Summer Cake Ideas from Betty Crocker!

Betty Crocker, America’s baking expert, is sharing five summery cake recipes that are easy to make and sure to delight.  We know that you’re busy and looking for fun ways to make something extra special – without spending the entire day in the kitchen – and that’s the beauty of these recipes. They’re easy to follow and help moms and dads make lasting memories with their families.

  

Below are Betty Crocker’s favorite cakes for the summer:

 Ice Cream Cone Cakes – Kids of all ages will love personalizing these single-serving cakes! And this infographic shows easy step-by-step directions for making these adorable (and delicious!) cakes.

Flip-Flops Cake – Personalize these edible summer wardrobe favorites with candies and fruit snacks – transforming a sheet cake into footwear that looks (and is) good enough to eat.

Watermelon Cake – Your family’s favorite fruit is about to get even more popular. This melt-in-your-mouth cake offers a surprise in every bite, with chocolate chip “seeds” and a green jelly bean “rind.”

Cookies n Cream Cupcakes – Perfect for family picnics, these cupcakes taste like your favorite ice cream without all the mess!

Butterfly Cake – This beautiful, and fun, cake transforms a traditional birthday cake into a beautiful butterfly perfect for outdoor summer parties.

You can find Betty Crocker’s Favorite Summer Cakes Recipes here: http://www.bettycrocker.com/Recipes/Courses/Dessert-Recipes/Summer-Birthday-Cakes. 

This is a Sponsored Post. All opinions are my own.

Peach Suite - Hospitality Supplies & Equipment

Have you ever wondered who keeps all of those fancy hotels looking so great? Well wonder no more!

Peach Suite is an Atlanta Hotel Supply Company that provides high quality hotel supplies, hotel bar supplies, and hotel equipment online at a super value. Actually, not only do they provide services for customers in the hotel business but also in the resort, bed and breakfast, restaurant, catering, and health care industries too.

Maybe you're a company looking for someone to put all the little details together that will make your guest's stay perfect. You need a Hotel Supply Online and Peach Suite is the company for you. If you need something, they can get it for you!

I highly recommend that you check out Peach Suite if you're planning on making some big purchases for your retail business. They will even give you free shipping with every qualifying retail order over $500!

brought to you by your friends at PeachSuite.com

Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care #review and #giveaway

Recently, Purex Insiders gave me the opportunity to review Soft Scrub^® 4-in-1 Toilet Care Alpine Fresh and Sapphire Waters scents.

Installation seems easy following these simple instructions:

1. Unfold hanger And place onto toilet bowl rim. 2. Adjust to ensure product is in the flow of water when the toilet flushed. 3. Dispose of product properly once plastic hanger cage is empty. Replace as needed.

Sounds great, right? Not so much - at least not for me. 

First of all, the hanger never really fit my toilet bowl properly. I think this made it difficult for the water to flow properly over the hanger. Although my bathroom smelled great, so I think it must have been getting it somewhat. 

I am pretty vigilant about cleaning my toilet bowl so it was difficult for me to try and let this thing work, but I did. In the month that I used it, my toilet bowl was never clean unless I scrubbed it. Kind of defeats the purpose. Also, paper tends to get stuck on it - completely gross in my opinion.

Lastly, because of it's design (it is very colorful) I was always worried that my three year old would think it was a toy. Not that he goes around playing in the toilet but boys will be boys - toilets are especially intriguing when potty training.

Overall I really love Soft Scrub Products, but this is not a product I will buy in the future and not one I can recommend to my friends or family.

From Soft Scrub:

Soft Scrub^® 4-in-1 Toilet Care is the only rim hanger that:

• Cleans 
• Prevents Future Buildup
• Fights Toilet Ring
• Freshens up to 4 Weeks

 

Just apply to the rim of your toilet and enjoy the cleaning and freshening benefits for up to four weeks!

What makes Soft Scrub® 4-in-1 Toilet Care different? Unlike other toilet bowl rim hangers that don't stay in place or that dissolve too quickly, NEW Soft Scrub® 4-in-1 Toilet Care provides long lasting cleaning and freshening thanks to its unique design and advanced formula.

