Rock Painting with Triton Paint Pens -The Kindness Project (sponsored)

My girl and i had some fun with paint pens yesterday.   We are painting rocks for the Kindness Project again this year. These #Triton paint pens are great for Rock Painting - Ceramic, Wood, Metal and Glass. They come in a set of 12 vibrant colors and are easy to use. They have a .7 mm fine tips for details and are fast drying. The super fine tip is good for dotwork. They are waterbased and non-toxic.

 They have a .7 mm fine tips for details and are fast drying. The super fine tip is good for dotwork. They are waterbased and non-toxic.  We decorated quite a few rocks, but my rocks are a bit rough and it was hard to make nice lines.

So i had the idea to try applying vinyl decals, and then using the paint pens to color them in. i pained a base coat over the rock first, but i'm not sure if that's necessary.  i cut out my vinyl decal using my Silhouette cameo 3 and weeded it so it was ready to transfer.

Then i used transfer tape to lift the decal off the carrier paper and transfer it to the rock.  It stuck really well.  i rubbed it good before removing the transfer tape. 

Once the design is transferred to the rock, you can begin painting it.  

The paint pens work great with the vinyl, and if you accidentally get a little paint on the vinyl it's easy to wipe off without effecting the design.  We really loved working with these paint pens, the fine tip is really good for writing and for the details. i just need to find some smoother rocks.  Once we have these finished we'll put a layer of  Mod Podge Outdoors over them to seal them. We are looking forward to hiding a few rocks around town this summer. 

You can find more info about the paint pens we used here https://amzn.to/2IGBLov .

disclaimer. i did not receive compensation for this post, however i did receive a free product to review in exchange for my opinion. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way. This post may contain affiliate links

Sweese Butter Crock Review and Giveaway!

Sweese kitchen and dining is dedicated to creating the most useful products that’ll be a staple of your kitchen! They want to create products that not only enhance your daily cooking chores, but become an integral part of your everyday life. Efficiency and durability are two of their biggest values, and it’s one of the guiding principles when it comes to making their plates, bowls, and cooking tools.

This week, i had the opportunity to review this lovely porcelain butter crock. A butter crock, also called a Butter Bell or French Butter dish allows you to store butter at room temperature, so it is always soft ready to spread on bread.  The Sweese butter crock is made from  pro-grade porcelain. It is FDA- approved and made of durable porcelain, a type of premium lead-free and non-toxic ceramic, chip-resistant and more sturdy than glass or stoneware.

This butter crock design makes the butter stay fresh for up to a month in the water seal. There is a water line in the base, so you just pour cool water up to the line and pack the lid with softened butter, then place the lid into base, leave on worktop away from sun. It is a wonderful way to keep butter and have it soft enough to spread without it tearing bread or muffins. Just remember to change the water every 3 or 5 days.

It also works great to store my homemade butter. Just make sure to pack it in well or it could fall out. Butter easily absorbs the odors of other foods and air is the source of turning butter rancid. This airtight design helps keep your butter fresh, soft and tasting great!

The Sweese Butter Crock comes in 5 lovely colors! 

BUY IT! You  can purchase the Sweese Butter Crock here  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XKT4G5Y

WIN IT!

To enter leave a comment on my blog letting me know which color you would pick.
Then click the image below and enter your name and email address!
*Please note, winner must have amazon Prime to enter.

• Visit Sweese Fan Page on Facebook to get more chance to win.
•  USA  only and must have Amazon Prime.
• Visit Sweese Fans on Instagram

Giveaway ends in 2 weeks, and the winner will be chosen and contacted by Sweese.
Good luck!

i received this butter crock in exchange for my review. My opinions are my own.

Natrogix Bliss Essential Oil Set- Review

i really love using essential oils in my diffuser and homemade bath products. i have a nice collection of oils, but i'm always looking to add some new scents.

This #Natrogix Bliss essential oil set contains 9 different fabulous smelling oils. The set contains Rosemary, Sweet orange, lemon, lemongrass, frankincense, tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender oil. Each bottle has .33 fl oz and is in an amber glass bottle. 

