Brazi Bites On Shark Tank this Friday Night (11/20/15)

It was the summer of 2009, in Portland, Oregon, where Junea  was having some serious cravings for Pão de Queijo, her country’s most popular snack food.

She did only what a daughter could do and called her mother in Brazil and asked for the family recipe. Her mom was excited to share the family secrets that made “the perfect cheese bread.” Junea and her husband made their first batch in their home kitchen that summer.

But they did encounter a problem--they had a hard time finding the most important ingredient from her family’s recipe, “Minas” cheese, it was not available in the United States! So they spent months trying countless cheeses, hoping to re-create the taste they loved. Finally, one day in the spring of 2010, yes, almost one year later, the most delicious cheese bread they had ever tasted came out of the oven – it was so good that they literally devoured the whole tray in minutes! And thus, Brazi Bites were born!

They were excited to share their creation with everyone, so they signed up for their first local food show. Two days before the show, we stayed up all night rolling thousands of pieces of cheese bread by hand but it simply wasn’t enough. The response was totally overwhelming and they sold out halfway through the show! At that point, they knew they had something special…

Fast forward to today....Their little cheese bread experiment became their passion, and now Brazi Bites can be found in hundreds of stores across the United States! They are as excited as they were the moment that first batch came out of the oven in their home kitchen. One bite and you’ll understand why!

Brazi Bites would make a great addition to your Thanksgiving dinner, holiday parties or Christmas dinners.

Brazi Bites will be on Shark Tank this Friday night (November 20, 2015) at 8PM (CST) and 9PM (EST) so make sure you tune in to see which shark or sharks partner with them.


You can also follow along with Brazi Bites over on their social media sites too: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Disclosure: Most of the information found in this post is from the Brazi website or their social media pages. No money exchanged hands and once I receive product I will be sharing my honest review with you, my favorite readers in the whole world! Read my disclosure policy here.

Family Pizza Night with Rustic Crust

October might be the official National Pizza Month, but we can have family pizza night anytime we want it! We do not need a specified date or month for pizza! Sometimes we will order pizza, but most of the time I will make homemade pizza and I add lots of cheese, unlike those fast food, take out, pizza places!

I normally make my own pizza dough, but recently discovered Rustic Crust, the maker of organic and all-natural pizza crusts and sauce, and I am pretty sure that they have won everyone over here in our home!

Rustic Crust wants to encourage your family to spend time together and have a family pizza night! These crusts are really super yummy and fun to top---you kids would love to help you!

I took the crust out of the package and brushed it with olive oil.

Next, I spread the pizza sauce all over the top, sprinkled with lots of cheese and added pepperonis.

And then I just followed the baking directions on the back of the package--easy peasy!

Family pizza night around a game of pool--From the kid's expressions, they might have been wanting to eat the pizza first, instead of waiting for their turn to play pool!

She was either in deep thought about the game or imagining how the pizza was going to taste! 

Whether you play games or just want to have time in the kitchen with your family, Rustic Crust can help you with your family pizza night!

All Rustic Crust ready-made crusts are:
· Made using traditional, Old World baking methods: Hand formed and double proofed for flavor

· Use delicious, all natural ingredients: Select herbs and spices, no GMOs or artificial ingredients

· Healthy for the whole family: Unbleached whole grain flours, no trans fats and no added sugar

· Convenient ready-made pizza crusts that are ready to enjoy in minutes

· Oversized Rounds for extra value

· Made in the USA

Disclosure: I was sent the product featured in this post in exchange for this post.

New, Improved Honeywell 360° Surround Heaters Review

It has been a bit chilly the last few mornings here in South Carolina. Our local weather people have already forecast a 'frost advisory' for several nights in a row, the temperatures fell down into the mid 30's last night. Brrr!

This morning, while taking my youngest daughter to work, we both about froze--she ran to the van and I was wishing I had wore a jacket!

When I got back home I pulled out my new and improved Honeywell 360° Surround Heater, plugged it in and turned it on!

The new, improved Honeywell 360° Surround Heaters are available in manual and digital; I have the digital one and when I turned it on, it said that it was 63 degrees in my living room! That's a bit chilly for me...on the inside of my home! I adjusted the setting to go all the way up to 85 degrees and after just a few minutes it is already up to 75 degrees, here, in my living room. My fingers and toes are almost thawed out!

