Indulge Your Cheesecake Instincts with Fiber One Cheesecake Bars

I'm a bit of a foodie with a true love for anything remotely resembling dessert. Lately I've been craving one of my favorite desserts though; I want the perfect slice of cheesecake! I'm obsessed with the rich, creamy texture, the buttery graham cracker crumb crust, and the most delicious flavors. 

The thing is, I've lost a lot of weight recently and I'm really trying to live a healthier lifestyle which means I tend to steer clear of desserts in general, especially cheesecake. This is tough, but worth it! I was living a in cheesecake-less world for the last few months, until I found Fiber One Cheesecake Bars in Salted Caramel and Strawberry! Now I can indulge in cheesecake daily, if I please and not worry about gaining each time I take a bite.

These delicious little treats are the ultimate after dinner "dessert"; offering the perfect creamy texture, a moist and flavorful graham cracker crust, and a swirl of caramel (or strawberry) that really adds that extra little touch and really boosts the flavor all for just 150 calories!

I love serving these Fiber One cheesecake desserts to company with a drizzle of chocolate over the top and a couple of strawberries for decoration! Think restaurant quality dessert, without any hassle or guilt - what more could a cheesecake-loving-foodie ask for?

Are you ready to follow your cheesecake instincts? Enter to win $15 CASH so Fiber One and I can treat you to a couple of boxes of cheesecake bars!

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Not only do you have the opportunity to win some cash, you can save some $$ as well. Check out all the awesome coupons and exclusive savings only at Publix!

So what are you waiting for? Head to Publix and grab a box or two of Fiber One Cheesecake bars, because now you can have your cheesecake, eat it, and save money too!

Take a Break & Go Naked To Achieve a Bikini Body + a Berry Milk & Cookies Mini Cheesecake Recipe #TryNakedJuice Giveaway

So I'll be the first to admit that I occasionally get a little lazy and after this whirlwind of a month I'm definitely feeling the need for a nice, long break from everything including cooking and cleaning. I'm almost convinced I should have been born into a rich family, with a maid to clean up after me and a chef to prepare healthy food for me... but alas, I was blessed with an awesome family, sans "the help". Luckily, I've learned to make due with my cleaning skills and found easy ways to get healthy food into my body without a chef in the picture.

Nearly every single day this summer I've been sipping on something that tastes like my own personal Chef made it: Naked Juices and Smoothies! With the combination of powerful flavors, no sugars or preservatives added, and the perfect amount of each nutritious ingredient in every single bottle, what more could I ask for?

I'm a happy girl even without my chef or maid. Plus, I've noticed since I've been choosing Naked Juice for breakfast or a snack, the results are paying off. My weight is getting lower and lower with all of the healthy food choices I'm making this summer and I'm so happy with my progress, it's amazing! I love that I'm able to enjoy something sinfully delicious while providing my immune system and body with the nutrients it craves in a healthy beverage daily without guilt!

With a deep tradition of tasty goodness that started way back in 1983, Naked Juice is committed to using the best ingredients available while packing as much of Mother Nature's colorful and delicious bounty into every single bottle.

Whether you're the type that just needs a break away from the day-to-day work hustle or a busy mama on the go, Naked Juice is the answer to getting all your fruits and veggies into your diet without having to take the time to slice, chop, blend, etc. So hey, if you don't have time or energy to prep and eat the foods your body craves, at least you can drink 'em without a worry!

I'm currently obsessed with the Berry Almond Nutmilk, it's the perfect blend of creamy and fruity with 26 blueberries, 8 blackberries, 2 raspberries, 1 strawberry, 24 almonds, 1 3/4 apples, and 1/3 banana! It packs a powerful punch of 11 grams of plant protein and it's gluten and dairy free and totally okay for vegans to indulge in! I actually made a tasty, healthy dessert with my Berry Almond Nutmilk, a healthy berry milk and cookies mini cheesecake if you will...

These tasty treats are super easy to make and only involve 3 ingredients! You'll need a bottle of Naked Berry Almond Nutmilk, a package of chocolate sandwich cookies, and about 3 tbsp of cream cheese.

Place the Naked Berry Almond Nutmilk and room temperature cream cheese into a blender and blend thoroughly. Once the mixture is blended, place cupcake liners into a silicone baking tray and a sandwich cookie in each liner. Pour the Naked Berry & cream cheese mixture over each cookie and freeze for at least 3-4 hours, or overnight. Serve once perfectly frozen!

Enjoy!

I'm not just drinking the Berry Nut Milk Naked Juice and eating my berry milk and cookies mini cheesecakes, though. Naked Juice also recently came out with all kinds of other tasty and healthy flavors: Bright Beets, Chia Cherry Lime, Chia Sweet Peach, Proteins & Greens, and Kale Blazer, all of which are delicious in their own right! I highly recommend the Chia infused juices, they pack an extra punch of healthy and are so incredibly tasty!