Maybe you would like to try it yourself? Or maybe you would just like to win ANY Soft Scrub Product! 

2 Lucky Made by Renee Readers are each going to win 1 coupon for a FREE Soft Scrub Product (US only 18 years or older please)! 

Entry is Easy - just use the Rafflecopter below!

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Kick Back and Play Sweepstakes!

Purex is teaming up with Little Tikes to make parents' lives this summer just a little bit easier. Enter to win prizes including a playground, a washer & dryer from LG, and a year's supply of Purex!

Click the picture below to ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES!!

oh my goodness! look at this amazing stuff someone is going to win!!

I don't know about you, but I would love, love, LOVE to win that Endless Adventures® Playcenter Playground for Zachary! He just loves the Recreation Center in our town and this playground has so many of the same activities. 

The Endless Adventures® Playcenter Playground features swings, a large kids sliding board, sandbox, cargo net and more! This stylish swing set would look great in our backyard and Zachary would love the endless number of things to do.

Enter to win a Gorgeous Summer Bracelet Set from Juxees and Jewel in the #SummerSplash Giveaway Hop! US only until 5/27

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Summer Splash Event hosted by Life With Two Boys and With Our Best!

A bunch of great blogs have come together to bring you some amazing prizes to help you kick off your summer... with a SPLASH! Each blog is giving away at least $25 worth of prizes, plus we have an awesome grand prize for one very lucky winner. Be sure to hop along to each of the participating blogs because the more giveaways you enter, the more chances you have at winning the Grand Prize!

So what's this Grand Prize we're talking about? Thanks to Trex Outdoor Furniture, one very lucky winner is going to win a Yacht Club 3-Piece Rocker Set valued at $1,317! Made in the USA and constructed of durable HDPE recycled lumber, this Rocker Set is sure to help you slow down and relax this Summer and for many years to come!

Enter the Grand Prize!

One Lucky Made by Renee Reader is going to win this Gorgeous Summer Bracelet Set from Juxees and Jewel! Entry is Easy! Just use the Rafflecopter Below!

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Disclaimer: Please note that the Summer Splash hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation that they will fulfill their prize in a timely manner. While we are not responsible, we will make every effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.

Sponsor Spotlight: Juxees and Jewel - irresistible fashion jewelry!

I have had the pleasure of meeting Linda, the founder of Juxees and Jewel, through facebook. Juxees and Jewel offers an exclusive handbag line and irresistible fashion jewelry that I just can't get enough of!

Ivory Leather and Gold Bracelet from The Hollywood in the Hamptons Collection

Not only do they have a fabulous shop, but Juxees and Jewel allows any woman to indulge in her passion for fashion accessories by earning money through her own virtual boutique as an affiliate.  They also help women save money on fabulous accessories by offering Facebook flash auctions two days a week.

A big trend in the fashion world right now is bracelet stacks (or sets). You can imagine my excitement when I received this gorgeous turquoise set in the mail from Linda!

Isn't this set just so sweet and perfect for summertime? That little star bracelet melts my heart! Don't get me started on how much I love the Turquoise Belt Bracelet and the watch is absolutely perfect. I know it looks like they are tight on my wrist - I think it was just the way I was holding my arm - they are the perfect bangles.

Let me show off some of my other favorite accessories in the shop right now!

Red Floral Silk Scarf

Pink and Ivory Bubble Necklace

Be sure and check out Juxees and Jewel on facebook where they have flash auctions every Monday and Thursday!

Juxees and Jewels is sponsoring our Summer Splash Giveaway!

Click Here once the Giveaway goes live on May 13th and enter to win the adorable Summery 3 Bracelet Set shown below!! 

I am so in love with these bracelets!!

 

 

Manicure Monday: China Glaze Polishes

Oh China Glaze, how I love you! Check out these gorgeous Springtime Colors!

china glaze Nasty

Amazing Colors! Smooth Application! No Chips even after 10 days of wear! oh yes, I think I have found my new love. Not to mention, BeautyStopOnline is selling them for $3.99 right now - that saves me $4 a bottle!

