Book Review of When the Rain Ends

 

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I have read several books by Mary Ellen Taylor in the past and have always been moved by the way she develops her interesting characters.  This book was no exception.  It deals with a mother and daughter who have their life changed by a series of events and the way they manage the challenges that life throws their way.  A very interesting novel that has a lesson for all of us in dealing with life.

Book Summary

Dani Manchester is hit by two very challenging life events in a short time and it throws her into a very unsettling time.  Dani is an artist and seeing colors and shapes are important to her work.  When she learns that her eyesight is failing due to a genetic disease she is devastated and unsure where to go next.  Then her ex-husband and father to her teenage daughter dies and she feels everything that is important in her life is disappearing.

Dani and her daughter Bella live in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Dani makes the decision to move to a small town near the Virginia border.  Here she wants to make a new start.  The property she buys has some silos on them that Dani is planning to renovate and open an art gallery.  This is a big move for the single mother and daughter and Bella is rebelling about the move.  

In this moving story we hear how they meet some new people who become important in their new lives.  They work through their grief and come out stronger.

As in her other books, Mary Ellen Taylor does a wonderful job of developing her characters and you find yourself wanting to turn the pages to find out what will happen next.  

The Book on Amazon

 When the Rain EndsCheck Price

Other Books I have Reviewed by Mary Ellen Taylor

Here are links to two other books that I reviewed by the author and thoroughly enjoyed.

The Brighter the Light- Book Review (reviewthisreviews.com)

Book Review of Honeysuckle Season (reviewthisreviews.com)

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Terrific High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

Cottage cheese ice cream is an increasingly popular trend, and for good reason. We're learning more and more about the importance of prioritizing protein in a healthy diet and for muscle building, fat loss and weight loss. After reading several popular recipes, I decided to develop my own delicious sugar-free, high protein cottage cheese ice cream recipe in one of my favorite flavors, Rocky Road.

In addition to being a decadent, silky, rich chocolate ice cream, it's also low carb and sugar free. As a bonus, it has a silky smooth texture with a base that doesn't require cooking or churning in an ice cream machine. Just process the base ingredients in a food processor, freeze partially, stir in the add-ins and finish freezing.

Enjoy this review of my Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream recipe!

This decadent Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream recipe is quick and easy to make, packs a punch of high-quality dairy protein and is low carb, keto diet friendly, sugar free and high in dietary fiber.

Why You'll Love This Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream Recipe

There are so many things to love about my new Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream Recipe!

• Quick and easy to make. The ice cream base takes just minutes to whip up in the food processor. Other than stirring in the Rocky Road mix-ins (mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and nuts), the rest of the time is just waiting for it to freeze.
• No ice cream machine required. The only equipment you need is a food processor.
• Rich, silky-smooth, creamy, no churn ice cream. Even though this ice cream doesn't need to be churned, it's rich and creamy (thanks to the whole milk cottage cheese with 4% butterfat) and has a silky texture. Also, unlike most sugar-free ice cream (both commercial and homemade), it's soft enough to scoop straight from the freezer without setting it out on the counter for 10 minutes or so.
• Rich chocolate flavor. The combination of my favorite unsweetened cocoa powder and chocolate whey protein, plus a bit of salt, provide the rich chocolate flavor in the base.
• Chock-full of chunky Rocky Road add-ins. Thanks to ChocZero's fabulous new sugar-free mini marshmallows, Lily's sugar-free chocolate chips and walnut chunks, this Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream will satisfy even the sweetest sweet tooth!
• More than 17 grams of high-quality protein in a decadent, sugar-free dessert! Can't beat that with a stick, as they say!
• More than 15 grams of dietary fiber, just 7.4 net carbs, 0 grams of added sugar and just 254 calories per generous serving. Perfect for a healthy low carb lifestyle and can fit into a low calorie, low carb or keto diet.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's make some decadent, creamy, low carb Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream! Here's the quick and easy recipe.

You would never guess this delectable Rocky Road ice cream recipe is made with cottage cheese and sugar-free maple syrup, mini marshmallows and chocolate chips and packs 17.4g of protein!

