Cool Off with Delicious and Affordable Iced Coffee and Tea from Your Keurig!

As much as I love my coffee, with the heat of the summer upon us, I'll admit that a steaming hot cup doesn't always sound quite as appealing as it does as when the weather is cooler. Not exactly what I want to treat myself with in the middle of the afternoon when it already feels like 90° out, you know?

Fortunately, Cross Country Cafe has plenty of ways to take your Keurig to the next level with Brew Over Ice K-cups for refreshing ice cold coffees and tea!

A consistent favorite of coffee-drinkers new and old, iced coffees and iced teas are the perfect way to enjoy the smooth, delicious flavors for hot weather.

But why spend a fortune (not to mention the time and hassle of) going to the coffeehouse when you don't have to? Instead, pick up a box of Keurig K-cups and you'll be prepared for icy tastiness whenever the urge strikes you!

The Original Donut Shop Coffee has been brewing rich, delectable coffees for years. Therefore, it isn't a surprise that Donut Shop has provided a way to create a perfectly brewed, perfectly sweetened, perfectly creamy iced coffee to enjoy all summer long.

These Sweet & Creamy Nutty Hazelnut K-cups are just so simple! Pop one in your Keurig brewer, brew over ice (instead of into your mug) and enjoy! The result? A delicious iced coffee fresh from your kitchen without the wait, the drive or the huge price tag!

Using the 6-oz setting that Donut Shop recommended (you can, of course, also choose a different size depending on your strength preference), I love that these K-cups provide the rich and creamy flavor of coffee but with the cool, refreshing addition of ice.

These K-cups include a dash of cream and sweetener (you can always add more, of course!) and definitely have an unmistakable, strong hazelnut flavor. For those people that are fans of nutty flavored coffees, this will surely be a hit!

All together, Donut Shop has provided a cup of fresh, flavorful gourmet iced coffee that is great to start the day, kick back with in the afternoon or wind down with in the evening. They're a little too nut-flavored for my liking, but again, fans of flavored coffee should give these a try for a tasty summer treat. Here's to summer!

If you're already a fan of The Original Donut Shop and their flavored coffee, you'll love that their delectable K-cups are made to brew over ice for summer enjoyment. Or, if you haven't tried iced coffee (or iced tea) at home with your Keurig before, I highly recommend picking up one of the many varieties available from Cross Country Cafe to give it a try today!

As a Cross Country Cafe Ambassador, I have been provided with products in exchange for my continued work with their company and affiliate links are included in the above post. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta at The Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar {#ReviewCrew}

Although my family enjoys eating a variety of foods, there's no doubt that the everlasting favorite is always pasta. How can you go wrong when the delicious noodles and the decadent sauces come together for a plate full of YUM?

Therefore, when my husband and I were planning a recent weekend day out and were looking for a restaurant that would be in our projected area for dinner, the search was over when we came across The Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar. A cozy, warm atmosphere combined with a menu full of divine pasta creations? Yes, please!

Located in a cozy Eastside Milwaukee neighborhood, The Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar has been a favorite of residents, downtown businesses and travelers for over 32 years. Considering that it combines all of the charm of a European bistro with fresh pastas, sauces, breads and desserts prepared daily, it really isn't any wonder that The Pasta Tree has earned a reputation as Milwaukee's freshest and best Italian food.

After a full day of activities, our stomachs were growling as we arrived at The Pasta Tree and, after a warm welcome, we were shown to our comfortable, chic table.

After we were settled and had been greeted by a friendly server, we took to perusing the menu.

Oh my, the menu.

I mentioned that we like pasta, right? There is just about every imaginable variety customizable and available with all sorts of delicious additions like vegetables, shrimp, scallops, chicken, beef and much more!

Upon finally making our selections, we were treated to a basket of homemade bread and flavored butter that got our taste buds even more excited about the main course.

