The Perfect Sweet & Salty Treat: Chocolate Covered Potato Chips!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SKOUT for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you the type of person who loves to snack on potato chips? Lately, I can relate - from indulging in hot dogs & a small bag of sour cream & onion chips, to making a dessert that involves just regular ol' original flavored potato chips, I've loved indulging in every single type of chip.

After deciding to partner with SKOUT to find some other potato chip lovers, I knew I had to share a favorite recipe of mine and it's so simple!

To make this sinfully delicious treat to share with all your friends you will need:

Original Flavor Potato Chips,

Dipping Chocolate,

& Colorful Sprinkles.

You'll begin by warming the chocolate 30 seconds on low heat (or defrost setting), stirring and heating again for 15 second intervals until it's fully melted.

Now dip each chip into the chocolate, submerging about half of the salty goodness into the sweet tasty chocolate.

Add sprinkles to each chip as you go & wait for the chocolate to set.

Serve & ENJOY!

It's that easy to make a treat every chip lover will adore! With the salty, deliciousness of original flavored potato chips and the rich, indulgence of the chocolate, it's like a snack and dessert at the same time. So delicious, so amazing, and so easy to make!

If you're wanting to make friends as easily as you made this little treat, check out SKOUT today! It's the leading global app for making new buddies and it's easy to use!

An Easter Tradition: DIY See's Candies Snack Bar + a Giveaway!

Today's discussion is brought to you by See's Candies,
regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Easter is almost here and that means I've been ogling all the adorable bunny items in every store I visit... and it also means that the "Easter Bunny" will be visiting my house soon. For now, though, I decided to play the Easter Bunny in our home and set up a scrumptious little candy snack bar with See's Candies during our most recent weekend brunch.

With so many delicious candies, it's easy to see why I chose to include all See's delectable delights in my snack bar. From Sugar Coated Sour Bunnies to Dark Chocolate Raspberry filled Springtime Truffles, I've decided to incorporate See's into my Easter tradition every year from now on! I'm so excited to celebrate Easter the very same way next year, with a special new member of our family. Getting to see the joy Easter brings from a child's point of view will make this tradition that much more amazing... but I'll be honest and share that this year I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to snack on delicious candy and other brunch-time favorites!

To celebrate Easter in style our little candy snack bar had to include all of the best American-made See's Easter candies with some flair added to the table.

As I mentioned, there were Springtime Truffles and Sour Bunnies, as well as Rocky Road Eggs, Chocolate Butter Eggs with Walnuts, Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Bunnies of all sizes, Jelly Beans, and even a giant Easter Treasure egg!

Everyone was able to find something to treat their sweet tooth after brunch and it was marvelous. I decided to spruce up the table some with some colorful Easter eggs and a pretty little Easter basket, paired with a couple of cake plates to really show off the delicious candy snack bar options. The last important addition to the table was a colorful springtime plate and napkins set, now my table was ready for guests to enjoy and you can prepare your dessert table this easily too!

Whether you are looking for the perfect over-sized Chocolate Bunny to add into your little one's Easter basket or you want to surprise your sweetheart with a giant Easter Treasure Egg, See's has everything you'll need! Want to treat yourself (or someone you love) to something delicious without having to spend a dime?

Enter to win a $15 See's Candies Gift Card giveaway with the giveaway tools form below:

Entry-Form

Cozy Weekends with Hot Cocoa Moments!

This post was sponsored by Starbucks as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review.

While the weather here in Florida has been perfect, it never hurts to get cozy and that's exactly what I did all weekend long... and well, since I'm 11 weeks pregnant, I have a feeling I'll be trying to get cozy almost every weekend in the upcoming future.

Luckily, I was able to spoil myself with a few of my favorite things - Cuddles from my dogs, a warm, delicious glass of hot cocoa, a little bit of binge watching of my favorite TV programs, and of course, a new blanket to snuggle up with.

While the cuddles were great and my new blanket is probably the softest I've ever owned, the real star of my cozy little weekend was the Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa. The best part of drinking my favorite little pregnancy friendly mermaid created beverage, you ask? I made it at home, in my Keurig, in seconds!

With a velvety smooth cocoa taste, perfectly complemented by a dash of salt, a pinch of caramel, and the perfect amount of non-fat milk, this Starbucks® Hot Cocoa K-Cup® is like hiring a barista to work right in your kitchen! Plus, you don't have to make a special trip out of the house to score a cup of this yummy treat, you can pick up a pack of K-Cups wherever you buy your groceries!

The thing is, there's also just delicious Starbucks Hot Cocoa K-Cups and I can't leave those out! With some amazing artisan Marshmallows and a bite of shortbread - it's like a little stay-cation destination in your home... a winter retreat is easy with a little treat from Starbucks, especially when you can make it in your kitchen in just a few seconds!

So tell me, how do you like to get cozy? Can you think of any must-have items to add to my weekend "retreats" to make getting cozy easier? I can't wait to spend next weekend cozied up and comfy... actually, who am I kidding? You'll probably find me sipping a Hot Cocoa, snuggled up under my new blanket, every single day this week! Want to enter to win a little Cozy Starbucks set of your own? Click here!

