Author: brandy3

Back To School with Hormel Party Trays #HormelFamily

- brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

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We are finally into a schedule with back to school. It took a while, as its a new area and new school, so took a while. We are mixing between the kids eating at school and packing lunches.

To start the school year off I wanted to get the kids something special to pack in their lunch. It may seem a bit odd, but my kids love Cheese and crackers, pepperoni and cheese with crackers etc. I bought a Hormel Family Party Tray to celebrate back to school. I originally bought it as snack at home after school, but the kids ripped right into to it and used it for their lunches.

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Packing everything they could between the cheese, crackers, salami, and pepperoni. The entire party tray was gone in 2 days just from them using it for packing lunches.

We have always loved Hormel party trays, they are the perfect fr snacking, parties, or any occasion. Party trays come with a variety of cheeses, crackers, salami and thick pepperoni. They are so delicious.

Have you ever tried a Hormel Party Tray?



Getting Ready For Halloween 2015 with a Steampunk Costume

- brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received for this post. A product was provided for review.

Halloween is a little over a month away and my kids are so excited they are already picking out their costumes. They have picked out a Fireman, football player and a Steampunk.

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New for Halloween 2015 is the Steampunk costume for girls. The costume features a dress which is different shades of brown, and is covered in velvety material on the sides and on top, extending into a high collar with a ruffled neckline. A striped panel with three buckle adornments is in the center of the torso. The reddish brown skirt has a white band along the hem with an attached black petticoat underneath. Two belts, similar to those on the top, dangle from the waistline of the dress over the skirt.
Costume also includes matching glovettes and a matching hat with goggles, to give the costume the perfect touch.

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My daughter fell in love with this dress, she wanted to be a mad scientist but we couldn’t find anything girly enough and this costume is perfect. It has the scientist look but with a victorian feel and beautiful. She said she feels like the Mad Hatter, a princess and scientist all wrapped into one in this costume.

In case you are wondering what exactly a Steampunk is, it’s a genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology. It also can refer to a Victorian style era.

This costume also comes in various styles for woman in addition to the girls costume.

Find out more about Costume SuperCenter on their Twitter page.



Fiber One Cheesecake Bars are perfect for lunches

- brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received. A product was provided for review.

Now that the kids are back in school, I am up every morning packing 3 lunches before anything else. I want to make sure my kids have a good lunch but also something they can enjoy.

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We just tried the new Fiber One Cheesecake bars and my kids loved them. They said the Salted Carmel tasted so delicious.

Fiber One Cheesecake bars are:
150 calories, 6 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber.
20% daily value of fiber
Salted Caramel and Strawberry flavors
Made with real cream cheese

Fiber One Cheesecake Bars is the perfect guilt free snack for adults and kids. The snack includes yummy layers of graham cracker with cheesecake topped with either salted carmel or strawberry.

My kids just couldn’t get enough of them they made sure to pack one everyday either in their lunchbox or for snack at school.

Fiber One Cheesecake Bars are available at retailers nationwide now for $3.89.

We’ve Moved To Connecticut

- brandy3 1 Comment

We are finally starting to settle into our new home in Connecticut. I miss New York Terribly, but am still close enough to just hop on the train and see NYC. We have been here near New Haven Connecticut for almost a month and finally seeing the beauties our new home has to offer.

It’s very quiet and beautiful, without all the congestion and traffic NY had.

We have only seen one small beach here, but it was great not Long Island beaches but scenic.

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A park with new swings and fun play stuff we have never seen before.

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Beautiful victorian and Gothic style houses that remind me of castles.

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I am starting to really like it here. Have you ever been to Connecticut before?

Stinger All Natural Mosquito Repellent Lantern Review

- brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received, a product was provided for review.

Summer is still here and so are the Mosquitos. We live in a very shaded place, there are trees all around and that keeps a lot of standing water and mosquitos. My kids will go outside just for a hour and come back in with multiple mosquito bites. I spray repellent on them but they still seem to get bit. In addition to spraying repellent on them I also wanted to do a lantern, just to have double protection.

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Made with ALL NATURAL active ingredients, the Stinger Mosquito Repellent Lantern lets you enjoy your time outside with powerful mosquito protection that’s DEET-free and safe around family and pets. The blue lantern can be used hanging or on the tabletop, making it perfect for the patio and deck, or any outdoor space. Using fan-dispersion technology to repel mosquitoes within a 15-foot radius, the repellent lantern will give you more protection for backyard fun this season.

