All Posts By

Eric Wertz

Reviews Style

Skincare & Hydration With Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Line

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Review

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Review Neutrogena Hydro Boost ReviewNeutrogena Hydro Boost Reviews Neutrogena Hydro Boost ReviewNeutrogena Hydro Boost ReviewNeutrogena Hydro Boost Reviews Neutrogena Hydro Boost ReviewsNeutrogena Hydro Boost Reviews Neutrogena Hydro Boost Reviews Neutrogena Hydro Boost ReviewsNeutrogena Hydro Boost Reviews

Thanks to my wife schooling me on the importance of face care and me starting to notice the effects of aging, I’ve been pretty good with keeping up a routine of taking care of my skin. There are so many different products to use out there, so I always like to try and stick with brands I know I can trust. Neutrogena® is probably one of the first skincare brands I was ever really familiar with growing up and to me, they kind of feel like the OG of the skincare game! Over the years, I’ve always had at least had one product of theirs in my bathroom, and I know my wife uses some of their products, as well as their make-up, so it’s always been a go-to brand for my family. So, I was really excited to get to try out some new products from their new Hydro Boost line!

During the month of November, get a $10 rewards Visa when you spend $30 or more (excluding tax) on participating Neutrogena® products in one transaction. Click here for full offer details!

During summer months, I’m either working outside or beach & pool-side with the family, and during winter months, I’m usually working outside or skiing with the family. So, between the sun and the cold it can really beat up and dry out my skin. What I really like the most about the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Collection is that the products have purified hyaluronic acid in them, which is meant to really replenish the water in your skin and refresh & rehydrate it. I think for most men, including myself, that’s what our skin is probably lacking the most…moisture and softness.

My current routine starts every morning using the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost City Shield Eye Serum. Not sure if this is weird or not, but I don’t wash my face in the mornings because my skin tends to be on the dryer side. So when I wake up, I like to keep the little bit of natural oils I have intact. However, I wake up with puffy eyes and the wrinkles around my eyes are definitely more prominent in the mornings—so this serum is perfect for moisturizing this sensitive part of my face. It helps smooth out my crows feet and under-eye lines, and it just helps add some life to my tired eyes in the morning. I love how lightweight it is! Nothing’s worse than putting on an eye cream that feels heavy and sticky on your eyelid! This is the one product I actually use twice a day. I use it both in the morning and at night before bed, and I love that it both treats and protects the sensitive skin around my eyes. I’ve used other eye creams before that may have been too potent because they left the skin around my eyes red & irritated, but this one from Neutrogena is amazing and a keeper. I love how refreshing this little bottle looks too…so pretty!

Since I only wash my face once a day, I do so usually right when I get home from work in the shower, or right before bed, and that’s when I use the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser. I actually only started using exfoliating cleansers these past few years, as I never really liked how a gritty cleanser felt on my face. However, this one has such a super fine texture. I can barely feel the exfoliating elements, but I feel it just enough where I know it’s getting deep down in those pores to really deep clean. I really like the fact that it exfoliates my skin and removes all the dirt and oil but also leaves my skin feeling super soft and refreshed. My wife just started using it as well and even though she usually prefers a really gritty cleanser, she loves how small the little scrubbers are and how they really feel like they’re getting in and cleaning that hard-to-get area around the nose. We both really love that is works hard but is gentle and leaves behind a soft and polished face.

After I wash my face, I immediately moisturize with the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Gel Cream and again with the eye serum around the eyes. I’m trying to keep this area as moisturized and taken care of as possible since this is definitely where my age is starting to show the most! I like to use the gel cream at night to help prevent waking up with a dry forehead. My forehead is one of my problem areas when it comes to dry skin, and it’s probably why I have most of my wrinkles in that area—I have them there and between my eyes. So, I make sure I get both of those areas as moisturized as possible so when I wake up, they’re usually not as defined.

