Heading Into Fall With Beautiful Skin Thanks To Mederma®

This project is sponsored by Mederma. All opinions and content are mine alone.

I just wanted to share some updates on one of my latest projects! Mederma has engaged me on an exciting Pinterest project, and I am curating a Pinterest Board, inspired by their wonderful scar-care products. Fall is here and it's is definitely not the time to forget about your skin. 

Check out my Dedicated Board here, and see it evolve every day - I am excited to be sharing pins to the board often, and I hope you love it! See it here.

Shop Mederma on Amazon Here!

Good Fortunes + Delicious Date Night Ideas With Tai Pei

This post was sponsored Tai Pei, all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #taipeifrozenfood #IC

Looking to make your next date night a little more special? In order to have a fun date, you definitely don't need to even leave the house to enjoy a fancy dinner, just the two of you. Imagine no distractions, great memories, and a delicious, restaurant-quality meal that takes only minutes to make. I have some fun and thoughtful ways you can include this new and delicious Fried Rice into your next evening together. Whether you're new to Asian Food, or always prefer it to other meals, keep reading to learn more about making your date night extra special!

Tai Pei has introduced a new line of Single Serve Entrees, available at Walmart. 

What is your dream date night?

If you said, "Netflix and Chill", then we are on the same page. While it may not seem important to set aside some down time, I am a full believer in the therapeutic powers of relaxing together. Wear something cute, or wear something comfortable, it's all up to you, on how you want to set the mood :)

I love looking back at all the fun times we have had when we turn off the phones, make a delicious dinner, and actually make ourselves sit down and watch a full movie or TV series. We really don't get that much time to enjoy movies - we sometimes put on a movie before heading to bed but one of us falls asleep, or just watch a show on demand every few nights, but we are so busy with photography projects that any time spent with media is generally work related. 

So, dedicating some time to just enjoy each others company is wonderful. I love the idea of making a date night dinner, but sometimes a huge intensive, fancy meal is not necessary. These Tai Pei meals made dinner a BREEZE!

Good Fortunes

I embellished these awesome fortune cookies for us to enjoy during our date night.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Lay out fortune cookies onto lined sheet pan

2.) Melt white chocolate or colored candy melts until smooth. I used a mixture of white and yellow candy melts for mine. Pour sprinkles into a shallow dish.

3.) Working one cookie at a time, dip half of the fortune cookie into melted chocolate and press the fortune cookies into the sprinkles to attach them. Any place that did not get covered, use your fingers to sprinkle a few more sprinkles onto the cookies. Place onto sheet pan, and repeat with each cookie until done.

Date Night Necessities

I love the idea of adding special touches to the meal. After cooking the entrees, which I was able to heat up on my stovetop (microwave would have worked well also!), I carefully transferred the Fried Rice dishes into cute bowls, and placed them on smaller, patterned plates. This sort of presentation makes for a beautiful and elegant surprise!

Some other special touches I added included a few Fall scented candles from Walmart, and LOTS of comfy-cozy blankets and pillows in faux fur and velvets.

Tai Pei’s real, quality ingredients and fresh taste! Above, I enjoyed the Broccoli Beef quite a bit! That is always my go-to at a restaurant, and I loved the fresh ginger taste and aroma this dish contained. All new, great tasting dishes with exceptional flavor in each meal and a range of tasty entrées. All entrees are made with real, pure ingredients, and no preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Visit The Tai Pei Website

Get Your Tai Pei Coupon Here

(This coupon gives you $1 off any Tai Pei single serving bowl)

Above, the Shrimp Fried Rice was awesome! You get a ton of shrimp inside, in addition to lots of other delicious veggies and rice. Eliminate the boredom of typical, everyday meals, with so many choices and interesting, delicious dishes. Great options for meals at home or even while traveling. When we are on the road, we tend to arrive at our destination pretty late at night. Instead of ordering pizza to the room, we tend to have a more fulfilling meal by grabbing groceries at a grocery store or a Walmart, then prepping them and making them in the room. Their ew packaging also makes Tai Pei quick and simple to prepare in just minutes in the microwave.

Organic Cranberry Blueberry Salad Dressing Recipe

This post has been sponsored by Ocean Spray®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a new and very delicious, organic salad dressing recipe, look no further! Organic ingredients are so important to my life, and Ocean Spray is now offering a line of three organic juice flavors (Ocean Spray® 100% Juice Organic Cranberry, Organic Cranberry Blueberry, and Organic Cranberry Apple)! YAY!!

I found mine at Kroger in the juice aisle, and actually picked up all of the other featured ingredients in the store as well. Luckily our local Kroger has recently been renovated and they’ve done a great job of making their fresh fruit and veggie section even more appealing than before.

As THE Cranberry Company, Ocean Spray is introducing a delicious, organic, 100% juice to Kroger shoppers who are looking for organic beverage products. Through their new product, Ocean Spray® Organic 100% Juices, they’re providing consumers with delicious tasting, affordable, organic beverages that the whole family is sure to love. Each has 2 servings of fruit, and is USDA Organic Certified, Non-GMO, Gluten Free with 100% Vitamin C, sugar, artificial colors/flavors/preservatives added.

In this post, I use nspiration from this recipe from Ocean Spray’s website, and I love how everything turned out! This organic salad and salad dressing combo would make an absolutely wonderful and nutritious side dish or main meal for an upcoming holiday get together.

I always love eating as many salads as possible, but a bowl of lettuce with a store bought bottle of dressing is not going to keep my interest or make me want to come back for more. Luckily, with the addition of so many awesome ingredients, this salad is going to be a weekly addition to my meals, and I know that having another salad dressing recipe in my collection will be great.

