Sweet Chic: Stylish Treats to Dress Up for Any Occasion Book Review

Sweet Chic: Stylish Treats to Dress Up for Any Occasion


DRESSED TO THE NINES
Today's baker faces a great challenge: With little time and a limited repertoire, she often needs to whip up a delicious dessert that's dressed to impress. Rachel Schifter Thebault, founder and head confectioner of Tribeca Treats in New York City, knows all about making a sweet statement. Combining a confectioner's expertise with fashion sense, she shares a scrumptious cache of popular dessert recipes that can be accessorized to fit any occasion.

What's more, transforming a basic dessert into a masterpiece brimming with personality and flair can be easy, quick, and fun. In the same way you'd plan an outfit, Sweet Chic pieces together a Devil's Food Cake -- the little black dress of delights -- with such irresistible accessories as Caramel Buttercream (think knee-high boots) for ultimate decadence, turns Vanilla Cookies (the crisp oxford shirt) into Strawberry “Shortcakes” ideal for casual or dressy occasions, and blends brownies (the cashmere sweater of confectionery) with a swirl of mint for a showstopping number.

Gorgeous and appetizing color photos throughout reveal how a change of icing here and a substitute topping there can take a simple dessert from Sunday brunch to a date-night treat. Mix and match more than seventy recipes for cookies, cakes, and confections, including Peanut Butter and Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies, Brownie Sundae Parfait, Mini S'mores Cupcakes, Wasabi-Black Sesame Truffles, and so much more.

Whether you're a novice baker hoping to master the basics or an experienced one looking to add a little versatility to your existing creations, Sweet Chic is a clever and practical guide for memorable desserts, a one-sweet-fits-all way to make a tantalizing impression.

Mandie's Thoughts - It's a beautiful book with beautiful pictures. I love the fact that it is sturdy and I need that in my kitchen. The recipes are simple yet elegant, like why didn't I think of that?
My favorite - The chocolate mousse! So Easy to make.!

Going Camping at a Spring.

Yay! We are getting ready to go camping. I am so excited because we usually go in the fall since this is our busy time of year (landscaping business) but we're going to steal a weekend away. My husband just bought a new mower for the business and it's HUGE. It is making it to where my husband has more time.

We're going to one of the many springs here in Florida. I think we're going to Salt Springs, or Ichetucknee Springs State Park. 
The girls are so excited and truthfully so am I. We love camping and have a lot of camping equipment. We usually go away for a week and unplug. It's good for the soul.

 This trip will be a short one, maybe 4 days if we are lucky but we plan on swimming, hiking, and sunning. Ichetucknee has a river we can tube down. I've seen turtles, alligators, and water snakes. A little scary!  I've never been to Salt Springs but my hubby has and loved it. I hope we get to go soon. I have to say I need a little time away and a little time together as a family.

My Lipstuff review & 6pk lipbalm Giveaway

I love lip balms. Everyone in my family does.
I always have one on the counter, one in my purse, and another in our truck & car.So I'd say I'm an expert in all things lip balm related. I'm also a lip balm snob. I don't like the ones you buy standing in line at the check out. Nope, those just don't do it for me.
I was super excited when I got my lip balms from mylipstuff.com in the mail.They have over 400 flavors of Natural lip balms and other skin- Earth- Animal friendly productsand they are VERY affordable. Especially for being as high quality as they are.Right now I'm wearing the Mint Chocolate Chip balm. It smells so good and my lips feel silky. You can even customize your own labels if you have a baby shower, wedding, or for your business. Did I mention they are VERY affordable? Only $2.50 each.
They also have room sprays for only $5, I usually pay at least twice that!There is one called "No More Monsters".  Spray this around your room, on your sheets, under your bed, & in your closet to keep monsters away! Soothing Lavender scent to help them sleep. Alcohol Free!Fingertip spray bottle.
They also carry Bath Salts, body butter sticks, and Aloe Vera Spray.
They really have so much so go on over to My Lip Stuff and check it all out!

