My little turkey

Thanksgiving will be over before you know it. Most people buy way too much turkey. I thought it would be a good idea to put together a blog post showing different ways to use that leftover turkey. I'm not the best cook, so they will all be very simple to make.

My friend Rochelle gave me this recipe. It sounds super easy and gets rid of most of the leftovers all at once. Take all of your leftovers and mix them together. Make sure everything is bite sized. Add mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, turkey, gravy, and anything else you think would be good together. Bake until everything is warm, about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Next, add some canned biscuits. Separate each biscuit, then lay them on top of the mixture and bake about 10 minutes or according to can directions.  Now you have a very easy turkey pot pie!


Here is another recipe that uses biscuits. The original recipe calls for ground turkey, but I bet you can substitute chopped or shredded leftover turkey. Print the recipe here.



This is a simple recipe; that sounds tasty. It's a quick, easy turkey casserole made with leftover turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and Hellmann's Mayonnaise. I love mayo. You can print the recipe here. Or, watch the video above with country singer Tricia Yearwood.

You can make soup using leftover turkey.  Betty Crocker offers a very simple recipe, with a 5-star rating.  Click here to print it.
Of course, you could make a turkey & cranberry sandwich. This recipe for a Copycat Panera Turkey Cranberry Sandwich from Erin Brans looks easy to make. All you need it turkey, cranberry sauce, spinach leaves, cream cheese, & bread.


Our friend from Raising Dick & Jane has a delicious looking recipe for Turkey Salad Croissants. I plan to try this one out for sure.

Coffee Beanery Coffee Gift Basket Giveaway

Hosted by:  Savory Savings

Sponsored by: Coffee Beanery

Coffee.  Easily one of the most popular holiday gifts out there - am I right?  Who wouldn't love to receive an assortment of coffees to try something new once in awhile?  The Coffee Beanery offers several coffee gift baskets that fit the bill!  Krista over at Savory Savings was recently able to review one such basket and shared her review - check it out!

Since the Mom Among Chaos girls are coffee fans we knew some of our followers might be as well. Would you like to win a basket full of coffee samples and a travel mug from the Coffee Beanery?  If you would like a chance to win, enter in the Giveaway Tool form below. Good Luck!

Three pampered pooches left to guard the house on Christmas Eve become fearless DOGATEERS when thieves break in and steal every present, every ornament—even the yuletide tree! Vowing to save Christmas, the three canines set out in search of Santa, the only one who can help them on their quest. All the while they are dodging a dogcatcher bent on capturing them.

The Three Dogateers is Dove “Family-Approved”!

Watch the trailer in the video below or at this link: http://youtu.be/jESbfyDJoiA

Bobby Flay Joined by Katie Lee, Sunny Anderson, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Michael Symon for Turkey Day Feast With All the Trimmings

NEW YORK - Bobby Flay hosts all-star special Thanksgiving at Bobby's this holiday season, complete with favorite recipes, delicious tips and expert culinary advice to help viewers prepare for their own upcoming feast. Along with co-host Katie Lee, Bobby welcomes his friends Sunny Anderson, Alex Guarnaschelli and Michael Symon to the party to share their favorite Turkey Day dishes, traditions and personal family memories. Thanksgiving at Bobby's premieres on Saturday, November 22nd at 12pm ET/PT.

"Thanksgiving is Bobby's favorite day of the year and it shows - he's opened up his table to our audience for a personal look at how his family and friends celebrate," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Food Network. "The dishes, tips, and tricks that Bobby and his friends share will inspire everyone planning their own holiday meal."

Bobby always makes the turkey for Thanksgiving and this year he's preparing Roasted Turkey with Mustard Maple Glaze. Katie uses a little inspiration from the South to make her grandmother's Cornbread Stuffing with Herb Butter, while Sunny's Sage and Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole is an ode to her mother's sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows. Alex offers the unexpected and delicious vegetable dish Broiled Cauliflower Steaks with Parsley and Lemon and Michael finishes off the meal with a Chocolate Pumpkin Pie. Other dishes on the menu include Holiday Sangria, Mashed Potatoes with Buttermilk, Black Pepper and Green Onion, along with Katie's take on a classic Deviled Eggs appetizer.