Packed with nutrients and a variety of colors and flavors, this delicious salad will encourage you to eat more fresh ingredients than ever before. Ingredients Make ervings SALAD 1/2 cup walnut pieces or halves 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon water 1 5 to 6-ounce bag baby salad greens or spring greens 1 cup crumbled blue cheese 3/4 cup Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries Blueberry Juice Infused DRESSING 2 tablespoons Ocean Spray® 100% Juice Organic Cranberry Blueberry 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup vegetable oil

TO MAKE SALAD: Combine walnuts, sugar and water in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar melts and coats walnuts. Spread walnuts on waxed paper lightly sprayed with cooking spray; cool. Combine greens, cheese, and walnuts in large bowl. TO MAKE DRESSING: Whisk together all Dressing ingredients except oil in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil until slightly thickened. Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat.

Above, a beautiful mixture of baby greens and spinach.

The more flavors, colors, and textures you add to your salad, the more it will fill you up and keep you happy!

Above, the Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries Blueberry Juice Infused add SO much to the salad! Add your homemade organic salad dressing on top, and enjoy!

What Would You Give To End ALS?

Have you ever had your teeth brushed by someone other than yourself? How about being spoon fed while you’re out to dinner? Or having a loved one shower and dress you every morning? 

Most of us don’t have to rely on others to help us in these ways. Most of us take these abilities for granted, as we rush from one day to the next.

But for people living with ALS, these are realities. And they would give anything to reverse them.

Pin this image to spread the word about joining the fight to cure ALS. 

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease) is one of the worst diseases we know of. In people with ALS, motor neurons deteriorate leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS, and most people live 2-5 years after their first signs of disease. There is currently no treatment or cure

That’s why I've teamed up with the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI)--a non-profit biotech 100% focused on finding a treatment and cure--to build awareness of the disease and raise funds for research.

The goal this year is to raise $50,000 through our collective efforts. And up to $25,000 will be matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous and very generous donor! Together, we can raise funds to help make ALS a thing of the past!

#WhatWouldYouGive #EndALS

Fall Vibes

Here in southern Illinois, Fall has arrived! The weather finally cooled this evening after it rained all day, so we are thoroughly enjoying Fall again :) Here are a few Fall images I shot and just love! Hope you enjoy!  

Yay for Fall! 

S'mores + Fall Fashion #LiveInLayers

If you love being outdoors but don't enjoy being layered up in thick, uncomfortable clothing, then you might want to give Cuddl Duds a try! Cuddl Duds is more than just a clothing brand, it's a lifestyle brand that enables comfort in every shape and form.

I feel most at home outdoors, and among nature. With cooler weather FINALLY here, I am excited to expand my Fall/Winter wardrobe with pieces that will withstand a few adventures. I am all about clothing that is comfortable, high performing, and flattering. Cuddl Duds checks all the boxes! These clothing fit extremely well - nothing was too tight or too lose, just perfect. 

Perfect for a walk in the woods, a day with friends, or cuddling up on the couch with a good magazine or movie, these clothes are really wonderful. 

BONUS RECIPE: Pumpkin Sugar Cookie S'mores (Video)

Watch the video above to get the recipe details.

The smell of a pine forest on a cool day ALWAYS makes me happy! I love getting out for some fresh air.

The shirt was probably my favorite of all the pieces. It's SUPER soft, nice and stretchy and unlike a lot of similar styles of shirts, this one fit exceptionally well. Sometimes, I find that more form fitting shirts like this can be tight under the arms, but I was able to wear this shirt all day while moving around and had no issues at all! These clothes would be amazing for traveling, since they would not wrinkle and the shirt would take up hardly any room in your luggage. I really appreciate high quality clothing that is lightweight but is still warm and comfortable! I just love multi-use, multi-occasion clothing pieces that are so versatile like these ones.

Below, you can see the fleece hooded jacket, which is going to be perfect to bundle up on a chilly day soon.

Do you have any fun plans for the Fall? What are some of your favorite ways to enjoys a crisp autumn day?

Here are a few more goodies from Cuddl Duds! 

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AllNaturalPork #CollectiveBias

Looking for a delicious, unique, and elevated recipe? Well, you're iun the right place! I am so excited to share this amazing recipe with you, that would be amazing for a tailgate party, family dinners, or just for a quick meal that you can pre ahead pf time and have as leftovers throughout the week.

If you love the idea of creamy, buttery mushroom sauce covering a pulled pork slider burger, then you're in luck. This recipe delivers that and MORE! The pork can be cooked ahead of time, making this dish VERY quick and easy to prep and serve.

Perhaps you could make this delicious meal for a hero in your life, or a group of heroes or community superstars in your life! I love people who go the extra mile and have Compassion For the Community. My mom volunteers with lots of different groups around my home town, and she is also involved with the city's Festival of Trees! She decorates trees and wreaths, and also puts together these adorable gift boxes for the elderly. They contain a mini Christmas tree and all the supplies to decorate it, because that sort of activity and final product (a personalized Christmas Tree) would surely bring joy to just about anyone's day! I cannot wait to make this recipe for my mom soon! Hope you enjoy!

PRINT THIS RECIPE:

ENTER TO WIN THE SWEEPSTAKES...

FEATURED PRODUCT:

Smithfield All Natural Boneless Loin Filets

The pork tenderloin, also called pork fillet, is a long thin cut of pork.

The tenderloin is an amazingly versatile cut of pork, and is extremely affordable.

Once the tenderloin has been grilled, roasted in the oven, cooked on the stovetop, or even smoked in a smoker, the recipe options are endless!

2 1/2 - 3 Lbs. Smithfield All Natural Boneless Pork Loin Filet (keep as full pieces, do not cut before cooking)

1-2 (32 oz.) containers of vegetable or chicken broth

1/3 -2/3 C. Heavy Cream (depending on your desired sauce thickness)

16 oz. Small Portobello Mushrooms, sliced

1 Small Red Onion, chopped

2 Tbsp Butter

2 Tbsp Grated/Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Salt and Seasonings

1-2 Sage Leaves

Olive Oil

1 - 1 1/2 tsp Cornstarch

1.) In a large sauce pan, add 2.5-3 lbs. of Smithfield All Natural Boneless Pork Tenderloin, vegetable broth, and desired seasonings. Turn heat up to high, and once everything is boiling, turn down heat to medium or medium low to create more of a simmer without being a boil.

