HelloSociety + Our Social Campaigns

I wanted to use this space today to extend my gratitude to a wonderful company, HelloSociety. I've had the chance to visit them in Santa Monica, CA, three times, and have grown close with many of the team members. They're very inspiring to work with, and I love each and every project I complete for them. 

Over the past few years, I have been a part of a large number of campaigns, where I created content for brands and shared those images with almost 1.5 million people. Check out my page in their Influencer Lookbook, here. Most of this would not have been possible without the support of them! I have blogged about many of these projects, so you may be familiar with some or all of these, but I just wanted to share a few of my all-time favorite projects with HelloSociety!

You can find HelloSociety around the web! 

Pinterest // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // Their Blog

FYI Style Unzipped 

Clinique Lip Pop Lipstick + Clinique Pop Glosses

Today, I am introducing some really amazing lipstick & lipgloss from Clinique! Their new summer lip products are just so beautiful, and they're all very lightweight - perfect for summer! 

Above, Clinique pop glaze in "02 melon drop pop".

Items shown in this post:

Clinique Pop Oil in 01 poppy glow + 02 nectar glow (find them here)

Clinique Pop Lacquer in 01 cocoa pop + 09 nude pop (find them here)

Clinique Pop Glaze in 02 melon drop pop + 03 fireball pop (find them here)

Pendleton Beach Towel (similar here)

Lucky Brand Multicolor Caribbean Crush Tie Dye Bikini

Impressions...

I really loved the first impression of this line of Clinique products. My definite favorite of all of these products was the Clinique Pop Glaze in Melon Drop Pop. 

What The Websites Say:

Pop Lacquer Lip Color + Primer (At Ulta) - "A luscious pop of liquid, high-shine colour in one, full-coverage coat. Luxurious yet lightweight formula with built-in primer glides on effortlessly, wears for up to 6 hours". Not overly sticky and does not dry out my lips! 

Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer (At Ulta) - "A pretty pop of bold yet see-through colour + smoothing primer in one coat. Luxurious yet weightless formula with built-in primer glides on effortlessly, wears for up to 8 hours. Keeps lips comfortably moisturized instantly and over time". Melon Drop Was My Fave!! Lighter texture and weight than traditional lipstick, and does not dry out your lips at all. The two shades featured in this post include: Melon Drop + Fireball Pop (a very vibrant red that is a bit more sheer, and offers lots of moisture). Satin smooth without any bad smell or taste. 

Pop Oil Lip & Cheek Glow (At Saks Fifth Avenue) - "A subtle pop of dewy color for lips and cheeks. This nourishing tint with safflower, jojoba and sunflower seed oils feels luscious yet lightweight. Fluid-gel formula slips on with ease thanks to a convenient wand applicator that delivers the perfect amount every time. Apply tinted color on cheeks and lips. Blend quickly with fingertips". You can use this sheer color on either your cheeks or on your lips. This is nice and light, and is easy to apply.  

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe For The Gal On The Go With ZonePerfect® Bars (With Vegan Filling)

I have an absolutely incredible recipe for you today! This shop has been compensated by CollectiveBias, Inc. on behalf of its advertiser, ZonePerfect. #SnackandRally #CollectiveBias

I wanted to share this recipe because it is a wonderfully healthy snack option for those of you who are always on the go. The little bit of time you spend creating this recipe during your down time, will save you tons of time in the morning. Or, that time of day when you're having to multi task, or when you are in a hurry and can't even spare two minutes to make a meal to eat. Life doesn't slow down because you are tired or hungry. 

This was my first time making Vegan Cheesecake Filling and they turned out incredibly well!! The crust is made from ZonePerfect® Bars, and the chocolatey,peanut buttery, and graham cracker flavored bars added such a nice crunch and sweetness to this recipe. Note - The ZonePerfect® Bars are not vegan, so only the filling is actually vegan. Sorry for any confusion I may have created by calling the original recipe I shared, completely vegan. 