So far, I am really loving using these 3 products from the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost line. I love the refreshing blue color of their packaging, the lightweight texture and feeling of each of the products, and the way my skin feels after using them in conjunction with each other. They say water is the best thing for your skin, so it only makes sense that my skincare products aid in increasing my skin’s hydration as well as locking it all in! My wife and I are both such fans of the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost line and even though our skin is completely different (mine is dry and her’s is oily), it works perfectly for both of us. I’m happy to have found a skincare routine that works for me from a brand I know and trust and is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand. I love Neutrogena® and will definitely be introducing my son to it soon enough!

Reviews Style

Fall = Comfy…Jeans?

Lee Jeans Outfit

Everybody loves denim and what’s great about denim is that there are so many different styles to choose from, that you can always find a pair that’s perfect for you. The Lee® Extreme Motion Skinny Fit Jeans from JCPenney are the perfect jean to add to your wardrobe. First and foremost…they’re super comfortable, which let’s be honest, is one of the most important things when picking out your wardrobe (in my opinion)! Because of the comfort, they’re the perfect jean for someone who isn’t really comfortable going the skinny jean route, but does want that fitted style. They have a slim fit, and you can even get them a little snugger because of the elastic waist and the stretch fabric. There’s a lot of denim jeans out there that are just so tight and uncomfortable you don’t even want to squeeze into them or if you do, you can’t wait to take them off! With these Lee Skinnies, the denim still feels like denim, but are soft and have a lot of give…which I like!

With my first look, I wore the dark blue wash or “night wander” Lee® skinny jeans and paired them with this Ely Cattleman Western Shirt from JCPenney. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a fan of western style shirts and as soon as I saw the eagle embroidery I was sold on this one…love the embroidery and piping details! Pairing this shirt with the dark denim really helped play up the tough vibes of this western shirt. I took some shots both with my black hat and without because I couldn’t tell if I was diggin’ the extra cowboy kinda vibe 🙂 or if it was a bit much. And in turn, after looking back, I’m all about the full-on western vibes with the hat! Normally when I wear dark denim with an outfit like this I almost always go with a dark denim that has a snugger fit, but with this pair, because of the elastic, I could barely tell how fitted they were. Like I said, I’m all about that comfort!

(scroll past this look for my 2nd look!)

Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit  Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit Lee Jeans Outfit

With the lighter blue “blue prodigy” Lee® Extreme Motion Skinny Jeans from JCPenney I went with a lighter look overall, and paired them with this sunlight yellow Cubavera Button-Front Shirt, and a pair of white Converse, also both from JCPenney. I’m all about the vacay kinda vibes, so with this look it gives me all the feels without being overly tropical in the wrong setting. 🙂 I really love how all these pieces compliment each other and keep it light and casual, but still feels put-together to go grab a bite and a drink with wifey! Just like the darker wash, these jeans have just the right amount of stretch, the perfect length to fall right above my shoes just like I like them, and they keep the look fitted and clean, without feeling too uncomfortably tight. As a dad, this kinda style is a must because one minute I’ll be shooting for my blog, the next I’ll be grabbing a drink with my boo, and the next I’ll be throwing a ball around and chasing my 7 year old son, Nate! I of course like to look my best, but also like to feel comfortable. Besides the stretch denim fabric I also love the comfort of the elastic band around my waist. As I always say, comfort is the key to confidence when rocking a look!

This post is sponsored by JCPenney and Lee.

Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit Lee Jeans Men's Outfit

Reviews Style

Versatile Outdoor Style With JCPenney

Men's Rugged Style

Men's Rugged Style Men's Fashion Blogger Men's Outdoor Style Men's Outdoor Style Men's Outdoor Collection at JCPenney Men's Outdoor Collection at JCPenney Men's Camo Outfit Men's Rugged Outdoor Style

No season is as cozy as fall! It’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the weather and the outdoors. Whether it’s just walking around the city, visiting a cute town, or enjoying nature, this time of year just makes you want to be outside, and I love doing it all! I partnered up with JCPenney to show you a versatile look that I put together from their new Men’s Outdoor Collection, that you can easily wear while grabbing a coffee in town and then at the same time, be perfect for an outdoor adventure, like walking around or hiking a state park. In my case, we went on a hike near New Paltz, NY. We love it up there!