High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

Serves: 8 generous portions

Ingredients for making this Rocky Road cottage cheese ice cream recipe

Ingredients

Ice Cream Base:

16 ounces (2 cups) whole milk (4% milkfat) cottage cheese, large curd (preferably organic)

3/4 cup sugar-free Wholesome Yum Keto Maple Syrup sweetened with monk fruit and allulose

1 tsp. vodka (optional but recommended, to keep the sugar-free cottage cheese ice cream scoopable straight from the freezer)

4 scoops Perfect Keto Chocolate Whey Protein Powder (can substitute another brand, but it will affect the amount of protein per serving and may affect taste and texture)

3 Tbsp. Ghirardelli Majestic Premium unsweetened cocoa powder (can substitute another high-quality, Dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder, but it will affect the taste)

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix-Ins:

2 ounces ChocZero Mini S'mallows sugar-free mini marshmallows (or use regular-sized ChocZero S'mallows sugar-free marshmallows and snip them into quarters with a pair of kitchen shears dipped in water)

112 grams of Lily's No Sugar Added, Stevia-Sweetened 55% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Baking Chips or ChocZero Dark Chocolate Baking Chips

2 ounces walnut halves or pieces, broken into small pieces

The cottage cheese chocolate ice cream base become silky-smooth in the food processor.

Tools, Supplies and Equipment

Food processor

Silicone scraper spatula

Approximately 5-cup freezer-safe airtight food storage container (my 4.7-cup Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Container fit this ice cream recipe perfectly; the less air space above the ice cream, the less chance of freezer burn)

The partially frozen chocolate cottage cheese ice cream base is ready for the mix-ins.

Directions

1. Place the ice cream base ingredients (cottage cheese, keto maple syrup, optional vodka, chocolate whey protein powder, unsweetened dark cocoa powder and salt) into a food processor. Process until silky smooth with no lumps, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl once or twice.
   
   
2. Scrape the ice cream base into the freezer-safe, airtight food storage container and freeze for 2–3 hours.
   
   
3. While the mixture is in the freezer, weigh out the mix-in ingredients (sugar-free mini marshmallows, dark chocolate chips and walnuts). Break the walnuts into small pieces. Set aside the mix-ins.
   
   
4. After 2–3 hours, remove the container from the freezer, open it and stir the mix-ins into the chocolate ice cream base thoroughly. (Take care not to spill any of the mixture over the sides, since there will be only a small amount of headroom between the mixture and the top of the container walls.)
   
   
5. Re-seal the airtight container and return it to the freezer for at least 4 more hours.
   
   
6. Divide into eight portions and serve.

Finished Rocky Road cottage cheese ice cream, ready to eat. Doesn't it look scrumptious?

Nutrition Facts

I entered the recipe into the Carb Manager Premium app using the ingredients shown in the photo. Here is the nutritional information it calculated.

Per serving (1/8 recipe):

Total Carbs: 45.3g

Dietary Fiber: 15.4g

Net Carbs: 7.4g

Protein: 17.4g

Fat: 13.7g

Calories: 254

Basic nutrition data calculated for my custom recipe in the Carb Manager Premium app.

Don't Eat Sugar-Free But Still Want a Delicious Protein Boost?

Although I haven't tried it, I'm betting you could substitute regular maple syrup, marshmallows and chocolate chips for the sugar-free versions in this recipe. If you decide to give it a try, please let me know how it turns out.

Enjoy!

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream Recipe by Margaret Schindel

Posts About My Keto Diet Journey

My First Year on The Keto Diet

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two

Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe

Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review

Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips

My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe

The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide

The Best Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Muffins

Wholesome Yum Keto Bread Mix and Yeast Bread Recipe

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Best Advice to Maintain Your Keto Diet Weight Loss

My New Irresistibly Delicious Keto Cheese Crackers Recipe

Luscious Low Carb Keto Triple Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Snack Better With The Best Healthy Keto Cookie Dough Bites

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

Blueberry Biscuit Scones — New, Easy, Low Carb Keto Recipe

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea With 0 Calories

Delicious Sugar-Free Keto Cookies That OREO Fans Will Love

Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats Recipe

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

How to Make Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda (With or Without Cream)

Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)

My Personal Keto Testimonial

How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating

Read More Food Reviews by Our Review This Reviews Contributors

Read More Product Reviews by Our Review This Reviews Contributors

Read More Reviews About Health and Wellness by Our Review This Reviews Contributors

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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A Review of my Homemade Italian Salad Dressing Mix

We eat a lot of salads in our house, especially in the summer when the garden is growing a multitude of fresh veggies.  Our favorite salad dressing is Italian.  We always used to buy Wishbone House salad dressing, but we really went through it because we not only used it on salads, we also liked it on sliced vegetables and as a marinade for meats that we cooked on the grill.  I was buying two bottles every time we went shopping!  

