Skechers Shoe Review: Hydee Plus 2

skechers hydee plus 2Recently Skechers sent me a free Pair of Girls Hydee Plus 2 Sneakers for a review,  the opinions are stated in this Post about Skechers Hydee Plus 2 sneakers are my own.

We received the sneakers in the mail and my daughter total flipped she put them on immediately and was so excited. I am not sure if you know this but as blogger we try to photography review items prior to use.  So after telling my daughter to take them off.. (like 6) times because she did not want to part with the Skechers.  She started looking through  the box.   There was a Hydee and the Hytops comic book included which she read from cover to cover. The even have a web series about the Hydee  and the hytops.

girl wearing skechers sneakersBut I digress..  The Skechers Hydee Plus s Sneaker are super fun they are fun spring colors.  We received a grey, aqua, and hot pink.  They Hydee Plus 2 also comes in a Pink and Natural Shoe.   The sneakers also have a glittery fabric which is what attacked my daughter.. why girl does not love glitter.  She also loves how easy

Skechers Hydee Have a secret in the heel they have a wedge.  Making your girl taller.  My daughter loves the fact she towers over everyone else.  She also love the fact you cann’t see the wedge.   The shoes make her feel empowered with height.   Sizes start for age 6 and up.

Here is My daughters Video Review of the Skechers Hydee Plus 2 :

The Skechers website says the following about the Skechers Hydee Plus 2 Construction

Construction:

  • Soft suede upper
  • Contrast colored metallic glitter finish fabric panels
  • Lace up casual high top sneaker with hidden wedge
  • Stitching accents
  • Smooth glitter fabric does not shed
  • Printed side SKECHERS logo
  • Side features sporty suede overlays
  • Printed heart accent on heel panel
  • Lace up front
  • Instep contrast colored glitter fabric strap
  • Strap with adjustable hook and loop closure
  • Padded collar and tongue
  • High top design hides clever 2 inch wedge heel
  • Soft fabric shoe lining
  • Shock absorbing midsole
  • Lightweight comfortable internal wedge heel
  • Flexible rubber traction outsole

To view the entire Hydee Plus 2 collection, visit http://www.skechers.com.

My daughter loves her new Skechers.  I love the quality of the skechers shoes and the fashionable colors.  The Shoes cost $55 plus shipping and tax.

What Shoes do your kids love from skechers?

sneakers

Great Dog Toy Scrambler Egg Review

dog playing I have a very active doberman puppy.  He is a year and need to be very busy when outside or he barks at the neighbors.   So I found the PlayPal Scrambler dog toy it is like a dog egg.  It is a dog egg made out of non toxic plastic.  Virtual indestructible.. because cause the dogs mouth does not fit around it.

I found it at a dog specialty store. But you can find it on the web for about $16.00 Dog egg.

My doberman was exhausted after about 15 minutes play with the PlayPal scrambler dog toy.   He chased it and never able to get a hold of it.  He stopped playing with it when it got stuck and could not get it out or was just to tired to play.

So is your dog busy, do you think he would enjoy playing with a scrambler?

 

Homemade with love Book Review & Meal Planning

bowl of soup next to cook bookI received  Jennifer Perillos book  Homemade with Love free for this review,  the opinions stated are my own. I just finish reading Homemade with Love.. What can I say I love this cookbook. It is like having a best friend in the kitchen. So easy to use and written with love. It  is watering read.

So far I have tried her soup “kale with white bean and ravioli” verdict Yummy. I love the conversation that Jennifer  has with the reader.  This week I am try the apricot butter and make my own ricotta.  The book is inspiring,  it point out the benefits for health and pocketbook on making it yourself.

When I received the book I read it cover to cover while waiting for a 2 hour swim team practice.    The quality of the book is top notch.  I can’t wait to try more recipes.   She labels the recipes if they are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free,  she also has recipes for those of us who are meat eaters.

Healthy and all homemade.. great book for a beginner cook or more advanced on how to make your kitchen more natural and food more homemade.

Meal Planing this week:  we have a busy week baseball and  swim team .