I have quite a few nail polishes in my collection and, believe me when I say this, China Glaze is the best by far. It is a professional polish with Nail Hardeners:

Features Include:

• Long wearing & oil based.
• 220 strand brush provides easy application.
• Flexible & will not chip.
• Greatest coverage & fashion shades.
• Non-thickening formula.
• Tolulene & DBP free.

Love them! And at this price, I can add a ton to my collection!

 

 

Kid Lit Giveaway Hop - enter to win 2 Christian Board Books until 5/19

Mother Daughter Book Reviews and Youth Literature Reviews are joining forces with authors, publishers, publicists, children’s book and teen literature bloggers to bring you a Blog Hop featuring links to giveaways for fabulous children/teen’s books, gift cards, cash, and other prizes. 

What better way to celebrate Children’s Book Week?

Check out my review and giveaway below for Made by Renee readers and dont forget to hop around to all of the other fabulous giveaways going on during this fun event! 

 

The first book I am offering in this giveaway is My First Book of Prayers - The Lord is Good to Me (illustrated by Lisa M Gardiner).

A padded board book with classic first prayers, My First Book of Prayers - The Lord is Good to Me is the perfect size for little hands to hold. Gardiner beautifully illustrates each prayer with colorful pictures. Titles available in this series are All Things Great & Small, Jesus Loves Me, The Lord Is Good to Me, and Trust in the Lord.

I have been wanting my 3 year old to start reading some bedtime prayers and this book is perfect for him. Zachary does read on a second grade level and this book has a few words that would probably be considered that level (IE: shepherd, remarkable, gracious etc), but overall it is a great first reader.

 Also by Flowerpot Press, the second book I am offering in this giveaway is My First Bible (Illustrated by Pascale Lafond).

Another book I would choose for Zachary, this great big story board book is perfect for the beginning "read with me" child and sure to be a favorite. This book is practically impossible to find online, unlike the others in this series, but would be a sweet addition to a child's library. The others in this My First Bible Collection are worth checking out too like the Story of Creation, The Story of Moses, The Story of Noah, and The Story of Jesus.

Would you like to win both of these books for your child or a child you know? Entry is Easy! Just use the rafflecopter below (US only and 18+ please)!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation or any items to facilitate my review. Opinions are 100% my own

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Something Special for Mom Giveaway Hop! win a Necklace from Baroni Designs (ARV $162)!

The month of May is a special time to celebrate Mothers. 

Whether you are a mom yourself or you're doing something special for your own mom, the Something Special for Mom Giveaway Event is for YOU! A great group of bloggers have come together to show you special items you might like to receive or give as gifts this month. 

You'll be able to enter to win these great products from May 10th-26th thanks to the Blogging Mamas Network! 

 Be sure to hop around to all of the participating bloggers, in the linky below this giveaway, as they have some great prizes to share with you! 

Make sure you also enter the Grand Prize - a $250 Gift Card to Mía Mariú! One lucky Mama is going to look so pretty with all that eco-friendly makeup! 

One Lucky Made by Renee Reader is going to win a Three's a Charm Necklace from Baroni Designs (ARV $162)!! 

Entry is Easy! Just use the Rafflecopter Below!

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According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Something Special for Mom participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Sponsor Spotlight: Baroni Designs - Hand Crafted Quality Jewelry #review

Baroni Designs offer jewelry designs of sensual beauty that speak to the spirit, the intellect, and the body. All Baroni jewelry is hand crafted and each piece is guaranteed against defects in materials or workmanship. 

I was so happy when Kaitlin from Baroni Designs picked the Three’s a Charm Necklace in gold for me to review! It is absolutely gorgeous in its simplicity and style!

I was completely blown away by this necklace. The quality is superior and it is absolutely stunning. Three organic coin pearls are framed in gold  and hang from a classic (24k gold plate over sterling) cable chain. 

The designs of Baroni are simple yet sophisticated. There are many collections to choose from each with a unique style. The Three's a Charm Necklace is part of the beautiful Madison Collection:

Lustrous pearls are the focus of this elegant, many-sided collection. Set in sterling silver or 24K gold plate, these freshwater pearls can transform even the simplest of attire into something memorable. Hand-etched mother of pearl pieces round out this beautiful collection.

