Easy Lemon Bars- Made With A Sugar Cookie Mix

I love how easy it is to make these lemon bars!

    I needed a dessert to bring to a social function and I looked in my pantry for ideas. I saw that I had a couple packages of sugar cookie mixes. After all the cookies that I made for Christmas, I did not want to make cookies with the mixes. So after seeing lemons on my counter, I decided to make some lemon bars. My family loves lemon bars and I knew that they would be a perfect dessert to bring. I often find sugar cookie mixes on clearance after Christmas and these mixes were from last year and needed to be used up. So I decided to use the sugar cookie mix for the base of the lemon bars. The cookie mix made my lemon bars taste delicious as it is so similar to the ingredients in a recipe for lemon bars. The mix also made for less measuring of ingredients. What a great way to use a cookie mix.

    When I make anything with lemons, I will only use fresh lemon juice as the stuff in those bottles may contain preservatives. Fresh lemon juice tastes better too. The problem with fresh juice is it can take a lot of squeezing of lemons. Lemon bars also require 1 cup of lemon juice so that might require 5-6 lemons and a whole lot of squeezing. I discovered a cool product that makes the job of squeezing lemons so much easier and also helps to get more juice out of the lemon. The Squissors cuts and squeezes the lemon with ease. This nifty tool has a blade in it that slices the lemon first (no need for cutting board or knife.)  Then the other part squeezes the juice out. What I love best about the Squissors is how easy it is to get the juice out and my hand doesn't hurt either. My eight-year-old son enjoyed squeezing the lemons with the Squissor and was disappointed when there were no more lemons to squeeze. This green colored, handy to use tool also keeps the seeds out of my juice. This tool also will be great for fresh orange and lime juice. I get a lot of use from my Squissor so I hang it on my pot rack but it also stores well in the drawer. Washing it is easy too, I usually just rinse it but it also can go in the dishwasher.

Sugar Cookie Mix Lemon Bars

For the crust

1 pouch (1 lb.1.5 oz) sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

For the filling

6 large eggs 

2 1/2 cups  sugar

1 cup lemon juice

1 cup flour

Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 by 13 pan

Stir cookie mix, butter, and egg in bowl until soft dough forms.  Press the cookie dough mix in the pan, going up the sides half way. Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned and let cool. Leave the oven on for the next step.

For the lemon layer, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or about five minutes beyond the point where the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature. Cut into squares and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

What do you like to make with fresh lemon juice?

I bought this cool lemon Squissor on Amazon. Here is the link to go check it out

https://www.amazon.com/Squissors-Squeezer-Juicer-cutting-Squeeze/dp/B01MRR3ZLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482756055&sr=8-1&keywords=juicer

"These opinions are my own and I received a Squissors to facilitate this post."

The Ultimate Guide To What You Shouldn't Be Eating

Over the past few decades, it has become increasingly clear at just how closely linked our diet and health are. The food that we regularly eat has a huge impact on our overall health, especially our immune system. And this is one reason why superfoods have become increasingly popular over the past decade or so. Studies have shown that these superfoods are incredibly beneficial for improving our immune system and overall health. Not only that, though, but they can also help to prevent you from some of the most life-threatening diseases that we face, such as cancers and heart disease.

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However, when it comes to diet and health, it isn’t all good news. Some studies also show that the opposite of these benefits are true and that some of the food we eat can be very detrimental to our health. Instead of protecting the body and its immune system, these unhealthy foods will instead put them at risk. There are also some studies that show them to actually increase the risk of developing cancers and other dangerous diseases.

So which foods should you watch out for in your diet? Here is my concise list of some of the unhealthiest foods that are out there. Next time you are in the supermarket, you better stay safe by not putting them in your trolley!

