Cake Batter Blondies

The worst thing that can happen to a diet is Fall and Winter. I say this because this is when all the baking starts. When you bake for others and they bake for you. When the cookie exchange parties start and when all the holiday gatherings happen. And then there's just making warm delicious goodies for when your kiddos come home from school, like me.

I told myself that I wouldn't, but I did and so that's why I have these delicious, gooey, chewy, goodness to share with you today. I made these last night, most are gone. And I wish I could say I had a lot to do with them because they were simply delicious, but the credit goes to the hubby and kids. I did manage to put one away so I can enjoy another one while I have the house to myself before the weekend.

Make these! They are seriously easy enough and turn out fantastic! Have a great weekend and enjoy!



CAKE BATTER BLONDIES
Source: Adapted from Six Sister's Stuff

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix (or Funfetti cake mix)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 – 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles (only if you’re using the yellow cake mix)
1/2 cup white chocolate chips 
Sprinkles for the top
Frosting optional (see recipe below)

Directions: Combine cake mix, oil, and egg in a large bowl and stir. Add the milk slowly – making the batter as dense as possible. Once mixed add in white chocolate chips and if not using funfetti cake mix add your rainbow sprinkles.

Spray your pan (either 8x11" or 9x9" pan) with non-stick cooking spray. Dump batter in pan and spread to the edges. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. (They will be a little soft in the middle, let them sit for 20 minutes or so and they will set up.)

Once cooled frost with icing, but this is optional. I’ve had one with and without frosting and although without the frosting tastes amazing, once you add the frosting you will be sitting on clouds with how good it tastes.

Frosting:
1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
2-3 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar (more or less depending on how thick or runny you like it)
3-4 drops red food coloring to get desired pink color (optional)

Combine all ingredients until well-blended. Spread on top of blondies.


SHARING ON:


Spice Up Your Romance This Fall


 Did you know that three-quarters of Canadians (74%) say they find they are “in the mood” more often in the summer. I actually didn’t know that either, but when I think about it, both of my kids were conceived in the Fall and born in the Summer.



There is physiological reason for that. As the days get shorter, and light levels are lower (in the fall and winter), the pineal gland secretes more melatonin, which inhibits sex drive and influences sleep and energy levels.

And there are also lifestyle factors. As the dog days of summer wind down and hectic work schedules, family obligations and social commitments start to pick up, it can be hard to schedule date nights. But - it is crucial to make time to nurture your relationship!
Lida Elias, CEO and creative date planner at ‘Save My Date’, a company that offers personalized date planning services suggests that with a little effort, you can translate the feeling of effortless summer romance into the fall months.

So let’s adapt for the Autumn weather with activities you and your spouse can do while spending quality time together.  

You can still plan weekend trips! The campgrounds aren’t as busy as they are in the summer season and with less traffic, you’ll likely find it’s a shorter drive out of the city so who needs the extra day? Book a campsite and enjoy roasting marshmallows at the fireside. The cooler fall air may require a bit more cuddling as the two of you enjoy an evening under the moon and thousands of stars!

Go apple picking, then plan for a romantic evening of baking. Enjoy the fall weather together at an apple orchard then spend the evening enjoying the fruits of your labour by baking up an apple pie. There could be an added benefit to your delicious dessert. Studies have shown that men are attracted to the scent of baking food and cinnamon. In fact, studies also show that cinnamon increases the blood flow to the male genitals.

Go for a walk
or hike. It’s a great time to get outdoors to see the leaves changing colour. You may even find you enjoy spending time together outside even more in the cooler air, when you don’t have to deal with the heat and humidity.

Hit a patio that has space heaters available. Some restaurants will still have their patios open until late September. If this is a favourite activity for you and your partner, stretch out patio season as long as you can before it gets too cold!

I think my favourite of these activities would be the apple picking and baking together. When I think about it, I don’t think my husband and I ever cooked together and ate our meal while being alone. This sounds pretty awesome to me.

What are some activities you and your spouse do in the Fall?