ALL NATURAL active ingredients
DEET-free, safe for use around children and pets
Perfect for patio and deck – up to 15’ x 15’ area
Repels up to 12 hrs. – 3X longer than most competitors
Decorative, blue lantern design
Lantern-only mode option
Includes: Mosquito repellent pad and 4 “AA” batteries

I love this lantern, not only is it stylish, but it helps. Although it seems to work better the closer you are to the lantern. I use this whenever I am outside grilling or my children are playing in the yard.

You can find Stinger All Natural Mosquito Repellent Lantern at retailers nationwide and Stinger.com for $9.99.

PopCorn Factory Makes Back To School Fun

- brandy3

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received for this post. A product was provided for review.

School is just getting back in session in a few states. Here in Connecticut the kids are already on their fourth day of school, and my husband starting a new job. I wasn’t sure if they would come home in a good mood or bad mood, since everything is so new. I decided I would set up some snacks for them when they walked in from their first day.

The Popcorn Factory sent us a University Snacks Stash to review, and it was perfect for the first day blues.

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The University Snacks Stash contains:
Buffalo ranch popcorn
Sour green apple popcorn
Cheese popcorn
White cheddar
Mini pretzels
Sour sassy taffy
Sour gummy stars
Dry Roasted Peanuts
Chocolate Chip Cookies
assorted Jelly Belly Beans

It was the perfect snack for the first day blues. The favorite was the candy apple popcorn, they said it tasted just like one of their favorite candies. My favorite was the gummy stars, they were very sweet and good.

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Popcorn Factory is the perfect place to find gifts for everyone or just simply have a great snack center piece for a gathering. They have options for every occasion, visit Popcorn Factory to see the all the varieties.

Awesome Summer Hacks That’ll improve your Summer For Sure

- brandy3

The summer sun can be maddening, and can dehydrate you to the extent of making one look dead and shabby. These quick tips and hacks to save the day, even when the car breaks down on the highway helps you stay cool. And while you learn more about dealing with the summer sun, get your car upgraded to beat the summer harshness too by checking out shop.advanceautoparts.com. Want to save handsomely in your shopping today? Use exciting coupons from Advance Auto Parts from ChameleonJohn.com with free shipping and plenty of savings on everything your car needs. Now, be summer ready while shopping smarter and saving on your hard earned dollars!

Carry a DIY face scrub to cool off
It is a fact that most of the anger and temper arises when we feel the heat; literally. This is why, cooling down a little and then thinking of the next plan would be the norm. Make a DIY face scrub and carry it with you wherever you go. You could also make a DIY liquid face wash too. For this you would need halfa lemon (juiced), a tablespoon of sugar (mixed into the lemon concentrate) and cotton swabs. While driving around and should you halt somewhere, refresh not only with a cool frizzy drink for respite, but cool off your skin too. Dip the cotton swabs into the lemon face wash and apply it all over your face and neck. Keep it on for ten minutes and then wash off with normal water. Your skin would be freed away from dirt and grime, you would look fresh and the vitamins in the lemon would nourish your skin too.

Lemon green ice tea
Apart from the antioxidants and the vitamins in the drink, lemon green ice tea also helps calm the nerves and relieves the body from allergies of summers too. For the best drink so chilled and nice, refreshing too,colas and aerated liquids shouldn’t be the guzzle norm- empty calories galore! What you need is a cup of cold lemon green ice tea, which is easy to make at home. For this you would need a cup of water (boiled and hot) to which two bags of green tea are added and the lid kept closed for ten minutes. Remove the lid and set aside the tea bags (for reuse), add to this a pinch of spice and honey for taste. Allow the liquid to cool and set it in the fridge for an hour. Pour it into your shake bottles and add some ice too. Drink away, cool down and keep the body healthily nourished too.

Green Tea Bags at the BBQ
Summer BBQ parties happen now and then, and the whole neighbourhood gets together for a little fun too. But after the party, it is daddy who has to flex those muscles and clean up the baking and grilling trays, the skewers and more- not so much fun anymore now, is it? Did you know, reusing green tea bags can help clean the BBQ plates, grills and skewers faster than before? Soaking the plates and skewers in warm water to which the reusable green tea bags are added for the first half hour would do the miracle- wash it with liquid dish washing soap later on.

Body packs to cool down with
Come back home and let go off the heat accumulated on the body with a nice body back to immerse in. For this, you would need a large cucumber sliced and chilled. Cold honey (two large cups) and three tablespoons of Epsom salt for the bath water. Set your tub with cold water and warm water in equal mix, to which the Epsom salt has been added. Apply the honey all over your body, and wait outside the tub for the liquid to dry. Once dry, now place the cucumber slices over your face, your eyes and your neck and soak yourself into the tub till the neckline. Deep breathe, relax and let the magical ingredients work its way through. Wash up well and moisturize thereafter- get into bed and snooze away!

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