What followed the bread was our appetizer order of Mozzarella in Sugo, The Pasta Tree's unique twist on mozzarella sticks. As opposed to something that tastes as though it sat in the freezer and then was fried, their homemade breaded mozzarella and fresh tomato vegetable sauce was amazing!

While we waited for our entrees to arrive, we took in more of the decor of The Pasta Tree and discussed how beautiful it must be to dine on the garden patio on evenings filled with nice weather. Even though the space is somewhat small, the water fountain and blooming flowers make it so quaint and intimate!

A short while later, our main dishes arrived and everyone took in the aromas of their plates of pasta with glee. Mmm, mmmm!

Caesar salad, Fettuccine Alfredo, Fresh Basil Pesto Cream pasta, Tortellini with Alfredo, Carbonara and Chicken Alfredo that were all just as fresh and delicious as they looked!

Big Sister E and Little Sister B begrudgingly shared a little bit of their Alfredo dishes with me and, after I had a taste, I could see why they didn't want to give up any more bites. Yum!

Many plates were completely cleared by the end of dinner, while others were packaged up and eaten as leftovers the following day. As I had enjoyed my Pesto Cream dish but felt as though there was a little too much pesto compared to the amount of noodles, I was able to split my leftovers into multiple meals by adding my own pasta and extending the tastiness even further!

While the prices at The Pasta Tree are in line with those of an upscale, high quality restaurant, using our Restaurant.com certificate made the whole meal extremely affordable! As it received two thumbs from the whole family and was the perfect addition to our day, I can definitely see returning in the future.

For more information about The Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar, visit their website and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. To find out about all of the money-saving options that Restaurant.com has to offer in your area (or in an area that you are planning to visit), head over to Restaurant.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

As a member of the Restaurant.com Review Crew, I have been provided gift cards and compensation in order to facilitate my reviews. However, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Summertime Recipes with Honey Bunches of Oats! {Sweet and Savory Mango Spears Recipe}

Around here, unanimous decisions are hard to come by.

Picking a movie to watch? The kids want something animated, my husband wants action, and I want comedy (or a chick flick). Not exactly a match.

Heading outdoors? Big Sister E wants to go to the park, Little Sister B wants to play in the yard, I want to go for a walk, and my husband wants us all to go downtown to the latest festival or event.

Planning dinner? Oh, don't even get me started. Is there some sort of meal that can combine pizza, macaroni & cheese, chicken, salad and pigs in a blanket all into one? If there is, it would probably be pretty gross... not to mention that someone here would still object.

Fortunately, even if my family doesn't always readily agree to much else, we are always 100% unanimous in our love for Honey Bunches of Oats!

What started back with the original Honey Bunches of Oats, the collection of flavors has grown to now include 16 different varieties such as Strawberry, Vanilla Bunches, Whole Grain Almond, Greek Honey Crunch, Morning Energy Chocolatey Almond Crunch, and more.

No matter what your preferences, there is a box that is sure to provide the crispy flakes and tasty, crunchy granola clusters with just a touch of honey that the whole family will enjoy! After all, who can resist the delicious crunch that comes along with so many whole grains?

However, as much as we have always enjoyed a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats to start our day (and as an occasional snack), I have never considered trying anything more creative with them. But then Honey Bunches of Oats debuted unique new summertime recipes and I knew that I would have to try using our favorite cereal as an ingredient in something tasty!

You're telling me that I could have been making "Fried" Ice Cream with Cinnamon-Chocolate Sauce, Crab Cakes with Sriracha-Lime Mayo, Crunchy Sweet Potato Fries with Harissa Aioli or Crunchy Monkey Bread (and many more) all this time and I didn't know it?

While each of those "out-of-the-bowl" recipes definitely show the versatility of using this tasty cereal in classic recipes, once I came across the Sweet and Savory Mango Spears, I knew that they would be just the thing to try out this summer.

Opting to try this recipe on a smaller scale for our first attempt, I decided to try it with just one mango instead of four. Let the fruity, salty, spiciness begin!