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Diet Foods

One of the big battles that we face when it comes to dieting is losing weight. As you get older, you will find that it is much easier to put on weight compared with when you were younger. You will need to start eating less and exercising more to maintain your figure. There is another thing that many of us turn to as we get older as well. And that is diet foods. These are so-called healthy versions of your favorite foods that are often said to be a lot lower in fat compared to the regular versions. However, these foods aren’t all that they seem. Sure, the labels on them may say that they are low in fat and will help you lose weight, but in actual fact, they aren’t quite as healthy as they sound. One reason for this is that all of the sugar and salt that is in normal food is replaced with dangerous chemicals in diet foods, including trans fats. These kinds of fats are artificial and can increase your cholesterol which can cause high blood pressure. Rather than eating these artificial fats, you need to include good fats in your diet from the likes of oily fish and white meat.

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Margarine

Just a few decades ago, we were all told by the media that butter was extremely bad for us as it was extremely high in fat. As a result, many families swapped the butter that was in their fridge for margarine. They believed that this plant-based spread was a lot healthier than the animal fat which was used to make butter. However, the thinking behind this has now changed. These days, we are actually encouraged to eat butter rather than margarine. And that is all because of the trans fats that I have previously mentioned. These manmade fats appear in margarine and are artificial. Our bodies cannot break them down properly and efficiently, and as a result, they are likely to cause mutations in our bodies. These mutations can morph into cancers and also cause strokes and heart disease.

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Sugar

Do you enjoy a cup of tea with a chocolate biscuit every now and then? If so, it may be time to rethink this habit. Especially if you enjoy your tea with a couple of spoonfuls of sugar! The reason for this is that many scientists and dieticians believe sugar to be super bad for our body. Firstly, sugar is very bad for our teeth and gums, which is something that we have all known for a long time now. But there are also a few more negative ways it affects our body too, some of which we have only been aware of for the past few years. Eating too much sugar can overload the liver with fructose. Our bodies find it hard to metabolize fructose, and when our liver is overloaded with it, it puts us at risk of certain liver diseases. Too much sugar in our diets can also lead to insulin resistance. And this is the first step on the path to diabetes! Not only that, though, but many people think that we need to stay well away from sugar in order to reduce our risk of developing cancer: http://www.thealternativedaily.com/how-to-ward-off-cancer/.

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Red Meat

We are often told that we need to source our protein from lean meat sources. By lean meat, dieticians mean white meats, such as chicken and turkey. Fish is also a great source of protein and has the added benefit of being an excellent source of healthy fatty acids. These are the meats that we should be eating on a day to day basis. But what about red meat? It is perfectly fine to eat red meat, but this should be limited to once a week. Eating it less than this, say once a month, would be more ideal for many people. So why is there this big difference between red and white meat? The main reason is that red meat is a lot fattier than white. The fat in red meat can easily cause cholesterol and high blood pressure. There is one more thing that puts many people off eating red meat. And that is the fact that some studies have shown some links between it and cancer. So to reduce your risk of cholesterol and cancers, make sure that you are eating a lot more white meat than red! You can find complete lists of red and white meat online: http://www.reference.com/food/list-white-meat-98efc8dd002ef3a9.

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Alcohol

I’m sure that most people enjoy a drink or two after they have finished a busy day in the office. Most of us find that enjoying a cool glass of beer or wine can really help us relax in the evenings. But are you sure that you really need to relax with alcohol? After all, a lot of studies show that it has some pretty bad effects on our health. Alcohol affects our whole body, and even our mind and most of these effects aren’t exactly great. Firstly, many people find that they put on a lot of weight whenever they go through a period of heavy drinking. This is because all alcoholic drinks are full of sugar and calories. So drinking a lot can add a lot to your daily intake of calories. When you have had a bit too much to drink, I’m sure that you will have noticed a change in your brain function. For example, your speech will be slurred, and you might forget things that happen during the evening. If you drink heavily over a long period of time, these effects will worsen, and you could even be putting yourself at risk of developing long-term brain conditions. Long-term drinking is also associated with some forms of cancer. For instance, many heavy drinkers have an increased risk of developing cancer of the larynx, mouth, and throat.

