Recipe: Chicken and Potato Bake

You Will Need: 

4 Boneless Chicken Tenders- cubed

2 Medium potatoes- cubed

1/4 C. Olive Oil

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. Onion Powder
1 tsp. Poultry Seasoning

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 C. Diced Green Onion

1 Sliced Ripe Avocado
1 cup homemade salsa -recipe below

In large baking pan mix together, chicken, potatoes, oil, salt, pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder and poultry seasoning. Bake for 45 minutes at 400 Degree's for 45 minutes or until cooked through and potatoes are tender. 

Remove from oven and top with cheese, green onion. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with sliced avocado and homemade salsa.

Recipe for homemade Salsa

1 large tomato- diced
1/4 cup diced white onion
2 Tbsp finely diced Cilantro
1 Tbsp Lemon juice
salt to taste

Mix together and chill for 1 hour before serving.

This turned out so good. It's definitely going to be something I make more of.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to samples like these at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.
Did you know you can sign up at Tomoson and get free products too. You can also sign up at these sites and get products at a great discount. No Kidding Coupons, AMZ Review Trader, and Elite Deal Club.

This week I received:

A book for a review- Spider Game by Christine Feehan

Centrum Vitamints sample

Lancome Foundation (make up) sample

I also cashed out my points on a survey site *American Consumer Opinion* for a little over $25.00

Did you get any freebies this week?

Falcor

Some of you may not know that along with rats I also have a dog named Falcor. *Yes named after Falcor in The Never Ending Story* We got him last year when he was 6 months old. We rescued him from a lady who no longer wanted him/couldn't handle him and had kept him in the dog run in the apartment all the time. 

He's finally settled down a bit, he's still a bit hyper and he still cowers if we get loud and I think he used to get yelled at a lot and maybe even hit by the way he acts. But he's so much more at ease with us now than he was when we first got him. And he's definitely daddy's boy. Always wants to be next to Ken. 

He was always trying to lay on the dirty laundry over in the corner and even started pulling out dirty socks to lay on. lol He's a small dog, only about 10 lbs and is a Chihuahua/Jack Russel Terrier mix. 

So Ken gave him a dirty pair of sweat pants and a dirty shirt he could have to lay on in his bed. lol I think he approves. 

He's a silly mutt but I'm glad we've got him. 

Review: Flight of Dragons

Book Description

Let your fantasies soar with FLIGHT OF DRAGONS, a collection of 10 scorching romances where larger than life heroes are ready to set your world (and your heart) ablaze. Warning: stories include sexy as sin fire-breathing dragons. The authors will not be held accountable for late nights, lack of sleep, or certain urges that may arise. Let’s turn up the heat! 

My Review

Releasing Her Dragon ~ Élianne Adams

Stella is a dragon shifter and she has a little problem. If she doesn't mate soon she would be stuck in her dragon form forever. She found him but he keeps running away and she thinks he wants nothing to do with her. She sang at a pub, hoping that he might walk in and she'd get a glimpse of him.

Brycen does want her but he has to do something important first. That is until she forces his hand and he has to go to her. But the woman who he was charged with keeping tabs on isn't who she appears to be and things get all kinds of bad when she shows her true colors.

I love how this story has a great twist at the end of it and it's not one that I saw coming at all, which was a nice surprise. 

Dragon Reborn ~ LC Alleyne

Balthazar Andal is searching for his dragon scale so he can once again shift into his dragon form. He lost it in a fight with his brother over a century ago.

Eva Haraldsdóttir is an archaeologist who just happens to find an old vase with pictures of dragons on it so of course Balthazar is interested in spending more time with her in order to get it from her.  But before they can spend much time together someone tries to kill her and Balthazar invites her to stay with him. She finds out things about him that should have made her run away screaming but instead she's a fighter and when she's found the right man, she plans to fight for him.

One thing I found fun was the fact that in this story the dragons cannot lie. If they are asked a question, they have to answer it truthfully.

This is a story about three dragon brothers, one brother being greedy and murderous hoping to somehow get their family's dragon hoard of riches. And this brother doesn't care if he has to kill one or both other brothers in order to get it. 

The Dragon’s Stolen Bride ~ Sadie Haller

Graeme Penrith, Lord Greymoor, Marquess of Iron Hill,*wow that's a mouthful* has a ghost that's always trying to set him up with women so he'll get married. But the ghost didn't know that his heart belongs only to the woman who agreed to marry him years ago. Freya disappeared without a trace and his heart never mended.

Freya was kidnapped by a beast who wanted her for her innocence because bedding her and taking her virginity was supposed to bring back his human form. But Freya gave herself to Graeme before the beast got to her so in a fit of rage and revenge, the beast decided to keep her his prisoner for the rest of her life.