Monday : Grill Cheese and tomato soup

Tuesday: Roasted chicken

Wednesday: Pork Tenderloin fresh veggies

Thursday: Spaghetti with meat sauce

Friday: Taco Night

This week I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday

 

Lindsay Phillips Ballet Flat Review

shoes with emblished snapsI recently had the opportunity to review Lindsay Phillips Ballet Flat with snap on entitlements,  I love these shoes they are comfy and fashionable.   They are prefect for this spring.  These shoes have a Fashion feature snap embellishment options,  which make the choices of Lindsay Phillips shoes endless.

The Lindsay Phillips shoes are made of quality materials.  I received the Liz Ballet flat in Neutral Canvas.  The color is great for the spring and compliments many colors.  The lovely option of these flats are the snap embellishments.  The shoes come with a zipper like rosette.  The rosettes snap off and you can change them to many different available optional snaps.  Purchased separately the snaps  options are fantastic. You can quickly change your Lindsay Phillips shoe snap to coordinate  with many outfits and jewelery.  For a head to toe finished fashionable look.   The company even have a Mystery 5 or 10 pack of snaps available for purchase,  I love that Idea because I was having a hard time choosing.ballet shoes

A little history of Lindsay Phillips  started the idea company as a flip flop shoe project in ceramics in High School.  She then went to college   thinking about the interchange able Flip flop.  After graduating she worked for Ralph Lauren,  then with an investment from her mother she started her own company.  The Switch Flop is a flip flop was her first big seller, it uses hook and loop tapes which allows you to change the straps and front embellishments  on your Switch flop.  The are super cute  fun and flirty.   Lindsay built a multimillion dollar company catering to women’s needs for more shoe looks.  Yea! women owned business.

Back to these stellar flats, I love the idea that the shoes I received are so comfy and fit  in my budget ($64).  With the ablity to change the look they are great for traveling,  because they are easy packable and flexible to my busy life style.  Great for my everyday fashion.

I received 2 different embellished  snaps with my shoes.  The Audra Snap  (sale for $9) which are a great emerald color and Dorothy Snap ($15.95) which are a raffia like with a great gem in the middle.   I love also they idea that that Lindsay Phillips offer a variety of shoes so you can use the snaps on the wedges, heels, and switch flops year round. shoe emblishmentsSo you want to know how easy they are to use.  Watch my video review:

The Lindsay Phillips Liz Ballet Flat  shoes cost $64

The snaps range from $7- $17

I can recommend the Lindsay Phillips shoes highly.  They are comfortable and fun.

What shoes are you looking forward to wearing this spring?

ballet flats

I am linking up to Fashions Friday Post on A Musing of a Housewife.

Disclosure I received these shoes  for the purpose of this review.  The opinions stated are my own.

What is Pinterest?

pintrest logo

What is Pinterest?  So I have a friends who ask me what it Pinterest.  Pinterest is a visual bookmarking tool for the web.   So lets say you are surfing the web and you come across an article you would like to refer to later.  You can “Pin it” (Pinterest term for marking a site)  for later use.  You can also add these pins to boards by subjects or categories.  Think of having a virtual filling system that is visual.

Everyday uses…  they are the more obvious ones :

  • Recipes  you can categorize them as type, baking, fish, healthy
  • Crafts  so many great ideas how to remember them,  sewing, knitting
  • Remodeling: kitchen, bath
  • Gardening
  • Car remodel ideas
  • hobbies
  • books you would like to read
  • fitness, running shoes to work out ideas

How can Pinterest help you in your work?

  • Teachers can create idea boards for Lesson plans,  Science, Math, ect.
  • Doctor Nurses: can have ideas for new techniques and articles
  • Sales men : product idea and new/blogs articles written about the items they are selling so easier to share with customers

Pinterest Making life easier: (boards can be shared or viewed, so other people can add to a board) (boards are public unless you make them private)

  • What about present ideas for family members?-  I always find ideas that would be great during the year and by the time the holidays come I forget them.
  • Planning a Trip with family, pin ideas  you can invite people to to view the boards or add them to add to the boards.
  • Ideas for fundraising
  • Sharing ideas wit a designer, artist, planner
  • Kids can create a wish list for the parents

The list is endless because you can share them,  and they keep your ideas organized

How Join Pinterest

So you have to sign up,  and create name  and password

Go to Pinterest.com,  click on the join Pintrest and fill out info

Join_pintrest

Then you have an account-  Congrats now you are on Pinterest.. So what is next?

