One girl's guide to a healthy, loving, & tasty life.
Have you ever made spaghetti squash in the hopes of noodles…& ended up with mush? We have. Quite a few times actually. The faux noodles would merge with the sauce & become squash clumps. They definitely weren’t fooling anyone into thinking they were pasta! So what is the trick? It is all in the cut- keep reading to check it out!…
Thanks to Lindt HELLO for sponsoring today’s post! All opinions are my own. #ItStartedwithHELLO 
Our love story definitely started with hello…over the internet! Completely unexpected when I wasn’t even looking I found the love of my life chatting with me over Facebook. Minutes turned to hours & hours into day then we met & definitely were both head over heels. At 19 (& him 23) we eloped…& have been married ever since! Sometimes I can’t help but wonder though…what if he hadn’t said hello? What if I hadn’t responded? What a sad story that would be indeed! 
Lindt’s “It Started with Hello” campaign introduces tasty premium chocolates sure to get a conversation going! Lindt has an amazing new collection called Lindt HELLO– a variety of premium chocolate options inspired by classic American Treats! Say “Hello” to someone you’ve been wanting to talk to…a new possible friend at work? A seriously handsome cutie on the bus? Share your favorite Lindt HELLO stick, bar, or mini stick to get the conversation rolling! Lindt HELLO is available in stores nationwide, Lindt Chocolate Shops and Lindt.com. You’ll see flavors like Strawberry Cheesecake, Cookies & Cream, Crunchy Nougat, Caramel Brownie, & more! Ryan & I are so enthralled with the Strawberry Cheesecake flavor that I’ve already ordered more to pickup from Target!
From September 12th through October 9th, you can visit the “It Started with HELLO” Youtube page to view new episodes of “It Started with HELLO” weekly and share your opinions on who you’d like to see paired up next. They partnered with Ashley Tisdale for the series who I personally find charming! The first teaser video will introduce the cast & each week a new episode will premiere, showcasing the romantic stories between different couples. You can actually choose the ending to each episode as well! Plus Lindt is holding a SWEEPSTAKES to make new connections of your own! To enter, visit the Lindt HELLO Sweet Connections Sweepstakes Landing Page and enter your email address. Entries can be made daily for additional chances to win prizes that are awesome!So what is your HELLO story? If you’ve tried some of the new Lindt HELLO options– which was your favorite?
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. & its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WalgreensPaperless #collectivebias #shop
Aren’t online & mobile apps providing paperless coupons just the future of couponing? I love some sent to my house or from magazines but they just aren’t nearly as convenient! I’m constantly misplacing or spilling coffee on them. Really- a lot of coffee. The Walgreens Mobile App is one of the most well-designed coupon friendly apps I’ve seen & I’ve gathered up some savings to share with you today! Keep reading for mini reviews & a look at the beauty products I snapped up using Walgreens coupons from my phone!
First let’s check out the easy to maneuver Walgreens Mobile App display shall we? See the barcode at the top of this example? That’s what they scan right there in the store! You link it up with your Walgreens account so all of your rewards & such are linked as well. Once you’ve redeemed a coupon on your purchase it is gone so you have room to add in new ones! It also removes expired offers automatically which is handy! No scissors, no coupon booklets, just your smart phone!
Here’s a look at my personal picks from before my Walgreens shopping trip! Check out my estimated savings- $15! With pretty much zero effort! I always flip the app open before we head into the store because you just never know what will be on there! I was already planning on picking up more than half of these items so I saved money effortlessly. I also wanted to point out here on the right you can see lots of non-beauty options as well. Everything from home to kids to food has options & opportunities to save. The coolest part of the app for me personally besides the coupons is up at the top right- see my store’s weekly ad? My store is almost always out of these so this is super convenient for me!
Because I’m a creature of habit & love of all things new &/or shiny I had to hit the beauty aisle first. I love me some drugstore makeup! I immediately zeroed in the new Studio 35 Beauty Nail Polish Removers with the spill-proof pumps. A friend of mine on Instagram shared a rave about them recently & I knew I needed them in my life! After using them- you NEED them! So easy to use & mess free! I also picked up a new Revlon eyeliner, Covergirl nail polish, Covergirl smoochie, & two sets of EcoTools brushes which are always hits for me. Oh…& some Hershey Kisses…I had a coupon!
