Reduced-Sugar Banana Bread Recipe with Truvia Natural Sweetener #Ad

I’m a Truvia Brand Ambassador and compensated for my time this recipe and photo is from their website you can find many great Truvia inspired recipes there.

I have a few bananas here that are about to go bad which is why I made the smoothie a few days ago. The kids haven’t show much interest in eating them lately so I think it’s time to throw them into some banana bread. That or maybe I could make some cream cheese banana goodness. I think I’ll start with banana bread and then try some cream cheese mixture. I found this Reduced-Sugar Banana Bread recipe at Truvia.com. It’s a moist and delicious classic for the entire family! This reduced-sugar banana bread contains 20% fewer calories and 60% less sugar than the full-sugar version.

image

 

Reduced-Sugar Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients
  • 11⁄4 cup flour
  • 31⁄2 Tbsp Truvía® natural sweetener spoonable*
  • 4 Tbsp sugar
  • 1⁄2 tsp baking powder
  • 1⁄2 tsp baking soda
  • 1⁄2 tsp salt
  • 3⁄4 cup (about 2 medium) very ripe bananas; mashed
  • 1⁄3 cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1⁄3 cup butter; melted and cooled
  • 1⁄2 tsp vanilla extract
  • non-stick cooking spray
  • *or 12 packets Truvía® natural sweetener
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray 9x5x3 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray.
  2. Whisk together the flour, Truvía® natural sweetener, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
  3. Mix the mashed bananas, buttermilk, egg, butter and vanilla in a medium bowl.
  4. Lightly fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. The batter will be thick and chunky. Do not over-mix or your loaf will be small and tough.
  5. Scrape the batter into the loaf pan. Bake about 55 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  6. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; transfer to wire rack.

You can find more great recipes using Truvia at Truvia.com.

Photography: What’s Under Your Feet

Photography: What’s Under Your Feet?

IMG_6004

Do you ever look to see what’s under your feet?

Ginger-Mint Margarita with Truvía® Natural Sweetener Recipe #Ad

I’m a Truvia Brand Ambassador and compensated for my time this recipe and photo is from their website you can find many great Truvia inspired recipes there.

The Ginger-Mint Margarita with Truvia Natural Sweetner is a delectable idea for a summer day. Conceived by Anthony Caporale, producer and host of Art of the Drink®. Ginger and mint give it a Southern swirl but with 63% fewer calories and 0 grams of sugar** per serving.

image

Ginger-Mint Margarita with Truvía® Natural Sweetener Recipe

Ingredients

  • Ginger Simple Syrup with Truvía® natural sweetener
  • 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp Truvía® natural sweetener*
  • 4 oz. water
  • 10 slices fresh ginger, peeled
  • *or 6 packets Truvía® natural sweetener
  • Ginger-Mint Margarita
  • 11⁄2 oz. Ginger Simple Syrup with Truvía® natural sweetener*
  • 11⁄2 oz. tequila
  • 6 large mint leaves
  • Juice of 1 lime (drop in rind)
  • 11⁄2 tsp orange zest (1 orange)
  • *or 5 packets Truvía® natural sweetener

Directions

Ginger Simple Syrup with Truvía® natural sweetener

  1. In a small pot, add: 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp Truvía® natural sweetener, 4 oz. water,10 slices fresh ginger, peeled.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Strain out ginger and allow to cool, keep refrigerated up to 1 day.

Ginger-Mint Margarita

  1. In a mixing glass, muddle: Ginger Simple Syrup with Truvía® natural sweetener, tequila, and mint leaves.
  2. Half-fill with ice, then add: juice of 1 lime (drop in rind) and orange zest.
  3. Shake until the tin is frosted, strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.

Garnish: Lime wedge

**This cocktail has 60 calories and 0 grams of sugar per serving compared to 160 calories and 26 grams of sugar per serving in the full-sugar version.

The Tradition in Olay! Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream #Paid

I’m a P&G Blogger Brigade member and as such receive product samples to post about. I’m also compensated for my time.