Modern Family: The Complete Third Season Blu-Ray Review


Join TV’s #1 family for another hilarious and refreshingly original season of Modern Family, winner of eleven Emmy® Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series two years in a row! As the extended Pritchett/Dunphy clan faces an uproariously unpredictable array of family vacations, holiday hassles, troublesome in-laws, and surprising secrets, they still somehow manage to thrive together as one big, loving family — even as they drive each other absolutely insane! Season Three features a hilarious gag reel and never-before-seen couch confessions that will make you laugh out loud and remind you why viewers and critics alike have fallen in love with this thoroughly Modern Family.
MY REVIEW
If you have not seen or heard of Modern Family by now you must be living under a rock. Seriously, this show is definitely worth the watch. We've been watching this since the series first premiered and have been loving every single bit of it. My favorite character is Cam, he's hilarious and I love all his stories about being raised on a farm. Season three was no different from the other two seasons. You'll get tons of laughs and the storylines of all three households run so smooth and well together. Plus this season was when they introduced an older Lily, which was hilarious seeing her as an older child and being a sponge and repeating what she hears from her family. This is definitely something you need in your collection and the blu-ray has deleted scenes and behind the scenes, plus interviews, which are so fun to watch. My husband and I adore this show and can not wait because the premiere of season four is tonight!



Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Modern Family Season Three at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

LitterGetter Review


Smokey is a beautiful male cat that I have had for two years now. I often get frustrated to find that he is able to find his way to the basement where his litter box is and every-now-and-then he manages to do his business right beside the box instead of in it. Errr. The litter box is cleaned out on a regular basis, and I tried different brands of litter to see if this is the reason why he refuses to use his box sometimes. But no luck, he still rebels.

I got a product to review called LitterGetter. LitterGetter is an all-nature mixture of herb and plant extracts that is supposed to be used with cat litter to bring problem cats back to the litter box. It is also supposed to help with odors to boot. I was more than happy to give this product a chance!

I used LitterGetter for about a week, and I must say, in that time I have had to clean out Smokey’s litter box a lot more, which is reliving to me since I haven’t had to clean up ‘accidents’ on my floor since then! YAY! I think this product is working very well! The only thing that I would say is that I haven’t noticed a huge difference in odor when next to or while cleaning out the box. But that isn’t a deal breaker for me at all since he is doing his business in the right area!

With one 20oz (567g) container, you can treat your litter box for about three months! This will become a staple to buy along with my kitty litter!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received LitterGetter at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Katy Perry: Part of Me Blu-Ray DVD Combo Review

The fun, glamorous, heartbreaking, inspiring, crazy, magical, passionate, and honest mad diary of one of the biggest performers on the planet blasts off when the KATY PERRY: Part of Me movie debuted on Blu-ray and DVD (both with UltraViolet™), On Demand and for Digital Download on September 18, 2012 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Giving fans unprecedented access to the real life of the music sensation, KATY PERRY: Part of Me exposes the hard work, dedication and phenomenal talent of a girl who remained true to herself and her vision in order to achieve her dreams. Featuring rare behind-the-scenes interviews, personal moments between Katy and her friends, and all-access footage of rehearsals, choreography, Katy’s signature style and more, KATY PERRY: Part of Me reveals the singer’s unwavering belief that if you can be yourself, then you can be anything.
MY REVIEW
We're big fans of Miss Katy Perry here in my house, well, my daughter and I are. So when we had the opportunity to review her latest movie, Part of Me, I was excited, but even more so for my daughter as I kept this a surprise from her until I received the package in the mail. When she came home from school I showed her and the expression on her face was priceless. We then proceeded to put on Disney Junior games online for my son and the two of us started watching the movie.

 It was awesome. Not only are you seeing behind the stage seeing how much it takes to put on a show like she does for her fans, but you also get to hear Katy's story and what she went through to be where she is today. I loved learning more about her and my daughter and I both loved watching her performances that she did throughout the show. We absolutely loved this and if you're a Katy Perry fan you will too and this should definitely be in your movie collection.

Along with the movie, Part of Me, I also received two cherry chapsticks, two Part of Me Shirts, a blow up Katy Perry beach ball, which had confetti in it, an iphone case, Last Friday Night OPI nail polish and Sprinkles Velvet Cupcake mix, which we'll be making soon. This gift set was super cute and made my little girl super happy!


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Katy Perry: Part of Me and the above mentioned items at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.




Safe Travels with Insurance Hunter

This post brought to you by InsuranceHunter. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whether you're travling close or far, auto insurance is important to have. I remember our drive a couple of years ago going back to visit some family in California. It took us two and a half days to get there with stops and two little ones. It was a very long trip, especially when one of the two kids were in diapers back then. 
One thing I made sure was that my husband got enough sleep and was well rested before we headed back on the roads because driving for hours and hours at a time without any rest isn't healthy and is very dangerous. When I felt he was getting tired in the slightest I made him pull over even if he could, continue driving, like he said, I knew pulling over to the next hotel was the smart choice.