Sweet and Savory Mango Spears

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves 4, 4 pieces each

Ingredients

⅓ cup Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted cereal
4 mangoes
2 limes, zest and juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

In a food processor, ground cereal into a fine powder. Set aside.

Slice each mango lengthwise into 4 equal size pieces and remove outer skin. Insert a wooden stick into one end of each mango piece.

In a small bowl, zest the limes. Add chili powder, salt and prepared ground cereal. Stir to combine.

Slice limes and squeeze juice over the mango pieces. Sprinkle each mango piece with the chili and cereal blend. Serve immediately.

My first realization was that I don't have skills when it comes to cutting a mango and need to definitely work on getting the slices longer, smoother and less hack-it-off-the-pit looking. Second, although my resulting Sweet and Savory Mango Spears didn't look nearly as nice as those made by Honey Bunches of Oats, the flavor was great!

I was a little concerned that the combination of the lime and chili powder with the sweetness of the mango wouldn't blend, but they in fact are perfect complements to one another — YUM! I can definitely see bringing these to any number of summer occasions such as backyard barbeques or family picnics as soon as I can make them look a little more appealing!

When it comes to starting off the day in a healthy, delicious way, Honey Bunches of Oats has always been the first box that we reach for in the cupboard. Now that they have given us the ability to stretch our imaginations and take our cereal love into all sorts of other dishes, there's no doubt that we'll be returning to their recipe page time and again to try out even more new, tasty ways to enjoy it!

Find out more about the nutrition, varieties and delicious recipes utilizing Honey Bunches of Oats by visiting HoneyBunchesOfOats.com and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I was provided with samples and compensation for my time in writing this post, however, all opinions shared are completely honest and my own.

The Diaper Bag for the Stylish Dad: Lassig Tender Messenger Bag {Review}

Although my husband has been plenty involved and has had lots of input in many of the purchasing decisions made for our children over the years, one topic that was mainly always left to me was diaper bags. Other than not wanting to carry around something pastel with cartoon characters on it, he just wanted something functional that would do the job holding the necessities.

Considering that the diaper bag market is very female-centered, I guess I can't blame him. However, with the number of dads that are hands-on with their children and often out and about (with or without Mom), shouldn't there be more fashion-meets-function designs that appeal to men? Preferably that would focus on organization, high quality and a timeless look that could be used far after the little ones are out of diapers?

In fact, there is. Instead of making Dad cringe having to carry a bag that he might want to hide under the stroller, gift him with the one that he is going to proudly carry for years and years to come, the Tender Messenger Bag from Lassig!

Renowned world-wide for their their stylish, high quality products for modern families on the go, Lassig designs combine European flair with superb functionality to create a must-have line of products for kids as well as adults.

And Lassig's Tender Messenger Bag is the perfect example of their high quality, attention to detail, stylishly chic collections. Why not buy one unique, high quality, ultra-fashionable, extremely versatile bag that can be used pre-baby, throughout childhood, and beyond that men would enjoy carrying throughout multiple stages of their life?

A firm believer that there is no reason to get a diaper bag that screams Baby! when you're not going to want to carry it after your baby has grown up, I couldn't wait to see the Tender Messenger Bag in person.

No matter if you're focused on form, function, ease of use or simply a modern, uncomplicated look, Lassig has managed to put all of that (plus more) into the Tender Messenger Bag. Made out of 100% polyester, this bag actually looks and feels like it is created from luxuriously soft leather.

In fact, even though I knew that this stylish bag is technically a diaper bag, it was immediately hard to convince my brain that it wasn't a high-end laptop briefcase because of just how elegant it was, whether closed or open.

The modern simplicity of this bag is really eye-catching and, when it came to designing a way to travel fashionably smart, Lassig did just that. The Tender Messenger Bag includes pockets galore, both inside and outside, that result in your possessions being easily accessible while still staying perfectly secure.