I love my grandmother. I mean, I love both of my grandmothers I spent a lot of time with each of them after my parents got a divorce. Being a single parent is very difficult job but I have very fond memories of my time with my grandmother and one of them was her bedtime routine. She used Olay every night before bedtime to keep her skin looking young and I think she still looks good.

image

I’ve been thinking about taking care of my face, and after receiving the Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting cream it brought back memories of watching my grandmother use it. I used to love the smell of Olay, and I really love the smell of Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting cream is wonderful. I’ve used facial creams that stink, this not only smells pleasant it smells great. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is my new bed time friend. I can actually feel how it’s working on my face without any burning sensation. I think part of the reason I’ve never stuck with a routine before is because in the end something usually burns or irritates my face. There is no irritation with this micro-sculpting cream. And here’s a little research on the cream:

image

First-of-its-kind Cellular BioEnergetics research has shown age-related decreases in skin’s energy levels make aging skin fatigued – aged in appearance and less responsive to anti-aging ingredients. This research also indicates hydrating skin may help to boost natural bioenergy production in aged skin. Inspired by this explosive field of research, Olay has reformulated its best-selling Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with Skin Energizing to help fight the look of Skin Fatigue and accelerate the appearance of anti-aging results.

imageWhich is why new Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is designed to accelerate the appearance of anti-aging results with Skin Energizing Technology which contains a complex of ingredients that energizes surface skin turnover and includes two new anti-aging ingredients – Olivem and Lys’lastine.

Research conducted on nearly 2,500 women around the world shows new Olay Regenerist with Skin Energizing Technology hydrates to improve skin’s responsiveness and fight the look of Skin Fatigue by accelerating surface layer cell turnover, increasing brightness and decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

§ Regenerates skin’s surface layers up to 2x faster after 5 days

§ Hydrates better than leading luxury creams

§ Reverses 10 years of wrinkle appearance after just 4 weeks

New Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is available where Olay Products are sold.  Suggested Retail Price:  $24.99

I hope that with continued use I’ll look this good when I’m 75 holding my great granddaughter.

image

I’m a P&G Blogger Brigade member and as such receive product samples to post about. I’m also compensated for my time.

Travel Photography: The Phoenix Sun Rises #BloggersGo #Myphx

Travel Photography: The Phoenix Sun Rises

Phoenix Sun rise copy

This photo was taken on my press trip to Phoenix Arizona. The sun rise was beautiful.

Strawberry Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake Recipe Truvia #ad

I’m a Truvia Brand Ambassador and compensated for my time.

Strawberry Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake RecipeTonight we had a special treat because dad is gone and mom can’t chew anything. My teeth hurt so much from my braces so I promised the kids we would have ice cream, well I fudged just a tad by giving them way more fruit than ice cream. I made them a milkshake/smoothie. It was a hit, I was even able to get my daughter to eat all of her hamburger, by telling her that she had to finish her burger before she could finish her ice cream. It was awesome!

image

Strawberry Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake Recipe

(using Truvia)

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen strawberries
1 banana
1 cup milk
1 Tbsp + 1⁄2 tsp Truvía® natural sweetener spoonable
1/2 cup Tillamook Peanut Butter & Chocolate Ice Cream

Directions:

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until well blended.

Lance Snacks 100th Birthday: $100,000 Dream Birthday Party Giveaway #Paid @LanceSnacks

This is a sponsored post and I also received samples.

May 6th was my birthday and I was lucky enough to spend it in one of the most happiest places on the earth, Disneyland. I had my children with me and my daughter was so excited to spend my birthday with me looking for princesses all over the park. It was a fantastic birthday for me and my little princess. Speaking of birthdays……

image

This year is Lance’s 100th birthday. In honor of this occasion, Lance is celebrating with its fans, giving them more of what they love throughout the year. They are giving everyone the chance to win the birthday of their dreams, much like I just experienced with my family. You have the opportunity to win $100,000 in the 100 Days to Win. The 100 Days to Win is an online program with daily challenges and opportunities to win prizes, including the $100,000 towards a dream birthday party at Happy100Lance.com

As part of Lance’s 100th birthday celebration we received samples of their crackers. I love Lance’s crackers I grew up with them as a kid and used them for lunch every day during middle school. I wasn’t a big eater in middle school so I was happy to just have a package of crackers. And now they have “more of what they love in 2013”; the new Xtra Fulls sandwich crackers with more peanut butter and they are good!

