Goodytwo's Toffee Company

It's nice to receive unexpected gifts during the holidays. I prefer ones that don't make me fat, but it's kind of inevitable this time of year. At work we received a large box of See's Chocolates ... to split between me and the one other person in the office (hello thighs, yes, there you are), and we were each given a gift box of specialty toffees from a company I had never hear of, Goodytwo's. This toffee shop is located in Scottsdale (we love local!) and is a mom and daughter team who have created various toffee concoctions.

 First, the packaging was amazing! So beautifully wrapped it was practically gift enough. The box was so fun to open and there were 4 different flavors of toffee inside, two of each kind: Traditional, Double-Crossed, Sweet and Salty, and Nutty-Twist. My personal favorite was the traditional, although I could go without the crumbly nuts on top ... a little too messy for me personally. I do wish they had a plain toffee without any chocolate, and it would be great to have a softer toffee to try, too.

Overall, I really liked it! It's a splurge treat or for gifting as it's a little pricey, but very unique and very fun. Way to go, Goodytwo's.

December Women's Birchbox Review

I've been doing a little research on some other month-to-month subscription services and most seem to be about $20 per month, but Birchbox (women's subscription) is only $10 so it's a bit of a deal over the others. I'll be writing about another soon, so stay tuned!

Here are December's goodies:

1. Number 4 Non Aerosol Hairspray: I typically use Garnier Fructise aerosol spray. I feel like aerosol cans give a better mist and coverage. I liked the smell of this one, but not the coverage. I would love to try it in an aerosol can (even though it's not great for the environment). It is a handy little size for TSA when traveling this holiday season! My advice: Skip it.

2. NUXE Fondant Firming Cream: Again, great scent and my skin felt silky smooth! I used it right after I finished my shower. I didn't feel much firming action going on and the price is a little steep, unless it comes in a big vat that lasts for over a year. My advice: Request as a gift.

3. Secret Agent Beauty Nourishing & Plumping Lip Gloss: Nice gentle tingle, but not a lot. It is pretty nourising and my lips do feel smoother! My advice: I'm not much of a gloss girl, but if you are, try it!

4. Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum: I never know what to think of these anti-aging serums. Do they really work or is that just a load of crap? I like to try 'em and hope they work, but I'm no convinced. This one is nice and smooth but I'm just not sold. My advice: Keep searching for the holy grail.

Lifestyle Extra: Twistband Hair Tie: I really like the look of these. It dresses up a pony just the right amount. I've actually been wanting to try these hair ties for a few months now, so I was delighted to see it in the box this month. My advice: Get some. And gift them to your friends with longer hair!

After viewing the prices of what the full-size items cost I have mixed emotions. 1) Yes! Awesome value in this month's Birchbox! 2) Bummer. Can't believe the full-size items are so pricey ... I hope I don't find a fave because I can't afford that habit. I'm always delighted when I find a great deal. Let's get more of those, huh Birchbox peeps?

Christmas Morning Waffles

It's a tie for my favorite breakfast food: thick waffles or eggs benedict. I've been told eggs benny is an old person choice ... au contraire mon frere. But this post isn't about the benny. Thick, gorgeous waffles are easy to do at home. Especially with this fancy pants waffle maker. I love mine! Waring Pro is the bomb.com.

Here's a fab recipe that will tantilize your taste buds. :)

CHRISTMAS MORNING WAFFLES (makes 4 waffles)
2 egg yolks
1.5 cups milk
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup coconut or canola oil
2 egg whites stiffly beaten
1 T. orange zest

Put egg yolks, milk, flour, baking powder, lemon juice, vanilla, salt and oil into a large mixing bowl. Beat on low speed until moistened. Increase to medium speed and mix until smooth. By hand gently fold in egg whites and orange zest. Cook in waffle maker until light brown.

Serving suggestions: Top with syrup, strawberries, candied pecans, and whipped cream.

Casual Dress Shoes for Work

What's worse than wearing a suit and tie every day to work? Wearing dress shoes every single day. Boo. No thanks. It's difficult to find casual shoes dressy enough for work. Look no more. Enter Ben Sherman's Nick Rubber Fashion Sneaker.

