Easiest (3 ingredient) Shortbread Cookies + Recipe

Naturally, I crave a sweet when we don't quite have the usual "fixings" to make a delicious dessert...so I get on my handy dandy notebook...(laptop) and search for easy, simple sweets recipes that I could make with what I had on hand. I came across the post "33 Genius Three-Ingredient Recipes" on Buzzfeed, a truly great post, I recommend you read for other simple recipes, and I scrolled to find an amazingly simple Shortbread recipe, from Dine & Dish.

To make these cookies, you only need 3 Ingredients:

1 Cup of Powdered Sugar
2 Cubes of (salted) Butter 
(or just a dash of salt for unsalted butter)
2 Cups of Flour

I began by melting Darigold cubed-salted butter, for just a few minutes in the microwave,
 to soften it up. Ideally, butter at room temperature might make this process smoother, 
but mine turned out just fine.
Next I added in my powdered sugar and began mixing the two together, by hand, with a spatula. After they were fully mixed, I added in the flour, continuing to mix by hand with spatula. 
I mixed until it formed a form-able dough, but found I need to add a tiny bit of water to get the dry ingredients to stick a little better together-If you need to do this, make sure you only add small-tiny- bits of water at a time so you don't over saturate it. 
Once your dough is formed, 
you can roll it out on a floured surface, or you can take the easier route like I did, 
and just roll them in your hands and pat out a flat cookie like shape :) 

Lay cookies on a greased cookie sheet (I used Crisco Butter spray on the sheet and on top of my cookies before baking) and pop them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes -give or take. Every oven is different so make sure you're checking them, as they cook pretty fast 
and you don't want them to burn!

Once finished cooking, pull them out and let them cool, then enjoy!! 

A tasty, super simple, sweet treat. 

*Makes about 2 dozen
{If you would like a smaller batch, cut the recipe above in half- that is what I did and it made about 15 cookies total}

Elite Gold Solutions Organic Tart Cherry Juice


100% Pure Organic Tart Cherry Juice is an ultimate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory juice, made to boost your sleep and reduce pain, while neutralizing the harmful oxidants in your body. 

Tart Cherry juice contains a natural Melatonin source, that helps control your sleep and wake cycles,  improving your sleep naturally, making it great for those with insomnia. It also blocks bad enzymes that cause pain, giving you relief with faster muscle strength recovery, and less swelling, making it a must have for athletes. Pro teams from the NHL, NBA, and Division NCAA even use tart cherry for 7 days before a competition, so it can aid them in recovering and reducing inflammation after their strenuous activities! And an added bonus with drinking tart cherry juice, is that it helps control bad cholesterol, supporting heart health and blood circulation, while fighting against heart disease!

If you take prescription medication for pain or sleep disorders,
I encourage you to try Tart cherry juice. It's a natural remedy, and much much healthier for your body.  My husband has insomnia and pain from past injuries, so I wanted to try this for him. He took it one night,
as well as I, at the perfect time to test it; Right after our long day
of moving and unpacking. We moved so much that day, all of our joints and muscles were sore! So I figured, this is the best possible time
to see if Tart cherry Juice is really as good as they say. My husband seems immune to most everything, so of course, nothing changed for him, causing him to not want to stick to trying it. But I, however, have been using it every night, 2 tablespoons, 2 hours before I go to bed. I haven't noticed anything huge yet, but I do think I've recovered from the moving pains quicker then I probably would have without it. I have also noticed I've been falling asleep easier, since taking, so the natural Melatonin in it is believable for me. I will continue to take it until it's gone,
and hopefully see the benefits increase. As all things, it's not a magical potion
so it will take time to experience its full potential.

To use, take 1 serving (2 tbs) with your dinner, 
or 2-3 hours before you go to sleep. 
You can drink it as is, though it's very tart,
(I pour into a medicine cup and drink it like a shot), or add it to your smoothie or cocktail. 

You can also add it to almost any food,  perfect in a bowl of ice cream or yogurt, you could even make a milkshake with it! As long as you're getting it in your system, it's giving you its benefits.



