Who do you think you are?

I'm not trying to be hostile. Just asking a question you should know the answer to. Leave it to life though to leave us wondering just who that is sometimes. When someone comes across as a little too "judgey", or the cold stare right past you by someone you thought was your friend.  Maybe you doubted who you are when you've heard someone else say something about you that was not necessarily true but still cut you to your core and bruised any dignity that you thought you had.

That's when that ugly cycle of self-doubt, and reminders of all the things you've done that you wish you could forget come flashing back at you, flattening any progress you've made despite it.

A recent sermon at my church had pointed out that another name for satan was also "Diablo" meaning "the accuser".  Interesting how that ties in with those cycles of self doubt. And your trip down mistakes lane, are right there when you feel most vulnerable. Yes, Diablo doesn't want you to forget just how you screwed up those things, and to make you feel as though you are unworthy of anything good. Suddenly, you are unsure of who you think are now.

But the most important identity that you have, is probably the one you believe the least.  Satan wants me to believe that I am not good enough, or that I don't deserve anything my heart desires. But Christ alone, is enough. I forget that His death on the cross is enough to cross out the sins of my past, and the sins that I will continue to commit. Even when we know this and believe it, we still let that voice of shame try to define us. Get behind me satan! NOT TRUE and not today!
The cross is enough that no matter what the world may say about me, because my savior died for me he put my blame to rest, and by his death it is finished. (John 19:28-30)

No, you are never going to be perfect.  But in the eyes of God you are:

Found

Redeemed

Transformed

and Treasured.

You are His. 

Shame, doubt, fear
has no chance with God.

Just believe.

Wacky Apple Recipes

Want some healthy, organic and kid pleasing meal and snack alternatives? Check out these recipes sent to me by the people at Wacky Apple! See my review and more info about the product here. 

Use your favorite bread and cheese and whip up a quick and delicious grilled cheese. Pannini press pans can make it super quick and easy. Remember, low heat, for a longer time makes for grilled cheese perfection.  Slice your freshly grilled sandwich into wedges and serve with Wacky Apple Golden Applesauce for dipping! Sounds odd, but tastes great! A delicous and easy treat for everyone!

Grilled Cheese with Sliced Fresh Apples

Use your favorite bread, cheese, and sliced apples to make one of falls best lunches! Lightly butter the outside of each slice of bread. Layer your favorite cheese and apples inside, grill/griddle on medium heat slowly to ensure melted cheese and non-burnt bread.    Enjoy with a nice cold Wacky Apple Juice!

Don’t forget all the other fun toppings you can add. Try Nitrate free turkey and swiss, local organic peaches with brie or provolone, or even avocado, cheddar and turkey!

Do you ever have a craving for cake, but don’t want to make a whole one? Try this awesome idea for a single serving, quick, cake in a cup!

-1 Tbsp butter
-2 Tbsp sugar
-2 Tbsp Wacky Apple Cinnamon Applesauce
-1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
-2 drops pure vanilla extract
-1/4 Cup flour
-1/8 tsp baking powder
- pinch of sea salt
-Chopped fresh apple chunks

Soften butter in microwave until soft, but not melted. About 10 seconds. Stir in sugar and mix well. Stir in Applesauce, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract until incorporated. Now stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and apples. Mix until combined and smooth out top of batter in cup. Sprinkle your favorite granola on top, for an easy and delicious crumb topping. Pop it in the microwave for 50 – 80 seconds. Every microwave is different and weather conditions will also effect cook time. I suggest after 50 seconds, proceed at 10 second intervals. Enjoy warm, right out of the microwave, they really do taste their best right away. Careful not to mircrowave too long, they can get rubbery.

Use basic recipe for an easy platfrom to add nutrients. Try adding flax seed, chia seeds, cranberries, walnuts, granola, or chocolate chips! These make a great way to hide delicious nutrients in a “cake form.” Try combining granola, apples and flax and microwaving in a non-waxed paper cup for a quick breakfast while running out the door in the morning.

A few hearty Wacky Apple breakfast ideas before the kids go off to school and/or you are off to work!
More recipes here: http://wackyapple.com/recipes

• Granola Crunch Pancakes
• Wacky Apple Berry Blaster Smoothie
• Applesauce parfait (lactose free)

Enjoy these healthy, crunchy and hearty pancakes with your friends and family!