ZonePerfect® Bars offer a snacking option that is rewarding, satisfying, and nutritious, and actually taste amazing! These bars give you the 2nd, and even 3rd wind that you need to have the vitality and energy that you need for busy days or nights. They satisfy cravings, are convenient, and leave you feeling happy to knowing that you just got your chocolate (or sweet) fix, but in reality have eaten something that contains no less that 10 grams of protein in each bar. They are also a good source of fiber, and offer versatility of flavor and balance.  Let's make some No Bake Cheesecakes! 

Everyone who ate them raved about them, and couldn't get enough of them. I love the fact that I put them in individual jars, so that you can even grab one as a quick meal on your way out the door, or if you're anything like me, eat them as you're rushing around the house, doing a million things before you have to leave. I am definitely one of those people who tries to literally start a project a half hour before leaving the house, on top of the things I need to already do to get myself ready and out the door. By utilizing recipes like this one, you can easily fit these into your lifestyle and be more efficient. 

*Note - To make this recipe, you must soak the cashews for a few hours, so make sure you do this ahead of time!!

INGREDIENTS FOR ABOUT 8 JARS:

- ZonePerfect® Bars in Chocolate Peanut Butter and Fudge Graham

- 1 (10 oz) Can of Cashew Pieces (I used a can of salted cashews, and they worked very well. The salt goes away completely when you soak your cashews).

- 1 Can Of Coconut Milk

- 1 (11 Fl. oz) Culinary Coconut Milk (It was more of a liquid consistency than that in the can)

- Organic Agave Nectar (Any type will do)

- Lemon juice for taste (optional)

- Raspberries and other fresh fruit of your choice

OTHER MATERIALS:

- Small Jars

- Blender (for filling)

- Food Processor (for crust)

- Long spoon to scrape ingredients from blender

- Sharp knife to prepare crust

You're in luck! Save up to $4 when you buy two boxes in the ZonePerfect® Bundle Pack.

Shop Online For ZonePerfect® Bars Here.

Find More Ideas For Recipes & Ideas Here.

I found all of these ingredients at Walmart, which made this project easier. Look for ZonePerfect® Bars near the pharmacy area, by the nutritional bars and other healthy items. 

MAKE THE VEGAN FILLING:

1.) Begin by soaking the cashews in water for 3-4 hours. I made sure to use a container with a lid, so it didn't spill. I could not believe how soft the cashews got in this short amount of time. Check the cashews to see if they are soft, and when they're ready, drain out all of the water with a strainer. None of the salt will be left.

2.) In a blender, add all of the cashews, and the more "liquid" coconut milk. Blend until smooth (see photo below).

Next, add the can of coconut milk. When I first added it, I was concerned that the mixture would turn out watery (because there was a clear liquid in the can), but when I blended everything up, it was perfect! 

Add your agave sweetener one or two squirt at a time. Taste the mixture and keep adding agave until you think it's sweet enough. Depending on what type of agave you get, you may not need much at all. The stye I got (in the photo of ingredients), was not very strong or sweet, so I added a few squirts and it tasted perfect!

MAKE THE ZonePerfect® CRUST:

Note - Crust is not vegan, sorry for any confusion!

100% Vegan Crust would contain 1 Cup pitted dates + 1 cup raw walnuts - bended in a food processor). But, this ZonePerfect® tasted absolutely incredible!!! 

3.) Unwrap about 5-6 bars, or as many as will fit into your food processor.

4.) Chop the ZonePerfect® Bars as small as you can with your knife, and put the pieces into the food processor. At first, I only chopped the bars into quarters, and they did not process well. I took them back out, and chopped them up a lot more, and they were absolutely perfect. ZonePerfect® one might say :)

6.) Blend/Process the ZonePerfect® bars as much as you can. Look at that beautiful crust!!!

7.) Put the ZonePerfect® crust into the jars, and press the materials down as much as you can. I just divided the Zone Perfect crust evenly between the jars. 

