Chicken and Rice Crock Pot Meal

Ok I know we don’t usually do recipes, but I figured I would share this review of a recipe that I have recently tried. Its quite simple and comes from the same book that my Simply Delicious Pork recipe came out of. This one was of chicken and rice, probably two of my most favorite things to eat.

This one was an easy peasy recipe that was quick to prepare and tasted great. I love crock pot meals because its basically a fix it and forget it meal. If you’re a busy mom or a working mom they are a great way to be able to fix it up in the am and by the time you get home from work its ready to eat!

The Recipe:

1 lbs of chicken

3 cans of cream of chicken soup

2 cups of rice

1 cup of water

Dried celery

Salt and pepper

Add rice, soup and water to crock pot and mix. Add chicken sprinkle dried celery and salt and pepper to taste. Cook 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low

I did not have dried celery so I used celery seed. It was still good. I used tenderloins just because that is usually what I have in the freezer. I also added a tiny bit of shredded cheddar. The chicken is super tender, so much so when I tried to cut it, it was more like shredding it. The rice of course is completely cooked.

There are a few things I would change with this recipe the next time I do it. 1. I would use cans of cheddar cheese soup, although the chicken soup was good everything is better with cheese! 2. It needs something crunchy. Maybe Chinese noodles or like fritos… Something… not to say it isn’t good as is but…

Pros: It tasted great, it was quick, it was easy, it was lo-cal. It was enough to make 6-8 servings making each serving between 328-246 calories!! (according to myfitnesspal.com). Its cheap! $.79 per can for the cream of chicken soup, rice varies depending on the size and same with the chicken.. Rice is usually something I have on hand as well as chicken. So its usually just the soup I have to grab.

Cons: someone may have texture issues being it is a bit mushy.

Overall: it’s a great little dish. It can be changed in the easiest ways to make it to your tastes. For example you could use cans of cheddar cheese and cans of cream of broccoli, throw in some shredded cheese and some broccoli and you have a chicken, broccoli and cheese dinner. Or use cream of mushroom and throw in some mushrooms, the possibilities are pretty much endless. Get creative!! You don’t have to worry about burning it because its in the crock pot.

Happy Dining!!!!

Body Luxe

I was excited to get my little package from body luxe because they are a local company for me here in NY. It came in a very pretty little bag. The Serenity body butter that I got was in their signature blue container. It was super creamy . Putting it on did not leave my skin feeling greasy but soft and silky.. Although it was a bit too perfume-y in the container for my liking, it wasn’t on my skin, which I was happy about, ending up being really light and clean. I would definitely buy it again because I really like how it makes my skin feel. I put it on after every shower.

From their site:
Serenity:::: Classic sandalwood with jasmine, cedar wood, gardenia & musk for a grounded,balanced & relaxing scent.

The next thing they sent that I tried was their Minx essential oil perfume. At first smell I was a little skeptical, as it was a stronger smell and smelled something along the lines of the sandalwood but once I put it on it smelled great! A soft kind of citrus-y smell which makes sense because it is made with the scent of orange blossoms. I really like it and use it just about every day. It comes in a little roller container so it can ride along in your purse with no spilling. It comes out smooth and doesn’t drip or run once its on. The smell dissipates over time and if you were out and about would probably need to reapply after awhile but its worth it.
From their site:

Minx::: Sultry, intoxicating and seductive. A smoldering blend of Neroli, Sandalwood, Musk, Bergamot and Orange Blossom.

The last thing that they sent me was bath salts. The scent is Provence. It smells great. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to take bath, which is usually the case, but I very much look forward to taking a nice long bath.. Their bath salts are made from both sea salts, including dead sea salts and dendritic sea salts, and Epsom salts, grape seed and essential oils and dried flowers.



Pro: great prices, a great variety, customizable, great customer service, great looking products

Cons: the initial smell of their body butters/essential oil perfumes may be a bit strong for some but they end very soft and light.



