I found this recipe on Pinterest from the blog Because Barenaked Chef Said So, and I pinned it months ago with the intent to try it eventually (just like many of my pins).  Well, I finally decided yesterday to give it a try and the result was DELICIOUS!  Personally, I was a little skeptical, but after I poured it over the salad and tossed it, I honestly can’t tell the difference from Olive Garden’s version.  If you’re as big a fan as I am of Olive Garden’s salad, TRY THIS RECIPE.  Now I just need to master their breadsticks!

Just a quick note:  This recipe makes a big batch of dressing, so consider a storage container before getting started.  I ended up having to store it in two different salad dressing containers.

Ingredients: 

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

1 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Teaspoon dried Italian spices

1 Teaspoon salt

1 Teaspoon black pepper

1 Teaspoon sugar

1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder

1 Tablespoon mayonnaise

9 Tablespoons water (that’s 1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon)

2 Envelopes Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix (each envelope is .7 oz)

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a blender on high until combined.  Pour into a container and refrigerate until ready to serve.  You will have to stir it again before serving.

ENJOY!

I have to admit, I was a little worried how our daughter would respond to all the excitement of the park.  Was it going to be too overwhelming with all the characters, rides, noise, crowds, and was she even going to appreciate meeting any of the characters?  I couldn’t have been more wrong about this judgement.  She LOVED every minute of it!  I was even surprised to find out she actually knows all the characters and was thrilled to meet the Disney Princesses.  It melted my heart to see her smile with excitement whenever we had an opportunity to meet a princess.

Standing at only 38″ tall, there were definitely limitations to what rides she could participate in.  However, there were plenty of activities to keep her entertained in a two day experience.  The Nemo submarine, Winnie the Pooh,  Buzz Lightyear, Autopia, the Tea Cups, the Carousal, and the Jungle Cruise were among a few of the favorites!

Although, we know at her age she probably won’t remember much about the overall experience, we have absolutely no regrets in taking her this young.  To see the joy and happiness the park brought to her face was worth every penny spent.  Personally, I have been to Disneyland a handful of times and had a different experience every time considering my age and who I was traveling with.  This visit to the park, was by far the best experience I’ve ever had.  It’s not about the rides I partook in or the shows I witnessed, it was about the joy in my daughters eyes.

It’s true what they say about Disneyland, “It IS the happiest place on Earth!”  It’s magical, it’s unforgettable and it’s for ALL ages, young and old.  If you are like us and contemplate when the best time to take your kids to Disneyland is, I hope this post helps your decision.  Good luck and happy travels!

As we are only a couple of sleeps away from Santa’s debut, we had better wrap up our shopping quickly!  Like every year and in every family, there are always those last minute gifts to prepare.    Have you considered a handmade craft for that special someone this year?  I don’t know about other parents and grandparents out there, but ANYTHING handmade from my 2 1/2 year old is special.  And my heart instantly melts when she hands it to me with a proud grin on her face and says, “Look what I made for you Mama!”

So, if you have little ones in the house and need a last minute gift idea, consider this.  I found this idea on Pinterest and my daughter made one for each set of grandparents this year.  I liked this craft idea because it’s not only seasonal and can be displayed through the holidays, it’s also a memory display.  They are footprints of my daughters feet at this stage in her life and I painted the year on it so we would always be able to look back and compare.  Just a cute, fun and QUICK craft idea, guaranteed to put a smile on any family members face.

Happy Crafting and Merry Christmas!!!

Supplies Needed: 

• Plain Canvas (any size)…I used an 8×10
• Acrylic Paint …I used light and dark brown, blue, black and red
• Small Tip Brush (for painting details on canvas)
• Larger Foam Brush (for painting the child’s foot quickly before paint dries)
• Baby wipes (to wipe their feet immediately after painting them.

Step One:

Paint bottom of child’s foot with the light brown paint and stamp on canvas to make reindeer head.  Repeat with opposite foot until you have two reindeer heads on the canvas.  Wipe paint off feet.

Step Two:

Let dry completely and then paint details on (antlers, eyes, nose and and the year).

Step Three:

Let dry completely and gift wrap for that special someone.

Optional:  You can staple a nice red ribbon to the back to create a ribbon loop on top for hanging.  We just set ours on the Christmas tree as extra decoration.  Or you could display it on a plate holder and set on a shelf for display too.