Now for the Contest!

Homemade Baby food Tips and Ideas

Homemade Baby food Tips and Ideas

Guest post by Rosilind Jukic

Being a mom of an infant is not easy.  Add to that the stress of trying to cook baby meals and adult meals everyday.  As if mom's don't have enough on their plate with cleaning, laundry, diapers, etc.  

Have you decided to scrap the baby food isle and go with homemade baby food?  It is a noble choice.  It saves money, it tastes better, and it is far better for baby.  

Here are some tricks to making your own baby food and saving time in the long run so you don't go insane!

Items you are going to need are:

1. A fork to test  for done-ness
2. A slatted spoon to spoon out your veggies/fruit
3. A hand mixer (or food processor)
4.  A spatula
5. A small tea spoon 
6. And storage containers

You may start by steaming several different fruits in separate pots all at the same time.  This may be done three different ways:

1. Using a steam basket
2. Using as little water as possible (be sure not to burn what you are steaming)
3. By wrapping the fruits or veggies in foil with a bit of water and baking them (this is the most effective way of retaining vitamins in your food.

Once cooked, puree the vegetables one at a time.  There are a couple of storage options to use:

1. one larger container -such as the Avent storage container.
2. Ice cube trays to freeze in smaller quantities. This way you may take out a few cubes of varied fruits and vegetables to make yummy meals.

If you use the ice cube option, once the cubes are frozen, store them in freezer bags.  

Be sure to label the bag or container with a permanent marker with the contents and the date. You may store homemade baby food for up to 3 months (1 month is optimal).

Rosilind Jukic is a Work-at-Home missionary mom of an active toddler and one on the way.  She currently resides in Zagreb, Croatia where she assists in translation and creative writing for her church.

Pandora's Box Tour, Review, & e- Book Giveaway Winner!!

Pandora's Box:

Alyssa thought, after a few months as a vampire, that she’d learned all she needed about the supernatural world. But all that will change when a mysterious package shows up on her doorstep - a Pandora's box. An ancient prison, created by powerful magic, the box was used to trap the most dangerous and deadly creatures on earth.

Once opened, it releases an ancient evil, with an insatiable lust for vampire blood. Within moments of its release it the feeding frenzy begins.

Alyssa must find a way to return the creature to the box. If she doesn’t, it will not only destroy her clan, but the rest of the vampires in existence.

Katie Salidas:The youngest of four children, Katie has always had a desire to entertain. Since, early childhood, she's dreamed fantastical characters and scribbled them into pages of various journals and notebooks. Taking an interest in vampires, she devoured every book, featuring those blood sucking creatures, in any genre she could find.

It was only natural that a love of reading vampire stories, turned into a love to write them.

Katie is also a Las Vegas native, having grown up in the famed City of Sin. She loves to feature it as a recurring setting for many of her stories.

Mandie's Thoughts - I haven't read the first two in the series but that didn't matter, I was pulled in right away and this book easily stood on it's own. (Although I really want to read the others now). I love urban fantasy and Katie Salidas can hang with the big girls (Harrison, Briggs, & Armstrong in my opinion). This book is perfect for any Vampire lover. I can't wait for the next one!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

                                                          Now for the Giveaway!

Balancing the writer within you against being a mom and wife.

Balancing the writer within you against being a mom and wife.

I am Super Mom!

Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, I can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons.  I can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime... And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.

Sorry… I can't even write that with a straight face.

Lies all lies.

Here’s the reality. I’m a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who just doesn’t know the meaning of the word balance. I wish I were super mom.  I wish I were super author. I try so hard to do it all, and at the end of the day I fall face forward into the couch.

Yes, you read that right, I tend to sleep on the couch. It’s a point of frustration for my hubby and a thing of comedy for my daughter. There are many mornings where I wake up to the sound of my 7 year old daughter yelling, “Mom slept on the couch again!!!”

