National Doughnut Day!

National Doughnut Day Origins

I have to admit, for quite some time I really did think National Doughnut Day was just another one of those silly holidays someone came up with. After a little research though, I learned quite a bit about the origins of this sugary sweet holiday. According to USA Today:

"National Doughnut Day, the first Friday of June, is more than a celebration of our love for the fried confectioneries. The day actually has its roots in America's war history.

During World War I, about 250 Salvation Army officers went to Europe to comfort U.S. troops. They talked to soldiers and helped them write letters home.

They also made and served doughnuts along the frontline trenches.

"They had lard and flour and sugar, and they figured out a way to make doughnuts," said Ron Busroe, Salvation Army spokesman, in an interview with USA TODAY Network.

"It brought a sense of calm and a bit of home into the chaos of war," Busroe said." - Jolie Lee - USA Today Network

I definitely have a new found appreciation for this remarkable holiday and just wanted to share it's origins for others who may not have been aware of how special this holiday really is.

To read the full USA Today Article Click Here!
To read a fun list of little known facts about National Doughnut Day Click Here!

Doughnut Recipes to make and enjoy:

Old - Time Cake Doughnuts: Click Here for Recipe
Crispy and Creamy Doughnuts: Click Here for Recipe
Easy Doughnut Drop Recipe: Click Here for Recipe
-------------------------

Doughnut items available in our online shop:

Pink Doughnut Earrings

 

Itty Bitty Pink Doughnut Post Earrings

 Doughnut Charms on Etsy

 

Littlest Doughnut Charm Bracelet

 

Another Fantastic Novel by Eloisa James - Three Weeks With Lady X

Many of those who know me, are aware of my addiction to historical romance novels. There is just something about the era of these novels that draws me in. Over the years, I an acquired quite an extensive library of novels, but of course, I am always looking to add more! One of my favorite authors has a new book out that I am excited to add to my collection, Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James.

Click Here to purchase through www.amazon.com

From Amazon:
"The next fabulous romance by New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James.

Having made a fortune, Thorn Dautry, the powerful bastard son of a duke, decides that he needs a wife. But to marry a lady, Thorn must acquire a gleaming, civilized façade, the specialty of Lady Xenobia India.
Exquisite, headstrong, and independent, India vows to make Thorn marriageable in just three weeks.
But neither Thorn nor India anticipate the forbidden passion that explodes between them.
Thorn will stop at nothing to make India his. Failure is not an option.
But there is only one thing that will make India his . . . the one thing Thorn can't afford to lose . . . his fierce and lawless heart."

The novel is available in the following formats:
Kindle
Paperback
Mass Market Paperback
Audio CD
Audible

Reviews:
"Sharp, smart protagonists, dazzling in everything but love, eventually sort things out in this witty, deliciously sexy charmer..." ~ Library Journal, Starred Review

"James' wonderful cast and effortless plotting make this a delicious romance to be savored again and again." ~ Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Emotionally rewarding and elegantly written, with textured characters and a captivating plot, this is James at her best." ~ Kirkus, Starred Review

"Smart heroines, sensual heroes, witty repartee and a penchant for delicious romance have made James a fan favorite." ~ RT Book Reviews, Top Pick!

"[James's] gift for creating complex, richly layered characters pays off with spectacular dividends in her latest scintillating and exquisitely written historical novel, a romantic tour de force." ~ John Charles with Booklist 

"Delightfully sassy." ~ New York Journal of Books 

"Three Weeks with Lady X is like a romance reader's favorite chocolate - you simply can't get enough of Thorn and Lady X!... Eloisa James proves once more why she is a reader favorite and best-selling romance author - Three Weeks with Lady X is simply one of the best romances you will read this year. Don't miss it!" ~ Reader to Reader Reviews

Available through Amazon: Click Here to Purchase

To learn more about Eloisa James and her wonderful written works, please visit: http://www.eloisajames.com/ 

You can also follow her on facebook for updates and more on previous and upcoming novels :)
https://www.facebook.com/eloisajames

Father's Day Printables

A Father Is:
There in every memory
See his love and care
Strength and hands to count on
Freely he does share
Provider, toil so faithfully
To make our dreams come true
Give strong and tender discipline
Though it is hard to do
A Father is God's chosen one
To lead the family
And point it to His will for life
Of love and harmony...
Sue Skeen 

 Father's Day is just around the corner and what better way than to have your young ones spend some quality time with pops! These printables are the perfect activity for little hands and  can be enjoyed with that special father figure in their life.

