Will Tastefully Simple answer the " Whats for dinner" Dilemma?

As a mom of two very active little girls I often find myself on the go most of the week. Between school pick ups and drop offs, AWANA, homework,and gymnastics, figuring out whats for dinner often finds itself buried at the very bottom of my to do list. Many days I find myself scrambling to figure out what to feed my family and I am always on the lookout for things that will help take the guesswork out of this whole process. I am sure that if you ask any busy mom to name one problem that she consistently faces, I am certain that many will say that they too find themselves facing the "Whats for dinner?" dilemma?

I recently had the opportunity to host a party for a dear friend who is a Tastefully simple consultant. Up until my party I had heard of Tastefully Simple but my interactions had been very limited. If you ask any of my friends, they will all tell you that the way to my heart is with good food, so of course I was excited to host when she told me there would be food involved. The basic premise of Tastefully Simple is providing products that help you make meals and entertaining simple and easy. At the party we were able to try out several of the top products that Tastefully Simple had to offer. We were able to feast on things like guacamole, salsa, Beer Bread, Pomegranate Bacon wrapped chicken bites (a big hit), Savory Chicken, Lemon Pound cake (which was amazing), Mango Lime Margarita (a party favorite), and several homemade dips. Everyone seemed to really enjoy all of the items and many of the children loved the food as well. Along with the food tasting we also did a Savory Chicken make and take entree, which served as dinner later that night for many of the moms that attended. 

After tasting all the great food I decided to give the Meals and More plan a try and see if this may be a solution for me and my family. Tastefully simple offers two types of Meal collections, a 10 and a 30 meal collection. The 10 Meals & More Collection sells for $69.95, and the 30 Meals & More Collection sells for $200.00. You can sign up to receive the collection one time or you can sign up for the TS to You option. If you decide to sign up for the TS to You plan, you'll received a meal collection every other month, automatically, and you will receive a 10% reward for future use. What I liked about these collections is that both come with recipe cards and grocery lists which will help make your meal planning even easier.  One of the other perks of these connections is that both average out to $3 per serving and what mom doesn't like to save money. The 30 meals and more collections consists of 3 individual 10 meals and more collections which include: Fix it Fast, Easy Grillin', and Family favorites. After looking at this months recipes, I decided to try out the Easy Grillin' collection. Recipes in my collection include things like: Roasted Onion Turkey Tenderloin Salad, Open-Faced Patty Melts,Green Tea Peppercorn BBQ Chicken, Shallot Tarragon Grilled Chicken, Zesty Marinated BBQ Chops, and Bourbon BBQ Steak.

I was excited because when my children saw the pictures of the food they immediately started pointing out some of their favorites. 

Currently I am awaiting my 10 meals and more collection to arrive so you will have to check back later to see a review of the products and recipes that I receive. Until then be sure to check out my friend Zelta's Tastefully Simple website for more information on their products. https://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/zmiller


Comment below with some of your go to tips for meal planning for your family.

Let the Fun begin(again)!

I'm backkkkkkk! Hello Blog world! I know its been a while since I have posted and boy have I missed writing.  I am so excited to get back to sharing my adventures in motherhood. As any mom knows, life sometimes gets a little hectic and you can find yourself running in a million circles. In the mist of life happening I have not been able to find the me time where I can sit down to write. But I come to you today pledging that I am going to make every effort to do a better job of setting time aside to post as often as I can. During my time away I have had the pleasure of doing so many wonderful things that I can't wait to share with you what I have been up to over the last couple of months. So let the fun begin (again). Have a great day!

The Not So Perfect Stay at Home Mom 

The apple of my eye... Opal apples are a hit.

Apples are one of my favorite snacks that I like to simply cut and eat as I go about my daily chores at home. I must say I was a little leery of an apple which did not brown but boy did I find a gold mine. I love apples as my snack and as a busy mom of two active girls I often find myself on the go so I am always looking for great grab and go snacks that I can toss in my purse. I love apples but I often do not take them on the go because I prefer to have them without the core.  Anyone who has ever cut an apple knows that the moment you cut an apple it starts the browning process hence the reason that I do not cut them up for my grab and go snack. Then one day I got an email from Bzzagent asking me join a campaign to try out a new apple called Opal which were non- GMO and are naturally non-browning. Opal apples first hit the apple scene in the US in 2010 and they are exclusively grown in Washington at a place called Broetje Orchards. I saw the non- browning part my eyes got big and I was all in.  The first thing I did was cut an apple up and I left it sitting on my kitchen counter to see if it held up to all the browning claims and it really did. I even went as far as to leave it sitting there overnight and the next morning it was still holding strong.

These little gems are only available from November until March and they are truly a treat.  Opal apples are bright yellow in color and the flavor is amazing  These are sure to be the new apple of your eye. At first bite I found the flavor to resemble that of a cross between a pear and an apple. The opal apple's texture has a little crispness to it but it is not as firm as other apples like the granny smith. I absolutely love the Opal apples, I just wish the texture was a little firmer.  Another great thing about Opal apples is that they have been known as the apple with a purpose, because a portion of their sales Apples’ sales go to their Youth Make a Difference grants, which support youth-led non-profits involving food, nutrition and agriculture. So what more could you ask from your apple, great taste, and a support for great causes. I am sold on them and so are my friends. 

