Voortman Wafers are delicious and great on their own or used in delectable desserts! #VoortmanBakery #gotitfree #chickadvisor @chickadvisor

I recently had an opportunity to try several varieties of cookies from a brand that I had seen in the store but had not tried before. I didn't realize Voortman has been in the baking business since the 1950's. That is a long time. If you take a peek at their website, you can see a timeline of how the company has evolved and grown.  It is clear that they understand what consumers want and they have added cookies to their line over the years and made changes to remain successful. Recently, Voortman has been diligently working to keep the same flavorful bakery goods but tweaking their recipes to remove artificial flavors, colors and high-fructose corn syrup among other things. More than ever, Voortman cookies have a lot of good things going for them starting with the ingredients. I was excited to try four of the new recipes and I was impressed with the ingredient list.

The first cookie I tried was actually a wafer. Voortman Vanilla Wafers are a great snack or are ideal to use in recipes or sweet creations.  These are yummy, and delicious with a cup of coffee or tea as well. These cookies are delicious for a few reasons. They have a dual texture that combines crunchy and crispy with smooth and creamy. Who doesn't love that combination?? My husband and tween also loved the texture of the smooth cream blended with the crunchy wafers. Each bite was so satisfying that I found one or two cookies did the trick for me. I also find these delectable wafers delicious in simple dessert recipes like ice cream sundaes or homemade ice cream. One favorite is to blend a frozen banana with a stick blender and add a Voortman Vanilla Wafer or two for a delicious flavor and texture.

I decided to try the second cookie that was also a wafer and then move on to the other varieties. Voortman Strawberry Banana Wafers are a great snack for the kids after school with a side of strawberries and sliced bananas. My daughter actually went bananas when I set this out for her after school yesterday. Her eyes lit up when she tasted the crunchy smooth texture of the wafers. I tried one two and they are good! These are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon for the grownups like me too.  These cookies are delicious because they actually have a dual texture that combines crunchy and crispy with smooth and creamy. Just heavenly.  The flavor is very subtle too. You can enjoy these on their own or you can even get creative with desserts. I make my own "ice cream" by blending a frozen banana with a stick blender. It is satisfying and less calories versus regular ice cream.  Add a Voortman Strawberry Banana Wafer or two for a special flavor and texture and enjoy! 

I had to go for the classic one next. Voortman Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies have a classic flavor and crunchy texture that is delicious. We tried them recently for the first time this week and I can't believe how good they are. They are not too sweet but have a great blend of oatmeal and chocolate flavor. There are just enough chips too. I don't like when the chocolate flavor is overwhelming so I found them to be a good blend.  My tween and husband also enjoyed them with a glass of milk. They are a good dunking cookie if that is your way to enjoy your treat as well.

Voortman Coconut Cookies are a simple cookie that is light and has a fresh flavor. These are perfect for a coconut lover. I enjoy coconut and I like a lighter cookie so these were a winner for me. They are not too large so one or two is the perfect end to a busy day for me. The coconut flavor is not overwhelming, but just enough to be satisfying. My tween is not a huge coconut fan but she really likes the Voortman wafers. I love to bake and I think these would be good as part of a recipe for a coconut cake or loaf bread. 

I was really happy to see that Voortman is responding to the interests of the customer. Many of us really enjoy a sweet treat here and there but we try to avoid some of the artificial stuff when possible. It is wonderful that Voortman is so responsive and is taking steps to make their products more enjoyable for everyone.  The next time you are shopping, take a peek at their brand and pick one up to share. I hear the blueberry wafers are delicious too!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Simple Solutions by ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda Community #bakingsodahacks #BakingSodaDoesThat #ad #freesample

Disclosure:  I received this product for free. 

I love how baking soda is a green way to clean and use around the house safely. ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda is a natural and affordable way to clean and freshen all around your home. It is effective inside and out! Summer means time for grilling and there is no better way to get your grill clean safely than with baking soda. Baking Soda is pure, safe, and effective, which makes a great alternative to using harsh chemicals. My own family uses Baking Soda in hundreds of different ways. It is great to clean, deodorize, helps bake perfect cookies, and more! I like it for more reasons than that though. Safe around kids and pets, no other product does more throughout your home…all for about $1.

ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda is gentle yet tough, you can also clean and deodorize your fridge, microwave, lunch boxes, garbage cans, tile floors, drains, shower curtains, closets, pet bedding, stuffed animals, and even outdoor tools and equipment like grills. The fresh and clean you need for a few cents each time you use it. That is a huge savings over those chemical cleaners that leave you worrying around the kids.

The Simple Solutions by ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda community has some great ideas like the ones here. Take a peek and let me know what you think! Lots of great baking soda hacks that really work well and save money. Baking soda is a green way to clean too. You can join the community and get the skinny on everything new from A+H too. Here is your unique link to join the Simple Solutions Baking Soda Community!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Simple Solutions by ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda Community #BakingSodaDoesThat #ad

Disclosure:  I received this product for free. 

Join now! I just joined this great community.  Join and you can receive more opportunities to participate, including valuable tip-sharing discussions for the many uses of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda and maybe simplest

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Make your own romantic candleholder #ChickfilamomsDIY

I was a mom on a mission. I really wanted to do something a little special for Valentine's Day. We always go out a day or two after a Valentine's Day to avoid the mobs so we make a special dinner at home every year. My daughter is a tween now so I really needed some creative ideas to step up my game and make it fun for all of usl. The timing was perfect and I realized I had the secret weapons to create a romantic table setting with a candle holder. What were my secret weapons, I know you are eager to know. Well, I had some ideas about a soup container and some tissue roses.

I had been thinking, thinking, thinking for a few weeks now about how I could upcycle a soup container from my Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup. The soup was perfect for a busy day when I was rushing to get from client to client but I had a little task at hand. As a Chick-fil-A mom, I wanted to be a creative mama and come up with a way to reuse and re-purpose my Chick-fil-A soup container. 

This was super easy and as you can see the project came out so pretty. You can make it in minutes and this pretty candle holder is perfect for any romantic date night at home. It is a great project even if you have small tots because the fabric rose petals are easy for adults or kids to handle. You could use different colors like pink, purple or red or mix and match to create the decor look you desire. All you need is a simple or sparkly battery powered tealight candle, a clean Chick-fil-A soup container and fabric rose petals from the craft or dollar store. Arrange the candle in the center and add the rose petals in your desired pattern. Turn on your tea light when you are ready for romance and enjoy!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.