2.) Simmer for around 2 1/2 -3 hours. Using a pair of tongs, remove one piece of tenderloin from the broth, and see if it's able to shred easily. Once able to shred, then you are ready to prep the meal! The images below show how beautifully well the Smithfield Pork Tenderloins are for making pulled pork.

3.) At this point, you can add your favorite BBQ sauce to the pulled pork OR make this amazing Creamy, Buttery Mushroom Gravy! To make the sauce, in a skillet, add your butter, onions, salt, and favorite seasonings. 

4.) Add sliced mushrooms, and cook until softened or to desired texture. 

5.) Toast your slider buns during this part of the process.

5.) Add cream and 1 tbsp corn starch to the skillet, and stir. If you want the sauce thicker, add around 1/2 tsp. more cornstarch. 

6.) Let sauce thicken on skillet over medium-medium high heat. and once it's all ready, pour into a bowl to use for topping sliders, OR, add all gravy and pork into one bowl to combine - this wound up being my favorite way to enjoy it.

OTHER AVAILABLE SMITHFIELD NATURALS PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

Smithfield All Natural Boneless Loin Filet 

Smithfield All Natural Shoulder Roast 

Smithfield All Natural Pork Tenderloin

Smithfield All Natural Boneless Pork Chops

Smithfield All Natural Bone-In Pork Chops 

Smithfield All Natural Back Ribs

BOO-Ya! It’s a Welch’s Halloween Party

This post is sponsored by Welch’s® Fruit Snacks. I am being compensated for this post. All comments and opinions are my own.

I am SO excited for Halloween, I cannot even explain it! I wanted to share some tips on setting up a beautiful and stylish Halloween party, and by using a little bit of your DIY spirit, you can host a stylish Halloween party that will never be forgotten. I am a lover of all things Halloween, and the Halloween treats are probably my favorite part. I have always loved Welch’s products, and when the opportunity arose to create a Halloween Party Post inspired by their new Fruit Rolls, I jumped on the opportunity!

Impress your guests with the cutest décor in black and white, and invite them to make sweet, lasting memories for many years to come. This black and white theme turned out so great, scroll down to get the full details!

Luckily, fruit is the first ingredient in these little treats – they display that fact proudly on the front of every package. They have 100% of the daily value of Vitamin C and 25% daily value of Vitamins A & E. These Welch’s Fruit Rolls are super fun to eat, and I really enjoyed the Berry flavor – perfect for a longer lasting treat than a small bite of something! Unroll the fun in this fun, new format!

I always love to glam-up my dessert tables, because we eat with our eyes first! I knew guests would gravitate towards the Welch’s Fruit Rolls right away, and the purple labels are so berry-liscious! I placed them in a rectangular, white dish that has gold dots on it. What a fun way to provide treats to those who love them.

I began designing my party table by adding a white crushed velvet tablecloth, which is a material that is so popular right now. I then added a few wooden crates and a white photo storage boxes to add some height, and bring the treats and décor up to eye level. I love the stark contrast that the black pumpkins and skulls create atop all of the light, white surfaces!

These awesome glitter bats really livened up the party décor! I loved how they created such an impactful graphic that was so eye-catching.

One budget-friendly tip would be to start looking for décor at a dollar store first. Try to make things work for you, or even figure out how to paint certain items to fit your theme.

Below, you will see these awesome, trendy black pumpkins I painted! Most stores were selling pumpkins for nearly $10-20 each, so when I found the orange, Styrofoam ones at the dollar store, I painted them with acrylic water based paint (2 coats), and they looked great!

NOTE: Never paint Styrofoam with spray paint, because it will start eating away at your Styrofoam. I used a nice quality foam brush and two coats of black acrylic craft paint on each pumpkin. What do you think of them?

It’s so fun to go a little above and beyond in décor AND snacking choices! Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Fruit Rolls are my go to choice!

Check out an awesome coupon on Facebook, here!

Here are a few more shots from the setup! I hope you enjoy new Welch’s Fruit Rolls available in 3 delicious varieties: Berry, White Grape, Strawberry and Tropical Punch. They are delicious!!!

Above, caramel popcorn packaged in little Halloween paper bags really set the mood for Halloween.

Below, I wrapped star printed scrapbooking paper around each glass bottle, and also included these fun black and white striped paper straws to add to the color scheme.

I want to extend a very special thanks to Welch’s Fruit Rolls for sponsoring this post and inspiring me to celebrate Halloween in such a fun way. Enjoy!  

PIN IT FOR LATER:

Delicious and Filling Vegetarian Noodle Soup Recipe with No Yolks Noodles

    This post was sponsored by No Yolks as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

    Looking to make your soups even more delicious? Just add noodles! I'm excited to share a vegetarian noodle soup recipe with you, which makes a lot of leftovers. Packed with lots of delicious vegetables, this recipe offers a way to incorporate more healthy ingredients into your meals. And, the best part, you wont even miss the meat! 

    No Yolks isn’t just for stroganoff or casseroles! No Yolks is also great for soups!

    One of my all time favorite meals when I was a kid was tuna noodle casserole. My mom always used No Yolks noodles, so this post brings back great memories for me! I am excited to update the more well-known way of using these egg noodles into a fresh, modern soup, perfect for just about anyone!

    This recipe contains 100% vegetarian ingredients! I hope you enjoy it!