- 1 cup of your favorite organic pancake batter
- 1 cup cinnamon Wacky Apple Applesauce
- 1/2 cup of granola
- 1 Organic egg
- 2/3 cup organic milk

Mix all 4 ingredients together and spoon onto griddle. 
Once on griddle sprinkle your favorite granola and some diced apple into the batter as it cooks. 
Flip when ready. 
Cook both sides to perfection and enjoy!

Makes approximately four 8oz servings

Two 4oz WA Wild Berry Applesauce cups

Two 4oz WA Jr. Wild Berry Apple Juice cups

One Large Handful Fresh or frozen Organic Blueberries approx. 1 cup

One Large Handful Fresh or frozen Organic Blackberries approx. 1 cup

One Large Handful Fresh or frozen Organic Strawberries approx. 1 cup

Blend and serve! Delicious!




*Wacky Apple Applesauce Parfait

-Try applesauce in place of yogurt for a delicious change to the norm!

-In a cup, layer your favorite granola, then your favorite Wacky Apple sauce, and top with some fresh fruit!

-Note: I like cinnamon granola with cinnamon applesauce! It tastes like apple pie!

-Double Note: Add a dollop of your favorite Greek yogurt and it tastes like apple pie ala mode!!!

Wacky Apple Review and Recipes

Wacky Apple sent my family a sample pack of their products to give them a try! My kids loved it!

So,
Who is Wacky Apple?
They are a family owned and operated brand, dedicated to organic farming and producing delicious applesauce’s, fruit juices and fruit snacks.

What are they made of? 
Wacky Apple products are made from naturally sweet organic apples, free of pesticides; contain no added water, no artificial colors, no preservatives and no added sugar! 

Why do you want them?
The products are, gluten free, vegan, and contain NO GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms). Wacky Apple makes delicious, fun, organic food your on-the-go family won’t stop eating. 


Don't you want your kids to develop their own nutritious & healthy living habits?   
Put healthy alternatives into their snack choices to get them started on their way!

They were awesome!! My kids loved the fun juice packaging and the fruit strips were a huge hit with my two  year old!

Find out more about where to buy their products here:  www.wackyapple.com
Want some fun recipes using Wacky Apple products? Check them out in my post here.




More about Wacky Apple organic snacks from Wacky Apple! 

Our products include 5 flavors of organic apple sauce, 5 flavors of organic apple juice, 3 flavors of Flat Fruit (AKA: fruit leather), and seasonal organic fresh fruit such as apples, pears and black berries.

Our products are naturally sweeter – our delicious fruit comes from our Western Slope cool nights and sunny days. We never add sugar, water, preservatives, artificial flavor or color!  Every product is made with ORGANIC ingredients. We are passionate about the quality of the ingredient and the necessity for feeding children organic apples. Research and science today are finding many scary links between pesticides and health risks for children. (Please take a moment to research this at home.) We believe children should have the opportunity to grow big, strong and smart naturally with nothing in their way to hinder their development.

All of our products are gluten free, lactose free, only contain natural sugars from our fresh fruit itself and we never, ever use anything artificial.


A Family Story & Mission for Healthy Kids

Wacky Apple was developed just 4 years ago when a family member came home from Elementary School in Denver with her “afternoon snack.” A snack packed full of High Fructose Corn Syrup, no nutritional value and something she didn’t even want to eat. This is when we, as a family realized, we wanted to create a healthy, delicious snack, designed and packaged for kids that they will want to eat!

We believe in giving children the opportunity to make healthy food decisions. This is why we have created a naturally sweet, great tasting line of apple snacks with fun packaging children will like!


Sustainable and Local
Wacky Apple Company is a family owned and operated company.  We have been in the apple business for 30 plus years.
We practice organic sustainable farming and believe in a small carbon footprint. We want to keep our country beautiful and healthy for our children and our children’s children.

The Cannot Miss List of Family Fun in Wichita

If you like science, history, aviation, space, and the arts, Wichita has something to show you.  We are also a family-friendly city. We have some of the best, I think, family oriented activities outside of Kansas City. And getting more everyday. If you're new to the city, or maybe you just don't get out much, you must check out my list of must not miss activities in the Wichita area.

I came up with this list based on where I would want to take a family with small children who are new to the city, or in town visiting. They are also places that I like to frequent, if not every few months, at least once a year.

