Daily Goodie Box - December 2022

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

 

I received a Daily Goodie Box for the month of December!

Check out the goodies in this one:

Miracle Tree - Moringa Energy Tea. I actually really like this tea. I was hesitant to try it due to a sensitivity to caffeine, but it didn't effect me bad. I also wasn't sure how vanilla and grape would taste together but it's actually a really good mix and makes a nice morning brew. 

 

Hubbard Peanut Company - Hubs Power Packs. These peanuts are exactly what you would expect them to taste like. Regular Peanuts with a lot of salt. Just a little too salty in my opinion.

Toast! - Before You Drink Gummies. So I've tried these gummies before and I didn't like them at all. The taste is akin to vitamins and novacaine. I hoped they would be different this time around, but the scent was like fish and the taste was as bad as I remember. Very chemically tasting. Because of this, I can't say whether they work or not. They are just nasty.

Honey House Naturals - Bee Bar Lotion. I like the creamy mintyness of the Lip Butter and the tin of bar lotion is pretty cool. These are both very pretty and would make great gifts. The lotion bar is something to get use to though, because you have to let it heat up in your hands to become spreadable, and it is a bit greasy to me.

Flathau's Fine Foods - Key Lime Shortbread Cookies. These cookies are delicious, but I do like the original flavor better. The Key Lime wasn't too strong but did have the hint of sour from the lime. I really like the texture of these cookies, but think they could use a little less powdered sugar.

Sambrosa - Night Syrup. I haven't really gotten a chance to try this yet, as I realized it isn't just for helping you sleep, but also for allergies. I only experience summer/spring allergies so it will have to wait until then, to try it out. But the concept seems good. It will help you sleep and soothe your sneezing snotty nose!

 

Rowdy - Collagen Protein Powder. I really hoped to like this product because of the great benefits it contains. It's a protein powder with collagen mixed in so it's great for your body! But the collagen has such a strong flavor, that it's pretty much all I can taste. I added it to hot cocoa and it was okaaayy, but really powdery. Then I tried it in coffee and that was absolutely gross and chunky. It might be good in smoothies but that taste is pretty powerful.

Bee & You - Vitamin C + Zink Propolis Shots. This drink had a really tart taste with a strong scent of honey. It's very sweet and the taste slightly burns going down, probably due to the acidity of the orange juice. I think it would be better cold instead of room temperature, but not something I want to drink again. 

 

 

This was another fun box of products to test! 

Some great things for good health and enjoyment.

 

Would you like to try a 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.

 

 

Mini Upside Down Blueberry Cake

    Just like the Upside Down Pineapple Cake, you can make it with any fruit really. I decide to make a mini Upside Down Blueberry Cake and it was delicious! To make a mini upside down cake, you need the following ingredients:

 

1 Egg

3/4 Cup of Flour

1/3 Cup of Sugar

1 tsp of Baking Powder

1/8-1 tsp of Cinnamon

1/4 tsp of Salt (optional)

1/4 Cup of Milk (Water works too!)

1 TBS of Liquid (any)

1/4 Cup of a Brown Sugar

3 TBS of Melted Butter

Fruit of Your a Choice 

- I used Blueberries for this recipe 😍

First mix up the liquid of your choice + the Brown Sugar and Melted Butter together to make a nice glaze. Pour this into a greased glass pie pan or an 8x8 square pan.

 

Layer in your fruit on top of the glaze. Then mix all of the first half of the listed above ingredients together to form a nice batter. Dump this across your fruit, making sure it's spread out evenly, covering where needed. 

 

Bake in the oven at 350° for about 30-35 minutes. Once completely cooked through, pull it from the oven, and immediately flip it upside down onto a platter or serving platter. Let it slightly cool. 

 

Slice up and enjoy! 

 

Sundown - Book Review

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

   Sundown by Susan May Warren is a contemporary romance about a woman being rescued from an Alaskan blizzard. She appears to be troubled and it's uncertain if she can be trusted, especially after the Sky King Ranch of Alaska is visited by thugs who are looking for her. The truth needs to be uncovered to prevent a further disaster from happening, all the while, keeping everyone protected. 