According to a recent poll conducted by Insurance Hunter 

64% of men have continued driving on a road trip when tired
24% of men said they have not paid close attention to the road because they were tired
17% of men said they hoped they wouldn’t get into an accident and kept driving even though they were exhausted
10% of men almost got into an accident because they were tired

Insurance Hunter is a hassle-free, online insurance comparison website which provides comparative quotes for auto, home and travel insurance for residents of Ontario. By offering a simple, convenient, quick way to obtain insurance quotes, coupled with personal follow up from a qualified insurance broker, Insurance Hunter ensures customers get the best insurance coverage at the best rate. For further information, visit www.InsuranceHunter.ca.

It's important while on the road that you have enough rest, for the safety of yourself and others. To get more information please check out the Insurance Hunter's safety survey that was conducted.

Visit Sponsor's Site

@CandiCheeks Cranberry Caterpillar Slip-On Socks Review

Candi Cheeks is an online shop started by husband and wife, John and Sue Lee back in 2011. Candi Cheeks provides you with cute and unique baby apparel for your child. This includes hats, socks, leggings, booties and accessories.

I had the pleasure of reviewing a pair of their Cranberry Caterpillar Slip On Socks for my two year old daughter. I'm always looking for cute and unique items for her and I have to say that I loved these socks. My little one was pretty fond of them too.



I found that these socks were not only a cute design, but they wash very well and I love that they have the slip guards on the bottom of the socks because my daughter loves to run around the house and play and with the laminate flooring we have these socks kept her from slipping and falling.

As a bonus for our readers, Candi Cheeks is providing you all with a discount to get 15% off of your purchase from now until October 24th. All you need to do is use this code at the end of your checkout:

DISOUNT CODE: L3XJQ9SR

To qualify:
  1. Add all products described in the promotional offer message to your Shopping Cart one of two ways:
    a. Via the Add both to Cart button in the promotion description, OR
    b. Via the Add to Shopping Cart button on each respective product information page.
  2. The benefit for this promotion will not be reflected on the final order checkout page. The merchant will apply any benefit after your order has been processed.
  3. If you remove any of the participating promotional items from your Shopping Cart or violate any of the terms and conditions listed below, your order will no longer qualify for the promotion.
  4. If you return any of the items involved in the promotion, the merchant will remove the benefit.
Terms and Conditions:
  • Promotional offer valid for a limited time only. Items placed in Shopping Cart overnight may not be eligible for promotion at time of checkout.
  • Promotion applies only to qualifying items displaying the offer message on their product information pages. Items that do not display the offer message do not qualify, regardless of the nature of the item.
  • Applies only to products sold by the merchant indicated in the promotional offer message. Does not apply to items sold by other merchants.
  • Does not apply to any products purchased on any other website operated by the merchant.
  • Applies only when all qualifying and benefit products in the promotion are purchased in one order.
  • Applies only to complete orders shipping to a single address that meet all other promotional requirements.
  • Offer good while supplies last.
  • No substitutions or rain checks.
  • Offer must be redeemed through the Shopping Cart. Does not apply to orders placed with 1-Click.
  • Shipping and handling charges apply to all products.
  • Offer may not be combined with other offers.
  • Void where prohibited.


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a pair of baby girl socks at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Homeland Season: One Blu-Ray Review


Hailed as TV’s best new drama by critics everywhere, the award-winning HOMELAND* delivers compelling characters, thrilling twists and breathtaking suspense. Carrie Mathison (Golden Globe® winner Claire Danes), a brilliant but volatile CIA agent, suspects that a rescued American POW may not be what he seems. Is Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody_(Damian Lewis) a war hero...or an Al Qaeda sleeper agent plotting a spectacular terrorist attack on U.S. soil? Following her instincts, Mathison will risk everything to uncover the truth — her reputation, her career and even her sanity. Packed with multiple layers and hidden clues, Season One offers something new every time you see it...watch carefully.

MY REVIEW
Homeland is such an action packed suspenful show. This show stars Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison, she`s one of my favorite actresses, that was a bonus that drew me to the show. While watching season one I had some tears in this one and I was always waiting for the next episode to play, it was that good. The show sure keeps you on your toes and keeps you wanting more. I absolutely loved this show and I can`t wait to watch season two. The entire season was a great start for a show. If you`re a fan of Homeland you need this in your collection so that you can not only watch this show whenever you want, but for the extra features, like the, deleted scenes and the prologue for season two! 