    (SERVES A LOT!!! GREAT FOR LEFTOVERS)

    1 Package of No Yolks Broad Noodles (get your coupons here!)

    Vegetable Broth (2-3 containers - 32 oz each)

    1 Can Each - diced tomatoes, corn, peas, green beans, black beans, white beans, 

    Fresh Ingredients - 1 small yellow squash, 1 small zucchini, 2-3 red potatoes, 2 leeks, handful of baby carrots, 2-3 stalks of celery

    Seasonings (I used blends like Taco Seasoning, Greek Seasoning, Taco Seasoning, and Creole Seasoning)

    Olive Oil

    Stock Pot for all ingredients, knife, cutting board, can opener, large spoon to stir all ingredients

    Above, a glimpse of the prettiest ingredients in hues of green and yellow. Leeks, the stalky like greenery on the right side of the cutting board, are similar to a mild onion. They are even a similar texture when cut, and when you thinly slice them, they're perfect for soups. 

    Also, the parsley is a great addition of pops of green on the soup as garnish, and the yellow squash and green zucchini added a more Fall taste to the soup. 

    I was able to find my noodles and ALL of my other ingredients at my local grocery store, Schnucks here in Carbondale, IL. They were in the pasta aisle!

    ENTER TO WIN THE NO YOLKS SWEEPSTAKES!

    I-C will randomly select 5 winners from all program entries and will facilitate fulfillment of the winning prizes.

    Prize: Five (5) $100 gift cards

    Dates: October 3 - November 15, 2017

    Below, you will see how the No Yolks Noodles add texture and a heartier, cold weather vibe to the soup. No Yolks are high quality noodles that always cook up smooth, firm and fluffy and stay that way in your favorite recipe. They add such a great texture to this soup.

    No Yolks come in a variety of cuts for all types of recipes including Broad, Extra Broad, Fine, Kluski, Dumplings, and now Stir-Fry! YUM!!

    1.) Chop and prep all fresh ingredients. Slice leeks into little pieces, and slice and dice yellow squash and zucchini. Also chop carrots and potatoes into small pieces.

    2.) Drain all canned vegetables (except tomatoes) and combine in a mixing bowl to add later. This will allow you to hold the ingredients while you re-use your strainer for each can of veggies. 

    3.) In your large stock pot, turn on the heat, and sauté 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil, leeks, potatoes, seasonings, Celery, yellow squash, and zucchini until celery begins to soften. 

    4.) Add No Yolks Noodles, can of tomatoes, 2 containers of vegetable broth, peas, corn, green beans, and lastly, black and white beans. add more seasoning if desired, and mix all ingredients to combine. 

    5.) Now, turn up your heat, and after about 6 or so minutes, your soup should come to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for another 15-30 minutes. If you can make this a few hours ahead of time, or even make it the day before, the flavor keeps getting better every day! It's amazing as leftovers.

    ** IMPORTANT NOTE ** If you have a large amount of soup as leftovers, try to freeze as much as possible. Overnight, the ingredients wound up absorbing all of my broth! I fixed this issue by adding 1/2-1 more container of veggie broth and the soup was absolutely PERFECT!!! I know you're going to love this recipe.  

    CONNECT ON SOCIAL

    No Yolks website: https://www.noyolks.com/

    No Yolks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noyolksnoodles/

    No Yolks Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/noyolksnoodles/

    No Yolks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noyolksnoodles/

    I am so happy with how this post turned out, and I wanted to extend a special thanks to No Yolks for inspiring me to create such a delicious meal for my family! Maybe something like Sriracha Cheesy Noodles or Noodles with Kale and Walnut Pesto will be next! 

    TOP Fall Fashion Trends and Where To Find Them

    Fall is definitely the best season to dress for (and shop for), and I love the idea of layering basic items to create an awesome silhouette! I am all about comfort too, so I always tend to air on the functional side when dressing. Here are a couple of my favorite Fall outfit ideas that I cannot wait to wear soon. And, because this week's weather is supposed to be in the high 80s still, I know these outfits are going to be good transitional pieces for the end of a warm season, heading into chillier evenings! YAY for Fall!

    What are your favorite Fall trends of the year so far? I'd love to hear all about them. Drop me a comment below and let me know what you're loving this Fall!

    Concert Road Trip And Fashion Tips + Enter To Win Guns N' Roses Tickets! #DotComDIY

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Pennzoil available at Walmart.com. All opinions are mine alone. #DotComDIY #CollectiveBias

    "Sorry for getting that song into your head", I said to my friends as I showed them a few pictures from this post. I am referring to the song "Sweet Child Of Mine" by Guns N' Roses of course! I was not actually sorry at all, I love so many of the songs from the iconic band!! I grew up listening to Guns N' Roses and it would be incredible to attend one of their concerts on their upcoming "Not In This Lifetime" tour!

    For a limited time, if you purchase just two 5-quart containers of one of the Pennzoil products I share later in this post, you get $10 off your next Ticketmaster purchase AND you're entered to win two tickets to a Guns N' Roses concert. Pretty sweet!!

    If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I absolutely LOVE to travel, and one major reason my boyfriend and I travel is to attend live concerts! We even mark our anniversary as the first date we traveled and saw a concert together! So, live music is incredibly important to me, and a topic I know a lot about. I am excited to share some concert travel tips with you, and share a cute concert outfit I'd definitely wear to a Guns N' Roses show. 

    We live about two hours from St. Louis, 5+ hours from Chicago and about 3 hours from Nashville and Memphis. That makes our little town of Carbondale, IL a pretty centralized place located between lots of cities that get great touring bands. So, while we tend to have to travel to most concerts, we are more than happy to do so because we are always very prepared. We always make sure to have a quart or two of 5W-30 Pennzoil Platinum in our car too, and I tend to prefer full synthetic oils for our higher mileage car. 

    CONCERT TRAVEL TIPS / WHAT TO PACK + WEAR:

    1.) If you get the chance, I'd recommend getting dressed and ready either before you leave home or once you get to the hotel if you have time. If you are cutting it short on time, and will only have time to drop your bags and run to the show, then definitely plan ahead. Pack light if you're only staying a night or two! 