From Honeywell:

Both units have a new modern design and enhanced heat performance which offer even more powerful whole room heating. The heaters deliver 25% warmer heat output and 20% faster room heat-up versus prior models, while being 10% quieter. Relax and enjoy quality, easy the use and effective all-around room heating with the new and improved 360° Surround Heaters.

Safety Features

• 360° SafetyTipTM switch, which automatically shuts off
the heater if tipped over in any direction.

• Overheat Protection, which ensures that the heater will
shut down if it exceeds temperature requirements

• Caution lights to alert you when a heater is turned on

• Cool Touch handle for ease in carrying

Key Features

• Manual - Two Heat Settings, Adjustable Thermostat
-Colors: Gray, White, Black

• Digital – Two Heat Settings, Programmable Thermostat, 4 Hour Timer, Remote Control
-Color Black

These would make for great Christmas gifts too, the digital one that I have warms my living room great and it costs under $50.

Price & Availability

• Manual units MSRP $29.99

• Digital unit MSRP $39.99

• Manual units available at WalMart, Target,

Best Buy and Amazon.

• Digital unit available at Best Buy, Meijer and

Amazon.

**Only use these heaters on floor, table tops, and desktops. DO NOT use in wet, or damp areas!

Disclosure: I was given the product featured in this post in exchange for this writing this post.

Serve Klondy Shakes at your Halloween Party (for Adults Only!)

Halloween parties aren’t just for kids! In fact, nearly one-third of consumers (31.5%) plan to throw or attend a Halloween party, and more than 157 million Americans will celebrate the holiday this year, according to The National Retail Federation's Halloween Consumer Spending Survey.

Candy-inspired ice cream treats from Klondike offer a more sophisticated take on the traditional bowl of candy, these frightfully frozen treats will take your Monster Mash to a whole new level with options such as: Caramel & Peanuts, Kandy Triple Chocolate, Cookies & Cream and Mint Fudge Cookie---Caramel & Peanuts are my favorite!

And now they have 6 bars instead of only 4-which means more yumminess! 

For the adults at your party, make them a Klondy Shake and let the kids keep dipping into the traditional candy bowl for their treats. For the Klondy shake, choose your favorite Klondike Bar and blend with ice and milk to craft a fun frozen beverage for your 'adult' friends!

Klondike Bars have also come out with two delicious candy flavors ― Reese’s and Heath ― these bars are a new take on the typical candy treat.

I have always been a fan of anything heath!

My husband is gonna love the Klondike Reese's---he likes anything Reese's!

Klondike Bars are available in six-packs at grocery stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99.

Disclosure: I was given product free coupons in exchange for this post.

Fuel Your Halloween Party with Hot Pockets' Snack Bites

Candy doesn’t have to be the only treat in store for your family this Halloween! Fuel the fun and start the night right, by feeding kids a quick, high protein meal they love, like Hot Pockets Snack Bites, before they head out trick-or-treating.

And for those non trick or treaters, host a Halloween party, invite your friends and kid's friends over and serve them Snack Bites!

Snack Bites provide a deliciously hearty snack in just over one minute. They come in four irresistibly hot flavors:
· Pepperoni Pizza: Signature Pepperoni with reduced-fat mozzarella cheese in a flaky crust
· Hickory Ham & Cheddar: Hickory Ham with reduced-fat cheddar cheese & sauce in a flaky crust
· Four Cheese Pizza: With Parmesan, cheddar, reduced-fat Provolone & mozzarella cheeses in a flaky crust
· Cheesy Beef Nacho: Tender beef with reduced-fat cheddar cheese & sauce in a flaky crust

So there is a flavor for everyone at your party! Snack Bites are made with 100% real cheese and do not contain any artificial flavors.

Each of the four varieties – which go from the freezer to the plate in just over a minute – delivers hearty hunger satisfaction and provides a good source of protein, with up to 7 grams per four-piece serving.

These may be the smaller version of the lager pockets, but they are not lacking in flavor at all. Each pocket is still packed full of yummy goodness and sends my taste buds into a happy place...not to mention my teens tummies are satisfied after eating these too!

You can purchase these at most grocery retailers nationwide.

Disclosure: I was given product free coupons in exchange for this post.

Halloween Fun with Oriental Trading

I have worked with Oriental trading for a few years now and their assortment of holiday items has never been a let down. For Halloween, I received a wide variety of yummy candy that I know everyone will love and some scary nail art...okay, not really scary, maybe I should say, Halloweenish! I also received a couple of crafty bracelet kits.

