Product Review

Gilgamesh Oatmeal with Bob’s Red Mill Oats

0 · Oct 28, 2013 · 2 Comments

This post brought to you my Bob's Red Mill // I’m part Scottish… By definition I was born with oatmeal in my blood. OK, not really… But, oatmeal is a large part of my Scottish heritage and one part that I really love. It’s one of those foods that you don’t have to feel one iota of guilt for loving. No matter what your taste, there is an oatmeal for you.

Bob’s Red Mill has a whole collection of different types of oatmeal… Organic Extra Thick, Steel Cut, Scottish, Rolled. Old fashioned and quick cooking, they even have Oat Bran. So no matter how you like your oatmeal, Bob’s Red Mill has you covered. They are an employee owned company that has a passion for creating quality products with time honored processes. Rather than trying to find new technology to process fine whole grain products, they use time tested, traditional techniques that preserve the quality and integrity of the grain, which in turn brings even better nutrition to your table.

The folks at Bob’s Red Mill challenged me to try one of their fun recipes to try with their oatmeal.

I chose their Gilgamesh recipe and added a few more little treats to fit my tastes. It has a bit of an exotic taste that takes me back to my travels in Israel. I made mine with the Organic Extra Thick Rolled Oats to have a real hearty bite. Here’s how you make it…

Gilgamesh Oatmeal Ingredients

Pistachios

Chopped Dates or Dried Figs

Golden Raisins

Honey

Milk or cream

Cardamom or Cinnamon (you could even do a small pinch of both)

Gilgamesh Oatmeal Directions

Cook your favorite type of Oatmeal according to package directions. Once slightly cool, place in a bowl and top with chopped pistachios, chopped dates or dried figs (I couldn’t find dates so I went with dried figs), golden raisins, a splash of milk or cream, a drizzle of honey and a small pinch of cardamom and/or cinnamon.

You will be transported to the Mediterranean and all the spicy flavors of that part of the world. It’s a trip in a bowl for sure!

Spicy & exotic not your style? Don’t worry… the folks at Bob’s Red Barn have all kinds of ideas up their sleeves.

So, what’s your favorite way to eat your oatmeal? What’s your favorite type of oatmeal? Come share some of your favorite toppings!

Disclaimer // This is a post sponsored by Bob's Red Mill. I received product and payment for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my very own.

GODIVA Truffle Fight™ #TruffleTakeoff

21 · Oct 20, 2013 · 1 Comment

This post is brought to you by Godiva // In my perfect dream life I would travel the world with my camera and spoon in hand. Money wouldn’t be an issue, nor would calories. I would travel to exotic locals all over the world and photograph doors and windows and try as much authentic local cuisine as I could. I would love to photograph a beautiful coffee table book just of doors and windows and the meals behind those doors & windows. Doesn’t that sound heavenly?

I just want to experience and drink in everything that I can. I want each meal time to matter. My husband laughs at me and my funny dream world. He also finds it kind of frustrating when I want to try everything on the menu. I’m a taster… I want one or two bites of everything. I don’t need a whole plate of one main dish, how boring is that? I want to experience the high notes of a vinegary salad along with the low notes of the rustic artisan bread. I’m the same way with desserts. Don’t give me a bowl full of a brownie sunday, I want to taste a little bite of everything you’ve got! I want the meal to tell me a story.

Recently, I was lucky enough to try the new GODIVA Truffle Flight™ and I have to say, that is my kind of sweet treat!

This is a sweet treat that tells a story. Each box comes with 6 fine truffles, each with a role to play. I had the chance to try the GODIVA Ultimate Dessert Truffle Flight™ and it was an experience for sure.

As with any good book, you would never start in the middle of the story. You start from the beginning, savoring every moment. The introduction of the characters, the slow build to the climax of the story with the happy ever after at the end. The same holds true with the Truffle Flight™. You start at the left side of the box and slowly move your way to the end of the box, savoring the story along the way. If you are a sweet person, you may even share this experience with a friend.

GODIVA has been thrilling taste buds for over 85 years. Started in Brussels Belgium GODIVA has grown to be a global leader in the chocolate world. The chocolatiers at GODIVA have come up with something truly unique with the Truffle Flight™ gift box. There are six different stories to indulge in…

The six Truffle Flight Collections include:

Nut Lovers Truffle Flight^TM: Salted Almond, Hazelnut Crunch, Pecan Caramel, Butterscotch Walnut, Maple Walnut, Pistachio.
Dark Decadence Truffle Flight^TM: Dark Vanilla Mousse, Chocolate Soufflé, 50% Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Lava Cake, 72% Extra Dark Chocolate, Aztec Spice
Heavenly Mousse Truffle Flight^TM: Dark Vanilla Mousse, Milk Chocolate Mousse, Strawberry Mousse, Lemon Mousse, Peach Mousse and Café Au Lait Mousse
Cake Truffle Flight^TM: Birthday Cake, Pineapple Hummingbird Cake, Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Lava Cake, Lemon Chiffon Cake.
Ultimate Dessert Truffle Flight^TM: Chocolate Éclair, Crème Brulee, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Lava Cake, Tiramisu, Strawberry Crème Tarte
Milk Chocolate Lovers Truffle Flight^TM: Chocolate Éclair, Milk Chocolate Mousse, Milk Chocolate, Butterscotch Walnut, Salted Almond, Hazelnut Crunch.
You can visit any GODIVA Boutique nationwide or online at Godiva.com/truffles to be whisked away on a magical flight of your very own! Don’t forget your friends along the way… This would be a perfect little gift for your friends and loved ones as well.

