Product Reviews

#WellnessWednesday : Gym Bag Swag Giveaway #bandeodorant #AD #totalrefresh #SobeSavvy

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Hi, my name is Leslie. I am a member of a gym (shout out to LifeTime Fitness) and I love going to Zumba!  It’s a fun cardio workout and with any great cardio class comes alot of sweat. That’s why when I heard about Ban products and how they help you stay fresh, I figured I’d add some new swag to my gym bag!

I learned Ban Roll-On Deodorant ($4.99),  offers 24 hours of invisible protection against odor causing sweat! The formula that glides on easily contains Ban’s breakthrough technology, which specifically targets and virtually eliminates (not cover up) stress odor that other
antiperspirant/deodorants may leave behind. I usually opt to use a solid vs a roll on, but
am excited to put Ban to the test!

Did you know that Ban has a product that will help your skin feel smooth and silky, not wet and sticky after a workout? It’s called Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths ($3.29) which work to slick away excess body sweat with just one wipe ! This would be great for after a workout or a touch up throughout the day and fits perfectly in a purse.

 
Thank you Ban for sending some samples to giveaway to some of my Zumba peeps. I put together this Ban gym bag essentials duo and surprised a few ladies with some new gym bag swag of their own!

Like I always say….Friends who sweat together, stay fresh together! 

No matter where you go this season – whether it’s work, running errands or to the gym– Ban products promises to help you stay fresh and smelling clean all day long! Choose from Unscented
for sensitive skin, Regular for a light and clean floral fragrance, Powder
Fresh for a classic powder scent, Satin Breeze for a feminine touch
with green and citrus notes, Fresh Cotton for a refreshing floral heart
with a hint of fruit, and lastly Simply Clean for fresh and powdery
amber notes with hint of peach nectar! 

For a full list of scents and additional information, visit www.feelbanfresh.com.  

#FoodieFriday Last Minute Holiday Gifts + Giveaway @gmtgiftbaskets Gourmet Gift Baskets Review

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Disclosure: I received products for review and promotional giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion
​It’s the holiday season. Christmas carols being sung, Celebrating Kwanzaa and Menorah’s being lit. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. No matter your faith, there is one binding force that we all love… GIFTS !! There is only one thing more rewarding and gleeful than receiving a special gift, and that is actually GIVING a unique gift to that special someone. 

Finding that unique gift for that particular person on your list is always a challenge — especially as the clock counts down to the holidays. But given the huge selection of offerings that GourmetGiftBaskets.com and KingOfPOP.com provide for every member of the family, the office, or even the neighborhood, it makes sense to take a good look at their latest and greatest items. Hundreds of choices abound, including: 25 different cheesecake flavors, almost 100 different popcorn flavors, beer buckets, cake pops, wine suitcases, towers, upscale baskets, and more. And there are many new and updated items for the holidays and beyond!

My husband is the King of Brunch as he loves to cook breakfast for me and our daughter. So I thought the perfect gift for my Top Chef would be the Christmas Breakfast Gift Basket . 

This basket defies description. Imagine you wake up one cold morning with a bear’s appetite. Well this basket literally has the making of a breakfast for champions. All the items are what makes this part of our nation so special. Their website describes it as the following: “Inside a gorgeous basket, your recipient will discover delicious foods, like Maine’s juiciest blueberries, New Hampshire’s sweetest maple syrup, and Broadbent’s hickory-smoked pepper bacon, creating a lovely gift that’s guaranteed to make any morning unforgettable. ” The basket also had pancake/waffle mix and coffees, scone mix and jams. Simply incredible. Here is how it looks out the box:

I can’t wait for Christmas morning to unwrap and make a fantabulous Christmas breakfast with my family as my little one shreds gift wrapping all around the living room ! I’ll be sure to share some Christmas Brunch pics via @SobeSavvy !

With Christmas almost here and New Year’s around the corner, the perfect gift for anyone ready to celebrate is bubbly! 