The children will love reaching in this 'Witches Brew" and pulling out their favorite eyeball, I mean candy! Oriental Trading has a wide variety of candy, gum, stickers, and toys for both younger and older children.

Another thing that I like about Oriental Trading is their Craft selection and since I like to make things...and so do my girls, when they are not swamped with their studies. For me, I need easy crafts and Oriental Trading has easy, fun crafts for all ages.

We girls like making jewelry, so Oriental Trading sent me a couple of packs of their bracelet crafts.  I made the crystal pumpkin bracelet, pictured below.

I love the fall colors, orange and green! The bracelet pack came with easy to follow directions and took me about 15 minutes to put together; if you have younger children it will take them a little longer and they will probably need mom's help tying off the plastic cord.

Halloween is just not about the ghost and goblins, but making memories with your children.

To browse all of Oriental Trading Halloween items, CLICK HERE.

Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this post.

Ben’s Beginners™ Cooking Contest + a Giveaway

A sad fact today is that more and more kids are devouring sugary, high fat foods at home instead of cooking fresh, delicious meals. A lot of this stems from lack of nutritional education. Uncle Ben’s believes it’s really important for parents to involve their kids in making and eating healthy meals at home.

Uncle Ben’s is launching its fourth annual Ben’s Beginners™ Cooking Contest to promote cooking healthy meals at home. Parents, with children in grades K-8, submit a home video (three minutes or less!) of them preparing a rice-based dish with their child and discussing their experience cooking together. Five grand prize winners will win $15,000 cash, a hometown celebration and a $30,000 cafeteria makeover for their child’s school. The contest aims to have parents and kids cooking healthy together and having fun!

UNCLE BEN’S® Brand unveiled an interactive kid-friendly kitchen in New York City September 25th. The “Dream Kitchen” was inspired by kids across the U.S. submitting ideas of what their “dream kitchen” would include. Celebrity mom Tamera Mowry-Housley lead the event by showing parents simple ways their kids can get involved in making meals no matter their age.

The contest ends Monday, October 12, 2015, so click THIS LINK to enter the contest!

The UNCLE BEN’S® Brand is passionate about encouraging parents and kids to cook together, because families that eat and cook together have children who make healthier meal choices.

If you do not win the contest, you do have a chance to win the prize package mentioned below;
the giveaway prize will be our Ben’s Beginners Young Chef kit which includes the following:
-Ben’s Beginners™ oven mitt
-Ben’s Beginners™ child apron and adult apron
-Ben’s Beginners ™ measuring cup
-Uncle Ben’s® coupon
-UNCLE BEN’S Ready Rice (2 packages)

The giveaway will be conducted over on my Swappin' Spoons Facebook page, so keep an eye out there for more information on how to enter.

Celebrate International Cat Day, Today, Aug. 8th, 2015 with Babbel

Babbel.com is an interactive, online language learning course that allows you to master the fundamentals of different languages. Babbel’s online language courses are simple, convenient and tailored to you. Choose your language, then ability level and get started right away.

Babbel uses tested educational methods and online technology to make learning a language easy. The concept is based on quick, bite-size lessons presented in an entertaining visual way.

Since today is International Cat Day, I thought it would be fun to share a few cat idiomz with all you cat lovers out there!

1) English: There’s more than one way to skin a cat
Translation: There are many different ways to solve a problem

2) Turkish: Dokuz canlı kedi
Translation: Cat with nine lives

3) Avere sette vite come i gatti
Translation: To have seven lives like a cat

4) French: Retomber comme un chat sur ses pattes
a. Translation: To land like a cat on his feet
b. Meaning: To be lucky or successful after being in a difficult situation

5) Spanish: ¿Se te ha comido la lengua el gato?
a. Translation: Did the cat eat your tongue?
b. Meaning: Why aren’t you talking?