Tart Cherry Juice can be purchased on Amazon for $24.99 
with a 100% Guarantee.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Getting a 2nd Use Out of Pajamas-From Pants to Shorts DIY

These sweet Robot pajamas are making a second appearance on my blog! 
If you remember before, I posted how my son wore holes in the knees of his pajama pants
and I had to sew little patches onto them so he could still wear them. 
As fast as kids grow, he grew out of their length now too! 
I didn't want to give them up, since they are just too adorable, so...I cut and sewed them in to pajama shorts! This was pretty simple, I just cut the bottom ankle ribbing off, then cut the pants just above where the knee patches were. I then sewed the ankle pieces on, all by hand since I do not have a sewing machine at the moment, but this was still pretty simple. And they're done! 
This only took a couple of hours and the outcome is just as cute as before! 
BEFORE and AFTER


Getting a 2nd use out of his pajamas, and they were made just in time 
for those Summer nights.

My Happy Pumpkin - Book Review

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.
 
   My Happy Pumpkin written by Crystal Bowman with illustrations by Claudine Gevry, is an adorable children's book, using sing-song rhythm, describing the Fall traditions in carving a pumpkin face.
The author helps children understand the concept of God's love for us, using the metaphor of, how we scoop out the insides of a pumpkin, God does the same for us, making us clean on the inside too.

 Here's a little rhyme from the story:

"We carve out a smile and put in a light.
My big happy pumpkin shines in the night."

    The book ends in the little boy praying that God's love can be shining through him, just as the light in the pumpkin shines.  I love how on each page, the mouse on the cover is a part of the illustrations, making it fun for the children to point out. This sweet short story makes a great book to snuggle up with your children, under a blanket in the middle of Fall. It would also be a fun book to read on a day when you and your children carve your own pumpkins, making it a pumpkin themed day, filled with stories and hot cocoa. Or even a book your beginning reader can read to everyone!
It's short and sweet, and great for the upcoming Fall season. 

Interested in purchasing? You can pre-order My Happy Pumpkin board book on zondervan.com for $6.99

This review is made possible by BookLook Bloggers,  in providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

DIY Mosquito Repellent


Longer, warmer days, means the Mosquitoes like to come out and pester!

They especially like to pester my son. He loves playing outside with the neighborhood kids, but it seems the mosquitoes love playing with him too! One day he came in with several mosquito bites... that's when I knew we had to put an end to this. But I didn't want to spray my son with harsh chemicals, just so he could play outside without getting eatin by the nasty creatures, so I got online and searched for simple mosquito repellent recipes and came across this simple one from DIYNatural, using what I had on hand.

To make DIY Mosquito Repellent, all you need is:

A Small Spray Bottle (Dollar Tree one works great!)
1/2 Cup Distilled Water
1 TableSpoon of Alcohol
6-10 drops of Essential Oil 
(use any alone or as a combination of: lemongrass, any mint, lavender, 
citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, neem, geranium, and litsea cubeba)
-I used Tea Tree Oil, Lemon, and Peppermint

First pour the alcohol in the spray bottle then add the essential oils and shake well. 
Then add the water and shake again. It's ready to go! 

Spray it on your arms, legs, and hands, being careful to avoid the eyes and mouth.
You can double up or triple up on the recipe if your making a bigger batch. 

So far it seems to work great! My son hasn't had any more mosquito bites since we've been using this, and it smells wonderful too. It also works as a bonus in cooling yourself down on these hot Summer days! It feels very refreshing, and the coolness of the peppermint scent,
helps relax your mind while keeping mosquitoes away!


MIRA Insulated Food Jar

MIRA Insulated Food Jar is made of premium stainless steel, and made to keep your hot food hot for up to 5 hours, and your cold food cold for up to 10 hours. The jar has a wide mouth for easy filling and it can hold up to 15oz of liquid.
It is also BPA and Pthalate free.

The MIRA insulated food jar is great on the go container, ideal for taking hot soups or a home cooked meal for your work lunch, or when you need to bring milk for your child. Having an extra cold drink at lunch, is especially nice on a hot day too!
The lid is a leak proof cap that screws on tightly,
so there will be no worries of spilling!

For the maximum insulation efficiency, it is best to preheat or pre-chill the jar prior to use. To do this,  fill the jar with hot or cold tap water, attach lid, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then empty. After filling the jar with the food/drink you're wanting to be kept hot or cold, place lid on immediately
to increase thermal efficiency.

MIRA's insulated food jar is easy to clean, but it must be hand washed, as it is not dishwasher safe. It also should not be washed with abrasive cleaners or scrubbers, bleach, or cleaners containing chlorine, as it may dull the finish. It is also NOT microwave safe, as it is made of steel.

If you're looking for an insulated container to add to you or your child's lunch box, MIRA's insulated jar 
is a good one, available for purchase on Amazon for $22.95 and is available in the colors: 
pink and blue, or they also have a 10oz available in the color green. 
For more MIRA products, visit www.mirabrands.com


I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review.. All opinions my own.

