WineforaWedding- A Unique Wedding Gift for Wine Lovers

Looking for a unique wedding or anniversary present for the wine loving couple in your life? Create a personalized, handcrafted WineforaWedding box for them!

While I was provided with a wine box to review, all opinions expressed below are my own.

Summertime is definitely king of the wedding season, but did you know that 15% of all weddings in the United States last year happened in September? (Source: The Knot) That ties it with June as one of the two most popular months of the year for couples to get married! So that means that quite a few of us have upcoming weddings we are planning on attending in the next couple of months, myself included.

My sister is getting married next month to her soul mate that took her one marriage and many years to find. The problem is that in this day and age the traditional wedding gifts just don't make sense. More and more people are getting married later... or many cases, getting remarried. The need for stand mixers, and dish sets, and pots and pans, and linens just isn't there anymore. Many couples getting married now have already formed established households (whether separately or together) and already own all the household necessities. So what is a wedding guest to do when it comes to a gift? Well, if the happy couple happens to be wine lovers, then WineforaWedding just might be the perfect solution for your gift giving needs... ;)

Budget Friendly, NYC Chic Fall Fashion from Necessary Clothing

A big thank you to my friends at Necessary Clothing for providing me with a mini shopping spree for myself. While I received free product for this post, no other compensation was provided. All opinions expressed below are my very own. :)

Okay, you all... I am going to let you all in on a little secret.

Food bloggers (or predominantly food bloggers, like myself) do not spend all day in super cute aprons, covered in flour. 

Shhhhhhhhh... ;)

Many of us food bloggers like clothes. Many of us love fashion. And I happen to be of both camps.

But while I love keeping up with the latest trends while still maintaining my personal sense of style, I do not like spending an arm and leg to get the newest looks.  I love to look good and put together, but I don't want to blow my budget on expensive clothing.   

So, I have to say that I was beyond thrilled when Necessary Clothing contacted me about reviewing a few pieces from their site! 

After perusing their site, I was sold. ;) Friends, we are talking trendy pieces from a chic New York City boutique that you can purchase online and that are completely budget friendly.  And they seem to always be getting new pieces up on the site!

Family Dinner-In with HERDEZ® Frozen Bowls & Mockagaritas

Thank you to the makers of HERDEZ® Cocina Mexicana Frozen Bowls for sponsoring and providing the tasty inspiration for today's post.  All opinions expressed below are my own.

You all know by now that most evenings of the week I cook for my family.

But let's keep it real- there are definitely nights when I don't feel like cooking.

Or nights when the day has been so trying and busy that I am tempted to pick up a pizza or take-out.  Not the healthiest or most budget friendly choice though.

I mean, what I really want to do on most evenings like those is take off for the local Mexican restaurant for dinner and margaritas, but that just isn't always in the budget for us.

That is why I am so glad that I recently discovered HERDEZ® Cocina Mexicana Frozen Bowls in the freezer section at my local grocery store.  

I will admit it- I am always skeptical of frozen meals. Often times, they are just okay or downright blech. But other times, you hit a tasty frozen food jackpot.

And these Herdez Frozen Bowls are one of those rare jackpots, folks. ;)

I was really impressed with the Beef Barbacoa Bowl- tasty, perfectly seasoned tender chunks of beef served alongside Spanish style rice. 

To make family dinner-in with HERDEZ® Cocina Mexicana Frozen Bowls a little more fun, I came up with a kid friendly Mockagarita recipe to share with you all...

Give Your Kitchen a Pop of Color With Core Kitchen! {A Review & Giveaway}

I was provided colorful kitchen essentials from Core Kitchen for my personal enjoyment and use in exchange for my honest feedback.  I was not compensated for this review or for hosting this giveaway in any other way.  All opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

I have to admit- I am a sucker for pretty much anything bright and fun for the kitchen.

I often bring home a novel, brightly colored new kitchen gadget only to find out that though the colors may be pretty, the quality and construction of the fun gadgets were not up to par.

A handle would snap off.  Or the blade on that nifty potato peeler couldn't slice off a peel from a potato if my life depended on it.  

Yep. A big womp womp.

So I would revert back to the plain, old boring black & silver kitchen gadgets that never let me down... at least when it came to actual sturdiness and usefulness in my daily kitchen adventures.  

It just seemed to me like you couldn't have fun pops of color and durability in the same kitchen gadgets.

