Madonna is back with #RebelHeart! #O2O

I participated in the Madonna Rebel Heart album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.

Her 13th studio album, Madonna's Rebel Heart features the iconic star with powerful beats and melodies that is meant to your butt moving! “Rebel Heart explores two very distinct sides of my personality, the rebellious renegade side of me and the romantic side of me” commented Madonna recently in Billboard.

Rebel Heart also features collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Nas, Chance the Rapper, and Mike Tyson.

Rebel Heart is expected to be released on March 10th. You can order the album on iTunes! (As with any Madonna album, it does contain explicit lyrics.)

Be sure to follow Madonna on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!



So what did I think of Rebel Heart? Well, regardless of what you think about Madonna, she can still put out powerful beats that make you want to dance and she can still sing her heart out. Personally, I thought the album was... okay. She is still trying to stay relevant by featuring collabs with Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, and Mike Tyson (who has a cartoon on Adult Swim - I am not kidding!). But with tracks like "Bitch, I'm Madonna" feat. Minaj, and Devil Pray, it made it hard to like this album at first.

 Once I let my prejudices fall past the songs I really didn't care, I really found some songs that I could play over and over. The haunting melody of Ghosttown is pretty darn great, and Inside Out is classic Madonna! How did the duet with Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson go? It is a pretty decent track called Iconic. I actually liked it - more than I thought I would!

This album was pretty good! Her voice is still super strong, and she has no problem pushing the envelope (as you can tell by the lyrics in most of the songs). Some songs are current to today's music and some where outright classic Madonna style. I'd definitely listen to it again!

 On a scale from 1 (being pretty horrible) to 10 (being the best thing since chocolate-covered bacon), I'd give it an 8. I didn't care for a few songs, but some I thoroughly enjoyed!

read more "Madonna is back with #RebelHeart! #O2O"

Rescue your nail polish!

photo credit: sh5 mauve via photopin (license) 

I don't know about you, but I love nail polish. I buy a new bottle at least every 3 months. I haven't counted lately, but I might have at least 10 bottles of nail polish. Like I said, I love nail polish. I also love tips that will help me keep my nail polish - and my bottles - looking good!

Nail polish too thick?

ORLY has a great thinner, but it can be quite expensive.

One way you can thin out thick nail polish is to use nail polish thinner. Now, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I guess it really depends on what brand you get. I don't use thinner because I really don't come across thick nail polish unless the polish is more than 3 years old.

I sometimes use a drop of non-acetone nail polish remover. Now, I'm not saying to do this -- it might not work for you. But a drop in a solid color polish helps thin it out just enough for me to use it. If you do try this, I suggest using it on an old polish (that rarely gets used) and NEVER use it on shimmer/glitter/gel/hologram polishes. The remover will change almost everything about it. 

Nail polish too thin?

I recently came upon a really thin nail polish but in all honesty, it was a super cheap polish and you apparently get what you pay for. Remember when you were in elementary school and you got to use water colors? Remember how watery the paint would get? It was like trying to put that on my nails.

One way to thicken really thin nail polish is to keep the lid off for 10-15 minutes, stirring about every 2 minutes. Close the bottle, and roll between your hands. That should help thicken it.

Is your bottle sticky or caked with polish?

I have this habit of getting the tops of the bottle caked on with nail polish. To clean your bottle, take the lid off. Dip a cotton ball or cotton fabric in non-acetone remover, and clean the top of the bottle. Since the top had polish, I'm sure your lid is looking a lot like your bottle. Drop your lid/applicator in remover for at least 5 minutes then use a cotton ball or something similar to wipe the inside of the lid and brush. To recondition the brush, swish it around in lukewarm water and towel dry. Air drying will dry out your brush!

Lid stuck on the bottle?

There is nothing more annoying than wanting to use a color only to find that you can't get the lid off. I have actually thrown away favorite colors because I couldn't get the lid unstuck! Luckily, I learned a few tricks on getting that pesky stuck lid off.

You can either drop the bottle into a cup filled with hot water for a few minutes. If it doesn't work, repeat until it does. Make sure that You can also wrap a rubber band (the thicker the better) around the lid, and try to create some traction.