8.) Pour the vegan "cheesecake" filling into the jars, and fill pretty close to the top. 

9.) Now, put the lids onto the jars, and put them into the fridge for a few hours, or overnight. This will help them set up, and the filling tastes so much better if it is cold! 

10.) After they have chilled for a bit, take them out and top them with fresh fruit! I enjoyed scooping the ZonePerfect® crust and mixing it into the "cheesecake". It added a nice chocolatey sweetness that made these amazing for an On The Go Snack, whether it was breakfast, a snack, or a light meal. They're very filling and had a lovely hint of cashews and coconuts. 

Thanks so much for taking a look at my recipes!! Have you ever eaten or created a vegan cheesecake filling or something like this recipe? Comment below and let me know. Take care! 

Milo's Cafe Style Tea - Organic Summer Refreshments

Summer is less than a month away, and we have been poolside in Florida for the last week or so. Don't get me wrong - we are here on a mission - it hasn't been all fun and games. We have been working very hard, helping family members pack up their house to move, which makes this little bit of relaxation and refreshments all the more well-deserved. Near the Tampa area, it has been over 90 degrees every day, and super high % humidity, so a nice glass of Milo's Café Style iced tea is something to really look forward to. It's literally been getting us through these hot days, and it's really good! 

I love that Milo's Cafe Style Tea is organic, and is super affordable (less than $2.50 per bottle). I found it in the refrigerated juice section at Walmart, (it's refrigerated because they contain all natural ingredients). Check out this Store Locator to see if it is available near you. I could hardly wait to get home before I opened the bottle and poured it over a big glass of ice and practically drank the whole glass at once. I chose two flavors, the Light Sweet Tea and the Light Green Citrus - both use all organic cane sugar or organic stevia as sweeteners - very nice and light. Neither of them were overly sweet, which is more refreshing in my mind than the type  of tea that is overly sweetened. 

Milo's Café Style Tea is pretty new, affordable, and fresh brewed. It's organic, all-natural, and contains NO preservatives. You can definitely tell the difference between this and the styles of tea with artificial ingredients and tons of sugar - this tea is WAY WAY better. This tea contains no acids, which is wonderful for those of you who are concerned about that affecting you. 

Café Style teas are brewed from USDA Certified organic tea leaves and are sweetened with organic sugar or lightly sweetened with organic stevia. The lighter flavors are a blend of organic cane sugar or lightly sweetened with organic cane sugar and stevia. 

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Milo’s Tea, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #TastetheMilosDifference  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Beertography - Cool Photos Of Craft Beer

It's no secret, we LOVE craft beer! I thought it would be fun to take some professional photos of a few of the beers we have had recently. Most of them are pretty darn good! Hope you enjoy!!

Xocoveza Mocha Stout by Insurgente + Stone BRewing

The Waldo's Special Ale by Lagunitas

120 Minute IPA by Dogfish Head 

Purple Prose by GRIMM - yum! 

Midas Touch - by Dogfish Head - Handcrafted Ancient Ale

Tripel Hop by Duvel 

The Kaiser by Avery Brewing 

Biere de Garde by 2 Frenchmen 

Ape Snake by Priarie Artisan Ales

Do you like craft beer? What's your favorite beer style and breweries? 

Road Tripping This Summer? Shop Online & Save Before You Hit The Road!

Got the travel bug? Hopefully I can help! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DotComDIY #CollectiveBias

Whether you're hitting the road for a few days, or a few weeks, I wanted to share some road trip tips with you. As you may know, we travel a TON (hence the name of my blog)! We hardly ever fly anywhere, we always drive, so we can bring our pup with us, and having our car makes life SO much easier! 

And, by shopping for oil and supplies online, you can definitely save time and money! Have it shipped directly to your house, or opt for in-store pickup. Ordering online is great for busy days, so you can focus on planning, rather than going a million places to shop before your trip. You can avoid the crowds, too, and who doesn't like that?! Pennzoil products are on Rollback right now for a limited time at Walmart.com. You can even get curbside pickup, which I think is pretty great. 

