Jul 232015
 

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I am really trying to drink more water but plain water is so boring! Not only do I want to drink more water because it is good for me but it has been really hot here in Portland, OR and I need to keep hydrated.  I recently tried SweetLeaf® Water Drops™, fruit  flavored water enhancers with zero  calories,  zero carbs and—unlike other flavor drops—NO  artificial  ingredients and I really liked it!  I love the refreshing fruity flavors.

I have tried other products from SweetLeaf® and always really liked them so I was happy to try the Water Drops™.  They come in 4 fruity flavors including:

  • Lemon Lime
  • Raspberry Lemonade
  • Peach Mango
  • Strawberry Kiwi

My favorite is the Raspberry Lemonade.  The nice thing about these Water Drops™ is that you can add the amount that taste good to you – for me I just want a couple drops,  Rex liked a lot of drops.  You can customize your water to your taste.  I find that when I have the flavored water I drink much more.  I think most people could drink more water and probably would if they tried the Water Drops™.

You can find the SweetLeaf® Water Drops™ locally at many natural food stores – here in Portland I can get them at Fred Meyer and New Seasons.  You can also purchase them online HERE.

Kaisy1

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jul 232015
 

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We have pizza almost every Friday.  We normally get a pizza from a local take and bake place so our pizza cutter gets lots of use. I was happy to get a new one.  I love the handle on the Kitchen Monster Pizza Cutter #email.  It has a comfortable grip and is ergonomic.  I also like that the handle is orange – I know that sounds weird but the drawer we keep kitchen tools in is pretty messy so the orange stands out and is easy to find.

The pizza cutter will last a long time the blade is made out of stainless steel and it is sharp.  I am happy that it cuts the pizza the first time – our other cutter was getting old and I would have to go back and forth a number of times to get it to work.  It also has a finger guard so no worries about accidentally cutting yourself.  The Kitchen Monster Pizza Cutter is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

If you would like to purchase your own Kitchen Monster Pizza Cutter with the ergonomic handle you can do so HERE.

Kaisy1

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jul 232015
 

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Sometimes I am looking for a crunchy snack that is sweet and low in calories and that is really hard to find.  I was excited to try these Cookie Chips from  HannahMax Baking. #cookiechips  They are just a little sweet bite and one serving is just 120-130 calories. Tastes like a cookie, eats like a chip!

Cookie Chips were born one afternoon when Joanne was baking for her kids, the company’s namesakes, a crispy, sweet treat.  After they inhaled them like a bag of potato chips, she realized she was onto something big.  A delicious snack you can feel good about. They’re made from the best, all-natural ingredients we can find, like milled cane sugar, creamery butter, cage-free eggs, fines chocolate and pure bourbon vanilla. Plus, you’ll never find any artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, trans fats or GMOs in anything that comes out of the HannahMax bakery.

They come in 6 great flavors including:

  • Original
  • Chocolate Chip
  • Cinnamon Sugar
  • Sea Salted Peanut Butter
  • Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip
  • Oatmeal Raisin

I can’t decide if the Cinnamon Sugar or the Sea Salted Peanut Butter are my favorite.  Rex loved the Oatmeal Raisin.  They all tasted good!  What I really like is that they are easy to find.  Nationwide they are available at Walmart, Safeway and many other locations.  You can also order them online right HERE. You can also find more information on HannahMax Bakery on their social media sites.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatCookieChips

Instagram: @eatcookiechips

Twitter: @eatcookiechips

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eatcookiechips

Kaisy1

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jul 232015
 

skinue

I have been using some new products from SKINUE.  SKINUE bases its formula on natural ingredients to provide natural hydration, moisturization and acne prevention. The future resides in natural inspirations, and SKINUE scientists have found theirs in the natural strength of the camel.

To ensure the highest quality natural ingredients, we sought the aid of experts. The royal family of The United Arab Emirates. The camel milk whey is obtained from Camelicious, the Royal Family’s very own world-renowned camel milk product line, with products ranging from dairy products to exquisite chocolates.

Just as a camel is naturally capable of surviving the harshest conditions, SKINUE also seeks to strengthen and nourish your skin, to ward off the detrimental effects of harsh conditions with its ultra-hydrating and deeply moisturizing formulation.

