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Chef’s Secret 14 pc stainless steel kitchen set #Review #chefssecret

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chefs secret

I really hate clutter, especially in my kitchen!   So when I had the chance to review this Chef’s Secret 14 pc stainless steel kitchen set, I couldn’t wait to receive it!

It arrived very quickly.  When I first opened it up, every utensil was individually wrapped in plastic, to keep them from getting damaged during shipping.  I opened them all up, threw them in the dishwasher, and set the unit up on my kitchen counter.

It comes with the following pieces:

  • Soup Ladle
  • Solid Spoon
  • Slotted Spoon
  • Skimmer
  • Meat & Pasta Fork
  • Grater
  • Pizza Cutter
  • Peeler
  • Ice Cream Spoon
  • Bottle Opener
  • Can Opener
  • Whisk

As you can see, they didn’t forget anything!  All the utensils you’ll probably ever need were included.  They are also Stainless Steel.  I have used almost all of these pieces so far, and I can definitely say I am VERY impressed at the quality of each piece!  There’s a part of me that worried that they wouldn’t be of very good quality. But I’m so glad they proved me wrong!  They are solid, quality utensils that don’t bend at all when you use them.  Only the black tips are plastic, where you hang them from.

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Side view of the utensil set!

They also hang perfectly on the rack.  There’s a spot for each individual utensil, and you never have to put more than one utensil on a peg, which means you never have to remove a utensil to get to what’s behind it.

I am SO happy to have this set!  And right now you can purchase this on Amazon for just $27.50 with FREE Prime shipping!   Just think – Christmas is only a few months away – this would make a great gift, too!

Check out my video below if you’d like to see it in “action”.

Disclaimer:  I received a free product in exchange for my honest review.  All comments and opinions are my own, and I only recommend products I think would be good for my readers.


Check out Softsoap’s new summer scent bodywashes!

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If you’ve visited your local Walmart lately, you’ve probably seen a big endcap in the Health & Beauty department, featuring their new summer body washes.  And if you look closely, you will see these two new summer scents from Softsoap!

They are Coconut Splash and Summer Breeze.  And they smell awesome!

I’m a HUGE fan of Softsoap.  First, it’s a brand name that stands for a quality product.   Not only do they have a great lather and leave you super clean and fresh, but they leave you smelling fantastic.

The Coconut Splash is made with coconut milk fragrance, and the Summer Breeze is made with cucumber and melon fragrance – which is a wonderful combination, by the way.

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There’s nothing better than getting out of the shower and smelling great, AND knowing you are truly clean.  Chris gets hot and sweaty every day at his job, and he looks forward to a shower as soon as he gets home every day.  He also loves to smell great – and he loves these Softsoap bodywashes as much as I do.  They are both a nice, fresh, summery scent that both men and women both can appreciate.

These are Limited Edition bodywashes though!  So hurry and grab them now before they are gone.  I’ve seen these available at all of our local Walmarts, and you can get them online, too.  They were priced at $2.97 for an 18 oz. bottle, so a great deal!  Check out Softsoap’s website for more info.

 

 


Nail Art Airbrush Decorating System #Review #tcpglobal

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I regularly use a makeup airbrush machine, which I absolutely love, so I was excited to try this airbrush nail polish machine.

You get a lot of things with this machine.  Here’s the list of what is included:

  • Master Airbrush Brand Model G23 Precision Dual-Action Gravity Feed Airbrush with A 0.3mm needle/nozzle and a 1/16 oz. gravity fluid cup
  • Master Airbrush Brand Model S68 Precision Dual-Action Siphon Feed Airbrush with A 0.5mm needle/nozzle and a siphon fluid cup
  • 6′ Braided Air Hose Airbrush-Depot Brand Model TC-20
  • Maintenance Free Air Compressor with Automatic On/Off Shutoff
  • Air Regulator w/Gauge & Water Trap Filter
  • 20 Fingernail Stencils, each with a Unique Design by Airbrush-Depot
  • 6-Color 1oz Nail Paint Colors

There are lots of other little pieces you get with this unit, but I don’t even know what they are called.

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I will say, there is a real learning curve with this product.  I’ve only had it a few days so far and have had limited time trying to get to use it, which I have been unsuccessful. Just getting it to the point where the compressor builds up enough pressure is challenging for me.  It just keeps shutting off.  I’ve read the manual and followed the instructions, and I can’t seem to get it to hold the pressure to the point that I can actually spray something.