I received this Toasting to the New Year Gift Basket and was impressed by how quick the shipment came and how beautiful the handcrafted basket was.This basket came in a keepsake steel wired basket filled with La Marca Prosecco , gourmet crackers and cheeses and Dolcetto Chocolate Wafer Bites. This would make a great hostess gift and today I am giving one away for 1 luck winner to enjoy!

Simply comment below and share what items you would like to receive in your dream gift basket! Winner selected at random 12/20/16 at noon. Good Luck !

Celebrate #NationalCookieDay with @NocciolataUSA @RigoniAsiagoUSA Dairy Free Hazelnut Spread Recipe

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​December 4th is National Cookie Day and with the holidays upon us and cookie swaps quickly approaching, I thought I’d share this recipe for Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies ! The star of these cookies is a brand-new dairy-free (and 100% vegan) organic chocolate hazelnut spread called Nocciolata Dairy Free.

Each batch of Nocciolata Dairy Free takes 36 hours of artisanal preparation, which combines top-quality hazelnuts, cocoa and cocoa butter, environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil, natural vanilla extract, and raw cane sugar. It contains no palm oil (which is high in saturated fat and whose cultivation devastates the environment), hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, aromas or additives. This product is USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Dairy Free, Vegan and Kosher Certified, Gluten Free, and full of flavor ! 

I  whipped up a batch of these cookies using the following recipe:                

 Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut  Sandwich Cookies

Makes about 10 large cookie sandwiches

Ingredients
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer natural but you can use Dutch process)
large pinch salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
3 large egg whites, at room temperature

Jar of Nocciolata Dairy Free

Instructions

1.       Preheat oven to 325°F.

2.       Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake for two minutes. Add the almonds to the tray and bake for 3-4 minutes more until the nuts are fragrant and just barely golden. Transfer to a bowl to cool. When cool enough to handle, break the walnut halves unevenly into smaller pieces.

3.       Spread the coconut on the baking sheet and toast it for 3-4 minutes until slightly golden. Add it to the bowl of nuts.

4.       Whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt.

5.       Add the walnut-almond-coconut mixture and the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

6.       Add the egg whites and stir just enough to moisten all the dry ingredients.

7.       Spoon about two tablespoons of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving several inches between cookies.

8.       Bake for 12-14 minutes, turning the baking sheet once.

9.       Once cooled, spread Nocciolata Dairy Free chocolate hazelnut spread between two cookies and assemble the sandwiches. 

These cookies were a tasty treat for me and my little one! I was happy to try the dairy free option but I am a huge fan of the Rigoni Di Asiago Nocciolata Organic  Hazelnut spread made with cocoa and milk ! (I like to add it to oatmeal drizzled on strawberries, rasberries or bananas..so good!) I also have been known to tie a ribbon around a gourmet jar of this rich creamy chocolate hazelnut spread. Whether its the Dairy Free spread or  this one, they both make a lovely hostess gift!  

Top 5 #WellieWishers Gifts ~ A Gift Guide for your @American_Girl & her Doll !

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by American Girl. I received product to review, however all opinions are my own.

When #outandaboutAva turned 5, she received her first ever American Girl doll from her 2 great-Aunts as a birthday present.  When she opened up her gift, to her surprise, she got her very own Kendall Doll from the all-new WellieWishers! What made this doll special was that not only did she see “a doll that looks like me ” but it also represented her being old enough to have a new big girl doll friend. 

The WellieWishers made their American Girl debut end of June 2016 and were created for girls age 5-7. These adorable 5 friends are all about helping kindness & friendship bloom. If you plan on getting your girl this doll or she already has one, you will love this gift guide!  I was excited to put this gift guide together for anyone who has a Wellie Wishers gift list. Whether you’re willing to splurge or on a budget, there is something here for your American Girl and her doll! 

Here are my recommendations..My Holiday Top 5 Wellie Wishers Gift Guide for your American Girl and her doll !

