leahtackles – Page 45

“Bunny Bait” Treat Bag DIY and Free Gift Tag Template- Hopping Into Spring Series Part 3

April 16, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi There! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you are having a great week so far! Easter is only a few days away and today I want to share a super simple treat bag DIY for the third and final Hopping Into Spring Series post. I think that is perfect for a last minute basket stuffer, gift for friends, co-workers, church groups, or just to enjoy yourself! I have also included a free template PDF file printable if you’d like to print out gift tags for your treat bags. Please consider “pinning” this post to your Pinterest account by hovering over any picture until a pink “Pin” button appears and clicking on that.

BUNNY BAIT:

Ingredients:

Mini marshmallows

Small pretzel sticks

Easter candy (I used M&M’s and Hershey Kisses)

Treat bags

Directions: Fill your treat bags to your liking with all of the ingredients! I did marshmallows first, then Hershey Kisses, then pretzel sticks and then finally M&M’s just so I didn’t crush the pretzel sticks with the heavier items.

GIFT TAG PRINTABLE:

Here is my free gift tag printable that you can simply click and print!

What You’ll Need:

The printed gift tags

Paper cutter or scissors

Ribbon Eyelet punch OR regular hole punch

Step 1: Print out your free gift tag printable and cut the tags out with your paper cutter or scissors.

Step 2: Use your eyelet punch to put a grommet onto your tag OR use a regular hole punch to make a hole for your ribbon.

Step 3: Use the ribbon to attach your gift tags to your treat bags : )

I hope you have enjoyed this post! If you try this out I would love to hear about it or see pictures! If you have anything you’d like to see a post about, or have any questions or comments, let me know by commenting (click the link by the title of this post!) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! As always, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read this, and please subscribe!! I will talk to you on Friday!

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX APRIL 2014!!

April 14, 2014 & 5 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday!!

I hope you’re having a wonderful start to your week! If you want to make my day, be sure to follow me on social media! The pink button links are at the top of this page! It’s LeahTackles everywhere!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the April 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box! I have been receiving this subscription service since December 2012 and it is like Christmas every month! I personally love being surprised by what’s in the box, so I steer clear of spoilers! If your April box hasn’t come yet and you want spoilers, keep reading! Here is a little bit about Pop Sugar: The box contains full size items in all different categories…food, beauty, fashion, home, and usually an extra goodie of some kind, too. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10^th-15^th of every month for me…it ships via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. Today I will quickly go over the March items so you know what I loved and what was maybe so-so for me. When I go over the May box in a post next month I will do a mini review of the items from this month and talk about what I used, didn’t use, liked, or maybe didn’t like as much.

Product titles are also links for more information or to buy online.

Okay, here we go…

MARCH 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OVERVIEW:

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

Verdict:

I ate these up quickly and really liked them! I was happy to find them shortly after receiving them in my box at my local grocery store. The listed value is $3, but I found them for less than $2, so keep your eyes peeled!

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

Verdict:

I really like this serum! It is a very thin consistency, but I find that only 1-2 pumps is enough to cover my face, neck and décolleté. I have only been using it every few days at night, but I think I am going to be brave and test it during the day on my combination/oily skin to see how it goes! The serum seems to absorb into the skin quickly, so maybe it would work on me for daytime as well.

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

Verdict:

I love it! Very cute! I need to remember to wear it more often.

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

Verdict:

This is such a fabulous scarf! I have been reaching for it a lot lately, and it’s a great transition piece for spring!

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

Verdict:

I used this only once, right before writing this post so that I could tell you all at least a little something about it. The workouts for this Mini Stability Ball were fairly basic, but as most workouts not quite as easy as they looked! Now that I know how to use it, I need to grab this and give it a try with my exercise routine! I tend to get in exercise slumps where I do the same type of work out over and over! Time to change it up!

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

Verdict:

I love this still! It looks so cute sitting on top of my jewelry box, and I have two little rings sitting on it looking pretty.

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

Verdict:

This was yummy and came in handy when I needed a snack on the go! Would I run out and hunt down this exact bar? No, but it was tasty and I would consider grabbing again if I saw it at the store.

Okay, now onto the good stuff!! This months box!!

APRIL 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX:

Must Have Food:

Pop Sugar Must Have Mix from Nature Box

$5 Value

I have been curious about Nature Box for quite awhile now and was really excited to see something in this PopSugar Must Have Box to try from them. The mix is dried cranberries, corn, soybeans and almonds in it, and it wasn’t something I would have reached for myself, but I really liked it! I almost always have a snack while watching our favorite TV shows with my husband after our kids go to bed, and having healthy snacks like this around keep me from wanting chocolate or other not-so-healthy treats! The fat content is pretty high, it is a trail mix/energy snack after all, but otherwise it’s definitely a healthy option. They also included a coupon for a $9.95 trail month of 5 items, and I am definitely tempted! If you subscribe to Nature Box, do you like it? I would love to hear your thoughts! Let me know by commenting (click the link on the title of this post! Super easy!) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Must Have Home:

Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood Liquid Hand Soap

$10.50 value

I love seeing things like this in the box! I would feel guilty spending too much on hand soap, it’s a spot where I can cut corners or at least get the deals at Bath and Body Works, but I LOVE the little luxury of using them! It is a very nice rose smell, not too overpowering and not at all a fake floral smell that some soaps have.