Overall: Body Luxe is a great little company. They offer a great assortment of scents that they can add to their products. They also offer great little sampler sets that can be customized to the scent you want. Their products look great and leave your body feeling silky smooth, your senses calm, and you smelling great! I would definitely recommend trying them out! Cant decide on just one scent or one product? Its ok they got you covered with their sampler sets!

Want to try Body Luxe yourself?? Go check out their site, and give them some love! Let them know that 3G sent you! Contest will run till the 29th! Good luck everyone!!
Be sure to check out her sister site, Kasia Blue for some great handmade jewelry!

Pedoodles

I was contacted by Julia from Kyleigh’s Closet about doing a review on a pair of shoes called Pedoodles. I cant say I’ve ever heard of pedoodles before but will definitely be recommending them from now on. They came thru the mail very quickly with updates from the whole time from Julia.
They are the coolest kids shoes ever! They are super soft leather and too cute. The ones she sent were pink with purple flowers. They have one Velcro strap so they are easy for little ones to get on and off. The inside sole is really soft. My daughter said they feel good on her feet. Though they looked really big they weren’t too far off for her. I think that is just because she has big feet lol. The bottom sole is really flexible giving her little feet enough to be able to flex as she walks and also grow with her feet. They look cute on her feet and she absolutely loves them. I'm kinda jealous because I would love a pair for myself. LOL
From their site:
If you were a kid, these would be the shoes you want. Soft, stylish, and durable -- Pedoodles have it all.
Every pair of Pedoodles is constructed of premium, top-grade, genuine leather. This flexible, breathable, natural material helps to promote healthy conditions around developing feet. Our choice of leather also requires very little care or cleaning to maintain its great looks -- something Pedoodles are known for.
Kyleighs Closet is a great little shop. She has new and gently used shoes for little feet! Having two little girls who’s feet grow soo fast its hard to keep the right size shoe in our house. I hate having to buy new shoes especially because they don’t fit for long with growing feet. So here is a great alternative. She sells both boys and girls shoes, some are used some are new. All have a description and a picture to see what you are getting and her shipping rates start at $2.50! Prices on the shoes all depend on the condition of the shoe. She also has a bargain basement section that has more worn shoes but still have life in them that can be used for outdoor play! This is a great way to be green and not buy brand new shoes and just be able to get a slightly worn pair. She has sizes that range from 0-24 months as well as 1-10.

Pros: they are super soft and super flexible for growing feet. Great looking shoes, and from what I'm told feel great! No laces so little hands can get their shoes on and off with little problems..

Cons: none!

Overall: Kyleigh’s Closet is a great little shop that sells new and slightly used shoes. They have a great assortment of shoes for both boys and girls, from newborns to a toddler 10. This is a great way to get shoes without paying a fortune when kids grow so fast and grow out of shoes very quickly.
Go check out her site and give her some FB love. Make sure to let her know 3G sent you J

Want to get your own pair of pedoodles? Enter here for your own pair!! The winner will get their choice of either $5 or 20% off! you know what to do!

Sticky Wrapper

I found sticky wrapper on etsy almost by mistake, but what caught my eye and drew me to them was bacon caramels. I LOVE bacon.. I contacted them and it was decided that I would be getting a sampler pack. I was very excited and very curious about trying all of their interesting treats!! When the box arrived I was shocked at just how many Sara had sent me. Her love of candy making got the best of her!! She sent me some of each of her yummy treats both marshmallow and caramels.

I couldn’t help myself and had to try the bacon ones right away! She had sent her bacon salt and chocolate bacon, both caramels. First they were huge, which is awesome! At first taste they taste great. A bit on the greasy side but she uses real bacon, (yes there is actually bacon in the caramel!)so that it to be expected. Don’t get me wrong its not like they are dripping in grease nor do they taste like grease you just notice it on the wrapper. However, I was not crazy about the after taste. I cant even really explain the taste either. It wasn’t bad, it was just not something that I liked. I would say they are worth the try if you like bacon.. I love the concept of the sweet and salty wrapped up in one.