It also comes with a booklet with information about each scent//oil and recipes/uses for around the house.  i really love the packaging of this oil set, it would make a fabulous gift! The cardboard sleeve has the design cut out, and then it slides over the purple box that houses the oils. It's really packaged lovely. 

 The backs of each bottle contains information about the use if each oil, how it was extracted, plant part used and which oils it blends well with. Natrogix essential oils are all carefully sourced in the USA! 

i'm having fun playing around with different scent combinations in my oil diffuser.   What are some of your favorite combinations? 

The set is available $18.99 on amazon and comes with a free e-book. #natrogixessentialoil 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=me%3DA3I3SZVYDM6YOH&field-keywords=B071RXT6N8

*i received this product in exchange for my honest review, i was not compensated. 

DIY Bath Bombs using Websun Stainless Steel Molds- product review and recipe.

Yesterday my girl and i made bath bombs! First recipe we used was a total fail, but we tried again and i used way less food coloring, essential oil and water....and they turned out perfect!  These are so easy to make and use ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard! The only thing we were missing were molds, but we received some to review from #Websun  and they worked great!

We used  these stainless steel molds by Websun. These come in 3 sizes. They are 100% food grade 304 stainless steel & are dishwasher safe.  They work so well! The bath bombs popped right out and were shaped perfect.

 So much fun! We made some a while ago, and they were total fail. They started off looking great, but then they started slowly expanding and swelling.  i think the key is as little liquid as possible, just until they hold together. i also read that in areas of high humidity, you can bake them at 200 degrees until they are completely dried out. i'll probably do that with our next batch just to make sure they are completely dry and don't suck the moisture out of the air.

Homemade Bath Bombs

Dry ingredients

1/2 cup baking soda

1/4 cup Epsom salt

1/4 cup citric acid

1/4 cup corn starch.

 Wet ingredients

3 tsp Olive oil or Castor oil 

1 tsp essential oil

a few drops of food color. 

water

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisking to combine. 

Then in a small bowl mix wet ingredients (except water) together then slowly add to dry mixture, while constantly whisking. 

Now add water very slowly 1 tsp at a time, just until mix packs together. i think we used about 2 tsp, but the recipe called for 3. i would not use any more than that.  You want to add it slowly, while whisking quickly to avoid it setting off the chemical reaction. Using a spray bottle for the water would probably work well. Again you just need a tiny amount. 

Pack the mixture into both sides of your mold, press the two sides together and let dry about 5 hours. Be sure and store them in an air tight container!

These Bath bomb  molds really do work great! They come in a pretty handmade paper box. You can find them on amazon, free shipping with Prime. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DJ41ZL 

*i received the product at no cost in exchange for my honest opinion. i was not compensated, my opinions are my own.

Sweese Porcelain Kitchenware- Review and Giveaway

This week, i had the opportunity to review this lovely porcelain butter keeper made by Sweese. i love their simple, yet elegant designs.

Sweese is dedicated to creating the most useful products that’ll be a staple of your kitchen! They want to create products that not only enhance your daily cooking chores, but become an integral part of your everyday life. Efficiency and durability are two of their biggest values, and it’s one of the guiding principles when it comes to making their plates, bowls, and cooking tools.

i really like that they use natural materials in their products. Most are made with natural porcelain, cork, bamboo or slate.

The Sweese butter keeper is made from  pro-grade porcelain. It is dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe.  The butter holder part is FDA- approved and made of durable porcelain, a type of premium lead-free and non-toxic ceramic, chip-resistant and more sturdy than glass or stoneware. 

The Sweese Butter keeper is large enough to hold two standard sticks of butter. The lid is made of natural cord, and has a silicone seal to make it air tight. If butter gets on the inside of the lid it can easily be cleaned off with soap and water. The engraved saying "Alles In Butter" in the cork is German language, that means "All is Well" or "Everything is fine".