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Homeland Season One at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Fathom Book Review


Title: Fathom
By: Merrie Destefano
Publisher: 
Publication Date: October 1, 2012
ISBN: 
Pages: 319

Everything is changing . . .
Turning sixteen can be hell, especially if everyone in town thinks your mother killed herself and your sister. All Kira Callahan wants to do is swim, hang out with her best friend, Sean, and ignore the kids who torment her at school. That is, until one day when she gets invited to a party. For three minutes her life is wonderful—she even kisses Sean in the driveway. Then somebody spikes her drink at the party and some girls from out of town lure her into the ocean and hold her underwater.
Kira soon discovers that the group of wild teenagers who have come to visit Crescent Moon Bay are not as innocent as they seem. In fact, nothing is as it seems—not the mysterious deaths of her sister and mother, not her heritage, not even her best friend. And everything seems to hinge on the ancient Celtic legends that her mother used to tell her as a child.

MY REVIEW
This story starts with two character's stories alternating between short chapters in what, seems like, completely different time periods.  The writing style was a bit uncommon in the sense that the first few chapters leave you with questions and even a bit confused.  I wasn't sure, in those first few chapters, if I was going to like this book.  Then, the seemingly unrelated stories slowly start to converge on each other and you're pretty much hooked at that point.  I really couldn't put it down.

It is a strange story but all the more enchanting for its strangeness.  I would've liked just a little bit more description of some of the male lead characters.  I didn't feel like I could really picture them.  Despite the fact that I couldn’t get a very clear picture of those two male characters in my mind, I still loved and connected with them.  I can't wait to read the next book because this, undoubtedly, has series written all over it.


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Fathom at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Titanic Blu-Ray 3D/2D Limited Edition Review


The two billion-dollar box office phenomenon and winner of 11 Academy Awards,TITANIC, made its highly anticipated debut on Blu-ray 2D and 3D on September 10, 2012 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Available in high definition for the first time ever, James Cameron’s timeless and unforgettable tour de force will be presented in stunning 2D and 3D, providing a cinematic in-home experience of TITANIC like never before.

James Cameron commented, “Blu-ray extends TITANIC’s immersive 3D theatrical experience into audiences’ homes, where their living room becomes the backdrop for big spectacular environments and intense action, as well as profoundly intimate human moments, allowing generations of fans—new and old—to truly become part of the movie like never before.”

Additional special features including 30 deleted scenes, over 60 behind-the-scenes featurettes, a look at the groundbreaking visual effects, over 2,000 photos, three commentaries and much, much more. TITANIC will also be available in a two-disc DVD set with deleted scenes and, for the first time ever, for digital download.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the roles that would make them global stars,TITANIC tells the story of the epic romance between two star-crossed lovers set against the backdrop of the legendary and ill-fated maiden voyage of the “ship of dreams.”
MY REVIEW
I was thirteen when Titanic first came out in the theaters. I remember it very clearly because it premiered a couple of days before my birthday and I wanted so badly to go and see it. I had a major crush on Leonardo DiCaprio because right before this movie he was in Romeo and Juliet and I loved him in that movie.

Watching Titanic when it first came out and watching it now in high definition on blu-ray was a total different experience. You see way more detailed scenery now and the picture quality is magnificent. I sat down to watch this after last seeing it on VHS over ten years ago and there is such a huge difference and improvement. I mean even way back then the graphics, scenes, etc., were all amazing, but now in high definition and on blu-ray you really get an appreciation of the film. This is one movie I don't think any of us can forget.

Along with the Limited Edition movie of the Titanic, I was also sent the soundtrack of the Titanic, as you can imagine I have been listening to Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On like crazy over the past couple of days, lol. Along with both the blu-ray and soundtrack was also a leather covered notebook that looks exactly like the one Jack had in the movie when he was drawing Rose. I absolutely love it.



If you have yet seen Titanic or if you haven't seen this movie since our VHS days I suggest watching this movie again because you'll definitely appreciate it more.



Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Titanic and the above mentioned items at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Steak and Egg Quesadilla #LoveCDNBeef



Growing up as a kid who's grandparents raised animals, eating both beef and eggs was something that I did often. I remember helping my grandmother get the eggs from the chickens, feeding our cows, pigs and goats and having so much fun doing so. I remember going to help my Bigmama (what we called my grandma)  at least three to four times a week. It was just another thing we did together and tons of memories that I will remember forever. Even though my family and I don't live on a farm and don't have any farm animals, that's not keeping me from sharing my stories and experience with my kids.