  1. Make -It-Great Play Set : This is perfect for the Kendall Doll because she likes to craft her world with creativity and kindness. My daughter had fun putting her Kendall doll to work fixing repairs around the house.
  2.  Magic Theater Play Tent : This tent is the perfect play space for a child, her friends and their dolls to hideaway for giggles & girltime. It’s designed to look like the WellieWishers playhouse and has sweet little details like a tiled roof, cut out windows with real curtains and Garden Rules to follow!
  3. The Riddle of the Robin : I love to give the gift of knowledge and books are perfect for readers young & old. This paperback book is 96 pages of fun and opens your childs’ eyes to the world of WellieWishers.
  4. Tea for Two Party Set : Make tea time fun for your little one with this play set which is sized for the Wellie Wisher doll. Comes complete with little napkins, tea cups, forks, spoons and more! It makes the perfect stocking stuffer gift. 
  5. Flutter Wings Doll Carrier : Because we are often on the go enjoying family fun with our #outandaboutAva , this backpack for her doll was a must ! If your little one likes to take her doll along for adventures, this is the ultimate gift. Not only does the WellieWishers doll have its own space to fit in but there is a zippered pocket big enough to fit toys, books, clothes, accessories and more ! My daughter said it was comfortable to wear and plans to take her Kendall Doll everywhere!

Now that the holiday season is under way, I hope you find this guide useful for the little girl who loves to use her imagination at play. American Girl is all about connecting girls to a joyful world. Be sure to follow @agwelliewishers on Instagram and get ready to shop online this Cyber Monday at americangirl.com. Don’t forget if you are near the Raleigh area, visit American Girl at Crabtree Valley Mall to shop for these favorites  and discover all the fun! 

Which items do you plan to gift for your American Girl ?

Happy Shopping !

*My blog may contain links to other websites.  Any affiliate links are not to be associated with AmericanGirl.com.  I am not responsible for the privacy policies of other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies.

    Add some #RumFun to your #HolidayDrinks with @GubbaRum ~ #GubbaRum

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    Raise your glasses and let’s make a toast to being here to celebrate another Thanksgiving! This year, we decided to throw a pre-thanksgiving fete also known as Friendsgiving at our home. We here are so grateful for our friends at Gubba Rum who sponsored our Rum Fun ! 

    As I have shared in a past review , Gubba Rum is one of my favorite artisinal rums made with pure cane sugar instead of molasses. I wanted to share my love of this rum with a few of our close friends and have them sample their two amazing offerings from this unique rum maker. 

    We put on some Holiday Reggae tunes, had a few snacks and it was time to have our guests try Gubba Rum Silver infused with natural coconut and Gubba Gold, which is infused with natural vanilla. Their infusions are so authentic Gubba Rum advises consumers to actually shake the bottle a bit due to settling ! No extract or science inspired syrups here, real coconut and real vanilla.

    We decided to make a cocktail from Gubba Silver first. We wanted something we were sure that none of guests were familiar with. We made an obscure classic called Gregorio’s Rx {Prescription} This cocktail was the invention of Ernest Hemingway’s {Iconic author and iconic rum aficionado!} boat captain named Gregorio Fuentes.

     1 1/2 ounces Gubba Rum Silver                          2 Tbsp. honey                                                         2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice               1 mint leave

    Put in shaker 3/4 full of ice and shake until outer shaker has light coat of ice frost and strain into Martini Glass with a mint leaf .This was a magical cocktail that my guests simply could not stop drinking !

    Next up was the Gubba Rum Gold. This is infused with vanilla. One sniff and it instantly reminded me of some warm humid nights I have spent in the French West Indies, where at the end of a meal it is customary to put a self serve bottle of Rhum Vanille at the table to enjoy. I decided this was so exquisite I wanted to serve it up neat in shot glasses. Salud ! and down it went. Warm and smooth. Because Gubba Rum uses Cane sugar instead of molasses it has no harsh afterburn of so many rums. Everyone agreed they did not want anything interfering with this one, so we kept it simple..and neat for the evening. It was so wicked smooth !