Must Have Beauty:

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

$36 Value

I was SO excited when I saw this in the box!! I love Too Faced bronzers, lip products, and mascara but I have never tried the eye shadows! Speaking of their eye shadows, I am currently lusting over the Chocolate Bar Palette and know that eventually that must be added to my collection! Has anyone tried either of these palettes? Let me know by leaving a comment (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram ! Anyways, I love neutral eye shadows and was super excited until I noticed powder covering the box while I was opening it : ( One of the eye shadows broke! I know I could try to repair it, but I also sent PopSugar an email to see about sending it back and getting a replacement. It wasn’t wrapped at all sadly, which I was surprised about because I haven’t had that issue in the past. I have only had one other issue in the 17 different boxes I have had since December 2012, so as long as it’s replaced I am not concerned about it, and PopSugar has always had great customer service.

Must Have Fashion:

(XO) Eco Shopper Collapsible Tote Bag from Lauren Conrad for Blue Avocado

$24.99 value

I wasn’t thrilled initially with this bag because I figured it would just be another bag that wasn’t any different than others that I have. However, upon further inspection it’s simple to use and an adorable print! This bag makes me so excited for warmer weather and hopefully heading to some farmer’s markets with my family! So many bags advertise that they fold up “easily”, but this one really does fold up without a struggle. I think it will be functional for so many things, for day trips or barbeques I always have extra stuff I want to bring along and this is a great way to look stylish while doing it. The company Blue Avocado works with other companies and they upcycle by using plastic bottles to make the Blue Avocado products. The Lauren Conrad line from Blue Avocado also has lots of beauty and travel items that are just adorable! She can seriously do no wrong!

Must Have Home:

Pocket Notes from Graphic Image (*Similar)

$20 Value

I LOVE this so much! It says “Run The World” (how CUTE!) on a small periwinkle leather notebook with silver glit edged pages and a little ribbon bookmark. I am already using this, and it’s a perfect addition to toss into my bag or have displayed on my desk.

Must Have Home:

TOTALLY AWESOME: 80’s Sayings Tea Towel Set by Fresh Pastry Stand (an Etsy.com site)

$18 Value

These are cute, and I will definitely use them a lot this summer in the kitchen. They are big enough unfolded that they can be very multi-functional, which I love! I think they’re a fun way to liven up and lighten up the kitchen for spring.

All in all it is another great box from PopSugar! The total value was about $115 (each month $100 value or more is promised!) and for $39 it is well worth it since I will use the products. I am not as excited as I was about last months box (I LOVED last months box, so pretty stiff competition), but I still think I will enjoy and use all of the products in the box! I will keep you posted and put a note at the bottom of this post when I hear from PopSugar about my broken Too Faced palette. If you liked what you saw here, you can subscribe to PopSugar Must Have Box and join in the fun too! It’s the only subscription box I have tried so far, but I am *SOCLOSE* to trying more! Everybody loves fun mail, right?! If you subscribe to any subscription boxes that you love, tell me about it commenting (click the link next to the title of this post), or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! As always, thank you so much for reading this and please subscribe! It’s easy, just enter you email and receive emails only when I upload a new post, and it’ll make my day!

***UPDATE*** PopSugar has emailed me back and are replacing my Too Faced palette! I am SO happy with the customer service and once I have my palette in my hands I think this will bump up to being one of my top boxes so far!! Makeup? Eeek! Too Faced makeup? EEEEEEK!

***ANOTHER UPDATE*** PopSugar sent my replacement and it arrived carefully packaged this time! So excited : )

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes and Free Cupcake Wrapper Template

March 24, 2014 & 7 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

I got to eat cookie dough this weekend, safely, and it was so delicious! Today I’m going to share with all of you…I have a recipe for chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes! I also have included a template for a cupcake wrapper that I first made for my sons first birthday party several months ago. They are very simple, and you can use any scrapbook paper you like! If you enjoy this post, please consider pinning it to Pinterest by hovering over any of the pictures & clicking the big “pin” button that appears.

I stumbled on Sweet Emelyne’s videos and blog some time ago, and quickly came to love her sweet personality and baking expertise! She is a very talented cupcake baker and decorator, yet she shows things in an approachable and unintimidating way! This is nice, it is realistic for people like me who have no real cupcake decorating experience or skills. If you like to bake or are interesting in seeing lots of creative ideas for cupcakes for every occasion, I think you would love her videos and blog! And a huge thank you to Emelyne for being such a doll, and being so kind when I asked about sharing this recipe on my blog.