Isn’t this Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Polish in Violet Flicker insanely beautiful? I have it here over a base of Zoya Marney & I’m absolutely in love! I’ll have an indepth review up on Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful soon but I couldn’t wait to share! I used both the pump polish removers all morning for swatching & am just so impressed. Plus- they’re refillable!
On my eyes is my brand new Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Topaz which looks like a beautiful copper shade. It makes me eyes look so blue & I see myself reaching for it a lot! I used my new Eco Tools Eye Enhancing Duo Set for a barely there eye look to accentuate the eyeliner. I was most excited to try the Eco Tools Skin Perfecting Brush which is meant for BB/CC creams- & so far I’m really loving it! On my lips is my first ever Covergirl Lipslicks Smoochie in the shade #doubledare which is an orange that is extremely comfortable on the lips!
What makeup products are you wanting to try from the drugstore right now? What coupons do you look at first on a mobile app? I think it is safe to say I peek at beauty first!
Today’s post is sponsored by Tommy Bahama, but my love for National Relaxation Day is all my own!
Affiliate links.
I get poked at a lot because I rarely take some “me” time. Honestly I just don’t think about it! Half of the stuff I do that is considered relaxing is normally for blogging so I don’t really turn my brain off much. Tommy Bahama asked me what my idea of relaxing is but because I’m far from home relaxing tends to mean improvising! We’re talking no beach, no family, & not many places to get out of the house to! Want to see how I relax at home on my own? Just keep reading!
Okay I actually meant just keep reading because that’s what I tend to do- READ! I like to combine my very substantial nerdy self with my obsessive beauty self & therein lies the me time. I have a ton of books on my Kindle (my favorite reader which can be purchased from Amazon) everything from pretty much any supernatural series to tons of cookbooks to numerous magazine subscriptions. I maximize my time with beauty treatments that make me sit still- like a face mask, hair mask, or some wet toes! Check out some of my favorite relaxing items below!
Marc Jacobs Dot ≡ LaVanilla Coconut ≡ Boscia Sleep Mask ≡ Josie Maran Oil ≡ Tocca Tahiti Candle
Kindle ≡ Bumble Surf Kit ≡ Zoya Bubby ≡ Zoya Tickled ≡ L’Occitane Body Cream ≡ Flip Flops
So what do you need a break from? How do you chillax? How do you make “me” time more relaxing?
PR Sample. Affiliate links.
Working from home can sometimes be draining. The lack of fresh air & sunshine can weigh on me. & no- the back yard doesn’t count. Neither does getting the mail. When I am cooped up inside the house when the outdoors are sparkling I like to remind myself of the long (too long) winter & that sunshine is a gift. Then 2-3 days a week are the golden days- the me time. The time where I bust out of the house to do fun things mixed with chores. Glory. Today I wanted to talk a bit about my routine outside of the home & the items I grab for first when I get to head out the door- from chewing gum to perfume to my preference for hoop earrings.
Usually when I’m out I am accompanied by my husband. We tend to do a lot of the house stuff together like groceries then grab lunch or have a dinner date. It has always been like this because I usually use my alone time to get things done for work inside. Often I’ll wake up Saturday stir-crazy & SO ready to be NOT inside that I don’t even bother to throw on makeup.
If you follow my beauty blog (filled with everything from basics to the very elaborate cosmetic adventures) then you might be giving me a little gasp right now. True story. I know. My own mother does when she hears I go out in public without a stitch of face makeup on. But I do have some essentials that I work in!
One of my favorite kinds of places to go to get out of my dulldrums is a museum. Probably half of you aren’t remotely interested but the act of walking around & viewing random bits & bobs is fun for me. My husband…not so much so this tends to be more of a mom & me trip. This is the Getty Villa in California & this is a shot of the garden from above. Isn’t it lovely? The perfect place to stroll.
No matter where I go I always bring SPF, sanitizer, & something to apply to my lips. Right now I’m loving Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery for the SPF of 50 & how healthy it makes my skin look. I go crazy without something on my lips so when I want something colorless that feels & looks nice I grab the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lip Silk since it seems to fill in all my lines. I’m a constant hand sanitizer person & this one from bath & Body Works in Market Peach is one I stock up on yearly. The scent is so fresh!
