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Pollo Tropical Reveals New Menu Items

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Last night I was invited to Pollo Tropical in Snellville for a tasting of new menu items that are hitting stores now!

If you’re unfamiliar with Pollo Tropical, it is what I call “upscale fast food” with a Caribbean flare.

Bradley described it even better when he said “that’s the place all the guys take their dates because it’s nicer than a burger place and still affordable on our budget.”

Pollo-Tropical-Pollo-Bites | Fiddle Dee Dee

Pollo Tropical is known for it’s marinated, grilled chicken (it’s really grilled) and their crispy pollo bites, but they are expanding their menu this spring with four new citrus marinated shrimp dishes.

Introducing:

The Shrimp Quesadilla Salad features crispy romaine lettuce, black bean & corn salad, multi-colored tortilla chips and shredded cheddar jack cheese, topped off with a 6-inch, hot-pressed cheese quesadilla and served with Chipotle Ranch dressing on the side.

The Shrimp Quesadilla Wrap consists of melted cheddar jack cheese, freshly chopped tomatoes and a tangy Chipotle Ranch dressing.

The Shrimp Caesar Salad with chopped crisp romaine lettuce, croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese tossed in Pollo Tropical’s Caesar dressing.

And the Shrimp Tropichop Bowl featuring the citrus marinated shrimp over yellow rice and vegetables served also topped with onions, peppers and diced tomatoes.

These were so flavorful and filling and quite the change from fried everything.

Pollo Tropical is known for using fresh ingredients and makes all their sauces and marinades in-house.

One of the most tasty dishes side dishes is balsamic marinated tomatoes. The marinade is made and allowed to sit for flavors to mesh, then tomatoes and onions are added and marinated for several hours for a truly flavorful treat!

Other delicious side dishes include green beans, sweet potato casserole, fries, corn casserole (y’all, fresh out of the oven this is sooo good!), Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy; that’s just a few of their many options.

Fried plantains are the perfect finish to any meal!

Pollo Tropical can be found throughout the Atlanta area and Florida which makes it an ideal stop as you hit the road to the beach for spring break and summer vacations! Check out these delicious options and others on the menu as well!

If you want to check out the menu in advance you can at pollotropical.com.

Tyler Perry’s Higher is Waiting & a Giveaway!

/ Fiddle Dee Dee / 3 Comments

When the days get shorter, the temperatures become cooler and it feels like I’m being pulled 100 different directions with mom life, there is nothing more comforting than a cup of tea, a cozy and worn patchwork quilt and a good read.

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Those moments of peace are some of my favorite and a great way to expand my thoughts beyond, “What’s for supper,” “did I get Bradley’s wrestling gear washed,” and “is this the weekend Madeline is coming in from school?”

While I love good historical fiction, a sappy (not trashy) romance, and a decorating book full of inspiration, without a doubt I will always choose nonfiction over it all.  And this fall nonfiction seems to be dominating my reading list!

“Ever since I was a little boy I’ve always known there was something greater than myself, This holy force was protecting, loving, and keeping me close. It was helping me live through physical pain and emotional heartache and guiding me to envision and believe in extraordinary possibilities.”

~Tyler Perry (Higher is Waiting)

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Tyler Perry has established himself as a cultural icon through acting, writing, producing, directing, as a playwright, and even songwriting.  Of course Perry is most well known for his Madea movies, but the road to reach this status was rough and troubled.  Perry’s new book Higher is Waiting is one of inspiration that will resonate with me for quite a while.  A little biography, inspiration and faith this book encourages readers to keep going in their lives reaching out for a more purposeful life, looking for something greater than self, and of course, never giving up.

“My childhood was a story of discouragement, belittlement, and unthinkable abuse.  There was no way I could have found any kind of happiness, hope or vision if my mother Maxine and my aunt Mae hadn’t shown me the grace of God.”

Due to hit shelves this week, Perry’s book is described as a “spiritual guidebook, a collection of teachings culled from the experiences of a lifetime, meant to inspire readers to climb higher in their own lives and pull themselves up to a better, more fulfilling place.”

Tyler-Perry-Higher-Is-Waiting | ohfiddledeedee.com

Perry’s life story is truly extraordinary and in sharing his experiences he hopes to inspire others to reach for the stars.  His success with the Madea franchise, television shows and plays is a stark contrast to the hardship he faced in an abusive home living in poverty, growing up in 1970s New Orleans; an area still suffering from generations of Jim Crow law.  He recalls the beautiful moments that shaped him despite the brutality that also existed through physical abuse of his father and sexual abuse from a neighbor.  He kept his dreams quiet, but worked hard with determination to reach higher.

Throughout Higher is Waiting, Tyler Perry affectionately recalls the people that kept him going, while instructing him in integrity, faith, discipline and even forgiveness.  He shares stories of his mother’s never-ending faith who always maintained “God is good,” no matter the pain she lived through at home.  Seeds of experiencing God even in the little things planted by his aunt Mae, and the kindness of a blind man, Mr. Butler who taught him that sometimes you have to stand still, wait and be patient when looking for answers to prayer.

 With each memory shared, Perry also shares a devotional thought and scripture encouraging you to dive into your own faith.

The book is divided into four sections using the metaphor of a tree: planting seeds, nourishing the roots, branching out and harvesting the fruit.  From early childhood and dreaming big despite the obstacles in his path, it is so refreshing to read of a man’s faith developing over time in an age where so many are content let their faith sit stagnant.

Perry’s vivid recollection of recognizing God’s presence growing in his life, learning to listen, carry on in the toughest of times, and choose faith over fear will inspire you to step out of your own box and reach higher in your own lives.