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I look forward to spending some more time, trying to perfect it.  I love painting my nails and trying out all these fun stencils!

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Right now you can purchase this on Amazon for just $89.96 with Free Prime shipping!

Disclaimer: I received a free product in exchange for my honest review.


Easiest and most delicious home made bread #recipe!

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If you are looking for a DELICIOUS and easy home made bread recipe, search no more.  This is it!  I have made this bread countless times over the last year and it is AMAZING.   And, it’s so cheap to make, too!

Ingredients you will need: 

  • 3 Cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 1/2 Cups Water (slightly warmer than room temperature)

Directions:

Mix the flour, salt and yeast together in a bowl.   It’s very important you do this prior to adding water.

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When the dry ingredients are combined, add the water, and mix with a fork or spatula until it’s all mixed together well.  It will be sticky!

Add plastic wrap over the top of the bowl, and let sit on your counter for 12-18 hours.  It will rise during this time!

I actually made 2 batches, so I had a bowl for each one.

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Photo-bombed by Molly!

I let it sit for 17.5 hours.  It rose quite a bit by the next morning!

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Next, place your cast iron pot in the oven, and preheat both to 450º.  Do NOT add the dough yet!

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I hope my mom doesn’t plan on getting her pot back :)

 

While your oven and pot are being preheated, flour your work surface and hands really well. (I like to place aluminum foil on my counter for easy clean up).  Form the dough into a ball.  Don’t knead it, just form it with your hands into a ball.

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Once your oven and cast iron pot are both preheated to 450º, remove them carefully from the oven and remove the lid.

Pick up your ball of dough and drop it into the pot.  Make sure the ball of dough is floured all around – you will NOT need to grease your pot.

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Place the lid back on, and place it back in your oven.  Bake for 30 minutes.

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After 30 minutes are up, remove the lid from the pot, and bake for another 15 minutes.  This will give your bread a crispy crust!

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So close….!!!

After the 15 minutes are up, carefully remove the pot from the oven.

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If you are like me, you will oooh and ahhh over it’s beauty.  Seriously.  A loaf of hand made, fresh bread has never looked so beautiful.

 

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What does the inside look like? It’s a dense bread with lots of “nooks and crannies”.

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Quite honestly, this bread is perfection.

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We IMMEDIATELY sliced ourselves a slice and buttered them.  You know what?  This is the BEST BREAD I’VE EVER TASTED.   Chris’s words were, “you really out-did yourself this time, babe!”  haha!  It’s a thick, dense bread, and it is SO crispy on the outside – ALL the way around, and very soft on the inside.

I FINALLY have found a home made bread that knocks my socks off.  A bread that is post-worthy!  And it’s SO EASY!

We go through a lot of bread in our house.  Sandwiches, french toast, grilled cheese, BLT’s, toast, etc – do you know how much bread is?!  We pay $2.68 for a tiny loaf of white sliced bread at the store!

This bread comes out to about 30¢ a loaf.  And sorry, but there is NO comparison.

Remember when I said I made 2 loaves?  This is how my 2nd one came out:

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And, I already have another batch of dough rising on the counter to make a 3rd loaf for tomorrow.  I’m going to slice them up and freeze them!  I will never buy store bought bread again!

Oh, and a special thanks to my mom for letting me “borrow” this cast iron pot.  And by “borrow”, I mean “give”.  I don’t think she’ll ever see this pot again.  LOL!

More of my recipes:


Tec.Bean PTC Hairbrush Straightener #Review & 35% off coupon code!

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ptc brush 1

What can I say, I love reviewing hair products!  I have such problematic hair, I’m always on the search for the next thing to make taking care of my hair easier.  My hair is pretty long, super thick and pretty curly & wavy.  Did I mention frizzy?  My hair is the complete definition of frizzy.  If I don’t straighten my hair, I have to put a ton of gel or mousse in it to keep from looking like I am a scarecrow.

Having naturally curly hair, of course I wish my hair was naturally straight.  Because don’t we all really want what we don’t have?  If I had pin straight hair I’m pretty sure I’d be wishing I had curly hair.  What can I say.

So straightening my hair is my favorite way to wear my hair.  And this is something I do on a daily basis.  If I want sleek, pin straight hair, I will use my flat iron, as it presses down on both sides and really gives you a sleeker look.  And I will add, that takes me a good half hour to straighten my hair that way, because I have to do it in small sections at a time, because of my hair’s thickness and length.