IMG_6556

Of course they taste delicious and even with my braces I was able to eat them. I took them apart like an oreo cookie and took very small pieces to eat very slowly. Tastes like a very good birthday celebration!

Product Benefits From Lance Snack Crackers

  • Availability of whole-grain products
  • Up to six grams of protein in Lance varieties
  • Use of freshly ground peanut butter from Georgia
  • Use of real cheese

 
And like I noted above we are a princess family, so I thought it would be fun to share this Lance’s Birthday video. In this video you can learn how to make the best Princess Crowns I’ve seen home made.
 

Be sure to visit Happy100Lance.com for your chance to win the birthday of your dreams!

 


Technorati Tags: ,,,,,
Windows Live Tags: Lance,Snacks,Dream,Giveaway,Paid,LanceSnacks
WordPress Tags: Lance,Snacks,Dream,Giveaway,Paid,LanceSnacks
Blogger Labels: Lance,Snacks,Dream,Giveaway,Paid,LanceSnacks

The Girl on Fire: Katniss Everdeen Hunger Games Movie Poster

The Girl on Fire: Katniss Everdeen! Lionsgate has officially debuted the first official poster for THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on their brand new official INSTAGRAM account for the movie. The poster showcases heroic Katniss and a tagline pulled straight from the incredible words of Suzanne Collins – The sun persists on rising, so I make myself stand.

Lionsgate is also encouraging fans to design and illustrate the first chapter of ‘Catching Fire’ for the chance to see their work featured on The Hunger Games’ official Facebook page! You can incorporate photos, drawings, GIFS & video to create a great experience inspired by the book. What a fun project to do with the kids! Check it out here: http://lions.gt/GlossiCF

 

The Girl on Fire Katniss Everdeen Movie Poster

 

And check out the new Hunger Games Instagram here: http://instagram.com/thehungergames

SYNOPSIS:

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.  Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor’s Tour" of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.  

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Child Photography: The Curiosity of a child.

My son!

IMG_5773

This is my son and his curiosity at it’s best. I love watching my kids learn. A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer.

Mid-May Madness Sale on all Disney Storybook apps

This weekend, Disney Publishing is running a Mid-May Madness Sale on all Storybook apps!  From celebrated heroines in Cinderella, Tangled, and Brave to loveable creatures in Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo – these apps foster reading skills and dive into the back stories of these beloved characters.

wreck-it ralph

The sale runs from May 17 – May 21 and all Storybook apps below will be $4.99 only!

  • Wreck-It-Ralph Storybook Deluxe – Relive the incredible story of the Disney animated film Wreck-It Ralph – and, create and race your very own kart against other racers in the film!  Wreck-It Ralph longs to be as beloved as his game’s perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix, Jr.
  • Cars 2 Storybook Deluxe – Experience the action-packed story of Disney/Pixar’s Cars 2 in this supercharged children’s book app filled with vibrant art, professional narration, exciting music and sound effects, plus A-list celebrity voices from the film. 
  • Finding Nemo Storybook Deluxe – Through engaging narration, authentic underwater sound effects, and original graphics from the Academy Award winning movie, families can explore the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbor, and the world of reading together.
  • Brave Storybook Deluxe – Experience the magic of Disney/Pixar’s Brave as an interactive storybook app.  Read along and discover beautiful art, stunning animation, and special effects.  Even hunt for hidden arrows and take aim in a Medieval-style archery game!
  • Monsters, Inc Storybook Deluxe – Relive the incredible story of the highly acclaimed film classic Disney-Pixar Monsters, Inc. and find hidden Scare cards throughout the story.  Navigate your way through a Monsters, Incorporated scare simulator training room to collect scream energy!
  • Tangled: Storybook Deluxe – Disney’s “Tangled” is re-imagined  in this interactive app.  Read along and explore the magical world of Rapunzel through vibrant animated scenes with interactive tap-and-play surprises!  Multiple reading modes include Follow Along, Read and Explore, Record Your Own Voice.
  • Cinderella: Storybook Deluxe – Disney’s Cinderella has enchanted generations with its spellbinding story, charming music, and endearing characters that live in your heart forever. The Cinderella: Storybook Deluxe app includes a full retelling of the film with fresh illustrations, engaging narration, music and sound effects, as well as whimsical interactivity on every page.