I found myself mentioning it to a friend of mine who also loves salad and grilling.  She said she made her own mix for salad dressing and marinades.  She said it was much cheaper, especially since she had a herb garden which provided her with many of the needed ingredients.  I had to laugh, I could not believe it never occurred to me to make my own, which is really silly since I make so much other stuff from scratch instead of buying it.  

I asked her for the recipe and she texted it over.  I lucked out because I actually had all the ingredients, so I didn't even have to go to the store.  She had split the ingredients in half, dry ingredients and wet ingredients.  I asked her the reason for this in a later conversation, and she told me that she makes the dry mix to give away as gifts at Christmas time.  She said that people loved it because it was so easy to make, and it saved them money too! 

Ingredients:

3/4 teaspoon lemon pepper

1/8 teaspoon parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

2 teaspoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (omit if you don't like spice)

1/8 teaspoon oregano

1/8 teaspoon basil

Wet Ingredients:

1/8 cup of finely grated bell pepper

1/8 cup of finely grated carrot 

1/4 cup cider vinegar

3 tablespoons of water

1/2 cup of olive oil (can use any oil you like)

 All you have to do is mix the ingredients and shake well for two minutes.  Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.  Keeps in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

This dressing is not only good on salads and meats, it's great drizzled over hot vegetables.  Toss it over noodles and with grated cheese for a great side dish.  It is so versatile once you make some you will not want to be without it.   I usually keep a jar of the dry ingredients mix in my cupboard to season soups and casseroles.  It really is almost like an all purpose seasoning. 

If you want to make this mixture and give it away as a jar gift, simply fill a decorative jar with the dry ingredients only and shake thoroughly.  Tie a pretty card to the jar that lists the wet ingredients to mix with the dry.  That's all there is to it.  An easy and thoughtful gift that almost anyone will love.

This is my favorite jar to use for gifts

4 ounces

I have told my friend what a blessing her recipe has been to me and all the things I make with it.  I have even given her some ideas!   I highly recommend you try it, I think you will love it too.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Reviewing Marie Antoinette Season 1 (2022) on PBS

I rarely get interested in a television series so much that I begin looking for the next season's premiere date as soon as the last episode airs. But that is what has happened with me when watching PBS's Marie Antoinette (2022). The settings, costumes, characters, and the dilemmas that occur when a teenage girl is sent from one country to another to create an alliance had me captivated. I was hooked within the first few moments.

I have no idea how realistic and historically accurate this portrayal of Marie Antoinette is. Frankly, while I read some historical novels I know that history is not my strength. However, I find myself wanting to know more after getting this glimpse at not only this family but of how countries chose to support each other. Especially after the episode in which young King Louis XVI makes a controversial decision to support the Americas as a country versus a colony. But I'm jumping ahead.

Beautiful, young (just recently a teenager) Marie Antoinette leaves her home in Austria to join her in-laws in France. She is expected to marry the Dauphin(1) of France (Louis XVI) and to quickly become pregnant with his child. A male child.  Antoinette is moved to Versailles where she is expected to follow the complex, confusing rules and etiquette there. Will she become Queen? Will she produce an heir - not only to continue her family line but for this Royal Family in France? 

Young Louis XVI is being raised by his grandfather. His Grandfather Louis XV and essentially his mistress, Madame du Barry. Louis XVI is far more gentle compared to his brother Provence. Provence eventually marries Josephine and in this series they are portrayed as trying to undermine Louis XVI and Antoinette.

While history disagrees with the cause, it is true that Louis XVI and Antoinette take a very long time to consummate their marriage and then take years to have a child. It is true that pornographic and disparaging pamphlets and rumors are spread about Antoinette in the French Court. Becoming Queen in a new country is not an easy thing.

People who review this series seem to love it or hate it. I love it. I love the setting, the costumes, and the portrayal of children who are expected to become leaders of countries. I fell in love with the children Louis XVI and Antoinette... temper tantrums and all. I love the family drama and the relationships that rise and fall when power is involved. People who dislike the series seem to dislike it due to the factual problems that come when a historical setting is portrayed by modern actors/actresses from a modern script. I don't believe it helped that this Marie Antoinette is advertised as feminist.  I approach movies and television series as entertainment with a dash of educational benefit (an example of that educational benefit is realizing the Louis XVI was a mere 20 years old when he became King of France. I don't recall that from High School history class). I assume that things on my screen are going to be factually inaccurate. It is with that bias that I found myself LOVING this version of Marie Antoinette and look forward to the 2nd season. I loved these characters so much that I have more factual (reportedly) portrayals lined up to read and watch.

