The Ultimate Beauty Travel Kit: 15 Small Wonders for a Weekend

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Disclosure of Material Connection: This travel was #Hosted which means The company who sponsored it compensated me via all expenses paid trip, cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
While in San Francisco earlier this month, we visited the Walt Disney Family Museum to check out the exhibit “Deja View: The Art of Andreas Deja” that showcases original work of his most iconic Disney characters, such as the menacing villain Scar.
In 1980, Deja was accepted into a training program at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. He passed the program and began working on much loved Disney productions. He worked on The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast & Princess & The Frog. The artwork in this exhibit include watercolors, charcoal, ink and paper, sculpture and more. I just love this watercolor of Simba & Mufasa.
But my favorites are his wire works…
If you are a fan of Disney and want to learn more about the history behind the magic then make sure to visit the museum before the exhibit ends. The Walt Disney Family Museum is also displaying works from Deja’s current independent project called Mushka, features a young girl and her tiger, “A story of love and sacrifice set in Russia”. You don’t want to miss it!
The Lion King is now available on digital and Disney Movies Anywhere and will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on August 29!

Flash Back: 5 years ago we made the switch from the old tube tv and bought our first Samsung Plasma. We were so excited to have the latest and greatest TV. Well as you know technology it’s always evolving into something bigger and better. Then a few years ago the HD TV came out and now you can experience an even better HD TV with 4K TV, which means 4 times the HD quality.
The next generation of high-definition television is here…the Samsung SUHD 4K TV. This HD TV makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of all the action. 4K Ultra High Definition gives you 4x the resolution of Full HD. Reveal more colors and a brighter picture with Samsung 4K SUHD TV – all powered by a revolutionary panel featuring Nano-crystal technology. The immersive curved screen portrays a greater sense of depth. Easily access the content you love with the advanced Samsung Smart TV. If you don’t believe me, you need to see it for yourself…my boys were in awe…
Key Features
Enjoy a brighter, more true-to-life picture with a wider range of colors
Peak Illuminator Pro for enhanced picture detail and color
Improved black levels and contrast for a greater sense of depth
4 times the resolution of full HD
Smart View 2.0 – Watch your TV on your mobile device
Enjoy faster speed for your media with the Octa-Core Processor
You can go into your local Best Buy starting May 31 see an exclusive sneak peek of Jurassic World in Samsung Entertainment Experience Shops inside Best Buy. Limited Time. Learn more about the SUHD TV at www.bestbuy.com/suhd
Do you want to learn more abut the Samsung SUHD TV at Best Buy? Join the #SUHDatBestBuy twitter party for a chance to receive Best Buy gift cards! @BestBuy and Brand Ambassador @dodomesticdad will be hosting an SUHD Twitter Party on Tuesday June 9th at 7:00pm CST. RSVP TODAY
DATE: June 9th
TIME: 7:00 CST
PRIZES: 4 – $50 Best Buy e-Gift cards
HOSTS: @BestBuy and @DoDomesticDad
HASHTAG: #SUHDatBestBuy
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Keeping hand soap around the house is a must have…and for me a must have with my hand soap is a great scent! I LOVE Softsoaps new premium line; the Décor Collection. The new premium liquid hand soap line is available in enticing scents of Peony & Plum, Orchid Petals & Mint Water, and Wild Basil & Lime in a package you’d be proud to display on every sink in your home. Colgate-Palmolive sent me all three scents from their collection for review…when they arrived I put them to use right away!
I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the scents from the Softsoap Decor Collection! The packaging is great too, but the scents..ahhh…And with diapers and the messes boys create you know I use them a lot! I have one in each bathroom and one in the kitchen..I chose the Peony & Plum for my bathroom..it smells floraly with just a hint of plum. I put the Orchid Petals & Mint Water in the boys bathroom..it has a soft orchid scent with a mild mint smell..very refreshing. The Wild Basil & Lime I chose for the Kitchen, well because they were “kitchen” scents to me…it has a strong, but not overwhelming lime scent. At only $2.49 for the 10oz bottles you can stock up and never run out of your favorite scent!