Another spot to hit when the weather is hot is our local zoo. The zoo here in Omaha is absolutely fantastic- this photo is over by the butterfly exhibit where you actually walk through & they land on you! My parents came our for a visit last summer & the 4 of us went nearly every day. It can get really hot but you’re always around the corner from something with air-conditioning so it is definitely not bad. I throw on big shades, comfy shoes, & usually a huge hat which my mom ended up using for the day.
I usually keep a pair of hoops in the car in case I forget to put on earring in either silver or gold. I also make time for a dab of perfume, this one is L’Occitane Roses et Reines which smells terribly romantic. I absolutely love it alone & layered with other scents. Earrings & a quick spritz instantly make me feel more put together without having to glance in a mirror or even stop walking.
I do a lot of shopping this time of year as well…okay I shop a lot in general. But really- even more so in the summer because it is so nice to be outside without being miserably cold. I’m always hunting down some new makeup collection- remember this Oz the Great & Powerful one from Urban Decay awhile back? I loved this one so much that I snapped a picture & I’ve kept it all this time. I still love those palettes which I reviewed here & here! We hit store after store just to burn some energy, grab some frozen treats, & chatter.
Because someone (my husband usually) always tempts me with lots of treats all summer or I’m trying to burn off some energy I tend to be chewing gum. I picked up one Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum pack for my purse & the Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews for my car from Walmart. Did you know Walmart is having fun Juicy Fruit demos across the country? You can check out these demos July 25th-27th from 11am-4pm & August 1st-3rd 11am-4pm & 1pm-6pm on Sunday. Besides the original flavor seen here Juicy Fruit also has a Juicy Fruit Strawberry flavor that I’d love to get my hands on! One of these cool flip top bottles called Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews are available nationwide & cost only $3.49. The bottle contains Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews sugarfree gum which is what I reach for most but the Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum is great when I want to blow some bubbles for only $0.79 a pack.
So what are you doing to get things done this summer while still trying to work in the fun? What are your must-haves? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
When you think “Keurig” I bet you think of a hot cup of coffee right? Well now they’ve rolled out with Brew Over Ice options- perfect for the whole family! When I went to Walmart the variety was awesome- everything from iced tea to low calorie drinks to iced coffee! My husband actually isn’t a coffee fan & during the summer we don’t reach for hot drinks as much so this really helps us get more bang for our buck with the Keurig we have! In a pinch I started making these great popsicles that are super easy to recreate! Keep reading to check them out & make your own!…
Are you one of those people wanting to eat more healthily but need a plan? Then Emeals just might be for you! A good friend of mine Justina of Justina’s Gems has an excellent post here all about her experience. Really- she loves it! Her post is both inspiring & insightful so I urge you to check it out.
From Justina- “Along with the meal plan, you could print out or access a grocery list on your smartphone at the grocery store. They divide it by section for you to take out the guesswork, and depending on your meal plan, you can also set it up to shop to the coupons in the grocery store.”
Lifestyle Blogging Network is giving away a three month subscription to a lucky subscriber this week. Even if you aren’t feeling very lucky, enter anyways- there may be a coupon code in it for you either way! I really love some of the recipes I’ve gotten to sneak a peek at- including lots of family favorites! Enter below!
This post is brought to you on behalf of Weight Watchers. All thoughts are my own.
Do you ever look around your kitchen & think “Wow! I really need to step up my style game in here!” because you realize it is kind of blah? Well- I have lately. I’m trying to find my perfect accessories without changing anything permanently since we live in military housing. As much as I’d love to paint, re-tile, & replace cupboards it just isn’t an option! I recently had the opportunity to update my snack containers & customize them as well! I really love how this turned out! You don’t need very many tools & they should also be easy to find at a local store. Enough chat- let’s get into this crafty DIY then I’ll share with you a few of my favorite healthy snacks!
You’re going to want to pick any kind of sturdy container that have a seal like you see above. They’re super simple with clean lines & they aren’t real shiny- plus they have a nice ceramic finish to them. I like basic things like this because they are easy to switch up if I change my kitchen design. I chose to label them something simple below too so I can switch out the contents as seasons & my mood change.
