Kleenex Brand Tissues- Crowdtap Review

I was very happy to receive these Kleenex Brand Tissues to review for Crowdtap. This, of course, is the perfect time of year to have them in the house. I know we will end up going through several boxes over the course of the winter. Our sampling included Kleenex with Lotion and Kleenex Anti-Viral.

I opened up the Kleenex with Lotion right away because this cold weather has my nose running all the time. I hate getting the raw and red nose from blowing too much. These tissues with lotion are so nice because they are soft and gentle on my skin and I have no signs of redness since using them! I don't want to be confused with Rudolph this time of year!

Kleenex with Lotion

I had no idea that an anti-viral tissue even existed. These will be great for helping stop the spread of germs when someone in the house gets sick. Germs spread so fast in the house when you have six of us touching and sneezing all over. These anti-viral tissues feel strong so I can believe they will help keep those nasty germs in the tissue. 

Kleenex anti-viral

If you'd like to try either one of these tissues from Kleenex visit this link for a coupon. 

* I'm a member of Crowdtap and these tissues were sent to me for free from Kleenex Brand tissues and Crowdtap. Opinions are my own. 

MizzFit #MIZ05 Quarterly Box Review

I am a big fan of Bianca Jade aka MizzFit. I discovered her Quarterly boxes almost a year ago. I had missed out on her first one but signed up right away to be sure I could get on the list of subscribers so I wouldn't miss out ever again. I have now gotten 4 of her boxes. This latest one is #MIZ05.  Each box has a theme and this one is Endurance + Holiday Mastery. I was so glad this box came when it did. I got it right before Thanksgiving so it has been keeping me on the right track through all the holiday madness.

I don't know how she does it but each box contains so many great things and it's like she knows what I am needing to switch it up a bit. I love everything in this box but here are a few of my favorites.

These valslides are so fun! The are slippery smooth on the bottom so they slide very easy on the carpet. You can use them for your hands or feet. I've been having fun trying them out. Hard to keep away from my boys too. They think they are great to slide back and forth across the room.

I was super excited to get these Gym Girl Apparel Fitness Gloves. Especially because I got the camo design! My boys thought these were the greatest and that I am so cool I get to wear these when I do my strength training. They are all into camo and I think half of their closets consist of it. I just love these gloves. They fit so nice and are very well made. I feel pretty awesome when I wear them. :)

This Loopy Apple Veggie Spiral Slicer is another of my favorite things in this box. I have seen these before and thought it would be a nice little gadget to have in my kitchen. You can use it to make thin spirals out of zucchini, carrots, and other veggies. It's always fun when you can play with your food a bit.

This box also included a Bobble Sport Water Bottle, New Balance Elastic Laces, Eboost Coconut Water Energy Shot, and The Yoo2 Fitness Tracker. So many good things as always in MizzFit's Quarterly boxes.

These boxes are shipped every 3 months. The next one will be in February. Already looking forward to it! I have found so many great products to keep me healthy, active, and motivated in my journey of being a healthier & happier person. MizzFit knows her stuff!

If you'd like to know more about Bianca Jade she is on facebook, twitter, and on her own website.

*I pay for my own subscription for my MizzFit Quarterly boxes. Opinions are my own. I'm not compensated in any way for this review. I just LOVE her boxes.

A Kitchen in France - Book Review

I love all types of food but one that I am not so familiar with is French food. I thought getting the opportunity to review this book would be a good way for me to get a little taste of it. The book itself is big and heavy. The pages are of good quality and there are some nice photos in it. I enjoyed the author's little tidbits of info before each recipe. That is all I really liked about this book though.

I tried so hard to want to like this book but I just can't. I think French cuisine is just not for me though. I felt like the recipes are just not something I would whip up for my family. I don't know that they'd like a single thing from the book other than the garlic mashed potatoes. A lot of the ingredients would be too hard to find or too expensive for our family. I also felt like the photos and the food were so dark. I like a bit more color or vibrancy to my food. She does have recipes for each season but I felt like they were all winter type foods except for maybe the tomato type ones in summer.