At FoodNetwork.com, viewers can find all-new Thanksgiving recipes, behind-the-scenes photos and more. During the show, get your Thanksgiving questions answered live on Food Network's Facebook page and on Twitter, with hashtag #ThanksgivingFeast.

I usually make a pumpkin cheesecake, but this year I might try out this chocolate pumpkin pie. Let me know if you make it. ~ Stephanie

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie - Recipe courtesy of Michael Symon

Pie Crust:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, very cold, cut into small pieces
2 to 3 tablespoons ice cold water

Filling:
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, very finely chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
One 14-ounce can pumpkin puree
One 12-ounce can evaporated milk
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
Pinch salt
Shaved chocolate, for garnish

For the pie crust: Combine the flour, sugar, salt and butter in a food processor and pulse until coarse, with small marbles of butter remaining. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the ice water, then pulse until crumbly and the dough holds together when squeezed. (If too dry, add another sprinkle of water, but do not over mix.) Transfer the dough to a plastic bag, press into a disk and refrigerate for one hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Roll out the dough on floured surface, then press it into a deep 9-inch pie plate. Trim the edges to leave 1 inch of overhang, fold it under and flute the edges. Cut a piece of parchment or nonstick foil to the size of the pie plate and use it to line the pie crust. Fill with pie weights and bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Remove the pie weights and return the pie dough to the oven to dry out, about 8 minutes.

Lower the oven to 325 degrees F.

For the filling: In a double boiler, melt the semisweet chocolate, bittersweet chocolate and butter, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat.

In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, light brown sugar, eggs, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Fold in the melted chocolate mixture. Set the pie plate on a baking sheet and pour the filling into the crust. Bake until the center of the pie has just about set but still has a slight jiggle, about 1 hour. Let cool completely before serving. Top with chocolate shavings.

Yield: 8 servings
Active Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 3 hours

The Hope Kit is a Thirty-One Gift’s Cosmetic Bag filled with essential hygiene supplies such as a toothbrush, shampoo, hairbrush soap and a special note of encouragement.

Disclosure: I received something of value from Thirty-One Gifts. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Full policy here.

I already have fallen in love with Thirty-One Gifts.  If you missed our last review of Thirty-One check it out here.  I can honestly say that I am proud to write this review.  I love what Thirty-One Gifts is doing to help others in need.  Thirty-One Gifts is working with World Vision for the 3rd Annual Giving Tuesday on Dec. 2, 2014.

What is the 3rd Annual Giving Tuesday you might ask?  Thirty-One Gifts organization is sending out personal hygiene supplies to women in need.  On #GivingTuesday 3,100 donations will be made to World Vision.  The hope kit tote will include hygiene products for a women or a girl right here in the U.S.  The hope kit is pictured above.  

Close up of the Hope Kit

How can you help? The donations on #GivingTuesday can be made by phone (1-888-511-6588) or online (Worldvision.org) to World Vision on Giving Tuesday. On #GivingTuesday every donation made to the Christian humanitarian agency World Vision will make twice the impact by combating poverty in one of the 100 countries where World Vision works.  So, if you're planning on giving please try to take advantage of #GivingTuesday where your donations mean so much more.

You can visit World Vision on Facebook by clicking here.  Or, on Twitter by using the hashtags #GiftCatalog and #GivingTuesday.

You can find out more about #GivingTuesday at http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/.

Welcome to the Holiday HOHOHO Hop!

Now is your chance to seek out some awesome prizes for those on your Christmas list, but you better hurry, the hop ends on December 5! Make sure to stop by The Review Wire for the Grand Prize, an Erin Condren Life Planner! Use it as a nutrition/exercise log, newborn sleep & peep record, work meetings & appointments, academic & social planner, keepsake journal or as a scrapbook...the possibilities are endless!