You can buy paint in any color but here I have a satin finish black & white along with a fun metallic silver- all from Martha Stewart. You also want sponges so you can go over the stencils easily. I don’t always use the entire sponge, sometimes just the sides or just the center. The stencils are also from Martha Stewart & I love that the fonts are really different. Plus each comes with a little design to place.
Because the stencils have a light adhesive it is really easy to place them where you’d like. I’m a bit messy with stamps honestly so I keep cotton swabs on hand to touch up any coloring outside the lines. You can then rinse these & adhere them back to the plastic backing for reuse. Once you try self-adhesive stamps it is really hard to go back!
All cleaned up- here’s what I came up with! I like the silver on that deep chalkboard black best. I think it looks really cool! I love these two containers & although they may look small they actually hold quite a lot of snacks! Plus things just look better out of their package & in a new container that matches the decor doesn’t it?
So since I created these to hold snacks…let’s talk about two of my favorites at the moment! I am loving these Weight Watchers Triple Chocolate Brownies Bliss bars… they are absolutely awesome- & taste like way more than only 2 WW points! Another snack I’ve been loving are dehydrated apples! They help curb my sweet tooth when I need something that won’t get yucky on the go in this heat & humidity!
What are your favorite snacks lately? Where do you store them? Any other Weight Watchers treats I need to get my hands on?
Thanks to U by Kotex® Pads for sponsoring today’s discussion! All opinions are my own!
Can you believe it is already almost Summer? It will officially start at the end of June- but I’m prepared! I have some of my very favorite products here to share- from home to health to style! Everything you need to prep for summer! Keep reading to see what makes them all absolute favorites & to find out more about the U by Kotex Save the Undies Campaign!
When I think of summer I automatically think of SPF! I used to be a tan, California goddess- then things got real. I am now an avid SPF user year-round but naturally in the summer I’m showing more skin than normal. I’ve been loving the spray-on options & this Coppertone Continuous Spray Sunscreen is an obsession! This is a small bottle which is perfect to toss in my purse plus it is water resistant. With SPF 50 & a super easy to spray nozzle this is a must have!
Next up is a drink I picked up on a total whim & now can’t get enough of! While browsing I picked up the Trader Joe’s brand Matcha Green Tea Latte Mix & now it is my favorite treat drink! If you’ve ever had green tea mochi at an Asian restaurant than you likely have tried the green tea variety. Now imagine it- in liquid form. I don’t really go out to buy my drinks like a lot of people so this is the perfect at-home treat. I really like the flavor with almond milk for a creamier finish & especially iced to beat the heat.
Getting ready for summer has a lot to do with my house since I work from home- candles & wax melts are the perfect way to get it moving! I have some beach scents but my favorite tend to be more fruit based- like the strawberry & pink dragon fruit scents above. I also pick up some that smell grassy, like fruity drinks, or coconut-esque as well. Anything that makes me think of sunshine or days by the pool!
I’ve been chewing a lot of gum lately- & isn’t this just the perfect summer flavor? I really like these Extra Dessert Delight flavors & I think I’d tried them all! Key Lime Pie is more tangy than sweet & has that nice brightness to it. Like summertime! Gum has been helping me control cravings but these taste so good that I forget they aren’t a treat!
During summer you won’t catch me without a waterproof mascara- & the It Cosmetics Waterproof Full Lash Tightline Primer & Mascara is my top pick this year. the brush is itty bitty & meant to full in between the lashes but it is also a great primer under other mascaras. When I want a more natural look I’ll wear this by itself & it coats every last root to tip. I’ve found using it as a primer is great too & helps adhere my mascara better to help prevent flaking. The hot, humid summer easily bumped up this mascara to holy grail status.
Last up is a product absolutely necessary for switch over to non-black pants: U by Kotex® offers a full line of feminine care products for periods including pads, liners and tampons. Outstanding protection that keeps you one step ahead. These are specifically the U by Kotex® Clean Wear Ultra Thin Regular pads which come with super cute packaging. Seriously though- they didn’t make them this cool when I was a kid! Introducing new U by Kotex® Ultra Thin Pads with 3D Capture Core*, a one-of-a-kind center that locks away wetness to help stop leaks. Kotex is SO confident you’ll love them that they’re giving away free sample too! Visit the U by Kotex Landing page and find the samples that best fit your mission to save the undies. Click on the “Get Sample” button and enter your mailing information. Then, sit back and wait, your samples will be on their way!