While I have watched Marie Antoinette (2022) on PBS I have also viewed episodes on Amazon Prime Video.  The Season 1 DVD is available on the PBS site. 

Content advisory: nudity, violence, frightening scenes, alcohol use, foul language, sexual content

(1) Dauphin - the title of the eldest son of the King of France, the heir apparent to the crown, from 1350 to 1830

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Word Search With a Twist - Something Different

Unleashing My Creativity: The Story Behind The Word Search Books in the Stumped Books Collection

As the author and creator of  StumpedBooks (aka StumpedRiddles.com), I also write word search books with a twist.

My goal is to offer people something other than standard word search books. 

So, I embarked on a quest to design a word search puzzle collection that provides the solver with an additional challenge and can also be played as a game.

Unconventional Word Search Puzzle Books Featuring Single and Multiple Clustered Words 

Instead of sticking to single words, I blended multiple words into hashtag-like phrases. 

I aimed to add an extra layer of excitement and surprise for puzzle enthusiasts. 

Before the puzzle solver seeks to find the word, they must solve the hashtag phrase. Most phrases are easy to solve, although a few can be tricky.

The Thrill of Friendly Competition

I believe that puzzles are best enjoyed when shared with others. That's why I included a feature that allows you to turn the Stumped Books Word Search Puzzles into a fun competition among friends and family. Challenge each other to see who can conquer a puzzle the fastest.

There's a place to mark your start and finish times on each puzzle and even a place to write your name.

 These word-find puzzles with a twist are all about fostering a friendly rivalry and celebrating your victories together.

Challenge Yourself and Go, Solo

You don't have to compete with others for the fastest time; go ahead and race against the clock to see if you can beat your own time every time you do a puzzle.

Whether you're looking to improve your speed or simply enjoy the journey at your own pace, this feature adds a touch of personalization to the word search experience.

The Answers Are Included

Some word search books don't include the answers; however, all the Stumped Activity Books include the solutions at the back of each book.

Designed for Those With a Sense of Humor

I get crazy joy coming up with funny clustered phrases for these word search puzzles; that's why nearly all the word search books I've created are geared around humor. 

Coming up with funny sayings is a blast! Or at least I think it is.

Here's an example of one of the puzzles inside of the "Funny Word Search for Adults" - The title of this puzzle is "What Exhausted Angels Say - getalife, ineedhelp, stopsinning, iquit, callmelater ... and more:" (I have too much fun creating these!)

What's Included in the StumpedBooks Word Search Collection

Every book I've created includes the following:

• 1440 Words to Find
• 60 Different Word Search Topics Centered Around the Title Topic of the Book
• A Place to Write Down Your Name, Start Time, and Finish Time on Each Puzzle
• Single Words and Multiple Clustered Phrases

Wait, There's More! - Get Free Printable Word Search Puzzles

On the StumpedBooks Website, there's a place on the main menu titled "Solve" where you can access individual word search puzzles that you can print for free. This free section is a work in progress; more puzzles are added daily. 

At StumpedBooks, you can also try to solve riddles for free. Oh, and all the riddles are originally written; there are no old, rehashed riddles on the website or in any of the personally written riddle books.

Although I've written seven unique riddle books, if you prefer, you can opt for solving riddles directly on the website at no cost to you. 

Here's the link where you can go to solve riddles. There are a lot of riddles at StumpedBooks to keep you distracted for quite a while!

My Most Recent Word Search Book With a Twist

I've just completed a Funny Garden Word Search Book, but hey, if gardening isn't your thing, you can check out all the other word search books here.

Stumped Books is a Labor of Love

I absolutely love creating activity books, journals, and poetry. My passion belongs to the wide array of life's emotions we all feel from time to time. 

Some of my creations are for fun, some for humor, and others are geared more toward the serious side of life.

That's what makes me happy; tackling all of life's emotions and not being put in a box where I have to do one thing all the time. 

All the Stumped Books are good clean fun; although they're geared toward older teens and adults, they're designed with the entire family in mind.

You Can Find The Stumped Books Collection on Amazon

If you're so inclined, you can check out all of the thirty-something books I've created to date via my Amazon Author Page or here on my website, StumpedBooks.com.

Thank you very much if you visit my site or acquire one of the activity books. I hope you get as much fun and joy with the books as I have had writing them.

Happy Summer 2023!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Britt-Marie Was Here – A Book Review

 By Fredrik Backman, the bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell you She's Sorry.