    2.) Always eat before the concert! I always try to pack snacks and refreshments in the car. Even if you have time to grab dinner and drinks before the concert, you will still possibly want a midnight snack after the show. Room service is EXPENSIVE and most resturaunts won't be open after the show unfortunately. 

    If you're at a show, chances are that food and concessions lines will be long and if you're looking for food, you may miss several songs. So, eating ahead of time then begins to seem like a really good idea. Also, pack breakfast if you're staying overnight. While some hotels offer breakfast, I try to fend off hunger with something as simple as a granola bar and fruit - they will really do you well after a night of dancing and having fun!

    3.) Always Go For Comfy! If you're going to be road tripping to your destination AND expected to stay comfortable all night at a concert, then I'd recommend choosing comfortable footwear, and clothes that are not extremely tight. You can still look super cute without having to fidget and adjust your outfit all night! Rocking out in a band tee, like the one I am modeling in this post, will make for the best memories and you're going to fit in with the crowd really well. 

    I thought that this Rose Embroidered Denim Jacket, pictured below, (find a similar jacket at Walmart here) was perfect for a Guns N' Roses show, and looked wonderful with the band tee! Just give me a flower crown of red roses, and I'm golden :) 

    4.) Use Those Accessories. What's more fun than adding some flair and unique personality to your outfit? I loved incorporating black and chrome colored jewelry and my funky colored sunglasses.

    5.) Scale Down Your Purse. If you're lucky enough to attend a concert on a cooler night, then use those jacket pockets to carry your wallet, keys, and phone. Or, scale down your everyday purse to a backpack style or crossbody purse. Even a small wallet, like the one I found in store at Walmart, with "Party Funds" on it - how cute!!

    5.) If you're up for it, do your hair and makeup a little bit more than a day time look. Feel free to test out cute, trendy lip colors and shimmery eye shadow. I also try to wear my hair down when possible, I love dancing with my hair being able to freely wave!

    6.) Concert fashion is a super fun way to express yourself, so go ahead and wear something you LOVE and feel great in.

    ENTER TO WIN GUNS N' ROSES CONCERT TICKETS + GET $10 TICKETMASTER CASH

    Check out this awesome Ticketmaster Ticket Cash offer: Just purchase any 2 qualifying Pennzoil Motor oil (in-store or online) & upload your receipt, and you will receive $10 in Ticketmaster Ticket Cash. All entrants will also be entered into a sweepstakes to win tickets to a Guns N' Roses concert as part of their "Not In This Lifetime" tour!

    DETAILS:

    Receive $10 Ticketmaster Ticket Cash with Purchase- Just purchase any 2 qualifying Pennzoil Motor oil (in-store or online) & upload your receipt 

    All entrants will also be entered into a sweepstakes to win tickets to a Guns N' Roses concert as part of their "Not In This Lifetime" tour! 

    Qualifying Oils Include: 

    Pennzoil Motor Oil (5qt)

    Pennzoil High Mileage (5qt)

    Platinum Platinum Full Synthetic (5qt)

    Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic High Mileage (5qt)

    SHOP ONLINE

    I love being able to shop online and have everything shipped to my home. SO much easier than making an extra trip to the store. Below, you can see my online order, consisting of 2 5-quart containers of Pennzoil 5W-30, cute sunglasses, dark grey nail polish, and also a Guns N Roses Concert Tee!

    Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic- PurePlus® Technology

    "Our patented, revolutionary gas-to-liquid process which converts natural gas into a first-of-its-kind, high quality full synthetic base oil. Because our base oil is made from natural gas, it is clear with fewer of the impurities found in crude oil, the start for many other traditional and synthetic motor oils. To that pure, clear base we add our high performance additives to create Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus® Technology, motor oil designed for complete engine protection, without compromise. Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic motor oil with with PurePlus® Technology keeps pistons up to 30% cleaner than required by the toughest industry standard1 and keeps your engine cleaner than any leading synthetic oil."

    Nip+Fab - Amazing Wonder Products from Rodial

    This post was sponsored by Nip+Fab and Rodial for Collectively.

    I am excited to collaborate again with Nip+Fab / Rodial, a UK based skincare company that provides some of the most luxurious skincare products I have ever used. I am not normally one to treat myself to products that are this nice, and it's amazing to realize the difference in these products compared to a product that does not contain such interesting and amazing ingredients.

    ABOUT NIP+FAB

    FIX UP, LOOK FAB, STAY FLAWLESS

    Nip + Fab is an innovative, results-driven beauty brand, providing targeted and effective treatments. Renowned for our use of cutting-edge ingredients in our skincare ranges, from our cult Glycolic Acid range through to Dragon's Blood and Syn®-ake, our industry-leading products provide targeted fixes to smooth, firm, hydrate and tighten the skin, with a tightly edited range of skin firming + toning body care.

    Our makeup range is an extension of our skincare, helping to create the flawless, sculpted complexion for selfie-ready looking skin. 

    FEATURED PRODUCTS:

    1.) Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Mask (purchase here)

    DESCRIPTION:

    An intensely hydrating gel mask combining multiple skin perfecting complexes to plump the look of wrinkles and refine the skin's appearance for a brighter, more youthful looking complexion.

    CONTAINS:
    dragon's blood (from the Croton Lechleri tree): forms protective film on skin to protect against environmental aggressors
    salicylic acid: cleanses pores + aids exfoliation
    hyaluronic acid: hydrates + refines skin texture
    glycerin: draws water to outer layer of the skin keeping it moisturised + helps restore skin suppleness
    TEGO cosmo C 250: brightens skin + fades age spots

    Check out the entire line of Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Products here!