I knew I had found something good in Opal apples but I wanted to see if my friends felt the same way so I provided two of them with an apple to try. After all was said and done, they too were fans. One friend said that it was a great late night snack that she enjoyed with a little peanut butter. The one downside that my friends reported is that the apples were not easy to locate in stores. I too agree with this because I had to look at over 5 stores before I was able to secure mine. The other problem that I found was that the apples were a little on the expensive side. I paid about $7 dollars for about 5 apples. Each apple was priced at a little over a dollar a piece. As much as I loved the flavor and the non- browning I am not sure if I would be willing to keep shelling out so much money to support my new favorite fruit. 

Opal apples lived up to all their claims and they are in fact a great grab and go snack that you can enjoy without all the ugly browning of other apples. Next time you are in your local store check out the apple section and see if you can find this little gem. I promise you will not be disappointed. 

Love at first bite: Brookeside Dark chocolate crunchy clusters are heaven sent

I recently started 21 day Fit girl challenge which restricts me from eating candy and all other wholesome goodness, except for one piece of dark chocolate. So you can only imagine how happy I was when I received the Brookeside Dark chocolate Crunchy Clusters in the mail. They were heaven sent to me and I could not wait to try them out. From the moment I tried them I was in love. I must admit that I was a little leary on how they would taste because I am normally not a fan of dark chocolate but boy am I happy that I went against my first notion and tried them. These things are awesome goodness without all the guilt since they are made with whole grains and fruit(at least that is what I am telling myself). As soon as I opened the bag I could not stop eating them which explains why I had to make a quick trip to SAMs to grab an economy size bag to feed my new craving. I try to limit how many I eat at a time but I must be honest it is a hard task to do. How would I describe my favorite new treat? Well let's just say they are a delightful little piece of chocolate goodness withy a little bit of sweetness to offset the flavor of the dark chocolate. The final flavor that hits your taste buds is the whole grain pieces which remind you of a crisp.  Overall, it is awesome goodness for less calories of other candy options. All I can say is that I love these things.

Zep Cleaning products to the Rescue

As a stay at home mom, one of my biggest tasks is keeping our house sparkly and clean. I do not mind house cleaning but I must admit that one of my least favorite thing to do is cleaning the bathrooms.  This is a problem for me because we have 5 bathrooms in our house that have to be maintained.  I am not sure why I hate cleaning the bathrooms so much, but it could have something to do with the fact that it has been my chore since I was a child. We recently moved into a new home and the shower in our master bathroom has become my arch nemesis. It seems to get dirty after just one shower and it is an absolute beast to clean. I think the main issue  with it is the material that it is made of. It is made of a hard plastic and is surrounded with a glass enclosure.  I have tried several products but none have seemed to really work very well at getting it sparkling clean. That is why I was super excited to when Crowdtap gave me the opportunity to try out two of the new Zep products.  What really excited me about this sample and share was the fact that not only would both of the product provide a superior clean, it would also serve as a disinfectant which is great with cold and flu season being in full force. In the sample box I received:

-Zep Quick Clean Disinfectant

-Zep All-Around Oxy Cleaner and Degreaser

Once I got the samples, I immediately stated cleaning every surface in my home.  No surface was safe with me. I covered the light switch plates, the cordless phones, the kitchen counters, the bathrooms, some of my kids toys, and anything else that I thought may have a germ or two on it. Once I had disinfected everything, I then decided to try out the Zep All-Around Oxy Cleaner and Degreaser on some stubborn stains that I had around the house. I started in with a stain that I had on my daughters bathroom counter. The counters are made of a white stone that had somehow gotten a blue stain on it. I had tried everything to get it out but it just did not seem to work. So I sprayed the Zep All Around on the stain and waiting for a minute like the directions stated. After the minute I took a Mr clean magic and started to clean the stain. Within seconds the faint blue stain that had once ruined my white counter tops was no more. I was so impressed with it that I tried it on another stain that was on my master bath counter top. I repeated the steps but this time the stain did not come out all the way. The next stain I tried it on was a permanent marker stain that one of my daughters had placed on a wall. Once again, within minutes the stain was long gone.

Overall, I was impressed with the Zep products that I received. I will say that I found the Zep All-Around Oxy Cleaner and Degreaser to do a better job on cutting stains and dirt. I will definitely be purchasing this product to use in my home because it helps cut my cleaning time in half. Be sure to check it out in your local store and let me know what you think about it. 

Products referenced in this review were provided to sample but all reviews about both products are based on my personal opinions of the products. 