Because being supermom (or trying to) means a lot of time devoted to family, writing is often done when said family is peacefully snoozing away. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen asleep with my laptop, on the couch. It just happens. Then, bright and early at 7am either my hubby (on his way to work) or my daughter (getting ready for school) wakes me up.

Writing is my passion. It’s a part of me. More than just a hobby, it’s a compulsion. I have to do it. If I don’t do at least one writing related thing each day I get cranky. But to be able to write, I need a certain type of quiet.  Hence the dilemma.

For my family’s sake, it gives the illusion of balance. While the family is home, they have 100% of my attention. I’m there ready and willing to take care of the things they need.  Daytime is family time. Then, once I have tucked them into bed my real work begins.  And, as many of you writers know, once you have the muse working, it can mean hours upon hours of writing time. Which is why I said that “balance” is illusion. Sometimes those bouts of inspiration and writing turn into an all-nighters. That leaves me so spent that if I don’t end up sleeping on the couch, I end up crashing shortly after I drop my daughter off at school.

We all have to sleep sometime.

Not every night goes this way, but many of them do while I’m feverously working on a project.  So far, I’ve been able to write and publish 5 titles in the last few years. I write a mix of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.  Surprise, surprise, all of my titles involve vampires. There must be some connection there between writing about those creatures of the night and the time of day I use for writing.

If you’re interested in checking out my special brand of vampires, feel free to stop by my website http:///www.katiesalidas.com

Or you can search for me on any of your favorite ebook retailer’s website.
Amazon.com
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Novels in the Immortalis Series

Immortalis Carpe Noctem
Hunters & Prey (Immortalis #2)
Pandora’s Box (Immortalis #3)

and the winner is...

lag 123 won an ebook copy of Veiled! 

I have emailed her!

Remember this is our book of the month so please join us on the community to talk about it.

 You can purchase it HERE

and the Winner is....

                 Katie!!

    She has been contacted! If you didn't win and still want the planner, you can buy it HERE

BaByliss Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron Review (30% Off @ Flat Iron Experts Link)

I've never owned a high-quality curling iron before. So, when the people at Flat Iron Experts wanted me to try out one of theirs, I was curious to find out if it was worth it to invest in a professional curling iron.


The BaByliss Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron arrived in a really cute cloth bag tied with ribbon. I'm keeping the bag, so I can use it when traveling with the curling iron.


The details that were put into making the curling iron were definitely impressive. The handle is very comfortable and rubbery. The place where you put your thumb is the perfect size so you won't burn your thumb (which I am notorious for doing). There's an on/off button, where all of my previously owned cheap curling iron were just on if plugged in, with this curling iron, you can turn it off while it's plugged in. I also like the fact that the cord swivels, so it doesn't get tangled or wrapped up as you twist your hair around the curling iron. 


Also, unlike my old cheap curling irons, this one's barrel is ceramic. That means the curling iron can heat to a higher temperature, retain that heat more efficiently, and distribute that heat more evenly. Also, ceramic barrels close the hair cuticle for a smoother, glossier look. With my older, cheaper curling irons, I would count to 15 to set each curl. With this curling iron, the curl was set after counting to 5. 


Is it worth the extra money? You'll have to decide that for yourself. For me, I think it is, just in the time savings alone, and right now, Flat Iron Experts have the curling iron listed at 30% off. 

Disclosure - I received a free curling iron to try in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.

Natural Instincts Vibrant Review

Its official, summer is in full swing. That means a beautiful real (or maybe fake) tan, pretty sundresses, fun flip flops and lightened locks. To help keep that gorgeous summer look from head-to-toe, Natural Instincts has the perfect tool for maintaining vibrant hair color throughout the summer. 

   The Natural Instincts Week 2 Color Refresher revitalizes your locks two weeks after the initial coloring, by replenishing the tones that your hair color loses first. Women can simply apply the Week 2 Color Refresher in the shower, letting it process for 5 minutes for refreshed hair color! 