I'd love to know, which Naked Juice do you want to try first? One lucky winner will receive a $15 Whole Foods gift card, just as a little treat from me to you...I want to buy at least one of my readers a few of these delicious juices! Use the giveaway form below to enter to win:

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

"Everybody Let's Rock" Elvis-Inspired Sweet & Savory Hors d'Oeuvres with RITZ®

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PutItOnaRITZ® #CollectiveBias


Today's your lucky day, I'm sharing a delicious Elvis inspired Hors d'Oeuvres recipe and I'm also sharing how you can enter for a chance to win one of forty $100 Walmart e-Gift Cards (10/week) by uploading an Instagram photo of your RITZ®-topped creation with #putitonaritzcontest. Although, the purchase of RITZ® is not required.

Ritz Snackify Challenge Instagram Contest
I'm a snack-er, as I've shared in the past. I love trying new foods and I actually consider myself a foodie of sorts so instead of making bland ol' recipes, I'm typically one to get creative with foods.

As you can imagine, when I discovered "The Elvis" Sandwich (Banana, Bacon, & PB), I was all over it like white on rice. Then, when I was snacking on peanut butter and RITZ® crackers last week I had the brilliant idea of merging The Elvis and RITZ® crackers. I put it on a RITZ®, making the ultimate Hors d'Oeuvres to serve anytime! This little recipe is so easy to make and it's the perfect snack for on the go - with protein and just the right amount of sweetness to curve your cravings! The King really knew what he was talkin' about when it comes to food!

These little delights involve minimal prep and maximum taste, which makes them a new favorite in my book!

Everything you need should be in your kitchen already if you've visited Wal-Mart recently, so need to run to the store either - BONUS!

You will need:

Peanut Butter
RITZ® Crackers
All-Natural, Uncured Bacon
Banana

Now, this is all really self-explanatory, I think, but just in case. Bake the bacon in the oven for 10 minutes or so at 375 degrees, allowing it to get crispy-ish just the way The King liked it!

While your bacon is baking, add peanut butter to your RITZ® crackers and go ahead and slice up a banana.

Remove the bacon from the oven and allow it to cool some. Once cool, break it up into small pieces with your fingers and sprinkle over your peanut butter topped RITZ® crackers.

Lastly, top each cracker off with a finely chopped slice of banana.

Now it's time to snack on this savory, yet sweet treat... and get creative with your own RITZ® cracker recipe! Click HERE to enter the Snackify Challenge with your own RITZ®-topped creation for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card!

Now that I've shared my most recent snack-ified RITZ® creation, I'd love to know what you recipe do you have in mind to make with your RITZ®?

The Perfect Better-For-You Snack: Mini Marbled Tapioca Pudding with A Homemade Raspberry Sauce

I'm a pretty big fan of snacking, I mean it's a little ridiculous how much I like chowing down on a tasty snack. You can find me snacking on pretty much anything sweet, spicy, or just simply delicious!

While I love snacking and my list of favorite foods could go on for miles and miles, I'm also trying to lose weight so I have recently started following a meal plan. I'll be sharing more details about the plan once I have worked out what actually works for me, trying different calorie amounts and macros for a few weeks to make sure I'm eating healthy and I'm happy with what I'm eating.

I can't wait to share all the details, but for now I'm sharing my favorite part of my meal plan, I get to eat less, but I'll be eating more. What I mean by that is I'll be eating less during each meal, but I'll also be eating more meals through out the day. This also means that I get to snack. Luckily, I get to snack on delicious, healthy foods!

My favorite snack is a Kozy Shack® Simply Well® Tapioca Pudding made into a delicious little dessert though. Simply Well is only 90-calories, has no sugar added, it's gluten-free, and it's my snack of choice - made into dessert or on it's own, it's simply delicious!

This better-for-you dessert is prepared in a mini mason jar portion size so it's just the right size to satiate your sweets craving without feeling guilty and here's a bonus, it's super easy to make! The only thing that I actually made for this recipe is a super simple raspberry sauce.

While it's a simple addition, it just makes this pudding dessert taste beyond incredible and since it's homemade you get to choose how much added sugar you add to the sauce (if any at all)!

I fixed up a whole batch of these beauties to share with some friends recently and they were all pleasantly surprised to find out this Marbled Tapioca recipe was fairly healthy!

Do you want to try making this super simple dessert at home? Here's the recipe:

Mini Marbled Kozy Shack® Simply Well® Tapioca Pudding
with Raspberry Sauce & Hot Dark Chocolate Sauce

and Cookie Crust



Ingredients:

Kozy Shack® Simply Well® Tapioca Pudding Cups
Frozen Raspberries (thawed)
Sugar (optional)
Hot Dark Chocolate Sauce
Mini Sandwich Cookies
Fat-Free Whipped Topping (optional)

This dessert almost doesn't even need a recipe listed, but I wanted to break it down just in case someone has any questions on how I made this delicious dish.