The Low Down on Sweet and Low: A Crowdtap Party Sampling

As many of you know I love trying out products so I was excited when Crowdtap invited me to have a host a "The Sweeter, The Better: A Sweet’N Low” party. This party was aimed at sharing some healthier alternatives for so great summer party drinks.  To help throw this party I was provided with an awesome kit included the following items:

• One (1) Sampling Insert to guide your experience
• One (1) Box of Sweet’N Low for me
• Five (5) Sweet’N Low samples with coupons for your friends
• Six (6) Cards with skinny Sweet’N Low recipes
• One (1) pitcher
• Cups
• Napkins
• A set of measuring cups
• A gift card for supplies

I must admit that I am a yellow packet kind of girl but I am open to trying new things.  I use an alternative sweetener in my coffee and ice tea but never did I think to add it to my mixed drinks. That is why this party was so cool.  I really liked the cool drink recipe cards that were included in the kit. I liked how they offered both alcoholic and non alcoholic drink options so there was something for everyone. These drink cards opened up a whole new door for me on new ways to use Sweet and low.  The recipe I loved was the Skinny Mini Mojito.  I lived this one because it was a light and refreshing drink that was great for these hot California days. The great thing about it is that you can serve it with our without the alcohol and it still be a great drink. Check out the super easy recipe below:

Ingredients

• Ice
• 12 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener
• 1 1/4 cups light rum
• 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup loosely packed mint sprigs
• 1 liter club soda, chilled
• 6 lime wedges
• 6 small mint sprigs

Place 1 cup mint sprigs, lime juice, rum and Sweet’N Low® in 2-quart nonmetal pitcher. Crush mint with wooden spoon. Add ice and club soda. Serve in tall glasses over ice. Garnish with lime wedges and small mint sprigs.

Overall, all the drink recipes included in the kit were great and I look forward to trying many more of these.  If you are interested in finding out more great drink options using sweet and low be sure to check out their page  by clicking here.  

I must admit that up until now, I normally use another alternative sweetener because I find that Sweet and Low has a slight after taste.  One thing I did find is that the after taste is not as noticeable when it is mixed into the mixed drinks. 

I received the above products free from Crowdtap and Sweet and Low so that I could review the products but all opinions are based on my own personal experiences with the products. 

Love at first bite: Hills Ideal Balance dog food is a hit

As many of you know I am always trying out new products through some really great companies. I recently got the opportunity to try out Hills Ideal Balance dog food through Crowdtap.  Our family is blessed to have a small four pound pomeranian who goes by the name of Blue. A couple of months ago the groomer informed me that I needed to change Blues diet because it was affecting his skin and coat. She recommended that we switch to one without all the additives and fillers. We started using Blue Buffalo and he was enjoying it but it was a little pricey. That is why I was excited when Crowdtap contacted me about trying this new Hills Ideal Balance dog food.  What's great about this food is that it is made with all natural ingredients and does not contain any artificial colors or flavors. Instead it is made with ingredients like fresh chicken and brown rice. The chicken is a lean protein which will help keep Blue slim and trim ad he ages. It also contains potatoes which are naturally gluten free which means it will help with heath digestion. Hills Ideal Balance food is said to be great because it provides key nutrients that are perfect for your dogs  nutritional needs. The each food type contains 50 key nutrients based on life stage, lifestyle, size or special care needs. We have tried several dog foods over the past couple of months and Blue has been pretty tough on them so I was a little leary on if he would actually like the Hills Ideal Balance. Boy was I surprised he loved it from the moment I set it in front of him. I was excited because Hills food contains 3 and 6 fatty acids  which have been known to improve skin and coats which is a big issue we face with Blue.
Along with the dry dog food they also sent some dog treats and a can of wet food. This is great because it is a complete line of products which will continue to help with the nutritional health of Blue.

Overall, we were happy with the Hills Ideal Balance food. Blue seemed to really enjoy the snacks as well as the food. This is definitely a food that I can feel good about giving to Blue because not only is it good to him but good for him. Don't have a dog? Don't fret Hills has a complete line for cats as well. Be sure to check them out on the pet food Isle your pet will thank you later for it.

I received free products to try out this product but all opinions are based on my personal experiences with this prodcut.

Crowdtap sample share: Kleenex to the rescue

Summer should be the season where allergy sufferers get some relief but in our house that has not been the case. Over the last couple of months there has been more runny nose than I can count. That's  why the Crowdtap Kleenex sample and share was right down our alley.  For this sample share, I received one box of Kleenex tissues to use and share with my family and friends. Now let me tell you that we normally use the cool touch Kleenex tissues so it was an adjustment for us to use the regular tissues. Even though we missed the cool feel of our normal tissues, still enjoyed the great softness that the Kleenex brand is known for. My two daughters loved using the Kleenex tissues because of how soft they are.
So whether you have to sneeze, or clean up a small mess Kleenex tissues are great.

