Vanilla Bean Blondies + Recipe

Are you looking for a simple yet delicious recipe to make today?

You've come to the right spot! Below I will share with you how to make easy Vanilla Bean Blondies!

First you need the ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Butter, melted

1 Cup Sugar

1 Egg

1tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/8 tsp Baking Soda

Pinch of Salt (optional)

1 Cup of Flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease an 8x8 or 8x13 pan.  I use 8x13 and like the way mine come out. Not too thick and not too thin. If I were to be fancy, I would tell you to whisk the butter and sugar together, then add in the egg and vanilla while slowly adding in the dry ingredients, but let's be honest...it works just as well, throwing all the ingredients into one big bowl and mixing it well. That's how I do it anyways.

If you want your blondies to be extra moist, you can add in a pack of Jell-o's Simply Good Vanilla Bean Instant Pudding Mix! I did this and they came out extremely moist, almost gooey like. But it's perfect even without that add on. Once your ingredients are all mixed together, pour the batter into your greased pan, add in any sprinkles if you want, and place into the oven for about 20-30 minutes. The time really depends on your oven, so keep aware of the smell and golden brown top of your blondies. Test the middle with a toothpick and if it comes out clean, the blondies are done and ready to cool! They come out tasting delicious, moist, and slightly chewy. They are a family favorite! 

Organizing With Songmics 3-Tier Storage Cubes

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own. 

In need of organization? Songmics has you covered, with the DIY 3-Tier Storage Cube shelf, with 9 cubes and a door for each one! You can store several items inside these cubes. It's very versatile so you can have a variety of items in each box. Use it for clothing in the closet, in the craft room to hold art supplies, or your kids room for toys, there are so many uses for this fun storage piece.
The shelves are easy to put together, made with PP Plastic Panels and ABS connectors that fit into each piece, and you can shape them in multiple ways to fit the size you need.

I love having this extra piece of storage around. Living in an apartment means there's not a whole lot of space for big bulky pieces of furniture for storage, so having this one is really handy for us! Plus it can easily be taken apart for when we we move, without having to have anything big or heavy to carry! I currently am using this storage cubby in my son's room, in his closet. It is holding clothes, as well as craft supplies, sports equipment, and a few toys. I love that each cubby has a door, so it can be closed up, hiding what is inside, while keeping it looking neat and tidy. The shelves seem to be pretty sturdy, though I wouldn't suggest using it for books. Each cube is said that it can hold up to 10lbs but I would be careful with certain items. I've tried the shelving in different ways, so there are multiple options you can mold this storage system into. You can separate it into pieces, flip it long or short, or build the full 9 cube set up. It's so versatile!

If you're interested in easy to use storage, I highly recommend this piece. It's held up properly and is doing a nice job. You can find the Songmics 3-Tier Storage Cubes available for purchase on Amazon at a decent price. Also be sure to check out Songmics Facebook page, as they will be holding weekly giveaways for all their products!! 

Now for the giveaway! You have the chance to win your very own Songmics 3-Tier Storage Cubes set! Follow the Rafflecopter below. Good luck! (this giveaway is only open to residents of the U.S.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

Check out the goodies in this Goodies Box!

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

I received another Goodie Box (You can read my 1st box here) 
and this one is full of amazing products to sample!
(Though I forgot to take pictures of some of the things so bare with me)

In this box, it contained the following:

Vita Energy Mints by Goviter

Mocha Java Bar by Ona Treats

 Cologne Wipes For Men by Swago

Creamy Peanut Butter by Georgia Grinders

Eczema Body Wash & Shampoo by Natralia

Energy Stick Packs by Volo Vitamins

Pain Relieving Patch by Tiger Balm

100% Natural Ginger Candy by Prince of Peace

Kick Ass Ground Coffee by Kicking Horse Coffee

Hyaluronic DMAE Lift & Firm Cream by Andalou Naturals

From the entire contents of the box, my #1 favorite item was the Hyaluronic DMAE Lift & Firm Cream by Andalou Naturals. This was my favorite because I could really see the product working on my skin!! It helped diminish my fine lines and wrinkles that are starting to creep up, and it helped my skin look very soft and healthy. I mostly put the lotion beneath my eyes as I have been holding the very sleepy look lately lol, and I feel this cream helped improve it a lot. I will have to purchase this for future use!