6) Portuguese: Gato escaldado tem medo de água fria
a. Translation: A scalded cat fears cold water
b. Meaning: To be traumatized by a bad experience

7) German: Wenn die Katze aus dem Haus ist, tanzen die Mäuse auf dem Tisch
a. Translation: When the cat’s out of the house, the mice will dance on the table

8) Croatian: Kad mačke nema, miševi vode kolo
a. Translation: When the cat’s gone, the mice lead the *kolo*
b. Meaning: When the boss is away, someone under them calls the shots

9) Hindi: Nau Sau Choohey Khakar Billi Hajj Ko Chali
a. Translation: After eating 900 rats, the cat goes on a pilgrimage
b. Meaning: To veil a lifetime of wrongdoing with a few token expressions of virtue later in life

10) Romanian: Nu arunca pisica în curtea altuia
a. Translation: Don’t throw the cat in someone else’s yard
b. Meaning: Don’t blame someone else

11) Swedish: Om natten är alla katter grå
a. Translation: At night, all cats are grey


Disclosure: I was given a free trial to Babbel.com in exchange for this post.

Aurorae Aqua Beach Towel Review

You might associate the name Aurorae with yoga products, but Aurorae has recently expanded into a new division called Aurorae Aqua. They are now selling ultra absorbent, 32" x 68", microfiber beach and swim towels. What's not to love about an over-sized beach towel?

Whether you plan to take a stroll on a beach, linger poolside, picnic at the lake, or sail off shore, their over-sized super absorbent towels are light weight and compact.

You can choose from among their eight carefully selected colors: * Bermuda Sands * Caribbean Breeze * Cayman Island Coral * Fiji Sunset * Kauai Coast * Mediterranean Seas * Pacific Twilight * Sanibel Sunrise * - each reminiscent of a cherished waterfront location. And all their products are guaranteed!

Want one of these towels? Well you are in luck, one lucky Swappin' Spoons readers will receive one of these towels for free---Watch the Swappin' Spoons Facebook page for more information on this giveaway.

The towel I received washes well too...it does not ball up, fade or leave lent in my dryer either!

Disclosure: I did receive one of these products to facilitate my review.

Softsoap's 3 NEW limited Edition Summer Body Washes

I love Softsoap’s limited edition body washes! I haven't been on summer vacation yet (it's coming soon though!) and these summer scents are set to take us away to our favorite beach (maybe Fuji, Tahiti, or Bali) in our very own shower! My favorite is Tahitian Glow--love the grapefruit scent!

Not only do these body washes lather up really good, they are very moisturizing and makes my skin feel clean, soft and they look really pretty sitting in our bathroom too--their packaging is bright and vibrant! Plus, they are perfect for shaving your legs and underarms too!

Fuji Waves

This summertime fragrance includes cucumber and melon, and smells amazingly fresh and sunny. The gorgeous blue color of this body wash reminds me of the beach.

Tahitian Glow

This fragrance is so uplifting! With a delicious scent of ripe, tangy grapefruit and succulent pineapple. This formula has tiny moisturizing beads in it that make skin so amazingly soft!

Bali Bliss

Escape to your own private paradise with the new Bali Bliss body wash. This moisture-rich formula will leave skin radiant and smooth, while invigorating the senses with scents of coconut and lime.

These 18 oz. sized body washes can be found currently at Walmart for the suggested retail price of $2.99 each.

*Disclosure: I did receive these products to facilitate my review. These opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by another person.

iPhone 6 Armband, from Blue Key World, Review + Buy it now at a Discounted Price and FREE Shipping!

*I recently received the iPhone 6 armband, from Blue Key World, at a promotional price for my honest review, I was not influenced in any way.*

Three little words are all I need to say about this product, "I love it"---and so does my husband! Our iPhone 6 fits perfectly into the armband, it was easy to get inside the armband, my phone was secure once inside the armband and it was easy to fit around my arm and my husband's arm (my husband has bigger arms than I do, but not a problem with the adjustable Velcro strap). The armband is so soft and comfortable to wear, once you have it in place---it doesn't move, no slip or sliding it stays put, no matter what you are doing. So far, I have walked, jogged been a taxi driver, and lifted weights with this iPhone 6 armband from Blue Key World---it is very comfortable to wear!

I am seriously thinking about getting a couple of more for stocking stuffers! I know, I know it's only July, but I like to plan a head.

This is truly a great product and I highly recommend it! You can purchase one here at THIS LINK
at a discounted price with FREE Shipping if you have Prime.
.

MAGNUM Ice Cream Chocolate Scented Wraps

MAGNUM® Ice Cream, the only ice cream bar made with Belgian chocolate, is partnering with globally renowned fashion brand BCBGMAXAZRIA to create the world's most pleasurable fashion accessory. Through the use of innovative scent technology, the BCBGMAXAZRIA for MAGNUM Belgian Chocolate Wrap offers women a new way to indulge in their love of chocolate and fashion.

