Diamond Candles GIVEAWAY Winner

We have a winner to the Diamond Candles GIVEAWAY!!!  And the winner is...

 

Stacie Skinner-Hoxsie

 

Congrats Stacie!

 

We sent you an email.  

You will need to respond to the email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks for everyone who entered!

 

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

I love peanut butter and chocolate!  Mmmm!  My mouth is watering just thinking about it!  A few days ago, I wanted to make a special treat.  I remember my cousin making a delicious cake she found on Pinterest: Peanut Butter Sheet Cake.  It was seriously so good!  

  So I decided to use the sheet cake recipe to make cupcakes.  I felt as if the batter was a bit too thin, so I added a 1/2 cup more flour than the recipe called for.  For the frosting, I used a recipe from Bakerella.  She made Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes that looked amazing.  I only used the frosting recipe. So here is what I did for my Peanut Butter Cupcakes.  Even my husband, who isn't a cupcake fan, couldn't stop eating them!

  Peanut Butter Cupcakes   Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare cupcake pan with liners.   Mix in pan and bring to a boil:

• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter

Mix together the following and add to the above mixture:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 1/2 cups flour 
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp soda

Mix and add to the above mixture:

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp vanilla

 After mixing, pour batter into cupcake pan filling each liner about 2/3 of the way full.  Bake for about 15 minutes.  Do not overbake.  Let cool before frosting.   Frostings
1 cup butter, room temperature
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
4 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 Tablespoons milk   For chocolate frosting, beat 1/2 cup butter until creamy. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix. Slowly add 2 cups confectioner's sugar and cocoa and mix until combined. Add 1 Tablespoon milk and mix until creamy and smooth. More milk may be added to make frosting creamy.   For peanut butter frosting, beat 1/2 cup butter and 2/3 cup peanut butter until creamy. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix. Slowly add 2 cups confectioners sugar and mix until combined. Add 1 Tablespoon milk and mix until creamy and smooth.  More milk may be added to make frosting creamy.   Add frosting to decorating bag, filling one half with chocolate frosting and the other half with peanut butter frosting.  Frost cupcakes and top with a chocolate bar!   Enjoy! 

Diamond Candles GIVEAWAY!

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love candles!  I love the way they make my house smell delicious!  I enjoy getting the different scents of the seasons.  I like the fun fruity scents during summer and the holiday scents during fall and winter.   

    One thing that would make candles even better would be...diamonds!    The wonderful people at Diamond Candles have done just that!  In each and every candle, they have put a ring in it.     Each ring is worth $10, $100, $1,000 or $5,000!      So as you burn down your candle, you will find a gold little pouch with a little treasure inside!  What a fun concept!  Here is a short video explaining who they are:  

  I have seen these candles around and always wanted to try one!  So when Diamond Candles contacted me wanting to do a review and giveaway, you better believe that I jumped for joy!   Here are a few pictures of candles and rings that people have posted on their website:    

  After trying to decide what scent to choose, I went with Vanilla Lime.  I want to cherish the last days of summer while I can!  :)  I love the fruity scent!  It smells like a delicious drink!  

     I was so excited to burn down the candle to find my treasured ring!  Well...apparently my kids were even more excited!  They waited...for a short time...and found the ring and unwrapped it!  Before I knew it, they were running around the house trying to find me to show me my treasured ring.  Which is absolutely beautiful!  I just thought it was so funny that they were probably more excited than I was!  Isn't it beautiful?  

  Well, we have a fun giveaway for you today!  Your very own Diamond Candle!  So take a minute to enter below...     a Rafflecopter giveaway  

   

DoTerra Essential Oils- Citrus Bliss Water

This water is FANTASTIC!   We served it at our Doterra Essential Oils Party.  I actually liked it so much that I now add oils to my water to drink. 
Citrus Bliss Water -Citrus to cut up. (You can use Oranges, Lemons, Limes, Grapefruits, etc) - Water  -Ice - DoTerra Citrus Bliss Essential Oil - Optional- Sweeteners such as Agave, Honey, Stevia   You can do different variations of this.  My personal favorite is the DoTerra Grapefruit Essential Oil to use in my water. Directions are pretty self explanatory.   Cut up the citrus.  Add several drops of oil (the amount depends on personal preference and how many people you are serving.  Add sweetener if you want.  Then add the ice and water.   Like DoTerra Essential Oils?  Check out our other recipes HERE!