My Influenster Sugar 'N Spice Vox Box {Review}

*I received these products complimentary of Influenster for testing purposes. 

I am not going to lie...  I was pretty excited to get picked for my second Influenster Vox Box, the Sugar 'N Spice Vox Box. Seriously, if you are not an Influenster member yet you need to do something about that.  (Need an invite?  I may have a few left- just email me. ;) )

I loved just about everything I received this go-round...

NECTRESSE sweetener, Retails for $3.99-6.99:

Okay, so this was my least favorite item in the Vox Box.  Honestly, I am just not a big fan of zero calorie sweeteners.  I prefer real sugar or honey.  I did try to stay open-minded and gave it a go in my hot tea one night.  It was entirely too sweet for me.  But never fear... it found a good home with my mother who loves sugar substitutes. ;)

belVita Breakfast Biscuits, $3.69 for a box of 5 packets of biscuits:

I received the Cinnamon Brown Sugar biscuits and loved them.  It was almost like eating Biscoff cookies for breakfast... but healthier.  These are great for a quick breakfast on the go.

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture, $7.99 for a 6.5

oz can:

So this is one of my favorites from the Sugar 'n Spice Vox Box.  Mainly because I am usually too lazy to properly moisturize after I have taken a shower.  And also because I am usually limited by baby girl's nap time as to how long I have to take the above mentioned shower and then moisturize and get dressed.  The Vaseline Spray & Go has ensured that I moisturize almost every day now.  Just spray all over, do a quick rub in, and get dressed.... and Done! :)  I will definitely be buying this again once I run out, although I am pretty sure I am trying the Cocoa Butter one next. 

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes, $5.99 for a 20-Count Box:

I really loved these for their convenience factor.  They were perfect to throw in my gym bag and use after a workout.  (Psssttt... I also may have used them on nights when I was SUPER tired and too lazy to actually wash my face. ;) )  The smell of Witch Hazel leaves something to be desired, but the towelettes left my face feeling clean and refreshed. 

Colgate Optic White Regimen (Toothpaste, $2.99; Mouthwash, $2.99- unless you go out and buy the big one like I did; Toothbrush, $2.99):

Now we have come to my very favorite thing in my entire Sugar 'N Spice Vox Box- the Colgate Optic White Regimen!  I am a daily coffee and sweet tea drinker and my poor smile had really begun to show the effects of that.  (I was totally going to do one of those before and after smile photos, but every time I snapped a pic of my teeth I just thought it looked weird.)  Within 2 weeks, I saw a noticeable difference in how much whiter and brighter my teeth looked!   Even the husband and son loved the new toothpaste and mouthwash in the house.  So much so that I had to go out and buy a BIG ole bottle of the Optic White mouthwash and my husband his very own Optic White toothbrush.  Yep, we have now officially switched toothpaste/toothbrush/mouthwash brands. :)

Did you receive an Sugar 'N Spice Vox Box from Influenster?  What was your favorite product in the box?

*The opinions above are strictly my own.  Yep, all 100% me, myself, and I.  I was provided products but was not obligated to provide a review, and was not compensated for my review in any other way.  If you are interested in having me review an item, please see my Sponsor Page for contact information.

The Green Giant's GIANT Surprise is....

You guessed it!  New Veggie Chips!

All I can say after my family and I tried their Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips with Sea Salt and Zesty Cheddar Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips is that it takes some real talent to make a snack that is packed full of veggies and whole grains that my veggie-phobic husband and son will actually eat and enjoy. ;) 

Seriously.  I am always looking for ways to hide vegetables into my family's meals and snacks.  And I have been striving to really make some more healthier snacking options for myself.  Green Giant is helping to make this a little easier for me.   

The Green Giant Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips in Zesty Cheddar were mine and baby girl's personal favorites.  These chips have 17 grams of whole grains per serving, are made with real vegetables & are flavored naturally.  These quickly became our favorite afternoon snack to share.

The Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips in Sea Salt were my husband's favorite, and this was an absolute shocker for me!  When I first handed him the bag to give him to try, he read out loud "sweet potatoes" and then crinkled up his nose in pessimistic disgust.

Then he tried one.

And then another.  And then another. 

You get the gist. ;)

He was completely surprised by this chip!  The taste was a cross between a sweet, crunchy cracker and a regular potato chip- not anything at all like you would expect from the normal sweet potato chips you are used to eating.  These were light and crispy. 