 

   This book has a lot of suspense and will keep you on edge wanting to know more. Although, I had a really hard time getting into reading it, which is probably due to needing to have read the first two books to this series. I didn't realize that Sundown was a trilogy to conclude the before Sky King Ranch stories, but it is an interesting story all together. The characters are well written and it's an adventure of a story, especially in this time of the world. But I recommend you start the series from the beginning if you want to read :) 

   You can find Sundown available for purchase on Amazon or in a book store near you. 

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

 

Easy Hot Buttered Rum

  This was my first time making a Hot Buttered Rum drink and I was pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out. It was so easy to do all you need are the following ingredients:

 

  2 oz Rum

4oz Hot Water

2tsp Brown Sugar

1TBS Unsalted Butter 

Splash of Vanilla Extract

Dash of Cinnamon, Allspice, & Nutmeg

Take a cup and mix together the sugar, butter, vanilla, and spices. If the water isn't hot enough, the mixture doesn't really melt together as it should, so it will leave you with clumps. I find that adding in the hot water first, helps. I had a lot of fun experimenting with this! Once it is all combined, pour in the rum and hot water, stir and enjoy! 

 

 

Daily Goodie Box - November 2022

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

   I received a Daily Goodie Box for the month of November. This one had healthy treats and things to help you through the winter!

Mastiqe Peppermint Gum. This gum is made with Mastic, which I had no idea what it was until I looked it up. It's a natural tree resin! Very interesting ingredient. I found the gum to be very chewy and lacking flavor, but it did have a tiny hint of mintyness to it. I like that it is sugar free but it feels like chewing on rubber.

Lil Bucks - Clusterbucks Superfood Snacks. These little bites have a great crunchy texture but are very strong with the taste, and smell,  of coconut. I don't like coconut so it's a bit off putting for me, but I know I would love a different flavor!

Heat Holders - Thermal Hats. This is a really nice beanie and will definitely keep the head warm. It seems a little small for men's size so I would have loved if they made a pull down beanie lip so you could have it longer if desired; But it is super comfy cozy and the inside is really soft. 

Zolli Candy - Zollipops Halloween Bags. I've tried these candies a few times now, and I love that they are better for you, allergen friendly, and good on the teeth. I needed these last month to hand out for Halloween haha. The flavors are decent, but unfortunately the watermelon, which would have been my favorite, doesn't taste very watermelony. Still good if you need something sweet in a pinch. 

 

Ellas Flats - All Seed Savory Crisps.
These little crisps are fun to try! They have an interesting taste that seems to change with every bite. I like the ingredients they're made with, do you have a good healthy snack when you're craving something savory. I would love to try other flavors!

I.E Green Tea - Organic Liquid Tea Packets. 
This is a cool concept for tea, made with plant based energy and rich in antioxidants. The little packets are good for on the go, you just pour the liquid into 10-16oz of water, shake or stir and it's good to go! I was hoping to like these drinks, but they don't taste very much like tea to me. They have somewhat of a chemical taste to them, with a hint of Splenda, which I'm not fond of. They have room for improvement but the idea is pretty cool.

 

 

Owl in a Towel - Balsam Fir Hand Cream.

I was really hoping this lotion would smell like Christmas Trees! But unfortunately it stinks. The smell makes me think of an artificially made scent of a rotten pine tree. It does feel smooth and absorbs into skin well, I just wish the scent was better too!

This was another fun box of products to test! Have you tried any of the items before? What do you think would be your favorite?

 

Would you like to try your a 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.

Two Ingredient Liquid Death Cake

   Have you heard about the two ingredient cakes, where all you need is a box cake mix and a can of soda? Well I wanted to see if it would work to use Liquid Death sparkling water, in place of the soda, and it worked! 

 

I used a box of Duncan Hines Perfectly Most Strawberry Supreme Cake mix and a can of Liquid Death Berry It Alive. Mixed the two together until there were no clumps, poured the batter into a greased pan and cooked as you normally would. 