Synopsis

Britt-Marie is an older lady who has spent her life taking care of everyone else before herself. She cannot tolerate a mess and finds herself constantly cleaning and straightening. She also makes lists about everything. But now her life has become a mess and she doesn't know what to do about it.

She has just left her husband for being unfaithful and needs to find a job. The only one available to someone with no real experience in the working world is a temporary one in a forgotten little town called Borg. The job entails looking after a crumbling recreation center in a town where the main business has folded and nearly every other business has closed down. The only people who still enjoy the recreation center is the group of children who make up the very untalented soccer team. 

Britt-Marie is a very organized person who knows exactly how others should live their lives and she isn't shy about sharing her opinions. For instance, there is a proper way to sort a cutlery drawer and dinner must be at 6 pm exactly every night.  And, of course, there are  certain cleaning products, such as baking soda, which must always be used. 

But hidden inside this socially awkward and fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart than anyone around her realizes.

As Britt-Marie is drawn into the daily doings of Borg and the misfits who populate the town, along with helping the children with the soccer team, she discovers more about herself than she ever realized and perhaps a place where she truly belongs. 

Summary

As has been true of every one of Fredrik Backman's books, this is a heartwarming story told with the author's special way with words. I have been fascinated with Backman's storytelling with every one of his books I've read. I highly recommend this story of a woman who rediscovers herself and of a small town who has an unforgettable group of citizens who will never forget that “Britt-Marie Was Here”. 

Find this Book on Amazon

Related Links:

• A Man Called Ove reviewed by Treasures by Brenda
• My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry reviewed by Wednesday Elf
• Anxious People reviewed by Wednesday Elf
• For More Book Reviews, check out ReviewThisBooks.com 

*Britt-Marie Was Here reviewed by Wednesday Elf

A Fredrik Backman novel

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango (2023) - Hallmark Mystery Movie

Hallmark movies offer light entertainment and a temporary escape from the world of responsibilities and difficulties.  

Hallmark mysteries are cozy mystery movies that provide a who-done-it story without gory or graphic images. Our emotions and senses are rarely dragged through the wringer.  They are not epic sagas that will haunt us for days, but sometimes that is exactly what is needed.  Most often, we are able to step away at the end of a Hallmark movie feeling unburdened and happier.  They can provide a much needed break and balance to our everyday lives.

I recently watched "The Dancing Detective" starring Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp.  It was an unusual Hallmark movie because I couldn't figure out who the killer was before the end.  Hallmark movies have frequently been referred to as cookie-cutter movies.  I would not use that term to describe this Hallmark mystery movie.  

A good mystery with a touch of romance, humor and excellent dancing made this movie a wonderful reprieve from reality.

 

The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango 

When an American business owner dies unexpectedly in Malta, his brother, Senator Aston, requests that an American undercover detective be sent to Malta to investigate.  It is imperative that they go immediately since Aston's ballroom dance company is currently hosting their annual employee dance competition where all of the suspects are present. 

Even though Detective Constance Bailey is an excellent detective that solves crimes, she doesn't work well with partners and she doesn't dance.  In Malta, she will be required to collaborate with Sergeant Ana Spiteri from Interpol, alongside her new partner: dance partner that is.  Fortunately for Bailey, Sebastian Moore is a dance instructor and former actor, which will be helpful since he will also be playing the part of her husband.  Bailey, aka Sally, is supposedly a newly hired married employee who was invited by Mark Aston to bring her husband, Stuart Miller, to Malta and join the employee dance competition.

It is fun to watch this duo work together, dance together, and solve the murder together.

---

With the promise that this will be a new Hallmark Mystery series, I look forward to the next episode!

I watched this new Hallmark Mystery Movie on Frndly TV, but it is available on DVD & Amazon Prime Streaming.

 Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango on Prime VideoCheck Availability The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango [DVD]Check Availability

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ReviewThisMovies.com

The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango (2023) - Hallmark Mystery Movie by:

 

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Reviewing Which Green Drink You Should Have

As long-time followers will know I've been taking a green drink daily for a number of years yet. For a long time I took a drink I called the Green Ogre Drink (which I reviewed here), the last couple of years I've switched to the Green Gut Glow Drink (which I reviewed here).

Today I'm going to look at both drinks (and the variations on them) and see which one would best suit you.

The Green Ogre Drink

This drink initially contained Greens, Mind Health & Fizz as it was formulated before the Skin Elixir was available and also before the Gut Health was available in Australia (where I live). Once the Skin Elixir was available I did add that to my Green Ogre Drink as well.

