina Apple!
    
This family favorite challenges players to outwit and anticipate the actions of others while taking into consideration personality, preferences, and individual senses of humor!

Since we downloaded this game, our family has been hooked and I am happy to say that I am the current reigning champion!

Apples to Apples is available in the Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 (800 Microsoft Points), and will be available for the PlayStation Network for PlayStation 3 ($9.99 USD) beginning December 20th, Facebook and mobile devices in January 2012.

We have also enjoyed playing against our friends using XBOX Live as well and it really has turned our boring weekends into a fun event!

Disclaimer: We were provided with a free download of the game in exchange for our complete and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Switched At Birth Vol. 1 Now on DVD

One of my favorite new shows this year is ABC Family’s Switched At Birth starring Vanessa Marano and Katie Laclerc. If you have not caught this show yet, you are truly missing out.

Here is a synopsis of the show:
A groundbreaking new drama about the upheaval that two teen
girls experience when they discover that they were accidentally switched at birth.

Bay Kennish, a talented graffiti artist with an edgy streak, grew up in a wealthy family with happily married parents and an older brother. Daphne
Vasquez, an athletic teenager who lost her hearing at an early age, grew up with a single mother in a working class neighborhood. When the girls’
worlds collide, family bonds are tested, new romances are sparked, and they start to learn that it’s who they are inside that matters, not where they
grew up.

When this show first started airing, I was immediately sucked into it. I love the story line and the direction the show is headed.

Here is a quick peek at an episode.

Not only am I hooked on this show but my 11 year old daughter, the Libby is as well.

For those of you who haven’t seen the show, you can pick up Volume 1 of the series on DVD in stores now for right around $30! It also includes “Switched at Birth” exclusive collectible iPod skins.

Definitely a good investment if you ask me.
We are enjoying watching Volume 1 while we wait for the show to hit the air once again.

Disclaimer: I was provided with this collection at no cost to me in exchange for my complete and honest review. All words and thoughts are my own.