Mom Among Chaos has been lucky enough to work with Thirty-One Gifts to bring you another great giveaway.  One lucky fan will receive a Handle-It Cosmetic Bag.  The winner will have their choice of Paisley Day, Black Chevron, or Plum Chevron with the words "Hope" embroidered on it. 
Enter to win in the form below. The winner must live in the United States. Ends 12/05/2014.
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Disclaimer: This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on December 5, 2014. The Anything Goes Event Bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Companies and bloggers, if you would like to participate in group giveaway events like this one, sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Review Wire Media.

What is your favorite color of the HANDLE-IT COSMETIC BAG?

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Have you ever attended a show at the Fox Theater?

Plus a second winner will receive two tickets to Sea Life, scheduled to open in 2015 at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills Michigan.

Please note that you must be a resident of Michigan to win either prize!  

A big thank you to our sponsors:

As the only fair of its kind in the United States open to the public, ChiTAG Fair returns to Navy Pier in Chicago, the world’s top city for toy and game inventors, for a weekend of fun-filled discovery, interactive events, and of course, play.

The first 1,000 attendees through the doors on Saturday, November 22, will receive a free copy of the acclaimed book, About Jenga, by author and Jenga creator Leslie Scott. Leslie Scott will also be attending the Fair and autographing copies of her book during the Fair.

Here is just a sampling of more funtabulous things to see and do at the fair!
Featured Exhibits - Robots, Rainbow Loom, dinosaurs, Star Wars characters, a truck filled with video games... and so much more! Check out the Featured Exhibitor Page: http://www.chitagfair.com/featured-exhibits/

Zoomer Dino presents Earth's Dinosaur Zoo LIVE! - (Saturday 11/22) - To quote Jurassic Park, "We have a T-Rex". One of the spectacular life-size dinosaur puppets will be making limited showings at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair on Saturday!

Young Inventor Challenge, presented by Spin Master(11/22 10a - 2p) – A fantastic opportunity for children ages 6 to 18 to showcase their own original toy & game inventions to toy & game industry professionals, members of media and the general public. We have a new workbook full of inspirations and exercises for you, and an even bigger prize package! Registration for the Young Inventor Challenge is at http://chitagfair.com/young-inventor-challenge/.

Rummikub National Championship! (11/22) - The Chicago Toy & Game Fair is hosting the Rummikub National Championship! The winner of the tournament receives round trip airfare and a travel stipend to compete in the World Championship next year in Germany! More details coming soon - http://www.chitagfair.com/featured-events/rummikub-national-championship

Illinois State Yo-Yo Championship (11/22 10a - 4p) - A dynamic performance competition (featuring ladder climbs). Hands-on tips for all skill levels; online and day-of registration available. This immensely entertaining contest will feature multiple divisions in both the Sport and Pro categories. Contest entry is open to all ages!

Catan National Championship, US Qualifier (11/22 10:30am) - This event is already full, and a wait list has started. Mayfair is considering adding additional seats. Open to ages 18+. For more information and wait list sign up, visit http://www.chitagfair.com/settlers-of-catan-national-championship-us-qualifier/

Star Wars Luncheon (11/22, 12p-1p) - Meet & eat with your favorite Star Wars characters! Plus free Star Wars Action figures! Sponsored by Hasbro. http://chitagfair.com/star-wars-luncheon/

Adventure Sandwich LIVE! - Adventure Sandwich has an area filled with cardboard for you to create your own funtastic creations, and on Sunday they will take the stage with their own unique and lively performance.