While you are gathering your ingredients, go ahead and place the frozen raspberries and sugar (in the amount you prefer - I used 1/3 cup) in a sauce pan. Allow it to simmer, stirring occasionally. It'll take about ten minutes to turn into a sauce so we'll come back to this (but don't forget to stir it)!

 Next you'll need to place a few sandwich cookies in your container (I used Mini Mason Jars, you can use a bowl, a ramekin, whatever your heart desires).

Now you'll add the star of the show, the Kozy Shack® Simply Well® Tapioca Pudding. I used 2 1/2 containers of Kozy Shack® to partially fill my mini mason jars, just FYI. Notice I said partially fill, leave a little space if you want to add whipped topping.

Now would be a good time to go ahead and add the Hot Dark Chocolate (after following the prep instructions on the container).

Next you'll want to remove the raspberry sauce from the stove and strain it to remove seeds. Pressing the mixture to make sure you get all the delicious sauce!

Lastly, go ahead and get crazy with the sauce! Pour it everywhere. Top with Whipped Cream and sandwich cookie crumbs and you have a dessert your friends and family will go crazy over!

I like to think of these tasty little desserts as my version of a healthier cheesecake, while the texture isn't the same the taste is even better!

Now that I've shared this delicious recipe, who wouldn’t want a chance to try Kozy Shack® Simply Well® Pudding for themselves? Maybe you don't like Tapioca? They also offer Rice Pudding and Chocolate Pudding! Can you say yummy?!

Luckily, I'm hosting a giveaway for TWO Free Product Coupons! I'd love to hear a fun fact you learned from The KozyShack website! Be sure to enter to win with the giveaway tools form below:

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Enjoy Snacking Simply with Kozy Shack® Simply Well®!

Disclaimer: Must be 18 or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Twitter, Facebook, or any other entity, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Buying a New Car Without The Drama: Show Cars.com Your #NewCarFace and Win Up to $25,000!

Today's discussion about shopping for a new car
& the possibility of winning up to $25,000 to pay off the car loan is sponsored by Cars.com.

Buying a new car is a little bit like getting engaged, having a baby, adopting a dog, or any other huge commitment that requires some maturity and responsibility. Car shopping is a super exciting time in anyone's life, you are making a serious commitment to a loan and your car, you are required to provide maintenance and upkeep, drive responsibly, etc.  You are embarking on a relationship of sorts when you buy a car. Your car relies on you and you on it, so choosing the right car is important.

While buying a new car tends to be a well-thought out process for most, our recent vehicle purchase included my husband signing the papers and driving it off the lot before I even saw the car. I guess you could say we like to do things on a whim, but buying our Kia Soul was the best thing we have ever done and it was completely drama free... Well, hubby dealt with the drama while I was working, so it was drama-free for me at least (next time we'll use Cars.com to avoid the drama entirely)!

It may sound silly but since this was our first "big purchase" as adults, we both were feeling a bit giddy. He practically jumped out of the car as he pulled up, stumbled over his words as he showed me all the awesome new features, and after I looked the new little cutie over for a while we hopped in and took our first short little trip to the beach. Our car blends into our lives perfectly.

Well, any car would suffice I suppose... but I love our car! Our Kia Soul is cute and it fits who we are and what we like to do. It's a car that we can take with us from beach to beach without worrying about gas mileage, it holds our 13 foot kayak on the rooftop with ease, and this little baby can even go off-roading when we want to spend time doing yoga at our favorite secluded beach spot. What more could this beach bunny ask for?

Whether you are playing "soccer mom" to a house full of kids or roadtripping around the country and exploring what this great nation has to offer, your car is what you rely on to get you where you need to be. When choosing a new car you want something reliable, that's a great deal, that also fits your lifestyle, and Cars.com can help you find that!

Cars.com takes the drama out of the new car shopping experience, helping you breathe a little easier... But I bet you didn't know they are taking the drama out of your car loan as well, by giving away up to $25,000 towards your new car in the #NewCarFace Contest!

You can enter to win The NewCarFace Contest via twitter, instagram, or facebook. You'll simply need to upload a photo of you, your totally awesome new car face, and your new car! I've shared a few examples today and here's one of the hubby practicing yoga with his Soul... haha. Get it?

Be sure to use the hashtag #newcarface and don't forget to tag Cars.com (@CarsDotCom) directly in your post as well! If you are entering via facebook, make a post directly on their facebook wall with the hashtag for your entry to be valid!

What's your New Car Face look like
and will it win you $25,000 to help pay off your new car loan?