#GoPROFOOT, Pedi-Rock: The answer to your at home pedicure expererience

Last week marked the arrival of summer which is the favorite season for many people.  I love summer as much of as the next girl and one of the main reasons I love it so much is because I get to pull out all of my cute sandals and open toe shoes. With the breakout of my sandals also comes the bi weekly pedicure ritual. I try my best to keep my standing appointment for my pedicure but as a busy mom of two I sometimes fall off schedule and have to do my own at home. This is why I am always on the lookout for cool products that allow me to have a salon grade pedicure in the comfort of my home. That is why I was excited to try out the ProFoot Pedi-Rock that was included in my GoVoxBox from Influenster.  When I first pulled the egg out of the box, I was intrigued at how the soft the rock felt when I squeezed it in the package. The Pedi-Rock is an egg shaped product which is made up of silicone carbide crystals.  I found myself wondering what made the Pedi-Rock different from other callus removers but after using it I understood completely. I was in between pedicures when I realized that my heals were looking a little rough so I thought that this would be the perfect time to give the Pedi-Rock a try. The package stated that the rock could be used either wet or dry so I decided to try it out one night dry as I sat watching my favorite show. I found egg to be really easy to handle and the rock seemed to contour to my heel as I removed the roughness. Unlike other foot files, I found that the rock was easier to hold and maneuver over my foot. After a couple of strokes across my heels I found that my heels felt a lot smoother. I liked how the rock was able to cover more surface area of my feet so I was done in no time. I thought that it was cool how the rock was not as abrasive as some other foot files but it was still able to get the job done with very little effort. 

Still not sold on the Pedi-Rock, you do not have to take my word on how great this rock works because ProFoot stand by their product and you can try it risk free. If you are not satisfied with your Pedi-Rock, Profoot will give you your money back. So what are you waiting on, go ahead and try the Pedi-Rock, your feet will thank you. 

I received a complementary Pedi-Rock to try out and review but all information in this post are based on my own personal use of the product. 

Muller takes yogurt to a whole new level

I must admit that I have always loved yogurt for as long as I can remember. Up until recently I have liked all flavors and brands of yogurt but now Quaker has changed that for me. Quaker has a new yogurt called Muller which is simply delicious. This yogurt is creamy and very flavor-able. It is made with reduced fat milk and has lots of great nutrients like calcium and protein. What makes this yogurt even better is that is does not contain artificial flavors, sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup. I am a basic flavor kind of girl but Muller comes in more than 27 varieties for those who like to mix it up. Muller yogurts can be found on your grocery shelf as Muller Frutup, Muller Corner, and Muller Greek Corner. My favorite out of the three is the Frutup version which is a creamy low fat yogurt topped with a layer of fruit mousse. I absolutely love how smooth and creamy the yogurt becomes once the mousse is mixed with the yogurt. My favorite flavors of Frutup are Peach Passion Fruit. Whenever I enjoy one of these treats I have to hide out because both of my girls  love them just as much as I do. So if you enjoy yogurt you have to try these new Muller yogurts out.  I think that you will love it as much as I do. 

I received a coupon to try out Muller yogurt but the reviews in this post are based on my own personal experience with the product. 

Crowdtap Sample and Share: Listerine 21 day challenege

I am one of those people who thinks of candy and sweets and instantly I get a cavity. For years I have had issues with my teeth and gums and I just can not seem to shake it. I have used a specialty tooth paste, I use a power tooth brush, I have used a water pick and I have tried just about every mouth wash you can think of to help with my issues. It is because of this that I was excited to take the Listerine 21 day challenge with Crowdtap.

As part of my sample share I was provided with two bottles of Listerine, one for me and another for a family or friend. We were then instructed to take this challenge and report our findings. I was a little disappointed with the sample share from the beginning because by the time I received my sample, I had missed the first two weeks of the outlined activities and I had less than the 21 days needed before I had to complete my report. But I am a good sport so I passed a bottle over to a friend who agreed to try it out with me and I went on my way.

I must admit that this was not my first time using Listerine but it was the first time that I actually paid attention to the progress I made with my oral health while using it. In the past it was just a part of my routine.  This time I made sure to pay close attention to any changes I saw.  I must admit that after a couple of days I noticed that the soreness and tenderness in my gum line area was slowly going away. I also notices that my breath felt fresh and clean. Overall, I saw some improvement in oral health in that my gums were no longer sore and my teeth had a fresh clean feel to them. I will admit that even though I experienced some changes while using Listerine, I am not completely sold on it because I am not a big fan of the strong sensation you feel when using it. I will be finishing out my 21 days of the challenge and I will then draw my conclusion on how sold I am on it. Until then I will swish on and see what comes next.

Herbal Essences body wash not quite calgone...fails to take me away

I was excited when Crowdtap asked me to do a sample and share for the new Herbal Essences body wsh. I love their shampoo  so I was excited to give the body wash a try. When I received the sample in the mail I was a little disappointed at how small it was. It was not enough to really get a true feel for the product. The other thing that was kind of disappointing was the lack of smell.  One of the things I love most about Herbal Essence shampoos is the great and lasting smell of all their products. I was expecting the body wash to have that same great strong smell but it did not. The smell was very faint but it was a very pleasant smell that I enjoyed. I just wished that it had a much stronger and lasting smell to it. I did enjoy how well it lathered and how it had a good covering with just a small amount. Overall, I still on the fence about if I would purchase this body wash over my normal brand. I will have to purchase a larger bottle to give it another try.

Fun and Fancy free with the Disney Side @Home Celebration

Even now as an adult I must admit that I am a total Disney junkie. I can clearly remember many of my Disney firsts like my first movie, Cinderella, and my first visit to Disney world. My love of all things Disney is something that I have passed down to my two girls so I was super excited when I got the opportunity to host a Disney Side Celebration party.  With this great hosting honor came lots of cool items that I could use to host a fabulous Disney Side party in my home. Below is a picture of some of the cool stuff that we received.