You can purchase these at mass retailers like, Target, CVS & Walgreens. There is currently a SoftsoapDécor Collection coupon available on Coupons.com too
WIN IT!! One lucky Mom of 4 Boys Reader will win a Soft Soap Decor Collection Prize Pack!! This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years old or older. Entering this giveaway means that you accept both my rules & disclosure. Be sure to add [email protected] to your contacts to make sure you get your winning email!
[reviewdisclaimer]

With the holidays approaching quickly I decided to get into the kitchen and do a little pre-holiday baking..you know hone up on my skills and pull out recipes I haven’t done in a while. My boys were super excited when I pulled out my chocolate cake recipe and were even more excited when they saw that they get their own individual mason jars!
The boys love when I make individual servings of desserts, they feel special, like I made it just for them. You can individualize each one to the person’s taste…in this case with the toppings.
I personally LOVE mason jars! They are so versatile. You can create so many things in them..use them personal servings, drinks, for many crafts, and storage solutions. I just love the newest edition to the Ball family…the Purple Heritage Collection. They are so pretty and perfect for a Halloween craft! I decided to use one to make a Shrunken Severed Head In A Jar. Start by finding an image you want to use and use a service like canva.com to put your image into a 3×5 or 4×6 template (if you choose 4×6, shrink your image down a little bit like I did below).
Once you pick out what image you are going to use and have it the size you need, print it onto your photo paper/printer paper (you’ll want 2 of them). After you print them, cut them out and laminate. I got my laminator at hobby lobby for 19.99 and my laminating sheets from lakeshore learning (hobby lobby has sheets, but the ones from lakeshore are thicker).
To create the Liquid preservatives mix 1 drop of red, 1 drop green, 1 drop yellow food coloring and fill jar with water. Place your heads in the jar and fill with more water (as needed). Put on lid and enjoy your shrunken severed head in a jar!
Lets get back to the Mason Jar Chocolate Cake…
You will need:
2c Flour
2c Sugar
1c Sweetened Cocoa Powder ( I use Ghirardelli)
2tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2tsp Baking Soda
1tsp Salt
1c Milk
1/2c Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
2tsp Vanilla
1c Water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Prepare your cake pan by spraying with baking spray or greasing and flouring
Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt to a small bowl. Whisk through to combine.
Combine milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla into large bowl and mix together until combined. Reduce speed and slowly add dry ingredients. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Add water to the cake batter. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute to add air to the batter.
Distribute cake batter evenly in the pan.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Once cooled take a round cookie cutter and cut out pieces of cake and layer them into your Ball mason jars.
Top with your choice of icing. You can check out my recipe for Buttercream Icing.
To add a bit of flavor, my boys love when I do this…instead of water add in Dr. Pepper or Root Beer. My favorite is Cherry Dr. Pepper!
WORLDS BEST MASON JAR CHOCOLATE CAKE
2015-10-15 19:12:06
Serves 8
A delicious and moist chocolate cake in individual Ball mason jars.
2c Flour
2c Sugar
1c Sweetened Cocoa Powder ( I use Garadelli)
2tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2tsp Baking Soda
1tsp Salt
1c Milk
1/2c Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
2tsp Vanilla
1c Water
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Prepare your cake pan by spraying with baking spray or greasing and flouring
Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt to a small bowl. Whisk through to combine.
Combine milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla into large bowl and mix together until combined. Reduce speed and slowly add dry ingredients. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Add water to the cake batter. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute to add air to the batter.
Distribute cake batter evenly in the pan.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Once cooled take a round cookie cutter and cut out pieces of cake and layer them into your Ball mason jars.
Top with your choice of icing & toppings
To add a bit of flavor, my boys love when I do this…instead of water add in Dr. Pepper or Root Beer. My favorite is Cherry Dr. Pepper!