    After everyone left I decided to try Gubba Gold with eggnog. It was amazing! The vanilla and eggnog married perfectly. Just a touch of nutmeg on top made this the perfect, classic holiday drink.

    Be sure to follow Gubba Rum on Twitter / Instagram @GubbaRum ! Gubba Rum for the holidays or any day is just a great choice. All your guests will thank you for it ..and I thank you all for the fun memories! 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BNNz3FJDu2-/
    *Special Thank You & Photo Credits Barry Heigh for SobeSavvy.com

    and Mario Daye, @daye_and_knight


    What’s your favorite way to enjoy RUM ?

    #CharityTuesday spotlight on #NewmansOwnOrganics Healthy Snacks Review #allprofitstocharity 

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    Thanksgiving is in 2 days..a time where we celebrate all we are thankful for over a feast with family and friends. I tend to overeat during this time and then jump right back into my healthy eating habits. One of my healthy habits is to make wise and healthy choices when the snack attack hits! Newman’s Own Organics, a division of Newman’s Own, Inc., has healthy snacks that my family and I enjoy.

    With their variety of quality choices, Newman’s Own Organics offers a cross-section of products that suits everyone in my family. Our favorite snack to share is cookies yet the Chocolate Newman O’s are soooo good they make it hard to share! These chocolate creme filled chocolate cookies are made with organic sugar and organic flour…just add milk and enjoy! 

    Some information about Newman’s Own Organics products: All its products meet the requirements of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). For more information on Newman’s Own Organics products visit http://www.newmansown.com/. If you look under the food section and the categories: snacks, candy & mints, chocolate, cookies, olive oil/vinegar, and pet food you can find out more about each of the products. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newmans.own  

    It feels great knowing that I am eating food that is not only good for me but doing good for others. Newman’s Own products make an impact on someone’s life because each purchase of Newman’s Own go to charity. Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all royalties and after tax profits from these products for charitable purposes. You read correctly… 100% Profits to Charity! Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $475 Million to thousands of charities since 1982. Learn more at www.newmansownfoundation.org

    As we prepare for Thanksgiving travel, I plan to pack up some Newman’s Own Organic foods to snack on in the car. (My daughter loves the Newman’s Own Organic Raisins..and I do too as it is a guilt-free and mess-free snack). 

    Savvy Tip : Looking for a hostess gift idea..place some of these Newman’s Own Organic Snacks in a basket and you got a perfect Holiday basket idea! Give the gift of healthy eating and snacks that give back. 

    I wanna know..what’s your Favorite Charity, Favorite Healthy Snack, Hostess Gift idea …share below!

     

    #FashionFriday Feature: @AmiClubwear “Holiday Essentials” 

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    AMI Clubwear. I’m sure you’ve heard of the brand, known for its trendy and sexy fashion at great prices! Recently they announced the re-launch of a fresh new ready-to-wear collection of every day wear (sweaters, jeans, t-shirts, chunky heels, and more for fall and winter). With the holidays upon us as well as shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday , I thought I would share some ideas of some essential fashion items needed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year!

    For Thanksgiving, I like to dress comfortable, but still look fierce for the family feast. These fashionable over the knee boots are not only comfy but stylish! Pair with leggings and a fur vest and get ready to look cute at the mall while shopping those after Thanksgiving holiday sales on Black Friday!

    If you are like me, do you struggle with participating in the holiday fashion trend known as the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” ? It’s just hard to dress tacky, but I get it..it’s just for fun. Well this year I am prepared to attend any and all sweater themed parties thanks to AmiClubwear.com and their Ugly Christmas Sweater. This not so ugly sweater comes in a non traditional color of Burnt Orange/Blue and has reindeer graphics on it. Wear it with jeans and be sure to join in some reindeer games with this festive look!