I used a number of products from SKINUE and I would like to tell you about the ones I liked best. IMG_1256 One of my favorite is the SKINUE Foot Cream.  It is very thick and rich. I love putting it on my feet at night before I go to bed.  The foot cream helps keep your feet nice and soft.  Their secret is a unique combination of almond oil, camel whey, and other natural ingredients which protect and moisturize your feet.

I also found that the SKINUE Hand Cream is very good. It too is very thick.  It makes my hands feel soft and they look good.  The Hand Cream uses a unique combination of Aloe Vera extracts and camel whey, which protect and intensely moisturize your hands.

I have also been using the SKINUE Argan Cream and SKINUE Brightening Cream to help my face look younger. I like how they both soak into my skin making it look younger and clearer.

IMG_1257I have been using the SKINUE Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin on my elbows and on a couple other spots that are very dry and need extra attention. It contains Aloe Vera and Henna extracts which moisturize and nourish skin leaving it soft, fresh, and radiant looking.

Rex suffers from arthritis and his shoulders hurt all the time so the SKINUE Massage Gel was perfect for him.  It combines a powerful combination of botanicals that strengthen your skin, making you feel energized. The non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula glides on the skin with ease.  It helped ease some of his pain.

I really liked the SKINUE Lotion which removes existing acne and prevents future breakouts.  I liked how light it felt and how well it soaked into my skin.  It did not leave my face dry, flaky or red.

The SKINUE Facial Wash is very gentle and good for skin that is prone to breakout.  It helps cleans and helps prevent new breakouts.IMG_1260

SKINUE Gel has a fresh, non-greasy texture that gently addresses acne-causing bacteria. It speeds the removal of acne and will clear your break out fast! For better results, cleanse your skin with our Facial Wash before applying gel. I liked how my skin felt after applying it wasn’t greasy – just nice and soft.

SKINUE Serum is lightweight and easily absorbs and reaches deep into your skin’s layers. It is a powerful spot treatment for acne breakouts and a little goes a long way!  This was great when I did get a pimple – it worked fast!

As you can see SKINUE has a lot of great skin products to help make you look your best. It was the first time I had used a product that used camel milk whey, and I was very happy with the results.

You can purchase SKINUE HERE.  They have a couple specials going on.  You can take 20% off of any purchase no minimum using the code SKINCARE20 or take 40% off an order of $100 or more using the discount code SKINCARE40 when you check-out.

Kaisy1

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Jul 222015
 

Olive Oil Ice Cream overhead

Happy National Ice Cream Month!  July and ice cream always remind me of going to the Seymour Fair when growing up.  My family was involved in 4-H.  4-H is the nation’s largest positive youth development and youth mentoring organization, empowering six million young people in the U.S.  I know it has changed a lot since I was in 4-H bringing my wacky cake to be judged at the fair.  So to make a long story short the reason it ice cream reminds me of the fair is because they always had the best chocolate malts and we would always get one while we were there.

My taste may have grown a bit so now instead of chocolate malts I look for more adventurous flavors. Like Olive Oil Ice Cream! Yes, you heard that correctly. Not only is this a delicious, unique recipe – it’s healthy, too! 

Oil & Vinegar’s Olive Oil Ice Cream for National Ice Cream Month – July 2015

Ingredients:

6 egg yolks

1 1/2 cup heavy cream, divided

1 cup milk

2/3 cup sugar

1 vanilla bean, split

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons EV Bonsecco Olive Oil from Tuscany*

2 tablespoon butter

Vecchia Corte Re Aceto Balsamico Gold for serving*

Preparation:

Mix the egg yolks with half of the cream in a bowl.  Heat milk, remaining cream vanilla bean and sugar in saucepan until the sugar has been dissolved. Add egg yolk mixture stirring constantly.  Heat until mixture becomes thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, 6 – 8 minutes. Remove from heat.

Heat the EV Bonsecco Olive Oil with the butter until melted;  add to cream mixture.  Strain through sieve in a bowl: discard the vanilla bean.  Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour; custard base can be refrigerated up to 2 days ahead.