I don't know that I would make anything from this book. Nothing really just begged for me to make it. I'm sure for those that are lovers of this type of food this may be an excellent book to have. It's very rare for me to not like a cookbook but this one just didn't do it for me.

If you are a lover of all things French and you'd like to find out more about this book you can visit here.

* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

In Her Kitchen - Book Review

When this book was delivered I felt like a kid at Christmas just waiting to see what was inside. I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed going through this book. It is a combination of a cookbook, photo book, & storybook. There is a photo of each of the 60 grandmothers in their kitchens, along with their recipe, and a photo of the food they made.

I loved reading the little stories about each of the different grandmothers. So much love for their families and the joy that cooking brings for them. No matter how big or small of a space they had they make cooking for their families one of their top priorities.

There are of course a few recipes in the book that the ingredients would be almost impossible to find here but then I'm sure my family would not be thrilled with iguana or caterpillars. There are several recipes though that I do actually plan to make. Generally most of the ingredients can be found online or at local ethnic markets.

I really just enjoyed this whole book and think it'd be a great coffee table book to keep out for company to look through. It's so interesting and the photos are very well done.

I'd definitely recommend this book if you are interested in a bit of a cultural adventure.

If you'd like to find out more about this book you can go here.

*I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

Tazo Chai Review

Well, winter has finally arrived in full force. We got a little over 10 inches of snow this past Monday. Now we are in the deep freeze and it sounds like it won't end any time soon. After doing a little shoveling I thought I'd treat myself to a nice warm mug of Tazo Chai Chocolate Latte.

As a member of Smiley360 I  received some Tazo samples and a free coupon to choose a Tazo that I'd like to try. I had a hard time deciding while at the store because there was such a good variety and many sounded good. This chocolate latte caught my eye and sounded like it would hit the spot. It sure did! It's the perfect combo of sweet and spicy. I mixed equal parts of the concentrate and 2% milk and heated it up on the stove. It was so yummy!

You can find out more about Tazo on their page here.  And if you'd like to learn more about becoming a member of Smiley360 and also get products to try out you can visit their page here.

*I received this free product from Smiley360. Opinions are my own.

Joy the Baker Homemade Decadence - Book Review

My latest book review is by Joy Wilson and it's called Joy the Baker Homemade Decadence. I choose this book based on it's front cover. The cake on the cover is just beautiful. I had never heard of Joy before or her blog which is apparently very popular. I have since checked it out after going through this book. Lots of great recipes on there too.

This cookbook is full of beautiful photos and a variety of delicious sounding recipes. There are a lot of very creative recipes in the book. Most of them seem very doable for the regular baker. Most require the basic ingredients we all have on hand. At first I was a bit intimidated because some of the recipes have a long list of ingredients but after looking through the recipe instructions it's really not that bad.

I love the ice cream section! I can't wait to make several of them. My other favorite section is the cookies, brownies, and bars. Yum!  I look forward to making the Strawberry Shortcake Cookies, Chocolate-dipped Cookie-Dough Balls, and the Chocolate-Coconut-Almond Bites!  And so many more I'm sure you will find that are delicious.

This is a beautiful book. Easy to read, amazing photographs, and easy to follow directions. Overall a super cookbook!

If you'd like to know more about Joy the Baker and this book, you can go here. 

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

Chapstick Hydration Lock Moisturize & Renew Review

As a member of Smiley360 I was sent Chapstick's new Hydration Lock Moisture & Renew to review. My sample couldn't have come at a better time because the weather has started to cool and my lips were needing some extra attention.

It has made my lips feel and look great. The scent is very neutral which I like. It also doesn't have any greasy feel to it. I love that it's a 2 in 1. The moisturizing side gives your lips long lasting hydration for a fuller and smoother appearance and the renew side softens and revitalizes lips.

This also comes in Hydration Lock Day & Night which gives your lips 24 hours of lip care. If you'd like more info about either of this products you can go here.

* I received this product free from Smiley360 in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen - Book Review

I have really enjoyed reading through this cookbook. All of her stories about being in the kitchen with her grannies and her mother made me think of all the wonderful memories I have of baking when I was a little girl. The names of her recipes are so fun. They are down home easy to make with normal ingredients. Some really great combinations I'd never think of like her chocolate bacon peanut butter pie.