The ghost, while nosy is the real hero of this story. This story has a surly dragon shifter and a couple who just want to be reunited, oh and a great twist that teaches you not to take things so literally!

Ice ~ Skye Jones

Ice is a female cage fighter. She's had a rough life and has to keep her emotions in check or she can burn people with her touch. So she's closed herself off and fights in the cage.

Nathan and Dom are bonded dragon shifters. Nathan gets talked into going to a cage fight and that's where he smells Ice and knows she is their mate and a female dragon although she has no idea that's what she is. She has a little too much to drink and things take a turn towards funny. Dom and Nathan take the chance to get to know Ice better and tell her what she is.

Ice travels back to the home of the dragons to get to know them better, she has some awesome thrills rides on the back of a dragon and get to know the guys a bit better. All seems to be going really well and then there's a problem, a big one. But there's almost always a problem that needs to be fixed, right?

I really loved Ice, her character was tough yet underneath she is as vulnerable as anyone else. Nathan was kind of a macho ass but Dominick was fun, loving and fun to read.

Forged In Fire ~ Zara Keane

I liked this story right away because it's set in Ireland and that's one of the places that if I ever travel, I want to visit.

Lia and her daughter Ash live in a run down apartment. Lia is a single mother and she's doing the best she can to keep her daughter safe but that all blows up when someone kidnaps her daughter and won't give her back until she meets his demands. All the kidnapper wants is for Lia to bring him Seth MacNeil, but she hasn't spoken to him in years so this isn't going to be easy.

Seth doesn't know he has a daughter out there or that she's been kidnapped, until Lia tells him. While he's shocked and angry that Lia didn't tell him sooner, all he wants now is to help Lia safely get their daughter back.

Of course, things aren't always what they seem and this story takes a big twist towards the end that makes all kinds of sense.

To Love a Highland Dragon ~ Ann Gimpel

Kheladin is a dragon shifter, he's been sleeping underground for a very long time. When he finally wakes up and decides to go above ground, things are totally different from the time he comes from. He must have been a sleep for many years and it's hard to get used to how things are now. Lachlan is the human form of the dragon and he and the dragon talk to each other in their minds. I found this twist on the dragon shifter tale quite interesting.

Maggie finds poor Lachlan looking around like he hasn't ever seen the world as it is and she's right, everything has changed for him while he's been sleeping. Maggie decides to buy him a meal and get him cleaned up and while doing so she gets to know him better.

Maggie is a witch and so is her grandmother. She enlists the help of her grandmother to find out what happened to Lachlan and find out whether the person who sent him to sleep centuries before is still alive. Kheladin is worried that dragons no longer exist since neither he not Lachlan can sense any dragon magic around them.

The witches really take a front seat in this story which I liked. So there's time travel, witchcraft and dragons as well as a sweet romance in this story.

Demons’ Captive ~ Evanne Lorraine

Zaynah is sent by the emperor to a moon that orbits Zenon to find out what is going on there. Ranin Seven is where she is supposed to go and kill the leaders and wait for back up from the emperor but things take a slight turn for the worst when she crash lands on the moon.

Diablo finds her craft and thinks she is dead but takes her to get medical attention anyway where he finds she is part human, part demon and something else they can't figure out. Diablo's brother, Gun seems like he is the more intellectual of the two especially since Diablo is all wrapped up in the mating heat after tasting Zaynah. But she loses her memory and therefore has no recollection why she is there.

Things heat up between her and the two fire demon brother's and then her dragon side makes an appearance. There are other things going on in this story that make it interesting, including a nice twist. 

If your into aliens and hot alien sex this this is definitely a story you'll like.

Blue Moon Dragon ~ Shelley Munro

Emma wants Jack and she's going to show him that she wants him. But Jack is a dragon shifter and not looking for a relationship, just a woman now and again to satisfy his needs. He and Emma are both private investigators and they have a case they are working on together but for this case they have to pose as a couple. That's not a problem for Emma, she loves the idea but Jack is afraid of the ramifications.

They have to pose as a couple at a kinky couples resort and between Emma winning sex related prizes and Jack's loss of self control and his dragon wanting to come out for some fun with Emma, the banter and story line between these two was all kinds of fun.

They are at the couples resort to check it out and they find things are't what they seem, trouble ensues and Emma meets Jack's dragon. Jack doesn't know whether Emma will run screaming like others have done or if she will accept him.

I liked this one because not only does it have dragons, it has a BBW heroine. Since I am a large girl myself, I love finding stories that have that as well, it's easier to relate to.