Pour cold custard mixture into ice cream machine; freeze according to manufacture’s instructions.  Spoon into container and freezer for two hours.  For a creamier ice cream, stir during two hour freezing time; transfer to blender after two hours mix until smooth. Pour into the freezer container and freeze for another two hours.

Drizzle with balsamic vinegar or your favorite flavored vinegar from Oil & Vinegar.

*Available at Oil & Vinegar

This recipe is from Oil & Vinegar, with a Portland, OR location in Clackamas Town Center ( very close to me!)  The photo is from Leigh Olson.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Kaisy1

Jul 212015
 

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Guess what is in this little bag!  It is a extra large Parasheet Beach Blanket/Picnic Blanket.  It is 7 by 6.5 feet and it folds into this nice little pouch! It is has plenty of room for both Rex and me.  One of the neat things about this blanket  is it has corner pockets that you can fill with sand and it holds the blanket down.  We used it when we went to Lincoln City – Rex flew his kite and I laid out on the blanket and read. It was so nice not to get covered with sand.  Then when when we were finished on the beach I just rinsed off the Parasheet Beach Blanket ~ it dried really fast and I folded it up and put it back in the bag.

I wish I had this Parasheet Beach Blanket years ago.  I have only had it a short time and we have gone to the beach with it and also had a couple picnic’s using it.  It is so nice just to spread it on the ground and not worry about the damp grass soaking through or if you spill something it wipes right up.  It is made of durable, premium quality lightweight parasheet nylon fabric.  I know we will get tons of use out of it.

If you would like to purchase your own Gecko Active Parasheet Beach Blanket you can do so on the link below from Amazon.com.


Kaisy1

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jul 212015
 

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This would have been really useful to me when I was younger.  I was/am a klutz.  I have tons of scars from falling or getting cut or burned.  NEW ScarAway Scar Repair Gel with Kelo-cote technology (formerly Kelocote) is a revolutionary, advanced topical silicone gel for the management of scars and for the prevention of abnormal scars including hypertrophic scars and keloids. Formulated by a Physician, ScarAway Silicone Scar Repair gel is indicated for use for scars resulting from surgery, injury, burns, cuts, scrapes, acne and more. ScarAway scar Treatment gel is self drying and forms a thin breathable, waterproof layer on the skin that delivers convenient, safe and effective treatment day and night.

I burned my arm awhile ago taking a pan out of the oven and the ScarAway Scar Repair Gel really helped. It is easy to use I  just put it on in the morning and at night.  It didn’t have any smell and was transparent.  You can use this on old or new scars.  I was reading that it is good for scars from surgeries, burns, injuries, bug bites, acne, cuts and more.  What’s really nice is you can buy this with out a prescription. It can be found nationwide at many local stores including Albertsons, Walmart and Walgreens.

Kaisy1

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jul 212015
 
RELEASE ME
Chasing Fire #2
Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers
Releasing July 21st, 2015
Berkley/Intermix
 

The second in the “seriously sexy and sinfully steamy”* Chasing Fire series, about a pain too deep to forgive and a passion too hot to forget…

Alessandra Sinclair knows that Hudson Chase is the last man she should want. The boy from the wrong side of the tracks has grown into a man who would do anything to get ahead, even if it means breaking Allie’s heart. But whenever she’s near him, the attraction between them is undeniable. And now that they’re working together, keeping her distance from Hudson is almost as impossible as keeping her feelings in check…

Hudson already lost Allie once and he refuses to lose her again. He’s determined to use their new business partnership to rekindle the spark he knows is still there. Only the closer he gets to winning her over, the clearer it becomes there are still secrets that could tear them apart for good…

Pre-Order
 

Hudson’s eyes flared. “Taunting me?” he asked. But he didn’t wait for an answer. Instead he lurched forward in a few powerful strides, palming the back of the couch with his free hand and leaping over it.

Shit.

With her heart pounding, Allie took off in the only available direction. When she reached the stairs, Hudson was right behind her, taking them two at a time. She gasped as his fingers grazed her hip before dropping to catch her ankle.