For all of your oil needs, visit Walmart.com for everything you need related to motor oil and transmission fluids. This particular oil shown in this post can be found here.

Road trips are hard on your car. Our Prius has over 150,000 miles, (meaning we have driven at least 150K miles together in our 11 years of knowing each other) and it's still running strong. That's because we take good care of it, and make sure to always keep quarts of oil with us at all times. We always grab the Pennzoil Platinum, Full Synthetic 5W30. Re do get regular oil changes, but more recently, our car burns through oil much quicker, so we make sure to literally never leave home without oil. Lesser quality oil does not even compare - believe me, we have had to use the no-name brand a time or two and every few miles wished we had remembered to keep something better in the car.

The reason we always choose Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil, is because it's rated the best cleanliness protection in the Pennzoil line-up. Quoting their website, "With PurePlus™ Technology, the Platinum® motor oil is proven to keep pistons up to 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standard. PurePlus™ Technology is a revolutionary process that converts natural gas into a 99.5% pure base oil". 

Pennzoil is designed for complete protection and will allow you to drive an extra of 550 miles per year vs. a dirty engine. No other motor oil provides better protection from friction

Cabbie loves road trips! 

It's very easy to check your oil level. If you have a higher mileage vehicle, this is a skill that you will definitely want to learn. A mechanic showed us how easy it was. It's best to have a warm engine for this, so the oil reading is more accurate. Make sure the car is OFF, open the hood, and secure your hood so it won't fall on you! Locate the dipstick (it should have a brightly colored circle handle on it). Refer to your manual to locate it if needed. 

To find out whether your vehicle needs oil, follow these steps:

  1. Pull out the dip stick and wipe it off on a clean, lint-free rag or paper towel.
  2. Insert the stick back into the pipe. 
  3. Pull the dipstick out again and look at the film of oil on the end of the stick. 
  4. Put the dipstick back into the pipe.

If your oil is below the "add" line (see image above), then you need to add some oil, ONE quart at a time, checking the oil level after each quart. Luckily, with better quality oil, like Pennzoil Platinum, we rarely have to add more than a quart.

Since we have traveled by car SO much, I have streamlined the process quite a bit! Here are a few tips that I wanted to share, to make your road trip even better, and more streamlined.

- Always bring a couple of quarts of oil with you, if you have a higher mileage vehicle (90,000+ miles).

- Bring lots of water - we always bring a gallon or two of water, and a refillable water bottle that fits into the cup holder. This prevents us from drinking soft drinks or anything that is just plain bad for you. 

- Try not to store anything in plastic shopping bags. This seems easy at first, but the second you reach for that shopping bag, everything falls out, and they rustle around in the wind if your windows are open. 

- Bring wet wipes of some sort, they can be used to clean your hands after you have a snack, and can even be used on your face if you need a refresher from being in the car.

- Bring a designated Food Bag (as we call it). Rather than having snacks and drinks floating about in the car, a zippered duffel bag or similar, will keep everything in one place and will allow you to eat much healthier. 

- Do not buy food at gas stations! There is hardly anything nutritious and overpriced at gas stations, so when packing/shopping for road trip snacks, think of the snacks and foods you crave while on the road. I try to pack a mix of salty, sweet, crunchy, soft, whatever you like, just add some variety. Gallons of water and cold drinks (of coffee) is of course something you may need to gran at a gas station, unless you bring a cooler with you to keep things cold.   

- Bring an atlas. Your phone may not always have good cell signal, or your phone may die. Just in case you get lost or are unfamiliar with where you are headed (or supposed to be headed), it's a good backup. You can even mark off where you have been to keep the memories of your travels. 

- Bring a notebook and pens to write to-do lists, hopes and dreams, whatever. This always keeps me occupied :) Magazines are also nice when you don't have cell signal. 