And here's some legal stuff: You can only submit one entry during the promotional period. Need to know more about the rules? You can click here to find some inspiration and check out all the details. Open to legal US residents (excluding MD, NJ, & TN), must be 18+ and hold a qualifying vehicle loan or lease. Contest ends 4/17/2015 at 12pm CST. Prize will be valued up to $25k. Subject to the Official Rules, including eligibility criteria, and qualifiying vehicle restrictions. Sponsored by Cars.com, a division of Classified Venture, LLC. Just FYI, a new car is considered a new (or used) car bought or leased on or after 1/1/2012.

You're in Luck $100 CASH Giveaway!

It's officially March, can you believe it? I'm celebrating in a big way on the blog with a $100 giveaway! I started this blogging adventure a few years ago and never dreamed it would become what it is today... and I can only imagine what it will continue to grow into. With that said, I'm hosting this giveaway to thank my readers and to hopefully gain some new readers as well...

Are you feeling lucky? You have the chance to win a $100 gift card - right here! Use the giveaway tools form below to enter to win!

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: Must be 18 or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Twitter, Facebook, or any other entity, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Enter to win a Chance to Hang out with Robert Downey Jr. at the Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron

Listen up, y'all! Robert Downey Jr. is offering fans the chance to win the best night of their life culminating at the World Premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, all to support a great cause! What could be better? 

Check out this video, Robert Downey Jr. reveals that anyone has the chance to win a flyaway trip with a friend to Los Angeles to experience a day in the life of Tony Stark. 

By going to Omaze.com and donating just $10 to benefit Julia’s House, a children’s hospice center dedicated to helping improve the lives of children diagnosed with terminal illness, you could win a chance to live out your superhero dreams with RDJ in LA. 

What will your dream day look like? You’ll kick things off with breakfast at the iconic Randy’s Donuts before launching into an action-packed day which will include a helicopter ride over the Hollywood sign, indoor skydiving, and a custom gown or tux fitting before meeting Robert Downey Jr. himself for an epic motorcade arrival at the World Premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. And yes, there will be caviar and champagne! No worries about travel expenses either - Flights, 4-star hotel, and transportation are all included.

Did I mention you’ll be one of the first people on this planet to see the newest release from Marvel’s hit franchise? Yeah, that’s happening. But the opportunity to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience won’t last forever, be sure to enter to win!

Don't miss a thing, follow THE AVENGERS on Facebook |  Twitter. 

Even if you don't win the big contest, keep in mind - Marvel's AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON will hit theaters everywhere on May 1st!

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Creative Types + {a Giveaway}

Today's discussion is sponsored by Onite.

Everyone deserves to be spoiled on Valentine's Day, whether it's your best friend, your child, your co-worker, or your beau - it's nice to give those you love a little something to remind them they are important to you. Today I'm sharing a collection of items that would be perfect to give to the creative types in your life. If you love an artist, a photographer, a blogger, a kid with a knack for arts & crafts - these gifts will be the perfect way to treat them to something special without breaking the bank.

1. Gimme Mini, ANYTHING - It may sound silly but all creatives love little versions of things, it's just something inside of us. I obsess over miniature versions of most anything but these baby clothes pins take the cake, plus they are useful in craft projects or as a paper clip.

2. Magical Markers - Having an array of colored markers makes for a fun time, anytime for the creative type. Be sure to get a wide variety of colors and the bolder, the better.

3. Funk-ify Their Case - We all love to express ourselves, help the creative in your life express herself (or himself) with an adorable case that suits their personality. Check Etsy for some truly unique ideas.

4. Pens with a Spin - Well, not exactly a spin but pens that are unique that your loved one will cherish. I found these beauties in the $1 section at Target, they don't need to be expensive - just unique or something your sweetie will like. I'm gold obsessed so these funky gold accented pens are totally the perfect gift.

5. Flash 'em This - This Onite Flash Drive is the perfect gift for the photographers and instagram addicts in your life. They can transfer pictures from your cell phone to your PC in seconds with this flash drive. It's tough too, I accidentally dropped mine in water and it still works perfectly.

6. Office Accessories with Style - I'm still working on this one but my purple stapler is doing the job for now. I suggest a kit with rhinestones or studs, whatever your sweetie prefers.

7. Chalkboard and Chalk Pastels - Chalkboards aren't just trendy, they can make for some pretty awesome creative inspiration as well. I love these chalk pastels because they show up SO bright and beautiful and mini chalkboards are where it's at!

The good news - I'm giving away a 32GB Flash Drive to one lucky winner! Enter to win this awesome gadget with the giveaway tools form below:

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Do you have any creative gift ideas for your sweetie that you want to share? What's your favorite Valentine's Day gift you've ever received? I'd love to hear about it below!


Disclaimer: I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Must be 18 or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Twitter, Facebook, or any other entity, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.