And might I add, they are packed with 14 grams of whole grains per serving and have 40% less fat than regular potato chips!

I bet you didn't know that the company who has been bringing you nutritious frozen vegetables for years could also make delicious snack chips packed full of those very same good-for-you veggies, now did you? ;)

Want to check out some of the other surprise talents that Green Giant has unearthed recently?  

Find even more of the Giant's favorite surprise talents on the Green Giant YouTube Channel.

Have your own surprise talent that you would like to share with the Green Giant?  Visit the Green Giant Facebook page to submit yours.

Want to try Green Giant's new Veggie Snack Chips?  CLICK HERE to get a printable coupon for 85 cents off your first bag! :)

Do any of you have a surprise talent that you would like to share?  Please feel free to tell me all about them in the Comments! 

Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant

Why You Need a Mug Rug...

I was thrilled when Hayley from Hayley's World contacted me about reviewing one of her Mug Rugs.  Okay, at first I was like what in the world is a mug rug??  

It is like a drink coaster...  But better! :)

Most mornings this ^^^ is my "office".  Yep, my little corner of the couch.  You will find my laptop resting on the arm.  And my blog planner and the legal pad I have been jotting down my recipes in to my side.  Also a staple in my blogger office?  A cup of coffee.  Prior to receiving my Mug Rug, I usually just set my coffee mug beside me on the couch.  

Yes, this was precarious.  

Yes, sometimes I suffered a spill or two.  And cleaning coffee out of micro suede sucks, folks.  

No, I can't leave my coffee on a little side table within reaching distance of a very active, mobile 11 month old. ;)

Not only is my Mug Rug from Hayley's World beyond cute, but it is so functional.  It keeps my coffee cup stable and protects my couch from unwanted spills. 

They are also beyond affordable at just $5 a piece.

If you would like to see Hayley's entire line of Mug Rugs, CLICK HERE.

(Oh, and have I mentioned that Hayley lives in the North Pole??  It has absolutely nothing to do with her fabulous Mug Rugs, but I just love that! ;) )

*The opinions above are strictly my own.  Yep, all 100% me, myself, and I.  I was provided a product in exchange for an honest review, and was not compensated for my review in any other way.  If you are interested in having me review an item, please see my Sponsor Page for contact information.

~Small Shop Spotlight~ Rational Designs

Seriously?  Just how cute are these Christmas cards already?? ;)

I was thrilled when Amy from Rational Designs came on board as one of my small shop sponsors last month.  She makes the most unique holiday cards, notecards, and stationery.  When she asked me to review any item from her shop, I was over the moon!  I immediately knew that I would have to have her Merry Christmas Ornament Notecard Set.  The "ornaments" are hand placed buttons!  You just really can't get much more cute than that. :)

I sent out my very first Rational Design card to my Christmas Cookie Swap partner.  (Pssssttt... I sent her my recipe for one of my family's favorites- Wedding Mexican Cakes, or as I used to simply call them, Snowballs.)  The cards come on a very sturdy cardstock.  No flimsy cheap paper here, folks.  Many of the details on Amy's notecards and stationery are hand stamped and hand traced.  Her eye for detail is wonderful, and guarantees you will not have a run of the mill Christmas card or notecard going out to loved ones.

Think it has to be too late to order your holiday cards now?  Well, you'd be wrong!  You can get your orders into Amy by the 13th and still have your notecards or stationery sets (these would make great gifts and stocking stuffers!) no later than the 18th.  The sooner you order, the better though. ;)

And Amy is offering my readers FREE FIRST CLASS SHIPPING on all U.S. domestic orders!!  To get the free shipping, use the coupon code FRUGAL at checkout.  OR, you can get Priority shipping for the cost of First Class shipping if you need your orders a little quicker.  To get the shipping upgrade, do NOT use the coupon code.  Instead, leave a message to Amy in Notes to Seller that you are coming to her site from Frugal Foodie Mama, and she will make sure you get the Priority shipping.  

Ready to shop??  Get on over to Rational Designs and get those holiday orders in! :)

*The opinions above are strictly my own.  Yep, all 100% me, myself, and I.  I was provided a product in exchange for an honest review, and was not compensated for my review in any other way.  If you are interested in having me review an item, please see my Sponsor Page for contact information.