Even before I had gotten to the main compartment, I was admiring the plethora of smaller, organized pockets and compartments that ensure that Dad doesn't have to do any digging around for sunglasses, keys, diapers, a pen, his phone or more with so much organization.

As I made it to the main compartment, it was clear that Lassig not only included great accessories (e.g. a changing pad; a removable compartment for baby food jars, an insulated, removable water bottle holder; stroller hooks to attach it directly to stroller handles; and more)...

...but there is no shortage of storage space as well.

Need to stash a wet bathing suit after your trip to the beach? Use the water proof pocket. Want easy access to your tot's food? There is a removable compartment designed to hold baby food jars so that this bag can transition into soft foods right along with your little one!

Basically, Lassig thought of everything a busy dad on-the-go may need and made this bag lightweight, durable and detailed enough that he won't have to search or wonder where or how he would carry it.

All in all, I have yet to find a reason that the Tender Messenger Bag wouldn't be the perfect gift for the hip, hands-on dad.

We've all seen bags that have claimed to be multifunctional, yet this one has the size, shape, adjustable strap, and neutral color that moms and dads will both love. Not to mention that Lassig has easily transformed what was once a mundane diaper bag into a chic and fashionable tote, whether you're using it with kids or to carry your laptop!

This bag does have a higher price tag than the diaper bags that you might find in the store (it retails for $129.99), but it is clear that the Tender Messenger Bag isn't just going to serve as a diaper bag but as a go-to bag for all occasions and for many, many years.

Plus, the high quality of Lassig items ensure that they are going to last a lifetime and the stylish convenience that they will add to your life (or that of your extremely lucky recipient, if given as a gift) is something you'll never want to live without.

To find out more about all of Lassig's stylish travel options and to place your order today, visit HABAusa.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Other than the Lassig Tender Messenger Bag that I was provided by HABA in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this company and product.

Join Us as We Power Up & Read with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge! {#SummerReading}

 This post is part of a sponsored collaboration with Scholastic. All thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Although it feels as though we were just counting down the days until school ended, somehow I blinked and June is nearly over already. Apparently summer flies by when it is filled with sports, activities, swimming, play dates and, a personal favorite, relaxing with a favorite book!

This year my kids have happily joined me in curling up with all sorts of new (as well as old favorite) books, thanks to the fun and encouragement they have been receiving from Scholastic's Summer Reading Challenge.

If you missed my previous post, then you've got to catch up on the facts and get started with this great program! Now in its 9th year, the Summer Reading Challenge program is a free, online/mobile reading program that helps prepare kids for back-to-school by encouraging them to read every day all summer long and lessen the possibility of the "summer slide" (the common loss of skills due to being out of school).

Kids simply keep track and log their reading minutes (online and via mobile) and, along with their peers, see if the cumulative amount can beat the world record. In 2014, Scholastic inspired hundreds of thousands of kids to set a new record for summer reading of 304,749,861 minutes!

How cool is that? This year Scholastic has added a unique twist to the Summer Reading Challenge by giving it a theme of "Power Up & Read" Powered by Energizer®, encouraging families everywhere to find innovative ways to discover the power and joy of reading.

Throughout the summer, kids will unlock 12 original short stories by bestselling children's authors as they reach reading milestones and access never-before-seen videos from the authors. The authors include Blue Balliett, Patrik Henry Bass, Varian Johnson, Gordon Korman, Michael Northtrop, Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pierce, Roland Smith, R.L. Stine, Tui T. Sutherland, Lauren Tarshis, Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Jude Watson.

Each of the authors has written a unique short story using the same opening sentence, "I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that no one had followed me into the shadowy library, then took a deep breath and opened the glowing book..." Plus, each story has a 'read along' audio component, inviting kids of all ages and reading levels to enjoy these highly engaging stories!

