Temporary Waffle: June 2021

Daily Goodie Box - June 2021

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

I received an amazing Goodie Box for the month of June, check out all these fun items below!!

Vit Health - Beyond Gorgeous Vitamins. I've been using these vitamins since they've arrived and haven't noticed any difference to anything yet, but I do want to state that these pills are easy to swallow and actually have an almost sweet outer coating, helping them go down easier and be more tolerable to take. I'm not sure if they're working but I hope so!

Flathau’s Fine Foods - Raspberry Snaps.

I absolutely love these shortbread biscuit cookies! They have such a nice subtle raspberry flavor mixed with the buttery goodness that shortbread has. It's a bit overkill on the amount of powdered sugar they coat the cookies in, but the sweet flavor and crunch makes these my favorite part of the Goodie Box!

Nature Nut - Shampoo for Normal Hair. This shampoo has a nice musky scent to it and leaves my hair clean and moisturized. It does leave my hair a bit limp once dry, so it would be great if they made a volumizing product, but overall it gets the job done and smells great!

Bare Republic - Hand Sanitizer Spray. This sanitizer spray is a great way to keep your hands clean when you're out and about. The bottle size is perfect for taking with you on the go, whether in your car or purse, it doesn't take up a lot of room and it's so easy to use with just a few spritzes.

Honey Belle - Seaweed Spirulina DIY Detox Mask. This mask comes as a powder that you add some sort of liquid to, to form a paste that you apply to your face. I just add water to mine and it makes a nice texture that you apply to your skin and let sit for anywhere between 5-20 minutes. It washes off easily and leaves my skin feeling soft and clean. Only thing I don't like is the smell. It's awful! But I would love to try their other products!

Eco-Dent - Dental Gum, Tooth Powder & Daily Rinse. These products all help keep your breath fresh and your mouth clean. The gum was easy to chew but lost its flavor quickly, the powder was disgusting-much like Baking Soda, but the rinse was minty fresh.

We Are Rugged Beauty - Long Lasting Nail Polish. The nail polish goes on smooth and gives off a neutral color... Not my color preference but I know others like it just fine. It has a strong nail polish scent, so definitely have to apply it in a well ventilated area, or even outside, because it's probably one of the strongest polishes I've smelt. The polish doesn't seem to last any longer than other polishes I've used, but when it begins chipping, it's easily removable with nail polish remover.

ShiKai - Healthy Glow CBD Night Cream. I've been using this night cream every night since I received it, and though it's moisturizing, I feel that you have to use a lot at one time and it doesn't seem very long lasting. I haven't noticed any 'healthy glow' that it claims to give, but it's a decent product to use and I hope to see its benefits working soon.

I have enjoyed testing all the products in this fun Goodie Box. Learning about new items always makes me happy and gives me a heads up about things I might want to buy in the future!

Would you like to try your in Goodie Box for free? Join the Daily Goodie Box to receive your own set of products to test!

Daily Goodie Box. It's more than just Free Samples!

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

Enjoying a New Hobby with the Engraver Kit by Plaid

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

If you're interested in trying a new hobby, you should look into getting an engraving kit! This Engraver Set by Plaid comes with everything a beginner needs: the engraving tool, plus six different interchangeable tips, an instruction sheet, and the storage case to carry it all in. You can engrave on anything that is wood, metal, plastic, or glass! It even includes a buffing tip and a sanding tip, to complete your project.

I've never used an engraver before, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I imagined it would be somewhat of a challenge to engrave on items such as glass and metal. I was pleasantly surprised with how quick the engraving does, it's just a small learning curve to figure out the right way to engrave things that look good :) The tool sounds like a drill and vibrates in your hand, causing an unsteadiness that I have to get use to, but it engraves into the material nice and quick! The only flaw I've noticed, is the storage container for the engraving kit is really hard to get open. You can break a nail on that thing lol. Aside from that, everything appears great, and I can't wait to see what kind of projects I get into with this. Coasters, Hard, Rocks, and more, this is going to be fun!

You can find the Engraver Kit by Plaid available at Walmart, for just under $20.