   Every box of Natural Instincts traditional demi-permanent and NEW permanent Vibrant Collection comes with the Week 2 Color Refresher that matches that box’s hair color. 

        If you haven’t had the chance to try Natural Instincts yet and might not be sure if the traditional demi-permanent or Vibrant collection is right for you, then take a peek at the below breakdown for guidance. In short, the demi-permanent is perfect for the low maintenance woman looking to nicely enhance their current shade. Women in search of a more transformational color change will love the new Vibrant permanent collection. 

     I've used Natural Instincts before and I liked it so when I got the opportunity to try the NEW Natural Instincts Vibrant I was happy. I couldn't believe it only took me 10 mins. ONLY 10 MINS!! I'm still amazed. I can't wait to try the refresher in two weeks too. 

  I should have taken a picture when dh was home to show you. I got the light blonde and I love it!

I received the natural instincts to try to give you my honest opinion, no other compensation was received.




   

Guest post from Family on Bikes

There are few topics more likely to arouse passion in parents than the education of their children. Parents throughout the world want the exact same things for their offspring. We all want them to be healthy, happy, and successful - although our definition of those things may vary. We expect our children’s education to provide what they will need to achieve those goals – even though we approach that education in millions of different ways.

I think we can all agree there is no one right way to educate a child. Each child and each parent is a unique human being with our own strengths and weaknesses and interests and needs. We bring all of that to the table when we plan an educational program – each program is a one-of-a-kind program, even if that program happens in public school. Or on the road.

My husband and I opted to provide a very different kind of educational program for our twin sons – a radically out-of-the-box program. Our sons spent four years riding bicycles 27,000 miles throughout North, Central, and South America. Yep – it was THAT out of the box!

My husband and I – both long-time school teachers – made the decision to take our sons out of school in order to travel our country on two wheels. We spent the boys’ third grade year cycling through nineteen US states and five Mexican states. We took advantage of our experiences to help our sons learn about their world.

By the time we returned home a year later, all four of us knew we weren’t done exploring the world on bikes. After the boys finished Grade 4, we hopped on bikes again – this time to ride from Alaska to Argentina. It took us three years to ride 17,300 miles through fifteen countries – it was three years of magic. And learning.

The beauty of roadschooling is that learning is built into our lives so naturally. As we travel through various countries, we are constantly exposed to new traditions, foods, and cultures. Learning about those cultures comes naturally – it’s not about doing research reports on Wikipedia.

It’s about eating lomo saltado in a roadside restaurant in Peru and drinking mate through a straw from a gourd in Argentina. It’s about spraying foam at passers-by during Carnival or hiking to a religious artifact for a pilgrimage in Ecuador. It’s attending classes with school kids in Honduras and Peru and scuba diving with turtles in the Galapagos Islands.

While roadschooling, we naturally learned about the Olmecan, Mayan, and Incan peoples – and our sons naturally learned to compare and contrast the various ruins. They learned the differences between llamas, alpacas, guanaco, and vicuña when they cycled past them. They can tell you with certainty that the Andean Mountains are very different from the Rockies – they’ve pedaled up and over both chains.

For our family, roadschooling was a great option. Is it the only or the best way to educate a child? Heck no! But it worked wonders for us – and is easier than many may think. (But that’s another blog post…)

--

Family of four cycled 17,300 miles through 15 countries from Alaska to Argentina!
 www.familyonbikes.com

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Flipflop Cabernet Wine Review

                

Cabernet is my favorite wine. I love the bold full bodied flavor.
The Flipflop Cabernet was delicious!
My first sip tasted like strawberries, I read the tasting notes and saw itwas actually blackberry fruit and dark cherries. Well I got the berry part right.I was surprised at how light it was compared to many cabs I've had.
My husband who doesn't like Cabs because they usually are full of tanninsactually enjoyed it. We actually had some with a cheese plate (Cabernet and a cheese plate!! CRAZY!) and then turned around and had some more with a steak.This was very drinkable and I have to say the FlipFlop Cabernet is my new favorite wine (and not because it's only $7 - although I really like that too)!
Buy It!