Flipping through this cookbook just made me feel happy. I felt like she could be a good friend because of the way she comes across in this book. I can tell she puts a lot of time and love into her creations. I'm so happy she got her dream of publishing her own cookbook and sharing with all of us.

I'm looking forward to making many of these recipes for gatherings with family and friends. Purdy's Peppermint Pie is on my list for Christmas time. I love that she includes her little Blue Ribbon Tips at the end of some of the recipes. The only thing I wished was included was more pictures. I love seeing photos of what the end product should be. It also really helps me decide if I want to make it or not.

Overall it's a wonderful cookbook. I highly recommend this book if you like baking. So many wonderful memories to be made of your own with it. You can find out more about this book here.

* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

The Skinnytaste Cookbook - Book Review

I am absolutely thrilled with this cookbook! I can't get over how many recipes I want to make from it. The best part is that I know my family will like most of them too. The photos are just beautiful. The dishes are full of color and just make me think happiness on a plate. When food looks that good it just makes me happy.

I love all the side notes of perfect pairings (she suggests other dishes or sides to go along with it) and skinnyscoops (tips). She also lists nutrition information for each recipe. She definitely proves that food can taste good and be healthy for you too.

I hadn't heard of Gina Homolka or her blog Skinnytaste before I got this book but she definitely has a fan in me now. If you'd like to find out more about this book and the author you can visit here.

I definitely recommend this cookbook. I know with all of the 150 recipes included you will surely find several that will be to your liking.

*I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

Seventh Generation Natural Hand Wash - Review

As a member of Smiley360 I recently received this Seventh Generation Natural Hand Wash to review. It was great to get a full sized bottle so we could use it several times and get a good idea of how much we like it. This particular bottle is the Mandarin Orange & Grapefruit scent.

First of all, I love the clean and fresh look of the bottle. I like that I can see through the bottle. The design on the bottle is great too. Very simple but eye catching. I have had this bottle sitting in our main bathroom for us and company to use. It is gentle on my hands and smells nice. I do wish the scent was a little stronger. It seems a tad weak to me. I like it to linger a bit more but that's just my opinion.

This hand wash is made with plant- based ingredients. It is free of triclosan, dyes, and phthalates and also is a hypoallergenic formula.

If you'd like more info on this Seventh Generation Hand Wash or their other products you can find them here.

I received this product for free from Smiley360 in exchange for my review. Opinions are my own.

Down South- Book Review

This cookbook has a great variety of recipes. The photos are beautiful and I enjoyed learning more about the South in general. Each recipe has a background story or a tidbit of info about it. I really like the layout of the book and how easy to read it is.

I was a little disappointed as most of the recipes are a bit fancier than I was expecting for Southern food. Maybe fancy is not the word I want but maybe a bit more sophisticated like restaurant feel than home cooking. I did find a few recipes I will be trying like the smoked chicken thighs, yeast rolls, and chocolate chunk monster cookies. Of course I had to tell my boys there is a recipe included for frog legs. The frogs in our yard though are teeny tiny so they won't have to worry about ending up in my kitchen.

I think this would be a great cookbook for someone who likes to have dinner parties or even leave out on the coffee table for company to look through since it contains more than just recipes and photos of food.

If you'd like more info on this cookbook by Donald Link you can find it here. If you'd like a sneak peak of it you can look here.

* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

The Homesick Texan's Family Table - Book Review

I just have to start out by saying this cookbook was even more than I was hoping for. The photo on the front really caught my attention and I was so happy to get to do a review for it.

The photos are just beautiful and I have so many of the recipes marked already for my "want to make" list. I love that they all seem to have easy to access ingredients. A majority of them I know my family will love. I don't cook as much in summer trying to keep the house cool but I can't wait to get started making some of these. We have cooler weather coming over the weekend and I plan to make the plum cobbler and oatmeal bread first.

The background stories for each of the recipes are a great addition. I really like it when an author inclueds the background of how or where the recipe came about. There is also a resource guide at the end in case you have trouble finding any of the Mexican ingredients needed for a few of the recipes. This cookbook is just a dream to read and I can't wait to share with my family. As I was glancing through the book when I first got it I actually called my mom right away to tell her about the divinity recipe included. I'm going to make it for her when she comes up to visit us next month.