 

 

Before I tell about our celebration, let me tell you a little bit about what the whole Disney Side @Home Celebration is all about. The Disney Side @Home Celebration was the brain child of

Disney Parks, in partnership with MomSelect,  and was created to allow people all of the country to get together with their friends and have a Disney good time. To help with the celebration each host was provided with a suitcase filled with lots of fun goodies to help bring the Disney experience to your home.  This suitcase was from American Tourister which by the way is the official luggage of Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks and it came with a cute Disney luggage tag.by far was one of my favorite things that came with the kit because it was lightweight, durable, and easy to navigate.  As a mother of two busy girls I can really see this suitcase coming in handy when we decide to take them to.  Along with these goodies, we were each provided with a wide variety of online and paper resources that could help make the party even more fabulous. You can click here to check out some great information on how to bring the Disney Side @Home Celebration to your home.

The opportunity to host the Disney Side @ Home Celebration came at the perfect time in our house because were in the process of planning a Disney Princess and Jake the Neverland Pirate party at our home for my daughters 5th birthday. For the party I created a cool invite with all the Disney princess'.  The guests were encouraged to come dressed up as their favorite princess or character from Jake the Neverland Pirates. They were told that there would lots of Disney Magic at the party so come prepared for a great time. 

When it came to the party activities, we decided to create our own activities as well as use some from the Disney Side website. To help kick off the party as we waited for guests to arrive, we worked on some coloring pages that I found on the Disney Side website. After everyone arrived we proceeded to get our outfits together by applying some Disney Tattoos that came with the party set. The kids absolutely loved having the tattoos applied and they were super easy to apply. Once we completed we then moved on to decorating some goody bags for our scavenger hunt and piñata. The kids were provided with lots of cool character stickers and stones. The kids really seemed to enjoy customizing their bags.   Once we finished this activity we moved did a pirate/princess scavenger hunt using some of the information from the Disney side website. The clues had to do with things that dealt with some of our favorite Disney characters. One example of one of the clues was: You can find your next clue located with this fruit which the which used to put snow white to sleep. Of course the answer was apples and the clue was located in a bowl of apples sitting on a table out in the open. The kids had a fun time running to and fro looking for the next clue and it was super easy for them because all the clues were things about Disney they knew and loved. Another activity that we did was a photo corner where each child was able to take a picture in front of a Disney Princess or Pirate backdrop and in turn we were able to print them with the help of HP Photo Creations. This was a lot of fun for the kids because throughout the party they had collected several props like rings, eye patches, swords, crowns, and tattoos that would help them create their pictures.  We had intended on playing more of the games included in the Disney Side Party pack but we ended up having more kids than we did bingo boards so we had to pass on it. We also attempted the trivia game but it seemed a little too much for many of the kids that were at the party.

When it came to the food, we decided to do a candy and treat table included great treats like star, castle, glass slipper shaped rice crispie treats, and cookies.  We also had craisins, magic wands made out of chocolate covered pretzel rods, and candy bar of purple and pink popcorn. We had Captain Hooks fish and chips(gold fish and potato chips), and There was other food at the party as well such as mini sandwiches, rice and peas, grilled chicken, and hot dogs.  We made sure to serve a special princess/pirate punch which was an instant hit at the party.

 

When it came to their goodie bags, the kids each received the red ESPN bracelets, the giant Mickey and Minnie Card, a Disney themed cup, pencils, crayons, coloring books and snack containers.  I also included other Disney Princess items for the girls and Jake items for the boys.  Each kids got to take home a mickey mouse club house themed placemat as well. By the time the kids went home they had tons of cool Disney items to play with.

 

As the kids played during the party, I took the opportunity to share some information with the parents about Disney Parks and Vacations.  I also shared with them information on the release of the new Muffets movie later this year and everyone seemed excited about seeing it. Just like their kids, the parents also received some great Disney themed items to take home.  Overall, we had a Disney good time and we could not had a better time sharing our Disney Side with our family and friends.

We had so much fun with this Disney side party that we decided to have another one a couple of weeks later as a play date with our playgroup.  With this party we had some great food and the kids got to dress up in their favorite Disney outfit as well as bring their favorite Disney toy. Each of the kids came ready to show their Disney side and we had a great time. After everyone arrived, we proceeded to the media room where we voted on which great Disney movie we would watch. When the votes were in, we had decided on the movie Cars. The kids had a ball watching the movie and playing with their favorite toys. Throughout the movie, we enjoyed great snacks like mini sandwiches, Pete's popcorn, Craisins, cheese cubes, cookies and punch.

When it came time to go home, the kids got to choose some party favors to take home. There were lots of Disney themed items like cups, hats, placemats, jump ropes, bags, night lights, pictures, and coloring books to choose from.

Overall, we had a blast with both of the parties and our guest seemed to really enjoy showing their Disney Side. Many have asked when our next Disney party will be since we did have so much fun. Since having these parties and watching the Disney Vacation video, our daughter have started asking when they will be able to go to Disney World and we can not wait to share the magic with them first hand. This was truly a great experience and we loved every minute of it.