The next one I tried was the lemon and lavender. I really like it subtle hint of flavor, very light, finishing clean. The caramel itself is creamy and like the bacon was big. Actually all of the candies were big pieces, which to someone like me who has a sweet tooth is not a problem.
I also really liked the pineapple upside down cake caramel. Very interesting texture but great taste! This one also creamy with tiny bits of pineapple.. It was very yummy! She also sent me a Nutterbutter one which if you are peanut butter lover definitely try!!

The rest of what she sent me were marshmallows. They were all very yummy.. Huge homemade marshmallows. One was a s`more. It was a marshmallow with graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate chips. Bite down, insta s`more!! The next one was cookies n cream which had Oreo crumb crumbed on top as well as inside. I think that one was my favorite. Maybe not the mocha one I think might have been my fav… it was soo different to have it taste like mocha yet still be the marshmallow texture!! That also goes for the creamcicle great taste of creamcicle with the texture of the marshmallow making me feel like a little kid again!!! Of course my kids absolutely loved them!!

Pros: great little candies! Very different from anything I have ever had.

Cons: Honestly nothing.

Overall: The sticky wrapper is a great little candy store. Very unique candies that I highly recommend to anyone who has a sweet tooth! Sara is very sweet and loves her work. She has a great assortment that she didn’t send me. I will definitely be ordering some of her other treats. There are quite a few that just look too yummy not too.. If you like caramels or marshmallow or just have a sweet tooth, go and check out her shop! Also please head over to her facebook page and show her some love!!
Want a sneak peek?? Stay tuned for a giveaway from the sticky wrapper!!!

Gellite Candle Company

I received the package from Gellite Candle company and was really surprised at what was packed inside.. Normally I think of candles I think of either something like the wickless candles that need a burner or a something solid such as soy, regular bees wax or your run of the mill wax, but That was not the case here. While the containers that contained the candles were of course solid, glass, the candles themselves were not… they are kind of like Jell-O!! Very interesting.. I couldn’t help but want to touch it..










In my package I received 3 different types of candles.. One in a very nice crystal wine glass in the smell of Merlot.. It had a very sweet smell that I know I have smelled before but couldn’t quite place.. It was very good though..

The second candle I received was in a little glass urn and along with the Jell-O type substance was shells and sand!! It is sooo pretty, almost too pretty to burn. I can definitely see someone just keeping it as decoration and not burning it!! This one was blue making it look like it was underwater and the smell reminds me of sitting on the beach having the breeze blow up over me, the scent being Bay Breeze.

The last one definitely my favorite smell is coconut lime verbena. I absolutely love the smell!! Reminds me of my cruise vacation and summer… These came in little tea lights. These also were squishy as my oldest says. They all have bubbles with in the gel giving them a very unique look.

They came very well packaged in bubble wrap as well as packing peanuts. Their website is very easy to maneuver, having the option to either shop by scent, price, or type of glass you want you candle to come in. They have some fun containers including a beer mug, martini glass, wine glass, and coffee mug! They have sizes from tea lights and tarts to 26 oz jars. They also suggest making your own scent by using one scent of tea light and a different scent tart! I have to admit I will be most likely ordering more from them, I have a few combinations in mind that I would love to try out!
Just a little info on Gellite Candles, they are made here in the good Ol’ US of A! Gel candles burn 3-5 times longer than regular wax candles. The gel is made with mineral oil with polymers added to maintain their stiffness. Their wicks is lead free and it’s a cotton wick with a zinc core.
The 9oz shell urn jar will burn for approximately 75 hours and retails for $16.97, their 10oz wine glass will burn for approximately 85 hours and retails for $15. 97, and the tea lights will burn 8-10 hours each and retail for $6.97. These are not bad prices considering they do burn slow.
Gellite Candles are a full service candle company who offers not only retail sales but also wholesale, custom fillings and best of all fundraising!! Do you have a group that needs a fundraising idea?? Contact Gellite Candles and I know they would be very happy help you!!
Please head over to www.gellite.com to see their great stuff! Also make sure to friend them on face book to be sure you get their latest specials and send them some fb love!!! Make sure to tell them that 3G sent you!