If you'd like to find out more Lisa Fain and this book you can go here.  I definitely recommend this book. Cooking with or for your family from this cookbook is sure to make for some happy tummies!

* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review.  Opinions are my own.

***Update*** Sept 12th

I finally got a chance to make the plum cobbler on page 229. It is so good & very easy to make.

Ten Years of Homeschooling

Hard to believe we just started our 10th year of homeschooling. I have no clue where time has gone. Each year I've said we'd take it year by year and here we are our oldest is in 9th grade. I'm always so thankful we have the freedom to choose this path for our family.

We're about 2 weeks in for this year. We take it slow getting back into a routine of sorts. The oldest is doing almost all of his work this year on his own. Of course I keep a daily check on what he's doing and how it's going. We used America the Beautiful for all 4 boys last year for American History and just loved it so he moved on into their World History for high school. I am actually reading this along with him just because it's so good. Well, and I want to be prepared for when he's got questions!

The younger 3 are doing Uncle Sam and You. This one we do as a read aloud and then discuss it. I'm looking forward to this one also because it touches on more local things such as your own community and how things work.

The older 2 boys are using Apologia Physical Science and working on that together. The younger 2 are using the new Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics and really enjoying it so far. They are quite excited they get to do some experiments.

Today it was so nice out so we actually did our lava lamps outside. I wanted to be sure the Alka-Seltzer tablets didn't cause a mess in the house in case the lids didn't get on the bottles quick enough. This little experiment was about density. 

Of course we have math, English, and all that other stuff thrown in the mix of school time. Daily life happens too. Which is probably why I'm just now getting to this blog post after we've started 2 weeks ago.  :o) 

A Triple Knot - Book Review

One of my favorite genres of books is historical fiction. I can't just pick up a history book and get excited about it but when reading a book like A Triple Knot and others like it, it is a completely different feeling. I love being taken back in time and feeling like I'm right there with the characters in the book. I however am very thankful I was not born any sooner than I was because I wouldn't have made it.

I had a hard time at first because of all the confusion of so many names of characters in the book. It is common for that time though and I've had this happen with other books as well. Don't let this hold you back from reading this book though. I just plod through and eventually the main characters stick with you. It was also a bit slow going the first part of the book and yet the last part was almost too quick. It seemed like it didn't have all the details as the first part. I did feel though that I was right there with Joan. I know when I am engrossed in a book that makes me feel a part of it the author is doing their job well. It's like I have to readjust once I stop for a bit and remember I'm not in the book.

I so liked the character of Joan. The poor girl dealt with so many things from a young age. From losing her father so early in her life to being caught in a love triangle and pawned by her uncle to benefit the kingdom. I just don't know how one could handle it all but it sure makes for good reading.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I'd recommend it if you like this type of book and enjoy a bit of love and betrayal.

If you'd like to learn more or check out her other book you can look here.


*I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

My Irish Table - Book Review

I have always dreamed of going to Ireland some day. This lovely book was like a little pretend visit there. It is full of wonderful stories about Irish food and family in addition to the recipes included. I really loved all the tidbits about where some of the recipes came from. You can tell how much love is put into them. The photos included are just beautiful. 

I don't like to wish time away but I look forward to cooler weather when I can try out some of the bread recipes. I don't like to heat up the house any more than necessary in summer. There are several side dishes and desserts that sound excellent also. The Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Cauliflower Baked in Cheddar Cheese Sauce, and Apple Crumble are just calling my name. I'm also looking forward to a big pot of Chicken Noodle Soup. The recipe for Cheese on Toast looks super easy and the photo in the book looks good enough just to pull right out of the book and eat! I've never thought of something so simple as this recipe. 

There is a nice mix of recipes in this book. A lot of them will be good fall and winter comfort food. There are a few that look a little complicated and some a little more on the spendy side to make. Lamb is a bit pricey for our family but I like when cookbooks give you such a variety to choose from. 