The wrap uses new scent technology called oNotes and pushes fashion beyond sight and touch and incorporates scent, one of our most powerful senses, into design.

With its decadent aroma, rich colors and smooth texture, the BCBGMAXAZRIA for MAGNUM Belgian Chocolate Wrap makes women feel like they are being wrapped in chocolate and experiencing the ‘MAGNUM Effect’ – the same sense of pleasure as if they were eating a MAGNUM Ice Cream Bar.

As a fun way to celebrate National Ice Cream month, the wrap will be available, nationwide, through July 26th, 2015 as a gift with purchase of $300+ of full price items in select BCBGMAXAZRIA LA stores and online at www.bcbg.com (while supplies last).

Disclosure: I was sent one of these wraps in exchange for this post and it smells absolutely delicious! Read my disclosure policy here.

How are you Celebrating National Ice Cream Day, on July 19th?

July 19th is National Ice Cream Day; how are you celebrating? Hopefully you are celebrating with your favorite ice cream!

Breyers, Good Humor, Klondike, MAGNUM Ice Cream, Fruttare and Popsicle – offer a wide range of products and flavors that range from refreshing to indulgent; in fact, in 2015 alone they launched 16 new varieties across the portfolio!

For the person who loves…

-Salty and Sweet: Klondike Caramel Pretzel, MAGNUM Double Peanut Butter, and MAGNUM Almond and are just a few which master the timeless combination.

-Mint and Chocolate: Some of the new varieties in 2015 include Good Humor Girl Scouts Thin Mints Bar, Breyers Gelato Indulgences Mint Chocolate, and Klondike Mint Fudge Cookie Kandy Bar.

-Fruity Desserts: Fruttare frozen fruit bars are made with real, delicious fruit, and this year, the brand is moving towards sustainably sourcing every piece of fruit. Flavors include Strawberry, Coconut & Milk, Banana & Milk, Mango, and more. (Bonus: they start at only 60 calories a bar!)

-Candy: Popsicle Tootsie Pop – one of the brand’s newest varieties – surely won’t disappoint; for non-Tootsie Pop lovers, try Popsicle Airheads or Popsicle Sour Patch Kids.

-Anything Vanilla: Breyers offers several varieties: Natural Vanilla (America’s favorite Vanilla!), French Vanilla, Extra Creamy Vanilla, Homemade Vanilla, ½ the Fat, Sugar Free, etc.

-The Classics: Take a trip down memory lane and enjoy same of the classics – Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Bar, Good Humor Chocolate Éclair, Giant Vanilla Sandwich, Cherry Popsicle, and more.


Disclosure I received product coupons to help facilitate this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

HOT POCKETS Snack Bites and Breakfast Bites #Review

As a mom of teens, I am always on the lookout for fulfilling snacks for my guys and girls. HOT POCKETS are no stranger to our home (Pepperoni is my all time favorite!). But recently, I was introduced to HOT POCKETS Snack Bites and HOT POCKETS Breakfast Bites!

Made with 100% real cheese, HOT POCKETS Snack Bites and Breakfast Bites are a good source of protein and contain NO artificial flavors. They are currently available in seven varieties including:

Snack Bites
· Pepperoni Pizza: Signature Pepperoni with reduced-fat mozzarella cheese in a flaky crust
· Hickory Ham & Cheddar: Hickory Ham with reduced-fat cheddar cheese & sauce in a flaky crust
· Four Cheese Pizza: With Parmesan, cheddar, reduced-fat Provolone & mozzarella cheeses in a flaky crust
· Cheesy Beef Nacho: Tender beef with reduced-fat cheddar cheese & sauce in a flaky crust

Breakfast Bites
· Bacon, Egg & Cheese: Bacon and egg with low-fat mozzarella cheese & sauce in a flaky crust
· Ham, Egg & Cheese: Ham and egg with low-fat mozzarella cheese & sauce in a flaky crust
· Sausage, Egg & Cheese: Sausage and egg with low-fat mozzarella cheese & sauce in a biscuit crust

Each of the seven varieties – which go from the freezer to the plate in just over a minute – delivers hearty hunger satisfaction and provides a good source of protein, with up to 7 grams per four-piece serving.

These may be the smaller version of the lager pockets, but they are not lacking in flavor at all. Each pocket is still packed full of yummy goodness and sends my taste buds into a happy place...not to mention my teens tummies are satisfied after eating these too!