It also works great to store my homemade butter. Butter easily absorbs the odors of other foods and air is the source of turning butter rancid,  Sweese is proud of its airtight design, which helps keep your butter fresh and tasting great!

BUY IT! You  can purchase the Sweese Butter Keeper  http://amzn.to/2qbCV26 

Use this code  TREE0125 to get 25% off your purchase.

WIN IT!

The generous folks at Sweese were kind enough to offer one of their porcelian butter dishes to a lucky reader.

 Please enter below using the rafflecopter form, you may have to wait a minutes for it to load! This giveaway is open to US only.  Must be 18 to enter. 

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i received this butter dish in exchange for my review. My opinions are my own.

Homebody Accents Review and Giveaway!

i recently had the opportunity to review an item from HomeBody Accents. Homebody Accents is a family owned and operated business. They started the business in 2007 in Fort Worth, Texas and each piece is handmade in the USA. They create each sign by baking an enamelized image into a tough, proprietary coating on a thick steel blank.

 The result is amazing durability, rich color, and fine detail. These are not like those thin, cheap tins other companies make. When you hold this sign in your hand, you will definitely feel and see the Homebody Accents difference. Homebody Accents' value-added, optional features include framing on rustic, one of a kind, reclaimed wood; and the application of a sun protective film to protect those pieces you wish to display outdoors.

Homebody Accents has an amazing selection of designs to choose from. They have everything from vintage farm signs, to inspirational quotes to holiday themed and so much more! 

i had a very hard time choosing a sign, because i loved them all! The vintage farm signs are my favorite. i was orginially planning to get one of the vintage Fresh egg signs to put on my chicken coop, but decided to get the wood frame so i could display it inside instead.  i'm so glad i did!

The wooden frame is made from reclaimed wood and looks like it's made from an old barn, it even has rusty nails to really give it an authentic vintage look! The attention to detail on the sign is fantastic. It is a really a very neat piece.

 i really love that they use recycled materials and that each piece is handmade in the USA. The signs range in price from around $18.98 up to $79.89.  Most of the signs are available with the reclaimed wood frame for around $39.98.

Homebody Accents have a special coupon that will give you 15% off and Free shipping on any order of 3 or more items. Just enter WINE15 in the checkout.

Connect with Homebody Accents! 

Homebody Accents on Facebook
Homebody Accents on Instagram
Homebody Accents on Etsy
Homebody Accents on Pinterest

Now for the Giveaway!!

The generous folks at Homebody Accents were kind enough to offer one of their metal signs to a lucky reader. The winner will recieve a gift code that will allow them to pick out any one sign under $50 with free shipping included!

 Please enter below using the rafflecopter form, you may have to wait a minutes for it to load! This giveaway is open to US only. 

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*i received a product in exchange for my honest review. i was not compensated, my opinions are my own. 

Attempting Homemade Vegan Gummy Bears and Kitchen's Son Gummy Bear Mold Review

My kids and i have a lot of fun baking and candy making.  Silicone molds are one of our favorite things, we have a small collection of geeky themed molds so we can make Harry Potter, Star wars and Doctor Who themed treats. :)  So when i had the opportunity to review these gummy bear molds i jumped at the chance!  We all love gummy treats, but they are so often made with gelatin and as a vegetarian family we try to avoid it.  Sour patch kids are one of the few gummy candies that do not contain gelatin, but i was really excited to try making our own.

 The molds really do work great! The bears pop right out, no sticking. They come out clean and the silicone mold is super easy to wash. The set i got came with two molds (50 bears each) and two droppers, so filling them it easy peasy. The molds are made of 100% premium, food grade silicone. FDA approved, BPA free. They are cold and heat resistant -40°F to 445°F. Safe for use in oven, dishwasher and freezer.

 So after several failed attempts at chewy gummy bears, i finally came up with an acceptable soft fruit bite. Texture is somewhere between finger jello and very set jelly. They taste great, but are definitely a fruit bite rather than a gummy. They still popped out of the molds perfectly, and i love the details in the molds.

We rolled them in sugar and citric acid and made some super sour gummy bear fruit bites! They tasted fabulous!