Definitely a great cookbook if you'd like to try Irish cooking for yourself. The stories and photos are worth the purchase of the book even if you don't like to cook. 

If you'd like more info about this book you can look here. 

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. 

July Taste Trunk Gourmet Box Review

I have been a subscriber to Taste Trunk for several months now. I think it's maybe even close to a year by now. I have loved every single box I've gotten. So many wonderful food products by companies I never would have heard of if it wasn't for this subscription.

My July box.

Taste Trunk does an excellent job of packaging everything. I have never had anything arrive broken. They wrap up all glass products with bubble wrap and it arrives all in pretty tissue paper and a ribbon. They also include cards with ideas/recipes on how to use the included products and also a bit more about the company they've come from.

This month my box contained Hickory Liquid Smoke from Lazy Kettle Brand, 1849 Tri-Tip Meat Marinade, Cranberry Pear White Balsamic Vinegar from Amphora, CC Made Pistachio Nut Caramel Corn, and CC Made Rosemary Caramel Sauce.

My husband is looking forward to using the liquid smoke and meat marinade in one of his next grilling adventures. We grill a lot all year. Well he grills. :o)  We've also recently gotten an electric smoker so we're always up for cooking up something delicious outside! 

The pistachio nut caramel corn was good. I would have liked a few more pistachios but I love pistachios! I think I'm going to try the rosemary caramel sauce over a plain cheesecake. I'm not sure I liked it over ice cream. It was a bit of an odd combination but I'm thinking it might be tasty with cheesecake. I haven't tried the balsamic vinegar yet but am guessing it will be mixed with something over a salad. I've received other products from Amphora like olive oil in past boxes and think the quality and taste are great. 

This is one of the very few subscription boxes I've kept. I love it so much. They do an awesome job with their boxes. Taste Trunk's customer service is excellent also. 

If gourmet is not your thing they also offer BBQ, Healthy, and Sweet boxes. I like that mine has included a variety of things. In the past I've received chocolate, flavored sea salts, scone mix, marinades, dip mixes along with the cutest dip serving bowl. I'll have to find the photo I took of that and add it later on. 

If you'd like more info on Taste Trunk you can visit their webpage here.  They offer many different options for subscribing or gifting. They are also on facebook.

* I pay for my own monthly subscription to Taste Trunk. Opinions are my own. 

The VB6 Cookbook - Book Review

I had recently read Mark Bittman's VB6 book. So when I had the chance to review it's companion, The VB6 Cookbook I was excited to see what tasty recipes were in it.

The beginning of the book has a brief bit about Mr. Bittman's story of why he changed his lifestyle to being Vegan Before 6. There is also a great section of what you should have in your pantry and the best uses for it. A four week calendar of menus finishes out the intro of the book. I like that pages numbers are included for each so you can quickly turn to that page.

The book contains a wide variety of recipes including breakfast, snacks, desserts and so on. A fair amount of them include beautiful pictures of the food. What I really liked is that almost every recipe included variations at the end. So just by changing up a few ingredients you have another completely different meal or snack. I found several recipes I would like to make. Several of the snack and dessert recipes I know my whole family would like. There is a fair amount of recipes that call for tofu and I am not a fan of tofu at all. I know it is used to replace meat but I just can't get myself to like it so we will be skipping those recipes. He also includes dinner recipes that include meat, poultry, and fish which goes along with the Vegan Before 6 theme.

Overall I think this is a great book to help you eat more plant based foods and less meat, dairy, and processed foods. Most ingredients are easy to find. A lot of them are stuff I keep on hand in general. Of course most of the veggies and fruits are easy to grab at the store.

If you'd like to read a sample of the book you can do that here. If you'd like more info you can also go here and you can check out Mark Bittman's facebook page here.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

Treat Yourself- Book Review

I recently received a copy of Treat Yourself by Jennifer Steinhauer to review. If anyone knows me well, they know how much I love cookbooks. I read them like novels. I love a bit of adventure in the kitchen and my family is always good about trying new recipes. Well, sometimes my kids more than my husband. :o)

This book has 70 recipes of snack foods we all grew up with and some of us still eat today. Included are recipes for cookies, savory snacks, candy, and frozen treats. You can make your own Thin Mints, Nilla Wafers, Cheez-Its, Twix Bars, Bomb Pops, and more.