    Ring in the New Year in a pair of holiday heels with eye-catching embellishments. Get ready to shimmer & shine while wearing these sexy strappy, silver rhinestone heels with your favorite dress and accessories. Walk into the party like…Hello Lovely!

    Photo Credits: Erica Santos Photography

    Thank you for reading and be sure to follow me on FB and IG for updates! Please comment below or share it with your friends. Let me know:

    WHAT ARE YOUR HOLIDAY FASHION ESSENTIALS?

    About AmiClubWear.com ~

    Founded and solely owned by CEO Yang Yang and famous in the industry for creating the word “clubwear” Amiclubwear.com is an incorporated women’s clothing shop based out of one of the nation’s hottest fashion capitals Los Angeles.

    #WellnessWednesday Skincare Review @LOrealParisUSA #PureClayMask #gotitfree

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    ​

    It’s that time of year again..time to prep your skin for Winter and I have just tried a series of masks that I definitely will be adding to my skin care regimen:  L’Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Masks. I got the opportunity to try the products for free thru BzzAgent.com and enjoyed the masks so much that I wanted to let my beauties know ! 

    At the beginning of the year, I shared how I did a detox to tranform my skin from within. In case you missed it, you can read about it here. I ended the article sharing a DIY mask recipe I loved for my eczema flareups. I discovered I needed masks that could mutitask and treat other skin issues like dryness & dullness while not irritating my skin. The NEW L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Masks are made with three mineral clays to absorb impurities and oils, and include specific ingredients to care for each area of your face or skin type. If you need to reduce shine and mattify your skin, then Eucalyptus treatment mask would be your choice. For a mask that can refine pores and smooth imperfections , try the treatment with the Red Algae mask enhanced with natural volcanic particles. Or recover from all the holiday indulging while detoxifying with some help from the Charcoal treatment mask. For a retail price of $12.99, a little goes a long way. 

    I hosted a #WellnessWednesday morning gathering with a couple of friends where we enjoyed Coffee, Conversation and Clay! When it was time to let our masks set we meditated on our yoga mats and let the benefits soak in. I shared that mult-masking while multi-tasking is a L’Oreal Paris beauty trend and encouraged them to apply whatever mask to whatever area needing detoxing,mattifying and exfoliating. In just ten minutes, we had glowing skin. Here are some pics from my at home event:

    This Wellness Wednesday treat yourself to a mask that can multitask and get your skin prepared now for the winter  …your skin will thank you for it. Now get glowing!

    #TastyTuesday Spotlight on @HelloFresh Family Meals ! Check out these #HelloFreshPics ..#YUM

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    DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post. I received a HelloFresh box for review, however 100% of the opinions are my own. 

    Hello November! It’s time to start preparing for the holidays. Some feel this time of year can be stressful and expensive, but it does not have to be. Something I like doing to relieve stress is cooking with my family and for my family. So when I heard of HelloFresh offering a convenient and easy way to cook healthy meals at home, I wanted to try it.

    What is HelloFresh ?  It’s a weekly recipe-kit delivery service where you get to choose from delicious recipes and receive a box full of fresh ingredients at your door for you to cook at home. Here is what my box looked like:

    *Surprise..A lovely apron was included!

    You can choose from 3 Meal Plans: Classic, Veggie or Family Plan, which is what I received,  filled with family friendly ingredients. It came with the following 3 handpicked recipes: 

    …and a cocktail recipe card was included also! 

    Each meal recipe card is yours to keep. It gives a description on the front and list of ingredients, recipe details and nutrition per person info on the back. I liked the size of the cards which makes reading the recipe easy. 

    Now let’s talk about the dishes. First meal made was the Shrimp Lo Mein. Out of all 3 recipes, this was the families favorite. It had all the flavors of Chinese takeout without the high fat and sodium. Plenty of shrimp were provided and fresh produce. They say variety is the spice of life but I say sauce is the spice of life!  I really enjoyed the soy and hoisin sauce in this dish giving it a balanced sweet and salty flavor.