Baroni Designs offers so many different necklaces and other pieces that will take your breath away - I know you can find an incredible gift there for Mother's Day or any other special occasion.

About Baroni

Designs of sensual beauty that speak to the spirit, the intellect, and the body.
 
Artist and designer Sarah Baroni has always believed that jewelry and adornments are more than just external trappings. Since its inception in 1991, Baroni has made it their passion to create designs in jewelry that reflect who we are at our deepest level, pieces that are created not only as beautiful adornments but also as testaments to the spirit of the wearer: fearless, vulnerable, wild, free, serene, rebellious, kind, nurturing…and deeply, marvelously human.

Click Here and Enter to win the same Three's a Charm Necklace (ARV $162) I reviewed in the Something Special for Mom Giveaway Hop! 

Get a jump start on your entries by following Baroni Designs on their Social Media sites!

baronidesigns.com

facebook/baronijewelry

twitter.com/baronidesigns

baronidesigns.tumblr.com

baronidesigns.blogspot.com

youtube.com/baronidesigns

 

Twice As Nice Giveaway Hop! #Enter to #Win one of 2 prizes in this awesome #giveaway!

Welcome To The Twice As Nice Giveaway Hop hosted by The Review Wire. 

Each blog participating has double the fun in this Twice As Nice Event. All blogs are offering two products to giveaway. Some might have two of the same products for two winners, others might have two different products for one winner. The only way to know is to hop on down the list and take a look at all the sites! 

Plus you will want to stop by The Review Wire and Enter the Grand Prize: an ION Audio Film 2 SD Scanner {2 winners RV $153 Each}!

2 Lucky Made by Renee USA Readers are going to each win a Prize!

One Reader will win a $50 FragranceNet Gift Card and the other will win their choice of product from BooJee Beads!

Don't forget, FragranceNet and BooJee Beads offer fantastic Mother's Days Gifts! And right now, BooJee Beads is offering all Made by Renee Readers 15% off from May 9-24 with Code ReneeMade524

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't Forget to Hop Around all of the Other Great Giveaways!

 

Disclosure: The Review Wire and the Twice As Nice participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Companies and bloggers, if you would like to participate in group giveaway events like this one, sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by The Review Wire.

Sponsor Spotlight: FragranceNet - with up to 70% off retail, it is the perfect place to shop for Mother's Day!

Trusted since 1997, FragranceNet was created to provide customers with the best inventory of genuine brand name fragrances, candles, skincare, make up, aromatherapy and gift sets in the lowest price possible (up to 70% off retail). There are no knock off imitations and they don't manufacture any product they carry.

I am definitely a fragrance girl - I have worn the Christian Dior Poison Line for many years! My first bottle came from a department store and it was Tendre Poison. A gorgeous scent that came out around 1994, it is sadly no longer available. It had lovely notes of mandarin, vanilla, sandalwood blended with fresh florals.

A few years ago, a friend recommended Dior's Hypnotic Poison to me. I fell in love instantly! With notes of Jasmine, Bitter Almond, and Vanilla it is truly captivating and definitely for a woman who likes to feel sexy. The compliments I receive on this scent are too many to count - it has become my signature fragrance.

Hypnotic Poison Perfume by Christian Dior

Show your inner passion with Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior. In this fragrance for women, a strong scent of jasmine mixes perfectly with lower tones of amber, almond and woods. Introduced in 1998, Hypnotic Poison is the ideal way to add a touch of mystery and intrigue to your life. Splash it into the creases of your arms before you head out for an exciting date or a meeting with a new love and enjoy the increased sense of romance it brings.

When FragranceNet offered to send me my favorite fragrance for review, I jumped at the chance!

My sweet husband buys me Hypnotic Poison every year for Mother's Day, and FragranceNet is the perfect place to purchase it from. Right now they are having a 15% off Sale and Free Shipping on any order over $70 (see their website for details). Be sure to Connect with FragranceNet on Facebook and Twitter.

FragranceNet is a Sponsor in our Twice as Nice Giveaway here on Made by Renee. Be sure to visit this link and enter to win a $50 FragranceNet Gift Card and many other prizes! The event starts May 9, 2013 at 12:00 AM.