Thank you to The Motherhood and Real California Milk for sponsoring this discussion.

#CAmilkdrive
It’s fall, and Halloween is on the horizon.  As we start to think about the holiday season…..it’s family time.  From Halloween to Thanksgiving and beyond, we spend a significant amount of time around the table with family during the fall and winter months.  I’m teaming up with California Dairy Families to talk about family time and the importance of dairy intake (plus to share a pretty awesome way for adults to enjoy a Halloween cocktail).

We all know how important dairy is.   A single cup of whole California Milk contains nine essential nutrients, including eight grams of high-quality protein per serving, which is important to kids, moms and dads.  Did you know that milk is one of the most-requested nutrition staples at food banks? 

California Dairy Families are doing something amazing this fall. To help those who need nutritious California milk, California’s more than 1,400 dairy farm families are pledging $100,000 in matching milk donations to the Great American Milk Drive–equal to 20,000 gallons or 320,000 servings of milk–through the end of the year.  Want to help? You can donate one gallon of milk for just $5 at www.MilkLife.com/Give. $100,000 of total California milk donations made by the end-of-the-year will be matched by California Dairy Families. 

Awesome, right? To celebrate, I teamed up with California Dairy Families to create a fun way for moms and dads to enjoy the first holiday of the year…..Halloween! This peanut butter cup martini is the perfect Halloween cocktail, once your ghosts and goblins head to bed…….grown ups can create their own treat!

Peanut Butter Simple Syrup:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup peanut butter

Bring water and sugar to a boil.

Add peanut butter.

Boil for 6 minutes, then lower heat. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes.

Strain and allow to cool.

Peanut Butter Cup Martini:

Yum
6 ounces peanut butter simple syrup   1/2 cup Real California Milk (when purchasing dairy products, look for brands made with 100% Real California Milk that feature the Real California Milk Seal or Real California Cheese Seal)   6 ounces chocolate martini mixer   4 ounces vodka   Combine, shake over ice.   Serves 2.

Interested in more candy cocktails? Check out this m+m martini or this jolly rancher martini! Want to learn more about the Real California Milk seal and California Dairy? Visit Real California Milk website at www.RealCaliforniaMilk.com and learn more about the Real California Dairy Families that bring us Real California Milk and are making these donations by watching the following video: Join us for a Twitter party on October 22 at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) to discuss your family’s memorable meals that include Real California Milk and how joining the California Dairy Families with the Great American Milk Drive will help those in need also share in memorable family moments.   When: Thursday, October 22, 11 a.m. PT    Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #CAmilkdrive hashtag to track the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this Vite: http://vite.io/themotherhoodchats   Prizes: Each prize includes a $100 Visa gift card. Prizes limited to U.S. participants only.   Hosts: @TheMotherhood, @TMChatHost, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann   Co-hosts: @babypyo, @lipglosscrayons, @mommylikewhoa, @mycharmedmom, @NinaSay, @daytrippingmom, @RaisedByCulture, @KaraJMiller, @smashbravoteam, @themomjen, @summerflood Welcome to Let it Shine…..the new, revamped Funday Monday! After two years….we decided to rename our link up to something we felt would be a better fit.  Thus, Let it Shine! Why the name? Because we want this link up to be just that…..your chance to let it shine.  We’ll be sharing our favs here each week and on social media……  / flare fever / women’s denim guide /  Another place we will be showcasing our favs?  The Let It Shine Pinterest Board