    2.) Nip + Fab Bee Sting (Spot) Fix Repairing Shot (Shop Here)

    This product is my favorite of the two serums. It has a nice, light scent and even after just using this for a few days, I noticed a few acne scars were fading! How amazing! It's not oily like I thought it was going to be, and is less scented than the Dragon's Blood Mas

    DESCRIPTION:

    Add a repairing and conditioning boost to your skin with this lightweight, nourishing oil that works to care and repair dry skin. Ideal for use for those with damaged, dry skin, this shot contains a replenishing mix of bee venom, royal jelly and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, condition and plump the appearance of skin for ultimate skin rejuvenation. Simply apply a few drops to the skin or mix in with a serum or moisturiser to give it an extra boost.

    CONTAINS:
    bee venom: helps plump + firm appearance of the skin
    royal jelly: conditions + repairs skin
    hyaluronic acid: provides intense hydration whilst progressively redensifying + restoring skin

    3.) Rodial Liquid Liner Precision Eye Liner Pen

    In the post I mention below, I received an eye shadow kit and a beautiful eye shadow brush. I cannot believe how soft and smooth their eyeshadow is! It feels like it makes my eyelids baby soft, which I have never experienced before! I was also happy to try out this liquid liner. It's very dark black, which I love. It covers better than any other similar product. I just love it! 

    I really, truly recommend all of the products from both Rodial and Nip+Fab! 

    Below, you can check out images from another shoot I did with Rodial! Feel free to check out thew post here, to learn about all of the products featured below.

    McCafé – A Great Way To Start A Fall Adventure

    I love adventuring around to the local orchards here in southern Illinois, and today was absolutely wonderful! I made a quick stop at McDonald’s to grab a couple of their new McCafé flavors before we headed out – because nothing comes before coffee! We decided upon the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte and the new Caramel Macchiato and LOVED them both. With the weather cooling off finally, I am excited to be able to enjoy warmer coffee drinks finally, instead of always going with iced ones. We always love grabbing a drink before we hit the road! And you can try any small McCafe for just $2!

    These delicious espresso-based drinks seriously make Fall days more fun. Get your coffee in one of five drink flavors available. A la carte only. Limited time only at participating McDonald's. Cannot be combined with any other offer or any combo meal. ©2017 McDonald’s.

    The flavors include:
    Caramel Macchiato (iced and hot)
    Pumpkin Spice Latte (Sept – Oct 31)
    Mocha (iced or hot)
    Cappuccinos
    Americanos

    What flavor would you choose?!

    We are so fortunate to live in one of the prettiest parts of the state of Illinois. It’s currently apple picking season, AND pumpkins are finally starting to appear. This particular day, they had pumpkins in orange, white, mint, and more. SO excited to decorate my front porch with local pumpkins soon. Luckily, we live only about 25 minutes from the orchards, so our coffee was still nice and warm when we got there.

    The orchard has an adorable little farm store too, so I grabbed some delicious caramels and caramel corn, which I thought tasted super good with the new Caramel Macchiato McCafé!!

    What will you be inspired to do this Fall season? What are your favorite local attractions come Fall?

    Valid 1/18/17 - 12/31/17. McD App download and registration required. Valid only at participating U.S. McDonald’s. ©2017 McDonald’s

    Pillsbury™ Is Making Life Easier With New Filled Pastry Bags

    This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury™. The opinions and text are all mine.

    Whether you’ve got a bake sale to get ready for, or you’re just wanting to make a special treat for you and your friends, here’s a super easy way to make your treats even more special! I used to be someone who had so much trouble making cupcakes look like something special. I kind of just wound up making a mess and getting icing all over the place though. I always try to keep an icing tip or two on hand, but I always wind up losing them right before I need them for some reason!

    Luckily, Pillsbury™ Filled Pastry Bags have my back :) I had a great time testing out the NEW Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bags – pre-filled bags of icing that come with icing tips already inside the bags! Just rip off the little serration at the tip of the bag and reveal the star-shaped icing tip. Perfect for one batch of cupcakes and they come in three different flavors – Vanilla, Chocolate Fudge, and Cream Cheese.  

    I cannot thank Pillsbury enough for giving me this amazing opportunity to style up some adorable, delicious cupcakes for a 30-ish birthday party, or really any occasion your heart desires!

    These awesome Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bags are practically mess free, which makes cleanup extremely fast and easy. You can even just ice one cupcake at a time and put the rest back into the fridge! Try using this icing on a microwave mug cake too.  

    I had a great experience using these icing bags. Simply take the bag out of the box (which I found near the boxed cake mixes at Meijer), twist the bag to push all the icing towards the tip, and then expose the star-shaped icing tip by simply tearing off the plastic that was covering the tip.

    I surprised some of my friends who have two daughters, and apparently the girls raced to see who could be first to grab the cupcake with the most sprinkles! What a fun way to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. When I make cupcakes, it seems like it brings people back to childhood and they always get this huge smile on their faces when you mention the phrase, “Cupcakes, anyone?”

    For decorations, I first went with chocolate icing on chocolate cupcakes with traditionally colored ball shaped sprinkles. For the vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese icing, I chose to go wild with sprinkles in shades of pink, purple, and white. How cute for women or girls of any age.

    I know I will be utilizing these for my upcoming fall baking endeavors, too, and I cannot wait!

    PREFER CHOCOLATE?

    Above, I also found these adorable candles that said 30-ish (which could easily say 40-ish or any other age). I thought they were super cute. This icing makes party prep so easy. Chocolate icing on chocolate cake was one of my favorite combos.

    In the past year or so, I got to organize all my baking and decorating supplies into one cabinet, and it makes decorating treats even more fun than if I had all of my supplies in various cabinets around the kitchen. I put all my sprinkles into similar-sized containers, and the icing fits well there too! I love having a dedicated baking cabinet. Baking season is definitely upon us and I am almost giddy thinking about all of the treats I get to make for special occasions in the latter part of the year.

    It’s so fun to see how special someone feels when I give them delicious treats I made myself. I think it’s the nostalgia of eating something homemade that is really what people are after! And, if you’re looking for a meaningful gift for someone, bake them something delicious and add icing and sprinkles, and you will seriously be their hero.