Along with these fun stories, kids can also enter monthly sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges, stock up on badges as they hit reading milestones, play the new Innovation Machine game (an interactive creative writing game with its own contest and prizes), and more!

Scholastic didn't leave parents out as well, as the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge also features "The Daily Digest" of new, daily tips, as well as free downloadable resources including printables and booklists for kids of all ages.

Parents can also watch videos about summer reading activities to keep you "innovative" all summer long as well as enter weekly sweepstakes to win a "Power Up & Read Kit" including a Scholastic tote bag, water bottle, a copy of Reading Unbound by Jeffrey Wilhelm and Michael Smith, a $10 gift certificate to the Scholastic Store Online, Energizer® brand batteries, Scholastic books, and more.

I love knowing that I can turn to Scholastic for just about any inspiration, ideas, information and more to keep my kids on track with their love of reading!

What parent wouldn't be thrilled knowing that their children can't wait to take things even further in upcoming months as we find even more ways to Power Up & Read? The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge runs through September 4, 2015, so there is still plenty of time to head over and get involved. It's free, educational and fun!

After you've gone to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge, amp up the excitement even more by following Scholastic on Twitter, Liking the Energizer Bunny on Facebook and Scholastic on Facebook, and following the #SummerReading hashtag throughout social media.

You can also find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long and learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game!

Chic Summer Styles and Savings From FabKids {Review}

While Little Sister B is fortunate to never have a shortage of clothes passed down from her older sister, the differences in their personalities and tastes leads to quite a few rejections from my little fashionista.

Whereas Big Sister E is much more of a tomboy, preferring simply designed athletic clothes in her favorite shades of dark blue, Little Sister B wants to don apparel that reflects her personality — bright and bold. Preferably with various patterns, sequins and as much sparkle and glitter as possible, please.

Therefore, when it's time to shop, we never have any problem turning to the company that we know provides only high quality, unique styling, and cheerful, vivid colors. It's time for FabKids!

After Little Sister B and I were thrilled with seeing her FabKids clothing from the past few months, I took one look at the new-for-June Navy Sunset Outfit and fell in love with it myself.

Without any doubt that my girl would be just as excited about this comfortable-yet-chic look, it was time to see it in person!

Combining the bright pinks, orange and yellow colors of a sunset with the deep, dark blue of an evening sky, this outfit had a glint in Little Sister B's eyes before she had it fully out of the packaging. It just couldn't get much cuter!

Immediately she had to try them on, and, in less than a minute, she had transformed into one adorable little Navy Sunset herself.

As always, FabKids' Fab Soft Leggings are the perfect accompaniment to any dress or skirt, as they are extremely soft and very comfortable.

But the Tiered Stripe Dress is truly the star of this ensemble, as the way that the stripes run in alternating directions and the different layers of the dress have diagonal hems grabs your eye immediately. Add to that the way that the dress is fully lined (no worries if one of the layers flips up) and that the shoulder straps are soft and smooth, and this has quickly become a front runner in the favorites list.

Little Sister B has continued to be just as giddy over her new FabKids clothing as the day that it arrived and I love seeing how excited she is to put it on and twirl, twirl, twirl!

If you haven't checked out FabKids yet, now is the time! As well as their affordable prices, personalized recommendations and multiple ways to shop, they have now added two new features this month for even bigger and better savings:

• Build-your-own dress sets: Choose 2 dresses + 2 leggings and get a $10 savings!
• Outfits with Shoes: Buy outfits and shoes in just 1 click + a 10% savings!

But that's still not all. Right now FabKids is holding a fantastic VIP Summer Sale with savings up to 50% off, so you don't want to miss out!

Find out more about FabKids and the ways that they can effortlessly style the children in your life in age-appropriate, colorful, stylish designs by visting their website at FabKids.com and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Other than the Navy Sunset Outfit that we received from FabKids in order to facilitate this review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this site and their products.