- Bring a car charger for your phone, and plenty of music. 

Below, are the items that I purchased from Walmart.com in order to make my road trip even better! It was so easy to prepare for a trip by shopping online. 

The bridge to Tampa! So gorgeous!!

Are you heading anywhere fun this summer? Do you usually travel solo, with your significant other, with the whole family, or with friends? Do you ever bring your pet(s) on road trips? Comment below to share your story! And enjoy the fun of a new adventure!!!!

Treat Yourself To Something Nice - Yandy.com

It's time to treat yourself to something wonderful! Whether you are the only one who sees them or not, it always feels so wonderful to get new undergarments! I especially love bright, bold colors of the newest items from yandy.com. The materials they use are soft and stretchy, and everything looks super well-made. 

Their prices are also out of this world! Thongs and underwear are 5 for $20 (I've seen more expensive ones that are not nearly as well-made!!), and their bras are $15.95 each, or 3 for $33. Pretty sweet deals, so you can try a few colors of each piece! 

Effortless Mini Pies - Frozen Key Lime Mini Pies Recipe

It's a wonderful time for frozen treats, so check these out! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EffortlessPies #CollectiveBias #Walmart

You're going to love these mini pies! They're incredible!

INGREDIENTS:

Reddi-wip® (13 oz.)

Oikos® Key Lime Greek Yogurt (4 count package)

Keebler® Ready Crust® Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crust (6 count package)

Magic Shell (Optional)

Limes To Garnish Mini Pies

Make Delicious & Effortless Mini Pies With 3 Simple Ingredients!!

I really enjoy the taste of this Greek Yogurt. It's sweet, tart, and tastes like fresh key limes. It's literally like eating a piece of the real thing, but far healthier for you.

Prep The Pies...

Fill a quart sized freezer Ziploc®  bag with the Oikos®  Greek Key Lime yogurt (2 yogurt cups filled about 3 mini pie crusts). Cut one corner off of the bag, and carefully fill each mini pie crust about 2/3 full. 

Freeze the pies overnight, on a baking sheet. Once they have frozen, get ready to decorate them!

Once frozen, you can add some Magic Shell drizzle! The more chocolate the better, to balance out the lime flavor. After I drizzled the chocolate onto these mini pies, I put them back into the freezer to prepare for the final steps. 

Look how beautiful these frozen yogurt mini pies are!!! 

Let's Top These Mini Pies!

Slice your limes into thin slices.

Top with a generous amount of Reddi-whip® . Literally my favorite part...

Add the lime slices onto the Reddi-wip® so they sit up on their own. You can serve them now! Enjoy!

I wound up finding my ingredients at Walmart, which was great, because I could find everything in one place (and of course a little more!). Isn't that always how it goes :)

I found the Reddi-wip® in the back coolers neat the milk, the Oikos® Key Lime Greek Yogurt by the other dairy items, and the Keebler® Ready Crust® Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crust in the baking aisle. I also found the limes in the front of the store by the fresh produce. 

I really hope you have enjoyed this recipe! 

Boho Wonders by Free People

Free People is offering up some beautifully styled eye candy. Check out these amazing Boho looks that I wish I could pull off. What are your thoughts?

Love the dress + the sandals so much in this look! And, that hat is the only accessory she really needs. 

Love the dress + the sandals so much in this look! And, that hat is the only accessory she really needs. 

I really love this style of dress for chilling at home when it's warm out. Nothing as good as this! 

I really love this style of dress for chilling at home when it's warm out. Nothing as good as this! 

An amazing hat will make summer more memorable, seriously!

An amazing hat will make summer more memorable, seriously!