By Becky Fry
Adapted from Mother’s Recipe
Adapted from Mother’s Recipe
My Sparkling Life https://mysparklinglife.com/
What’s your favorite thing to make with Ball Mason Jars?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Every year we do the same old egg decorating and egg hunts…let try a few new ideas…
ART – is always a fun way to get keepsakes of your children growing, and let them get creative…if you need ideas Pinterest has tons…The best ones are using hand-prints or finer-prints to create…that way you can see their hands grow over the years, and it’s very personal!
BUNNIES – are always fun – I remember taking a picture with the Easter bunny every year. Now the hip trend is pictures with a real bunny, these are adorable keepsakes that you would be proud to hang up around the house, or share with friends, ask your photographer about Easter sessions, chances are they have a bunny waiting for you!
CUPCAKES – need i say more! except let’s get creative, not just with icing and sprinkles…let the kids get creative and have fun!
DECORATIONS – Decorations don’t have to be store-bought – try making your own decorations, they’re fun to make, cheep [free] and personalized!
EGGS – Yes we all die eggs, and most of us have experiences we want to forget..lol..but lets face it, kids love dyeing eggs!! Lets try something new this year, get creative, and have fun doing it!
FLOWERS – Let your kids help you make an Easter arrangement for the table!
GARDENS – Plant an “Easter Garden”
HISTORY It’s time we talk to are kids and let them know what Easter is really about…sure bunnies are cute, and eggs are fun, but the History is important!
IDEAS – Let your kids throw in some ideas on how they would like to spend Easter…they will enjoy the gesture!
JELLY BEANS! – I don’t know how, and i don’t care..lol..but Jelly Beans have become a tradition at Easter…
Place 3 packs gelatin, 16 oz. sugar and 12 oz. water in a pan. Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium heat, stirring as you mix them. Continue to stir for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and add 1/4 tsp. salt, 4 oz. orange juice and 2 oz. lemon juice. After the mixture has cooled a bit, stir in 4 tsp. orange zest and 4 tsp. lemon zest. Chill a medium-size baking pan, then fill it with the mixture and let it harden for 4 to 5 hours. Loosen the jelly from the pan with a knife, and dump it onto a cutting surface. Cut the jelly into small pieces, dusting them with cornstarch. Put them on a wire rack to dry. Pour the jelly pieces into the coating bowl attachment on your mixer, and add 2 oz. water and 6 oz. sugar. Turn the mixer on high for the suggested time according to the manufacturer’s directions, or until the shells have achieved the thickness and appearance you want.
KITE FLYING – With Easter being in spring it’s a perfect time to fly a kite, great addition to the Easter basket as well.
LUNCH – Have fun with lunch – try sending your kids on an Easter egg hunt for their lunch items!!
MONEY – Not much…try just adding a dollar or two to their baskets, and see how excited they get!
NOTE – Leave a note from the “Easter Bunny” in an egg…
ORNAMENTS – Get some fishing twine and cut different lengths…snap Easter eggs on it in different patterns, and hang them from a tree, porch, or even the ceiling in your child’s room!
PEEPS – Try some new ways to enjoy peeps!!
QUIET READING TIME – Take this time to read some cute Easter stories
RICE KRISPIE TREATS – There are so many ideas now…and these are always fun to make with the kiddos…
SCIENCE – Believe it or not…you can squeak in some science! Try these ideas out…
Naked Egg
Growing Peeps
TOYS – You don’t always have to put candy in the baskets…try some little toys they’ve been asking for…like hot wheels or spring time barbie…they’ll be just as happy
UMBRELLA – As a little girl I loved my sun umbrella…it’s super fun!
VIOLETS – For a fresh spin on an Easter bouquet try adding Violets!
WATER – Get some Mio, or just some old-fashioned food coloring and die your kids water…it’s fun and inexpensive!
XYLOPHONE FUN – Try this little fun – use your leftover egg die, still in the glasses, and make a fun colorful xylophone!
YELLOW – Wear yellow to brighten up the day … it will look Fab in you pictures!
Zzzzz – Get enough rest for all the fun that Easter brings!
Head on over to my Easter Pinterest page for more fun ideas to do this Easter!