Never Lose the Things You Love with the Pebblebee Honey Bluetooth Tracking Device {Review & Giveaway}

While there are plenty of stress-inducers in all of our lives that we cannot change or influence (e.g. bad weather and traffic jams), I think we all sometimes daydream about having a way that we could actually control the impact of others.

After all, wouldn't it be nice if there was no more struggling to find your keys when it is time to leave, worrying if your child has made it safely home after school, searching the neighborhood when your dog slips out the gate, kicking yourself for leaving your water bottle at the gym, and much more? Clearly, the list of things that cause anxiety, strain and tension in our lives is endless.

However, the wait is now over. When it comes to keeping track of any and everything (and everyone) important in your life, it's time for the most versatile and affordable Bluetooth Tracker and Sensor around from Pebblebee.

Developed by two big thinking engineers, Pebblebee, Inc. has been focused on quality and affordability since day one and now offers two incredible Bluetooth tracking devices, the Honey and the newly-released-on-crowdfunding Stone.

With a huge range of functions and capabilities, these small gadgets are the most effective loss prevention system in the world! Simply tag what you lose most and always have the peace of mind you will be able to track it down later. Could this be much easier?

Considering that a day doesn't go by around here that I'm not hunting around my house for my phone, keys or the kittens, I was ready to put the Honey to the test to see how it could make life easier!

Right out of the box, Pebblebee makes starting to use the Honey pretty much foolproof.

I started by downloading the Pebblebee App (available for free on iTunes as well as Google Play) and, after pressing the button on the side of each of the Honey trackers, they were ready to be paired and put to use.

Once I had my hive set up and ready to go, all that was left was to place each of the Honey in the location of my choosing. As each one is small and unassuming (0.2 ounces each!), there is no worry that you're adding something bulky to your keyring, purse, backpack, luggage, remote control, pet's collar, and more.

Pebblebee even offers handy accessories that make it even easier to utilize the Honey. Keep your hive easily sorted with the colorful Honey Jacket Pack or use the Honey Gear to add a splash of color and make it even simpler to attach your devices to a wrist, collar, bag or more.

Once you've decided where to place your tracker(s), there is no waiting to put any of the thousands of its applications to work!

The user-friendly interface of the app allows users to see features right at a glance, so no matter if you're using the temperature sensor to make sure that your house hasn't gotten too warm while you are gone or are using the Bluetooth range finder and musical buzzer to locate your keys, it is all done quickly and easily. There is even an internal LED for findings your lost things in the dark!

On an even more technical level, you are able to pair your Honey alerts to particular owner-specified locations to let you know if you've left your purse at the restaurant or when your child has returned home after school — talk about ease of mind! Or, to take things a step further, "share" your Honey with friends and family so that you can create your own community of lost and found helpers.

In short, it is almost difficult to find something that the Pebblebee Honey can't do. It is water resistant for extended use, can find and keep track of just about anything, and has far more uses than simply being a high quality tracking device. Why not use it to turn on and off your lights or music, send you notifications when your safe has been opened or to take better selfies as a remote camera shutter (all things you can do with the universal button)?

Isn't it time to reduce the hassle and stress in your life from the amount of time you spend searching for lost items or trying to keep track of the possessions, people and pets that cause you worry? The Honey can help!

These innovative little devices have an extremely long-lasting battery (up to one year or more depending on use and then are easily replaced) and are designed to be technologically advanced while still easy enough to use so that there is no complicated knowledge necessary.

Visit Pebblebee.com today to find out much more and see how the Honey can make a difference for you. A single Honey retails for $24.99 or you can save money by picking up the 6-pack for $134.95. You'll also want to connect with Pebblebee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date on all things Honey as well as the new Stone!

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon see how simple it can be to use a high quality Bluetooth Tracker to keep tabs on their life as well, because...

One lucky person will win (2) Honey Bluetooth Tracking Devices from Pebblebee!

Entry-Form

A big thank you to Pebblebee for providing product for me to review as well as (2) Honey trackers for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.