I participated in this post on behalf of Burst Media. I was compensated for my time and commitment, but all opinions are my own. This post is sponsored by GODIVA.

Halloween Decorations with American Crafts & Target

2 · Sep 26, 2013 · 16 Comments

This Halloween Decorations post brought to you by American Crafts // ' Tis the season to start dressing up our homes with all kinds of creepy, crawly decor. I have to admit in the past I have not been much of a Halloween decor person. I've never really gotten into the macabre & grotesque side of Halloween. However, In recent years the Halloween trends have become way more fun in my eyes and I've fallen in love with decorating for this playful holiday. Companies like American Crafts have also made it so dang EASY to dress-up our home decor and spook things out for our parties!

A few weeks ago the crew at American Crafts sent over some goodies that they have created for Target for this year's Halloween season and they are soooo stylish and fun to work with!

The products range from full kits like the paper wreath, witches hats & banner all the way down to stylish washi tape and everything in between. You can buy little individual elements to create with, or buy a full kit that comes with everything you need. I put together this stunning paper wreath that was a SNAP to make.

The kits come with everything you need, you don't even have to bust out the glue or tape. The instructions are easy to follow and the project comes together really quick. For this one I did find that a stapler did come in a little handy at times, but for the most part everything worked like a charm. I used the wreath to dress-up my entryway and I love how everything turned out.

I added stickers to some glass containers that I had laying around. It's simply amazing how even just that, transforms the whole scene into something a little spooky.

Next, I made the banner from the Happy Halloween banner kit. The EASIEST BANNER EVER!! Seriously… Everything is self-adhesive so it's just stick-it and go.

The cool thing is you can make whatever element just how it is pictured in the kit, or you can (if you feel comfortable) bring out your creative side and use the elements to invent your own masterpiece. I used the elements from the witches hat kit to dress-up some straws for the display.

I love how they turned out!

You can find all of these fun products, plus several more at your local Target store. Go grab'em before they are gone. As cute as they are, they are sure to sell out FAST!!

Disclaimer // This is an American Crafts sponsored post. I received free product and payment for this post. However, all thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own. I want you to know that I will NEVER post on a product that I don't love or would use in my normal everyday life.

Antique Farmhouse Floor Lamps Review // Lamps.com Pin to Win GIVEAWAY

8 · Aug 29, 2013 · 22 Comments

This floor lamps reveiw / giveaway post brought to you by Lamps.com // When it comes to decorating, I am all about the statement piece. Building a room is much like building a good wardrobe. When filling your closet, it’s good to invest in some quality staple pieces like a classic white shirt, fabulous jeans, classic boots. Items that are timeless and will also stand the test of time. Then once you have a good selection of these classic items, then you add in the fun trendy stuff. These items you don’t need to invest a whole lot in because they are in one season and then out the next. They same goes for dressing your home. Let’s face it, our tastes change… Well, I know mine does!

When designing a room, it’s also a good idea to invest in good quality anchor pieces that are classic and will look fabulous for years and then accessorize with the fun colors and other trendier items. Sofas, tables, large pieces & lamps are all the types of items that you want to invest in timeless quality. I’ve been recently introduced to Lamps.com and I am thrilled with their selection most definitely their quality.

Lamps.com contacted a little while ago to see if I would be interested in reviewing one of their lamps and for sure, I jump at the chance. I knew that they are known for their huge selection, quality merchandise & excellent service so why not take one of their lamps for a test drive.

Let’s talk about their selection… aaaaamazing! Seriously, you can find any type of lamp that you are looking for at almost any price point. They have lamps under a $100 and then they have some stunning chandeliers that would knock your socks off and almost anything in between. I selected this beautiful Antique Farmhouse Brass Floor lamp to dress up my living room here at the new house. When it arrived I was blown away by the quality of this lamp. I haven’t ever been skimpy when purchasing lamps. Like I said before, quality lamps are an investment and should last a lifetime. I’ve bought my current lamps from Pottery Barn and they are great, but this farmhouse lamp from Lamps.com blows them out of the water.

Each element is solid metal and crafted beautifully. It adds a bit of rustic elegant charm to my new room design. I couldn’t be happier with my lovely new lamp and I can’t wait to find some more treasures at Lamps.com! What treasure would you like? What’s your style? Are you looking for a table or floor lamp, or some fun pendant lights for your kitchen? Come on over to Lamps.com and Pin your favorite lamps for a chance to win a $100 to Lamps.com!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer // This giveaway is sponsored by Lamps.com. I did receve a lamp to review but I was not paid for the review. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own!

Product Review

Gilgamesh Oatmeal Ingredients

Gilgamesh Oatmeal Directions

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