If you are in need of some awesome resources for a Disney Side party of your own, be sure to check out the Disney Side @Home Celebration website here. You can also check out these great websites as well for more help: Babble, spoonful, or DisneySide.com.

 

Kick Those Winter Hair Blues With The Help of Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care Razor

One thing that I have grown to absolutely hate to do is shaving. It is something that I loathe because often times I experience some form of irritation after finishing. That is why I was excited when Bzzagent contacted me about trying out Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor. What makes this razor different you ask, well for one thing, it contains a Hypoallergenic Moisturizing Serum infused with Shea Butter along with 5 Curve-Sensing blades.  Because of this it guards your skin keeping it safe while shaving. As someone with sensitive skin, I often find my skin dry especially during the winter months.The Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor feels that it can help someone like me out by providing a "Better hydration Boost than any other razor".  

Winter can be especially tough on sensitive skin. Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor is dermatologist-tested and delivers a better hydration boost than many other razor. The Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor argues that its Hypoallergenic Moisturizing Serum hydrates your skin for up to two hours after shaving while the 5 Curve-Sensing blades protect your skin from irritation.

I recently put the Schick Hydro Silk Sensitive Care razor to the test on both my legs and under arm area.  In regards to my under arm area, I found that it did provide a very clean and close shave, better than any other I have ever used. Immediately after shaving I did feel like the area was very well moisturized but the next day after using the razor I experienced some slight irritation and discomfort on one of my underarms. This discomfort lasted for a day or so when it went back to normal.  When I used the razor on my legs I found that it did a good job on giving me a smooth shave but once I looked closely at my legs I saw that there were several areas where it did not get all of the hair and I had to re-shave the areas.  Overall, I feel that the razor does a great job of offering a close shave with  moisturizing power but it still leaves something to be desired. I loved how close it shaved but I also found that one of my arms still was irritated.  If you are someone who has sensitive skin and struggle with finding the right razor, it is one that you should try out. I think that even though I had some issues with the razor, a lot of people have found that it works great for them.  So be on the look out for it the next time you are in your local Walmart, Target, or grocery store. 

I received this product to try out thanks to Bzzagent but all opinions are of my own and are based on my personal experiences with the product. 

Muffins, Moms, and Marc Jacobs Daisy

How I look when I head out is very important to me but how I smell is just as important.  That is why I was super excited when I was chosen to be a Marc Jacobs Devotee.  As a Marc Jacobs Devotee I get exclusive access to several of their timeless fragrances like Daisy. In return all Marc Jacobs asks me to do is host a fabulous party and share all the great things with my friends. Anyone who knows me knows that I love having a reason to have a party so this is right down my alley. Recently I was asked to do a sample and share through Crowdtap for Marc Jacobs fragrance Daisy and Daisy So Fresh.  I love a great smelling perfume and it had been a while since I had purchased a new one so I was up for the challenge of trying out something new. I loved both of the scents from the moment I tried them and I love how light and airy they both are.  I have two young girls who have also fallen in love with Daisy and they ask everyday if they can wear some.  Not only do they think that it smells great, but they adore the cute flower design of the bottle.

For this sample and share, I was provided one 3.4 oz. bottle of Dasiy Marc Jacobs Eau Parfum, one 4.2 oz bottle if Daisy Eau So Fresh, twelve Daisy VOC's to share with my friends, one mini Daisy bottle, supplies to make a cute daisy bracelet, a table cloth, white, pink and gold balloons, and faux daisy head to scatter for decorations.

Just to give you a little background on the Daisy fragrance, it is one of Marc Jacobs timeless fragrances that smells sophisticated, delicate, and floral.  It carried hints of Violet, with notes of strawberry, ruby red grapefruit, and creamy vanilla.  With Daisy and Daisy So Fresh, you will definitely feel feminine, fresh, and confident.  If you have not smelled it you have definitely been missing out because it is a wonderful fragrance. 

To help celebrate all things Daisy, I hosted a Muffins, Moms and Marc Jacobs party where I invited over several women over to test out the Daisy and So Fresh Parfume. During the party I provided muffins, juice, coffee, pastries, fresh fruit and other snacks for the women to snack on while they checked out Daisy.  At the party, I had the table set up to display the Daisy Fragrance which also gave everyone the chance to have an up close look at the fragrances. From the moment everyone walked in they loved the design of the Daisy bottle and many felt that the bottle alone was so pretty that it would catch their eye if they saw it in a store. 

Several of the moms smelled the fragrances straight out of the bottle but I let them know that to get the true essence of them, they would need to apply them.  Each mom who attended applied the So Fresh to one arm and then the Daisy to the other. Many loved both fragrances but the So Fresh was by far the favorite of the two. Many said that they loved how it had such a light and airy smell and the longer they wore it the more they liked it. When it came to the Daisy fragrance, initially many did not like it but once they applied  it to their arm and let it sit for a minute they felt that it smelled much better. Overall, everyone seemed to fall in love with both of the fragrances and they agreed that it was definitely one that they would be adding to their gift wish list. 