What are your summer must-haves? Do they change a lot year to year or do you have favorites that repeat over & over? I’d love to hear about them! Don’t forget to pick up your samples above as well!
PR Sample. Affiliate links.
Growing up I wasn’t much of a soda drinker- but I always loved flavored waters. I will have the occasional Root Beer or Dr. Pepper when out & about but that still pretty much holds true today. I love making myself lemonade or drinking flavored waters & juices. So what made me fall in love with the SodaStream Source if I am not a huge pop fan? All the other flavors of course! This handy & sleek machine doesn’t take up much room, doesn’t have counter hogging cords, & makes me a fizzy drink in a flash. SodaStream also has endless flavors to choose from- you’re likely to fall in love with several. Keep reading to see what wowed me the most & why I think this product is a hit!
I honestly don’t want to get into the tech too much because I think their instructions were so clear that I had it set up in a snap. Basically put- there is a CO2 Carbonator (which you can exchange for a cheaper price when it is empty) in the back of the system. You press down on the top half once you’ve effortlessly installed the bottle & you will see 1, 2, or 3 lights depending on how much fizz you’d like. Remove & add flavoring. It really is that easy. I really thought this was going to be complicated but I could likely do this in my sleep- & lets face it I kind of am in the morning anyway.
So now that you know how ridiculously fast & easy it is to create soda water- what are you going to do with it? Use it plain, use it with a prepared, or even create your own flavorings. The options are endless.The Source saves the average home 550 plastic bottles per year & while we don’t drink that many I love the idea that we are reducing our carbon footprint overall. My husband really loves soda but I hate the clunkiness of them in our fridge so this is a huge space saver for us! Plus, you can make a lot really fast if you have friends over. The only limits you have are which flavorings you have should you not want to make your own- & trust me there are a whole bunch to choose from including some of my favorite brands.
Here is one of my favorite drinks period- Ocean Spray Cranberry with fresh crushed lime juice. I refuse to be the only one with random limes that don’t make it into recipes…right? I never have enough for a pitcher of something but always enough for a pick-me-up glass of perfection. I think this machine is excellent for adult beverages too- I have Cosmo mix that I haven’t tried yet but I’m sure it will be awesome. Spiked punch? Jack & coke? Long Island iced tea? This machine isn’t just for the kiddies folks! I don’t have kids yet but my husband practically chooses all of those drinks- the Kool Aid option has him beyond excited & now he is determined to buy them all.
Some of the items I really liked were these water flavorings- plus I can mix them together. That makes me a beverage chemist which makes me feel pretty good about myself. I need more from the Cooking Light (hello Kiwi Pear! Come home with me!) & the Crystal Light lines since I’m such a sucker for fruity drinks. Plus- no guilt! Energy drinks, caffeine free sodas, & single serving packs are also options on the SodaStream website! I also really love adding some of these with the iced tea flavors- I really am a sucker for mixing things up!
If you fell in love with the SodaStream Source it comes with one 60L C02 carbonator (good for 60 liters), one reusable BPA-free carbonating bottle with fizz-preserving cap, & a Sodamix Taste Sampler with 6 flavors which I have above. The retail price for the SodaStream Source is only $99.95 & it is available in white, black, red, and blue. There are several other options & lines to choose from- but can I just be bias & say how much I love the look of the Source? Isn’t she lovely? So sleek on my counter! You can check out the SodaStream website for tons of options- I’d love to hear which machine you like the most or want to try in the comments below! If you have a SodaStream what are your favorite flavors & combination? I am always wanting more!
So when it comes to lunches for myself I tend to create something my husband doesn’t normally like. Ryan grew up eating very traditional food & although he’s branched out more than I could have dreamed some meals I love just aren’t his thing- & I really can’t blame him. One of my favorite salads is this quick & easy cucumber seaweed salad which I eat alone or serve with other Asian dishes as either an appetizer or little side salad. Sometimes I even include it in cold dishes (like my peanut noodles or slaws) for a bit of extra oomph.