    Some of my favorite people to treat would be friends with children, guy-friends who may not usually bake for themselves, my Dad who has a serious sweet tooth, college students during finals, friends or family who may be under the weather, birthdays of course, and I will even bring cupcakes or treats to a party to just thank the host for being so wonderful. And, cupcakes are perfect for a crowd because they’re portable!

    I love how easy-to-use and convenient the New Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bags are for decorating a whole batch of cupcakes, or just one at a time! The back of the packaging even offers several technique ideas, or hop online to learn more. And you can save $1.00 on any Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bag with mPerks digital coupon here!

    What sort of treats will you be decorating this year? Let me know in the comments below!

    PIN IT FOR LATER:

    Top Halloween Recipes, DIY Projects, and Party Ideas

    Halloween will be here in a little over a month, and since it's such a spectacularly bewitching holiday, we get the chance to really go wild with our recipes, party decor, and DIY projects. Click any image to be taken to its source and directions or recipes. I found tons of these ideas via the Better Homes and Gardens website, and found lots of their free Halloween printables, here!

    This Fire Pit Made Of Carved Pumpkins is my favorite idea of the season! All you need is 10-12 large pumpkins, and a print out or two of the flame stencil, found here on the BHG website. This idea could be used outside with candles, or indoors with flameless candles! How adorable!

    Adorable Halloween Party Ideas like these Jack-O-Lantern face drinking glasses, or these elegantly decorated Candy Apples. 

    If you prefer a more woodland look, these Baby Owl Cupcakes might be just what you're looking for! I'd love to see these at a baby shower, birthday party, or even Thanksgiving celebration. 

    Below, I cannot believe how CUTE these mini pumpkin shaped Pumpkin Bread Truffles are!! 

    If monsters are more your thing, you might go wild for these fun Monster Cupcakes! WOW, what talent!!

    These Monster Brownie Pops are also really amazing! Lots of great details and they have unexpected yet very beautiful color combinations.  

    Use vinyl cutouts to quickly decorate white plates, and place them adjacent to some pumpkins to make your home ready for a Halloween party in no time! Learn more here.

    Thanks for checking out some of my favorite Halloween ideas! What will you use as inspiration? 

    PIN IT FOR LATER:

    How To Make A Simple Yet Spooky No-Bake Halloween Ghost Cake

    I created the cutest Halloween Cake ever and I am so happy to share it with you. I designed two versions, one in a more black and white color scheme, and also one with a bit more color. You can use the design as inspiration for whatever sort of Halloween decor you may enjoy best.

    The most important part of sourcing the Ghost Shaped Peeps. I found mine at Walgreens (not my local grocery store though). I used the Ghost Peeps packs containing 9 pieces each, and two packages fit around the cake with a few to spare. 

    Well, let's get spooky and decorate this cake!!! And, please comment below if you're making any special treats inspired by Halloween. I'd love to hear all about them!

    No baking is required for this awesome cake! 

    - 2 Sour Cream Bundt Cakes in Chocolate or Vanilla

    Raspberry Jelly

    Dark Chocolate Icing (1-2 containers)

    Ghost Peeps

    Candy Corn + sour Gummy Worms (Optional, only for more colorful cake design)

    Silicone Spatula for icing cake

    1.) Remove the plastic top of the first bundt cake's container. Using a serrated bread knife, CAREFULLY slice the top off of the bundt cake to make it as flat on top as possible.

    2.) Invert the cut cake onto a plate or cake stand and make sure it's level.

    3.) Add a thin layer of raspberry jelly to the top of the first bundt cake.

    4.) Carefully slice the top off of the second bundt cake, and invert that to sit it on top of the first layer of cake. 

    5.) Add dark chocolate icing to the entire outside of the 2 layer cake. Make it as smooth as you can! The bottom half of the chocolate icing will be covered with Ghost Peeps, so don;t worry too much about how smooth it is, mainly making sure it's not too messy. Wipe off any excess chocolate icing around the bottom of the cake and the plate as possible, with a wet paper towel.

    6.) Time to decorate! Open up two packages of Peeps, and keep the Peeps in their sets of three. Support the cake with one hand, and gently apply each set of three ghosts around the bottom edge. I used 12 or 15 Peeps around the bottom plus one extra Peep to fill in the small gap I had. Make sure to keep supporting the cake as you add Peeps or it may fall over! I just LOVE how chic and elegant this cake looks!

    But, I had to go a little further with the design. If you're looking for a more colorful version of this cake, here you go.

    By carefully adding sour gummy worms one at a time, I was able to make a neat pattern out of them, leaving attractive negative space in between each worm. I kind of shaped them as I stuck each one on. I also added candy corn to the top of the cake, and LOVE how it turned out! What do you think?

    PIN IT FOR LATER:

    Great Fall Outfit Ideas at Kohl's

    Fall is quite literally the BEST season ever. When I get a little glimpse of a chilly, cool night, I am practically giddy every time a cool breeze blows through the house. I am one who love to layer up, and put on all the Fall clothes at once :)

    I was super excited to get the opportunity to create a series of posts about outfits I find at Kohl's over the next few months. HelloSociety is absolutely amazing, and I could not imagine a more perfect time of year to share some of my favorite fashion ideas. 

    This is the first outfit that I found from Apt. 9. I was inspired to curate a look that would be great for a 9-5 office setting, but also look cute after work for a date, dinner, or even running a few errands on the way home too. Keep reading to get links to everything you see here in the post!

    I loved shopping at Kohl's both in-store and online. And, it has quickly become my favorite store in town. I cannot believe their large selection of clothing for seriously EVERY occasion, as well as home goods that I have already used in a recipe that I will be posting in the next week (stay tuned)!!

    Note - I created this work as sponsored Pinterest content for Kohl's and HelloSociety. Hopefully this post inspires you to shop Kohl's and their large line of Apt. 9 items this Fall! 