This is the first recipe we tried. It is the main recipe i've found online at various different sites.  i used white grape juice. They came out really firm, but the texture was weird and the flavor was pretty bland.

Vegan Gummy Bears I

1 cup fruit juice 

2 tablespoons agar powder

1-2 tablespoons sugar or honey

2-3 drops food coloring (optional)

STEP 1: In a small sauce pan, whisk juice and agar together and let sit for about 5 minutes before turning on heat. 

STEP 2: Heat the liquid over medium heat, whisking frequently. When it starts to thicken, add your sugar or honey (if desired) and stir. Let the mixture simmer until it thickens to the consistency of paint, stirring constantly. This will take a couple of minutes. 

STEP 3: Use the dropper to add the liquid into your molds. 

STEP 4: Let cool at room temperature for 5 minutes, then place in the freezer for 20-30 minutes, Carefully pop them out of the molds. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

This is the second recipe i tried.  So this recipe came out a bit too soft. It was more like jello. The flavor was fantastic though. The increased sugar and lemon juice really helped give it that sweet tart flavor.

Vegan Gummy Bears II

10 ounces 100% fruit juice

4 ounces lemon juice

1 cup sugar

1 tsp agar powder

Boil the juice and sugar together for 5 minutes then remove from heat. Add the agar powder and whisk until dissolved.  Pour into mold and place in fridge for 2 hours until set. 

i've tried making this recipe several times increasing the amount of agar, but still can't come up with a good texture. i have one more recipe i want to try. It calls for lots of sugar and corn syrup...and heating to the soft ball stage. It will be a true candy, rather than a healthy 100% fruit juice snack. So i'm hoping that one has a bit of chew. 

So even though our gummy bear recipes were did not make chewy gummy bears, we had a lot of fun trying! The molds really did work great and they can be used for gummies, fruit bites, hard candies, chocolate, ice etc.  i'm going to keep working on the gummy recipe and will share the recipe if i can come up with one that is truly a chewy solid gummy bear.  

 You can find our awesome Gummy bear molds at  http://kitchensson.com. they are currently only $7.99 on Amazon with prime. 

i received this set of gummy bear molds at no cost in exchange for my honest review. i was not compensated.

Personalized Prints on Wood by Cut Out Art- Review and Giveaway!

i recently had the opportunity to order a custom wooden print from Cut Out Art.  CutOutArt.com is a company based out of Lake Forest, California that allows you to upload your photos and have them printed onto wood.  Their unique printing procedure ingrains your pictures straight onto a ready- to-hang Wood Panel.  They offer a variety of sizes and styles, as well as different options for customizing your print to make it extra special. They take pride in every piece they print!

Creating a custom print is very easy. You can upload your photo from your PC,  Facebook or Instagram. There are different options for customizing: you can add text, a background, different images and symbols.  i created an 8 x 12 custom print.  This style was really intended to be a landscape, but i really liked this photo and it didn't fit as a landscape so i used it sideways and it still came out great!  There is a little (?) symbol at the bottom and if you click that it will give you a tour of the page and show you what the different features are and how to use them. 

The ordering process was very quick and easy! After submitting my order, i received an email letting me know my order had been received and then another when it shipped out. Shipping was quick and i'm super pleased with it. i love how you can see the wood grain through the print. 

All wood prints include a simple keyhole slotted hanging system and two mounting screws on back for hassle free hanging. The prints are heat and water resistant, and simple to clean with just a damp cloth. Every wooden print has it's own unique wood grain which shows through the print very subtly. 

i really like the wooden print that i received and i love that the company uses environmentally friendly inks, and wood that has been harvested in a sustainable way. Each piece is handcrafted in the USA and a portion of each purchase is donated to Charity Water.

The generous folks at Cut Out Art were kind enough to offer a custom 8 x 12 wooden print to one of my lucky readers!  Please enter below using the rafflecopter form, you may have to wait a minutes for it to load! This giveaway is open to US only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

i received a product in exchange for my honest review. i was not compensated, my opinions are my own. 