These printables are free for all! While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website with consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

When Google Docs opens, just click on file then print settings and preview and print OR you can download the image to your computer using the same link and print it that way as well. 

 Click Here to download this Fathers Day Coloring Sheet

Click Here to download this Father's Day Coloring Sheet

Click Here to download this Father's Day Word Search

Mother's Day Printables

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful woman out there that provide guidance, care, love, and wisdom to a loved one. Whether you are a mom, grandmother, aunt, etc. this is your special day.

"My Mother Kept A Garden
My Mother kept a garden,
a garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things
that gave my life it's start.
She turned me to the sunshine
and encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing
the seeds of self-esteem...
And when the winds and rain came,
she protected me enough-
But not too much because she knew
I'd need to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example
always taught me right from wrong-
Markers for my pathway
that will last a lifetime long.
I am my Mother's garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
reflected back from me
Author Unknown "


I decided to put together a few printables for the young ones to enjoy. They can be colored and given as gifts or they can printed and enjoyed with mom on Mothers Day =)

These printables are free for all! While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website with consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

Click Here to Download and Print our Mothers Day Word Search/Coloring Sheet

 

Click Here to Download and Print our Mothers Day Coloring Sheet

 

Click Here to Download and Print our Mothers Day Coloring Sheet

Cupcake Themed Printables

Who doesn't love a sugary cupcake?! They are not only absolutely delicious, but they are just so darn pretty! Our next set of free printables feature this stunning dessert. These activities are perfect for that rainy day or for your next party with a cupcake theme!

When Google Docs opens, just click on file then print settings and preview and print OR you can download the image to your computer using the same link and print it that way as well.

 Click Here to Download and/or Print the Cupcake Memory Game

Click Here to Download and/or Print the Cupcake Word Search/Coloring Sheet

For those still struggling finding some of the words in the word search, we have also provided an answer key:

These printables are free for all! While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website with consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle Ring Tutorial

Looking for a quick and easy craft idea for your next DIY session? Look no further than this fun and easy Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Ring Tutorial! The steps are provided in the video below :-)

These are great as they can be customized for any thing and can be decorated using just about anything. I used ribbon scraps and buttons for this video, but the possibilities are endless. They can be created for a themed party and given out as party favors or you can make one match your favorite outfit! Here are just a few of the ones I have made recently:

This fun and easy craft will be a hit for all! For this specific project, I did use a glue gun so please, do be careful! This project can also be used with regular glue, it just may take longer to dry.

BzzCampaign: Fiber One® Protein Cereal Review

What better way to start the new year than with a new daily routine! The Spring Semester has begun for this blogger and thankfully I am in my final year! Since I am balancing clinicals and school, it is important for me to be able to eat right and stay energized (...lol I do try occasionally!) With all of the new wonderfully fun Bzzcampaigns going out this month, I was incredibly pleased to discover I had been selected to take part in the Fiber One Protein Cereal Bzzcampaign!

Included in my package was:

• A FREE full-size box of NEW Fiber One^® Protein Maple Brown Sugar Cereal
• A FREE full-size box of NEW Fiber One^® Protein Cranberry Almond Cereal
• Pass along coupons for friends and family to save on either variety of NEW Fiber One^® Protein Cereal
• Bzzagent infor with bzz tips

How lucky can a girl be?! I was definitely looking forward to breakfast the following morning and was not disappointed! My personal favorite was the maple brown sugar. It was so yummy and so full of flavor. It stayed crisp, crunchy, and sweet even after adding the milk!