When I just want my hair straight in a hurry though, I grab one of my straightening brushes.  This is my newest one I’ve gotten to review.  It’s Tec.Bean’s 2-in-1 PTC Heating Ionic Hair Straightener Brush.

This one is available in 3 colors: Pink, Black and Blue.  I chose the pink.  It heats up to 450ºF  or 230ºC, which is perfect because I always have to use the 450º setting for my hair.  If it doesn’t heat up to that temperature, it probably will not work with my hair.

Another feature I love about this brush is that it has an ionic setting.  This is a setting none of my other flat irons or straightening brushes have, so I was happy about this feature.  The ionic setting reduces frizz in your hair which is a huge problem I have with my hair.  And it just takes one press of the Ionic button on the straightener to  activate it.

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I really like that the “bristles” on this brush are wide, and that they do NOT have any rubber tips on them.  I reviewed another brush not too long ago and it had rubber tips on the bristles, and the rubber yanked my hair out!  I have no clue why someone thought rubber tips would have been a good idea.  But not a problem with this one from Tec.Bean!  This brush glides through my hair very easily.

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It’s easy to grip, and it has a soft rubbery texture to it.  I have noticed it’s a bit heavier than my other hairbrush straighteners.  It takes me about 10 minutes to straighten my hair with this.  So it’s saving me at least 20 minutes a day.

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I also think it’s easier on my already damaged hair than using a flat iron every day.  A flat iron presses down on both sides of your hair, and this brush does not do that, so it’s not causing as much damage to my hair as if I were to flat iron it on a daily basis.

Want to see it in action? Check out my quick video here:

Overall I’m very happy with it!  If you’d like to purchase one of these for yourself (or hey – maybe even a gift for someone!) use code 9WLJYUYK on Amazon and save 35%!  This code is exclusive to Bargain Hound readers!  This brush is currently priced at $35.99 on Amazon, and with the code it would be around $25.99!  (Keep in mind that Amazon prices change daily!) So hurry and score yourself this great deal!

Disclaimer:  I received a free product in exchange for my honest review.  All comments and opinions are my own.  I only recommend products I think would be good for my readers.

 


A celebrity purchased one of my candles & sent me a selfie! #Eartherella

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lilac2016b

As you all know, I have a line of soy candles that are made by me personally.  My business name is Eartherella.  All of my products are earth friendly, and all natural.

I sell my products at local shows, there are a few retailers locally that carry my products, and I also sell them online through my own website, on Etsy, and on Amazon, to name a few.

My business has been growing, but imagine my surprise when I received an Amazon order and the name of the customer was Chaz Bono! I looked at the address and it was in the Los Angeles, CA area.  But, I am skeptical by nature and was afraid this wasn’t THE Chaz Bono.  So, I went to Google Earth and did a search for the mailing address on the order.  I then searched for photos of him on Google and YouTube, and there were several matches!  Yes, Chaz Bono actually ordered one of my candles.

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He ordered a Gingerbread candle, but I sent him several other scents of my soy candles, as well as a few packages of my soy melts.  This was for Chaz Bono, after all!

In my package I sent him a letter, thanking him for his purchase, telling him that they were all hand poured by me, and I also mentioned that I loved seeing him on The Bold & The Beautiful a couple days last week (my favorite soap by the way!).

I also added a PS – “If you wanted to send me a selfie of yourself with my candle, I wouldn’t be mad at ya! lol”.  I figured it was a long shot, and I didn’t want to sound like a stalker fan (lol) so left it at that.

I shipped his package out 2-Day Priority Mail, and all day Friday I kept checking the tracking number to see if his package was delivered.  It showed it was delivered at around 3:30pm (6:30pm our time in NY).  A couple of hours later, I received an email and it said it was from Chaz Bono.  I literally screamed when I saw he had emailed me!

Hi Valerie, thank you so much for the candles, they smell excellent, and are just the kind of sweet spicy scents I’m attracted to. Having to 2 dogs and 3 cats, I like to light candles in my home a lot, and will definitely be a return customer. Here’s your selfie with your candle in it, as per requested. Thanks again for the goodies, and the complement about my work on B&B. I don’t know what’s happening with that show in the future, but I’ve got other projects I’ve shot or will soon, coming down the pike, including a movie I’m in, being released next month.

Best, 
Chaz 

But when I went to see the attachment, the image did not come through.  It said it was sent from his iPhone and for some reason, his attachment was a broken image.   I tried opening that email in every application possible but I could not view the image.  I was so bummed!  I was dying to see the picture!