Pros: They are really cool! They are soo unique and so different from any other candle I have seen. They have a great scent and look beautiful while they are burning. They have a great selection of both scents and holders.

Con: although they have a great scent, but if you are burning them in a larger room they dont seem to permiate the whole area.

Overall: These are great unique candles, that have great scent. They burn long and clean and make a beautiful addition to any room. I will definately be ordering from them again! They are a great business that offers both options for your home as well as for your group as a fundraiser. They offer a great variety in both scent and look!

Waxing Poetic GIVEAWAY!!

Soy Candles at their best!! I have a big house and its rare that I can find a candle that will permeate the whole house. I ve been burning my candles lately on the mantle in my front entry way due to my kitchen being remodeled. I have burned two of Waxing Poetic’s candles so far and they fill my whole huge house. Waxing Poetic have three different lines, elemental, classic and country. I have burned the classic and the country scents. The country scent was wine country LOVE it.. It had a sweet scent, a smell that I could not put my finger on as to what it reminded me of. The smell lasted for a LONG time. Every time I went into a different room it would make it smell stronger not that I couldn’t smell it sitting in one room. The classic line candle was Lavender Haze.. It came in a cute little tin. The smell again was very strong and such a great smell. I say strong but not in any way a bad thing. It penetrated the whole house and lasted the whole time the candle was lit.
The elemental candle unfortunately was broken in transit, so I have not yet had a chance to burn it. I’m really anxious to burn it though because it has a cedar wick. This is something I have never seen before. From their site: WP “Elemental” candles bring you the inspiring scents of nature, spas, and aromatherapy all wrapped up in a beautiful design showcasing the harmony between man (or woman!) and nature. The organic wood wick creates a quick wax melt for faster fragrance. And since wood doesn’t absorb wax for fuel as a traditional wick does, the burn time can be significantly increased. All the clean burning benefits of a natural soy candle, with the exciting addition of a wooden wick to add the element of a cozy, crackling fire without any ash, smoke or soot. Scent out loud? It’s elemental. They even have an elemental candle Fire scent! I can only imagine it must be just like having a fire burning, both by smell and sound! You bet once I am able I will be getting that one!! Although I have a feeling I will find myself buying from them time and time again.

You may ask where does the poetic of the name Waxing poetic come from?? Well the candles have small little poems written on the labels! This one being on my Lavender Haze candle: “This passion I have is not simply a phase ‘cause it makes me feel good and sure cures my malaise; when summer comes ‘round and the air is ablaze with the sweet heavy scent of a lavender haze.” They have the best names for their candles, A Pirates Life, I Screamsicle, and March’s scent of the month, Grassy Ass! They do a scent of the month which is 25% and free shipping!! Also all orders made in the month get a 2oz sampler of the smell of the month!! Cant beat that! Not only candles but they do have tarts and room spray! And they have tart warmers and warming plates!! Do you feel guilty buying candles?? If you buy them as often as I do you may, but I don’t have to buying from Waxing Poetic! They donate 10% of their proceeds to charity!! Guilt free candles!! Also they have a reward points program. For every candle you buy you get points!! Gather your points and get some great stuff!! I really could go on and on!


Pros: Clean soy candles. Great scents, they donate to charity, their candles have not only staying power but are strong scented.


Cons: The only thing I could possible say negative about this company is their shipping price. For me though its still worth the price, and not something that would deter me from buying from them again and again.


Over all: a great candle company! Great smelling, potent candles. Great assortment of scents, unique, cedar wicks, and they give back to charity! How can you not go wrong!! Just for the record, I already have an order in and am expecting it in the next few days! Yea I liked them that much!