 

 

 

It came out moist and tasting delicious!! Sooooo easy to make, and now it's got me curious to see just what else I can mix with boxed cake mix for an easy dessert!

 

The Lost Melody - Book Review

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

   The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano is a bit of a historical romance set in the Victorian era, about a young woman named Vivienne Mourdant, a concert pianist. When her father dies, Vivienne inherited everything of his, including a patient at the Hurstwell Asylum. With a memory of the face, but no knowledge to who this person is, Vivienne sets out to see what she can find. Things start to become hazy when she is told this person doesn't exist in the Asylum and never has. She starts to wonder if she is becoming mad, hearing music no one else can hear, receiving notes with rose petals between them, and uncovering secrets everybody denies. Vivienne knows in her heart, that there is more to this, and she refuses to give up. Do you think she will find the answers she needs to know? You have to read the book to find out!

 

   After reading, this book has stuck with me throughout the weeks. It was such a different kind of story than I have read before. It felt a little spooky with mystery, yet it was beautifully written, without the focus on romance. Reading about Vivienne's experiences, with glimpses of her childhood past and hopeful future, really made me respect her as a person. She was brave and strong, even when you expected her to crumble. Getting a look into a Victorian era asylum was also very intriguing to read about. Though the story started slow and confusing, it definitely picked up and was worth the read.

   Interested in reading The Lost Melody? You can find it available for purchase on Amazon or a book store near you. 

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

 

 

 

Easy to Make Tortillas Pockets

   Making dinner more fun by frying up these little filled Tortilla Pockets! 

 

   You take a tortilla and cut it in half, then coat the sides with melted butter allowing each side to stick to the other. Fold the tortilla sides onto each other so it forms a sort of cone shape. This is your Tortilla Pocket.

 

   

 

   Then you add your choice of ingredients into the pocket. I added cooked ground beef, salsa, rice, and cheese to mine. Be sure to get some cheese in there to help seal the inside rim. Then butter the outside of each pocket and fry on each side til golden. 

 

 

 

These pockets come out so delicious and work great with all kinds of ingredients for the inside. You could even turn them in to a dessert! Their compact hand size makes them fun for sauce dipping too!

 

The Secrets of Emberwild - Book Review

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

   

The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee is a historical romance set in the 1900's, designed around a struggling horse farm and a woman who wants to be the trainer. Nora Fenton's father passed away and left behind quite a big job to deal with, but Nora was passionate about horses and loved their farm, hoping she could convince others, that, even though she is a woman, she can handle it all. She enters her prized Colt into the races, runs into dishonest family members, and meets a man named Silas Caballero. Silas not only wants to help Nora train the horses, but his main focus is to solve the mystery of how his own father died. He asks a lot of questions, trying to put pieces of the puzzle together, he begins to find himself admiring Nora. While they are working together, they start to uncover secrets of the past and face questionable accidents thrown their way. Everything is risky but it begins to make sense as the truth comes out. 

 

   This book was hard for me to follow. I realized that I'm not a big fan of historical reads, and though I like horses as an animal, I don't find much interest in reading about them and the races they're in. It was entertaining to uncover the mysteries that unraveled, but the story itself felt long and drawn out. 

   You can find The Secrets of Emberwild available for purchase on Amazon or at a book store near you.

 

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

Mix and Dump Buttery Buttermilk Biscuits

   A family favorite way to make biscuits, that are easy and take no time, are these delicious Buttery Buttermilk Biscuits. It takes just a few ingredients and the bread comes out perfectly glazed in butter with a nice spongy texture. To make these biscuits, you need the following ingredients:

2 tsp of Salt

4 tsp of Sugar

2 1/2 Cups of Flour

4 tsp of Baking Powder

2 Cups of a Buttermilk

1 Stick of Butter

   Preheat the oven to 450° and combine together all of the dry ingredients. Add in the Buttermilk to get a nice wet biscuit batter consistency. Melt the stick of butter in an 8x8 or 9x9 dish and be sure to coat the sides of your pan to prevent any major sticking. Dump all of the biscuit batter on top of the melted butter, making sure to spread it all across evenly. 

