Tuesday, February 16, 2016

3 Ingredient Nutella Cookie recipe

I love baking. But some things take up too much of my time. So I like finding simple recipes. A buddy of mine had sent me this recipe from an iFunny post.
They are made of 3 ingredients, super quick to make, and taste delicious! I’ll add in my modifications though. The one from iFunny was a little too dry. So technically you might need a fourth ingredient – water. You can also stuff these with Oreo cookies for an even better treat.
What you will need:
1 egg
1 cup of flour
1 13 ounce jar of Nutella (1 cup didn't seem enough)
Water as needed
Simply mix all ingredients until you have a good batter. Water may be needed to help moisten it. These are easy to roll into 1 inch balls.
Bake at 350 degrees. They should only take 6-8 minutes. Take them out when they are a little moist to make them soft.
The first time I made these, I used the Hershey spread instead.
They make a richer chocolate cookie but come out just as good!
Always keep an eye for the deals. I got mine at Target on sale with a coupon! Sometimes they also have Cartwheel deals. This time around, the coupon and the offer had different sizes.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Finding that perfect guy


Falling for the Casanovas of today is a dangerous game. So many guys are only out there looking to add another notch on their belt. So if you are tired of having your heart broken or leaving a relationship feeling broken and used… maybe it’s time you tried a new approach.

Find a guy, and I know they are rare (but they do exist!), who holds fast to chivalry. What is chivalry?

What is Chivalry? The definition is as follows:

chiv·al·ry
o    The combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak.
 

o    Courteous behavior, especially that of a man toward women.
 
synonyms:
gallantry, gentlemanliness, courtesy, politeness, graciousness, good manners
antonyms:

Why? He will treat you like his queen. He’s the type of guy that will be there for you when you need him most. Sometimes without you even telling him that something is wrong. He takes the time to get to know you enough that he can tell when something is wrong with you. He’s that guy who speaks with words that seem old fashioned. And no, I don’t mean that he will use some fake but fancy accent when he talks. He is sincere. His compliments are rich. They are well thought out. And every bit of them is tailored to you. He does things that he knows you need done without asking, telling or making a big deal of. Know what I love? Having him make my bed, tighten that loose door handle, or wash the left over dishes when I’m not around. I don’t say anything. I don’t have to. He knows what I need done and he does these and more for me. And he doesn’t say anything about it. No, “Hey, by the way, I did such and such for you.” He doesn’t seek praise for these little things. He leaves them like sweet surprises for me to find later. That’s what a truly good guy who understands chivalry will be like. That’s what you should be looking for.

Don’t go for that guy who looks amazing but talks like an airhead. Give him 10-20 years depending on his lifestyle and you will have a sagging loser that you can’t believe you had a crush on way back when. And watch out for the sweet talkers who can’t back up their words. Words are only words until they are backed by actions that demonstrate them. Love is an action. The word itself is a verb, not just a noun. It’s what you do to show how you feel that makes it true.
Not the words that give you goosebumps. Or those that make you all giggly. Look for the one with words that warm your heart. That makes you feel proud of yourself. Building you up without being empty, fluffy statements. So the guy who says, “You’re hot!” versus that guy who says, “You’re beautiful.” is how you can tell who is more sincere. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to be told I’m hot, but only in the right moment. Tell me I’m beautiful and I’m more likely to listen to you. When you are told you are beautiful, chances are stronger that he sees the beauty shining from within. Hot is what he calls you when he wants to get laid.

I asked a modern “knight” what chivalry meant to him. His response was as follows:

“It opens the door for a much deeper relationship. It also allows one’s mind to be open to new possibilities. To act chivalrous, one has to think in a different manner. Meaning that it takes the mind to new areas of itself that aren’t usually stimulated during adolescence. This effect is amplified when this individual is also learning so much more about the woman he’s interacting with. It allows him to learn and grow in new ways.”