Delicious, Homemade Valentine’s Day Candies with Marshmallow Crème

It's hard to believe the day of love is only a WEEK away now, but don't fret... I'm here to save the day with this delicious, homemade marshmallow filled candy recipe so you can wow your sweetheart!

While these candies look amazing and intricately created, they are super easy to make and nearly anyone can become a candy making professional in just minutes, so go ahead and buy a cute heart shaped box and treat your sweetheart to a dozen of these adorable desserts on Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day Candies with Marshmallow Crème   

Time: 2 hours  
Yields: 8 Candies   

Ingredients:

½ cup Wilton Bright Pink Candy Melts     

1 tbsp. Cream Cheese     

½ cup Marshmallow Crème      

Red Coloring     

Small Candy Hearts (red, pink, or white)     

1 Wilton Stack & Melt Candy Mold  

Instructions

A Wilton Candy Melting Pot is recommended to heat candy melts. If you do not own a candy melt pot, you can simply microwave candy melts at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% in 15-second intervals and stir until completely smooth. Do not over heat.   

The next step is easy, using a spoon, slowly pour candy melts into each circular cavity in your candy mold. Rotate the mold from side to side, ensuring all sides are coated. Dip out any excess. The goal is to create a thin shell. Gently tap mold onto countertop to remove air bubbles.        

Place mold in freezer for 30 minutes.       

In a small mixing bowl, combine marshmallow crème and cream cheese. Add red food coloring until desired color is achieved.       

Remove mold from freezer and add in marshmallow crème mixture into each circular cavity.   

Pour a thin layer of pink candy melts on top of each cavity, creating an enclosure, don't forget to wipe any excess from the side. Place mold in freezer for 30 minutes, then remove. Gently pop each candy from the candy mold.        

Add a drop of pink candy melt to some cute small candy hearts and place on each candy.

Place candies in freezer for 15 minutes, remove & enjoy!

The Perfect Homemade Winter Candies with Coconut Buttercream Filling

This post contains affiliate links, regardless all opinions are my own.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks lately, so instead of sulking around I decided to make something delicious and adorable to cheer myself up. These candies are absolutely one of the cutest you'll ever eat and they are actually fairly simple to make, with such a delicious coconut filling!

Whether you want to surprise your sweetie with homemade Valentine's candy or make these adorable snowman candies for your kiddos, you're going to love this simple coconut filled candy recipe!

The Perfect Winter Candies with Coconut Buttercream Filling

Ingredients:

Time: 2 hours Yields: 12 Candies Ingredients
1 cup Wilton White Candy Melts
Blue Coloring Paste
1½ cup Powdered Sugar
1 stick Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp. Milk
½ cup Shredded Coconut
Icing Decorations
1 Wilton Stack-N-Melt Candy Mold   (also sold at Michaels Online)
Instructions:

A Wilton Candy Melt Pot is recommended to heat candy melts, but it's okay if you don't own a candy melt pot! You can still make this recipe super simply, just microwave candy melts at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% in 15-second intervals and stir until completely smooth. Do not over heat, otherwise the texture is all wrong! Add blue coloring paste to white candy melts until desired blue is achieved. If candy melts become too thick simply add a touch of coconut oil to thin.

Using a spoon, slowly pour candy melts into each rectangular cavity. Rotate the mold from side to side, ensuring all sides are coated. It’s best to focus on one rectangle at a time. Dip out any excess candy melt. The goal is to create a thin layer. Gently tap mold onto counter top to remove air bubbles. Place mold in freezer for 30 minutes.

In medium mixing bowl, cream butter with electric mixer until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar while mixing on slow speed. Add vanilla extract and milk until combined.

To finish the filling, you'll add the shredded coconut to the mix and continue to mix.

Remove candy mold from freezer and add coconut buttercream filling into each circular cavity. Leave enough room for the filling to be covered by the other half of the candy shell.

Now, pour a thin layer of blue candy melts on top of each cavity, creating an enclosure. Wipe any excess from the side. Place candy mold in freezer for an additional 30 minutes.

Remove candy from freezer and gently pop each candy from the mold.

Add a drop of blue candy melt to icing decoration pieces and place on each candy. Place candies in freezer for 15 minutes, one last time. Remove from freezer & ENJOY!


Now that I've shared this super yummy candy recipe, I'd love to know what your favorite homemade candy flavor is? Are you a fan of strawberry filling or a gooey chocolate center? Tell me all about your candy love in the comments below!

Stay Healthy with Smoothie Bowls: 7 Delicious Recipes - One For Each Day of The Week!

It may sound a little wild for a girl that admittedly loves food and even claims herself to be a foodie, but I'm going to try to take on a (somewhat) raw diet for the next few days. Mainly so I can cleanse my body and fulfill New Years resolutions, but also because I love eating fruits & veggies and want to fill my body with all the extra nutrients and vitamins involved in eating raw!