Another idea, but one that is really off-the-wall, is to use one of those rubber jar gripper thingies. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Remember - trial and error! What works for you might not work for some and what works for some might not work for you!

read more "Rescue your nail polish! "

Dear Younger Me

I recently saw a meme on Facebook that asked, "What would you tell your younger self?". It prompted a lot of thought, and I think I have come up with 6 things that I would tell my younger self if time travel were possible:

1. No matter what anyone else thinks or feels, always love yourself. It's all you need.
2. Stop comparing yourself to everyone, including family. You are yourself and should stay that way.
3. Never let go of your dreams otherwise you'll spend your life regretting it.
4. Take care of yourself physically and spiritually. 
5. Be careful who you fall in love with. They'll say quick words and before you know it, you're wishing you would have waited.
6. Be best friends with your sister for as long as you can. She will be your rock.

If you could tell your younger self 6 things, what would they be?

read more "Dear Younger Me"

Spinach & Avocado Turkey Sandwich with #HillshireNaturals {Recipe}

#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Hillshire. This could include Hillshire providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

This year, I vowed I would start eating healthier, and so far, I've done okay. The only problem is that I like sandwiches, especially if they involve cheese and and turkey lunch meat. But general turkey lunch meat has so much sodium and other stuff that really isn't good for me.

Thanks to Hillshire Farms Naturals, I can now have sandwiches and have my turkey lunch meat, too! Hillshire Farm Naturals™ lunchmeats are crafted to be both 100% natural and 100% delicious. The lunchmeats are slow roasted in their own juices and have no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Also, there are no added nitrates or nitrites, which makes it healthier for those who can't live without their lunchmeat.

Like I said, I prefer turkey lunch meat, since I've never really been a ham fan so I decided to try Hillshire Farms Naturals Slow Roasted Turkey Breast and Hillshire Farms Naturals Hardwood Smoked Turkey Breast. How did they taste?

When you eat regular lunchmeat, a lot of it tastes really salty. That's not the case with Hillshire Farms Naturals! I could barely taste the salt (if there was any), which is always a plus in my book. How was the turkey? Delicious! It actually tasted like turkey, and reminded me of the leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches we would always have. The meat itself didn't taste artificial at all, and had a healthy mouth feel to it. I'm not sure if I can go back to regular lunchmeat anymore!

(Be sure to follow Hillshire Farms on Facebook and Twitter for more deliciousness!)

Since it's been a while since we've done a food recipe (Drink recipes don't count!), I thought I would use the Hillshire Farms Naturals Slow Roasted Turkey Breast in a sandwich recipe!

Spinach & Avocado Turkey Sandwich

Prep time: 5-10 mins.
Total time: 5-10 mins.

Ingredients

• 2 slice rye bread (or whole wheat, depending on what you prefer)
• 2 slices Hillshire Farms Naturals Slow Roasted Turkey Breast
• 1/2 Avocado
• 1/2 handful Spinach leaves (We used the bagged spinach but you can use fresh spinach.)
• Sliced red onion to taste
• lemon juice

Directions

1. Remove avocado flesh from avocado half. Spread on one side on each slice of rye bread.
2. Place spinach on top of avocado.
3. Slice a little bit of red onion (to taste) and place on top of spinach.
4. Take 2 slices of Hillshire Farms Naturals Slow Roasted Turkey Breast and put it on top of onion.
5. Drizzle with a little bit of lemon juice.
6. Close sandwich with remaining slice of bread, avocado facing down.
7. Enjoy!

What's your favorite way to make a wonderfully delicious turkey sandwich?

read more "Spinach & Avocado Turkey Sandwich with #HillshireNaturals {Recipe}"

Almost FREE Mug from Tiny Prints! {Update!}

This post may contain affiliate links, in which I will receive compensation upon purchase.

I love coffee, but I hate drinking coffee from boring old mugs. Give me something with a little pizzazz! Now through March 5th, you can get an almost FREE mug from Tiny Prints using the code TPFREEMUG. There is a $1 minimum purchase (not applicable to previously placed orders or toward the purchase of calendars, photo books, gift certificates, personalized postage stamps and Erin Condren weekly planners) and you may have to pay shipping. ALL members can receive this. One per address/household/account.