Adding the Pin It Button

I recommend adding the Pin It button to your computers tool bar,  so it is easier to Pin when you find something you would like to remember.

It looks like this

pin it button

 

 

 

  1. You Add the Pin it button by going to “Goodies” on Pinterest  Here is the link to the page Goodies or Pin IT Button Page
  2. Scroll down… it is under the cell phone app pictures.
  3. Then with your mouse grab the button and drag it to you computer browsers tool bar and drop in in a empty area

Add_pin_it_button

Great Now you have a Pin it button on your tool bar.

Now what??

How to Pin a Web Page or Something you would like to Pin

  1. You are on the page now you can with your mouse  click on the “Pin It” button on your tool bar
  2. If there is a “Pin It” on the picture click (see below)
    How_to_pin_a_post
  3. Then a window will pop up to add a Pin to your boards.(see below)
  4. You then can choose the Board/category you want to add it to,  or create a new board to add it too.
  5. You can also leave a note to yourself on the pin.

create_a_pin

 

So once you have  you boards and you add you pins you can go to pinterest.com to see them.  This is my Board set up and you can drag the boards around the page and rearrange them if you want a certain order.  I like the pretty ones on top.  when I open it.

NOTE : (boards are public unless you make them private)
Pintrest_

Following Others On Pinterest and searching on Pinterest

To see what others are Pinning  click on the pinterest in the center of the top of the screen.
Pintrest_latest_pins

 

You can also search by subject or a general category to see maybe someone already found a pin for what you would like.

 

how_search_in_pintrest

If you “Like” someone Like lets say me .. you can follow there pins.

by clicking “follow” in the center of the boards Try it follow me Sherry Aikens Pintrest

Welcome to Pinterest!

Tips on How to Look Slimmer #FashionFriday

black dress with a peplum
Photo from asos.com

Tips on How to Look Slimmer

Most women are conscious of their weight even if they are not yet on the plus size. It is important for girls to look great and presentable especially if they are still single and looking for a potential date. Men are easily attracted to women who have a great body, but of course that is just the first impression. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to look slimmer because you can actually do that with the clothes you wear. You just have to know what kind of clothes to wear to hide those bulges and accentuate your assets. Here are some tips on how you can do that:
Vintage Dress
Most dresses that were made during the 50s have fitted waist and bust, but the hip area is full. This kind of vintage dress is perfect for women with full figures. Make sure to choose a dress that flows down just above the knees. You usually see this kind of dress in bingo halls during the earlier years. Now, you can see girls wearing vintage clothes while playing their favorite games at FoxyBingo.com.   Asos Curve has a great collection of dresses that are suited for curvy women.

Peplum
The peplum is perfect for girls who have a square-shaped body because it gives out an illusion of having an hourglass body. The cut of the peplum makes the waist look slimmer and enhances the hips more. Many celebrities were spotted wearing peplums including Beyonce and Kim Kardashian. You can find different styles of peplum dresses at Alice and Olivia by Stacey Bendet.

Monochromatic Clothes
Wearing one color of clothing, but in different shades can create a slim silhouette. Wearing monochromatic top and bottom can also lengthen the body thus making you look taller. This style looks great on shorter women like Scarlett Johansson and Rachel Bilson. There are many plain colored shirts, blouses, skirts, shorts, and pants at J. Crew.
Disclosure: this post is a guest and sponsored post.   I love the tips and site the writers introduced me to.

Making American Girl Doll Clothes

American girl dollMaking American Girl Clothes: As a girl as soon as I could sew I made doll clothes.   So I am loving making American  Girl doll clothes for my daughter.  American Girl doll clothes are great you can use the scraps of fabric you have in your fabric piles.  I found this fabric in my stash even the fur.   This is what I created for my daughters Marie Grace American Doll. I also made a matching outfit for the girl next door American Girl doll.  So their dolls can be twins.

american girl

I made my patterns but there are some great online pattern for American Girl clothes.  Some are Free

Places that offer free or purchase Patterns for you to make American Girl Doll clothes

Also me sure to check out my 18″ doll and American Girl Pintrest board for some great American Girl clothes I found on the web.