 As a kid with grandparents who raised their animals for eggs and meat, not to keep as pets, I had to learn to adjust and tried not to get too attached because once one animal left, another one came to take its place. Don't worry, I didn't tell that part of my experience with my kids, not yet anyways, lol.  But growing up I did learn to appreciate the importance of good, healthy beef and I am still learning til this day.

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with both Canadian Beef and Burnbrae Farms thanks to She's Connected and was one of the bloggers chosen to be in their Canadian Beef Blogger Program for the month of August. Our mission was to share and spread the word with you all about Canadian Beef and I also thought I'd throw in a recipe for you all as well.

You can check out Canadian Beef to learn so much as far as cooking and preparing beef, tips and FAQs regarding beef, how protein can help with loosing weight on their Health and Nutrients page and also check out their recipes section. They have so many delicious recipes you can try and you can pick and choose whichever fits right with your family.

I was thinking and debating on what to make to combine beef and eggs. There are so many wonderful recipes out there. So over the weekend I decided I'd make a Steak and Egg Quesadilla for my family. This was absolutlely delicious and so very easy to make. The Canadian Beef steaks were so tender and was a hit with my husband and kids!

Steak and Egg Quesadilla
Serves 4



Ingredients:
8 tortillas
8 eggs
8 oz. Steak Strips
4 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups Shredded Cheese
1 Onion
2-3 Peppers (depending on how much you want in your quesadilla)
Salsa optional (I used Wholly Guacamole's Roasted Tomato Salsa)

Directions:
For each serving, grill 2 oz. steak strips. Heat 1 tsp. oil in large skillet. Lay tortilla in skillet. In separate skillet, heat 1 tsp. olive oil, whisk 2 eggs and scramble. Turn tortilla and place eggs, 1/4 cup warm peppers and onions, grilled steak and 1/2 cup cheese on half of tortilla. Fold tortilla in half turn. Cook quesadilla until cheese has melted and cut into 4 wedges. Let cool, eat and enjoy!

Disclosure: I am participating in the Canadian Beef Blogger program by ShesConnected. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. All opinions are honest and always my own



Burt's Bees New Intense Hydration Products for Fall




Burt's Bees has come out with five new Intense Hydration Products just in time since Fall is literally around the corner. I had the opportunity to review three out of the five products; the treatment mask, eye cream and day lotion.



Intense Hydration Treatment Mask.
The first time I used this product I followed the directions and applied a thick layer and let it sit for the recommended amount of time. When I wiped it off, my face felt very heavy with moisturizer. As much as I tried to massage the left over lotion into my face, it never really seemed to absorb. This made me nervous since I have acne prone skin, and I really didn’t want to wake up the next day to find a whole new batch of breakouts. But I already started this product so I sucked it up and didn’t try to wash of the residue before bed.

The next morning I woke up to very soft skin, and was happy to see that my skin wasn’t irritated (YAY!). The next times that I used this product I followed all the instructions except the amount I used, I didn’t have to apply a thick layer in order to achieve the moisturized feeling. Did I mention how good this stuff smells? Well, it smells awesome, very fresh, not heavily fragranced at all. Also, the scent is pretty soothing when you’re relaxing while it sits on your face.


Intense Hydration Eye Cream
Okay, so I happen to be in my 20’s and I am a bit obsessed with moisturizing, and just recently I hopped onto that anti-aging train. I have nothing bad to say about this eye cream. Just dab little dots of the stuff around your eyes, it feels great! Once rubbed in, you don’t feel any greasy residue, or heaviness, just a satisfying feeling of actually doing something to combat and hopefully slow down the inevitable.


Intense Hydration Day Lotion
I have mixed feelings about this product. When I put it on after cleansing and before my make-up, it feels great. This day lotion starts off as a great base for my make-up, and since my make-up can dry out my skin and leave an unfortunate texture to it, this lotion really helps in that aspect. I have noticed that throughout the day, oil production in my skin kicked up a notch while wearing this lotion. That might just be because of my freakishly confused combination skin. But, it doesn’t cause me to break out more than usual, and it feeds my need to moisturize. So I give this product a thumbs up.


Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration products are now available at select natural, grocery, drug, and mass retailers and via www.burtsbees.ca.


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned products at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Strawberry Shortcake: Jammin with Cherry Jam DVD Review


Strawberry Shortcake returns in a fun, new adventure this fall! In Jammin’ With Cherry Jam, Strawberry Shortcake’s friends surprise her by inviting her favorite singer, superstar Cherry Jam, to perform at the grand opening of the Marketplace. The star struck girls do not know that the real Cherry isn’t anything like her rock diva persona, but just an ordinary girl who wants to be accepted as one of their friends.