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Processed Meats

Processed meats are ones that have been preserved by smoking, curing, canning, or drying. There are lots of common food products that are categorized as processed meat, including hot dogs, bacon, ham, corned beef, and sausages. So why are these types of meats so bad for us? One reason is that the dietary choices of people who choose to eat these types of foods are quite bad. For example, studies show that people who eat a lot of processed meats are also a lot more likely to be smokers and eat not enough fruit or vegetables. However, that isn’t the only reason why many nutritionists and dieticians are firmly against us eating diet meats. Another reason is that there are links between these kinds of meat and some chronic diseases. Many studies show that people who eat a lot of processed meats are at a very high risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, and bowel and stomach cancers. Scientists believe that is because of all the artificial chemicals that go into the meat during the preserving process.

Refined Carbohydrates

Refined carbs include white bread, pasta, and rice. These are a lot more common in supermarkets than brown pasta, bread, and rice but are also a lot more unhealthy. Why the big difference? It’s all because the refined carbs have had all their nutritious value taken out of them, so they are low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Many dieticians blame these unhealthy carbs on the current obesity epidemic that is affecting the country. If you swap all your white carbs for whole grains, then you will find that you stay fuller for longer, and won’t feel the need to snack so often throughout the day. That way, you’ll find it easier to lose weight.

Top Tips For Exercising As A New Mom

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Being a new mom is exhausting and exhilarating, but it’s often the case that exercise takes a back seat. When the baby finally goes to sleep, it’s more often the case that moms will try to get some shut-eye too. It’s easy to overlook exercise, but studies actually show that even a few minutes of exercise a day can mean that new mothers have more energy for childcare, and feel better in themselves. And that’s not a full workout every day - just a few minutes here and there can make all the difference.

It’s important to find something you enjoy, and which meshes well with being a new mother, but doesn’t over exert you - remember you’re still a little bit fragile, even a few months postpartum. It can even be a great way to meet other new moms, to create a support network, and to even start your baby socializing with other babies. And you’ll be pleased with the results too. If you’re a new mom and want to start to include exercising into your routine, try some of these fun ideas.

Walk whenever you can

When you’re working, take sneakers and walk on your lunch break. Walk to the store with your baby in their stroller. Strap on a sling and go for a hike. Walking is an underestimated form of exercise, and because it’s low impact and low intensity, you’re not going to wear yourself out. If you want to push it even further, from the age of at least six months, you could get a jogging stroller and go for a jog. If you enjoyed running before your pregnancy, this could be a great way to get back into it, and it’s fun for baby too!

Get some gym equipment at home

You don’t have to go the whole hog and turn the guest bedroom into a fully fitted home gym, but a couple of pieces of equipment mean that you can work out while baby snoozes in their carrier next to you. A jump rope or kettlebells are small and easily tidied away, but offer great workouts. If you want to go for it completely, a rowing machine is a great addition to the home, and the best rowing machines fold and tidy away easily, meaning you don’t have anything that inquisitive little fingers can get trapped in when they get a bit older.

Use a sling

Slings are an absolute godsend. Even for everyday activities such as dusting or vacuuming, putting the baby in a sling means you can get things done without them whimpering for attention. On top of this, exercising with the baby in a sling is now becoming more and more popular. While high-intensity circuit training is not advised, low-impact activities such as yoga and pilates are great with a sling and increasingly popular with new moms. Make sure you buy a sling that is the right size for you and your baby and offers the support you need. A well fitting sling during yoga can even help to strengthen your back and shoulders, meaning it should be easier to carry baby once they’re a bit heavier too.

Join local health clubs

Check local yoga studios or health clubs for postpartum classes offered. Some may even offer childcare facilities during class. Postpartum classes are great for new moms, as they take into account potential weaknesses and don’t put too much pressure on. If you do opt for a class with a child care offering as well, ensure that they are insured for childcare, and professionally qualified - some clubs use reception staff that double as babysitters, which isn’t great if something goes wrong. This is a particularly great way to meet other moms, who can be a fundamental part of a new mother’s support network, so if you can, it’s worth getting out there.