Next in line came Mocha Java Bar by Ona Treats. This bar was tasty, minus the pieces of cacao nibs I had in it, but overall it was a nice little tasty treat. It contained 45mg of caffeine from locally roasted, organic, fair trade coffee beans, as well as organic nuts, honey, and chocolate. This bar makes for a nice little sweet tooth saver, satisfying that urge for a piece of candy.

The Eczema Body Wash & Shampoo by Natralia came next on my list, as it lathered easily in my loofah sponge and didn't have an overwhelming oatmeal scent. This soap left my skin feeling soft and supple, aiding in itch relief and moisturizing dry skin. I love that it's an all-natural formula and helps manage skin irritation. The easy to use pump bottle makes it great for children to use as well!

I was shocked by the amount of energy the Energy Stick Packs by Volo Vitamins gave me! I received the flavors in citrus and berry. I enjoyed the citrus flavor best. It fueled my workout, and house cleaning extremely well. I feel like this product worked better than coffee does, energy-wise at least :) Plus it contains vitamins?! Sounds like a win! 

100% Natural Ginger Candy by Prince of Peace held a little kick in every bite. These candies are much like taffy, as they are chewy, but meant to be sucked on. You get spicy and sweet in one, with that fresh taste of ginger. They're interesting in taste, but I've noticed they help sore throats feel better which is great for cold and allergy seasons. Plus ginger is really good for upset stomachs! Great little candy overall, especially if you love ginger.

Another kick for your caffeine, the Vita Energy Mints by Goviter were chocked full of fresh mintiness. They were so minty, that the spice of it was overwhelming to my tongue lol. I enjoyed one mint at a time, to experience the energy flow. It was nice to suck on during my workout, so I would not only get a move on easier, but also have fresh minty breath while doing so! I prefer your typical tic tac over these, but they were fun to experience!

Starting to see a theme here...more caffeine! Haha. The Kick Ass Ground Coffee by Kicking Horse Coffee was interesting. I thought the name was pretty clever, making me think the coffee would be extremely strong and give me a huge burst of energy. I'm sad to say, I didn't really like the taste of this coffee. It had a strong chemical like taste, I really just didn't enjoy. I shared this coffee with my mom, and she thought it was great. She enjoyed keeping the bag for herself  :)

I really like peanut butter so when I have the chance to try a new kind, I jump for it. When I received the Creamy Peanut Butter by Georgia Grinders I was just as excited to try it. I found the case it comes in to be very unique and less waste. But it is hard to get the last bits of peanut butter out haha. The flavor of this peanut butter was ok. It isn't very sweet, but it is healthier than a lot of peanut butter's out there. The texture was great, as peanut butter should be. I would love to try chunky next!

 Cologne Wipes For Men by Swago are perfect for on the go smell goods. I like my man smelling nice so these are really cool to have on hand ;) The wipe has a nice scent and is easy to use, just wipe where you want freshened up and you smell like you sprayed on cologne! The small compact size makes it easy for men to carry them in their pocket or wallet. They make nice stocking stuffer items during Christmas time too :)

And last but not least, the Pain Relieving Patch by Tiger Balm. I have always enjoyed using Tiger Balm for my aching muscles and just love the scent. It reminds me of Christmas time. I haven't had a chance to use the patch yet, as I haven't needed to! (knock on wood) But I'm sure I will love it just as I love the balm. Plus I wont get my hands all dirty so that's a plus!

I have once again loved testing out all these products from the Goodie Box. It's so much fun receiving new products to try. If you would like to receive free goodies too, sign up for your own Daily Good Box!

Click Here to Sign Up!

I received a complimentary product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Homemade Ice Cream in The DOWAN Bowl

 Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

   Sometimes finding the perfect snack bowl is better when you go simple. The DOWAN 10oz Porcelain Bowl is cute and sweet, yet very versatile for what you need. It may be small but I think it is the perfect piece for holding just what you need. Whether that be soup, cereal, fruit, dips, and more...this bowl won't let you down with it's petite stature. 

