Thứ Hai, 2 tháng 12, 2013

Quick Recipe...30 Minute Dinner Rolls

Hey everyone! From time to time I share a recipe here and love to share the especially easy ones. My time is limited and sometimes I need something quick and simple to throw together in a pinch.
Well, in looking for a quick dinner roll recipe, I came upon this goodie. 30 Minute Dinner Rolls. Ooooooo...I was VERY excited and they turned out fabulous and really did only take about 1/2 hour!!! So, without further ado, here is the recipe!

30-minute Dinner Rolls
1 cup + 2 TB warm water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 TB active dry yeast (I used rapid rise yeast and it worked very well too)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix water, oil, yeast, and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer and let it rest for 15 minutes. Add the salt and egg, mix thoroughly. Gradually add the flour. Divide into 12 equal pieces, and shape into round balls. Place onto a greased baking sheet (I used a well-buttered cookie sheet) or silipat and let it rise for 10-15 minutes. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.
**I rubbed a stick of butter over the tops of the hot rolls as soon as they came out of the oven...it just adds a touch of yumminess and also, keeps them soft.

These rolls are filling and just right to go with any dish. I definitely will be making them again! Let me know if you made them and how they turned out...enjoy!! :)

Chủ Nhật, 1 tháng 12, 2013

Hello December!


I have been waiting allll year for you to come! In case you haven't noticed yet, I LOVE winter! I love the cold, the snow and the feeling of snuggly warm blankets wrapped around me. It is a wonderful time of the year and I hope that this December is the best one I have ever had!! :) Happy December everyone.  :)

Thứ Năm, 28 tháng 11, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hello dear readers! Here we are on Thanksgiving Day 2013! Hard to believe... :) I wanted to wish all of you a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Hope you have a WONDERFUL day full of fun, food and plenty of opportunities to count your BLESSINGS. Enjoy your day and thanks for being such wonderful readers...I am thankful for YOU! :)

...and a bit of Thanksgiving Day humor for you...love this! :)))

Thứ Tư, 27 tháng 11, 2013

Winter Skin Protection With NO-AD Sunscreen {Review & Giveaway}

As I sit here in my dining room I can see that snow is beginning to fall. All over the news there are snow warnings for our area tonight through Thanksgiving day and OH how I LOVE snow!! For those of you who dislike snow, well, we are going to get a bunch of it here and if you live in the area - you will get some too! JOY! Seriously though, I do love winter and also love the snow. Before hubby and I were married, he took me skiing. I had never been before and was very excited about getting to try it out. All of my coworkers were wishing me luck and telling me not to break anything and it was a huge joke that I would come back from skiing in a body cast. Well, skiing was nothing like I thought it would be and I didn't wipe out too much. One thing that really surprised me was how hot I became when skiing. The sun reflecting off the snow proved to be pretty unforgiving too as I had a mild sunburn when we got home that day. Who would have thought I would have a sunburn in the middle of winter???
So, as you prepare to enjoy these next few winter months I wanted to take a minute and remind you that even though it is not summer time anymore, you can still get sunburned and need to take every precaution to protect your skin. This is where NO-AD Sunscreen comes in. This very popular sunscreen brand just celebrated 50 years of protecting skin and they are one of the oldest sun care companies in the U.S! So neat. Anyway, NO-AD wanted to remind you about some important tips to keep your skin protected this winter season.

  • Limit sun exposure, particularly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.  when the sun's harmful UV rays are the strongest and most damaging to your skin
  • Use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen with a value of 30 or higher
  • Liberally apply sun protection 15 minutes before sun exposure
  • Reapply every hour as needed, particularly after swimming or perspiring
  • Your lips need protection, too—use an SPF 15 or higher lip balm
Those are great tips...I always try to be careful around those times of the day as the sun truly is very hot - whether it is summer or winter. I also really agree with the lip balm tip as well...my lips get so parched in the winter, I carry balm every where I go. 
So, for this review I was sent three products from NO-AD that are guaranteed to keep mine and my children's skin protected this winter while we are outdoors enjoying the snow. I was sent: Kid's Continuous Spray Sunscreen, Kid's Sunscreen Lotion and Sunscreen Lotion
Both of the Kid's Sunscreens water resistant and fragrance free, which is nice. My children have sensitive skin and sometimes using perfumed products on them causes some irritation. The lotion sunscreens are smooth and creamy and absorb nicely into the skin. The non-kids version smells really nice and I have actually used it before! It always works well for me. 
My favorite of these three products was the  Kid's Continuous Spray Sunscreen. I love this for many reasons: it is easy to apply and applies evenly. It is not messy at all. Sometimes the lotion is hard to use on little ones because it gets EVERYWHERE. This spray is wonderful. It is also hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free! I will definitely be using this when the kids go outdoors to play in the next few months and then in the summer too! This particular sunscreen retails for $9.99 for a 10 oz can. 
So, this winter please be sure you check out these and all of NO-AD's other products at food, drug and mass retailers throughout the United States. You can also find NO-AD on Facebook, Twitter and also on Pinterest so be sure to visit them there. 
NO-AD has offered to giveaway a can of Kid's Continuous Spray Sunscreen to one of you! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the sponsor's website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Thứ Ba, 26 tháng 11, 2013

Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Review & Giveaway {3 Winners}

Being a mom is a difficult but very rewarding job. My babies are usually tough in the first month or so but then they even out as time goes on. One thing that I was constantly doing was feeding, diapering and burping those babies and washing their tiny clothes. Do you realize just how much laundry you do when you have a new baby in the house? I change sleepers literally 2-3 times a day from diaper blowouts and spit up accidents. My first baby was like a fountain and she would soak everything when she spit up. It was awful. Those types of stains can be hard to get out and I have found through the years that as my children grow older, the stains do NOT stop. In fact, they can be worse.
If you are a mom and have some messy little people running around you then you are going to have to try out this next product. The Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar is over 100 years old and is still working for many people today. I remember the first time I saw this laundry bar on a store shelf and I distinctly recall looking at it and thinking "WHAT in the world would I use THAT for???" Well, today I now know what this bar is for.

Purex Fels-Naptha is a powerful laundry bar that works overtime to remove greasy, oily stains, perspiration, and ring-around-the-collar. With over 100 years of removing America’s stains, you can rest assured that this laundry bar knows how to tackle your toughest stains.

I was thrilled when I found out that I was going to get to review this product and share it with all of you! If a laundry bar like this one has been around for over 100 years - it has got to be a good one! Not to mention I have a huge need for a good stain removing product around my house!
So, for this review I was sent a Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar! When my package arrived and as soon as I opened it I could smell this soap. I love how it smells "old-fashioned" and hearty. Sometimes laundry soap smells too flowery but this definitely smells like an old-time soap.
If you are the type of person who likes to make your own homemade laundry soap than you can definitely use this soap for that. Or, you can simply grate it into your washing machine for an extra "boost". For the purpose of this review though, I chose to use it as a stain remover.
My in laws brought a pair of jeans over that belonged to my hubby at one point in time and I noticed right away that there was grease, or some sort of staining on the thigh area of the jeans. Sooo, I thought I would put this laundry bar to the ultimate test and try to remove the grease.  
First, I wet the stained area really good with water. Then, I worked the Laundry Bar over the stains and rubbed in the soap for awhile. After a few minutes of letting the soap settle in, it was into the washing machine with the jeans and the waiting game began! I was really wondering what would come of the stain treatment...would it work? I wasn't sure so I waited until the jeans came out. Well, the sad news is that the stains did NOT come out of the jeans. Now, I do not know what the stain was or even how long it had been there so that doesn't mean that this laundry bar didn't work. I put it to a VERY difficult test and it didn't work but I know that if I am dealing with a fresh stain it will most likely work wonders. I am totally excited to try out Fels-Naptha on any other tough stains that may come through the laundry and I feel well equipped to handle them efficiently now! You can find the Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar at major retailers across the country. 
Now, I have been given three coupons for a FREE Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar to give away to three of you! Here are your easy entry options into this giveaway...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: As a Purex Insider, I received no monetary compensation for this post. Purex did provide me a free sample of their Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar  for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Purex website and email. Prizes are in coupon form and will be mailed by myself. This blog is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes and in this case, I am not responsible for replacing coupons under any circumstances.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Thứ Hai, 25 tháng 11, 2013