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Enroll in a stroller exercise program

Stroller exercise groups meet all over the country, and it’s a great opportunity for new moms to get outside in the fresh air, get a great workout, and meet other mothers. They offer programs for women at all points of motherhood, from prenatal all the way up to their kids starting school. Alternatively, companies like Baby Boot Camp give mothers workouts in parks, while their babies play alongside. This is perfect for socializing babies but also meaning moms get to make friends and strengthen their support network too.

Try baby dancing

Having just entered the world from a noisy womb which never stays still, it isn’t surprising that babies find it a bit weird when they’re quiet and still. Baby dancing is a great way for mom to get a workout and have some fun, while the baby is subdued by the music and the movement. There are all styles of baby dancing available, from swing to salsa to hip-hop so you can find one which suits you too. The movements tend to be slow and gentle so that you’re not in any danger of injuring yourself or your baby. Many will require the use of a sling, although some encourage moms to hold the baby in their arms. It’s even an opportunity to get Dad involved so the three of you can dance together.

Other classes for children as they get older encourage the whole family to get involved with dancing, artistic expression, and getting a good bit of exercise. Most classes are suitable for babies six to eight weeks and over, as they’re starting to be able to support their own head by that age. It’s a great way to get baby involved, while also getting fit yourself, and without having to worry about childcare.

If you’re in the fortunate position of having a close network of people around you who are willing to spend some time with your baby regularly, take the opportunity to get to the gym, get out for a walk, or just spend some time to yourself. Ask a friend to accompany you for walks, so you get the benefit of socializing and exercising, all while someone else keeps an eye on the baby for a few hours. You’ll feel a million times better for it.

Bathroom Renovation Problems

Our bathroom renovation is at a stand still yet again.

  I was so excited that the tile workers were scheduled to start the work the Wednesday before New Year's eve. That meant my bathroom would be done by the 1st of the year. Well, we had some major setbacks and this is how my bathroom looks on January 2nd, 2017. What you are looking at is the shower with no tile. The place that we were using (Raby Tile) called us the night before the work was to be done and informed us that the tile guy was finishing up another job and would not be there until the next day. That meant work would be delayed by a day and that my husband only had one day to get his work done after they did the tile work. That was our first frustration.

  Frustration number two Our next frustration came on Friday when the tile guy showed up to do the work. He looked at the drain on the shower and told us that the drain we had placed it would not work. We had to add more pipe for the basin we bought and that we needed a plumber to fix it in order for the work to start. I was not happy as we were told three times by the measuring guy that our drain was fine. Also, our plumber that we used was busy and we would not be able to get the work done that day. Thankfully the tile store found a plumber who was able to fix the pipe that day and we did not have to pay him, the tile store did.

Frustration number three The tile store told us that the tile worker would be completing the job Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. So when the tile worker came on Friday, I asked him if he would be working on Saturday and Sunday. He told me he would not be as it was a holiday weekend and he would finish the work on Monday and Tuesday. He also informed me that the tile store never told him that he would be working on the weekend. I let the measure guy, who was our go-to person, know about my frustration about this lack of communication. Now that meant my husband would not be able to complete his portion of the work until January 7th.

Frustration number four On Monday the tile guy shows up with the tile and some guys to do the work. He opens the boxes of tile up and we discover that the black tile that we ordered is a brown tile and not what we ordered. There also is not enough of the wrong tile to do the job even though the floor has been measured several times. We immediately call the store, only to discover that the warehouse is closed. We also found out that one of the employees saw the wrong tile on the order and assumed that since in was called Noche (night) it was a black tile. Hello, we ordered the Nero (black) tile and why did he not confirm this with the person who ordered the tile. Also, why did not the measure guy show us a sample of the tile when the order came in. The measure guy came to our house two times after the tile came it to confirm other items, one of which tile was going where. I had clearly said the black goes on the floor (never said brown.)

Frustration number five My dining room is filled with boxes and other items waiting to go into my bathroom so I can not use it. My bedroom has been cluttered since July and is even more cluttered with the vanity top. I have also rescheduled my work several times to accommodate the workers. I know I work at home but I have not been able to work as I have been dealing with all this mess.