You can check out all of thier awsome stuff on thier site at Waxing Poetic and please Go show them some FB love!! Want to try out all their greatness?? Here's your chance! Waxing Poetic is giving away a $25 gift cert to their shop!! You know how it works! Giveaway goes till April 8th so get your entries in!!!

Gorgeous Wine Glasses

I received a package the other day from a company called Gorgeous Wine Glasses. In my package I received four absolutely beautiful champagne flutes. The glasses are hand painted as well as etched. A blurb From their site


“We specialize in fine imported Romanian wine glasses, glass bud vases, a wine and whiskey decanter as well as a variety of other unique crystal items! Each piece in this line of mouth-blown and hand-decorated crystal is produced individually in Europe at the Cristiro factory in Bistrita, BN, Transylvania, Romania. You'll find exquisite, hand etched and hand painted crystal products ranging from flute glassware to a hand blown glass martini pitcher and everything in between.”

Their glassware is absolutely stunning. The pictures do absolutely no justice to the actual glasses. The crystal sparkles under any light and the painting is beautiful. The flutes that I received were from their Bacchus collection. They are hand painted and absolutely stunning.. I cant seem to say that enough, but there really is no other adjective to explain them except stunning!!



They have many different collections and have not only glasses, but decanters, candle holders, plates, and vases. Being that they are all hand painted no two glasses are exactly alike. You must go check out the painted castle vases!! Soo pretty! They are on the pricey side but once you see them you will understand why and realize for the craftsmanship and the quality explains the price. You definitely get what you pay for!!!! You can get an entire glass wares set including dishes.. They have regular drinking glasses..
They do wash well but I would never put them in the dishwasher.. Only washing them by hand. I would be heart broken if they were to break. If you are looking for a beautiful, unique set of glassware I would highly, highly recommend them.

Pro: Beautiful glasses, they sparkle A LOT, very unique designs.
Con: nothing
Overall: as the name says gorgeous glasses. If you really want a full set of glassware that all match check them out!! They are both painted and etched. You will love them as much as I do!! Check them out on facebook and give them some love tell them that 3g sent you, or you can visit their website at Gorgeous Wine Glasses..



Also, stay tuned for a giveaway from them!! get your very own beautiful glasses!!!

designed Designer wall decals

I received my wall decal in about a week, from designedDesigner, which coming international shipping I think was pretty quick.. I was very excited and opened it up right away. The whole thing was rolled up nice and neat. It came with clear easy to follow instructions, and with tips for putting it up.
It came on two pieces of backing which need to be cut up. One sheet was the tree and then other the leaves.


After cutting it up I taped it up to the wall to see where all the pieces fit up and it is easy to see as there are triangles and squares showing where each piece goes. All you have to do is match up the triangles on the branches to the triangles on the trunk! Very very simple. I feel like a fool now know just how easy it is! I had been waiting to have my husband help me but couldn’t wait any longer.


Once I had it laid out I was able to remove the backing and have it stick right to the wall, smoothing it out as I went. As I went along I realized how am I going to get off all these triangles and squares??? Well much to my relief they came right off. I was able to use my finger nail and just peel it right off. My tree looks great with the little monkey hangin out. It comes with the little leaves that have to be put on each one separately, so you can customize it anyway you want.


They are a bit expensive, but I think they are totally worth it. They make such a great addition to any room. With all the different designs you are sure to find one that you love. If I could I’d probably have one on each wall in my house LOL.. They don’t pull up the paint at all, I found out trying to lay it down just right. I really like the quality. They are made with removable vinyl which in your house could last forever. Its a thick vinyl sticker that doesnt seem like it would tear easilly. They seem as if they will clean easily but I have not yet tried. If you put them out doors they could last up to 5 years!! I really like designed Designers unique decals. Not only do they have what they are listing on the site but they can do custom designs! Have something in mind but not seeing it? Contact that them, and let them know what they have in mind!