Pepperoni is still reigning champ here in our home, with the Bacon, Egg and Cheese breakfast bites coming into a very close second place!

You can purchase these at most grocery retailers nationwide.

Disclosure: I was given product to help promote this content. Read my disclosure policy here.

Cabo Chips | A Healthy Tortilla Chip, Really?

Born on the beautiful beaches of Baja, Mexico, Cabo Chips are 100% whole grain classic cantina style tortilla chips that are inspired by the vibrant atmosphere of Cabo San Lucas.

These all natural chips are cooked the traditional way – cut from fresh tortillas that are batch cooked for a true cantina crunch! Cabo Chips use only real ingredients, no “flavorings,” for authenticity you can taste.

Our family recently had the opportunity to sample Cabo Chips and we loved them! They were a hit with my whole family and did not last very long in our home!

The first bag that we tried was BLUE CORN CABO CHIPS---yummo! Each chip you can taste a hint of lime, and sea salt. We ate these by their-selves, but my husband said these would be great with my Texas Trash Bean Dip ( I think he was hinting that I make some...but I didn't!)

I have no complaints on any of the chips that we tried, and these ORIGINAL CABO CHIPS would be great with salsa! These have a int of lime juice as well as soy sauce---talk about a combination; brilliant creation!

CABO CHIPS' unique mango flavor is brought up to date with a pinch of organic mild chili pepper, sea salt, and a splash of real lime juice for a taste combination that's surprisingly perfect!

But I think my favorite are the Churro! Crunchy with a pinch of cinnamon and sugar on each chip---Yum!

Here are a few recipes where you can use the CHURRO CABO CHIPS!

-Mexican Fried Ice Cream: place Churro chips in the toaster oven for 5 minutes on low heat. When finished, scoop a dollop of your favorite vanilla bean ice cream on top, and finish with a drizzle of honey or fresh berries.

-Chocolate: simply take your favorite chocolate bar or semi sweet milk or dark chocolate chips and microwave for 45 seconds. Either dip the Churro chip directly in and eat for a warm and gooey treat, or place on cooling rack after dipping to let chocolate set. 

-Caramel: cinnamon and caramel are a delicious pair. Simply dip Cabo Chips' Churro chip into a bowl of caramel, and top with fresh whipped cream for added decadence.

-Nutella: place a few spoonfuls of this yummy hazelnut spread in the microwave for 30 seconds, then drizzle over the Churro Cabo Chips for a quick and easy sweet treat.

Any of these chips would be perfect for this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Leave them in the bag or dump them into a bowl, regardless; grab you a few before you leave them, because these chips will not last long!

Cabo Chips are available in select food chains such as Whole Foods, and others, as well as direct purchase online at http://www.cabochips.com/shop.

For more information, visit http://www.cabochips.com/

Disclosure: Our family was sent CABO CHIPS to sample and to help facilitate this post.

Wrapped in Love Clothing Review

Me holding my Mother's hand after she had been placed on Hospice Care.

My mother was getting ready to be discharged from the hospital the next morning, but that never happened. During the night she had a set back, she had Dementia, and her brain was telling her body no, you are not coming back from this, it's time to go to sleep and rest.

In late June of 2014, my mother was taken to the hospital because of a kidney problem, she stayed for a few days, was given medicine and was even getting ready to be discharged the next morning. I get a text from my sister saying that momma had taken a turn for the worse and the doctor was not giving her long to live...this was Friday. The following Monday my mother was placed on Hospice care and my husband and I was trying to get there as fast as we could. My mother was in the hospital in Oklahoma and we live in South Carolina---so it was a long drive and we were racing against the clock.

As my husband and I entered the room, there lay my momma in that hospital gown, she was asleep when we got there, and very hard to wake up. She was heavily sedated, but she did wake up and she did recognize both of us. She spoke just a little and immediately started pulling at her hospital gown. The nurse told her to quit that she had to leave the gown on, and I told the nurse..no she did not!

For as long as I can remember, my mother had always loved bright, vibrant clothing so I slipped a shirt on over that gown, and momma didn't pull at that shirt---she just wanted something else on besides that gown! My husband and I were fortunate to have gotten to spend several days with my mother before the Lord called her home---and every day I changed her blouse to something of hers (something familiar) and she seemed to be content with her clothing after that.

You can find the rest of this story over on my Facebook and Twitter pages as I kept my readers updated over there through out our journey last July.