I Purchased this Sweater set from an Etsy Seller HeavenSentHandmade. so you can always buy some American girl clothes.   Be sure to follow my blog for great new places to buy AG clothes.knit sweater for american girlSo what clothes are you going to try to make?

Easy Perfect Fish Recipe and Meal Plan Monday

fish

Easy Fish Recipe One of my family’s favorite meals lately, this is my easy Fish recipe  in one pot. The white fish  is steamed cooked on top of a Pearl Couscous, mushrooms, onions and veggies.  They fish is tender, healthy, and tastes amazing.  I use my Ninja MC701 Multi Cooker 3 in 1 Cooking System
I used Basa fish which is a Asia version of cod.   My brother works for food distributor and is teaching me how the classification of fish is not as you would think. White Fish= a fisheries term referring to the flesh of many types of fish Any white colored fish can be called White Fish,  so ask what is the white fish. (from cod, white fish, monk fish, basa, catfish,  pollack, sea bass, and more)

The other trick making it amazing is the Israel Pearl Couscous it is bigger then normal sandish couscous, (my husband hates the sandlike couscous).  The pearls absorb the flavor and is like a toasted pasta.  I used this one, I found it at Target in the ethnic food isle.pearl couscous

I found the Basa at the local Asian Markets Fish counter. It was reasonable priced at $4.99 lb,  the fish was thick and mild.   I highly recommend going to an Asia market for fish.  I have found it to be fresh, better priced then typical grocery stores. I try to go to an Asia Market every 2 weeks.  My kids like to go, see the fish, and it exposes them to new food.

Easy Recipe for Perfect Fish

  • 1 1/2 lb of white fish
  • 1 teaspoon of butter or oil
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic
  • 10 mushrooms sliced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • Israel Pearl  style couscous (I found mine at Target in the ethnic food isle)
  • 1 can 14oz of chicken broth
  • 1 bunch of broccoli or asparagus
  • salt & pepper for fishuncooked fish
  1. Tools a Ninja cooking system or a pot with steamer basket (I prefer my ninja for simple clean up and cooking method) It is a layered method.
  2. Saute with butter, onions, garlic, and mushrooms in bottom till onions are translucent
  3. Add couscous with 1 can of brothcouscous
  4. Then layer the vegetable (broccoli or asparagus)
  5. Season fish and place in mesh steamer basket and place on top of veg/couscousfish layered over the couscous
  6. Cover and cook for 15-20 mins till the fish is done-white

how to cook the prefect fish Have fun cooking your fish.  Easy Print recipe Easy Recipe for Perfect Fish

So what is my Meal Plan for this week.

  • Monday: Spring rolls, bean thread noodles, and my Asia meatballs
  • Tues: Kale Bean Ravioli Soup from Jennifer Perillos book  Homemade with Love  and homemade bread from Make and Take
  • Wed: Curry Chicken over Rice (another trip the Asia market .. the lady talked me into a box.. we loved it)
  • Thursday: My Easy Fish Recipe  over couscous  with Asparagus
  • Friday :Taco night with refried beans and left over Rice

New things I am trying to do this week. Cooking with raw beets (roasting them)  My husband did it Sunday night,  yummy.  He is using them in our smoothies, and we ate them straight. (Beet Red smoothies)beet

I am reviewing Jennifer Perillo Homemade with Love cookbook which I already read cover to cover the 1st day I got it at swim team 2hr Practice.   Watch out for the full review next week,  But it is excellent like have a friend in the kitchen.  I might try to make my own Ricotta cheese, per Jennifer’s book.  (next week I might make yogurt)

This week I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to help offset the cost associated with running this blog

Andys Cookie Review and Giveaway

sweet andys cookiesAndy cookies Review:  I received  Sweet Andy’s cookies to review.   Andy’s cookies are an all natural cookie with no preservatives.  They are large soft cookie that is sweet and chewy.   They come in a variety of flavors. I really have enjoyed sampling a variety of them.