He yanked her down as he prowled up her body, his hips surging against her backside as he lowered his mouth to her ear. “I’ve caught you, baby.” He buried his hand in her hair and pulled her head to the side. She moaned when his lips found the spot on her neck that never failed to drive her wild. Pleasure shot through her as he sucked on the sensitive skin and she writhed beneath him. “Now, what shall I do to you?”

Allie’s lips parted on a raged breath. “Whatever you want.”

Join the Read-a-long
Though thousands of miles apart, Ann Marie Walker and Amy K. Rogers are in constant contact, plotting story lines
and chatting about their love of alpha males, lemon drop martinis and British supermodel, David Gandy. You can find them on twitter as @AnnMarie_Walker and @Amy_KRogers. 
 
 
Amy K. Rogers

 

Ann Marie Walker
 
Kaisy1
Jul 202015
 

resize_80d8b2dc8d748b1401357a64b9474f42596e61a6c7683f6ec36fbb7ad1022ea63ad7a653256256I love this little flash drive!  I can’t tell you how handy it is.  It is compatible with Samsung Galaxy Note, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy SI, Galaxy SII I9100,I9103,9108, Galaxy SIII i9300, Galaxy S4 i9500; Motorola XOOM, TG01, Nokia N8, E7 etc. other Cell Phones and Tablet which support OTG Function.

I like that I didn’t have to download any software for it to work.  The day it came we were working on our computers in the office and this Onite  #Onite 16G came in so handy.  Here are some of the features:

  • Safe and reliable
  • Watch anytime
  • Rewrite a million times
  • Data can be stored for 10 years
  • Portable and lightweight
  • Speedy

So if you are looking for a new flash drive the Onite 16G(Blue) CoolFlash Dual Purpose USB Flash Drive. You can purchase it on the link below from Amazon.com.


Kaisy1
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Jul 192015
 

51K-kxNzC5L._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_Bake Happy: 100 Playful Desserts with Rainbow Layers, Hidden Fillings, Billowy Frostings, and more by Judith Fertig.

Colorful, flavorful home-baked treats just say “happy,” and Bake Happy is all about adding a bit of joy back into your kitchen. A sweet baking book that will bring a smile to the dessert table, Bake Happy includes 100 recipes for cheerful cupcakes and cookies, bars and brownies, tarts and turnovers, and delicious cakes that are speckled, marbled, and striped.

This cookbook can be used year-round and will satisfy your sweet tooth and your soul. Whether you’re in the mood for creamy chocolate, colorful cake layers, tasty cake batter, or special occasion desserts, you’ll find recipes for Citrus Glazed Sunset Cake, Rustic Cherry Pudding, Secret Filling Devil’s Food Cupcakes, and more. There are also various options for color and flavor combinations, and 30+ full-color photos throughout.

From the Author

C’mon, Bake Happy!

Learn how to use color, flavor, aroma, a playful spirit, a nod to the past, and a giving attitude to make your time in the kitchen more pleasurable. Find out which flavors play well together: Meyer lemon and pomegranate, orange and passion fruit, chocolate and chipotle, strawberry and rosewater, and more. Serve your dessert on a colored plate to enhance its flavor and appeal.And the recipes!
A classic Parisian meringue that is sugar-crisp and shatters. Turn it into a Merveilleus with clouds of whipped cream and cookie dust or shaved chocolate. Aromatize a lighter-than-air lemony pear cake with a drizzle of warm pear caramel at the end. Try Gooey Butter Bars with a topping of blueberry and cardamom to boost your spirits. And whip up a Strawberry Birthday Cake with a flavor like a sunny summer day. It’s the cake that unlocks the past in my debut novel The Cake Therapist!
My Review:
Great cookbook!  I loved all the yummy sounding recipes!  One of my favorites was the Coconut Lover’s Cupcakes with Secret Filling.  Doesn’t that just sound like something you want to make.  Chai Cupcakes and the Lime Chiffon Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream were two more  recipes that I made that tasted great.  I found the recipes were easy to follow and they each were very unique.  The flavors when finished were very good.  This is a book I will go back to time and time again for something different but delicious treats.
You can find this book on the link below from Amazon.com.


Kaisy1

I received a Copy of this book from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for the review.