A Viking's Need ~ Zoe York

Viking monk Bjorn Önnuson wants to lead a solitary life away from everyone and live at the monastery but his life is upended when a beautiful dragon rider swoops into his life.

Britt Andersdatter came to the mountain where the monastery is to ride one of the dragons. She is impetuous, sarcastic and so much fun. She says what's on her mind, can see when she is making someone uncomfortable and pushes them a little more just for the fun of it. I really liked her.

I loved the banter between these two as they rode dragons, talked and got to know one another. She kept him off balance and I think that was what made me really like him. This was a sweet, quick romance and I really liked it.

Flickering Light ~ Élianne Adams

Barbara has been struggling since her queen died and her dragon went dormant. She turns to Clay for help and because he really wants to be with him.

Without the queen's light, more and more people were giving into the darkness. The pain was just too much to bare without the light to balance things. The elders get a vision that the queen will once again come to them and bring with her the light but until then they tell Barbara that she has to join with her predestined mate. She isn't sure because she loves Clay but fate has a way of working out just the way you need it to.

This was a fun quick read and I really liked it.


It's been a while since I've read a box set and this was a good one. There are all kinds of different stories in this one and I really enjoyed them. I give this box set a 4 out of 5 stars. 

If you'd like to buy this book, you can find it here. 

Disclaimer: I was given a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. 

Recipe: Easy Baked Apples

I made baked apples for Ken and I the other night and they came out so good. 

First thing you do is slice a tiny bit off the top and core it. I didn't core the whole thing just a little. Then take a sharp knife and cut two circle down into the apples. Then turn the apples over and and slice half way down the apple making slice all the way around the apple. When you turn it back over it should be like a bloomin' apple. Pry the slices apart a little so you can get the cinnamon mixture down into it.

For the cinnamon mixture you will need:

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 tablespoons of melted butter

2 tablespoons sugar

I used white sugar you can use brown if you prefer. 

Pour half of the cinnamon mixture over the apples before baking and leave half for later. 

Bake apples for 15 minutes at 400F. Take apples out and spread the slices apart a little and pour the remaining cinnamon mixture into the apples. Bake for another 15 minutes or until tender. 

It might not look it but these were really good. I cannot believe I grabbed one of my really old chipped plates to take a picture of this apple. lol 

Happy Raturday! *The Last One*

This will be the last Raturday post made from meme's from Rat Logic's fb page because the lady who made the meme's, Melissa "Angel" King, passed away recently. She was a member of the rat community and she had rats of her own. I talked with her several times about the Monday post and her meme's and she loved having the rat meme's shared. She will be greatly missed. Here is a link to her obituary. 

*click pictures to enlarge*

Review: Bunny's Furr and Feathers FunPacks

I've done reviews on all kinds of subscription boxes, I even had one for my dog. So I wondered if there was one out there for rats. So I did what I always do when I have a question...I Googled it! That's where I found Bunny's Furr and Feathers Funpacks. When I saw that they did indeed have one for rats as well as dogs, cats, rabbits, hedgehogs, guinea pigs and other animals, I figured I would get one for Flower and see how it was. 

First off, the packaging was fun and right on the box it said, "Hi Flower, we picked these just for you." How cute is that?

Inside the box was a cuddle/bonding sack, a corn cob raffia toy, strawberry treats and a wheel delights food treat.

These treats are good to keep rats occupied when you are asleep or aren't playing with them. It gives them something fun to do and a treat too.

I always have some kind of treat on hand to give her when she is out or stares at me to give her one and she likes these.

Little enrichment toys are always good to have in their cage. most of the toys I've put in her cage she just ignores. So we'll see with this one.

Cuddle or bonding sacks are a great way to bond with a skittish or shy rat. They love little sacks like this one and Flower is no different. She loves to play in pouches, sacks, pockets..ect. Rats are very curious creatures.

As you can see she rat right in it when she came out to play. Nothing but tail and butt in this picture. lol 

She loves this cuddle sack. It's nice and soft and so cute!

Flower went after the treat right away. She's been taking a bite every time she comes down stairs in her cage.

I think she really likes this. 

All in all I would give this pet subscription box a 4 out of 5 stars. The price is $25 for a single month, which is what I got and that price is a bit steep to me for what was in the box. But I thought the same thing about the dog box that I got Falcor and lots of people buy that. So if this looks like something you want to check out, go here to their website. They have boxes for all types of animals, even rats! Shipping was fast, the website is easy to navigate and they have quality products in their boxes. 

Recipe: Taco Salad

I made Taco Salad the other night for dinner and we loved it. And it was so easy to make and it makes great leftovers as well. 