In random order, here are my picks, along with web links! Hope you discover somewhere or something, you've never discovered before!

Exploration Place: www.exploration.org
300 N. McLean Blvd. (It's that funky shaped building on the river!)

kstravel.org: source

Okay, if you haven't been, where have you been? My kids love love love this place! This is the mecca for hands-on entertainment sure to please the squirmiest and busiest of kids! I would have to say that kids of all ages will enjoy this place as my husband tends to get a little hyped up there as well.
General admission is reasonable and acquires enough access that if that is all you can do, you won't miss much. The national Traveling Exhibits are also very exciting and interesting, but an additional admission fee is required on top of the general admission fee. All are fabulous, but not all appropriate for all ages of kids. So do your research before you get tickets on these events.
If you go, and the weather is nice, you must check out the park/playground behind the museum. It is perfect for playtime with age specific play equipment. If you bring a lunch or snack, there are picnic tables overlooking the Arkansas River right beside the play areas. When you're done, you are right within walking distance of the Keeper of The Plains that overlooks the river. Walk to the drawbridge and check out the art and history of the Keeper that has been added around the base of the Statue. My kids just enjoyed the walk alone! Admission to the museum is not required to visit the park, so make this a separate visit on it's own.
Exploration Place also offers Educational, fun classes for kids as young as 2. Check this link for more details. I haven't taken any of them, but have always wanted to as they look like something my kids would enjoy!
You may also want to take in a show in the Cyberdome. Tickets are reasonably priced and is always fascinating to see in front, above and around you.



The Sedgwick County Zoo : www.scz.org
Did you know that our zoo is Nationally recognized, is the 18th largest in the US, and is the state's most popular tourist attraction with nearly half a million visitors annually? Pretty impressive huh? With 2500 animals of 500 species, it is the No. 1 outdoor, family tourist attraction in Kansas.
I grew up going to this zoo and I remember when the extent of it was just to the end of the Elephant habitat. Now we have Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Lions, Penguins, a Tiger exhibit, and too much more to mention. Growth and updates are constantly being made. The Sedgwick County Zoo has been recognized both nationally and internationally for its support of conservation programs and successful breeding of rare and endangered species. Plus, who doesn't love a zoo?
It used to be that it only took an afternoon to get through the zoo. Now I would definitely devote your entire day to it. I love the vast choices of picnic places. Our favorite is the playground area in the Gorilla Habitat. There are also many snack stands and a newly remodeled restaurant that is clean, open and has a nice choice of menu items.
Kids Club, educational classes, and special overnight camp-outs are just some of the activities available. The birthday parties are fun and affordable, and you should check out Zoobilee or Kids' Zoobilee at least once!

The Great Plains Nature Center: www.gpnc.org
Kids climbing the walls? Bored, nothing to do? This is our favorite impromptu visit place. Located at 29th and Rock Road in N.E. Wichita, this is a fun place to stop in and catch up with your Kansas critters. Fairly interactive they have a nice display of over 25 different species of native mammals, reptiles and birds in eight cages. all native to the state of Kansas. Recently renovated, there are beautiful hand-painted murals that compliment the wildlife displays giving them a natural environment for them to live. My kids really enjoy the match bird to sound game, and touching and handling fossils, rocks and animal bones. Look closely, there are a few live animals taking up residence within the main entry area. There are also story times available read to you by a furry puppet friend. The gift shop has some nice items that would make this a good place to find a gift for the nature lovers in your life.
Walk the Nature trail a short distance from the Center, and bring your fishing pole at the catch and release  pond. Kids fishing clinics, and educational classes are available in the summer.

The Wichita Art Museum : www.wichitaartmuseum.org
The largest art museum in the state of Kansas with nearly 7000 works of art. It boasts an expanding glass collection including that fabulous chandelier on the top floor by Dale Chihuly.
Every Saturday admission is free. There is a family area with interactive art, and an art table where you can create your own masterpiece using various textiles. Though Saturdays feel a little more "family friendly" for the toddler set, I still really feel this is a destination better appreciated by the 6 and up group. It's fun to take your kids through and explain to them how old each piece is and how each piece is an "original" work of art. My kids enjoyed laying on the shiny marble floor under the chandelier and we took artsy photos. (I'm sure that the art museum would not appreciate my encouragement of this form of creativity!) We made the best of it!! Still worth checking out if you've never been!