Bouchard Chocolate Cheesecake Bites- Product Review

 i was invited to review some Belgium chocolate cheesecakes bites, so how could i say no? :) The whole family helped to test and review these and they got a unanimous double thumbs up. They are seriously delicious!!

Bouchard chocolates has been perfecting the art of chocolate making from the historical city Ghent, Belgium since 1931. The box contains three different flavors. Dulce de Leche, Strawberry and chocolate fudge. These are perfect for those moments when you just want to indulge.  

The chocolate is crisp when you first bite in, and then super smooth, melt in your mouth goodness.
They would make a wonderful Mother's day gift. (hint, hint) They are all so good, i can't even pick a favorite.

 You can find Cheesecake Bites this spring at your local Walgreens. they retail for around $10 a box.  Visit the website for more information about Bouchard chocolates. https://www.bouchardchocolate.com

i received this product at no cost in exchange for my honest review, i was not compensated.

Allen and the Nordic Gnome- book review

We LOVE all things gnome here. i recently had the opportunity to review this adorable children's book about a Gnome or Tomte, and am excited to tell you about it. Gnomes  are also known as a Tomte or Nisse. Not many people have seen them because they are very shy and live in the woods. 

For centuries these legendary gnomes have guarded farms and families in Scandinavia year-round, especially children and animals. This book is about Allen and his magical experience with a Nordic Gnome.

This is a sweet little children's book that introduces you to the magic of the Tomte. It is a simple story, great for young children and early readers. It is beautifully illustrated and is a tie-in to the adorable handmade gnomes that are also available for sale.

These adorable plush gnomes are  available in several different colors and styles.  Each gnome is individually handmade with wool and lots of love! 

They would be so adorable appearing in a child's stocking, or next to the tree on Yule/Christmas morning, after having read the book the night before.

  

The story of Allen and the Nordic Gnome is currently available for sale on amazon.  It's $5.99 for the kindle version and $12.99 for paperback.

The Gnomes can be purchased for between $16.99 and $28.99 depending on style. You can find the full selection here.

These are just so cute and a perfect decoration for the Winter Solstice.

*i received the ebook at no cost in exchange for reviewing it and sharing the link on my blog. i was not compensated.  

LuLaRoe Review and Giveaway!

LuLaRoe seems to be the hottest trend right now!  Everywhere i look i see women sporting leggings in bold and wild patterns. i admit, i don't really get it. i'm not a leggings person at all.  In fact, i'm on the 'leggings are not pants' team.  lol.  That being said, i do understand how comfortable they are and they really can look cute when worn under a dress or long tunic.   

When my friend Nicole approached me about reviewing a pair of LuLaRoe on my blog, i was hesitant at first, because they are just not my thing. So i asked her if instead she would want to do a giveaway, that way someone who actually wears leggings would receive a pair. even though they are not really my thing, she is an awesome lady and i'm happy to help her promote her business.

She still wanted to have me do the review so she sent a pair to my girl. My daughter is completely in love with them. They have this crazy video game print, and she just happened to have a minecraft shirt that almost matches perfectly. The shirt is longer in the back, so her bum is covered. ;)  The fabric on these is amazingly soft. i've heard it described and buttery soft, and that's a pretty good description. 

In an effort to learn the story behind LulaRoe, i explored their official website a bit and found that they sell more than just wild print leggings. They actually have some very pretty dresses, skirts and i LOVE the Sarah Cardigan. They do have some crazy patterns, but they also are available in solid prints.

Nicole does a great job of putting together cute outfits and matching up sets. She really knows her stuff! She is very passionate about LuLaRoe and really does a great job with her online parties and promotions! Her next party is April 9th at 7pm  here!

i'm super proud of her and excited to be helping promote her business and offering a LuLaroe giveaway to all of you.  i really do like that LuLaRoe was started by a mom, and helps to empower other women. 'I believe in you' and 'you can do it' are the basic principles guiding LuLaRoe today.