Frustration number six My husband is ready to cancel the work with the tile store and return the items that we bought. That would delay the project even more as we would have to find another store to do the work.

So now I have no idea when my bathroom will be done. I just hope that the Raby Tile will fix the mess of the wrong tile mess up. We trusted them with the work of our bathroom as they had done our kitchen tile 12 years ago. Now I am beginning to wonder if we should have checked out other places. This has been a long frustrating remodeling project. I will hopefully, one day, be able to share with you pictures of my new completed bathroom.

Read previous posts about my bathroom renovation.

Post #1 My Master Bathroom Remodeling Project

Post #2 My Ideas And Wishes For My Master Bath Renovation

Post #3 Homeowners Insurance Is Necessary When You Own A Home

What Everyone Needs To Know About Juicing For Fitness

From health bars, smoothie makers and juice making tutorials to endorsements from celebrities, online personalities and even health experts juicing has become the latest craze in the fitness world. However, before you head out onto the high street to buy yourself a shiny new juicer there are some facts you might not know about our favorite liquid fitness trend that may change your mind. We’re all aware that fruit and vegetables are good for you, but unless you’re juicing the skin, pith or seeds you could be missing out on valuable vitamins and minerals as often the juice alone only contains a portion of the goodness.

Many of us are also relying on endless glasses of fresh, delicious juice to get our five a day but you would be somewhat surprised to learn that just one fruit or vegetable juice/smoothie will actually count. Scientists agree that, yes, juicing gives us a few more nutrients and it certainly won’t harm us to consume more fruit and vegetables in this manner, but health experts insist that it’s not a magic weight loss tool despite what people think. Fruit actually contains quite a lot of natural sugars, so it’s important that you pick the right ingredients to pack into that wide awake smoothie. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself drinking more to compensate for the fact that you believe you’re not drinking enough to shed the pounds when in fact the very opposite is true.

Flickr Photo Courtesy Of: Catherine Sharman

It’s Not Designed For Cleansing

Before you consider swapping that tuna salad with a tasty glass of blended cucumber, carrot and spinach think again. Nutritionists agree that juicing is good for us, but only when it’s combined with a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and even starch. Despite what unscrupulous diet websites may tell you using juice as a natural cleansing tool or meal replacement drink is not safe.

Once digested, the juice works its way through your system fairly quickly leaving you feeling even more hungry and increasing your chances of choosing unhealthy food or even binging on snacks to satisfy your body’s need for real food. Long term juicing isn’t good for our health and can lead to a myriad of health problems such as low blood sugar, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. You won’t even have the energy to walk up the stairs let alone complete a high impact workout, so remember juicing should only have a supporting role in your diet it certainly shouldn’t be the main attraction.  

Flickr Photo Courtesy Of: bertholf

You Need To Choose The Right Ingredients

Lots of fruits and vegetables contain different properties just like any other foods so depending on what you’ve whizzed up, your smoothie or juice can easily contain too much of one vitamin and not enough of another. Some vitamins are great when juiced such as B and C but others like A, E and K are better when they’re fully digested within a solid food. Vegetables, like tomatoes, will be of much more benefit to your health when cooked instead of being whizzed up inside a blender. To create the best juices pick leafy greens such as spinach, kale, swiss chard, and mustard greens as well as juicy fruit like kiwi, papaya, strawberries, orange, and grapefruit. You can even add in cold-fighting garlic, energy boosting broccoli and sweet red peppers for an extra kick of goodness, plus potassium filled cucumber and zesty, bacteria beating lemons. Try to avoid foods that’ll make your smoothie thick, mushy and sluggish, unless you like it that way, like bananas and peaches which can make juice too thick to drink.