So, I emailed him back and thanked him for the email but let him know the photo did not come through.  He ended up emailing me a couple more times trying to send me the photo, but it did not work.  I told him I thought it was because it was being sent from his iphone and for some reason it wasn’t coming through.  I didn’t want to bother him anymore and went to bed.

When I woke up Saturday morning, I had received another email from him:

Hopefully this will work better being sent from my computer, let me know if you still don’t get it, and I’ll try FB tomorrow.

And this was attached to it:

chaz bono pic

I about lost my mind!!!  I was soooooooooooo excited I cannot even begin to tell you!  First, I emailed him back and thanked him for going through so much trouble to get me this photo.  (I had also told him in a previous email that I wanted the photo to share on my website & social media, so he knew this was going to be shared).

Can you say BEST DAY EVER???   I’m small time.  I pour my candles with my own hands, in my own home in a tiny little town in Upstate NY, which has a population of maybe 2,000 people.  Out of all the zillion candles out there, he chose MINE to purchase.  This meant the entire world to me!  And not only did he purchase one of my candles – he took time out of his very busy schedule to send me a personal thank you email, and then went through the trouble to send – and re-send this photo to me several times until it finally worked on my end.

What other celebrity would go through even HALF this trouble for someone?  I don’t know of any.

I learned a lot about Chaz in this little transaction.  He’s a real person, he’s down to earth, and he’s a genuinely nice guy.

I also want to add that you should check him out on Facebook.  He has a lot of projects coming up, which I can’t wait to see him in.  You can check out a clip of him as Jerry the Hoarder in the movie Dirty which comes out July 12th! I think we will be seeing a lot more of him on tv and in movies and I wish him nothing but the best!

One last thing – if you want to purchase one of my candles (jars, tins or melts!) – use coupon code “ChazRocks” and save 20% through the end of June!

And as always, please feel free to leave a comment below!

 


Kuranda Dog Bed review & enter to win one!

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Our dogs have the life.  They don’t have a care in the world, and they get spoiled rotten!  I’m a little jealous to be honest with you!

They get more things to review than I do!   This time they received a super comfy Kuranda Dog Bed.  This is a cot-style bed that sits up off the floor.   I was very excited to get this bed put together when it arrived.   I took all the parts out, and as you can see, I had a little help.

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We have another cot-style bed upstairs, and that one took a very long time to put together.  It was very difficult.  So I was expecting a similar experience putting this one together.  But I was wrong.  I had this bed put together in less than 10 minutes.  It was SUPER easy.  All I needed was a screwdriver.

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I ordered he size Large bed, because we have five Chihuahuas, and they all love to cuddle together on one bed.  So the size large is perfect for our needs.  The bed itself has a heavy duty vinyl cover, and to my surprise, this bed came with a fleece slipcover.  It has elastic straps that wrap around each leg, and it goes on very easily.  This slipcover is so soft, and the dogs love it!  If I hadn’t received this fleece slipcover, I would have just put one of their big beds on top of it.  But now I don’t need to do that, they are so comfortable on the fleece slipcover itself.

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This particular bed is made of a heavy duty plastic, with a vinyl cover.  But they come in lots of different sizes, colors and are even available in aluminum.

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These beds offer orthopedic support for your dogs, and a big selling point for me – is that it’s chew proof!

This is what one of our male chihuahuas always does to his beds.  Those are not clouds.

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Needless to say, they are loving their Kuranda bed!

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Kuranda also has bunk beds for dogs, as well as cat beds and cat towers!  Check out their website here!

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And through June 14th, if you submit a photo of your dog having an “identity crisis” and thinking he’s human, you could win a Kuranda dog bed!

They also have another monthly contest on their website.  Submit a photo or video of your dog on a Kuranda bed, and you could win a luxury fleece pad and 5 dogs beds for a local shelter!  What an AWESOME thing to win!  Think of all the dogs that were given up and have no home, and how much a comfy bed would mean to them.  ♥  They choose a new winner every month!

Here’s a video I took of our dogs trying out their Kuranda bed for the first time:

I took the video of them trying out their new Kuranda bed right after I put it together, but we’ve had it a few days now and I can tell you that they do absolutely love it, just like I knew they would.   What dog wouldn’t love this bed?!  So this Kuranda bed gets 2 thumbs up from me, and 2 paws up from all the dogs!

Disclaimer:  I received a free product in exchange for my honest review.  All photos, videos, comments and opinions are my own.  I only recommend products I believe are good for my readers.


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