Special Programming for Scouts (11/23) - Scouts in uniform receive free admission to the fair thanks to Mayfair Games, publishers of the hit board games "The Settlers of Catan" and "Catan Junior". Mayfair Games will be providing a special workshop for boy scouts working towards their game design badge. Legoland Discovery Center will be providing a workshop for Girl Scouts oncreating their own LEGO Comic Book. For more information, visit http://chitagfair.com/girl-scouts-and-boy-scouts/

Meet the Inventors (11/22 & 23) - Leslie Scott, inventor of the worldwide tower stacking sensation Jenga, will be giving copies of her book "About Jenga" to the first 1000 attendees at the fair. She will be available for signings 12-2 each day. You can also meet the inventors of Rainbow Loom, Zoomer the Robot Puppy and more! http://www.chitagfair.com/featured-inventors

Print this coupon for $2 off admission

Ticket Information - $10/adult, $5/child ages 3-13. More information, including the $2 off coupon and complimentary admission guidelines, can be found on our ticket page: http://chitagfair.com/tickets-and-hours/

Grandparents Day - ChiTAG celebrates fun at all ages and on Sunday grandparents get in for free! Bring your grandchildren along and enjoy the fun together.

click on the photo to view larger

My family is excited to attend the Fair again this year. We don't leave Michigan often, so this is a vacation for us. Last year we had a fun time enjoying the weekend with our friends. This year my whole family is going. We can't wait to try out some new toys and games, along with visiting with some of our favorite brands. 
We also plan to see the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. It includes an evening parade down Michigan Avenue. 
We are hoping to finally visit the Skydeck. It's a glass balcony extending four feet outside the 103rd floor of Willis Tower.
This is only my 3rd time in Chicago, so any tips & advice is greatly appreciated. What is a must see or do in Chicago?

ABOUT THE CHICAGO TOY & GAME GROUP
The Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc. is a family of toy industry initiatives designed to encourage and promote the power of play and invention in social, educational, and professional environments. The Chicago Toy & Game Group consists of the Chicago Toy & Game Fair; International Toy & Game Inventor and Industry Conference; International Summit for Professional Inventors; playCHIC Fashion Show; Toy & Game Inventor Awards; National ChiTAG Networking Events; Games for Educators; and DiscoverGames.com. For more information, visit www.ChiTAG.com, join in the conversation on Facebook, or follow the fun on Twitter @ChicagoToyNGame.

More exciting things are being added every day! Follow on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the latest news!

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

How old is the child you will order a #Santawillwrite package for?

Wild Lights takes place in November and December and features 5 million lights and over 100 different animal sculptures, throughout the Detroit Zoo. 

Disclosure: I received something of value from the Detroit Zoo. Read our full disclosure policy here.
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo presented by Bank of America

When: November 22-24, 28-30 and December 5-7, 11-14, 18-23 and 26-31.

Time: 5:30 - 9 p.m.
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Do you plan to go see Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo?

Disclosure: I received something of value to facilitate this post. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Read our full disclosure policy here.

I had the opportunity to try Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes by Younique.  I was excited to check these out, because I love long lashes.  In fact, when I went to Cancun I had false lashes put on that lasted 6 weeks.  What I failed to mention in an update was that they broke off all of my normal lashes.  So, I was looking for something that wouldn't ruin the my lashes.  I was in for a treat.

Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lash on Crystal

I discovered that the first time I applied it I did it wrong.  I forgot to seal it.  Once I sealed my lashes, I loved this product.  It's super easy to use.  The picture above doesn't do it justice for how long my eyelashes looked, but you can get a good idea.


How to Apply 3D Fiber Lashes:
1. Apply a very thin coat of your favorite mascara on both of your eyes.  Allow to dry.  Make sure you don't clump it like I did.

2.  Apply the transplanting gel to one eye, don't apply to both at the same time because it dries quickly.

3.  Immediately, before gel has time to dry, apply the fibers.  Seal with the transplanting gel.

4. Repeat on other eye.


Younique's claim is that it provides a 300% increase in thickness and volume.  Do I believe that this is true?  Yes. It does take a little practice putting it on, but I found the product awesome.  My eyelashes looked amazing and I had no problem when I washed them off.  I didn't have to scrub and scrub to get it off my eyes.  It was very simple to remove.

Would I recommend Younique? Yes, this is not something that I would apply to my eyelashes everyday, but I would wear it if I was going out with friends or on a hot date with my husband.