I just love the DOWAN 10oz bowl. It's the perfect size for ice cream! I made homemade ice cream, or "nice cream" if you will, using frozen bananas, strawberries, and watermelon blended with vanilla yogurt and a tiny bit of water. It came out great! Plus I topped the cream with Fruity Pebbles and Peanuts.You can make all kinds of "nice creams" using frozen bananas and different added in ingredients. A favorite is mixing in cocoa powder with peanuts or peanut butter, such a treat!

 The Dowan 10oz Bowl is made of Made of FDA approved porcelain, that is non-toxic and lead free.
 It is very durable and comes with a 30 day break-and-chip warranty.

You can find the DOWAN 10oz Bowl available for purchase on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CEBRKVE

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above at a discount using Tomoson.com. 
Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Happy 7-11 Day + Free Slurpee!

Today is July 11th (7-11) 

Which means it's 7-11 Day!!! 

Visit your local 7-11 Store and snag up a free small slurpee from 11:00am to 7:00pm. Every location has different flavors but I keep eyeballing the new limited Cotton Candy flavor! I hope my local 7-11 has this one because it sounds so yummy! They  also have Watermelon Lime which sounds just as good. I can't wait to see what my location offers!

What flavor are you excited to see to fill your slurpee cup with?

Head into your local 7-11 store starting at 11am today and pick one up! Don't forget to share a photo and tag it with #7ELEVENDAY

Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus Dishwasher Detergent Packs

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

   I tested Seventh Generation's Ultra Power Plus automatic dishwasher detergent packs and they're keeping my dishes sparkling clean! Each pack contains little pods of detergent, you just pop one into your dishwasher and it does all the dirty work for you. These pods are made with an enzyme-rich formula that can zap away 48hour stuck on food and fight stains with oxygen bleach. They do not contain any chlorine bleach, phosphates, or synthetic fragrances so you can feel good about using them on your dishes!

This was my first time using a Seventh Generation Dishwasher Pod and I liked it! Seems to be pretty effective at getting those dirty dishes clean. Plus it's so easy to use! Just one pod into the soap compartment and it's ready to go. My dishes come out clean every time! Though these pods don't leave behind a fresh scent like other products I have used do. This is good if you don't care about the scent, but I like a clean citrus smell coming from my dishwasher haha. I much rather a product that is healthier for me and my family though. The convenience in every little pod is perfect for needing to run your dishwasher on the go. It saves time and keeps you more organized without mess or thought. Such a great product!

You can find Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus Dishwasher Detergent Packs available for purchase online or in your local stores. Also be sure to visit seventhgeneration.com for more products and  information!

 I received a complimentary product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Extra Space and Place With Songmics Storage Ottoman Bench

 Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

    Both storage and seating, the Songmics Storage Ottoman Bench Seat makes a decorative piece in your home. The compact size of the bench makes it perfect for any room in the house, as it is versatile in decor and looks great in most locations. It would sit well in entryways as a place to take off your shoes, in bedrooms at the foot of your bed, or in living rooms as a coffee table for the couch...so many ideas! This bench is ideal for storing items, such as blankets, games, shoes, ect.

   The storage bench is sturdy seating, made with thickened CARB P2 MDF construction and can hold up to 660lbs in weight. It's outer exterior is designed with faux leather and has a tufted top with buttons and exquisite stitching for a modern day style. The dimensions of the bench are 43 1/4"L x 14 7/8"W x 14 7/8"H so it works nicely, sitting at a comfortable height to rest your legs. The bench is collapsible and can be kept flat for space saving solutions when needed. This also makes it great to pack when moving, so you could even take it in your RV or dorm room. Definitely a nice piece of furniture for those that move a lot. 

   I really like this set as it is not only an extra piece of storage, but we can use it to sit on, which is especially great when you have company. It is so easy to put together and takes less than 5 minutes! I currently have our bench at the end of our bed, and I like sitting on it, watching the birds through the patio door. I am using it to store blankets in, which comes in really hand since we are apartment dwellers and do not have linen closets here.  The bench seat is a great product and would also make a fantastic gift for those freshly moving into their own place...I definitely recommend it!

The Songmics Storage Ottoman Bench is a beautiful piece of furniture that looks great with modern day decor. You can find this piece available for purchase on Amazon in multiple colors and at an affordable price. Also be sure to check out Songmics Facebook page, as they will be holding weekly giveaways for all their products!! 

I received a complimentary product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.