But with a value of $15,99, it is well worth it! Which one will you get? I so want a custom DIY mug!

read more "Almost FREE Mug from Tiny Prints! {Update!}"

Taste the creaminess of #Jarlsberg!

I absolutely love cheese - especially when it comes to gourmet and unique cheeses. In fact, I didn't have goat cheese until Christmas Eve when someone brought it to my grandmother's house but I can see why it's popular!

Jarlsberg® is a mild, semi-soft, and part skim cheese made from cow's milk. Jarlsberg® mild has the same nutty flavor as regular Jarlsberg® but with 50% less fat and 30% fewer calories than Swiss cheese, making it the perfect topping to any sandwich or great for healthy snacking.

Believe it or not, in the 1820s, Swiss master cheese makers (which I didn't even know existed) visited Norway's Jarlsberg and Laurvig County and locals taught these cheese makers their closely guarded secrets to making amazing Swiss cheese. Unfortunately, the locally produced Swiss cheese eventually disappeared over time, but the legend of the memorable taste lived on.

In the 1950s, a group of students in Norway decided to explore these legends, and as they say, the rest is history. The Jarlsberg® cheese was born from the ashes, with the same great taste as was told through legend.

Jarlsberg® Croquettes Recipe

If you're interested in giving Jarlsberg® cheese a taste, you can always try your hand at their many recipes - some which seem impossibly simple!

Jarlsberg® cheese comes in flavors of Original, Lite, Special Reserve, or Smoked. Sizes and availability depends on region.

Be sure to follow Jarlsberg® on Facebook!

Added 3/4: Enter the Jarlsberg® Lite for the New Year giveaway to win FREE Jarlsberg®! To enter, simply text the keyword “LITE”, scan QR code below from mobile device, Text-to-win #: 99000, in-store, or enter to win on Facebook at Jarlsberg US.

QR code:



BUY
Jarlsberg may or may not be available in your area or region. Please contact your stores to see if they carry it. (Note: H-E-B Plus! does carry Jarlsberg cheese at most of their cheese counters. My local H-E-B did NOT offer packaged Jarlsberg. It had be sliced at the counter from one of those big Swiss cheese reels.) Prices may vary.

WHAT I THOUGHT

Like I said, I love cheese but what I didn't tell you is that I love authentic Swiss cheese. So how does Jarlsberg stack up against other brands?

Before we begin, I must warn you that I only got to try Jarlsberg  Lite, as it was the only kind H-E-B offered.

Okay. Now that's out of the way, I must say that I am impressed! I rarely say that things taste amazing, but Jarlsberg Lite tasted amazing! It had a lot of bite to it, and the taste was tarty and with a little bit of a nutty overtone. You can really taste the tartness of it when you just have the cheese by itself.

The first time I melted it, I melted it on a piece of wheat bread and it was pretty darn good! It doesn't get gooey and all melty like high fat cheeses, but it didn't loose the nutty taste. The tart taste pretty much went away, but that's okay - I still loved it!

I love Swiss cheese, but I think I love Jarlsberg even more.

read more "Taste the creaminess of #Jarlsberg!"

What Leonard Nimoy Did for #womenslives

I know that the Across Women's Live initiative is meant to celebrate women and what they have done for society, but it is possible for a man to help celebrate women's lives as well!

Did you know that Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) was actually for equal rights for women and wanted women to be confident with their bodies?

The Full Body Project, was a photography book filled with provocative (and often nude) pictures was to applaud the "everyday woman" -- though some would argue that Nimoy's use of the models is anything but the "everyday woman". Even if your opinions differ from Nimoy's, you have to agree that celebrate women and their shapes is something that makes every woman feel good.

Equal rights for men and women often cause debates that are out of this world. Some men - and some women - don't want equal rights because it would strip away the thought that the husband should support the wife and have a job. Even if the wife had a job, she shouldn't be paid equal, once again brandishing the idea of the husband being the breadwinner. But because Nimoy's co-star Nichelle Nichols was being considerably less than her male co-stars, Nimoy fought for Nichols to get paid the same amount as her co-stars. He eventually became known as the "conscience of Star Trek".

As we celebrate women who do amazing things, we can also celebrate the fact that there are men out there who want women to have equal rights as well, and that's a beautiful thing.

read more "What Leonard Nimoy Did for #womenslives"