Mia Mariu's Skin Nourishing Oil


Mia Mariu's Skin Nourishing Oil is an oil made to deeply penetrate and smooth your skin, rejuvenating it without blocking pores, while aiding in the prevention of signs of aging, by promoting collagen production, keeping your skin looking young and supple.

This nourishing oil contains oils from Sweet Almond, Avocado, Wheat Germ, Safflower Seed, Soybean, Lemon, Orange, and Grapefruit, all essential for keeping your skin firm, smooth and luminous, as well as botanical extracts like Chamomile, Cucumber, and Lavender, providing anti-inflammatory, moisture and healing support to your skin. Mia Mariu's Skin Nourishing oil is also Alcohol, Sulfate, and Paraben free, and is suitable for all skin types and ages.

Mia Mariu's Skin Nourishing Oil can be used on your face, body, and hair. It's great for giving massages, to adults and babies as well, it can add a healthy shine to your hair, and it's also great for your cuticles, after a nice nail soak or spa treatment.  My favorite use for Mia Mariu's Skin Nourishing Oil, is for my face. The scent is a delicious orange and it leaves my skin feeling so soft! Just a drop of this oil is enough to rub across my entire face. It rubs in smoothly and my skin absorbs it well, leaving a beautiful glow. A small amount goes a long way, so even this small bottle 4fl oz., should last a long time.

Mia Marius Skin Nourshing Oil is available for a retail value of $25. They also sell a wide variety of other skin care products, including makeup and fragrance. Visit miamariu.com for more information as well as an opportunity to start your own social selling business with Mia Mariu. 

Now for the Giveaway:
One reader will win a bottle of Mia Mariu's Skin Nourishing Oil!

 Enter through Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

(U.S. Residents only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Raw and Unrefined 100% Pure African Shea Butter by Cleopatra's Choice



Cleopatra's Choice of Raw and Unrefined  
Pure Shea Butter is rated the #1 Shea Butter on the market, being 100% natural and organic, made with the highest quality, hand selected nuts from the Shea Tree's in Ghana. Shea Butter is deeply moisturizing, containing Vitamin A, E, and F, and is great for dry skin, stretch marks, Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne and more! It also does not clog pores so it works great as a facial moisturizer. 
 


    Like all Shea Butters, Cleopatra's Choice Shea Butter has sort of smokey, nutty smell, and works best with the heat of your hands, turning it from a solid to an oil. You can use it to make your own moisturizers and/or facial creams, with amazing benefits. I have been using Shea Butter as an ingredient in part of my daily beauty regime, for months now and have loved its outcome. I mix in a little container: Shea Butter, a small amount of Coconut Oil (or Olive Oil in the dryer seasons) and a few drops of Lemon Essential Oils. I apply this moisturizer to my face, every day and night after I wash, and it has helped heal blemishes and prevent my face from future breakouts. Shea Butter lasts you a long time, as a small amount goes a long way! 

You can purchase 1lb of Shea Butter packaged in a resealable, recyclable container, sold from Adovia on Amazon. com for just $16.99 with free shipping! This is such a great deal!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Avengers Hulk Costume Review!

I'm so excited I got to review another costume
for my lil man. He just loves dressing up,
and Hulk is one of his favorites! 

We received this fantastic The Avengers Hulk costume from Anytime Costumes. The package includes the 100% polyester Hulk jumpsuit complete with Hulk's signature ripped pants, and realistic muscle graphic with fiberfill padding in the chest, arms and torso, and the ferocious Hulk expression character mask.
              













As soon as it arrived, and we got the box open, my son put it on. He is in love with it! The structure of the costume is durable and easy to put on. The Velcro in the back sticks well to each other. And the Hulk mask is a thin but thicker plastic then a lot of other costume masks out there. I can see this suit lasting a long time for him, or at least as long as it fits him ;)
(And then he can pass it on to his younger cousins.)

The costume does not come with Hulk gloves or feet, so buying those separately might be needed to complete Hulk's suit, so of course my son insists that he needs the Hulk smash gloves. He had a lot of fun getting his picture taken as Hulk, as you can see in his poses below!


To complete the fun of receiving a Hulk costume, you can decorate your desktop with a cool Hulk background!

This hulk costume can be found at anytimecostumes.com for $34.99 Available in several sizes while in stock. The costume I received above, is a size 7-8 and fits my 7 year old son perfectly.


 This post is made possible by Anytime Costumes for providing me 
the above costume in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.