I really hope you enjoy it! Another great way to incorporate this is into some Asian inspired fish tacos & substitute it as a slaw. So good! Do you have any little Asian inspired healthy dishes to share? I’d love to read about them so feel free to share them below!
For information on my makeup check out this post: My Fantastical Makeup to Attend Wicked at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha
Today I get to share with you a sweet & yummy Kentucky Derby themed treat thanks to Cottonelle who is this years sponsor! When I think of the big day I always dream of big hats, high heels, & fancy drinks. Instead of watching me teeter in heels & get lost in my fabulously big hats (I own so many! I feel like a celebrity in them!) I thought it would be fun to take some of my favorite drink ingredients & turn them into an easy, Kentucky Derby inspired dessert. Enjoy!
This is one of those recipes that you can prep ahead & it still tastes awesome! Peaches really take very little work to grill & even though they aren’t in season quite yet you can serve the sauce over preserved fruit as well. I love a nice set of char marks- aren’t they lovely? If you’ve ever had people over & not had time to clean up an area (or yourself!) consider whipping out a handy dandy Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloth to do the job! I’ve used them to clean up quickly after brunch, when I just don’t have time to get out an arsenal of cleaning products, or when someone has little ones. My house isn’t an anti-kid zone but that doesn’t mean I need sticky hands all over things! I like to keep my bathrooms well-stocked as well- consider keeping some Cottonelle Clean Care toilet paper rolls in an easy to find spot for guests & a handy Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloth Upright Dispensing Tub to keep your whole house feeling fresh & clean!
So now time for the sweepstakes! You can win a year supply of Cottonelle products depending on the outcome of the races during the Kentucky Derby. Even better news? There will not be just one winner but the first 15,000 entrants to sign up could win Cottonelle toilet paper & flushable cleansing cloths if the outcome aligns!
Win!
1. Visit the Cottonelle landing page.
2. Click on the Cottonelle Great Finish Giveaway
3. Click on “Sign up now”
4. Register for the Cottonelle Updates website
So what makes you feel clean & fresh before a big event? How do you take your bourbon? What will you be doing on Cottonelle Kentucky Derby day?
If you have pets then you probably know the crazy bond people talk about. I personally don’t have kids yet so they really are like my children! Like kids they all have different personalities, needs, & ways of coming into our lives. Today I want to share with you my two girls- both extremely big personalities inside fluffy cat bodies! Keep reading to see what makes my girls special & why we’ve made the change to GOODLIFE™ dry cat food for them!
Gizmo was our first pet ever which is still hard to believe because that was way back in 2008. My husband & I went in to see some rescue animals to see if we bonded. There were two absolutely gorgeous kittens but they were also completely different. One was really wild & practically bouncing off the walls while the other was mellow & loving. I left the choice up to my husband (or else we’d have a house full of animals, seriously) & we brought home our little mellow, lovable bundle of joy.
We named her Gizmo because she reminded me of a gremlin with her very pointed fur on her cheeks. Even now she hasn’t totally grown into it!
Our newest addition is Sawyer- & boy is she lively! After a huge storm here in Nebraska Ryan heard a noise outside. He thought it was one of the kids living on our circle…turns out it was the tiniest kitten I’d ever held. She was trapped in a bush in our front yard & sadly soaking wet, starving, & absolutely terrified. We honestly had no idea what to do because we thought she was wayyyy too young- her eyes were forced open & covered in kitten gunk. After looking through every lost pet site & making some posts of our own it became too late- I named her. Ryan pretty much gave up.
Sawyer is the name of our street so it was an easy choice although we still call her “bush kitty” here & there. Sawyer has pretty much re-energized our entire household with tons of youthful energy & pure insanity. She’s a true spitfire.
When Gizmo was very young she was oddly picky about food. We were a young couple & only tried a few big name foods before we settled on Purina One & have been using it for year. For obvious reasons we opted to use the same when little Sawyer came along. Recently though it was brought to my attention that although I thought I was feeding my cats some of the best—I likely wasn’t. GOODLIFE™ dry food for cats is the only food I’ve gotten my hands on with chicken or salmon as the #1 ingredient, contains fruits & veggies, & doesn’t have artificial flavors or preservatives. On top of that, the recipe doesn’t contain corn, soy, or wheat.