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

Homemade Banana Cream Pie by the hubby

One of my favorite type of pies is Banana Cream Pie. My husband made this beautiful one awhile back, and I wanted to share because it was so delicious! To make this pie, he followed the sugarspunrun recipe, and used the following ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 large egg yolks

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

3 Tablespoons of butter cut into pieces

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 bananas

In a sauce pan, mix together sugar, cornstarch, and salt, then add in the egg yolks, milk, and heavy cream, mixing til all combined together. Place sauce pan over medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture begins to bubble. Once the bubbling begins, allow it to simmer for 1 minute, monitoring that it doesn't burn. Immediately remove from the heat and add butter a tablespoon at a time. Whisk together and add in the vanilla extract. Once everything is mixed together, pour the filling through a fine mesh strainer and into a heatproof bowl. Cover the filling surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming and allow it to cool for 20 minutes. Once cooled, pour some of the filling into a pie crust, smooth it out, and top with sliced bananas, repeat the layers so you have a marriage of pudding and sliced bananas throughout. Fridge for several hours to set, top with sliced bananas and whipped cream.

Enjoy!!

Calming Sleep with the Sinocare White Noise Machine

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

If you're looking for an excellent White Noise Machine, this one by Sinocare is amazing!

It has 20 sounds to choose from, and a sleek design that blends into any room. The soothing sounds will help you sleep better and put your mind at ease. From lullabies to white noise and sounds of the mothers womb to nature and birds chirping, plus so much more, you can find the sound that works perfect for you and your sleep.

I really like this machine, as the sound quality is great and you can set time intervals to 30, 60, or 90 minutes at a time. The buttons are easy to use and simple to maneuver through for even the tiredest eyes. Plus its slim design makes it perfect for on the go, meaning you can now sleep better on work trips in the hotel room! This is a great sound machine and will help drown out those noises that keep you awake at night.

You can find the Sinocare White Noise Machine, among many other Sinocare products available, at sinocare.com

** For a limited time, you can get this product at a 50% discount when you purchase on Amazon. Use code : 504VANHB to get 50% off!

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

How To Help Your Child Prepare For The School Year Over Summer Break

Photo by Pixabay

   Preparing your child for the upcoming school year is crucial, but it can be difficult to help them find focus and motivation during the summer months. When a student is struggling with their classes, however, summer break is a great time to help them find a more relaxed approach to their learning. Many parents have found that introducing something fun into the mix is helpful, and there are various ways to go about it, such as cooking, getting out into nature, and taking field trips.

   Of course, it’s also essential to figure out where your child’s learning strengths and weaknesses are so that you can tailor a lesson plan to their needs. Every individual is different when it comes to how well they retain certain information and how they process it, so what works for one child may not work for another. Finding your child’s specific learning needs will help to reduce frustration on both your part and theirs.

Here are a few things to consider this summer before school starts:

Consider an Assessment

   A Functional Behavior Assessment is a tool that helps parents and educators isolate issues with learning in a student, so they can figure out the best way to help that student learn and retain the information. It’s a beneficial process for students who exhibit behavior that inhibits their ability to focus, and requires some observation of the student in a learning setting to see where the problem areas occur. It can also be extremely useful in helping to diagnose a learning disability.

Make it Fun

   There are many ways you can help your child find the fun in learning, no matter their age. Cooking is an easy way to help with math concepts for younger children, and it also aids in teaching responsibility and following directions. Look online to find out what kind of learning tools are near you, such as a children’s museum or a nature preserve, that can help your child find an interest in biology, and take a field trip. Introducing concepts that your child is interested in will allow them to make connections that will help them focus once school is back in session.

Schedule It

   One of the most difficult things about summer for many young people is that there is little structure to their days. Even older kids need a routine to help them focus, so help your child stay on track by guiding them during the summer days. Set up a reading goal and set aside a specific time each day to work on it, or structure the day so that they can work on the concept that gave them the most trouble during the school year in short bursts. Limiting summer learning to an hour at a time can help keep concentration in place.

Prep for the Upcoming Schedule Change

   Getting ready for the new school year takes a little preparation, so it’s a good idea to start a few weeks before summer ends. Talk to your child about their new schedule--especially if they are transitioning to a new school--and help them get used to going to bed a little earlier each night so they’ll be able to handle it when the time comes. Having a sleep routine will be immensely helpful when it’s time to get up early everyday.

Create a Study Space

   Does your child have his or her own work area? Just like adults who work from home need quiet and space to accomplish their work, kids need a place where they can focus on learning, apart from other household activities. Home office spaces are desirable these days, so not only is this an opportunity to help your child learn, done correctly, you reap the bonus benefits of improving your home’s value. If your child doesn’t currently have a study area complete with a desk, appropriate electronics, good lighting and a comfortable seat, it’s time to set one up.

   Helping your child prepare for the new school year over summer break takes a little patience, but with a little planning you can keep problems to a minimum. If possible, talk to your child’s educator about the best ways to approach the issues they faced during the school year. This will give you a good idea of where to begin.