    Two Drink Recipes Featured on SoFabFood

    I have been a part of the SoFab community since April of 2016, (check out my very first Shoppertunity post here) and since then, I have participated in over 50 campaigns with the, my work has blossomed into something really special! Each month, Collective Bias a.k.a. SoFab offers bloggers the chance to apply to create a SoFabFood inspired recipe that will then be published on their site. I have created two recipes for them so far, and am I always hoping to participate each month. 

    HUCKLEBERRY HONEY MOJITO

    get the recipe

    CHERRY BOURBON SMASH

    get the recipe

    Hey Honey! Let's Party :) Girls' Night In Party + Two Bonus Vegetarian Recipes

    I am beyond excited to share a little something for #NationalHoneyMonth. I love using natural products in everything I make, and I have always loved using honey. Honey is an amazing option, and has lots of great health benefits too! Why not celebrate golden moments with friends and good food!

    I headed to the Honey.com website to begin searching for recipes to create for the party. I decided upon these two. Keep scrolling down to get the full recipes!

    Honey + Nut Glazed Brie and the Butternut Squash + Pomegranate Crostini With Whipped Feta + Honey (Which I titled Fall Harvest Crostini in this post).

    As I was photographing and editing this post, I listened to Honeybee by Papa Mali, and it set the mood just perfectly! Listen below...

    I was so happy when I received a golden box of goodies from The National Honey Board, to help inspire me to design a beautiful party and create a couple of gorgeous recipes.

     

    One of my favorite bloggers, Camille Styles, was featured in this post from Honey.com, detailing all of her ideas on celebrating various Golden Moments lie this one, A Girls' Night In!

    The theme is to #SavorGoldenMoments, so the gold box was so perfect! I loved the taste of the Clover Honey that they included, and the paper lanterns, paper straws, and festive napkins set the mood perfectly. It's like they knew my taste or something, because I already had several party decor items that coordinated perfectly with the gifts. 

    ABOUT HONEY

    The story of honey is older than history itself. An 8,000-year-old cave painting in Spain depicts honey harvesting, and we know it's been used for food, medicine and more by cultures all over the world since.

    But honey isn't about humans. It's the natural product made from bees—one of our planet's most important animals. Honeybees visit millions of blossoms in their lifetimes, making pollination of plants possible and collecting nectar to bring back to the hive.

    Lucky for us, bees make more honey than their colony needs, and beekeepers remove the excess and bottle it. Just like they've been doing since the beginning of time.

    RECIPE: HONEY AND NUT GLAZED BRIE

    YIELD: 16 to 20 servings

    INGREDIENTS

    1/4 cup honey

    1 Tablespoon brandy

    1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

    1 8 oz. wheel of Brie cheese (about 5-inch diameter)

    DIRECTIONS

    In a small bowl, combine honey, pecans and brandy. Place cheese on a large ovenproof platter or 9-inch pie plate. Bake in preheated 500°F oven 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese softens. Drizzle honey mixture over top of cheese. Bake 2 to 3 minutes longer or until topping is thoroughly heated. Do not melt cheese.

    If you need to, you can always do a Brie-Heat, where you warm the cheese, honey, and pecans up in the oven again for around 5-10 minutes on 350 degrees. Enjoy!

    RECIPE: FALL HARVEST CROSTINI

    YIELD: 24 pieces

    INGREDIENTS

    Olive oil cooking spray

    1 baguette sliced diagonally 1/4-inch thick (about 24 pieces)

    1 pound butternut squash cubed (1/2-inch cubes)

    8 ounces feta cheese crumbled

    1/4 cup whipped cream cheese

    1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

    seeds from 1 pomegranate

    1/4 cup fresh mint leaves chopped

    honey for drizzlling

    DIRECTIONS

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray two rimmed baking pans with cooking spray. Place baguette slices on one prepared pan; lightly spray with cooking spray. Place squash on other prepared pan; lightly spray with cooking spray. Transfer both pans to oven; bake bread 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp (turning once), and squash 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and tender (stirring once). Allow bread and squash to cool before assembling crostini.

    Meanwhile, place feta, cream cheese and pepper in bowl of food processor fitted with knife blade attachment. Process 3 to 5 minutes or until very smooth; scraping down sides of bowl occasionally.

    To serve, spread each piece of toasted bread with 2 teaspoons whipped feta. Divide roasted squash and pomegranate arils over feta. Sprinkle with mint and drizzle with honey; serve immediately.

    THE BEES

    Bees Do Big Things

    Everyone knows honeybees make honey, but their contributions hardly end there. Although other insects can pollinate plants, honeybees are premier pollinators because they are available throughout the growing season and pollinate a wide range of crops, including almonds, apples, avocados, cucumbers, melons, pears and many more.

    In fact, about one-third of the U.S. diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants and honeybees are responsible for an impressive 80 percent of that process.

    That’s why the National Honey Board currently allocates 5 percent of anticipated revenue each year to bee health research on issues like Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and external factors affecting honeybees.

    HONEY & POLLINATION

    Why do bees make honey?

    Honeybees collect nectar to create honey and store as food because it provides the energy for bees’ flight muscles and provides heating for the hive in the winter. Fortunately, honeybees will make more honey than the colony needs, so it is necessary for beekeepers to harvest the excess, which they bottle.

    FIVE WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE BEES

    Let's Make Them Happy

    Honeybees, beekeepers and the honey industry are direct contributors to the success of American agriculture. Today, the honey industry faces many challenges, such as hive loss, drought, colony collapse and shrinking forage areas. Here are a few ways you can help the honeybees:

    Plant bee-friendly flowers and flowering herbs in your garden and yard.

    Reduce or limit the use of chemicals and pesticides to treat your lawn or garden while plants are in bloom.

    Bees are thirsty. Put a shallow basin of fresh water with marbles or rocks in it for the bees to land on outside your home.

    Learn how to be a beekeeper with sustainable practices.

    Donate to an organization dedicated to helping protect and promote honey bees and other pollinators.