Vanilla Cupcake:

Leah’s Note: You could use a boxed cake mix for this if you just want to get right to the cookie dough, but from scratch was definitely easy and tasty!

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups milk

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake pan with wrappers. Whisk together flour and baking powder. In a different mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture and milk alternately, starting and ending with flour. Use an ice cream scoop to place batter in liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes. To test the cupcakes place a toothpick in the center of the cupcake, if it comes out clean they are done.

COOKIE DOUGH FROSTING:

3/4 cup butter

1 cup + 1 tablespoon light brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

7 tablespoons milk

1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

*Optional chocolate for garnish

Directions:

With an electric mixer cream together the butter and brown sugar, next add in the vanilla. Stir in the flour until doughy. Beat in the milk, now fold in the chocolate chips. Pipe onto your cupcakes. ( Leah’s Note: In her video Emelyne shows this being done with a simple large zip baggie with the end cut off. The frosting is thick, so the hole needs to be pretty large. Also, I added another small step by adding a small piece of chocolate to the top for garnish…not needed but I had some and figured more chocolate couldn’t hurt!)

CUPCAKE WRAPPER:

Here is my free cupcake wrapper template that you simply can click and print!

SUPPLIES:

Scissors

Scrapbook paper

Scotch tape, glue dots, scrapbook glue, or something similar to these

STEP 1:

Print the template (please make sure that your printer is printing in actual size).

STEP 2:

Cut out the templates.

STEP 3:

Trace the template onto the scrapbook paper you would like to use.

STEP 4:

Tape or glue the two ends of the wrapper together.

STEP 5:

Set you cooled and frosted cupcake into the liner.

STEP 6:

Admire your gorgeous, homemade cupcake wrapper!

This bite was pure cookie dough frosting, and it was girlie night-in, tell-all-of-your-secrets, sleepover worthy! Sorry for the super close up of me eating, or about to eat! He-he!

Again, a BIG thank you to Emelyne for letting me share the delicious cupcake love! I really hope that you enjoy this post and if there is any other baked good you’d like to see, I would be happy to try! Let me know your questions or thoughts by commenting (click the comment link right next to the title of this post), or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I would love to hear from you! Also if you have enjoyed this post, please stay awhile and subscribe by entering your email into the subscribe box on the right of this page. You will only be emailed when a new post from my page goes up!

Friday Favorite: Benjabelle Brush Tree Information and Review

March 21, 2014 & 1 Comment

Hi There! Happy Friday!!!

I have a Friday Favorite for you all today! I want to review a very handy and innovative product: The Benjabelle Brush Tree.

The Benjabelle Brush Tree is a product that allows you to dry your makeup brushes vertically so that no water gets into the ferrule of your brush. You should never dry your makeup brushes with the brush part up because water will run into the ferrule, causing it to eventually start to fall apart. Before receiving my Sunflower Benjabelle Brush Tree for Christmas, I would dry my brushes horizontally on a towel. That option works, but takes up a lot of space and can cause very large powder or kabuki brushes to become flat on one side.

One of the things I liked instantly when I went to the website www.benjabelle.com is how personable the creators, a husband and wife duo, seemed. The about us page is completely adorable and just warms my heart. The Benjabelle Brush tree comes with easy care and cleaning instructions. The brush tree also has a money back guarantee. Three pieces come that piece together: two for the trunk or the base, and one for the top. The Benjabelle Trees are made in America with American made materials. There are four different brush tree models: The Original, The Mini, The Daisy, and The Sunflower (they can be seen here and I have The Sunflower). They also sell two different brush cleaners, which I have not tried so I cannot speak to, and a brush tree base spinner that is not necessary, but I think it is really cool!

How It Works:

To use the brush tree you slide the two trunk pieces together and then I like to put the top piece onto my vanity before pressing the trunk into a slot at the top. It is really easy and very secure.

You then go ahead and wash you makeup brushes as usual (if you would like to see how I wash my brushes, let me know by leaving a comment at the top of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!) and then insert the brush handle from underneath the brush tree. When the brushes are dry, pull the brushes up through the top!

I think that the brush tree is an amazing, simple, and brilliant invention! I think any makeup lover or makeup artist would be happy to have it in their beauty arsenal. Also, this isn’t marketed this way that I know of, but I think that it would be awesome for artists out there as well! I am not really an artist (read: I draw stick people…) but my husband is, and I know that this would be something that he could use for his paint brushes, so thought I would throw that out there.

Obviously, I really love this product and can’t stop gushing about it! But that is because it is THAT good.

How do you dry your makeup brushes? Tell me in the comments (comment at the top of each post), or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! If you have any thoughts, questions or if there is a product you would like to see me review, please feel free to let me know! If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe by entering your email in the subscribe box on the right hand side of the page. For those who have subscribed, thank you! I hope you all have an wonderful weekend!

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