I love wearing olive this time of year. Well, I like wearing olive anytime of year, but I definitely tend to dial it up starting in the fall. These St. John’s Bay Outdoor Stretch Slim Fit Joggers are perfect. They’re comfortable, have a great fit, and I love the cargo pockets. The jogger style elastic at the bottom of the pants set them apart from other olive cargo pants that I have in my wardrobe. I also think the elastic bottom definitely aids in the comfort of these pants, as well as making them fall perfectly above my sneaker, where I like all pants to fall! Great fit, great color, great price!

I can’t believe I don’t have more camo in my closet! I think the correct camo piece can definitely be a staple in your wardrobe. It never really goes out of style and it’s a very masculine piece to wear, but also has a bit of edge to it depending on how you style it. I love this American Outdoorsman Camo Pullover! The orange details and zipper really caught my eye and made this piece stand out to me. I love the outdoorsy print and the neutral colors with that pop of neon orange. Oh and the comfort…it’s like putting on a teddy bear LOL. I already know this is going to be one of my go-to pieces all fall and into winter. Besides styling it with this look, I can see myself rocking this on all future hikes, keeping cozy on the sidelines at Nate’s sports games, or heading to our local farm for our apple cider donuts. 🙂 I just know it’s going to be that top I throw on every weekend for some quick family errands.

Now let’s get to the vest from American Outdoorsman. This vest is what pulls the whole look together. I felt like I really needed a layer and love the “clay” color of this vest. With the camo and then the green pants, I felt like I needed something neutral to balance it all out. Like the pants, I also love all of the pockets on this piece…both for style and function! When you’re out and about all day, extra pockets definitely comes in handy. I hate having too much in my pants pockets and feeling bulky on the bottom, so this way I have plenty of pockets to spread the love. I know my wife would appreciate me carrying my own stuff instead of always throwing everything of mine in her bag. LOL

I really love how this look from JCPenney came together! When you’re dressing for the outdoors, most of the time, you don’t really think about style too much, and you’re more concerned with function, but I felt like the combination of these pieces hit all the marks: function, style and edginess. Like I said before, this look can easily be taken from the woods to the streets! Shop the new Men’s Outdoor Collection at JCPenney here!

Family Reviews

Undercover Nuggets

Raised & Rooted Nuggets Review

This post has been sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m constantly striving to live a healthier lifestyle and find new foods to buy that will help and actually taste good. My family loves to eat but unfortunately, we tend to forget about the vegetables. During the week, there are very few meals that Nate and I can share because trying to get a 7 year old or a picky wife to eat healthy with me is no easy task! So, it’s sad to say, getting my son to learn how to eat healthy has been a struggle for me. I know I’m not the only one out there because I remember my mother trying to get me to eat my veggies and let’s be honest, what kid is really into it?Raised & Rooted Nuggets Review

That’s why I’m so happy I was introduced to these new Raised & Rooted™ Nuggets that we got from our local ACME. They’re crafted with pea protein and are a great way to feed my family with a familiar flavor. Instead of meat, they are a plant-based alternative. They are the perfect way to get Nate to eat some more vegetables! I mean, who doesn’t like nuggets?! The Raised & Rooted™ Nuggets honestly taste just like regular chicken nuggets! I was shocked that right out of the oven, they were as crispy as dropping them in a fryer—and nuggets are always better crispy. Nate is big into nuggets and couldn’t wait to try these. He loved the crunch and loved the flavor. We never told Nathan they weren’t chicken, and he still doesn’t have any idea that he’s eating a pea-based nugget. 🙂 Plus, after trying them, he told me these were his favorite “chicken” nuggets. Score! So happy I found another way to sneak some veggies into Nate’s diet.