The Orphan Sister Book Review

The Orphan Sister

Description

Clementine Lord is not an orphan. She just feels like one sometimes. One of triplets, a quirk of nature left her the odd one out. Odette and Olivia are identical; Clementine is a singleton. Biologically speaking, she came from her own egg. Practically speaking, she never quite left it. Then Clementine's father—a pediatric neurologist who is an expert on children's brains, but clueless when it comes to his own daughters—disappears, and his choices, both past and present, force the family dynamics to change at last. As the three sisters struggle to make sense of it, their mother must emerge from the greenhouse and leave the flowers that have long been the focus of her warmth and nurturing.

For Clementine, the next step means retracing the winding route that led her to this very moment: to understand her father's betrayal, the tragedy of her first lost love, her family's divisions, and her best friend Eli's sudden romantic interest. Most of all, she may finally have found the voice with which to share the inside story of being the odd sister out. . . .

                                                              Book Club Reading Guide


  Read the First Chapter   Mandie's thoughts- There were things I loved and hated about this book. I can certainly say it's a great one for a book club because there really is so much to talk about. Let me start with Clementine. She drew me into the story. Her father disappears and her triplet knows what's going on. Clementine already feels left out. At times Clementine becomes whiny and I thought the name choices were odd, they were all too close together - Yes I know they are all family but it made it difficult to follow when I had to keep getting up to tend to the kids. Also all of the flipping back and forth in time, this is definitely one you have to sit down and get into.  All and all I did like it, Gwendonlen Gross gets deep into this family's dysfunction and I enjoyed the relationship building with Eli.

Favorite TV Episode-Pawn Stars

Guest Post written by Kraig Saunders

Pawn Stars, now in it's fourth season on the History Channel, is one program I make certain not to miss on my satellite tv that I got after seeing this. It revolves around the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. Owners Richard Harrison and his son Rick have operated the business since 1988. Rick's son Corey (Big Hoss) also works at the shop, along with Corey's boyhood friend, Chumlee. The program follows the day-to-day operations of the shop, the unusual characters and items that come in every day, and the "experts" the pawn shop calls in to evaluate the items.

The Old Man (the elder Harrison), is a grumpy, tight-fisted businessman, who is frequently exasperated by Rick, Corey and Chumlee's antics. Rick is the "brains" of the organization, while Corey, who's worked at the shop since he was a teenager, quite often upsets both his dad and granddad with some of his questionable purchases. Chumlee is the target of all the others' jokes due to his (perceived) slow-wittedness. Chumlee is also the shop's "guinea pig", drafted to "test" almost all the guns and dangerous items the shop takes in.

One of my favorite episodes involved a customer bringing in what he claimed to be a signed contract of The Who's appearance at Woodstock. Corey and The Old Man bought it, hoping to surprise Rick (a big Who fan) with it. However, when they presented it to Rick, he informed them that the contract was inserted into the Who's album, "Live at Leeds" and was worth maybe $25.

Female Empowerment

    You know I've been talking about the show Rizzoli and Isles for a few weeks now because the first season of their show is coming out on DVD.

    I have to say I admire them a lot. Rizzoli & Isles are two women in powerful positions who can accomplish anything they put their minds to while having an influence upon others. 

     As such, the show empowers women with both characters coming from different points of view and background while remaining true to themselves in getting their job done. As a testament to this, Rizzoli & Isles won Best Drama at the 'Women's Image Netork Awards' in 2010. 
   
I'm seriously loving this show. If you haven't checked it out yet you should! Even my husband loves it!

See the reason why Rizzoli & Isles won Best Drama at the 2010 Women's Image Network Awards. The first season is now available on DVD: http://bit.ly/mt2Hpo


I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD

and the Winner is....

