Serve it up in style with Virginia Boys kitchens’ Large Ceramic 2 Quart Pasta Serving Bowl.

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Wow, this is my third stunning piece from the Lavender line of ceramic cookware, from Virginia Boys Kitchen on Amazon. I absolutely love it. This is a 2 quart serving/cooking bowl. You can do so much with it too. The quality lives up to my high expectations. My piece arrived with no imperfections. I am always so relieved when pottery arrives in perfect condition, lol.  I also love the fact that this piece was handcrafted here in the good ole USA. That is something I love to get behind and support. Especially when the product is so wonderful. Cooking in ceramic wear like this is so wonderful. It heats up evenly and cooks evenly. The cooking quality is worth the little extra care you need to maintain it. Now, that said, this bowl is highly user friendly. It is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and oven safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s so great that you can cook in it, then bring it to the table to serve in it. Just remember to use a trivet. I love how the Lavender design wraps around the entire bowl. The entire bowl is ceramic coated, even the underside. Always avoid extreme temperature changes with this ceramic wear. Do not take it from stove to sink, or from sink to oven. The drastic change will make it crack, or split in half. You can do so much with this bowl. You can cook casseroles, vegetables, desserts, and more in in. It’s a great pasta serving bowl of course. You can serve soups, salads, fruit salads, and snacks as well in this bowl, too. A large bowl is one of the most versatile pieces you can own in a kitchen. You can even cook a cake in this bowl. I would grease it down with butter, before cooking the cake in it, so it’s easier to get it out when you flip it over. Overall, this is a wonderful piece. I have absolutely no complaints with it, except that I only have one, lol.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys kitchens’ Large Ceramic 2 Quart Pasta Serving Bowl with Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BCCJR4E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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A beautiful way to cook. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large 8 Inch Ceramic Deep Bread Loaf Baking Pan

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I do a lot of cooking from scratch, and that includes bread, and cakes. Both of which are perfect for this stunning loaf pan from Virginia Boys Kitchen. I love this Lavender Series they have going right now. I already have their Lavender baking tray, and now this loaf pan. It is a substantial piece capable of holding a 2lb loaf. This product is made here in the U.S., which is a fact I absolutely love. I love to support products made proudly here in the U.S.A. It is made out of “100% lead free, cadmium free, non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints”. You don’t have to worry about any chemicals leaching into your food with this product. I have cooked with stoneware for years now. It really does distribute heat evenly throughout, which allows for even cooking. It is so worth the little extra care needed for its maintenance. This loaf pan was handcrafted. It is pretty thick, and very well made. The ceramic covering encompasses the entire pan. The very underneath does not have the smooth shiny finish to it. This stone can be used in the oven, and microwave. It can be washed in the dishwasher too. I always hand wash my stoneware though. I always worry about other dishes banging into it, and thus chipping it. It can withstand temps up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit too. You want to make sure that you never take it from oven to sink without letting it cool off first. You also don’t want it to go from wet sink to the oven, as well. Extreme temperature changes will cause it to crack. It is pottery. Try to remember that. It has the pretty Lavender design on both sides of it. You can use it as a serving dish too. You can serve side dishes in it, desserts, and candies too. It’s a beautiful piece that can go from oven to table, and in style too. I absolutely love my new loaf pan. It is definitely a quality piece.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large 8 Inch Ceramic Deep Bread Loaf Baking Pan with Scalloped Edges and Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found her on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F9MFUIU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Serve in style. – Quality of Life’s Hiware 68oz Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Carafe.