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Now, I can finally sit down with Nate and have a meal where we are both eating the same food. And I can also get my protein and fiber. Plus, I don’t have to spend hours cooking it up. I can just grab a bag from the frozen foods aisle when we do our weekly shopping at ACME. We love ACME. I love using their mobile app, and I feel like I always seem to find and get the best deals whenever we shop there. If you’re looking for ways to switch up your current diet by adding in some more veggies, I highly recommend these. My kid still thinks he’s eating “chicken.” Try them now at your local ACME and save!

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Raised & Rooted Nuggets

Family Home Reviews

Indoor Freshness With Miracle-Gro

Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review

Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review Miracle-Gro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System Review

Growing up in Brooklyn and always living in an apartment I never thought I would be able to have my own garden. When my wife and I finally bought a house in the suburbs I thought that was finally my opportunity to have one. However, whenever it came down to talking about actually having a garden in our backyard, it just seemed like way too much work, and not feasible with our NY seasons and the limited time that I’d actually be able to grow produce. Not to mention, with all the time I spend working and wanting to make sure I spend as much quality time with my family as I can, I learned very quickly I was probably not going to get that garden that I’ve always wanted.

I thought about just growing herbs and putting them by the window but my wife was not thrilled with that idea either. Not to mention, we don’t get a ton of natural sunlight in our house and also don’t have the greenest thumbs around…even though we are such plant lovers in my house!

So…when I finally got the chance to get a MiracleGro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System I was super excited! Right out of the box the system was pretty simple to set up. I just downloaded the app and followed the step by step instructions. It really was just a couple of screws to get it together. I immediately started growing garden lettuce as a seedling, which again I learned by just following the instructions on the app and it showed me how to put the seedling in the system. After all of your seedlings are planted, that’s pretty much it! The app told me when the water got low and when I needed to add food. Besides that, there was nothing left to do until it was time to harvest! How do you know when it’s time? You guessed it…the app will tell you! It was so cool watching the seedling start out small and over time get fuller and quicker than I expected. Nate and I loved taking a peek together to check on our growing lettuce as the days went by.

Once it was time to harvest, it really was so cool and fun being able to just pick my lettuce right from my living room! Nate helped me out and he got a kick out of it too. Right now, Nate’s not a huge veggie eater, but I’m hoping with our new system, and him being able to grow his own, it will make it a little more fun and make Nate more likely to want to eat them! Since I try to stick to the clean-eating during the week, I decided to make buffalo shrimp lettuce tacos with my newly grown lettuce. I’m always on the hunt for healthy new recipes so I can’t believe I’ve never tried this one before. They were sooooo good! Recipe down below!

After I harvested all of my lettuce, I decided to try mint and sage next…you know, for those weekend mojitos. 🙂 I’m thinking I will probably use the system more for herbs because I use them more frequently when cooking. I love eating healthy and always use different herbs in my meals. But honestly, there is nothing worse than when you get to the supermarket and find that the mint and cilantro or other herbs just don’t look fresh or they’re out of stock completely! Happens to me more so than not. So, I just went to the app, changed what I was growing and it gave me step by step instructions on how to clean the system to prep for my new growing period. Whenever you change plants, it tells you to clean the system and start fresh. This only took me about 15 minutes and again was super easy.

This time around, I started with a young starter plant that’s already been growing in soil, and again, the app gives you the steps you need to do so. Once you plant the herbs you are pretty much on autopilot until it’s time to harvest. Besides having fresh herbs right at my fingertips, to be able to use in all of my recipes, there’s nothing better than walking past the system and getting the scent of that fresh mint! We put the system in our living room right next to our favorite chair and love hearing the running water in the background. The LED light also works as a great night light. It just sets a whole new vibe in our house amongst all of our other plant decor and we love it!

Since I’ve had the system, I’ve grown lettuce, kale, mint and sage and my entire family absolutely loves it! My grandfather, who has an outdoor garden in Arizona was so intrigued when I was telling him about it, he was asking how he could get one for his house LOL Now I officially have my fridge, my stove, and my MiracleGro® Twelve™ Indoor Growing System all synced up to my phone…so crazy & convenient that it is now all connected!