All you have to do is dice up:

Green Onion

Cheese

Raw Mushrooms

Tomatoes

Black Olives

Avocados

Lettuce

I made ours with some ground beef but you can totally leave this out if you want to. I browned the ground beef and added 1 envelope of Ortega Taco Spice with 3/4 cup of water. Drain before eating. 

Then let everyone assemble their own taco salad. 

Would you eat this? Have you made taco salad at home? 

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to samples like these at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

Did you know you can sign up at Tomoson and get free products too. You can also sign up at these sites and get products at a great discount. No Kidding Coupons, AMZ Review Trader, and Elite Deal Club.

This week I received:

I won 2 Partylite Scent Stix in a Facebook contest. They have a nice scent in them and you just place them standing up in a shallow vase or glass and let the scent fill the room. 

Did you get any freebies this week?

Review: Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief

Recently I was picked to be a part of the Robitussin mission on Crowdtap and I was sent a coupon for a free 3 oz product from Robitussin and 2 $3 off coupons. I use Robitussin every time I get a cold and always have a bottle of cough medicine on hand on the closet just in case so this really came in handy for me. 

I was able to get a free box of Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief and even though I don't have a cold right now I always have allergies going on and so my throat always has that annoying tickle in it so I went ahead and tried a dose of this to see how the taste was and to see if it would help that tickle in my throat. The new orange taste is good but frankly I prefer the original. It did help that annoying allergy driven tickle in my throat for about an hour so I'd give this a C+ for that. 

I already take Robitussin liquid when I get sick or have a cold so I already know it works but this will be good for those who really didn't like the taste of the original. 

Disclaimer: I was given a coupon for a free bottle of Robitussin in exchange for an honest review because I'm a member of Crowdtap. 

Review: Kuuk Silicone Ice Cube Tray (Twin Pack) Blue and Green

Product Description

Sturdy and safe silicone construction for perfect ice cubes

Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning

Makes perfect 1" ice cubes every time

Cubes are easily removed with the flexible silicone ice tray

Comes in stylish green and blue colors. Twin pack saves you money.

My Review

Ever since the silicone products have started coming out, I've been getting them when I could because after using the silicone baking mat and silicone coated cooking utensils and loving them both, I've wanted more. So I was excited to get these. For just $10.95 for the set I was sent two different colors and they came in a nice box. So they are all ready packaged to give as a gift. 

Now I have osteoarthritis and it can sometimes be hard to twist those hard plastic trays to try and get the ice cubes out of them, especially if someone over fills them. I like these because they are bright and easy to remove the ice cubes from. You do have to make sure that you have a flat surface to sit these on in the freezer other wise they can bend, spilling the water but that wasn't a problem for me. 

Disclaimer: I was these ice cube trays for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: FSL Xylem Wood Earbuds with Microphone and Remote

Product Description

Eco-friendly earbuds with natural wood housing for a better bass response and unparalleled audio fidelity.

Assorted (s,m,l) sized soft silicone tips provide an uber comfortable, noise isolating fit

Integrated microphone and one button remote easily control your music and calls from the earphones

Compatible with pretty much all smartphones, mp3 players, laptops and other audio devices

Includes lifetime customer service and unparalleled 3 year warranty. Dedicated FutureSoundLab website for warranty and support.

My Review

I really like that these earbuds came with a storage case and extra rubber tips. For the price, that's a really good deal. The sound quality is average and about what I would expect for this price of $14.99. Because these ear buds are made of wood, they are unique and would make a great gift for someone who would like that sort of thing. It says right on Amazon in the description that the controls might not be compatible with all devices and that's very true. I used these earphones with my Acer laptop and they controls didn't work, but they would probably work if I had a smart phone which I don't. I think these are great for a pair of ear buds that you want to take along on trips or want to keep as an extra emergency pair.

Disclaimer: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Pink an Yellow Earphones by Pvendor

Product Description

3.5mm Stereo Plug Connector. 

Style: In-Ear. 

Colors: Pink + Yellow 

Cord length: 1.2m Y type TPE housing. 

Frequency Response: 20HZ-20000HZ. 

Driver Impedance: 32 Ohm. 

Driver Sensitivity: 94db. 

Rated Power Input: 2mW. 

Package: 2 sets of earphones 

Equipped with a built-in microphone, the headphones can be used for hands-free phone time--perfect for commuting. Simply plug the headphones into your cell phone, and you're all set. Chat with a friend, place a to-go order, or let the family know you're on your way home. 

Weighing almost nothing, the headphones slip easily into a pocket or briefcase, or can simply hang from your neck as you move through your day. Also they make a great choice when traveling, whether waiting at the airport or watching an in-flight film. 

Designed with a nicely contoured, rounded shape, the ear buds fit gently and safely in the ears, offering secure placement and long-lasting comfort. 

Tangle Free flat wire, 1.1M Cord, Long enough to get where you need to. 

Pvendor unique flat noodle wire was designed specifically to reduce wire tangles and is long enough that you can comfortably keep your music device in your pocket while listening . 

Compatibility with: 

Ideal earphone for All Apple Devices | Android Smartphone | Windows Phone | MP3/MP4 Players | Portable Music Players

My Review

I really like these headphones and I liked that I got two so I could keep one and give one to my hubby. They have really nice colors available, I received the yellow and pink ones. I tried them out using my laptop but since I don't have a Samsung or Apple device the volume control button did not work for me. The sound quality for listening to music on my laptop is really good though so I'll be keeping them for that alone. I love the tangle free cord since several of the pairs that I have now get tangled so easily. They come in a nice small box and you get two for the price of one. I think this would make a great gift. The price when I ordered them was only $8.99 and that's for 2 of them so that's a really good price. 

Disclaimer: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. 

Happy Raturday!

Welcome to a new weekly blog post I'm calling, Raturday! I've seen Caturday and while that's really cute, I think the rats needs some photo time so everyone can see how cute these little animals are. I've gotten permission from Rat Logic's fb page to share their pictures on my blog. So get ready to smile because these are cute. 

*click pictures to enlarge*

Product Review: Gwee Budz Ear Buds.

Product Description

These Earphones Work Great with Your Computer, Laptop, Tablet, iPod, MP3 Player, or Anywhere Else that Demands High Quality Sound. Gwee Budz™ Includes E-Z Talk© Multi-Functional Buttons with Built-In Microphone and Slide Volume Control. Works Great for Hands Free Calling from your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Other Cell Phone. Gwee Sport Guppy™ Cord Wrap Keeps your Headphones Securely Wrapped and Allows you to Clip Your Headphones to Your Shirt. The Antimicrobial Microfiber Interior is Infused with Ultra-Fresh™ Technology, Preventing Mold, Bacteria, Fungus, and Odors. The Perfect Headphone Accessory for Travel, Sports, Cycling, and Working Out. The Gwee Budz™ Includes a Custom Molded Zipper Carry Case to Protect the Earbuds During Travel. Three Sets of Different Sized Comfortable Ear Pieces are also Included to Allow a Perfect Fit for Anyone.

My Review

This set of ear buds came with a zippered carrying case, 3 sets of ear pieces, and the Gwee Sport Guppy. For a few years I've been using a $5 pair of ear buds and I actually thought they sounded good but as soon as I plugged these ear buds into my laptop and listened to a song I knew that these had much better sound than any other pair of ear buds I've had in a very long time. I really couldn't tell the difference until I had these to compare my other ones with and I love these. 

I also love the accessories that came with this set of ear buds. Three different replacement rubber ear pieces, the zippered case for easy storage and the Gwee Sport Guppy that will keep the cord neatly wound up in the case or in place on my shirt. There's a magnet inside it so it easily clips to my shirt to keep the extra cord wrapped round it and on my shirt even when I'm walking around. These ear buds even have a volume control and microphone button right on the cord. I've never had that feature on a pair of ear buds before. Like I said, the pair I had before this were a $5 pair and I've had them for years, so this is a big upgrade for me. So far, I'm very happy with this product. 

If you'd like to buy a pair for yourself, you can find them here. 

Disclaimer: I was given this product for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Walmart Beauty Box

I heard about this Walmart Subscription Box and signed up last year. It sounded like a really good deal, just $5 for a box of goodies from Walmart four times a year? So I decided to sign up for it and see what all came in my box. So far I've received 3 boxes and I've really liked all three of them, it's a great deal for just $5.

It comes wrapped in tissue paper with a welcome card that tells you more about the box. 

Well as you can see, I got quite a lot for my $5. That's right the actual box if Free, all you pay is $5 for shipping! That's a pretty good deal. #WalmartBeauty

This is what was in my box....

Roc Deep Wrinkle Serum

Dove Deodorant Sample

Schick Hydro Silk Disposable Razor

Nivea Extended Moisture Lotion

Curel Rough Skin Rescue Lotion Sample

John Frieda 7 Day Volume In Shower Hair Treatment Sample

Act Advanced Care Mouthwash Sample

Crest 3D White Toothpaste and Whitening Gel

 Coupons

You have to sign up with a credit card/debit card but you only get charged when they send out a box and you can cancel at any time.