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If you like to entertain, or enjoy your coffee and tea, then you might really enjoy this Stainless Steel Carafe from Quality of Life. It can also be used to keep cold drinks cold, longer too. This is a 68oz carafe. It is pretty easy to fill, and will help keep your beverage hot, a lot longer. Aesthetically, I think this is a gorgeous piece. It is very sleek, and modern looking, while still holding a traditional flare, in case you like to have the ladies over for tea. It is made out of 18/10 Stainless Steel, and has double wall construction for an insulation factor. It not only is double walled, but there is also a vacuum seal, which creates the great insulation factor everyone is getting to know and love with the Yeti Tumbler. This Carafe is very well made. Mine has no imperfections, and feels quite solid in hand. When you close the lid, just double check to make sure it’s pushed down all the way, to ensure the utmost insulation of your beverage temperature. The opening is large enough for me to pour boiling water into it from my kettle. I was concerned about the size at first, but I had no issues the first time I tried it. I tried it while holding a camera in one hand, so I could film it, lol, and the boiling hot water in the kettle, in my other hand. If I can pour the water into the carafe like this, successfully, and without a stray drip, then anyone can. Now, even though it is double walled, it still gets hot to the touch when you fill it with hot water. It doesn’t get hot enough to burn you, but it still gets hot. The handle stays cool to the touch though, so that is all that matters. The bottom doesn’t get hot either, so you can place it down on the table. About 2 ½ hours after I filled it with boiling hot water, the carafe was getting cooler on the outside, and the top portion was still a little hot to the touch. It really retains its heat. I was happy to see that this carafe is actually dishwasher safe. I wasn’t sure because of the seal, but it is. It is definitely restaurant quality too. I hand wash everything, and it’s easy to reach down into the bottom of this product, with a bottle brush. Stainless doesn’t naturally harbor fungus, bacteria, or mold, so it’s a great material to be used in the kitchen/food environment. Now, I did a long term test on the carafe with hot water. It is great for casual dining, and entertaining. It will not by any means keep your water hot, like coffee or tea hot, for a long span. I let it sit for 7 hours, with never opening it up. The water was tepid at that point, and I had to microwave it in my coffee cup, to make a cup of tea. I think it’s perfect for social entertaining. You can get your coffee, or tea, or pitcher of cold drinks ready, and be able to set the table and sit down and enjoy with your friends and family. It’s perfect for that.  

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Quality of Life’s Hiware 68oz Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Carafe, Double Walled Vacuum Insulated Carafe with Press Button Top.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XTOB6UW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Cooking and serving in style with Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large Flat Rectangular Ceramic Serving Platter.

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I first became hooked on cooking on stones years ago with Pampered Chef. They really do make a difference with cooking. Then the ceramic coated ones came out, and they are so much prettier and are great to serve with as well. This serving tray from Virginia Kitchen Boys is so pretty. I love the lavender design on it. Lavender is such a great flower to begin with, so I am really enjoying the theme of this cookware. This serving tray is 9”x14”. It has a nice, smooth, flat surface. You can make pizza on it. Cook appetizers on it, and then serve from it, and so much more. You do not have to worry about what you are cooking on either. This tray is made in the USA. It is also 100% lead and cadmium free. It is made out of non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints. They state it is an eco-friendly product. You can use this tray in the oven, dishwasher, and microwave. You can heat the tray up, and serve foods on it, to keep the food hotter, longer. Just remember to place a hot plate underneath of it, if you choose to do so. The entire tray is ceramic coated, even underneath. At first glance, your company will think it’s only a tray, not cookware too.

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Since it is pottery, it has some weight to it. Make sure you don’t throw it under cool water when hot. It has a higher chance of cracking that way, since it is stoneware. They also suggest not cooking in it over 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though it’s ceramic coated, you do not want to soak it in water before cooking in it. That can also cause it to crack. It may seem, from what I am saying, that this stone is fragile, but it really isn’t. It just has some basic instructions. I have stones that I’ve had for years. They cook so evenly, it’s amazing. Because it’s pottery, the heat really disperses evenly throughout it. I absolutely love cooking on stones. They include a great sheet with care instructions. The instructions never change, so if you already cook on a stone, the instructions are the same for this one. I absolutely love this product. It’s perfect for both cooking on and serving on.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’  Large Flat Rectangular Ceramic Serving Platter Tray with Curved Scalloped Edges and Hand Painted Decorative Lavender Design

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016X3OTX6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Brings your wine to the next level. -Moderna Housewares’ Ozeri OW05A Prestige Electric Wine Bottle Opener.