Aside from trying out the two fragrances, we also tried our hand at making some Daisy inspired charm bracelets. Initially we were all a little intimidated when we watched the tutorial video but after watching it several times we got the hang of it and it actually became fun. One complaint that was expressed was about how small the beads were but overall, everyone seemed to enjoy making the bracelets and felt like it was a cute reminder of the great Daisy Fragrance they had just tried. Even though it did not look exactly like the picture we still had a good time making them. If you would like to try your hand at making one you can click here for the tutorial video.

 

Overall, the Marc Jacobs Daisy was a hit with everyone and it will definitely be on every one's gift wish list this year. Marc Jacobs has another timeless and great fragrance on their hands and once you smell it you will love it too. Next time you are out shopping be sure to stop by a fragrance counter and try it out. 

Items reviewed in this post were provided to me by Crowdtap and Marc Jacobs but all opinions expressed in this blog are based on my own personal experiences with these products. 

Fiber One Meal Bars

With the start of the new year, came the resolutions to lose weight, eat healthier and work out more. I must admit that I was one of those people who made a vow to myself to do just this. As a result I am always on the lookout for products that will help assist me in making these healthy changes. That is why I was excited when I was contacted by Bzzagent to try out the new Fiber One Meal Replacement bars.  I loved their new tagline of  "BALANCED NUTRITION FOR A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE".  As a busy mom of two, it really appealed to me because it was something that I could eat on the go without worrying if I was getting the appropriate nutrients.  These bars can be found in the nutrition or pharmacy aisle near other wellness bars and weight management products.  They are available at a suggested retail price of $5.49 a box.  Whats great is that each of the Fiber One Meal Bar packs 10g of protein, 9g of fiber and 40–60% less sugar than other meal bars from brands like Special K. The New Fiber One Meal bars come in the following three flavors:

Chocolate Peanut Butter- A classic combo of roasted peanuts plus creamy peanut butter and chocolate flavored chips. 

Strawberry Greek Yogurt- Roasted almonds are complemented by strawberry flavored fruit pieces and Greek Yogurt coating. 

Dark Chocolate Almond- Think delicious roasted almonds mixed with delectable dark chocolate flavored chips. 

I was provided with the Chocolate Peanut Butter and Strawberry Greek Yogurt bars to try out. I decided to start out by trying the Chocolate Peanut Butter bar.  This particular bar packs about 190 calories, 9 grams of fat, 10 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fiber.  I found that these bars seemed bigger than most of the other bars that I have seen.  I must admit that I am not a big fan of bars that contain protein because I feel that some can taste a little chalky and gritty but this was not the case with this bar. To me it tasted like a peanut butter granola bar and it was pretty tasty.  If you like peanuts you will definitively love these bars.  I loved how you could see the roasted peanuts and chocolate chips all throughout the bar.  The one problem that I did find is that I am not sure if I would want to use it in place of a meal.  I think that for me it would be a great snack after a workout but it left me wanting something else to eat.  I think that I would rather have a healthy meal or a protein shake over eating one of these as a meal replacement.  I also wished that the chocolate flavor was a little more prominent in the taste because at times I could not really taste it over all the peanut flavor. It was almost as if it was just there for show because I never really got that great chocolate flavor I was expecting based on how the bar looked. 

I shared both the Strawberry and Peanut Butter Bars with my brother in law and he liked the Peanut Butter bar over the strawberry bar because the flavor was much better. He felt that the strawberry bar lacked real flavor and it only kept him filled for about an hour or so. He felt the Peanut Butter bar was one that he would be interested in buying again but he the price of over $5 dollars for a box of 5 would be what stopped him from buying them.  

So overall, I will admit that the nutritional value is great but I was a little disappointed about the the Fiber One Meal replacement bars flavor.  I probably would not purchase these again because they were not very filling to me and the flavor is not something that I would want to use my calories for. I think that these would be a great snack after a busy workout when you are on the go.  

Be sure to check out Fiber One's Facebook page for more info on these and other  products they offer. 

I was provided with free products to sample but all opinions expressed in this blog are my own.  

Lifes a little sweeter with Hershey Chocolate Spread.

One of my favorite things to indulge in is a Hershey chocolate bar.  When it comes to my Hershey bar, I am pretty simple and I always seem to go for the plain Hershey bar. If I could I would make every thing I eat taste better by adding one of these Hershey bars to it. That is why I was excited when Crowdtap and Hershey gave me a chance to try out their new Hershey Spread.  The Hershey Spread comes in three great flavors, Almonds and Chocolate with Hazelnuts, and I was selected to try out the Plain chocolate flavor.  I received notification that I would be getting a sample to try out right before Christmas so I was anxiously stalking out the mail box in anticipation of its arrival. After days of waiting, my sample finally arrived shortly after the first of the year and it was as if Christmas had come again to our house. From the moment I opened the package, my kids were super excited about trying it out. We immediately went to our pantry to see what we could try it out on.  Before we got a chance to spread it onto anything, both of my girls had grabbed a spoon and tasted this spread. I couldn't  let them enjoy it on their own so I jumped in as well. 