I love the way the author included a bit of history or a little tidbit of info before each recipe. It's funny how as I was going through the book and looking at different recipes I'd remember something I did or where we were when we would eat certain snacks. She mentions in the book about how it's the memories of what we were doing at the time and not necessarily that the snack we were eating was as good as we remember. Also being able to make these treats, you know what you are putting into them. Not all the chemical stuff they use so they can sit on the shelf for long periods of time. Still they are full of sugar and butter and other ingredients not so great for the waistline, so I can't imagine eating these treats all the time. For special occasions though, so many fun things to make in this book.

Most of the recipes contain ingredients that you probably have in the house or are easily found at the store. I had all the ingredients to make the Oatmeal Creme Pies so that was the first thing we made. They were super easy to make. My kids loved them. I actually liked the creme inside more than the actual cookie. I liked it so much I may find other things that need this creme just because it is so yummy.

Our Oatmeal Creme Pies

We will be testing out more recipes as time goes on. I can't wait to make the Candy Dots and Zebra Cakes. It will be fun too when we have family over. As I was looking through the book certain recipes made me think of different family members. It will be great to surprise them with one of their favorites. 

For more info about this book you can go here and if' you'd like a sneak peek at the book click here.

* I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. 

Bianca Jade Mizzfit Quarterly Box Review #MIZ02

I can't tell you how excited I was to get this box! I just happened to find out about it on the Quarterly website and had missed the first box and almost missed this one but Mizzfit herself (Bianca Jade) responded to a tweet of mine and made sure I was able to get signed up for this one. I love that she took the time to reach out to me! That meant a lot to me.

Back to the box. So many wonderful things to keep me excited about working out! I absolutely love the goji bites! Takes just a couple to hit the spot and they are great to eat a bit before a workout. The jump rope has gotten a lot of use! The handles are so nice they don't get sweaty and it's just the right weight for me. Nice and light and fits in my hands just right. I have had 2 other jump ropes in the past and just didn't like them. I can't wait for the snow to melt so I can jump outside instead of in the house!

I have used the Exhale Core Fusion Power Sculpt dvd a few times. It has 5 short sections but I do them all through at once. It was such a nice flow and I felt energized and relaxed but at the same time I was sweating a little bit towards the end. I did use weights and thought this was a nice change of pace from my Focus T25 with Shaun T. I used the snakeskin socks while doing the exhale dvd since they help to prevent you from sliding.

I was also excited to see some protein powder in the box. I have used the Acai Berry a few times and mixed it with almond milk and some frozen berries. Nice treat for after working out! Going to try the chocolate in the next few days.

I'm looking forward to using the Klingg magnet clip once the weather gets better and I can get outside to run since I signed up for my first 5K! I'm a wimp and don't like to be out in the cold if I don't have to. I haven't had a chance to listen to the music that was included or use the ring protector but it's on my list to get to!

The box also comes with a note from Bianca herself telling about each of the items she has chosen and why. I loved how it all flowed into the next item. You can tell she really put a lot of thought into which items to include in the box. It was totally worth the $50 for the box. To me you can't put a price on being healthy and fit. I think of my subscription to this box as a reward to myself for keeping on track! I can't wait for the next one!

You can find out more about Mizzfit's Quarterly box here.

Serenity Tea Sips Converting Me into a Tea Drinker!

This winter has been so long and cold. Some days I just can't get warm enough no matter how many layers I have on. I don't like to turn the heat up too much so that everyone else is roasting. I was drinking a lot coffee trying to keep warm from the inside out and getting into coffee overload. I have tried tea a few times in the past and wasn't such a fan but a good friend of mine recommended a company called Serenity Tea Sips. It's run by a woman in Texas. She offers a wide variety of loose leaf teas and tisanes and also tea related gifts and accessories. 

My tea stash at the moment. 