I've had mine for about two months now. At first, I was afraid I couldn't pull it off. I was afraid they'd be too casual. Then, I thought they were going to be too dressy. That's when I knew I was onto something. These shoes are right in the middle. The secret (something I searched for high and low) is in the heel, or should I say, the lack thereof.

If you're lucky, you might find some at Nordstrom Rack, but Amazon has some, too!

Identity Theft Sucks: Protect Yourself, People

Identity theft sucks. About two years ago, someone in SoCal (that's short for Southern California) bought $190 worth of flowers on 1-800-Flowers.com with MY MONEY. This same individual, or a cohort, then purchased over $400 worth of groceries. I called +JPMorgan Chase and a local credit union to dispute these charges.

"Um, Hi, I didn't make these purchases. I'm not romantic. Ask my wife. And duh, I'm too poor to shop at Safeway."

The evidence that it wasn't me was overwhelming. An open-and-shut case, right? Not so fast. I had to call the police, file a police report, file separate paperwork for each individual transaction (there were over ten). After nearly $1,000 was stolen from my debit and credit card, I was beyond frustrated. I closed all of my accounts and opened new ones.

Save yourself the headache. #LiveFree. Protect yourself. LifeLock is offering free identity protection for one month. Click here to find out more.

Cranberry Orange Muffins

After Thanksgiving we had leftovers. Imagine that! Creativity is key when using leftovers so people don't actually realize that's what they're eating. But these muffins are delightful! Enter Orange Cranberry Muffins.

1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2  tsp. salt
1 cup chopped cranberries
1 egg
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. orange zest
shredded coconut
chopped nuts

1. Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
2. In a seperate bowl mix together egg, orange juice, and oil.
3. Add egg mixture into dry ingredients. Stir in sour cream and orange zest.
4. Add chopped cranberries, coconut, and nuts.
5. Spoon into greased muffin cups.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Makes 15 muffins.

Birchbox Mighty Leaf Tea Review

OK, yes, it's true. My wife asked me to test the +Mighty Leaf Tea sent in last week's +Birchbox. I took the tea to work and it fell out of my pocket. Sue me. However, contrary to what you were led to believe, I did NOT lose the tea. I later found it in my car. Maybe I need the Drop Stop featured on +Shark Tank and +QVC. Now, for the tea review.

First, the presentation and packaging is fabulous. The actual tea bag is delicate and transparent, and the contents of the bag are more substantial and recognizable than most generic brands. Nice work,   +Mighty Leaf Tea.

Organic African Nectar
Full disclosure, a ripe nectarine is the best taste in the world, so I may be biased toward this tea. It was sweet and fruity, but not overwhelming. I will say, however, that this flavor is not an everyday tea. Partake and enjoy in moderation.

Green Tea Tropical
For me, green tea usually lacks in the taste department. Often, I drink it for health reasons or to warm my often cold soul, but this tea will not disappoint. If you're a regular green tea drinker, this is a must try.

Vanilla Bean (Black)

Typically, I'm not a big fan of black teas. This tea was no exception. It was still bitter, only this bitter came with a hint of vanilla. Pass.

Clothespin Christmas Ornaments

It's not the holiday season until you've watched the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer claymation movie. I found these cute, little ornaments with characters from the movie a few years ago. You're suppose to hang them on a tree with metal hooks, but those never keep an ornament facing the right way. This year I decided to try clothespin Christmas ornaments. Here's what I did:

1. Use super glue and attach the small ornament to the wooden clothespin. Let it dry overnight.

2. With a small paint brush, paint the clothespin in sections with modpodge around the ornament and sprinkle with glitter. Continue to apply glue and glitter until the pin is covered to your liking.

3. Apply a last coat of modpodge over the glitter to keep it in place, then put the clip on a surface to dry (I used the edge of a glass).

4. Allow the glue to dry completely then attach the finished ornaments to the tree!

Ornaments were purchased from Wal-Mart a few years ago, but I found these similar ornaments on eBay. Glitter, clothespins, and modpodge were purchased from Hobby Lobby.