Don't be afraid to mix it up!

Christmas Countdown

I have the perfect gift for teacher, neighbor, family friend,

 or just that one random person you forgot to buy for.

I love homemade treasures.

Especially ones you can personalize yourself.

I used to always buy those prepackaged trail mixes until that one day

I ended up with a bag full of peanuts!

I decided then I would stop wasting my money on stuff I don't really want, not to mention all the additives they put into the prepackaged crap.

So I started making my own mixes with fresh ingredients that I chose

specifically for me!

 

 

I have come across a company Trixi's Treasures that is determined to help people make healthier choices. Trixi’s Treasures  specializes in creating healthy, easy to prepare mixtures, called Shantelyn Treasure Dust Mixtures.

 

What is a Shantelyn Treasure Dust Mixture?  It is a 100% all natural powder mixture that you cook with one cup of oil or butter.  Then, bake onto your favorite types of cereals, crackers, cookies, chips, pretzels, dried fruits, nuts, etc.  It creates a unique “sweet, salty, savory” flavor and adds a light crunchy coating to each piece.  All of our varieties of Shantelyn Treasure Dust Mixtures are 100% all natural and contain no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or GMO’s, and are also gluten-free.

 

 

I was able to try some of their premade mixes for this review and they have a nice mixture of ingredients. I love the flavor. A little sweet and a little savory. But like I said before..... I would love it better to be able to mix my own.

Thankfully, the dust is available to purchase and super easy to flavor your own mix. 

 

 

So, I have gotten off topic here! As I was saying...

you could mix up some of this delicious mix and package it up really cute with a beautiful bow

and give it to that someone who was left off the list as a last minute gift!

 

 This one I have thrown together for a special teacher!

Oh .....one more thing!

 My blogiversary is coming up and on that day

 lots of prizes will be given.

Trixi's Treasures is generous enough to allow one reader a chance to try out a variety pack of their mix for free! 

  So stay tuned!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received the products above free for review. I was not compensated for this post. My opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Gifts in a jar!

Christmas Countdown

I have a crazy obsession with mason jars!

I make my own "Redneck WineGlasses", and I also love just the jars themselves.
Mason jars are perfect for holiday gift giving since there are so many different things you can do with them.
I am going to share with you all a few ideas I have found around the web of amazing ideas for gifts in a jar!
The first one I have for you is the Reindeer Cookie Mix from The Home Heart

This can be done with many different cookie recipes. The key is to layer the ingredients to show great contrast.

 

I just love this one from Play as U Go and it is so simple!

 

Remember It is the little embellishments that make the difference! I love ribbons and tags.

 

I also found some super cute tags at The Country Chic Cottage

 

 

 

And of course all of the gifts do not have to be edible.

There is also the Pamper Yourself Jar from Milk Bubble Tea

 

 

And for the Big Spender in your life....

Maybe suggest a savings plan!

Easily print out this weekly savings plan and this super cute homemade jar should help them start on the road to saving!

 

Well folks there ya have it! Gifts in a jar! So easy and inexpensive but yet very cute to give as a gift for anyone!

 

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

 

 

Gift Basket Giveaway!!!!

 

Christmas Countdown

 

 I love creating gift baskets! Although sometimes I feel like a cheapskate, I love making them and finding little goodies to include and make a fun themed basket.

My creativity does run out though. I usually end up stuck with a bunch of bath stuff and goodies left over from baskets in the process that never were given out.

I did find a great company, Kernel Seasonings that does have some super delish popcorn seasoning.

Guess what???

They create gift baskets themed and ready to go!

These baskets are reasonably priced and can be shipped directly to the recipient.

They were gracious enough to send me one and allow me to give one away, as well, to one lucky reader.

 

 

Most of my giveaways for this month will come on my blogiversary for this month, but I am going to go ahead and start this quick giveaway as a teaser for what is to come later on.

 

Go check out Kernel Seasonings website and facebook page.

 Be sure to tell em Motor Mouth sent you!!!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received the items mention in this post for free to review.

All expressed opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Yummy Snacks!!!

 

Christmas Countdown

 I have found some delicious snacks! These are the most perfect little bananas ever!

I have tried making chocolate covered bananas myself a long time ago but they did not turn out very well. I have always thought they would be so divine.

I was soooo right!

Diana's Bananas was so nice to send me some samples of their products to review for you all.

 

 

Of course I had to share with the kiddos and the hubby but there was not a single person in the entire house who did not enjoy these.

