Spice Vox Box

December 24, 2015December 21, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

I love to give my opinion and I love free stuff. There is actually a place online that both of these things come together…Influenster.com

“Infuenster is a product discovery platform that lets opinionated, social media savvy consumers like you discover and share knowledge on products through sampling, reviews, and more!”

Spice Vox Box | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com — Spice Voxbox sent to me free from Influenster

It is easy to get started. You just need to login toInfluenster.com and complete your profile by sharing some general information about yourself so you can get matched with campaigns that you might be interested in.

Now that the Influenster commercial is finished… I was recently selected by Influenster to receive the Spice Vox Box. This box is great! There are so many awesome things inside!

Products Featured:

SoapBox Conditioner
SoapBox Shampoo I have seen this brand at Target, but have never purchased it for myself. I was happy to see that it was included in the spice voxbox. When reading about this brand I realized what an awesome company it is! I’m going to write a full review about it once I have used the product for a few weeks. So far I have only been using these for two days, but I am liking them so far.

Foot Petals “Killer Kushionz” I am not going to lie, I haven’t put these in my shoes yet. I am kinda confused as to what they are and what they actually do?…

Yogi Tea Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy I have a love hate relationship with Yogi teas. This one has a great flavor, but they are presweetened with stevia. I have a major sweet tooth, and something about stevia is just too sweet for me.

Yogi Tea Vanilla Spice Perfect Energy This one had a great flavor as well, and it didn’t seem too overly sweet, maybe because it is a bit spicier or bolder in flavor. I like this one better than the Tangerine one.

Not Your Mother’s Whip it Up Cream Styling Mousse I have already written an entire post dedicated to Not Your Mother’s Whip it up Styling Mousse which you can check out HERE. (spoiler alert: I love it!)

Boots Botanics Hydrating Day Cream I have been loving this cream! It has a nice light feel yet moisturizes at the same time! Since it is extremely lightweight, it makes ideal for wearing under makeup. The scent isn’t my favorite. It think it is described as rosehip. Not a huge fan. I really like the cream despite the scent, and the scent doesn’t really linger too long. This is available at Ulta for about $13.

Good Health Veggie Stix My family loved these! They have a great flavor and are a lot healthier than regular chips. Influenster worked on me because I have already bought a bag for myself from my local grocery store.

SinfulColors SinfulShine 2-Step Manicure If you have been around Looking Joli Good for any amount of time, you know how I feel about nail polish! My daughter was thrilled about it though. It is a bright smurf blue, and as of now, that is her favorite color. She’s had it on her nails for about a week and it is still hanging on. Nail polish doesn’t usually stay well on children’s nails because they have softer more “oily” nail beds.

influenster spice voxbox | lokingjoligood.wordpress.com — My daughter wearing a glitter tattoo and the sinful shine bright blue nail polish.

Foot Petals Give ‘Em the Boot (some received these I got the Killer Kushionz instead)

Have you tried any of these products? Did you get your own voxbox? Are you already a member of Influenster? Let me know in the comment section.

**While I received all of these items for free from Influenster in the Spice Voxbox, as always all these opinions are my own!**

Delicious Recipes

Caramel Popcorn

December 23, 2015December 19, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

A few weeks back my friends and I celebrated “Friendsgiving” One of my friends made some delicious homemade caramel popcorn. For me it was love at first bite! She gave me the recipe and I have been enjoying homemade caramel ever since! So simple and delicious. While I prefer to eat all of this homemade caramel popcorn myself, this recipe is perfect for giving away as gifts during the holiday season.

Homemade Caramel Popcorn | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/2 to 3/4 unpopped popcorn

(simple instructions below on how to pop kernels in the microwave using a brown paper lunch bag.)
2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup white corn syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

Optional: chopped nuts, sprinkles, chopped candy bars, M&M’s

Directions:

1. Pop popcorn and place in a large metal bowl.

2. Combine sugar, butter and corn syrup in heavy cooking pan.

3.Cook on medium heat; stir constantly.

4. When sauce turns medium caramel color, remove from heat and add vanilla.

**Warning: Be extra careful! The caramel is so super hot that if even a tiny bit gets on your skin it will burn soooooo bad! Also, don’t stand directly over the pan when you add the vanilla. It will bubble and steam when you add it to the hot mixture.**

5. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir with a long handled metal or wooden spoon.

6. Enjoy and try not to eat the whole thing yourself 😉

Paper Bag Popcorn Popping:

Measure 1/2 cup popcorn kernels into a lunch sized paper bag.
Loosely fold just the very top of the bag over so the kernels don’t spill out. Tape it shut (or you may end up with a microwave full of popcorn!)
Lay the bag in the microwave taped side down. Shake the kernels to spread them out evenly in the bag.
Microwave until there are no more than 3 seconds between popping sounds. (My microwave usually takes 2 min 30 seconds, but I stand by and listen very closely!)
Carefully remove the bag and open it carefully, the popcorn is hot! Enjoy!