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Wine anyone? I wish, right. We do drink wine on occasion in our household. I normally just use my “everyday” corkscrew bottle opener too. This wine bottle opener from Ozeri, takes it to the next level; the fancy level. This is a fun item to pull out with company. In your package you will get 1 electric wine bottle opener, 1 AC power cord, 1 charging base/stand, 1 foil cutter, 1 pourer/aerator, and 1 instruction booklet. Yes, a charging base. No batteries required. This is a rechargeable unit, and the plug that attaches to the base/stand is a US 2 prong plug. Even though the wine opener looks really large, it is actually pretty lightweight and easy to hold. It is made out of a mixture of materials, and the main body is coated in a rubber like material, like some phone cases are. It really helps for a sturdy grip. To operate it, there is only one long button. It has both up and down directional abilities. Press the top of the button to remove the cork from the wine bottle, and press the down button, to remove the cork from the opener.  It’s really easy to operate with your thumb too. This is their 2nd generation addition. The state they improved the battery size on this unit, and it can open 80 bottles on one charge. I am not buying 80 bottles, lol, so that will not be tested. I however, keep pressing the button to make it go, and it does last a long while. The base it sits on is pretty neat. It is coated in the same material, and has a cut out on the back of it. The foil cutter, slips into, and fits into this slot perfectly. It really makes for great and convenient storage. The base is very stable, and actually looks very nice as well. Having a foil cutter can really come in handy. We just opened a bottle of wine that had the toughest foil I’ve had to deal with in a long time. I had to use a knife, to make a break into it. I am so happy I have the foil cutter now. There is no slipping and cutting yourself with this one. Just wrap it around the top of the bottle, squeeze it, and turn it around the bottle. It will cut right through the foil, and let you remove the foil blocking you from the yummy goodness that’s inside. It is not super quiet. It sounds like an electric can opener. I feel that is a good comparison to the noise level. That is not an issue for me at all. The wine pourer/aerator will fit into most bottles. Just pour through it and it mildly aerates, as it pours. I do fully find that aerating your wines increases and brings out the favors in it. This is mild aeration, but it’s better than none. Especially when you buy cheaper wines, like we do, lol. The battery in it is not replaceable, like with a lot of electronics, so when it goes, it goes. The key is to not overcharge it. This will prolong the battery life. Since the power cord is separate from the base, just remove the plug with using it just as a stand. Just wait for the battery to drain down before recharging. Overall, this is a great working unit. It removes the cork within seconds, and with ease. It’s definitely a show piece for company too.

I received this for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Moderna Housewares’ Ozeri OW05A Prestige Electric Wine Bottle Opener with Aerating Pourer and Foil Cutter

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-OW05A-Prestige-Electric-Aerating/dp/B007Z5PW8S/ref=sr_1_42?m=A3FUY11FKEN472&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1468965256&sr=1-42

Slice and dice with Moderna Housewares’ Ozeri OZK1 Elite Chef Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set, Black.

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I remember when my husband bought me my first ceramic knife. It had that white blade that they all came out with. I wasn’t sure what to expect by a ceramic blade, and was quickly awed by how sharp they were. I am still in awe. They really are sharp, and they really do maintain their sharp edge for a long, long time. I absolutely love this set from Ozeri. It is not only gorgeous, but it functions just as great as it looks. The three knives are done with gorgeous black ceramic blades. They look like regular knives. They are really eye catching! In this set you will get one 3” Paring Knife, one 5” Slicing knife, and one 6” Chef’s Knife. Basically a knife to meet all your cooking needs. One thing that I cannot reiterate enough, is that these knives are beyond sharp. Be careful using them. I have sliced myself so many times with ceramic knives. Much, much more so than regular knives. The handles on these knives are great to hold onto. They have what I call, a finger guard on them. This keeps your hand from sliding down the handle on to the blade, if the blade slips. The handles are firm, but coated, so they feel soft and comfortable in hand. I’m actually very happy with the handles. They title these handles, Ergonomic Handles. I would have to agree with that. The ceramic blades are thick. They do not bend side to side from the handle, even if you push on them, to test them. These are not metal, and will not rust, or break down any metal into your food. Ceramic blades are stated to keep their edge about 10 times longer than regular metal blades. The finish on these blades look like metal. It’s pretty amazing. My older son, who loves knives, still looks at these in awe, since the blades are sleek and shiny like metal blades. He always says they are lying about them not being metal, lol. These really are great for slicing, chopping, mincing, and cutting. I can’t say enough positive, and I really have no cons about them. The only con I have is that these highly sharp knives should come with plastic sheaths, or blade guards, as some people call them. Be very careful if you just throw them into your utensil drawer. Also, if you chip these blades, they are not easy to sharpen like regular knife blades. You could use a knife block, or the storage box they come in to store them. The foam they arrive in is really, really thick, and reusable for storage purposes. They also recommend only hand washing these knives, to ensure the blades fine edge. Since I hand wash everything, that is not an issue for me. This set of Ozeri ceramic knives are a great addition to my kitchen.

I received these for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Moderna Housewares’ Ozeri OZK1 Elite Chef Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set, Black

If you would like to purchase this set, they can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-OZK1-Elite-Ceramic-3-Piece/dp/B016BLNQIY/ref=sr_1_42?m=A3FUY11FKEN472&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1468804839&sr=1-42

Sweet and Stylish. – Tom David Lewis’ 8 Piece Set of Holiday Bracelet Charms & Pin.