While there's all kinds of delicious raw food recipes on the web, I've decided to share a round up of some of my favorite "smoothie bowls" today! I'll be sharing more raw food recipes soon but for now you should check out these unique smoothie bowls! These little babies are packed full of everything your body needs and they taste so good, you'll want one every morning (and maybe another for lunch)! So here's SEVEN delicious smoothie bowl recipes from some fellow bloggers!

Get your blender (or juicer) ready, it's time to start making some bowls for every day of the week!


1. I used to be a huge fan of acai in my smoothie drinks, but I can easily say I enjoy it so much more in a bowl combined with a variety of other fruits & veggies and some granola! This delicious recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie is just like the classic bowl you can order at your local Farmer's Market, but now you can make it at home with your own ingredients!

2. This Blueberry Bliss bowl from Gratitude & Greens is seriously the perfect flavorful way to introduce everyone in your life to smoothie bowls! With just the right amount of sweetness, you can boost your body with antioxidants and chow down on deliciousness at the same time!

3. This green smoothie bowl from The Balanced Berry is a dreamy mixture of creamy deliciousness and your favorite greens! With a little bit of added Coconut, Granola, Nuts, or Seeds your mouth is sure to be in ecstasy while snackin' on this green concoction!

4. This chocolate banana bowl from Simple Vegan Blog isn't exactly diet friendly, but hey - it's vegan & healthier than choosing to eat cake, right? Make this sinfully delicious bowl when it's "that time of the month" or you just need a little bit of chocolate in your life.

5. This Mango smoothie bowl from Easy Peazy Mealz has me doing the tango! It's absolutely delicious and full of flavor (and protein)! Want a smoothie bowl with a little kick to it? This is it.

6. This Coconut Banana Oats Bowl with Crunchy Black Sesame Quinoa Cereal + Mango from Half Baked Harvest is the perfect balance of dessert flavors & healthy deliciousness! This bowl with a big glass of water is the perfect lunch for any day of the week!

7. This Carrot Cake Protein Smoothie Bowl from Whole & Healthy with Casey is unlike any other! With such amazing flavors and so much healthy-ness, you'll be craving this more than a PSL when fall and winter season roll around!

Want more healthy food in your life? These smoothie bowls are the answer and now you have one to try every day of the week! Tell me which bowl you want to try first in the comments below!

The Best Coffeehouse Cocktail Recipes + a Free Coffee Inspired Printable

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone, the following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #muBARista #CollectiveBias

We've all had one of those delicious, creamy, perfectly blended beverages from our favorite coffee shop.

You know the type I'm talking about, the kind that make your mouth water from the smooth and sweet goodness... The type of drink that adds a little pep in your step because of the double shot of espresso mixed in with your favorite sugary treats... The type of drink that leaves you craving another one.

Well, today I'm sharing not just one, but two recipes for those ridiculously good drinks. But here's the twist, these drinks are for adults only with my new favorite addition to my coffee bar area, mü coffeehouse cocktails.

While these drinks are tasty with or without the booze, who says no to a little "cocktail" addition to their coffee around the holidays? Not I!

Are you ready to have one (or two) of these delicious coffee house inspired cocktails? Follow the recipes below and start sipping!

Ingredients:

For the Strawberries & Cream Coffeehouse Cocktail -

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 shots of espresso, room temperature
3/4 cup mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Vanilla Latte
1 cup strawberries
1 1/2 cups ice

For the Cookies & Cream Coffeehouse Cocktail -

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 shots of espresso, room temperature
3/4 cup mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Espresso Macchiato
1 cup chocolate sandwich cookies, whole
1 1/2 cups ice

Both of these recipes are so easy to make, but we'll work on the strawberries & cream cocktail first - you'll start by mixing the strawberries and about 1/4 cup milk in the blender. Next add in the ice.

Blend until smooth and add in remaining ingredients, adding in the mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Vanilla Latte last. Place in freezer for a few minutes if you plan on making both cocktails!

Next up, the cookies & cream cocktail - you'll actually start this recipe with the ice and cookies. Blend until they make a nice chocolate icy texture and then add in remaining ingredients, adding in mü coffeehouse cocktails Creamy Espresso Macchiato last.

Top both delicious cocktails with whipped cream & sprinkles and your drinks are ready to serve!

That's why I love mü coffeehouse cocktails so much, it's so easy to transform your kitchen into a coffeehouse bar with just a flick of the wrist, a blender, and some ice! With a variety of delicious flavors and a $2 coupon hanging from some lucky bottles in Publix & other retailers, there are so many drinks waiting to be served and sipped this winter!

Plus, you may have noticed my awesome new wall decor in the background; I think it really adds to the vibe and with this super cute coffee-inspired FREE printable, you can transform your house into a coffeehouse too.

So now that I've shared TWO delicious recipes and one adorable free printable, I'd love to hear what kind of concoctions and cocktails you want to add mü coffeehouse cocktails into? Tell me how you want your coffee break to meet your happy hour in the comments below!