Higher-Is-Waiting-Tyler-Perry | ohfiddledeedee.com

I am giving away one copy of Higher is Waiting to one of my readers.  All you need to do is leave me a comment here on the blog, telling me someone who has influenced your life and faith.  I will announce the winner on December 3, 2017.  Winners will receive their books in 4-6 weeks after the giveaway ends from Penguin Random House.

** If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Penguin Random House. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

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‘Tis the Season…

/ Fiddle Dee Dee / Leave a comment

… To be busy!

Fa-La-La-La-La

{La-La-La}

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It’s October, but I’m already looking forward to the holidays just ahead.  I know it seems early to be thinking of Christmas, but if the Hallmark Channel can kick-off Christmas movies today, I can definitely write about Christmas cards!

Even while pumpkins are still the decor of choice.

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If your holiday season is like ours, it comes rolling in like a tornaodo, and leaves you grasping for time to finish everything on your to-do list.  We do not have a single free weekend again until … oh… February?

{Oh, wait, no, college lacrosse season starts in February!}

I am a planner and list maker; for me that means getting an early start on the little things so that December 24 I am managing it all pretty well.  We are entertaining our growing family both at Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, so I want everything to be absolutely perfect!  One thing that seems to get lost in the shuffle of the holidays each year are my Christmas cards, so this year I was determined to have them ready to mail before the week of Christmas.  Christmas cards are one of my favorite holiday traditions, and I love documenting the end of our year with a new card.

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In a day of social media interaction, there is something really special about opening your letterbox and finding a personal piece of mail!  I know every card we recieve is a treasure as it is a personal connection to our friends and family who send them. We have been so incredibly blessed to know many amazing people and Christmas cards are a wonderful, easy, inexpensive way to stay personally connected.

Addressing cards is something I take my time and enjoy as well.  As I write each address I think of how special each family member or friend is to our lives and fondly recall memories we have shared. After fourteen moves we have special friends living everywhere with many a fond memory.

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Picking out a Christmas card is always sentimental as it gives me an opportunity to look back over the year and pick out the perfect picture that fully sums our family.  The last several years have been easy as we have celebrated weddings, graduations, and the ever busy lives of our children.  This year was no different and I was able to choose the perfect photo to  decribe our year.

After choosing the perfect photo I wanted a reliable company to print them, so I looked to Basic Invite for our Christmas greeting cards!

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Basic Invite has been known for their wedding invitations since 2006, but they have a wonderful selection of baby shower announcements, thank you cards, graduation announcements (oh boy… thats coming up in May!), business cards and of course cute Christmas cards.

Why Basic Invite?

**With over 250 designs to choose from, Basic Invite offers you plenty of options to create your perfect card, plus the ability to fully customize with color and font.

**Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail.  If you like foil options, they offer several choices as well.

**Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their actual card/invitation so they can see exactly how it will print as well as feel the paper quality before they ever have to place their final order.

**Basic Invite is just as colorful with envelopes as they are with cards. Customers can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to their envelopes so that they can make their invitation stand out even before it is opened. All envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be quickly and securely closed without licking a single one…. Let me tell you, this is awesome!

**Most convientent when you’re really busy, Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request their friends and family’s addresses which will be stored in the customer’s account and can then be selected during the design process. Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no cost on all Christmas card orders.

**Best of all, you have a window of what I like to call “I messed up” when you see your preview in your email confimation and they are kind enough to open your design back up for you to correct it!  That is the kind of customer service I really like!

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Right now Basic Invite is offering 30% off with coupon code: holi30 

Check Basic Invite out for your cards this holiday season!

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Studio 67 Mats

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Recently I was able to attend the inaugural launch of Studio 67 Mats hosted by the always gracious Steve and Jill McKenzie in Atlanta.  Steve is acting as the interim creative director as this new company is kicking off its product line.

studio-67-launch-steve-jill | fiddle-dee-dee

Studio 67 is a new line of beautiful household mats branching out from Kleen-Tex, popular maker of industrial mats.  I love using mats and rugs throughout our home, especially with all the hardwood and tile we have.  The versatility and pop of color they bring into a home really add to the welcome and comfort factor!

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Studio 67 Mats offer both color and pattern with the functionality of an industrial mat which means these mats really add to a space and are super easy to take care of.

Who doesn’t appreciate both function and design in their home?!

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The launch of these new mats was held in a high-end townhouse in Atlanta, and they looked fabulous in the setting.

So where can you use these fabulous mats?

In the kitchen…

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In an entryway…

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In the bathroom…

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In the bedroom…

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In the living room…

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I love that these mats are skid resitant, especially since I’ve added one to my own tiled kitchen floor for decor.

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You know how rugs like to move around?  When our Corgi comes running into the kitchen because she heard the refrigerator open, this mat doesn’t move.  With my husband being a corporate safety director he was totally sold on the nonskid backing and the safety factor it adds to our home.

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And the best part?  When I spill a drink or my son drops a slice of pizza on it, I can just throw it into the washer, then the dryer for easy clean-up.

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We chose the blue swirl patterned mat in the largest size available for our kitchen.  Even with toile curtains on the windows, it actually fits in with my decor and adds a touch of personality.

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I’m planning to add a smaller rug under our little coffee station.

Madeline is wanting to use several of these mats in the kitchen and bath of her apartment as she heads off to college this fall.

Where could you use a colorful and functional mat in your home?

Click here to check out Studio 67 Mats and see what you think!

 And, be on the lookout… new colors and styles are coming this fall!

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