 

 

I found the spread to be creamy and delicious but I was a little disappointed that even though it had a great flavor, it did not taste like my favorite Hershey bar. I found that it just did not have that distinctive Hershey taste that I have grown to love. Since my children love chocolate just as much as I do, we tried it on just about everything that we could think on. The first thing that we tried the spread out on was some good old fashion vanilla ice cream. We started out by warming a little of the spread and then pouring it onto our ice cream.  My children loved the spread so much that they ate every bit of it.  Next we decided to try it out on some apple sticks and this too was a hit. The creaminess of the chocolate paired with the tartness of the apples was a perfect match.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the items I saw people posting about trying was pretzel sticks so the girls and I decided to see what all the fuss about. This was another hit and now anytime my girls get pretzels for a snack they think that chocolate spread should come along with it.

 

 

 

 During our taste test, we also tried some pound cake thins and some cream flavored gold fish.

 

 

 

 

Overall, we had a great time trying out the Hershey Chocolate spread and we are constantly on the lookout for new things that we can try it out on.  One of the great things about the Chocolate spread is that it is so versatile and you can use it on anything you like as well as in all of your favorite recipes.  Interested in trying out Hershey Spread? If so, click here to get some great recipes to try it with.

Be sure to stop back by and let me know what your favorite combination was.

 

 

I received a sample of the Hershey Chocolate Spread to sample and review from Crowdtap, but all reviews are 100% my own.

Christmas shopping made easy with one stop gift card shopping at Kroger

If your Christmas shopping is anything like mine, you often find yourself running around town trying to find that perfect gift for everyone on your list. I hate to admit it but that is why I love it when someone on my list asks me for a gift card instead. The only problem that this presents is the hassle of having to run around town to grab these gift cards from each of the stores. That is why I was so relieved when I found out through Bzzagent that I could go to Kroger for all my gift card needs. I decided to put it to the test when I had to grab a gift card for a senior citizen off the angel tree that my family had chosen. I headed there and looked for the Pet Smart gift card that was requested and I found that it was super easy because they had all the gift cards placed together in one central location. I was able to go right up to the display and find the one I was looking for. Once there I noticed some other stores and I started going through my Christmas list and thinking of who else I could check off my list by going ahead and grabbing a gift card. It was so simple that my children could have done it. I simply grabbed the card I wanted, took it to the clerk and told her the amount I wanted and presto it was done. I then grabbed my receipt and I saw that I had gotten 250 fuel points from the purchase of the gift card and special coupon. I immediately went to the gas pump and filled up my card where I saved 20 cents on my gas. I had two great scores in one day and I looked like the Christmas shopper superhero. I love how easy Kroger made my Christmas shopping. I told all my friends about how easy it was and how I this is definitely my new go to spot for my gift card shopping. So if you have a couple of gift cards on your Christmas gift list, be sure to head to Kroger to grab yours and you will be so happy with the time you save as well as the savings you will get in fuel points.

I was provided with a coupon for bonus fuel points when buying gift cards in exchange for my review of the Kroger Gift card process.

Great Taste in a Little packet... Ranch flavored Starkist Tuna Creations are great.

Thanks to Crowdtap, I had the opportunity to try new Ranch flavored StarKist Tuna Creation.  As many of you may know, the Starkist Tuna creations are not your ordinary canned tuna, but instead they come in a handy little pouch.  These tuna creations come  in a variety of flavors like Zesty Lemon, Sweet and Spicy, Herb and garlic, and Hickey Smoke.  As you can see Starkist has a flavor for everyone.  When I received my sample I was excited to try the new flavor out since I was a big fan of several of the other flavors. I knew I wanted to try something new with the tuna and being the southern girl I am I decided to make a tuna crochet for breakfast one morning. 

I took some onions, bread crumbs, an egg, a little pepper, shredded cheese and the Ranch tuna packet.  I mixed all the ingredients together and then I placed a little bit of vegetable Oil in the pan. 

I fried the crochets for about 5 minutes on each side until they were a golden brown. These crochets  turned out great. 

I tried the tuna prior to adding it to the mix and i felt that the ranch flavor was very subtle but delicious. Once added to the crochet mix and cooked, I felt that it had a great flavor, which was accented well by the onion, and bread crumbs. My husband does not usually like ranch but he actually thought that the crochets had a great flavor and he said it was a great addition to breakfast. Overall, I think that the new ranch flavor is a great addition to the Starkist Tuna Creation family and I am looking forward to eating it again. Next time I will have to try it on a salad or in another recipe. If you are interested in finding some really great recipes that utilize the Starkist Tuna Creation products, be sure to head on over to their website at www.starkist.com.  There you can find out more great recipes as well as information on their products.  

I received a sample of this product to review but all views expressed in this blog are based on my own personal experience with the product. 

Starbucks Groupon $10 e-gift card for $5

Okay this is a great deal for all my Starbucks fans.  Today on Groupon you can grab a $10 gift card for only $5. Simply head over to your Groupon page and click the search button. Enter Starbucks and the deal should come up. There's a limit of one per person so be sure to head on over and grab your.