This, ladies. This is what men of today are missing. This is what women should be looking for. This is where you will find the lasting, lifetime of true love with your best friend.
This Valentine's Day, I spent with my gentleman. He and my mother bought me Star Wars themed gifts for my new kitchen.
(They know me so well!) He made me dinner, helped with the laundry, and had flowers (Don't buy ProFlowers) delivered.
He also had Shari's Berries deliver chocolate covered strawberries.
Talk about delicious....


Also, for those who love historical tidbits... Click here to get the scoop on how Valentine's Day got started! Kinda a dark event...

Pilot Pen review via Shoplet.com

I have a new review from Shoplet.com. This time it is for Pilot brand pens. Shoplet is the leading e-tailor for office supplies. They have a large selection for pretty much everything you could possibly need for your home or business office. I have four types of pens from them.

I received the Acroball Pro Advanced Ink Pens, Acroball PureWhite Advanced Ink Pens, Acroball Colors Advanced Ink Pens, and a Dr. Grip Frosted Pen. This last pen is brand new and has barely even been added to their website just yet. So here’s a preview into what you can expect!
I can see why its call the Acroball Pro pen. It has a sleek design with the color scheme and metal accents that make it look professional. It’s a medium 1.0mm with hybrid ink. Hybrid ink combines the vibrancy of gel ink with quick-drying ball point ink to make your writing smoother. I love the fact that it has comfort grips. I now work in an office. So keeping my fingers comfortable is my goal. Whether I’m typing or writing, I need to be able to do so for long periods of time. It fits comfortably in my hands and the writing comes out fluidly. It dries quickly. No blowing on my papers before moving on!

The next one I have to show you is the Acroball PureWhite pens. These are what they say, a pure white color with colored grips. It’s a clean look. It also has the hybrid ink and comes as a fine .07mm. This design is more of a fashionable approach. Writing with this one provides a sleeker look. I’m also happy that it has the grips.

The Acroball Colors are colorful pens. They come just like the Pro and PureWhite, with the grips and hybrid ink. They are closer to the Pro, however, with the medium 1.0mm tip.

Lastly, I have the brand new, not even up fully on the site yet, Dr.Grip Frosted pen! Beautiful color! I’m a fan of a nice looking pen, so this light frosted blue is right up my alley. It’s a medium 1.0mm ball point pen. The advanced ink is supposed to be smear-resistant. So if you are constantly writing like me, you know that you don’t want to be stopped by ink that smears as you go. Everything needs to be kept neat and tidy. This retractable pen is also refillable. So even after you use it up, save it and get the refills. Less trash and more use of something you will love. It is also endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation for its ease of use. Arthritic hands need that extra boost of help sometimes.  The grip almost feels like it is full of gel but it isn’t. The frosted feel of the pen makes the whole thing comfortable to use. I really LOVE this pen!

Pilot has many other types of pens that you could find useful to have. Whether you need erasable inks, or my favorite – B2P aka Bottle to Pen. B2P pens are recycled from plastic bottles and made into really cool pens. Not only are they making something that everyone has a use for, but they are cutting down pollution in plastic bottle forms. Reduce, reuse and recycle! Something my kids remind me often. There are gel ink pens, advanced ink pens, rolling ball or ball point pens. They even have 2 designs with the Go Pink theme to show your support of Breast Cancer. The Dr. Grip will be one of those! If you want to check out more Pilot products, just click the link.
Shoplet has branched out to offer other supplies as well. You can get medical supplies and cleaning supplies. Check them out and don't forget to leave a comment about what you like and what you might want to see more posts of.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Label Daddy review

Summer is around the corner. Camps, Spring Break, and plenty of gear to label and organize. Plus, if you're like me, you might have a little one starting school this year!  
Label Daddy is ready to help you label all those things they have to carry around. When you are on a budget, making sure you know what is yours and making sure others know, is important. Label Daddy offers so many choices. They are washable and highly durable. My boys have been using them for quite some time without issues.
I ordered some for the little lady in our house. Her first year of school starts in August.
Since Minnie Mouse is her theme, I got her a cute set that she even helped picked out. They are great for all those supplies that your child has to take to school. So check them out now. They offer many promotions throughout the year. US Family Guide was offering a discount as well if you use the code USFAMILY20. 