Pro: Looks great! Super easy to put up, long lasting

Con: on the expensive side, but totally worth it. They can only be used once.

Overall: Absolutely worth every penny!! Great looking decals, do not look like stickers. They blend nicely into the wall. There is a great selection of unique designs to add just a little something to any room in your house.

So go give them some Love, follow them on twitter, or check out thier etsy shop! Make sure you tell them that 3G sent you! Also they are running some great deals right now so make sure you check them out before time runs out!!

The best part is enter to win your very own decal!! Its a cute little owl that is just waiting to watch over you!!



You guys know what to do but just incase you forgot:


1 -- Let us know what your favorite item from designedDesigner is
1 -- Follow our blog
1 -- HEART designedDesigner on Etsy
1 -- Follow designedDesigner BLOG
1 -- Tweet about this giveaway (you can do this daily for extra entries)
1 -- FB/Blog about this giveaway (same as above)

Let us know by posting the links where you have spread the word and we will enter you into win!!

Soy Simplicities

I was window shopping so to speak one afternoon on amazon.com and came across this little company Soy Simplicities. I have started burning soy candles mostly because they last a lot longer. I burn a lot of candles and usually all day.
What caught my eye with this company is that they have a candle scent called Baking Brownies!!! OMG I can not tell you how good it smells!! Makes my mouth water! Smells just like you are making a fresh batch of brownies in the oven.. The smell lasts too. It doesn’t just fade into the background.
Being how well this candle lasted I ordered up some others, some scents I knew I would enjoy. I ordered gingerbread, roasted coffee, lilac and spring rain. I have to admit that the other scents were not nearly as potent. I did like the smell of the ginger bread and the spring rain but the coffee, not so much. I have yet to try the lilac. That will be my next sent once I have counters again, (for those who don’t know we are in the process of remodeling our kitchen). They come in a cute little jar or in a mason jar. They also come in different sizes.



Pro: the baked brownies smell incredible!! They last long, they are soy so there is less “soot”, they have a lot of great sounding scents, different sizes, the jars are reusable after they are washed w soap and warm water.

Cons: a bit pricey $10 for an 8 oz jar, they are all white candles so you cant tell what scent you are grabbing unless you look at the tag, some of the scents are not as strong.

Overall: I will order from them again. The candles do smell great. They are made with 100% natural soy wax, cotton lead-free wicks and select fragrance oils, Cleaner burning, longer lasting, wonderfully scented candle, Non-toxic, eco-friendly and water soluble, healthy choice for sharing and enjoying your favorite aromas with friends and family. I recommend them to anyone who likes different smelling candles.

You can find them at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_kitchen?_encoding=UTF8&node=1055398&field-brandtextbin=Soy%20Simplicities

Clark Color Labs

As some know I love to take pictures, and as with anyone who takes pictures especially of our kids we want to get some of the printed out. I came across this company pretty much by accident but have turned to them time and time again (over 500 prints printed thus far probably closer to 1000). Their prints are clear and vibrant! They come in pretty much any size you could imagine from wallets to 20x30. Their prints come in both matte and glossy.
They have not only prints but also photo books, opportunities to make collages with up to 30 different pictures! I have recently made one to a size of 20x30 and it came out beautifully! Even the smallest pictures are about twice the size of wallets if not more. You can make all sorts of gifts from mugs to t shirts to canvas bags. Speaking of canvas they do canvas prints from 5x7 to 20x24. I absolutely love their work.

Pro: Great prints, great prices, great sales! Right now $.04 prints!!! Quick shipping, great options for photo gifts

Cons: You can’t edit a print to adjust the way it will be cut off in the program.

Overall: Clark Color is definite A+ in my book. They offer a great prints from wallet to 20x30 for a very low price. Their books are well made and the book designer is easy to use. If you want a great looking print for a low price I would go with Clark..
check them out at http://www.clarkcolor.com/clark/welcome