   Bake your dish in the oven for 20-25 minutes until everything reaches a nice golden color. Pull from oven, slice into squares, let cool and enjoy!

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Beneath the Bending Sky - Book Review

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

   Beneath the Bending Sky by Jane Kirkpatrick, is a historical fiction based in the 1800's, about Mollie Sheehan and her flow of life. As a child, she experienced many ups and downs, including having her father absent for long periods of time, due to work trips he needed to take. During these trials, Mollie began to help provide for her family, filling in the gaps while her father was gone. Taking jobs here and there, Mollie ends up falling in love with a man named Peter, who, after asking for the father's blessings in marriage of the two, Mollie finds that her father disapproves of them together. Heartbreak, sadness, and many moves, as Mollie gets older, she realizes the control her father had on her life. Things start panning in a different direction and love is once found again. This begins a life long journey of change and acceptance.

   I don't typically enjoy reading stories set in the 1800's but after pushing myself through the first few chapters, I began to enjoy what I was reading. Getting to know the characters and seeing Mollie's next step in life, had me wanting to read more to see what she would be up to next. Her respect and loyalty to her father was appreciated, as well as her determination to achieve what she wanted in life. Reading about how people survived in the past, was pretty interesting and reminded me to be grateful for how far we have come in this world. I enjoyed reading about Mollie's character because she was full of respect and compassion for others. 

   You can find Beneath the Bending Sky available for purchase

 on Amazon or at a book store near you.

   

 

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

 

 

Easy 4 Ingredient Cinnamon Toast Crunch Waffles

   Did you know you can make waffles from a box of cake mix? It's one of my favorite ways to make waffles! It's so easy and SO delicious! All you need are just the following four ingredients:

3 Eggs

1/3 Cup of Oil

1 1/3 Cups of Water

1 Box of Cake Mix  

  Preheat your waffle iron while mixing all of the ingredients together into a bowl. Mix batter until there are no clumps.

 

 Once your waffle iron is ready, spray the grills with cooking spray or swipe with butter. Drop the batter on, close lid, and cook them as you normally would. Once they are done, you can top them with your usual waffle toppings, or eat them on their own -- > (They taste like cake!) 

 

Eat any time of day and enjoy! 

 

Dangerous Beauty - Book Review

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

    Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin is a romantic suspense story about a young woman escaping from human trafficking. Traveling from Mexico to America, Liliana Vela finds herself in the bathroom of a service station, unsure who to trust, but knows this is her chance to get away. She senses danger is lurking around the corner, but a man named Meric Toledan aids in her rescue. He understands the situation and offers her an escape, with a word of proposal to keep her in the United States. Meric has his own secrets, but is full of the resources to help and possibility take down this horrible ring of traffickers. 

   I looked forward to every chance I could get, to sit down and read this book! It is full of action and anticipation, making you sit in the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next! It's not chocked full of romance, like a lot of other romantic suspense books out there, but just enough to keep it interesting. The detail in this story was not only entertaining but also educational, and taught me a lot of things about human trafficking. I love how the story took different turns, having you think one thing will happen when something completely different does, making it unpredictable. There were ups and downs in every chapter, and it makes you fall in love with the characters. Their personalities were so well written, and following along on the journey makes you want to read more! This book was a very good read, and if you love suspense, (or even if you don't!), I definitely recommend this one.

 

 

You can find Dangerous Beauty available for purchase on Amazon or a book store near you. 

 

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

 

 

 

Feasting On Adorable Little Skeleton Head Cakes

HAPPY OCTOBER!!! 

 

My favorite month, because Fall is here, and it's my Birthday Month! ☺

   And with October here, that means Halloween is near us, so what better way to celebrate, than to make mini skeleton head cakes! This pan is amazing; made heavy duty of cast iron and cooks everything evenly. You have to oil each section, and then apply a light sprinkling of flour, before adding in the batter to bake. This helps the cakes ease out of the pan once done. The skeleton heads turn out so cute, you can leave as is or decorate with frosting and candies. There are so many possibilities you could do with these cakes: decorate them for parties, hold a cake decorating contest, make a fun charcuterie board, these cakes would even be good for Dia de Los Muertos! But ultimately, you can enjoy this design any time of year because why not?! They're just too cute!