The added bonus of course was the protein & fiber! To quote bzzagent, " Fiber One Protein Cereal contains 10g of protein when served with milk and 20% daily value of fiber, making it a great option all day long!" You definitely can't go wrong.

This tasty cereal can also go beyond breakfast! This would make a great addition to any parfait or yogurt combo and adds a snazzy crunch to a cookie recipe. The possibilities are endless!

The verdict? This is a must try even for those with more particular tastes (aka sisters with picky taste buds lol)

Do you have some unique ways of eating this cereal other than as a tasty breakfast option? Share them in the comment section! We would love to see them.

__________________________

What to learn more about Fiber One® Protein Cereal and other similar products? Visit their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/fiberone

Want to learn more about fantastic products AND try them free? Learn more about becoming a bzzagent such as myself at: www.bzzagent.com

**As a Bzzagent, I received both boxes of Fiber One® Protein Cereal  totally free from bzzagent.com & General Mills. My opinion written above is my own honest opinion of  the product. **

BzzCampaign: Schick Hydro Silk Sensative Skin Care Razor

What better way to ring in a brand new year than with a brand spankin' new Bzzcampaign from Bzzagent! When I found out that I would be participating in the Schick Hydro Silk Sensative Skin Care Razor Bzzcampaign, I was pretty excited!

So here are a few admission to start off this review lol. We have been experiencing some really cold temperatures lately which has been a wonderful break from the heat we are so used to year round ... the problem ... I definitely didn't shave my legs as often as I should have and even when I did cheated (lol only shaved below the knee :P ). So now that the warmer temperatures are returning, it is definitely time to get out the razor and shaving lotion/cream and get to work!

My Bzzcampaign kit arrived just in time! I was definitely attracted to the packaging, but felt maybe a simpler box would have worked better as I had to practically tear mine apart to get to the razor.

 

I noticed that the razor came with a plastic holder that could be attached in your shower for storage. To be honest, the holder was rather flimsy and really didn't hold it in place so I just didn't use it.

I did a test run using this razor and decided that I would use my Bic soleil on one leg and the Schick hydro on the other. I gotta say, the bic soleil won hands down. I wasn't too happy with the Schick hydro results. The shave wasn't anywhere near as consistent or close as the soleil. I found that I still had patches of hair and had to go over the areas multiple times.

I used the schick brand shaving cream that was recommended to use with the product and all it did was clog up the blades and make a mess.

HOWEVER!!! There are some great perks to this product.

I do love the moisturizing bands around the blades and found that if you bypass the shaving gel and just moisten your legs with water and use the razor, the shave is actually pretty good and really does leave your legs soft to the touch. I also loved that it really moisturized my skin and didn't leave me feeling dry at all.

It has been 5 days since my shave and I can actually say I am just barely starting to see signs of light stubble. This is actually a pleasant surprise for me as I typically start seeing stubble in as little as 2 days, so I definitely like not having to shave as often!

My verdict on this product would be to give it a try. It is definitely a great product to use for those of us with sensitive skin.

______________________________

What to learn more about the Schick Hydro and other similar products? Visit their facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SchickHydroSilk

Want to learn more about fantastic products AND try them free? Learn more about becoming a bzzagent such as myself at: www.bzzagent.com

**As a Bzzagent, I received the Schick Hydro Silk Sensative Skin Care Razor  totally free from bzzagent.com. My opinion written above is my own honest opinion of  the product. **

Valentine's Day 2014 Free Printables

It has definitely been quite some time since I have posted a new printable, but here is to a bright new year! Below you will find our brand new Valentine's Day Printables for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Here is to wishing everyone a bright and fun filled 2014!

While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website without consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

When Google Docs opens, just click on file then print settings and preview and print OR you can download the image to your computer using the same link and print it that way as well.

 Click Here to Download and Print The "Color My World Valentine"

 Click Here to Download and Print the "Shining Star Valentine"

Pinterest Fun!