MY REVIEW
This was such an adorable movie that my daughter just loved. We sat down and watched this last week and once we were finished I asked her what her favorite part of the movie was. Her response was that she loved that Cherry Jam got to stay in Berry Big City with Strawberry Shortcake and the est of the girls. This is such a cute movie for any young girl to see. Not to mention the music is pretty catchy.

Another thing I loved about this DVD was the special features. There was a music video, a dance along video, which we had fun participating in and there was also printable color pages, which we have one for your little one today. Click on the download printable link below to print out one of the color pages for your child to enjoy!


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Strawberry Shortcake: Jammmin with Cherry Jam at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Winx Fairy Dolls Giveaway (Value $250)


Launched in Canada in 2011, Nickelodeon’s Winx Club is a modern fantasy adventure series following six fashion-forward best friends – Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna and Aisha – who attend the finest fairy school in all the realms, Alfea College. When trouble arises, the Winx Club transform into beautiful fairies and use their unique magical powers to fight villains and save the world from evil. Fans can catch the show on Nickeolodeon Monday through Friday  at 3 p.m. and on YTV Sundays at 10 a.m. 

“Given the Winx Club series has been such a hit, we saw an opportunity to capture the magical essence of Winx and create a product line that would allow little girls to relive the adventures of the Winx Club fairies at home,” said Steve Morris, senior vice president, Jakks Canada. “The comprehensive line reflects the key elements of the Winx Club that appeal to young girls; self-expression, friendship, adventure, magic and fashion.”

Toys R Us is offering one of our lucky Canadian readers a prize pack valued at $250 worth of Winx dolls/accessories. 



For more information on the launch of the Winx Club product line available at Toys“R”Us, Canada please visit www.toysrus.ca/winx.


PackAways Storage Boxes Review

PackAways are durable, versatile, easy-to-use, storage boxes that can fold down flat and store out of the way when not in use. They also have a unique Wipe Away Re-Writable Panels that allow you to keep track of what’s inside the boxes that you are using and then if you have to resuse them to store something else you can simply wipe clean and write on them again. There are three types of boxes, their classic, tote and under the bed boxes.

I had the pleasure of reviewing two of the classic boxes, a pink medium and green large PackAways box. I was excited because I was just telling my husband that I needed a new place to store our kids old school work that we want to keep for them. Not only are these boxes bright in colour so that you can spot them out, they are also very durable. In the medium pink box I stored both my kids school work from last year. I separated each stack by adding a piece of cardboard in the middle so that one side was my son's school work and the other side was my daughter's. This worked really well and the wipe away label was very useful so that I could label what was in the box.




As for the green large box, I decided to store all of my kids Summer clothing, so in went all their shorts, tops and I put all their sandals and flip flops in a bag and set it on top of the clothes. These boxes are very useful and durable and I love that once we aren't using them anymore that we can fold them down so that they are flat and easy to put away until the next time we use them.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received two PackAways boxes at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.


@MosoNatural Air Purifying Bag Review & Giveaway

Moso Natural Air Purifying Bags helps remove odors, bacteria, harmful pollutants, allergens. Their bags also helps prevent mold, mildew and excess moisture. The Moso Bags are made from 100% Bamboo Charcoal. The carbon in each of the Moso Bags are self-activated to absorb and filter out harmful pollutants and odors.  The bag naturally purifies up to 250 square feet and lasts up to two years.

The bag will naturally purify the air without giving off a scent. This was a great product to review for me. I have a really sensitive nose when it comes to odors and I don't do well with them. This is why when we first got our dog, Izzie, a couple of years back I told my husband that he had to make sure that she got a bath twice a month by us and taken in to get everything done by our local Dog Spa, once a month. He agreed, but it's not just Izzie herself. Although she is bathed on a regular basis I still find that where she sleeps at night gives off an odor which apparently I'm the only member of my household that smells it. I promise I'm not crazy, it really is my nose being sensitive, lol.

 So when we got the moso bag I knew exactly where to put it, right by Izzie's bed. I have to tell you these last couple of weeks I have been impressed as this bag has not only removed the odors I would smell from my dog, but odors period from food in our house, like, when I'm cooking with an onion, using our deep fryer, etc. It took about a day to two days before I noticed that the smell was gone, I was really impressed with it. 