When I posted my picture with the 3D eyelashes, I received a big positive response from friends.  I think I might be ordering some for Christmas gifts.  Where can you get it?  You can go to Younique or to Facebook.

In honor of these amazing lashes Mom Among Chaos is giving away a mystery beauty item.  Enter in the form below to win. Ends 12/2/2014.
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Luma Comfort AP400W Air Purifier Disclosure: I received something of value to facilitate this post. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Read our full disclosure policy here.

I was given the opportunity to review the Luma Comfort AP400W Air Purifier.  First, let me state that I live in a crazy household.  I have two kids, two dogs, and a husband.  They are messy, dirty, and sometimes plain gross.  We have cooties coming in from school.  I have a dog that likes to roll in who knows what outside, bringing in lots of things I'm allergic to.  I have been dependent on my allergy medication since this past spring, which is unusual for me.  I was excited to see just what this little compact air purifier could do for me and my family.

Many years ago I had a air purifier.  It was large and very noisy.  The first thing I noticed was that this one is small, quiet, and quite cute.  It looked nothing like the monster air purifier we use to have.

The Filters

The only installation for the Luma Comfort AP400W Air Purifier is taking the front panel off to remove the plastic from all of the filters.  This is the very impressive part.  Well, it totally impressed me anyway.  This purifier has not one, but 5 layers of protection.  It has a PRE-CARBON filter, HEPA, VOC, Ti02 MESH, and a UV.   I could not believe something so little can provide so much protection.

What does this air purifier protect against, you might ask?  This little masterpiece protects against dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals.  So, if you think about it the Luma Comfort AP400W can save you money in the long run.  I know it will save me money.  My kids will be sick less, so that will save me money on doctors visits and prescriptions.  Also, I will be in such a good mood with less dust in the house and hopefully cutting back or getting rid of my allergy medication.


I hadn't even mentioned the air purifier to my 8 year old daughter when she came down stairs and noticed a change in the air quality of our great room.  I noticed it also. It's like the air has a crisp, clean quality to it. 

The Controls

The controls on the Luma Comfort AP400W are so easy to use.  You barely have to touch them to get it going.  The button on the right is to turn the unit on.  From there the choices are up to you.  The fan is the second button from right. It allows you to select the speed of the fan.  The middle clock button is a timer.  You can set the timer from 1-7 hours of air purification.  After the set time the unit shuts itself off.  The second button on the left is for the filters.  It lets you know when they need to be replaced.  The first button on the left is for the UV.   When you turn it on, the light is used to kill viruses and mold, along with bacteria.  I love that button!

Would I recommend the Luma Comfort air purifier?  Yes! It's super easy to use, high quality, and efficient.  I love that it's killing bacteria and making my home so much healthier.  The only thing I didn't like was the color.  In a household with kids and dogs, things get dirty quickly.  I probably would have picked black because it doesn't show as much dirt, but I guess that's it's job.

Where can you learn more about this product?  You can visit their website by clicking here or on Facebook.

Stephanie's children, Aaron & Rylie, enjoying the circus.

Disclosure: I received something of value from Feld Entertainment as part of their Insider Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Read our full disclosure policy here.

Super Circus Supervisors

Builders in their own right, Alex and Irina Emelin have spent years constructing never-before-seen acts full of comedy, animals, magic, and dynamic athleticism. Dubbed as the official project managers of Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents BUILT TO AMAZE! Alex and Irina assist the Ringmaster in getting The Greatest Show On Earth® built for audiences across the US.

Fun Fact: They are movie fans, so all of their dogs are named after famous actors.

Joining Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® for the first time, Robert Stipka presents an amazing display of synchronized horses that unites powerful yet elegant Fjord, Friesian and Arab horses in a mesmerizing living carousel.

The Tower Tumblers were one of our favorite acts.

Gemma Grace - The Human Cannonball

Wheel of Steel

More info. about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Including helpful animal facts & resources.