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My mom loves wearing pins. It’s an accessory she has always loved. I was excited to receive this set to review for her. Since it’s a pin, you don’t have to worry about what metal type it’s made out of, which makes it an easy gift to give. Included in this set is 1 pin, and 7 charms. The pin is the shape of a bow, and in a gold tone. The charms, although highly decorated, are also a gold tone as well. The charms are holiday related and are pretty darn cute. Included in this set is: 1 Santa, 1 Valentine Charm, 1 Easter Charm, 1 Pumpkin Charm, 1 Red. White, & Blue Hat Charm, 1 Turkey Charm, and 1 Mother’s Day/Father’s Day Charm. They are really solid too; not bendy at all! All charms are approximately 1 to 1 ½” long too. They are a good size, I think. Not too big, where they can be gaudy, but not too small, where it will go unnoticed while you are wearing it. The Mother’s Day/Father’s Day pin is so cute. It says I love you so you can wear it anytime. The Mom and dad are labeled Mom and Dad though, in case that does not fit your family. You could still use the other charms though. The charms are really easy to put onto the pin. The pin has a spring clasp dangling from the middle of it. Just open the spring clasp and put your charm on it. That’s it; so easy. Just make sure you are facing the charm the right way, lol. I keep putting them on backwards the first time. The clasp on the pin is very tight and secure. Don’t over bend it though, or you’ll break it. It’s going to pin onto thinner material the best, since the backing of the pin is small. Overall, it’s a solid set. You really can’t beat it for the price. My mom is very excited about it. She wore the 4th of July pin this whole holiday weekend.

I received this at a discount, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Tom David Lewis’ 8 Piece Set of Holiday Bracelet Charms & Pin – In an Attractive Gift Box, Holiday Gift Bracelet Charms.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M7V0JBA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Boost the flavor of your wine with this KCP Products’ EDGY Wine Aerator Gift Set.

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We like to drink our occasional glass of wine in our home. So, we are not new to wine aerators. I like this set. It definitely makes a nice gift, along with a bottle of wine. This product arrives in a bright red box, which is nice because wine products tend to arrive with the black color scheme. The red adds a fun twist. The metal label on the product itself, was also done in red. The first time we received a wine aerator, we kind of laughed, and figured it wouldn’t do anything noticeable to the wine. My husband and I couldn’t wait to disprove it. Fortunately, we were wrong. Wine aerators do actually benefit the wine. We only buy cheaper wine from the local grocery store, lol. That’s what fits into our budget. We normally purchase Moscato, too. We notice that wine aerators bring out the fruity flavor in the wine. It really does bring out the flavors in your wine. We were totally shocked the first time we used one, and this one is no different. Wine aerators are easy to use. I like the little mesh strainer that comes with this one. If any bits of your cork fell into the wine when you were opening it, the strainer will catch it. All you do to use this is hold it over your wine glass, and then pour the wine through the aerator, into your cup. That’s it. It’s so easy to use. It makes a silly little sound when the wine is working it’s way through the aerator. Just rinse clean the aerator when you are done, and let it dry. They include in the set, the gift box, 1 drawstring storage bag, 1 aerator with strainer, and 1 stand. This aerator comes with a nice stand, so you can set it up in your kitchen or bar area. It holds it really well, and is a very stable base. The storage bag is small and is just for the aerator. The stand isn’t fitting. But, if you want to take it on a picnic, or to a friend’s house, that will definitely work. It’s great to add some life back to your previously opened wine too. We will get the bigger bottle, so there’s some for another day. You can pep the flavor up just by pouring it through the aerator. I’m a real believer in the product. My Edgie aerator is working very well. It’s well made, and I have no flaws in mine. The strainer basket is removable, so if you know you have no cork bits, you don’t have to use it. I am very happy with this product.

I received this product for free, in exchange for a unbiased and honest review. – KCP Products’ EDGY Wine Aerator Gift Set with Stunning Red Box, No-Drip Stand, Travel Pouch, and Cork Filter.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AWV6Q8G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They’ve come a long way! – BLM Products’ Garibaldi Heating 35″ Curved Electric Wall Mounted Fireplace.