An Adorable Gift Idea - Spin For Perfect Skin & Coffee Cacao Coconut Sugar Scrub #VPbeauty

I wanted to share a little DIY project with you, and tell you all about a wonderful Mother's Day gift idea from Vanity Planet! Keep reading to learn more about this Shabby Chic Birdcage Gift Basket, the Vanity Planet Spin For Perfect Skin, and the Vanity Planet Coffee + Cacao + Coconut Sugar Scrub. This DIY is SO easy, let's get started!!

Let's Make A Gift Basket!! 

Materials Needed -

1 birdcage, large enough to fit your gifts (I found this one at JoAnns)

Silk Flowers (I chose peonies - I used about 4-5)

Pink Paper Crinkles

Vanity Planet Spin For Perfect Skin Brush, Vanity Planet Sugar Scrub

That's it!

I filled the birdcage with paper crinkles, to make add a pop of color, and to make sure the body scrub and spin brush fit in the birdcage properly. I love how it looks. 

Top off the gifts with some silk flower heads to hide them a bit. love how well the presents fit inside of this shabby chic birdhouse. 

So, here's what is inside of this amazing gift basket. The Spin For Perfect Skin gift set comes with FOUR brush heads, which is awesome! My current spin brush is great, so this set will last w very long time. I love the addition of this larger brush head (it measures a few inches across), because it's perfect for your neck, chest, and back. I think it's a good idea to have a separate spin brush head for your face compared to the rest of your body. I also really like the pumice stone head. This is a bit more than anything I need at this point, but a lot of people would absolutely LOVE this!! Get your skin ready for summer with this awesome gift set. The sugar scrub was nice too. Read more about that below. 

Cute Gift Basket!

Below, you will see the brush head that I have on my current spin brush, as well as an even softer brush head, that might be nice around your eyes. 

Spin Brush

This Bru Coffee + Coconut Cacao Sugar Scrub contains "dead sea salt, organic kona coffee, organic olive oil, sweet almond oil, organic grape seed oil, coffee arabica seed oil, organic shea butter, and natural fragrance extracts". When I first opened it, I could instantly smell the coffee. It smells very fresh, and not only like coffee, but a very pleasant mix of sweetness as well. 

I would definitely recommend opening this over the sink or the tub, because it is a bit messy, but is very easily containable (if that makes sense...). This scrub is more oily than others I have used. I wound up needing to use another soap to fully remove it from my skin. But, it's very luscious, and I am so glad it contains almost 100% organic ingredients. That's very hard to find! 

This Essential Body Scrub "hydrates, moisturizes, and stimulates blood flow while targeting cellulite and stretch marks. It exfoliates dead skin" and smooths your skin out very nicely. 

Erin Pelicano Jewelry

I absolutely love photographing anything from Erin Pelicano. I was so inspired by the city of Santa Fe, because of the gorgeous architecture, and the history of the buildings and my surroundings. I absolutely LOVE the fact that so many of the doorways, doors, and other parts of the buildings are painted mint or blue. Erin's necklaces always arrive wrapped in light blue tissue paper, so I thought that the mint railing would be the perfect place to photograph her necklaces. I also utilized an adorable courtyard (that I had all to myself!), and was able to work on her photos near a fountain and lots of pretty early Spring flowers. Such a magical place to work! I had so much fun with this project, and I hope you enjoy!! 

Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

And, of course, these necklaces are wonderful gifts for Mother's Day and beyond! I have given these to various women in my family, and they are wearing them every time I visit! Erin Pelicano jewelry is always made from either real silver or gold, which I think sets her work far above the rest! 

Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Erin Pelicano + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

If you are in need of product photography for your goods, please comment below, or feel free to Contact Me for quotes! I would love to help you capture the beauty of your products.

Milkshakes Inspired By M&M’s® New Flavors!

It's that time of year again when ice cream sounds good in just about any form. Check out these amazing milkshakes, inspired by M&M's® flavors! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MMSFlavorVote #Walmart #CollectiveBias.

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

Here's How It Works.

You can help choose the next flavor of M&M's®!!! 