Recently, I have met a lady online, Karen, that has a similar story to mine...with one exception, she has created a clothing line called Wrapped in Love, while her mother was her inspiration, everyone can enjoy Karen's creativity--whether you have a loved one going through what our moms went through, or for new mothers to be, bring life into this world, or maybe someone you know is in the hospital just having a few tests to run, Wrapped in Love would be perfect for any stay that your lady friends might have.

Wrapped in Love ponchos are colorful-not to mention fun to wear, plus they are machine washable, just remove the flower pin before washing!

Here is Karen's Story:

A few years back my mom was admitted into the hospital just before Christmas. She had been very ill and each day her condition worsened.

My greatest hope was to have her remain with us for Christmas. 

I brought a beautiful wrap and put it over her patient gown so she could feel special that Christmas day. The nurses said she seemed to light up as I wrapped it around her, as she now felt dressed for the holiday, though having to remain in her patient gown. 

She passed away a few days later. 

Mom was the inspiration for my creation called Wrapped in Love, a lightweight, fashionable coverup wrap, that can go over a patient gown to make someone feel special during a challenging time. It comes in a variety of styles and cheerful colors. A matching head wrap is also available.

You can purchase one here at THIS LINK. 2% of all sales will be donated to Hospice of Michigan.


Disclosure: I was sent the product featured to help facilitate this post.

Nutri Ninja with Auto-IQ Review

I was super excited when this Nutri Ninja with Auto IQ arrived at my doorstep, just ask the delivery guy! I have been wanting a Nutri Ninja for a while now and recently found out there was a new one out on the market with Auto IQ.

My oldest son is into healthy eating, and loves to make smoothies in the blender, but now he has this cool new toy to play with! He generally makes up his own recipes which usually include a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. Frozen fruits work great too and are easily chopped up or blended in this Nutri Ninja with Auto IQ.

One of his favorites is strawberries, bananas, and spinach (he will sometimes add either a little milk or orange juice). If he is sharing with my husband, then he will add a lot of ice; my husband likes his ice!

The Nutri Ninja with Auto IQ is simple to use, just choose your cup size, add your ingredients, put the blade on, set it on the base and then choose if you want to Pulse, Blend with Auto IQ, or Ultra Blend with Auto IQ.

While spinach is not my favorite thing to eat on the planet, you kind hide the taste in this smoothie, just not the color! 

Not all green smoothies taste bad!

All ingredients that we have ever put into the Nutri Ninja with Auto IQ has always come out smooth everytime, no chunks whatsoever, which is a plus for me!


NUTRI NINJA AUTO-IQ INCLUDES:

1000 Watt Motor Base with Auto-iQ Technology

Small 18 oz cup

Regular 24 oz cup

Jumbo Multi-serve 32 oz cup

Pro Extractor Blades

3 Sip & Seal Lids

* All detachable parts are *dishwasher-safe* and crafted of 100% BPA-free plastic---being dishwasher safe is a huge plus in our family; we all like an easy clean up. 

The Nutri Ninja^® Auto-iQ is available at major retailers nationwide starting at $139 MSRP

Disclosure, I was given the product mentioned to help facilitate this post.

Mr. Coffee® Electric French Press + Hot Water Kettle Review

My husband loves his coffee and he loves his coffee makers. We are always stopping to look at coffee makers when we are out shopping. So, I was very excited when we received the Mr. Coffee® Electric French Press + Hot Water Kettle.

I had been telling him about this particular press for a while and now we have one to use, or maybe I should say my husband has one that he can make his coffee in! For the connoisseur of high-quality coffees and teas, the Mr. Coffee® Electric French Press + Hot Water Kettle is a must! Pressed coffee extracts the ideal amount from the grounds to deliver maximum coffee flavor.

Mr. Coffee® Electric French Press extracts rich, full-bodied coffee flavor at the perfect temperature without the need to boil water on the stove (the adjustable temperature setting helps keep beverages warm until it’s time to indulge). There's no more mess, no more handling boiling hot water, no more hassle! For tea lovers you can also use it to steep a delicious batch of tea. Or use it as an electric kettle to boil water for instant beverages, oatmeal, mac and cheese, soup and much, much more!

The wide mouth glass carafe and large screen make serving a snap, while an in-base cord storage facility makes storage and clean up easy.