Honey Oat Bread

A few months ago, I shared with you my go to White Bread Recipe.   Occasionally, I like to mix things up a bit (no pun intended) and try different variations. 

 

 Here's one of my favorite variations. 

 Honey Oat Bread.  It's so tasty and yummy!  These loaves don't last long once I pull them out of the oven! 

 

Just a quick note:  When I make bread, I use my Bosch mixer.  If you want to make it by hand you will have to knead the bread and then let it rise in one big mound until doubled, punch it down and then put it in your loaf pans to rise the final time.  When using a Bosch mixer, it eliminates the need for the first rising.

 

 

  Honey Oat Bread

 

Ingredients:

3 TBS Yeast

1 1/2 TBS Salt

8 Cups Flour

1 Cup Quick Oats (Dry Oatmeal)

3 Cups Hot Water (Not Boiling)

1/2 Cup Honey

1/2 Cup Oil (I use Canola Oil)

  Add 1 3/4 cups of hot water and Oatmeal together and let sit.  Mix yeast, salt and 4 cups of flour together in mixing bowl.  Add the oatmeal mixture, remaining water and honey to mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Add rest of flour one cup at a time until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl. 

 

 Continue to mix for 6 minutes.  

 

Divide dough into thirds.  Put in three bread loaf pans, cover and let rise for about one hour.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Butter tops of bread when done.  Let sit in the pan for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.  Enjoy!

 

Homemade DoTerra Bath Salts

I recently have been posting recipes that I used for our DoTerra Essential Oils party.   Everyone loves FREE stuff... so at the end of the party I gave all of the guest some Homemade DoTerra Bath Salts.   They were super easy to make and super cute!  

I got this WONDERFUL Recipe and FREE Printables from The Idea Room.

For the jars, I just reused some baby food jars. (I knew I was saving those for a reason!)

These jars worked out perfect!  The guests loved them and they hardly cost me anything!

 

Dermagist Giveaway Winner!

We have a winner to the Dermagist Giveaway!!!  And the winner is...

 

#199 - Susan Devaux

 

Congrats Susan!

 

We sent you an email.  

You will need to respond to the email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks for everyone who entered!

 

Another Quilting Project

A few months ago I won a fabric giveaway! 

I can't even tell you how excited I was when I received this package of eye candy!  I thought long and hard about what kind of quilt I should make this time. And the design I came up with is so fun!  I looked at so many different designs and incorporated many of them into one!

 I am almost done with the top of the quilt and I love it!

Stay tuned for the finished product...

Nutella Cookies

Nutella Cookies

Cream Together...

1/2 c butter

1/2 c Nutella

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

Add...

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Mix in...

2 1/4 c flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c mini resses pieces

Bake 350' for 12 min

Giveaway {Dermagist Skin Care}

We have an exciting giveaway to share with you today!  

Dermagist Skin Care offers skin care products that are amazing!  I can testify of this because they sent me the Complete Rejuvenation System to review.  When the package came in the mail, I was so excited to try it!  As many of you know, I just had my eighth child.  And the years have definitely been taking it's toll on my skin.  So I immediately got  started.  In the package, they send instructions on how to use their products.  There is a certain order on what to do and when.  And after following these instructions, I noticed a huge difference in my skin.  My dry skin was moisturized and my wrinkles were smoothed out.  I had a few discolorations on my face as well that lightened up as I used this system.  People began to comment on how young I look! 

I am a believer and had similar results as the picture below.  That is why I'm so excited Dermagist offered to give one of our readers the Complete Rejuvenation System or the Ultimate Clarifying System for acne prone skin.  This is huge and worth about $120!!!

Enter the giveaway below using Rafflecopter.  

If you have recently won a Dermagist Skin Care System, you will not be able to enter this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for entering and Good Luck!

Disclaimer:  I received the Complete Rejuvenation System to review.  All the opinions are mine. 