  • Throughout the voting period of March 1 to June 17, you can purchase and taste each of the new flavors for yourself, and then cast your vote, once a day until June 17.
  • Once you cast your vote for your favorite new M&M's® Peanut flavor, you are entered for the chance to win $100,000 and earn the title of the official M&M's® Taste Tester. The winner will be announced in August, along with the winner of the 'Flavor Vote,' which will remain on retailer shelves nationwide.
  • Vote for your favorite flavor using the hashtag #MMSFlavorVote across social media!
Be sure to visit the M&M's® Flavor Vote page on Facebook to vote for your favorite flavor!

Find The Flavors Here:

M&M's® Coffee Nut
M&M's® Chili Nut
M&M's® Honey Nut

Note: The jars used in these recipes hold a bit over 4 Cups each, so all recipes are formatted to these jars.

THE CHOCOLATE MOCHA SHAKE - INSPIRED BY M&M’s® COFFEE NUT

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

Ingredients:

M&M’s® Coffee Nut Flavor

2 1/2 -3 C. Chocolate Ice Cream

1/2 C. Cool Whip

1 C. Coffee of any sort (Mine was pre-packaged)

1 Packet of Hot Chocolate Mix (Optional)

Dash of Milk - Optional

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad
Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

FOR THE COOKIES...

Ingredients:

Pre Made or Home Made Chocolate Chip Cookies

Melting Chocolate + Brush To Spread It Onto Cookies

Instructions:

These are so easy! Simply melt chocolate in a double boiler or microwave until smooth. Carefully brush chocolate onto half of the front of each cookie.

In a zip top bag, use a rolling pin to crunch up some of the M&M’s® Coffee Flavor candies. Top half of your cookies with M&M’s® Coffee Nut candy pieces, or chocolate sprinkles. They stick super well to the chocolate. Let cool, and eat separately, or add to your milkshake.

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

THE HONEY NUT PEANUT BUTTER SHAKE - INSPIRED BY M&M’s® HONEY NUT

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad
Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

Ingredients:

M&M’s® Honey Nut Flavor

2 - 2 1/2 C. Vanilla Ice Cream

1/2 C. Peanut Butter

1 1/4 C. Milk

1 C. Cool Whip (And more for on top)

1 -2 Tbsp Honey (depending on how strong you want the flavor)

Yellow Sprinkles

 

Get ready, this tastes amazing!!

 

Instructions: Blend ice cream, peanut butter, milk, honey, and Cool Whip together until smooth.

Instructions:

Blend ice cream, peanut butter, milk, honey, and Cool Whip together until smooth. Add M&M’s® Honey Nut Flavor either as whole pieces, or crushed up into smaller pieces. Stir with a spoon.

Pour into a large glass, and top with whipped cream, yellow sprinkles, and crushed up M&M’s® Honey Nut. 

This one wound up being my absolute favorite!! Enjoy!!

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

THE CHILI CHOCO SHAKE - INSPIRED BY M&M’s® CHILI NUT

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

Ingredients:

M&M’s® Chili Nut

3 C. Chocolate Ice Cream

1 C. Milk

Red Sprinkles

Red Chilis For Garnish - Optional

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

Luckily I got some of the last of the new flavor M&Ms at Walmart! Looks like just about everyone in town wanted a piece of the voting action! 

My local stores were almost sold out, but I found them near the front of the store by the registers. 

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

Instructions:

Mix together chocolate ice cream, milk, and Cool Whip until smooth. Feel free to add a dash of Cayenne pepper for some heat if you want. Also, add some M&M’s® Chili Nut candies, and mix with a spoon.

Pour the mixture into a jar, and top with whipped cream, M&M’s® Chili Nut candies, and red sprinkles. 

To create a fun garnish, take two red chilis (I used ones that weren't spicy, because these candies have some heat), and poke holes in them to make room for the straw to pass through. Love how these turned out!

Check out this milkshake recipe! #MMsFlavorVote #ad

Thanks so much for checking out these fun recipes, inspired by M&M’s® new flavors! 