The Warren Theaters: www.warrentheaters.com
Catch a movie in one of the state-of-the art theaters, or see an IMAX film at the west location. Comfortable seating with memory foam cushions, there is also an "adults only" lounge and balcony seating with straight to your seat food service at the North 13th location. Bar service at the Old Town location, and a full restaurant at most all locations.

The Museum of World Treasures: http://www.worldtreasures.org/
See ancient artifacts, historical treasures, rare collections, and Dinosaurs!! Three floors of history awaits, and is fun and educational.

The Cosmosphere and Space Museum:  www.cosmo.org
Just an easy 90 minute drive outside of Wichita, visit the only Kansas affiliate of the Smithsonian museum.  Voted one of Kansas' eight wonders in a nation wide poll, see up close and live fully-restored space craft, including the Apollo 13 Command module, Odyssey and the Liberty Bell 7.
There is the Hall of Space Museum and the Dome-shaped Justice Planetarium, a digital Domed theater and more. 


Here's a few more to add to your list. Check them out  and have fun!

Kansas Aviation Museum

Old Cowtown Museum

Tanganikya Wildlife Park

Great Plains Transportation Museum

Mid-America All-Indian Center

Ulrich Museum of Art on the Wichita State University Campus

Lake Afton Public Observatory in Goddard, Ks

Kauffman Museum in Newton

The Kansas Underground Salt Museum, in Hutchinson


Where are your family's favorite places to visit or go for entertainment, education or amusement? Share and discuss!

Gerber, Campbell's, Starbucks K-Cup Coupons

• $5.00 off total SESAME STREET toy purchase
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• $1.00 off any 3 Gerber Graduates Grabbers™ items
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Sesame Street LIVE "Make a New Friend"

*the following post is 1/2 part story promotion for VEE Corporation, for which I received compensation. All links are not affiliate links. 

It's that time of year again! Sesame Street Live is coming to INTRUST Bank Arena, Friday, March 28th- Sunday March 30. Tickets for all six performances are on sale now!

Everyone is special, no matter where you're from or where you've been. All your favorite friends will be dancing, singing as they share the cultural universal fun of friendship and celebrate different cultures, in this Live show called, "Make a New Friend".

Sesame Street Live “Make a New Friend” offers a fun-filled, interactive learning experience, including up-close and furry interactions on the audience floor! Like television’s Sesame Street, each Sesame Street Live production features timeless tunes and lessons for all ages. The universal appeal of each Broadway-quality musical production continues long after preschool. Adults will appreciate the high-tech stagecraft, cleverly written script, and music they’ll recognize and enjoy sharing with children, such as “Count Me In,” and fun new parodies of “Hot and Cold,” and “Moves Like Jagger.”

 Get tickets fast at this link, or at the Intrust Bank Arena Box Office.

What:      Sesame Street Live "Make a New Friend"

 

When:     Friday               March 28              6:30 p.m. 

               Saturday           March 29              10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

               Sunday             March 30              1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

 

Where:    INTRUST Bank Arena

               500 East Waterman Street

               Wichita, KS  67202

Tickets:   $19 and $25. A limited number of $35 Gold Circle seats and $60 Sunny Seats** are also available. *Opening Night, all seats (excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats) are $15. A facility fee of $2 will be included within all ticket prices. Additional fees and special offers may apply.

               **The Sunny Seats package features premium show seating, pre-show photo opportunities, music, play, and a pre-show Meet & Greet photo opportunity with two Sesame Street Live friends, including Elmo!

               For more information, or to charge tickets by phone, call (855) 755-7328. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.selectaseat.com. For information online, please visit www.sesamestreetlive.com. Become a fan of Sesame Street Live on Facebook.

 

ABOUT SESAME WORKSHOP

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 150 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

 

ABOUT VEE CORPORATION

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, VEE Corporation is one of the most experienced and respected names in family-friendly entertainment. VEE Corporation has delighted millions of children around the world with live touring stage shows since Sesame Street Live’s debut performance in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sep. 17, 1980. VEE also provides entertainment, promotion and event marketing services for the world’s most respected brands and agencies. Clients and partners in the corporate, sports, museum and event marketing sector come to VEE for imaginative solutions to capture the undivided attention of their customers and audiences through custom designed/built interactive environments. For more information, please visit www.vee.com.