I had to allow mine to thaw slightly though as the bananas are quite hard!

But the kids just gnawed right through them.

I think these would be perfect for a fun little dessert to lay out for a little while for a holiday party!

They seem like they would hold up well long enough for everyone to have a taste without having to worry about them.

 

 

I tried the Banana Bites first becuae I just thought they looked cute and tasty.

I was right.... There was really nothing bad about any of these little cuties.

The chocolate was delish to.

 

Then of course there are the Banana Babies

covered in milk chocolate or

dark chocolate.  

These arrived via FedEx very quickly packed securely in a cooler.

I would definitely recommend these to anyone to even try a single pack just to have a little taste of childhood.

Check out Diana's Bananas Website and go "LIKE" their facebook page because they post deals everytime they have one!

 

 

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned above free for review. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.



Set a trap and Catch the Big Guy- Adult Eyes Only (wink wink)

The proof is in the pudding they say....

I don't know why they say it but they do.

I know how hard it is to answer the kids' questions every year about Santa.

This year will be so much easier. We can simply show them the proof he was at your home!

It is a very simple process....

Just goto: http://iCaughtSanta.com

Use the code: #SantaShare (valid until 12-10-2013)

and you can get a picture of Santa in your very own home!

 

Here are a few examples

 

 Here is one at my house!!!!

 

There is also a giveaway check it out at this link.

 

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

Decorating on a Budget



Christmas Countdown

 

I am a usually a hard core traditionalist. I adhere to the tradition of putting my Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving every year. This year was a little different I had to work that Friday so I decided to go ahead and put the tree up on Thanksgiving night.

After many years of using the same tree and ornaments I have changed things up a little.

I usually have a modest green tree fully engulfed in oodles of homemade ornaments accumulated from over the years of my little ones school and church projects. I have always stuck by that tradition but my kids are no longer making new ornaments at school and I wanted to do a little something different.

I have a small but cozy home and a modest budget, so I had to get creative with my ideas for a beautiful tree. Old Time Pottery is one of my favorite stores for fabulous deals on household items.

I browsed the aisles and these cute little ornaments for so cheap and decided on a whimsical theme. I wanted something fun and colorful!

I got this white tree for $5.99, the ornaments for $3.99, and the ribbon for $2.

And a some little gift box thingies for only a couple bucks. So all-in-all $15 bucks got me a super adorable tree. It might be little but I still love my little whimsical tree!!!

You just have to use a little creativity!!!!!

 

 

Oofos Footwear Review and Giveaway (OVER)

 I am a serious flip flop wearer. If I can I will wear them anywhere!

So I was ecstatic when I have been given the opportunity to try out a pair of

Oofos Sandals to review.

 

 

 

 

 There were different styles and colors to choose from.

 

 

 

I got the OOriginal Thongs in tangerine.

I will give you a little insight into their company first.

OOFOS was formed by a passionate group of colleagues and shoe experts experienced in designing, developing and sourcing in the footwear industry. They share the common goal of challenging the status quo to continually make a positive difference in consumer's lives.

They created the revolutionary OOFOS brand experience powered by an innovative, visionary material called OOfoam. Learn the facts about our exclusive OOFOAM technology and how it helps you recharge and rejuvenate your feet.

 

 

The patented foot-bed design delivers an unprecedented experience because of its unique energy absorption capabilities.

You may think these initial designs look like something you've seen before,  the OOFOS brand experience is like nothing you've ever felt before.

These shoes are designed to be anti fatigue, lightweight, reduce body impact, give underfoot support, and be water resistant.

 

All while giving revolutionary comfort.

I believe they call it the OO experience!!

 

My personal OO experience was different than I expected. I was expecting a rubbery type flip flop that would slip and slide all over my foot and I would not feel stable.  On the contrary, They felt very secure on my feet and I didn't feel like they were slipping at all. I am very clumsy. I am so afraid of falling. It seems like no matter what I find the slick spot on the floor and will slide through it every time. With my new OOfos sandals I was not as worried but I still have some of that fear to overcome. I will continue to wear these and hopefully the real test will be the locker room at the pool.

That is the slickest floor around!!

 

Where to buy OOFOS shoes

 

Lucky for you OOfos has graciously offered to supply one lucky reader with a pair of their choice. Follow the rafflecopter instructions below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The items mentioned above were given to me for review. Regardless, My opinion is my own and I would never recommend something I do not believe to be in the best interest of my readers.