Blogging For A Cause with bluehost.com

Are you part of a group or organization that is doing some really amazing things for your cause or community? It is so important to have a space where you can share all of your thoughts and accomplishments, in one place, on the web. If this hits home, have you thought about starting a blog? You can find a template pretty easily, and you really don't need much else.

Blogging For A Cause

I am also a web designer (by degree), so let me know if you need some help creating a beautiful website or blog, I offer web design services, and would love to talk about how I can help your cause. 

1.) Plan It Out On Paper. Make a diagram of what you want the blog to contain, as well as how you want it laid out. What do you want to click through to, what type of pages are important for your cause? A general, overall sketch will be important at this stage, too, and save you lots of time in the future.

2.) Build Your Website. There are so many places to start a free blog. I used to use blogger.com (and I know a ton of people use Wordpress because of how many templates are available for that platform). But, after many years of blogging via blogger.com, I decided it was time to have my very own dot com! I only pay about $8-10 per month to have a blog/website on Squarespace.com. I absolutely love this platform, because it is drag and drop designing (meaning I can just drag different elements around on the page until I like how they look). So streamlined, I just LOVE it!! 

3.) Stay Organized! Before you even start a new blog or website, make a folder on your computer (NOT your Desktop, the Documents folder is best for this). Then, start folders inside of that one called whatever you will name your pages, like Home, Apply, Blog, Vendors/Members, etc. 

4.) Create A Color Scheme. It's so easy to find popular blog designs and other color schemes on Pinterest or Google. 

5.) Create Some Content! If you are running a craft fair, begin to share images of work from artists, and share their bio photos if they would like it. Take photos of your group members out at dinner or other events. Share photos from past events. Text is also pretty important, so begin writing as much as possible to explain what your group does, and how you're helping the community! Asking group members or community members to write guest blog posts in their own words. Canva.com is a website that makes it SO easy to design website graphics, logos, and more! 

6.) Have fun! A blog is an incredibly rewarding project, and can be a very inexpensive way to create lasting memories and create awareness for your cause! If you have a blog for a group or organization, I would love to see what you have created! Please feel free to link us to it in the comments below. 

7.) Host Your Website. After you have done all this work designing your website or blog, it needs to go live. Bluehost.com has extremely reasonable rates, and have amazing customer service. Click the blue banner, below, to learn more about their services. Use my link to make sure you let bluehost.com know who sent you :)

Blogging Ideas

FARMER'S MARKET WEBSITES

Above, The Seattle Neighborhood Farmer's Market website contains links to their social pages, a search bar, and showcases a slideshow with bright and festive photos. Their main pages are: Markets, What's Fresh, Programs & Events, Vendors, Help Us Grow, and About. It looks like they have multiple locations, so on the right of the page, you can learn more about each location. If you are only operating in one location, use this area for images leading to blog posts or upcoming events. 

The Mill City Farmer's Market website is wonderful. They have a great video on their home page, which really brings the market to life. As you can see, their pages are as follows: Home, Visit, Meet Our Vendors, About, Eat Seasonably, Learn, and Support.

I also really enjoy the fact that they have bright and colorful recipes on their home page, which helps customers envision easy ways to use what they find at the market. 

CRAFT FAIR WEBSITES

Finders Keepers is lively and inviting! I just love how they highlight so many of their artists, and really give a face to each and every artist in their shows. They have pages such as Home, About, Markets, Information, Directory, Blog, and Contact. I think all craft show websites need an Apply Page. The Squarespace Form blocks are magic for this type of thing. 

The Handmade Market has a wonderfully inviting website. Not every design works well with the woodgrain background, but this one really does! I love how they are featuring artist interviews as blog posts - this is a great way to get quick and fulfilling content for your Cause Blog. 

If you want to see if your website is available, fill in the form below to get started. If you have any questions, just comment below, and I will get right back to you!