BUFFALO SHRIMP LETTUCE WRAPS
Ingredients (Makes 6 tacos)
• 1 lb raw peeled + cleaned frozen shrimp (thawed)
• 1/3 cup Buffalo Sauce
• 2 tsp oil or butter for sautéing
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 6-12 leaves of lettuce leaves

Toppings
• shredded carrots
• chopped red bell pepper
• chopped or sliced jalapeño pepper
• pickled carrots or pickled jalapeños
• shredded cabbage or slaw
• chopped red onion
• chopped green onion
• fresh cilantro
• crushed red pepper flakes
• extra red hot sauce for drizzling

Instructions
1. Set defrosted shrimp in fridge, covered, while you prep your tacos
2. Wash lettuce & chop your choice of veggies from the topping list
3. Heat a large pan or skillet to medium-high heat with 2 tsp of butter or oil and sauté your shrimp. Season with paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook on each side for about 2 minutes until shrimp curl and become opaque. The cook time will depend on the heat setting you choose and the size of your shrimp
4. Add buffalo sauce to pan and mix to coat while the pan is still hot
5. Add shrimp to the tacos whole or chopped
6. Pile the shrimp on your lettuce and top with your choice of taco toppings

Reviews Style

Got2B Fighting that Thinning Hair!

Got2b Product Review

This shop has been compensated by Schwarzkopf. #got2bPhenomenal #sponsored

Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review

Got2b Product Review

Listen up…I’m gonna be real! As many of you can see, I’m not getting any younger LOL. So, it’s more important than ever for me to stay up on my grooming regimen and find great products to help fight the effects of aging, like thinning hair. Growing up I always had a full head of thick hair and a baby face and never imagined the day when that would change. I used to love shaving my head for the buzz cut look, but unfortunately, as I aged my face became a little more round and I no longer looked good with a shaved head. It’s funny because when I was younger, everybody used to always ask me why I would shave my head if I wasn’t losing my hair? Here I was shaving it all off, when people I knew who had thinning hair, were trying to get theirs thicker!

Now that I’m older, I sometimes wish I could go back to shaving my head to hide my thinning hair, but I can’t. I don’t think it would look as good without my baby face, and to be honest, I’m a little nervous that if I shave it all off. It will grow back even thinner, so I gotta work with what I have LOL!

One of the products I started using is the got2b® Phenomenal Thickening Shampoo. It’s officially time for me to start preserving all the hair that I have before it’s too thin. Honestly, I’ve noticed that when I’m using good products like got2b® Phenomenal Thickening Shampoo combined with their got2b® Phenomenal Texturizing​ Clay, you will never even notice that my hair is thinning. The shampoo gets a great lather and tad bit of tingle, which to me, makes me feel like it’s working and doing its job! I can definitely notice a difference from when my hair dries after this shampoo vs. other shampoo’s I’ve used before. Somehow it just dries looking a little fuller! On top of that, once I add in some of their texturizing clay, it helps make my hair have a thicker and fuller look and also brings out the curls in my hair, which in turn, also helps it to appear thicker!

I picked up my got2b® products at my nearest Walmart, so look for them at your nearest location! Also, check your local Walmart for the $2.00 off the got2b® Phenomenal Shampoo!​ If you’re starting to notice your hair is thinning, don’t wait, and take action while you can. You’re going to be washing your hair on the regular anyways, so may as well do it with a shampoo that you know is working in your favor!​

Reviews Style

Tricks of an Influencer With Dapper Dots

Men's Lifestyle Blogger

Men's Lifestyle BloggerMen's Lifestyle Blogger Men's Lifestyle Blogger Men's Lifestyle Blogger Men's Lifestyle Blogger Men's Lifestyle Blogger Men's Lifestyle Blogger

Being a lifestyle blogger, I’m always trying to stay on my A game. Whether I’m out trying to shoot for the blog, taking wifey out for a drink, or just running around with the family I always want my look to be photoshoot ready! 🙂 So, I’m always down to try new products that are going to help the outfit details stand out, or not stand out and help me when I’m on the fly.