Introducing NOVICA's NEW Premium Gift Wrap! {$25 Gift Code GIVEAWAY}

I have been a fan of NOVICA ever since I discovered them several years ago. I have given their products as gifts and have kept some around my house. Every time I pull out something from NOVICA, I receive wonderful compliments. Over this past weekend we had some company over for dinner and I used some lovely cobalt blue drinking glasses that I received for review over the summer. My guests were so impressed with the lovely craftsmanship and quality of these glasses and I am still so much in love with them. Aren't they gorgeous?
Well, recently I was informed that NOVICA is offering new Premium Gift Wrap that will impress any person on your holiday gift list. NOVICA applies handmade elements, carefully crafted ribbons and beautiful brass plates to their wrapping and currently, the gift wrap is available for India, Bali and Thailand but they are working to make it available in all of the NOVICA regions!
So, let's look at some of MY favorites for items that can be wrapped in this gorgeous gift wrap. NOVICA offers something for everything and the best part is all of their selections are unique and nothing you would ever find anywhere else. It is something that I love about NOVICA...the wonderful selection.
First and foremost, I love these Sterling Silver and Pearl Floral Dangle Earrings come from Bali and Java and are so delicate and lovely. I love pink and sliver together and these look so elegant. If I was looking for a nice gift for a special lady in my life, I would definitely check out these earrings. Who doesn't just love a gorgeous pair of earrings?!?
This Family Love Unique Wood Sculpture from Indonesia definitely falls into the unique, yet beautiful gift idea category. As you can see, there is a mother, father and tiny baby in the sculpture and to me, family is so special. What a wonderful way to celebrate family and the holidays all in one gift.
Now, for that special guy in your life, NOVICA has wonderful gifts for men to choose from! One of these items is the Men's Short Sleeve Brown Cotton ShirtAgus Suryanto evokes casual elegance with the designs of this rich brown shirt. Sewn of cotton, the shirt's collar is trimmed with a hand-woven ikat band in the style of Lombok textiles in brown shades. Features a pocket, two visible buttons and five hidden. Buttons are black and includes a replacement. This shirt is casual as well as dressy and would make a fine gift for any man.
So, as you can see NOVICA offers a wide variety of gifts for both men and women and the quality is always superb! I have never been disappointed with anything I have received from NOVICA and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to give unique and personal gifts this holiday season. Remember to check out the Premium Gift Wrap and enjoy your shopping experience at NOVICA!

NOVICA has offered to give away a $25 Gift Code to one of you! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. However, I received a free NOVICA gift code in exchange for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the NOVICA website and email. Prize is provided by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Thứ Bảy, 23 tháng 11, 2013

Napa AutoCare $25.00 Gift Card Giveaway

The Holiday season is rapidly approaching, and for a lot of us that means it’s ROAD TRIP time! Long trips can be taxing on your vehicle, which makes it even more important that it’s kept in tip top shape before you take-off. We always like to have our vehicle get a good once-over before we go on long trips and that often alerts us to issues we might be having with our car.

The question is... do you know what it takes to keep up with your vehicles needs? How “car competent” are you? I thought I was VERY car competent until we tried to replace our windshield wipers last night...what a nightmare!! Here are some really quick tips for you to take a look at before you hit the road to celebrate the holidays with loved ones...
 Our friends at NAPA AutoCare Centers have created a quiz for you to test your Car Competency before you take the trip. Test your knowledge on basic auto care maintenance, and download some pro-tips along the way. We asked some of our ASE Certi-fied Technicians for 6 simple, and perhaps little known, pro-tips that will help you protect one of your biggest investments… your car! Check it out...


Here’s what you can expect on your visit:

- NAPA AutoCare Centers use ASE Certified techs. This means that you can trust that your car is being serviced by knowledgeable professionals, specifically equipped to help with all your needs.

- Our AutoCare Centers offer The Peace of Mind Nationwide Warranty which includes a 24-month/24,000 mile warranty on qualifying repairs and services. This means you get to have all of the benefits that come with doing business with a locally-owned business, but still have your work certified and guaranteed nationwide!

- With more than 15,000 locations nationwide, there is a NAPA AutoCare Center that is close by and ready to take care of all your vehicles your family owns.
So, to help you get in the Holiday mood, NAPA has offered to give away a $25 gift card to one of you! ***Please note: Each household is only eligible to win ONE $25 Napa AutoCare Gift Card via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. NO PO BOXES*** Here are your entry options!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I am working in conjunction with NAPA AutoCare and they have supplied the materials used in this post. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.