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When I was young, my Grandmother had an electric fireplace in her living room. She brought it out around the holidays, and we loved it. I am so amazed how far these have come. This fireplace is not only aesthetically pleasing year round, but in the colder months, can actually heat a room up to 300 square ft. in size. This is a Garibaldi heating fireplace from BLM Products’ on Amazon. It is 35” in length, and has a very pretty curved design to it. It has an elegant curve, which I really, really love. The heat comes out of the vents on the top of the unit only, which makes it easy to choose your placement for it. I also love the easy mounting design it has. It comes with a mounting plate which you attach to the wall, and then the fireplace attaches to the plate. They even include all the hardware, including the anchors. This fan is equipped with a regular 3 prong plug too, so you will not need a special outlet to operate it. There is no special set up or programming to do upon arrival. It’s a plug and play type of unit. Yes, it comes with a remote, and as we all know, remotes make everything better. I was, however, surprised at this price point, that they do not include the batteries for the remote. It requires 2 AAA batteries. No tool is needed to access the battery compartment. The fireplace is really responsive to the remote as well. The remote has one feature that I really appreciate. It has a hole on the back of it, so you can hang it near your fireplace. But, just in case you lose it, you can fully operate this fireplace manually as well. If you are facing the front of the fireplace screen, the control panel is on the right side. The buttons are clearly labeled as well. Some of the nice features this fireplace has, are:

1.       Heat on demand.

2.       Can run the fireplace separately from the heat feature, for year round use.

3.       Dimmable flames.

4.       Timer settings from ½ an hour to 7 ½ hours.

5.       Quick mounting ability.

6.       5,000 BTUs at 1500 watts.

7.       Whisper quiet functioning.

8.       Remote Control

9.       The front panel never gets hot to the touch.

I can’t wait for the holidays. We do not have a traditional fireplace, and a fireplace really makes the holidays special to us. It doesn’t stick out far from the wall either, so even if you have a smaller room, you can still hang it in there. It only sticks out approx. 5”. It does need 24” of clearance above it, in case want to hang your TV above it. The fireplace alone setting makes no noise at all. When you have the heater on, you can hear the blower, but it is pretty quiet, nd does not affect your TV watching or conversation. I really like that. It also truly doe not get hot to the touch on the front panel, which is great if you have little ones or pets. My fireplace has been functioning flawlessly. I am really happy about that. It was also designed here in the U.S., which is awesome.

I received this at a discount, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. –  BLM Products’ Garibaldi Heating 35″ Curved Electric Wall Mounted Fireplace w/ Remote – Natural Log Flame Effect & Multiple Heat Settings, Black – USA Seller.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C94WKOS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

American Pride! – Prextex Patriotic 4th of July Party Set Deluxe and Decorations Party Combo.

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We love our Country and think these are great sets to use any time of the year. They are definitely perfect for our National Holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Armed Forces Day, Presidents Birthday, and more. My youngest’s birthday falls on Memorial Day weekend, so they make perfect decorations for both. I love how festive and patriotic our home looks. In the Party Set you get 8 large plates, 8 small plates, 8 cups, 1 tablecloth, napkins, cupcake holders with American Flag picks, and 6 patriotic tattoos. In the Decorations combo pack you get 1 banner, 1 bunting, 3 swirl hanging decorations, and 6 tattoos. The bunting is 12’ long and the banner is 24’ long. They are both a plastic material and are weatherproof. The ties on them are short though. You will need to add some ties to it, to really be able to secure it outside. My husband used Paracord. I love these two sets together. It really ties everything together. The large plates are actually large too. You can fit a real meal on them. They are 12” long and 10” wide. They are not thick, heavy duty plates though, so you will want to watch the weight of the food, if your guests have to carry them around. If you are having people sit at a table with their food, then no issues. The smaller ones are 9” round and are perfect for desserts or appetizers. My son has been eating cookies and his bday cake off of them. He loves the red, white, and blue theme. The little flags are so cute too. I did not decorate cupcakes with them. I integrated them into his cake decorations, for his birthday. You don’t not have to use the cupcake holders only for cupcakes. You can make muffins, and use them for snacks, like M&M’s. You can line little glass bowls with them, and then serve yummy chocolate snakes in them, or candies too. What a cute look that would be.  These sets really are nice. I live on the coast, and my outdoor decorations have to put up with high wind, and even rain. They are still standing strong, and look great. I can’t recommend these sets enough.

I was afforded the opportunity to review these products, at a discount, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. : Prextex Patriotic 4th of July Party Set Deluxe- and Prextex 4th of July Patriotic Decorations Party Combo.

 

If you would like to purchase these products, they can be found here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Prextex-Patriotic-Decorations-Combo-Perfect/dp/B00W80HEYK?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00

http://www.amazon.com/Prextex-Patriotic-Deluxe-Celebrate-Independence/dp/B01FKQ13FE?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00