Once a month, the Moso Bag requires one hour in the sun to release all of the pollutants and naturally rejuvenate the Moso Bag for a fresh use. I haven't had the bag for a month yet, about three weeks and over this weekend I did put the bag outside on our deck in direct sunlight for about an hour. I put it back by Izzie's bed and so far it's seem to be working like it was before. I'd recommend this bag to anyone who has a sensitive nose like myself or to those of you who want a natural safe way to get rid of odors in your home. 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big thank you to Moso Natural for the giveaway prize!


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Lemon Asparagus

The day before school started, Labor Day, my husband and I wanted to do one last barbecue before we were all back to our "School Routine." We had steak, baked potatoes, cesar salad, texas toast and one of my faovrites, Lemon Asparagus. I absolutely love making asparagus.

One of my earliest memories of eating asparagus was having someone boil it, over cooking it and wanting me to eat this soft chewy vegetable. Ew. I was turned off by it quickly. I didn't try it again until I was able to actually cook it myself. I always either have the hubby grill it on the barbecue or I put it in the oven. In this case, I made it in the oven.

This is a quick and easy recipe that doesn't take long at all and the turnout is absolutely delicious!



Lemon Asparagus

Ingredients
1lb. Asparagus, ends trimmed
1tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Lemon, Zest and juice
Pinch of Sea Salt
Lots of freshly cracked pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Toss or mist the asparagus with olive oil and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice until evenly coated.
Add a pinch or two, to your liking, of sea salt, and then add the freshly-cracked black pepper.  Add in the oven and roast for no more than 15 minutes, or until asparagus is tender.  
Remove and garnish with lemon zest.


SHARING ON:

Thirsty Thursday: Lemon Water

This Summer I can't say I've been eating 100% healthy or drinking enough water like I should have been. The barbecues, birthday parties, the adult beverages, etc., they were delicious treats that eventually added some pounds to my already not so fit body.

It's time to get back on track and that's why this week's Thirsty Thursday is something everyone should be drinking, Lemon Water. If you remember my Sassy Water post, you'll remember that drinking water with lemon can do a number of things for you and in a positive way.

Although lemon is an acidic food, once digested it turns into alkaline, which helps our body by keeping the oxygen in our blood at a safe pH level. This helps our body heal itself and helps fight off unwanted sickness. Drinking lemon water also helps with weight loss. Lemons are high in fiber pectin, which is something that keeps us full longer. It also helps eliminate excess water weight as well. This also works out well for those of you, like myself, that doesn't like drinking plain water, this kicks it up a notch. So wish me luck as I start on my weight loss journey once again. And enjoy these inexpensive, yet delicious drink!



Lemon Water

Ingredients
1/2 Lemon
Water
Ice

Directions: Add half a lemon's juice to your 24 ounce cup (or in my case, mason jar), fill with ice and pour water. Stir, drink and enjoy!



Come Celebrate #JustUsGirls Blogiversary RSVP now!



One month from today on, Friday, October 12 it will be one year that Just Us Girls has been in the blogging community. With this we want to celebrate with our friends and readers with a Twitter Party! So on Friday, October 12th at 9pm EST we will be hosting our very first Twitter Party. Helping us celebrate by donating prizes will be our sponsors listed below along with their prizes and the number of prizes from each company.

We have a total of 10 prizes all together and can’t wait to hangout with everyone. We’ll be chatting about all things Fall along with some of our favourite food and drink recipes we’ve shared with you all over the past year. We hope to see you all there!

WHEN: Friday, October 12th 9pm EST
WHO: The celebration is open to everyone to join, but prizes are only available for US & CAN Residents.
HASHTAG: #justusgirls
TOPIC: We'll be discussing all things Fall related along with some of our favourite food and drink recipes we've shared on our blog.

SPONSOR AND PRIZES:

Prize: $30 Virtual Gift Card from Kernels Popcorn

Twitter: @kernelspopcorn 
Facebook: Kernels Popcorn FB

Website: Kernels Popcorn

Prize: 12pk of Sparkling ICE

Twitter: @TR_SparklingICE
Facebook: Sparkling ICE FB

Website: Sparkling ICE

Prize: (2) 30ct. Boogie Wipes

Twitter: @BoogieMom
Facebook: Boogie Wipes FB

Website: Boogie Wipes

Prize: Heart Shaped FunBites (2 prizes)

Twitter: @funbites
Facebook: FunBites FB

Website: FunBites

Prize: Morphology Junior (3 prizes)

Twitter: @morphologygames
Facebook: Morphology Games FB


Prize: Gift Basket of Hard Candy Products
Twitter: @HeresHardCandy
Facebook: Hard Candy FB
Website: Hard Candy