Limited Edition Orgain Peppermint Hot Cocoa Protein Powder

 Orgain has their new limited edition Peppermint Hot Cocoa Protein Powder out!! 

21g of plant protein, 0g of sugar, and 5g of prebiotic. 

 Get yours before it's gone! 

Use code: WAFFLES30 to get 30% Off!!!

Get It HERE!

 

Undercover Chocolate Covered Quinoa Crisps

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

 

 

   Who knew Quinoa could be so good! Add a bit of chocolate and you have a delicious and healthier for you snack! I absolutely love these Quinoa Crisps by Undercover. They have just the right amount of sweetness and protein so you can feel good with each bite. But be careful...They're very addicting! :)

Not only are these crisps SO good, but they are much better for you than other chocolate snacks out there. They are allergen friendly so your kids can take them to school. They are gluten free, as well as peanut/tree nut free, kosher and Halal certified, and packed full of protein fiber, and good for you simple ingredients.

 

Have you had these before? 

What do you think would be your favorite flavor?

 

(My favorite are the Milk Chocolate Crisps!)

 

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

Daily Goodie Box - September 2022

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

   I received a Goodie Box for the month of September, and it included lots of interesting little things! From Beverages to Hand Lotion, and Health Products. Some I've tried before, and some that were new to me...

 

Ok first up was, hands down, my favorite item in this box...

Coconut Orange Shampoo Bar by Bubbles & Balm. This was my first time trying a shampoo bar and I really enjoyed it! I've been wanting to try one for awhile now, because I was hesitant at how well they would work, but I'm surprised at its goodness. The bar actually lathered really well and the soap mixed into my hair perfectly. It washed out and didn't leave my hair greasy, it was actually very clean and silky! I really like using a shampoo bar, and might even consider switching from bottled shampoo, because it's better for the environment. The only thing I would change about this bar, is I would give it more of a scent. The coconut orange smell is very faint and it doesn't linger in my hair. I would love to continue to smell the scent, even after washing. Can't wait to try more!

 

Foods Alive Hulled Hemp. I love having hulled hemp on hand because there are so many things you can add it to! Baked goods, salads, pastas, smoothies, and more! It's a good way to get some added nutrients and texture to your food.

Bliss CPD Sparkling Water Bliss. I really wanted to like this drink, as I was looking forward to its calming capabilities...but the taste of it was so bad, it made me think of Alka Seltzer and dried flowers. Unfortunately, I couldn't even drink this it was so bad. Big bummer.

 

Moringa Superfood Energy Infusion Tea by Miracle Tree, in the flavor of Moringa Cherry Chamomile. This tea has a nice cherry taste, which is unique for a flavor of tea. I didn't like it but I didn't not like it either. I think it's a taste to continuing drinking, to get used to. I imagine it might be delicious with a little cream!

BWC Fragrance Free Hand And Body Lotion. This lotion is moisturizing and didn't really have a smell. I like that it is cruelty free and gets the skin hydrated.

  CBD Cream With Menthol by Shikai. This lotion is soft and hydrates the skin well. I would prefer it without the menthol in it, but it's suppose to be good for you, and leaves the skin feeling cool.

Berry Mix Xylitol Ice Chips. I've tried these candies before and my thought every time, is that they are slightly too tart. The berry taste is pretty strong, I would love to have a more minty hint, but they are growing on me. Good to have on hand when you want to freshen your breath.

Dental Gum, Tooth Powder & Daily Rinse by Eco Dent. The tooth powder tastes exactly like baking soda with a hint of mint, so think sightly bitter minty-ness. It was hard to get it to stay on my toothbrush so I probably would suggest to make a paste with it and rub it on with your finger instead. I didn't really like it because it that baking soda bitterness. The rinse was pretty watery, with a hint of mint, but not a fan... These wouldn't be my go to products.

 

What product do you think you would most like to try? 

My favorite was definitely the Shampoo Bar!

Would you like to try a 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.