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Love with Food December Box

December 22, 2015December 19, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Snack smart. Do good! Love Food!

I love God, I love my family, and I LOVE food. So, that being said, it is only natural for me to order a box called “Love with Food“. If you’d like to try it out for yourself, I have a referral code you can use to get your first box for 40% off. That’s a great deal! Here is the code http://lovewithfood.com/invite?m=e&ref=2ReL

What is “Love With Food” you ask? It “helps you discover new organic or all-natural snacks delivered to your door every month. Our subscription membership starts as low as $7.99/month. Every month, Love With Food members will receive a curated box of unique, hard-to-find tasty snacks which varies based on seasonal themes.”

For every box sold, they donate a meal to several food banks such as the Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry. Help end child hunger one meal at a time! Click Here to LEARN MORE

Dark Chocolates with Creamy Coffee Filling by Cafe Britt Once again, dark chocolate, I couldn’t eat this one either.
PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter by Bell Plantation Kinda weird, didn’t quite taste like peanut butter, but with so little fat, I bet it would work awesome in a smoothy with bananas.
Hint Of Lime Navy Bean Chips with Sea Salt by Beanitos I have already found these at my local grocery store and bought them. So delicious!

Love with food | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Fruit Leather by You Love Fruit very interesting! My kids were not impressed at all but I enjoyed the flavor
Midnight Brownie Gluten-Free Cookies by Goodie Girl Once again, dark chocolate, I couldn’t eat this one either.
Sweet Corn Crunch Dried Snacks by Sensible Foods Yeah, these were really weird! They tasted just like canned corn, only they are dehydrated. Not a fan!

Chocolate Peppermint Stick Mini Bar by LUNA One of my favorite things is chocolate and peppermint together! This was only 90 calories and was delicious!

Liquicroc Caramels by Maison Pecou This was a dark chocolate candy, and sadly for me, I am allergic to dark chocolate. Que the sad music with the small violins 😉

Bonus Items: Tea by Numi Tea I really like Numi teas. I have bought this brand in the past and have always been impressed.

Bonus Items: Love With Food Chapstick I have been loving the chapstick! I always have to have some sort of gloss or chapstick on my lips so I was happy that this is a good one.

Delicious Recipes

CINNAMON BREAD

December 9, 2015December 2, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Just finished baking the last of 4 loaves of Amazing Amish Cinnamon Bread! The house smells delicious and I shared it with the ladies at the library. They said the bread was delightful! I highly recommend this very simple recipe from RedFly Creations!

CINNAMON BREAD
(makes 2 loaves)

Batter:

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk or 2 cups milk plus 2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda

Cinnamon/sugar mixture:

2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cream together butter, 2 cups of sugar, and eggs. Add milk, flour, and baking soda. Put 1/2 of batter (or a little less) into greased loaf pans (1/4 in each pan). Mix in separate bowl the 2/3 c sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 3/4 of cinnamon mixture on top of the 1/2 batter in each pan. Add remaining batter to pans; sprinkle with last of cinnamon topping. Swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min. or until toothpick tester come clean.
Cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing from pan.

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One Small Child

December 8, 2015December 8, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I love Christmas! I love Christmas carols and Christmas music. At church this past Sunday I heard this song for the first time and I have been thinking about it ever since. Such a beautiful song and a great message!

One small child in a land of a thousand.
One small dream of a savior tonight.
One small hand reaching out to the starlight.
One small savior of life. Ooh.

One king bringing his gold and riches.
One king ruling and army of might.
One king kneeling with incense and candlelight.
One king bringing us life. Ooh.

See Him lying, a cradle beneath Him.
See Him smiling in the stall.
See His mother praising the Father.
See His tiny eyelids fall.
See the shepherds kneeling before Him.
See the kings on bended knee.
See the mother praising the Father.
See the blessed infant sleep.

One small child in a land of a thousand.
One small dream of a savior tonight.
One small hand reaching out to the starlight.
One small savior of life.

Flab to FAB · Health/ Fitness

The Trap Of Celebrating With Food

December 8, 2015December 8, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Over the last few months I have been on a journey from Flab to FAB. If you have been following along, thank you so much for your support. These last few pounds have been the toughest to shed! I have 1.5 lbs to go, and it has been a struggle!

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have never had an issue with daily exercise. I love to get up early and get in a workout before the rest of my family is even awake. My down fall has always been diet, even more specifically the sweet stuff! The holidays are a tough time to be trying to lose those last few pound. Some weeks I have been happy to just have not gained any weight.

I LOVE to eat! I have had many conversations with fellow food lovers about where’s the best place to get homemade ice cream or freshly baked bread, or which restaurant has the best tasting menu. I also love to cook myself. I like to try new recipes, watch cooking shows and read cookbooks and food magazines.