Prize: Month Supply of PopChips, PopChips Swag, Katy Perry CD & Katy Perry Eyelashes
Twitter: @popchipsTO
Facebook: PopChips FB
Website: PopChips
HOW TO RSVP TO WIN PRIZES
  • Fill out the Rafflecopter form below in order to R.S.V.P.
  • Mandatory Entries: You must follow Just Us Girls on both our Twitter & Facebook. For our Sponsors you have the option of following the companies on either their Twitter or Facebook pages, you can follow both their social network pages or one, but one is mandatory.
  • Join us Friday, October 12th 9pm EST
  • While participating in Twitter party, please make sure you use the hashtag #JustUsGirls so that you receive all the questions we’ll be asking.
  • Make sure to reply to @justusgirls_ with your answers along with the question number. See example below.
Ex: @justusgirls_: Q#1 What’s your favourite Fall Scent?
@TwitterUser: #A1 Pumpkin Spice all the way @justusgirls_

Anyone is welcome to participate in this party, but prizes will only be available for those who have filled out the rafflecopter form.

Easier Ways to Keep Up With The Party are a few of our favourite 3rd party sites to make your Twitter Party experience with us a little easier:

Tweet Chat (My personal favourite)


If you have any questions about the party and/or about RSVPing please don’t hesitate to send us over an EMAIL.




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@Molecule_R Cuisine R-Evolution Kit Review & Giveaway



Being a culinary enthusiast I was ecstatic to get to try out a Molecule-R kit.  Molecular gastronomy has been a large breakthrough in cooking in the last decade. I love the idea of creating things that are appealing and even curious to indulge in.  The natural texturing agents that are included in this kit allow you to reconstruct food to form a sight you wouldn’t normally expect from any given dish.

I had the chance to try out two of the many recipes included on CD that came with the kit. One of which was Reconstructed Tomato Soup. By making the soup as you normally would then adding agar-agar according to the directions you are able to mold the soup into a different shape before serving. In my case I made ‘spaghetti’. I think offering this as a starter to a dinner party, garnished with parmesan cheese would be amazing to fellow foodies, or even science fans. 



The other dish I tried was a Honey Wrap. Using the same Agar-agar, I was able to set the honey in a thin (or thick) layer to create a solid sheet to use as a wrap for some fresh strawberries and yogurt for a light dessert. You could also cut out other shapes to top crackers or use as a decoration for a dessert of your liking. I found this amazing!



The Molecular Gastronomy Kit comes with five ingredients (10 packets of each ingredient), agar-agar, calcium lactate, sodium alginate, soy lecithin and xanthan gum. Information on these ingredients can be found on their website (www.molecule-r.com) or on the web. I thoroughly enjoyed playing with this kit! It can be a bit pricey for just regular meals, but to try out for special occasions or as a fun science experiment that you can eat, I think it’s worth it to give something new a try! I can’t wait to get back into the kitchen!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. the Cuisine R-Evolution Kit at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big thank you to the PR company for providing the giveaway prize!




Lola Versus Out On Blu-ray & DVD Today!


Greta Gerwig sparkles in this offbeat romantic comedy about looking for answers - and finding yourself - in a complicated world. When 29-year-old Lola (Gerwig) is dumped by her fiancé Luke Joel Kinnaman) just three weeks before the wedding, she embarks on an emotional, year-long adventure of self-discovery filled with love, loss, hilarity and heartache. Guided (and often misguided) y the well-meaning advice of her close friends and eccentric parents, Lola's chaotic journey en route to the big 3-0 proves that a single tumultuous year can yield the lessons of a lifetime.

MY REVIEW
I had the opportunity to review Lola Versus. When I first looked at the trailer before watching the movie and even while I was watching it, I thought I knew what was going to happen through it all, but the movie throws a little twist in there. Lola is in this relationship when he boyfriend pops the question asking her to marry him. He them backs out of the entire thing turning her world upside down. Now as most chick flicks goes the man leaves the woman, she then turns to either a new man or a man who's already in her life. In this case she turned to her best guy friend. You'd think they'd live happily ever after, but that doesn't last. We watch as Lola grows from one person to another person within this year of her life. When she finally grows and figures out who Lola is, is when her ex tries to get back in her life. This was such a good movie about a woman becoming independent and growing from experience. Knowing she doesn't need anyone to be with in order to be at peace with herself was definitely a great way to end the movie. I enjoyed this a lot. 

Lola Versus is out on Blu-Ray and DVD today, check out the trailer below to get a glimpse into Lola's world.



Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Lola Versus at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.