Black Bean Salsa- DoTerra Essential Oils

As many of you know, I recently had a DoTerra Essential Oils Party and have been in the process of posting the recipes that we used on the refreshment table.   This one was AMAZING and SO good!  

  Black Bean Salsa with DoTerra Essential Oils
1 (15oz) can Black Beans drained
1 (15.25 oz) can Corn
3 large Roma Tomatoes diced
1 Medium Avocado peeled and diced
2 jalapeños seeded and diced
½ c. red onion chopped
½ c. cilantro chopped
3 drops Lime Essential Oil
1 (.6 oz) packet of Dry Italian salad dressing mix

Mix together and chill. Serve with tortilla chips.  

  For more Doterra Essential Oils Recipes click HERE!

 

Rosie and her Blessing Dress

A month or so ago, I made Rosie a blessing dress.

I finally got around to editing the pictures.  And I love them!  Although, I am partial.  :)

She is such a happy baby!  We love everything about her!

She is so dainty and precious.  Just like a porcelain doll...

 

And we have to add a pouting picture.  :) 

Look at that little lip!

The dress fit her beautifully and I'm so glad!  The roses on the front of her dress and in her hair fit her name perfectly!  Our sweet little Rosie Grace!

A Family Vacation to Remember

We have a special surprise for you today! 

Kendra Thornton: a travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, wife and mother is giving us travel advice!  I'm so excited for this!  I'm not experienced at traveling whatsoever, so I love reading this! Enjoy and get ready to travel!

A Family Vacation to Remember

There's nothing quite like a family vacation in the beautiful summer weather. Although it's getting late in the season to plan a summer trip, there's still time to iron out the details for a hassle-free getaway.

1. Surprise Your Kids


Try something new by surprising the vacation on your kids with no previous warning! They will be thrilled at the prospect of doing something different. If this seems a bit too extreme, build up anticipation for the trip by hinting at it to your children in the weeks leading up to leaving. Remember though, if you are going to surprise them, there has to be a destination that they are going to be excited about.


2. Booking a Hotel


Get a jumpstart on booking your hotel early on to get the best deal for your family. However, remember to look at more than just the cost of the hotel when booking. Check for things like microwaves and refrigerators in the room so you can store food you bring with you, rather than having to spend lots of money at a restaurant for every meal. I used Gogobot to find a fantastic Orlando hotel that offered a free continental breakfast for my entire family. Look through user reviews to see if a hotel has all the amenities your family needs. 


3. Make the Airport Check-In Easy


It’s easy to become flustered when trying to check luggage and go through security with kids, but if you come prepared these headaches can be avoided. Print the boarding passes beforehand and even put slip-on shoes on the little ones to make going through security a breeze. If you are having a question about whether you can bring something through security or not, check out the My TSA mobile app.


4. Stick to a Schedule


Even when the family is having a blast, there's still time needed for naps and bed times. Skipping breaks and not providing some downtime can result in sour attitudes that ruin the day. Make sure you bring some healthy snacks around with you in case mealtimes might get pushed back a bit.


5. Comfortable Traveling


Whether you are traveling by air or road, you will not want your kid to be crabby. Keep the kids occupied by bringing a favorite book or toy with you, or a portable DVD player. If you have a young child, you might consider investing in car window blinds to block out the sunlight so they can nap.


Being prepared means more fun for the whole family! I hope these tips come in handy, and remember to have fun and travel safe!

Thanks again!

Reference 1: I used Gogobot to find a fantastic Orlando hotel that offered a free continental breakfast for my entire family.

Link: http://www.gogobot.com/orlando-walt-disney-world-florida--hotels

Reference 2: If you are having a question about whether you can bring something through security or not, check out the My TSA mobile app.

Link: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/my-tsa-mobile-application

Reference 3: If you have a young child, you might consider investing in car window blinds to block out the sunlight so they can nap.

Link: http://www.toysrus.com/buy/outdoor-play/summer-safety/car-travel-safety/dream-baby-car-window-shade-2-pack-l2072-4439434

 

Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KendraThornton

Website: http://www.thorntonpr.com/

Easy FUDGE made from DoTerra Essential Oils

I recently had a DoTerra Essential Oils Party.    For the refreshment table, I wanted everything to have some oils in it.  I tried one of the DoTerra Fudge Recipes I found. It was complicated and did not set up right.   I decided to try something different and it worked great!!    

