Sterno S'mores Maker Party

I was recently sent a complimentary Sterno S'mores Maker, compliments of Tryazon, in exchange for my honest opinion of this product.  This past weekend I hosted a family gathering and we were able to make S'mores right on the table on our patio without the need to build a fire!  Adults and kids alike had a great time.  The S'mores Maker was easy to set up, cleanup was a breeze and it provided wonderful S'mores and fun entertainment.  Here are some pictures of my family enjoying the great outdoors with one another and making tasty S'mores!  #tryazon #smoresanytime 

Kids on the Block Party

I was recently introduced to IO Blocks (a product made by Guide Craft) compliments of Tryazon, in exchange for my honest review.  As an alternative to Legos, kids can use them to build all sorts of things (animals, robots, buildings, vehicles and more) by using their imagination or the set of creativity cards that come with the set (showing them how to build certain things).  The blocks are soft to the touch, come in bright colors and are very easy to assemble (easily adjustable friction fit) as well as disassemble.  I recently hosted a "Kids on the Block" party and the moms that attended love how these blocks foster their child's imagination as well as foster STEM skill development.  Another very cool feature to the set is that it comes with an innovative augmented reality IO Blocks App that acts as a virtual build guide: free download included for your smartphone or tablet.  Below are a couple pictures from the party:

                                The kids are enjoying sharing ideas and using their imagination

                                  What a fun filled day playing with friends while learning!

For more information on this product, where to buy and to view the different IO Block sets, please visit http://www.guidecraft.com/product-cat/ioblocks/.   #tryazon  #ioblocks

L'Oréal® Paris Advanced Haircare

I recently sampled L'Oréal® Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Lustrous Oil Serum, compliments of crowdtap, and LOVE the results!  I have used other L'Oréal® products in the past and have been very happy with them, so I was very excited to try this product line for the first time.  The shampoo easy lathered (but contains sodium laurel sulfate, so is not safe for color treated hair) and smells wonderful.  I left the conditioner on for 5 minutes (directions stated 1-3 minutes) and as soon as I washed it out, my hair felt the silkiest and softest it's ever felt!  After showering, my hair felt so healthy and nourished.  Next, I applied the Extraordinary Lustrous Oil Serum and once my hair dried, it was so shiny and my hair wasn't frizzy like usual.  My hair is prone to breakage, so I love that this product line targets this problem and also contains coconut, argan, chamomile, amla, soja and sunflower oils that penetrate and nourish each strand from deep within and then seals in each cuticle to protect hair.  And even with all the oils in each product, my hair didn't feel weighed down at all or greasy.  Once again, I was not disappointed with this line of L'Oréal® Paris products.  I would definitely recommend!  Below is an after photo:

Getting Crafty With Mr. Sketch® Scented Washable Markers

My kids and I recently sampled Mr. Sketch® Scented Washable Markers, compliments of Crowdtap.  It was the perfect day to try out these markers because it was snowing outside and the kids made artwork with these markers for 2 hours!  I sat down with them and began drawing, too... the smells brought back lots of great memories from my childhood and I loved being able to pass that down to my kids.  The boys very much enjoyed closing their eyes and trying to guess the scent of each marker.  We had so much fun!  They love the bright, bold colors and I love that the marker easily washed out of their clothing after all the fun.  Thank you Mr. Sketch® and Crowdtap for a fun afternoon!

Cooking With Country Crock® Calcium plus Vitamin D

I recently received a free tub of Country Crock® Calcium plus Vitamin D, compliments of Influenster, in exchange for me honest opinion of this product.  Before receiving a free coupon for this product, it had been YEARS since I used Country Crock®.  I forgot how delicious and creamy it tastes!  Not only that, but this variety has added Calcium + Vitamin D.  It is also easy to spread and is made with natural flavors and oils.  This is a butter I can feel good about using!  Here is a small sampling of some of the desserts and melted chocolate I recently made using this butter.  The dessert turned out delicious!  If you haven't tried this butter in awhile, give it a try - you won't be disappointed!

Garnier Clearly Brighter Challenge

I recently took the Garnier Clearly Brighter Challenge and can honestly say that my skin has never felt and looked better.  After using this Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer for only one week, my face is visibly more radiant, feels smoother, appears more even toned and is moisturized.  I love that the Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer is infused with antioxidants (Vitamins C & E, Pine Bark Essence, and gentle exfoliating Lipo-Hydroxyl Acid), and contains a broad spectrum SPF 15.  It has a wonderful smell (unlike some moisturizers with sunscreen in them) and absorbs into the skin quickly without that greasy feeling.  After seeing results with this product, I plan to add other Clearly Brighter skincare products to my daily routine.

Sheila G's Brownie Brittle Tryazon Party

I hosted this Thanksgiving at my home and after our feast, I introduced Shiela G's Brownie Brittle to family and friends.  I was sent several complimentary bags from Tryazon in exchange for an honest opinion of this product.  Each person that tried the dessert LOVED it!  It has a nice crisp texture and a rich, chocolate flavor with very few calories. 

For the recipe, I made Brownie Brittle Toffee.  Recipe is as follows:

Brownie Brittle Toffee

1 bag (5 ounces) Brownie Brittle

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon corn syrup

3/4 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1. Line a 9 x13 pan with foil. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Place Brownie Brittle in a single layer on bottom of pan, start with the large pieces and then fill in the gaps with the smaller pieces and crumbs. Set aside.
2. In a 2 quart sauce pan, melt butter, sugar, water and corn syrup, until sugar is melted and all combined. Increase heat to medium, stirring frequently, heat to a temperature of 290 degrees (hard crack stage on a candy thermometer)
3. Remove from heat and carefully pour evenly over Brownie Brittle. Let sit for 5 minutes then sprinkle chocolate chips over top of toffee layer. Let sit another 5-6 minutes, until chocolate chips start to melt. Spread melted chocolate evenly over top of toffee. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
4. Let candy completely cool. Lift candy out of pan using foil. Remove foil and place candy on a cutting board to cut. Using a sharp knife, cut candy into squares. Store in an airtight container.

Brownie Brittle is only 120 calories per ounce, so it makes for a wonderful dessert (even for those who are watching their calories)!  Brownie Brittle can be found in more than 20,000 stores.  For a location near you, visit http://browniebrittle.com/find-a-store.

For more recipes using Brownie Brittle, please visit http://browniebrittle.com/recipes-all/.  And right now you can order on their website using code DEC25 to receive 25% off your order!  #tryazon #browniebrittle