More about the Mr. Coffee® 2-n-1 Electric French Press with Kettle:
*1L capacity which features a removable base for easy placement on your table or counter top.
*1L Capacity makes 6 cups (cups average 5 oz)
*Removable base
*Boil dry protection
*Automatically turns off when water boils
*Over-heat protection
*BPA-Free

Please Note: Unit is NOT dishwasher-safe and requires special care. Do not immerse the appliance in water or any other liquid. Please refer to the Instruction Manual for further details.

You can purchase one online HERE at this link for $69.99.

Disclosure: I was sent the product featured to help facilitate this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

Oster MyBlend Blender Review

One of my New Year's resolutions, every year, is to become more healthier; and usually through spring I do okay with the eating and exercising part, but then toward the end of May and the rest of the summer months I tend to travel a lot, play in the pool---you know, fun stuff, and the exercise dwindles and my food intake is whatever I can usually take with me on the road or bring to the pool. And before I know it, the pounds start coming back on and I start to feel sluggish before to long and I know it is from putting unhealthy food back into my body!

Recently, I was sent the Oster® MyBlend™ blender, and yet while it blends your food up, it's not your typical blender! Style meets power & performance with the Oster® MyBlend™ blender. It is ideal for the on-the-go consumer, the smoothie drinker, and the health enthusiast, you can fill, blend and go all in the same bottle with quick and convenient one-touch blending that delivers personalized protein shakes, smoothies and more.

I received the vivid pink blender, pictured above, it's so girlish-I love it! I dare one of my guys lay claim to this product! The Oster® MyBlend™ blender is so easy to use, you could use it blindfolded (NOT recommended!),
~Just place the bottle on the flat surface with the open end facing up.
~Put all the ingredients you are using to make smoothies with in the bottle
~Fasten the blade onto the open end and turn bottle 180 degrees and put down into the blender base.
~The Oster works on single touch operation. You can either begin blending by holding the bottle over the blender or lock the bottle in the clockwise direction onto the base for hands free operation. ~Blending will stop if you remove the hand or unlock the bottle from the base.
~Once the blending is done, remove the blade, put on the lid and enjoy your healthy smoothie or shake that you just made. This is a great way to make a quick and easy portable breakfast or a post workout smoothie in just a few minutes.

The Oster® MyBlend™ blender is a powerful stainless steel ice crusher blade and 250 watts of power ensure a perfect blend of ice and even frozen fruit every time! Plus I can re-use the bottle throughout the day as a water bottle.

With the Oster® MyBlend™ blender, I can now take my healthy food with me as I travel or as I am laying by the pool soaking up the warm sun. I am for sure taking it on vacation later this year, I love smoothies while at the beach---and so do my guys! I might have to end up purchasing a couple more Oster® MyBlend™ blenders for our vacation this year!

Additional sport bottles can be purchased separately – choose from vivid pink, orange, blue or green and blend on one base before dashing off to the office, the gym or class each morning. And....the bottle is dishwasher safe!

You can purchase one for yourself HERE at this link.

Disclosure: I was sent the above product in exchange for this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

Cute Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and Milano Cookie Ideas for this Easter

I have been a long time fan of Pepperidge Farm goldfish for years now. All six of use eat them as snacks throughout the day and before bedtime. This year for Easter, you can swap out sticky candy for goldfish and treat your little ones to a yummy, crunchy snack this year. Just fill each plastic egg about half full---I know they would love them!

Milano Cookies are another favorite in our home, we have eaten these for several years now, but on a recent trip to visit my in-laws, I discovered that my Mother-in-law had never even tried them---so I gave her a few packages that she could keep and enjoy over the next several weeks.

Below are a couple more ideas on how to use Pepperidge Farm goldfish and Milano cookies this Easter; instead of just pulling them out of the bag--nothing wrong with just pulling them out of the bag and eating them, but the below ideas are cute and your children are sure to love them!

Milano Cookie Bunny Ear Pudding Cup

Top off your favorite pudding cup with two Spring Milano cookies to create a pudding bunny treat complete with edible ears! Place a few jelly beans as eyes and a nose, add some licorice whiskers, and you have a delicious and festive pudding snack to share with the whole family!

Goldfish Cracker Carrot Bags

Fill up a pastry bag with Cheddar Goldfish crackers and tie with a green ribbon. These Easter carrots are one of the easiest treats to make and your little bunny will be grinning from ear to ear.



Disclosure: I was given product in exchange for this post. Read my disclosure policy here.