    Next meal was the Baked Parmesan Chicken Strips. This one was a good one to get all family members involved. I had my daughter washing produce and my husband chopping while I breaded the chicken strips with toasted panko and parmesan cheese. My least favorite thing about this meal is that string beans were being repeated. Since they were already featured in the Shrimp Lo Mein meal, it would have been great to pair with a different green vegetable. This meal was adult and kid approved because we all loved the rosemary potatoes and dipping the chicken strips in the homemade honey mustard dressing was fun. Here is a fun video we made of our Hello Fresh Meal #2 : https://www.instagram.com/p/BMRutuVAH_F/

    Lastly, we had the Honey and Orange Chicken Jambalaya.  This Creole dish is served with tomato rice and was given a burst of citrus flavor by adding orange zest. My daughter thought it was too spicy, so this was her least favorite. All the meals were nut free and took about a total of 45 mins to make. 

    HelloFresh encourages us homecooks to share our masterpieces on social media. Take a look at #HelloFreshPics and follow HelloFresh on Instagram, Twitter and FaceBook to get inspired!  

    Savvy Tip:  Get $40 off your first box here 

    Throw a ladies only #HappyHour at home with #SXchachacha #tequila @SXLiquors #yourdrinksexier

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    DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post, however 100% of the opinions are my own. 
    When I hear the term ” Cha Cha Cha” , I think of dancing to a Cuban Mambo beat. Not anymore. Sx Liquors have teamed up with R&B sensation Trey Songz in promoting a line of their spirits. Check out his interview with Forbes Magazine as he explains why he wanted to partner with this brand

    Their SX Cha Cha Cha is a premium reposado Tequila. They blended it with touches of honey and lime. Last Friday I decided to throw a happy hour for some of my girlfriends at my house and serve some crafted cocktails to see what they thought about it. My guests also commented on how beautiful and sexy the bottle was ! 

    Makeup Artist @neelyglamstudios_mua ready for her closeup with SX ChaChaCha

    One of my hubby’s many talents includes bartending. He loves to take fresh ingredients and play around with recipes that make sure the base liquor remains the star. I cannot tell you the number of times I have ordered a cocktail, only to have my favorite liquor lost in some bizarre high fructose syrup concocotion.

    Throwing a happy hour can be simple as long as you stay on course. Happy hour does not equal dinner party. One or two appetizers in a casual stand up atmosphere with a signature spirit, beer or wine. Friday’s spirit was Sx Cha Cha Cha. I had some sweet & spicy wing bites and meatballs marinara sitting on our bar counter for guests to help themselves. Some billboard top twenty R&B streaming on my soundboard and voila ! Happy hour is all set.

    We started with a simple shot. Shots may be a frat or sorority favorite way to drink, but honestly a shot is where a liquor either sinks or swims. There is simply nowhere for it to hide. As Trey Songz hit song says, it was “Bottoms Up” time. The ladies agreed it was smooth and a touch sweet. ” Wow” ! was the most common reaction
    “Who wants a cocktail” ?, said our own personal happy hour “bartender”

    First up was a Paloma cocktail. A classic recipe of tequila, red grapefruit juice with fresh squeezed lime juice. It was a magical drink. So simple and pure. The Cha Cha Cha really mixed effortlessly with the grapefruit juice.

    Next up was what he called ” Strawberry Smash”. He muddled fresh strawberries with a little simple syrup. Put in the shaker with Cha Cha Cha, fresh lime juice , fresh squeezed juice from one orange and a teaspoon of grenadine. It was delish beyond description.
    I looked up and it was time for our guests to depart. A great time at happy hour. A great time with SX Cha Cha Cha .

    You can purchase SX ChaChaCha online at https://www.reservrbar.com/buysx and get ready to drink sexier!