I can’t believe it has taken me so long to find out about Dapper Dots. Dapper Dots are a small double-sided tape in the shape of a small circle about the size of a dime, that come perfectly packaged in a small easy open & shut tin. These dots are strong enough for just about everything clothing related. Lose a button? Neck tie keep flopping around? Collar keep popping’ up? And the most hated of them all…have a floppy belt? No problem…Dapper Dots got you! All you have to do is grab one of the sheets from the pocket-sized tin, peel off one of the dots, remove the easy-to-remove backing and press the two pieces of clothing together and you are good to go!

When wifey and I went out shooting I ended up using Dapper Dots on my watch strap to keep it from sticking out. I can’t stand it when watch straps (just like belts) don’t stay tight to each other. I also used it to help show off a little chest and my new tattoo while trying to get the perfect collar crease to the top of my shirt. In the day of Instagram, these are perfect for guys and gals like me that are trying to get the perfect shot, with all the perfect details, when out and about. I can think of multiple occasions where I had to shoot a product that needed a little finessing before being shot, so my wife had to unfortunately photoshop out the safety pins and clips we had to use. How did I not know about these?! Seriously perfect for my lifestyle!

I can already think of more instances I’ll be needing my Dapper Dots for…like when I wear baseball caps that have that extra strap hanging in the back of the hat! These dots are made to just peel right off but strong enough to stay on all day. They won’t ruin your clothes like a safety pin either, and the fact that they’re clear makes them perfectly hidden! They’ve officially found a home in my glove box and have become part of my everyday shooting.

Use my code BLUECOLLARPREP to get 20% OFF your Dapper Dots order! They also make double-sided tape strips and a combo pack. Check them out so you can perfect all those outfit details!

Home Reviews

Meal Prep in the New Year With Samsung

Men's Lifestyle Blogger

Samsung Double Oven Range Men's Lifestyle Blogger Samsung Double Oven Range Meal Prep in the New Year Meal Prep in the New Year

Now that all of the holidays are over, it’s time to start getting back into my routine! Unfortunately, every year from about October to December, I gain a bunch of weight…and this year was no different. I gained 17 pounds!!! I know some of you might be thinking where? You seem like you’re in decent shape. Trust me, if I took a photo of myself now and compare it to myself in the summer, you’d see it! LOL So it’s time to get back on it!

If you ask anybody whose in good shape they will tell you that it all starts in the kitchen. So, I’m going to share one of my favorite foods to cook when I’m eating clean. Now this isn’t one of my really strict dishes, so instead, I might eat this on a Friday night to reward myself for the week. 🙂 And the dish is…..Spaghetti Squash with spinach, pesto, and shrimp! Spaghetti Squash is one of my favorite ingredients to cook with. It’s easy to cook, and there’s so many recipes out there for it. Ingredients & instructions are below! Or head to my “At Home” highlighted Instagram story to see how I do each step!

Now that I’m back on the clean eating routine, my new Samsung Flex Duo Range is going to come in handy more than ever! My wife and son aren’t always on board with the strict meals I’m eating, so we end up making 2 different meals. One for me, and one for them! LOL While I was making my spaghetti squash, they opted for some baked ziti. With our new range, we’re able to cook 2 different meals, at 2 different baking temperatures, and for 2 different time frames…all at the same time! It’s awesome. Previously I’d make their food, and then while they’re eating, I’d pop in mine next. Now, both of our dishes can be finished and we can sit down and eat together! 🙂

When I’m not cooking 2 different dishes I just use the top portion of the oven, and I can’t tell you how much quicker it reaches the temperature compared to our old stove. With the smaller section it just heats up so much quicker. I absolutely love it!

Besides this spaghetti squash dish, I also always get a package of chicken sausage and make a quick dish with it. I just cook the sausage, cut it up and throw it in with the spaghetti squash and tomato sauce and boom…lunch is served for the week! If you have any questions let me know…and if you try making it yourself, comment below and let me know what you think!