EASY DoTerra Essential Oils FUDGE

Ingredients:

1 Bag White Chocolate Chips (12 oz)

1 Can Vanilla Frosting (16oz)

13 drops of DoTerra Essential Oils

Food Coloring (if you would like)

Directions:

Spray a 7x7 or 8x8 pan with cooking spray.  Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave.  When you can stir it smooth, add the Frosting and stir again until smooth.  Then add the DoTerra Essential Oils and stir.  Spread in the greased pan and chill. 

Notes:

The flavors I made for the party was Peppermint Chocolate, Slim and Sassy, Lemon, Wild Orange and On Guard.

For the Peppermint Chocolate, I used Regular Milk Chocolate Chips and Chocolate Frosting. 

There are several other Doterra Recipes that I have for you, so stay tuned!!  

Père Music Giveaway Winner!

We have a winner to the Père Music Giveaway!!!  And the winner is...

 

#136- Megan Gaworecki

 

Congrats Megan!

 

We sent you an email.  

You will need to respond to the email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks for everyone who entered!

 

Last Day to Enter!

This is the last day to enter the Père Music Giveaway!   So hurry and enter to win a $900 package!
 

Sponsor Ad Giveaway Winner!

We have a winner to the Sponsor Ad Giveaway!!!  And the winner is...

#206- Stacie Skinner-Hoxsie

Congrats Stacie!!

We sent you an email.  

You will need to respond to the email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks for everyone who entered!

 

Giveaway: Père Music!!!

We have an absolutely amazing giveaway that we are offering you today! It's from Père Music.  And it's worth $900!  

You are going to love this concept!  I know that I did!
This is a perfect and unique keepsake to give to your baby or as a gift to another!

This is what Père Music is all about:

 Music written just for your baby

A unique keepsake

We create classical music inspired by your baby. Send us photos and videos, or just tell us about your little one's personality.

We’ll send you a short musical sketch

After just a few days, Ken will create a piece of music for violin, inspired by your little one. We’ll let you take a listen - tell us if you have a few tweaks you’d like to hear or if you love it the way it is. Once you’re happy with the sketch, Ken will finish up the rest of music.

With your approval

You'll take one last listen to the completed song (to make sure you really love it) before we create a high quality recording. Afterwards, we'll send you a link to your song and send you the music (framed and ready to hang) as well as Ken's original handwritten score to keep.


Isn't this just absolutely amazing?  I was so excited to hear about Père Music.  I love music!  I grew up playing piano and violin.  And now I have all five of my boys are in piano lessons, two of them take violin lessons, one is in cello lessons and one in viola lessons.  So this is all near and dear to my heart.  And I love that they create a song especially written for your baby. 

They created a beautiful song for my newest baby, Rosie Grace.  Here is the link:

http://peremusic.com/rosie_grace.html

 It is simply beautiful and delicate, just like Rosie!

Here is the framed music that they sent me:

And here is the sheet music.  I'm really looking forward to my boys playing this for Rosie during the summer months!

 
 Here are the wonderful people who put all this together:

We are two longtime friends and artists who recently found ourselves surrounded by the adorable babies of friends and family. We started Père Music to capture the personality of newborns through classical music. Père composes etudes for violin using descriptions, photos and videos provided by parents.

Ken

Ken is a classically-trained violinist and pianist, but enjoys working in many different genres - most recently, baby music. With nearly 20 years of music writing under his belt, Ken has a knack for storytelling through music. Check out his website here.

Cassandra

Cassandra is a visual artist with over 10 years of marketing and advertising experience. She’ll be your point of contact as producer and partner at Père.

Aren't Ken and Cassandra amazingly talented?
And they are so graciously offering their SONG package to one of our readers.  Here is what it includes:

A unique piece of music written for violin, inspired by your baby
A high-end recording delivered as a downloaded audio file via a custom microsite
Baby’s song as sheet music,
in a high quality, black frame
All original, handwritten notes and sheet music
Free domestic shipping

 I love the way the music looks in Rosie's room! 

You are not going to want to miss out on this!  So hurry and enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway