Friday, November 30, 2012

Winner Wonderland giveaway my favorite beauty products for grabs!



Welcome to the Winner Wonderland Giveaway Event. This event is hosted by Blog It Forward, Taking Time For Mommy, And The Little Ones Too, Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink, and My Mommy's World. This event features giveaways with a value of $25 or more at each of the participating blogs! Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win! This event will close on December 15th at 11:59 pm EST. Good Luck and have a winning holiday season!


Beauty favorites Giveaway on my blog December 1st-15.
Win Isabelle Thornton's absolute favorite beauty products for December (Come back on the first of each month for my favorite products giveaways)

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift perfume 5 fl oz: I love it and it smells wonderful. I bought one for my daughter and i use it in secret...

Sally Hansen Salon effects 240 Check me out: I got many compliments on this one. You will love it!

e.l.f Beauty book in natural eyes: Great makeup! 6 eyeshadows, 1 eyelid primer, 1 eyeliner pencil and 1 eyeshadow applicator.
Easy entry! Use your email box in Rafflecopter tool!
I will ship the winner worldwide!

Favorite beauty products Giveaway happening now. Enter Here!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please understand that Blog It Forward, along with the "Winner Wonderland Event" bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. However, we are responsible for contacting our sponsors regarding the winner's prize at the close of the giveaway. We expect that our sponsors will fulfill their prize agreement and ship them to the winners in a timely manner.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Santa's apprentice App story iPad review

Christmas is approaching, with all its excitement and magic. We have a lot planned to see from the festival of trees to the pioneer village visit to treats and giving gifts to the neighbors. 
One of my favorite things to do is to watch Christmas movies and read Christmas books. This App is the combination of the two. 
Santa's apprentice is a very magic, fun and full of adventure and an interactive story for kids. 

Santa Claus does not want to retire, but the rules are the rules. He has to choose an apprentice to replace him. The lucky child will be chosen from millions of children. He has to be called Nicholas, he has to be an orphan and he has to be pure of heart. 
On the other side of the world there is a little boy who meets these criteria perfectly, but his lack of confidence and his fear of heights make him an unlikely candidate. 
Will Santa Claus agree to handing over the reins and helping his apprentice step into his shoes? 







Read along with the narrator, tap characters and objects to make them alive and talking.  I had my 10 year old and 5 year old on the couch reading this story. The tree was up and twinkling and I thought: Oh I love Christmas!


Go on a slay ride and get this App:

Do you have a favorite thing at Christmas time?


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Original Christmas French Truffles recipe

This is another recipe i taught at my French cooking class. We make these truffles at Christmas time.  I used to make them with my Mother and she would always tell me that without butter it would not taste as good. The original version is with the cocoa powder. It is very strong and not everyone is a fan of it if you don't like dark chocolate. The white chocolate is my twists on it. It is the best ever and a great gift for friends anytime!

Isabelle Thornton French Truffle recipe
Makes 20-30
¾ cup Heavy cream,
10 ounces Semisweet baking chocolate ,
2 Tablespoon butter.
1 Tablespoon extract (Orange, Cherry, coconut) Optional.
Coating:
1 Bag white chocolate chips .
Peppermint candy crushed.
Cocoa powder for other coating choice.
{Cocoa powder for original French recipe }
In a sauce pan, bring the Heavy cream to a boil on medium heat.  Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips. When melted add the butter to melt also. Add the extract.
Strain into a bowl and let cool. Store in fridge over night or for 8 hours.
With a small scoop form the balls. If the chocolate becomes too soft. Chill a little more.
If coating with Cocoa powder roll the balls in a small bowl filled with cocoa powder.
If coating with chocolate. Place your chocolate balls on a parchment paper in the freezer for  1 hour. 
Place your white chocolate chips in a small crock-pot to melt or in a small bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted. Let cool a little bit and with 2 forks dip into the melted chocolate. Tap one fork on the edge of bowl or crock-pot to remove excess.
Let cool on Parchment paper and sprinkle the top with  crushed  peppermint
Store in fridge for up to 10 days



Use the best baking chocolate you can find.

French Truffles with White chocolate and crushed peppermint sticks.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Baby Chef App review



Ok Mommy chef’s out there. Here is a proposition for you...give your little ones a cooking experience with no mess, no clean up and no permanent damage to your kitchen. Yes technology has gifted us the Baby Chef cooking app for just this purpose. 

I cook a lot from scratch and my kids help me in the kitchen too. This app actually allows me to cook and allow my little ones to feel like they participated. Voila, dinner mission accomplished!

My 5 year old little chef loves pizza and sushi, yes sushi. All the food preparation and dish choices are so much fun and sure to please. From pizza, cake, sushi and salad your child touches the ingredients or foods and adds them in the dish or plate. You can save your creation in your photo album to send to daddy, friends and family.

Here are some screenshots of our kitchen creations today:


Cook away completely mess free with the Baby Chef App and thank me later:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/baby-chef/id465594010?mt=8

Sunday, November 25, 2012

French party on Monday and Feature

Shabby sweet tea shared her wedding pics and honeymoon in Paris...So beautiful!
Thank you so much for linking!
Sharing on Facebook and Pinterest!

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As you have noticed i am posting the same link party. I am aware that there is not that many French inspired posts out there and that people forget to link. The good thing is that you get the maximum exposure! Nice!
For the party, link old and new French inspired posts!

My favorites will be linked to pinterest and Featured on Facebook.






Follow Me on Pinterest

I have an announcement!!! On December 1st i will have a "What a woman wants" giveaway. Don't miss it!




Please be courteous and link back to your host Le chateau des fleurs.




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Saturday, November 24, 2012

A Thankful heart

I am very Thankful for this time of the year. All seasons with my little family is such an enjoyment. Thanksgiving was yummy and warm.
Our little baby Soleil had her fist step and her second tooth. The pumpkin pie was gone the night before so i made one at the last minute and i enjoyed making it too. 
How was your Thanksgiving?

Friday, November 23, 2012

All in Yoga App review, 300 poses and Yoga classes



There is a Yoga passion going on around me. My hairdresser looks amazing. My friends are becoming Yoga teachers and travelling to Guru Seminars and talking a different Zen language.  Then I look at myself post baby and I want to jump on the wagon and be part of the fun. The only problem is that I am so busy and I don’t get to leave the house on my own very much so the gym is out of question.  As you know, I am a tech blogger girl addicted to my phone and iPad.  I have found this amazing Yoga App and I am totally crazy for it. I haven’t found anything better than this App.  I have been doing poses with my baby on the floor and I got a custom program just for me. I am learning and discovering so much and my body is craving for it! Also learn more at www.yoga.com
The App includes:
- Useful 300 poses, each featuring photos, videos, and audio guides
- Over 30 breathing exercises for each level and breathing programs for relaxation and meditation.
- A detailed auto guide, photos, and timer of pose duration. It is available for all levels, from beginners to Gurus
- There are 20 yoga programs designed to help you improve your health
- A detailed auto guide, photos, and timer of pose duration. It is available for all levels, from beginners to Gurus
- Suitable for all goals: health, body shape, stretching, breathing, de-stressing, etc.
-      6 languages available.






I am sharing this with my yoga teacher’s friends as a great resource of poses and routine.  They can let me know their favorites programs and we can “Yoga bond”.  LOL
I like the sharing tool on Facebook and twitter also.

Run to get this App here:
http://hastrk2.com/serve?action=click&publisher_id=8318&site_id=3588&campaign_id=242580
http://www.yoga.com/

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Best French crepes and fillings recipe


I taught a French cooking class Saturday. It took me a whole day cooking at least 85 crepes for a crowd. It was a lot of fun and i really love cooking and sharing with others. I think it comes to me naturally. Crepes are very easy but you need to know some tricks like swirling the pan to spread the batter evenly, cooking on medium heat and buttering the pan after each crepes with the paper towel.  All cooks have their little tricks and i have been making crepes since i am a child. This recipe is perfect, the proportions perfect. I put it together and i hope you give it a try. Flipping the crepes in the air is always a happy experience with the kids and i have many memories of doing it. The lemon custard is a little short cut i made up. Of course you can make custard from scratch but in the states you have many things available to you to cut time. Using a pudding mix is one of them and i am highly satisfied with the result. Alright, i am sharing my little secrets. Cooking for me is a happy experience and i hope to be sharing my talents with more students in the future.

Isabelle Thornton Crepes recipe
3 cup milk,
4 eggs,
1/4 cup sugar or Agave nectar,
2 cups flour,
Pinch of salt,
1 Teaspoon Extract of choice (vanilla, Anise, or orange flower water )
Butter or vegetable oil for pan.

Whisk all the ingredients with an electric whisk.
The batter should be as a very light pancake batter.
The non-stick  pan should always be buttered or oiled. Do this with the paper towel after each crepe.
Use a small amount of batter and roll it around to make a thin layer of crepe batter. On medium heat.
With spatula, lift the edges when cooked and flip around.
You want a light brown color like when you cook pan cakes.
You can keep the unused batter in the fridge to make more the next day.

French Fillings:
Nutella and whip cream. Add Raspberries in summer.

Lemon custard: 1 box Lemon pudding mix. Replace the milk in the instructions by Half and half. 
Whip cream on top of crepe. (This is truly amazing! Add some lemon zest too in the custard, to die for. Hide it from the kids)

Granulated sugar. Sprinkle on top of crepe for crunchy texture when eaten.

Powdered sugar.

Jam. Orange marmalade is a French favorite.



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Baby Central USA App review


I am a Mommy on the go from gymnastics, to doctor visits to preschool and all around chauffeur. I have small kids, so I love useful Apps to help me find things I need and even more if they are free.  Baby Central USA will help you find anything related to kids, babies and mommy hood. Maybe you are looking for a private school, Gymboree class, baby store or a park to let your kids run wild anywhere you are. Just enter the Zip code. Select what you want and check the map. 

Baby Central USA also has an Amber Alert page and videos about keeping your child safe. The cornerstone of the app is home injury prevention.  Did you know that 54% of hospital treated injuries in kids under 4 occur in and around their own home? The Baby Central USA app even has a digital house diagram, where you can select a room in the house, learn about all of the dangers in that room, and then how best to childproof against those dangers. There is also a video on how to install a car seat. Tricky one!  The app includes instructions on topics like infant CPR and will also notify me regarding dangerous product recalls.






I already found a yoga place and was able to call them directly from the App. Efficient you might say, because of course Mommy has to take care of herself too!!! I also found a museum we haven’t been yet and it’s on my list to do for this winter. I Love this app!

You can find the Baby Central USA App here and other great resources on their FB, Twitter page and website:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/baby-central-usa/id406848018?mt=8
http://www.babycentralusa.com/

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Sillies from my iphone



                             Soleil is 9 months                          My girl had a Birthday party at Halloween and loved it

 Soleil played stick your tongue war               Pumpkin Jamba juice goodness


 She crawled for the first time to go to the candy pile, it's all about the candy you know...Got snow

Pumpkin spice hot chocolate

 Last Fall colors and French dipped sandwich 

 Soleil climbed the stairs for the first time                                 More snow

 Sleepy dog and Family home evening outing 

She fed her pacifier to the dog and thought it was the funniest thing ever! Christmas and snow wreath on the brain
iphone pics edited with Bonbonpic.com

Monday, November 19, 2012

French party on Monday and Feature


Sharing on Facebook and Pinterest!

Photobucket


As you have noticed i am posting the same link party. I am aware that there is not that many French inspired posts out there and that people forget to link. The good thing is that you get the maximum exposure! Nice!
For the party, link old and new French inspired posts!

My favorites will be linked to pinterest and Featured on Facebook.






Follow Me on Pinterest

I have an announcement!!! On December 1st i will have a "What a woman wants" giveaway. Don't miss it!




Please be courteous and link back to your host Le chateau des fleurs.




Photobucket

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Christmas coloring book App review


I evaluate apps on 1. Cuteness, 2. Fun and 3. Usability. Yes yes, cuteness is the first of my criteria! Christmas Coloring Book ranks high in all 3. It’s not Christmas time yet but I just love Christmas and I am thinking about it more than Thanksgiving.  

I will be putting my tree up the day after Thanksgiving and I am not wasting one second!  I am getting ready to bring some fun and magic to my kids, and I chose this wonderful Christmas coloring book App.  Many hours for your kids finger painting and coloring. 

Making art is so fun!  This App is very easy to use for all ages. You have 60 colors and I really love having so many colors, then you have the bucket filling tool, brush and eraser. You can magnify the picture to fill in details and save up your picture in the gallery or save on your photo album. Tweet it or Tumblr it.  Email it to relatives. 

Lots of coloring  pages to select and a practical gallery to save your creations.








It's great on iPhone and really great on iPad!

I hope you will enjoy Christmas time to the fullest and share this App with your good and naughty ones.  I am very excited about Noel!
Get the App: 
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id475142710?mt=8

Contact me at: isafrenchy@gmail.com