Monday, February 1, 2016

Mixbook review via US Family Guide

As a member of US Family Guide bloggers, I was given the chance to review Mixbook. Mixbook is a Google Trusted Store that has so many wonderful products to choose from. 
They are an excellent source of photo gifts. I love that they have things such as yearbooks and specialized photo books, like a cookbook version! 
I chose to make the Our Story photo book for my Mom.
There are three options as far as sizes and shape goes. They also ship within 1-2 business days. 

Everything was a click and drop as far as creating the book. There are some lovely quotes already in it. I actually had to get more pictures to fill the 20 page book. By page 16, I'd exhausted all the ones I'd picked from my computer storage. 
There was one thing that bugged me about the ordering process. Even though I had Mixbook credits in my account, I still had to enter a card for payment. I don't like having to use my card unnecessarily. I did, however, like the fact that as a part of the Google Trusted Store group, Google ensures my orders up to $1,000. Its like having free insurance added. 
The book was very nice. A sturdy little paperback that I know my Mom will love. Its a slightly larger version of the common brag book. Sadly, the post office thought that bending it slightly and ripping it open as they shoved it into my mailbox would work just as well. So my book has a crease on the binding side that I'm hoping will lessen with proper care. Definitely check them out and see what goodies you might create. Gifting has begun with the new year! 

Saturday, January 30, 2016

PAX South gaming convention

What a wonderful day! My boyfriend spoiled me like crazy for my birthday this year. I'm getting back into gaming these days, so being surrounded by nerds and games galore was a thrill! Plus the cosplayers... Oh my.... I can honestly say that it was an amazing experience that I want to mark the calendar for every year. And take the kids to it. Virtual gaming is something I'm looking forward to. The chance to stand inside the game after putting on the goggle-looking glasses. To feel myself in the game. Whew! And seeing so many amazing products for gamers. Let me tell something to you.... I can't wait to have my own gaming central in my own home!!! Backlit keyboards aren't the only awesome thing I will have. That's for sure. 
The areas were split up nicely between the types of gaming. Table top (board games), PC (bring your own included!), and consoles. Gaming has taken off these past few years. So many options and styles. So many uses. Stress relief, teaching, or just all out WAR on those who defy your skills. 
There was some pretty cool swag too. Like the Boomb game from Mayfair Games. 
This truck from Alienware was totally awesome! Gaming consoles slide out the rear. Whoo!!! 

This couple of cosplayers were probably my favorites. She's from Portal 2 with her portal hoop. He's the Medic from Team Fortress 2 (who I totally play when I played that game). LOVE it! 
This group was practically begging to have their picture taken. Or maybe just the guy on the end with the Starbucks cups. But I was cracking up with him and loved his enthusiasm. That's what real cosplaying is all about. The fun you bring when you pretend to be your character. 
I can't wait for the next convention. Which should be San Japan! 

Saturday, January 16, 2016

House of Doolittle review via Shoplet.com

Time for another Shoplet review! They sent me a couple products from the House of Doolittle line. House of Doolittle specializes in making recycled paper products. I have the Meeting Planner that is made from 100% post-consumer paper.
It has a strong spiral binding and hard cover. I like hard cover books as they don't get bent or easy destroyed during transport and storage.
I'm a stickler for things staying neat and tidy. This planner helps you stay on track of all your important meetings. There are places to record the date, topic, meeting attendees, notes, start time, and action items.
At the bottom of each page is a full year calendar. 

The other product they sent me, was the Wall Calendar.
I love the nifty built-in hook on top. Held together by spiral, it flips easily and gives you a quick glance at 3 months per page. 
Remember to check out Shoplet.com for many other office supplies. They also offer other things like cleaning supplies and office furnitureShoplet is the #1 e-tailer of business and office supplies. They carry an assortment of office supplies, cleaning supplies, medical supplies, office furniture, and everything in between. You can keep up with Shoplet in many ways besides checking the website itself. They are on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, they keep a blog, YouTube, and Instagram