All this time we thought we were on top of keeping them healthy but now we’re back on track! Good nutrition just adds to their grooming, attitudes, & overall health which is something we have to stay on top of. They’ve even included a $1 off GOODLIFE™ brand coupon on their website- perfect so you can give it a shot too! We picked our GOODLIFE™ dry food for cats at our local Walmart. We picked up all three varieties- Indoor, Salmon, & Chicken Recipes. I figured the girls might go for the same type or different ones but somehow (even though they are finicky!) they managed to BOTH like all THREE! Score!
What do you do to help your kitty stay healthy? How did your cat join your family?
PR Sample.Do you like bacon? Do you really love it? Then listen up! Today I bring you 4 different types of bacon jam from The Bacon Jams. I am pretty excited to share with you something I probably wouldn’t have ever tried that Ryan & I now love. Whether you have it on some toast, as an ingredient, or as a topper I think you’ll be surprised to find how versatile they can be. As a super special treat there is also a huge blog hop at the base of this post filled with lots of awesome spring giveaways!
So I currently have 3 bacon jams- 3 from the permanent line & a special limited edition flavor. Above is the Original Bacon Jam & behind we have the Black Pepper & Honey, Red Chile & Garlic, & the limited edition Maple Habanero Bacon Jams. Each come sealed in an 8 oz jar with a nice wide mouth- perfectly easy to spoon out what you need without getting too much or too little. I can’t even get over how cute their logo is! A rockin piggy jammin out! Ha!
The first way I tried these jams was on some crusty bread. I mean, hey, isn’t that where you put jam? I liked it that way but the husband didn’t. With some experimenting we discovered he really liked these jams hot (think a hot dip if hot jam isn’t computing!) which doesn’t surprise me either. We tend to prefer our bacon hot (although cold bacon is tasty too!) so then we heated up a little of each & added them to crusty bread. Much better!
From left to right you have The Bacon Jams in Original, Black Pepper & Honey, Maple Habanero, & Red Chile & Garlic. You can see these aren’t gelatinous but rather more of a thick sauce/jam. When heated they thin out considerably because the fats break down. I don’t think there is a right or wrong temperature to eat them- you just have to find your own vibe. You can see each spread on crusty toast is a lot easier to see the differences. The ingredients are wonderfully simple but high in both quality & flavor- you can view them all here on their website.
Now onto the recipe! I wanted to do something ridiculously simple that really showed off a flavor that was dying to be paired with our dinner. I only used three ingredients to make this chicken more fantastic- 3 tablespoons of The Bacon Jam in Black Pepper & Honey, 1 tablespoon fresh honey, & around one tablespoon of water.
After searing your chicken breasts add all three ingredients to the pan. Whisk on med-high until thickened. The added honey helps to make it more of a glaze which will help it stick to the exterior of the cooked chicken. Poor over chicken & serve hot. This should only take maybe 1-2 minutes & the flavor is out of this world!
Needless to say we’re loving these bacon jams. I have so many ideas floating around- Beer cheese soup with bacon jam? BLTs with bacon jam? Bacon jam salad dressings? These are extremely versatile & they are all completely original- something I admire. Think of these jams as creative additions & let your recipes go to the next bacon level with very little effort! Want more ideas? They have a ton of creative recipes on their site here!
They have been so kind to me by letting me try their product & now it is your turn! There will be THREE winners & each winner will get to pick their own flavor variety they’d like to try if chosen! Which Bacon Jam speaks to your bacon loving soul?
Welcome to the Blooming Into Spring Blog Hop!
While many of us are looking forward to spring, it doesn’t mean we are looking forward to spring cleaning. To make spring cleaning a bit more fun, the MPM Blogging Network has joined together to make spring cleaning even more fun! Each participating blog below is hosting their very own unique spring themed giveaway, including spring cleaning items, fashion accessories, and even gift card for purchasing your own Spring treats! To increase your chances of getting something fun, make sure to visit all the blogs linked below.
Also, don’t forget to enter to win our grand prize, a Shark PRO Steam & Spray Mop!
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Please remember that all photos, projects, opinions, & recipes (unless otherwise noted) are mine & mine alone.
If you would like to use a recipe or photo, please shoot me an e-mail here: Stephanie-louise@live.com Thanks!