Flickr Photo Courtesy Of: Sergey Galyonkin

Mix Up Your Flavors

Don’t just stick to orange, mango and papaya because it tastes good. Unleash your inner chef and have fun experimenting with different tastes, textures and colors. Add in live bio yogurt for a creamier, dessert-like smoothie or grab a bunch of garden vegetables to create yourself a cold soup. Plan how you can keep your kitchen cupboards stocked with juice friendly ingredients, regularly update your fruit bowl and keep an eye out for exotic flavor combinations or unusual ingredients that could pep up a recipe. All successful smoothies or juices have a simple formula to them that usually helps to balance the fruit/vegetable content.

Ward off any bitterness from vegetables by adding in juicy pieces of fruit or sweet spices, or give yourself a tasty smoothie by adding cayenne pepper or cinnamon powder to a vegetable medley of carrot, cucumber,and kale. To get you started why not try grapefruit, orange, kale and cucumber? Or carrot, pineapple, and ginger? These juices combined with regular exercise and a balanced diet will soon have you looking fitter than if you’d followed a Bikini Body Guide.

You could even make seasonal juices such as a winter berry smoothie blended with blueberry, black currant, and apple with just a hint of cinnamon for that festive kick. Enjoy a healthy, refreshing summer fruit cooler filled with cucumber, apple, mango and just a hint of soda water instead of a sugary soda on a hot day. Just keep in mind the sweet/bitter balance and you’ll soon be whipping up all kinds of delicious juices and smoothies for eager family and friends.

Flickr Photo Courtesy Of: Lori. L Stalteri

Don’t Store Batches Of Juice

A glass of juice or a smoothie is designed to be drunk straight away so whatever you do don’t fall into the trap of whipping up large amounts to pop in the fridge or freezer. The longer juice stands out, the higher the chances that the texture, flavor, and effectiveness of the liquid will change. The last thing you want to do is to alter the state of the juice as, once they’ve lost their protective skins, any essential nutrients will be quickly lost or the juice itself will start to ferment. Carefully consider each morning if you honestly have the time to make a quick juice. Any stored juice won’t be nearly as potent or beneficial to your health than one that’s been made fresh. You can always eat a piece of fruit or some vegetable sticks in their natural state which will give you energy until you have the time to get busy blending.

Flickr Photo Courtesy Of: Lindsay Holmwood

The Krusteaz Cookie Giveaway!

The Krusteaz Cookie Mixes Are Delicious Anytime! PLUS a Giveaway! Ends 1/14 #Krusteaz

Deliciously Savvy is hosting a giveaway in which one lucky winner will receive 8 boxes of delicious Krusteaz Cookie Mixes plus an Icing Pen, Edible Markers and Mini Cookie Cutters! Enter Today & Good Luck!

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Deliciously Savvy

Co-Host By: Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews

Plus a Big Thank You to all of the bloggers promoting this giveaway! You all rock!

Read My Review HERE!

And Now The Giveaway!

THE DETAILS:

1 Lucky Winner Will Receive:

• 2 Boxes each, of the following Krusteaz Cookie mixes: Shortbread Cookie Mix, Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix, Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix, and Butter Vanilla Sugar Cookie Mix.
• 1 Krusteaz Branded Tote Bag
• 1 Nordic Ware E-Z Deco Icing Pen
• 1 Package Wilton Mini Cookie Cutters
• 1 Package Edible Icing Markers

Giveaway Dates ~ Starts 12/31 2PM EST & Ends 01/14/2017 11:59PM EST

Entrants must be 18 years old to enter and giveaway is open to US residents only

Any Questions Email Me At mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

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in the United States. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 11:59PM (EST) on 01/14/2017.

Good Luck! Enter Below

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By Supporting Our Blogs Via Social Media You Are Helping Us To Provide Fabulous Prizes For Amazing Future Giveaways! Good Luck & Thank You!

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Deliciously Savvy did not receive any form of compensation for this giveaway other than receiving this above items in order to facilitate my review. Once winner is selected via the Giveaway Tools process, the product will be shipped. Winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. No other blog associated with this giveaway is responsible for the product shipment. Krusteaz will be providing the prizes above to the winner. Thank You for stopping by! Any Questions or Concerns email me at mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

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