I didn't add the Gut Health supplement to the drink for one reason - you need to drink the Gut Health within 20 minutes. I think this is an important supplement so I chose to take it as a shot in water first thing in the morning (word of caution it's not the best-tasting supplement BUT once you've taken it for a few days you do get used to it).

I loved mixing up my Green Ogre Drink and taking it to work to drink once I got there. In the past, I've either picked up a coffee on the way to work or I would pop out to grab one once I got to work - I choose to stop doing that and instead have a drink that was really helping me.

When it came to the Mind Health supplement I found it really helped my concentration levels and allowed me to focus really well at the start of the day.  The supplement contains ingredients that support mental clarity, focus and memory so it was really good.

Once I started adding the Skin Elixir I also received all the benefits of taking a collagen supplement. The supplement doesn't actually contain collagen as all Arbonne products are vegan and there is no such thing as vegan collagen, however, it contains the ingredients your body needs to produce its own collagen.

The Green Gut Glow Drink

This drink contains the Greens, Gut Health and Skin Elixir. There are lots of people around the world who were taking this drink before I switched. I'm not sure why, but I started forgetting to take my Gut Health supplement so I decided to make the switch to the Green Gut Glow drink.

I would take this first thing in the morning and found it really great, however, after a few days I realized that my energy levels just weren't where I needed them to be to start the day and I was grabbing a coffee when I got into work. Don't get me wrong, I do love a coffee, but I'm also aware that too much coffee doesn't do me a lot of good with keeping my hormones balanced.

I started adding a fizz stick to my Green Gut Glow and I found that this was the perfect drink for me to start every day with (except if I'm meeting friends for coffee in which case I leave the fizz stick out - it contains caffeine). 

I have on occasion added Mind Health to the Green Gut Glow Drink and it has been great, but I don't find I need to be taking this all the time, I just take it at times when I have a heavy workload as I personally find that when I get overwhelmed I cannot focus as easily and start to procrastinate - Mind Health really helps me at these times.

How To Decide What Greens Drink YOU Need

You need to look at why you are taking a green drink first. All of the supplements that I've mentioned can be taken by themselves or mixed together to formulate the perfect daily supplement to enhance your life.

Whichever greens drink you think you need you will be starting off with the BeWell SuperFood Greens powder (otherwise it wouldn't be a 'greens' drink!), this is a whole food smart nutritional choice containing a balanced blend of 36 fruits and vegetables that contains fibre, phytonutrients and antioxidants.

If you're going to be drinking your drink as soon as you make it (or at least within 20 mins) then I would suggest adding the Gut Health supplement. More and more is being discovered about gut health all the time and its impact on so much of your health that I believe taking a supplement like this is important for the majority of people. Arbonne's Gut Health supplement contains both pre and pro-biotics as well as digestive enzymes.

Now let's break down what benefits you're looking for in a drink.

If you're just looking for a boost of energy or simply to get your mojo back and you aren't having any hormonal problems, no problems with focus and concentration or any other illnesses that you may be dealing with then I would suggest -

Add a fizz stick to the greens and gut health. Fizz sticks are designed to give you a natural energy boost. They contain Ginseng, Coenzyme Q10, Chromium and B vitamins along with naturally-derived caffeine from Guarana and Green Tea.

If you're having problems concentrating or are experiencing brain fog then I would look at taking greens, gut health and mind health with or without a fizz. As well as giving you a boost of energy fizz can help support your alertness and cognitive function. Mind Health really is the king when it comes to supporting cognitive performance, however.

Mind Health's key ingredients are sunflower seed-derived Phosphatidylserine, a key building block for brain cells and Vitamin B12 which contributes to normal neurological function. I definitely found that this helped me when I had a lot of work that needed my concentration at a time when I had a little of the menopausal brain fog happening!

If you want to improve your skin hair and nails - I recommend taking the greens, gut health and adding the Skin Elixir supplement. Arbonne's Skin Elixir supplement helps your body to produce its own collagen which is great for your skin. The supplement also includes other ingredients such as biotin to support and maintain healthy hair, skin and nails.

Fun fact my hairdresser noticed that my hair is getting thicker (not that it was thin to start with) since I added Skin Elixir to my greens drink and I'm in my 50s when I would be expecting it to start thinning!

If you're still not sure what combination would suit you then reach out to me in our Healthy Tips Facebook Group or on Instagram and I'd be happy to give you a personal recommendation.

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