I started out by ordering a few fruit tisanes. I knew I needed to work my way into becoming a tea drinker but thought this was a good place to start. I wasn't a coffee drinker until I got married and that was an acquired taste too. However, I think my cup is still more creamer than coffee! Anyways, back to tea drinking. I ordered the Tutti Fruity, Coconut Infusion, and Blueberry Muffin my first round. I also received a sample of the Fruity Hibiscus from a giveaway on her facebook page. They are all very good. The Blueberry Muffin is my favorite at the moment. So good!! And the color is just beautiful. I like to drink it from my clear mug so I can get the whole experience of sight, scent, and taste! 

My favorite tea drinking mug. This photo doesn't due it justice but trust me it's the most beautiful dark blue/purple.

My last order I tried a few more fruit tisanes including the Apple Strudel which is my 2nd favorite. A little tart but just sweet enough. A perfect balance. So yummy and a beautiful deep red color. I also ordered the new Strawberry Cream flavor. Oh, that is good too! I haven't tried the Cherry Tart yet but I'm sure it will be just as good. All of these can be served over ice too but since it's still freezing here I have to wait a few months I guess until I can try them that way!  

I also ordered the Shh..Quiet Time hoping to it will help relax me on the nights I need a little extra help unwinding. It's very calming and relaxing. I have tried other chamomile tea before and wasn't a fan but this is nice. Cindy was also kind enough to send me a few samples to try out as I wasn't sure where to go next in my adventure of tea drinking. I am working my way to trying them all and enjoying every moment!

There is just something so comforting and relaxing about taking the time to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea. I look forward to it every day and am always so content afterwards. And warm too! 

I highly recommend checking out Serenity Tea Sips website. You can also find her on facebook here. I love supporting small businesses and especially one owned by a woman. This gal knows her teas and she is very friendly and helpful!

*Opinions are my own. I'm just wanting to share how much I've enjoyed these teas and tisanes and my excellent experience with ordering from this company. 

Not a Winter Girl

I do not like winter. I never have and I never will. The only positive thing about it is generally we don't have to worry about tornadoes. With the crazy cold and snow we've had this winter it makes me want to flee this frozen state even more. I'm a beach girl not a cold and snow girl.

I'm so thankful I'm a stay at home mom and don't have to go out unless necessary for appointments or groceries. Our social life this winter has been pretty much nonexistent. Every time we plan the weather doesn't cooperate. I am Mrs. Worrywart for my husband who has to drive all over the cities for work. So many people have no idea how to drive in winter weather and the roads have been nasty because it's so cold the chemicals don't work.

 I  feel like this winter we have been held hostage more so than normal. It's been extreme cold. So cold the kids can't even play outside for more than a few minutes. When it's -40 it's not fit to even think about going out! On the bright side I feel like I could compete and win in an Olympic event that entails pushing a cartful of groceries through the parking lot that's full of snow, slush, ice, or a combination of any of them, not dumping it over, and doing it at record speed to get out of the icy wind. :o)

I so look forward to spring in several weeks and being able to open my windows and take off my 3 layers of clothes. Well, I'd still leave 1 layer on. Until then I'll just keep consuming large amounts of coffee and tea and dreaming of a beach somewhere.


Here are a few photos of our winter wonderland.

Our backyard

 Where is our driveway?

Hubby making a path.

Suave Products Review

 

 

I was very happy to be picked  to receive a Suave Family VoxBox from Influenster. We received a nice variety as there was something for everyone to use.

 

I have been using the Creamy Milk & Honey Body Wash. One of the perks of being the only female in the house is I don't have to share it with anyone! It has a really nice light scent and lathers really well. I also like that it doesn't leave my skin feeling heavy or greasy.

 

My husband and our teenage boy have been using the 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner. The scent is called Ocean Charge and is very clean smell. They both like that it's not too strong but a nice manly scent.

 

A couple of our younger boys have tried the Suave Kids 3-in-1. It's a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. The scent we got was razzle dazzle raspberry. Not the best scent for boys but it works and gets them clean. I'd like to see if they have other more boyish ones though.

 

We have enjoyed using these Suave products and will continue to use them. I'll more than likely keep the Suave Kids in the closet though for when we have overnight company with little girls.

 

 

*I received these products courtesy of Influenster to review. Opinions are my own.