One lucky winner will receive a surprise pair of LuLaRoe leggings!  You tell me your size and Nicole will pick the pair! 

*The mandatory entries are to join Nicole's FB party group and Follow her on Instagram and leave a comment on this Blog post letting me know which you did.

Since i realize not everyone is on FB and Instagram,  you can do either one as the mandatory and get extra entries if you do both. If you do not do one or the other, your other entries will be void. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.  

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This giveaway is open to US only please.

Breaking bad habits with Buddy Trainer- Product Review

 If i had known how challenging Border Collies were, i'm not sure we would have gotten one.  Sookie, our border collie is extremely smart, but also extremely energetic. She requires a lot of attention, and if  she doesn't get it she will start being destructive and picking up some bad habits. So when i was given the opportunity to review the Buddy Trainer -training collar, i was really excited.

So i'll admit, i'm not usually a fan of shock collars, however we used to have an underground fence system with the shock collar and it worked really, really well. It only took about a day or two for Sookie to learn the boundaries of the yard and avoid getting shocked. There was a warning beep before the shock, so she was very quick to learn to stop what she was doing as soon she heard the beep. 
When our house burned down in 2013, the underground fence was destroyed and we never got around to replacing it. 

Even though it's been a few years since we've had an underground fence, she pretty much stays right in the yard and has learned the boundaries of the property. She will occasionally go for a run in the woods behind out house, but she doesn't just wander.
Right after the fire, we rented a house, but were unable to take the dogs. So they stayed on our property. We had them in a fenced kennel. but almost everyday theu found a way to dig out and escape. During the weeks following the fire, she picked up a few bad habits mostly out of boredom. The worst of the habits was killing chickens, which she did a lot of that year. 

Although it's been a couple of years since she has killed chickens, i've recently caught her stalking them again. She's really sneaky about it, so i know she knows better. Another habit i'd like to break her of is chasing cars, usually the mailman or ups guy. She doesn't do it every time, but when she does i usually catch her sitting on the edge of the road waiting for a car to come by. It's a dangerous habit and i don't want her getting hit.

So the cool thing about this training collar is that it has 4 different training methods. audible beep, light, vibrations and shocks. You can also adjust the levels ranging from 0-100 and it comes with a remote and has a 330-yard range. So the shock can be used as a last resort if she isn't responding to the other cues . Which means if i look out the door and see her at the mailbox, i can use the beep to remind her she's too close to the road.  Sookie is so smart, i really think that just the beep or vibration will enough to break her concentration when she is in that car/chicken stalking trance. 

This past week, i spent a bit of time with her in the yard trying out the collar. She really did well with it, and i have a feeling she remember the underground fence collar, because the first time i made it beep when she was too close to the road she immediately stopped and sat down. 

The main thing with this type of collar is consistency. i've working with her every day, rewarding good behavior and giving the audible beep when she gets too close to the chickens or road. i'm really pleased with how well it is working. So far, she has responded so well to the beep that i haven't had to use the vibration or other functions.  

The Buddy Training system is very easy to use. i love that it's re-chargeable!  It comes with the collar, remote,  charger, instructions and two sets of the contact points in different sizes. It also has a testing bulb, so you can make sure it's working without shocking yourself. :)

i can't say how well this would work for all dogs, but it is working really well for Sookie. She responds to the beep sound by immediately stopping what is she is doing, which is what i was hoping. Another of her bad habits is barking incessantly, when she wants to play or come inside. Most bark collars give a shock when the dog barks, however she is supposed to be barking to protect the chickens from predators, so i don't want to teach her not to bark. She needs to learn what is acceptable, and what is not. The remote allows me to give her a audible que only when she is barking inappropriately.  i'll continue to praise her when she is barking at hawks, foxes or strangers, so she should learn what is acceptable and what is not. 

i feel pretty confident that this will help to break those bad habits, and i won't even have to use the shock option. i have seen other remote collars, but most just have the shock. i really like that this one has the different training options, and adjustable levels. 

It is available on amazon here for $34.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7O2QCU



i received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.