I have to say I am impressed with the company they are are based in Hampton NY.  A former Wall Street Finical advisor Andy turned cookie king.  I love the story that his family fell on some hard times,  his family friends, and church member started helping the family out.  Since and could not repay the generosity of his friends,  he would bake them cookies.  Then the business was born,  Andy does local sales in NY,  if you are not close to the Apple,  you can have them too  they are now providing on line sales.Sweet Andys Cookies

You can check all the flavors Andys offers from Chocolate chip, Lemon, to Triple chip  and many more.  My favorite is the peanut butter.  Sweet and peanut butter,  how can you go wrong?  This is the sugar cookie.  Want a Bite?sugar cookie

Any of Sweet Andys cookies can be shipped directly to you.  Each bag containing 5 LARGE cookies, hat are sweet, soft, and tasty. One cookie at a time is great for a person because of the size.

The ship Priority mail via the post office.  The cookies shipped in a gift box w/ tissue to you so ready to  give or if you want to give as a individual cookie gifts paired up with your favorite tea.     They would be prefect for the up coming holidays.

The Prices they are fantastic. Current special offer prices are:

6 Bags of cookies – for $35.95 (with free shipping)  (30 cookies total)

4 bags of cookies for $24.95 w/ a $5 dollar shipping.   (20 cookies total)

packaging  of sweet anys cookiesSo you want to try them?  Enter My contest Visiting Sweet Andys Cookies and Tell me which flavor you would like to try leaving your comment on the blog, then mark in the raffle copter you did so.  Extra entries can be earned in Raffle copter.

This giveaway will Run till March 24th.   The cookies will be shipping direct from Sweet Andys,  shortly after Name and Address is provided.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out Sweet Andys Cookies Facebook Page

Disclosure: I received these cookies for the purpose of the review.  I do not take responsibility for the food items that are shipped via a 3rd party. The opinions in this post are of my own.

Brendas Chocolate Caramel Pie

chocolate PieEasy Chocolate Caramel Pie: Today is Pi day.. ok not for the food but for 3.14 Pi.    In honor of Pi day My son had to bring a pie to math class. So I asked my aunt for advice since my husbands family women are the “Queens” of all things sweet.   She provided me with her cousins Caramel-Chocolate Pie.  It  super easy to make and no baking need.  My kids helped make it the hardest thing was them not eating the caramels.  I have to say it is like eating a Carmello, or Rollo in Pie form.  A layer of fudge with caramel, how could that ever be bad.  You can top with nuts but we have a nut allergy Sea salt would also be a great contrast.

Brenda’s Chocolate Caramel Pie

Ingredients:

  • 28 caramels (un  wrapped)
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 6 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup of heavy cream
  • Gram cracker Pie crust
  • Sea  salt (optional topping)
  • Nuts (Optional topping)
  1. Melt caramels, 2 tbls spoons of butter and ¼ cup of the heavy cream in pancaramels, cream,butter
  2. Pour caramel  into pie crust, sprinkle a few of the chocolate chips on  caramelcaramel
  3. Melt chocolate, 6 tablespoons of butter, ¾ of heavy cream in pan,  on low heat stiring slowly,  do not boil,  the chocolate and cream will separate.. slow  and stir the entire timechocolate and cream
  4. Pour chocolate on caramelpouring chocolate
  5. Refrigerate for several hours
  6. Top with toasted  nuts, or sprinkle some sea salt.. or just eatchocolate caramel pie

Sorry for the picture I want to make sure you were drooling.

For an easy print  version Brenda’s Brenda Chocolate Caramel Pie

Are you making a Pi for Pie day?  Happy Pi Day!

 

Here are some other other post you should check out:

Need a salad in Minutes Try Strawberry Spinach Salad with Lemon Dressing

Mix Berry Spring Rolls Easy and Impressive

The way to your lovers heart easy BBQ Ribs

Sparkle every day ! Learn How to apply Glitter Tattoos

Tired of sheets that fall off your bed at Night?  My Quick Fix for Fitted Sheets