For our Freckle box prize is

             Michelle G.!

She has been contacted and her infor forwarded to the sponsor.

Didn't win but want a personalized product?

               Visit  Frecklebox

Lord of Shadows Book Review

Lord of Shadows

Description

Who is working the demon arts . . .
Was it her murdered father? Her fugitive brother? It has been seven years since Lady Sabrina Douglas cloistered herself with the Sisters of High Danu, but the questions remain. She is Other—a mixture of Fey and mortal—quietly using her powers to heal. That is, until she saves a half-drowned man, his soldier's body a roadmap of scars, his fathomless eyes filled with heartbreaking loneliness. The inexplicable connection overwhelms her defenses, touching her heart, mind . . . and body. . . .


and to what end?
A man with no memory, Daigh MacLir seeks his past even as unknown threats fill him with monstrous rage and inhuman abilities. But as a desperate game of hunter and hunted is played out from ballrooms to bedrooms, what Daigh discovers is more chilling than anyone could possibly imagine. Defying death was only the first step in the task he has been given, and Sabrina is his last hope. But dare he risk involving her? Daigh has been summoned to find an ancient king, and even the powers of love may not be enough to win the battle against the powers of darkness.
Browse Inside

Mandie's Thoughts - Can we say hot cover? Two things I love - the paranormal and historical fiction. This book has both, I'm not sure what my problem was but I couldn't love it no matter how hard I tried. Let me say this book was well written and had everything that I should have loved. I can't quite tell you why I didn't love it, maybe I couldn't get into their world? It left me a little cold. It wasn't bad by any means but I only thought it was good, not great and I expected more. 

A product was received for review for my honest opinion, no ohter compensation was received.

Luminess Air Review & Giveaway - Winner!

I have a new love. Today, I had the opportunity to try an airbrushing makeup system from Luminess Air, and I really don't think I'll be able to go back to "regular" make-up again.

I was a little nervous at first. I wondered if I would be able to apply it myself. I thought maybe I would have to keep my eyes closed, and how would I be able to see where I was spraying? It turned out to be very easy to use, and did a great job of covering up my acne scars, and a few areas where my face had broken out. (See my before and after pictures below.)

My Before

Since you're spraying it on, it's much more hygenic than using brushes, sponges or even your hands. There's also no mess. Usually, I dump liquid foundation in the palm of one of my hands, and then apply it with my other hand. There was no need to do that with Luminess. I just put a few drops in the machine, and sprayed on a light layer. The system comes with spray-on moisturizer, blush, bronzer, and there's even a liquid eye shadow that's also surprisingly easy to apply. I really love this system!

My After

GIVEAWAY!!! 

Luminess Air is giving an All About Eyes Grab Bag away to one of our lucky readers. The Grab bag includes: 

Age Defying Eye Cream - This rich cream provides moisture to the delicate tissue surrounding the eye area, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by replenishing levels of Hyaluronic Acid that have been lost due to progressive aging. 

Concealer - Tube Brush Concealer that gives sheer to full coverage. Imparts a firmed sensation and reduces the visibility of shadows made by fine lines. Can create a flawless base for foundation for large pores. Crease-free; won't settle into fine lines and wrinkles. Hides dark circles, blemishes, and veins. 

TriLash™ - is a 24 hour a day/ 7 day a week, natural eyelash enhancing system that is designed to help create thicker, darker, longer beautiful lashes naturally.

Disclosure - I received a free LuminessAir systme to try in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.

And the Winners are....

                                          Elaing8

                        Darlene

                              &

                          Tore!

 Congrats! This was an awesome book. 

They have 48hrs to contact me before new winners are picked.

and the Winner is....

               nikki @ for the love of books

       She won the Changeling Combo. Congrats Nikki!

    Going to contact her now & she has 48 hrs to get back in touch with me or I will pick a new winner.