INGREDIENTS
• 1 spaghetti squash
• 1.5 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 TBSP pesto
• 1 ounce fresh spinach
• 1/4-1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 8-10 ounces fresh raw shrimp
• 1/4 tsp regular paprika
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 TBSP chopped parsley

INSTRUCTIONS
• pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• slice your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds
• rub the cut side of the squash with 1/2 tsp olive oil and place on a baking sheet
• roast face-down for about 40 minutes or until tender
• while the squash roasts, measure our your seasoning, clean your shrimp & defrost if needed
• once squash is roasted, allow to cool slightly
• while it cools, pat shrimp dry and season with paprika, garlic powder & cayenne pepper
• heat a skillet to medium-high heat with 1 tsp of oil & sauce your shrimp. cook on each side for about 2 minutes.
• use a fork to separate the strands of spaghetti squash and remove
• toss the strands together with spinach, pesto & parmesan & season with salt & pepper
• top it off with your shrimp

Family Home Reviews

Christmas Cookies With Samsung

NY Daddy Blogger

Samsung Stove Blog NY Daddy Blogger NY Daddy Blogger Samsung Stove Blog NY Daddy Blogger NY Daddy Blogger NY Daddy Blogger NY Daddy Blogger NY Daddy Blogger NY Daddy Blogger NY Daddy Blogger Samsung Stove Blog Christmas Anisette Cookies Recipe Christmas Anisette Cookies Recipe Christmas Anisette Cookies Recipe Samsung Stove Blog Christmas Anisette Cookies Recipe

Like most families, during the holidays, we tend to spend more time in the kitchen. We really wanted to do something festive on Christmas Eve before heading off to make our family rounds, so we decided to bake some of Aunt Sue Sue’s famous Anisette cookies! And what better way to christen our new Samsung Flex Duo Range!

I love cooking (even though I’m not great at it LOL) and think it’s a great way to spend time with the family where everyone can get involved. We just popped on some Christmas music on our Samsung Family Hub and got right to baking feeling those Christmas vibes! Nate was especially excited to be baking these because he was going to leave some of these cookies for Santa tonight, and thought it was really cool that he actually was making them for him this year!

If you want to try the recipe you can check it out below! They’re a family fave! However, if we try and make these again next year, we will be asking Aunt Sue Sue to come over and help us. Even though the cookies came out ok, we definitely did not make Aunt Sue Sue’s cookies LOL, but we sure did have fun making them! She normally makes a classic ribbon shape, but Nate really wanted to try out different shapes and use his Santa cookie cutter, so that was fine by us. We also went a little more crazy with our sprinkles than Aunt Sue Sue does, so I’m not sure ours came out as picture perfect haha, but again, still a ton of fun!

I haven’t really gotten the chance to use all the features of the range just yet, but I am blown away on how it elevates the look of my kitchen. I love that all the dials and controls are in the front and because of that, it shows more of the backsplash and overall, is just a cleaner look. One of my favorite features is that the stove top hangs over the countertop about a quarter of an inch. This means no food or crumbs can fall in the pesky little cracks…that always drove me crazy! This stove is going to be key for my meal prep for the week or cooking big dinners with the added dual door. By keeping the insert inside the stove I’m able to split the stove and cook with the top and bottom at two different temperatures and times. So awesome!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season!

Aunt Sue Sue’s Anisette Cookies!

Ingredients
6 Eggs
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Margarine (softened)
5 Cups Flour
4 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
6 tsp Anise

Icing Ingredients
1 Cup of confectioners sugar
5 tsp Anisette
1.5 tbsp Water

Baking Steps
1. Blend eggs, margarine, and dry ingredients (except flour)
2. Add Anise
3. Gradually add flour
4. Bake in preheated oven at 400F for 8 minutes
5. Let cool, then dip tops in icing and sprinkle away!

This post was in partnership with Samsung, however all thoughts, opinions and comments are my own. We love this stove!