Dulce De Leche Ice Cream from Haagen-Dazs | lookingjoligood.com — My favorite kind of ice cream

While the occasional food splurge is fine, and actually part of a successful weight loss routine, it is important to keep it an occasional splurge. While these occasions don’t have to be huge major special events – My daughter got a 100% on her first math test- Yay! Lets get ice cream! My son scored a goal in soccer, Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I did awesome at my job interview!Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I got the job! Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I had a great first day of work! Yay! Let’s get ice cream! I need to be careful that I only make exceptions for true special occasions.

Often what ends up happening is that these “special occasions” can become a daily even. They can easily turn into… I folded all the laundry! Yay! Lets get ice cream! I found my missing earring! Yay! Lets get ice cream! I am having a great hair day! Yay! Lets get ice cream! Today is Wednesday! Yay! Lets get ice cream! My Boston Terrier, Tessie, is super cute! Yay! Lets get ice cream! See where I am going with this…(also, can you tell I like ice cream? :-))

My cute dog Tessie | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com — Look at that cute face!

While I have been on my Flab to FAB journey, I have had to start thinking about food and diet in a different way. While good healthy food feels rewarding, food is fuel, not a reward. Celebrating is fun, and celebrating with food is fun too, but it is not the only way to celebrate.

Instead of using food as a reward, I have been trying to reward myself in other ways. Some ways include: getting a pedicure, buying new smaller clothes :-), getting some new makeup, or splurging on a new purse. Sometimes the celebration is just giving myself a little bit of a break to sit down and read an extra chapter in a good book. While I do still like to celebrate with food, I am slowly retraining myself to have a healthier relationship with food.

I hope that you found this helpful, and thank you for following along with me on my journey from Flab to FAB!

Click HERE if you would like to read my previous Flab To FAB posts.

Delicious Recipes

Eggless Cookie Dough

December 2, 2015October 11, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

If you remember from my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe post, I love raw cookie dough. It is so bad for me to eat it, but it is so delicious! Here is a recipe for Eggless Cookie Dough that is just as tasty with out the risk of salmonella poisoning.

Eggless Cookie Dough

7 Tbsp Brown Sugar

6 Tbsp White Sugar

5 Tbsp Butter, softened

2 tsp Vanilla (1tsp)

3 Tbsp Milk

1/4 tsp Salt

1 Cup Flour (use almond or coconut flour for a bit of a change to the flavor or the cookie dough)

1/3 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

1 tbs ground cinnamon

Combine the brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter in a bowl and mix. Stir in vanilla and milk. Add flour and salt to the sugar mixture, and stir until combined. Stir in mini chocolate chips. Spread the mixture onto parchment paper and shape into a rectangle as evenly as possible. Put the square of cookie dough into the freezer and freeze for 1-2 hours. Remove from freezer and cut into small squares. Enjoy!

Delicious Recipes

Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars

November 26, 2015November 26, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving! We just finished enjoying these delicious “Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars” as part of our Thanksgiving breakfast. I highly recommend this recipe which can be found on the pillsbury website…

Ingredients

2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2cup butter, melted

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F.
Unroll 1 can dough. Place in bottom of ungreased 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Stretch to cover bottom of dish, firmly pressing perforations to seal.
In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup of the sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Spread over dough in baking dish.
Unroll second can of dough. Carefully place on top of cream cheese layer. Pinch seams together.
Pour melted butter evenly over top. Mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over butter.
Bake about 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool slightly, about 20 minutes. Refrigerate for easy cutting. Cover and refrigerate any remaining bars.

Enjoy the holiday!

Click HERE to go to the Pilsbury website

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Happy Thanksgiving

November 26, 2015November 26, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday!
I have been greatly blessed and I am so grateful for so many things!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 136:1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Thanksgiving By Ralph Waldo Emerson For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Thanksgiving
By Ralph Waldo Emerson
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

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Love With Food November Box

November 23, 2015November 26, 2015 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Snack smart. Do good! Love Food!

As you know, I love God, I love my family, and I LOVE food. So, that being said, it is only natural for me to order a box called “Love with Food“.

If you’d like to try it out for yourself, I have a referral code you can use to get your first box for 40% off. That’s a great deal! Here is the link with the code http://lovewithfood.com/invite?m=e&ref=2ReL

Here is what I got in my box this month…

Salted Caramel Brownie Brittle It is like eating the best crispy part of the brownie.

Sesame Tocchetti

Turbinado Natural Cane Sugar Assortment

Tea Sachet Assortment (2 Sachet per box)

Milk Chocolate Squares

Honey Graham Sticks

Raspberry TruffleCremes in Milk Chocolate No. 30

Biscoff by Lotus Bakeries These cookies are soooo good!

Dark Chocolate Squares

Dirty Sweet Potato Chips-oh my goodness, these were so good! I love sweet potatoes!