National Biscuit Day - May 29!

Okay, buttercups, settle in with a cuppa (or maybe a big ol' glass of sweet tea, this is Texas, y'all!) because your favorite tattooed, pink-loving, slightly shy singing-dancer-blogger-mama is BACK! And guess what glorious day is hurtling towards us like a perfectly baked, golden brown… well, biscuit? That’s right, my loves, mark your calendars for May 29th, 2025, because it’s National Biscuit Day! 🎉

Now, some of you might be thinking, "A whole day for biscuits, Elizabeth?" And to that, I say, honey, have you tasted a truly amazing biscuit? It's not just a side; it's a hug in carbohydrate form. It's the fluffy cloud your gravy floats on. It's the reason breakfast is the most important and the most delicious meal of the day.

So, how am I, The Review Ballerina, going to celebrate this momentous occasion? Well, first things first, there will be biscuits. Lots and lots of biscuits. My teenager, Lil' Ballerina (yes, she’s rolling her eyes at the name even now), will probably emerge from her cave (aka her room) if the aroma of freshly baked goodness wafts strongly enough. Even Daddy Ballerina, bless his heart, gets excited at the sight of a warm biscuit slathered in butter. It’s a universal language, people!

I’ve been known to get a little… enthusiastic… about food, especially when it involves butter, sugar, honey, etc etc. A biscuit has a certain grounded elegance, a rustic charm that even this sometimes-shy dancer can appreciate. Plus, you can FILL THEM WITH ANYTHING. Seriously! Talk about a dance on your tongue Mmm!

Think about it:

• Breakfast: Sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit? A classic for a reason. Drizzle a little hot sauce if you’re feeling spicy (like this mama’s dance moves after a few cups of coffee!).
• Lunch: Crispy fried chicken nestled between two halves of a fluffy biscuit? Oh. My. Goodness. It’s a Southern symphony in your mouth.
• Dinner: Biscuits served warm with a hearty stew or chili? They soak up all that deliciousness like a sponge… a very tasty sponge.
• Dessert: Strawberry shortcake with a sweet biscuit instead of the traditional sponge? Mind. Blown. (Okay, maybe not instead, but alongside? Absolutely!)

And speaking of deliciousness, did you hear about the biscuit who went to the doctor? He was feeling crumbly! 😂 Oh, I crack myself up sometimes. It's been over ten years of this blogging gig, you learn a few things – like how to tell a truly terrible food pun.

But seriously, National Biscuit Day isn't just about eating (though that's a HUGE part of it). It's about celebrating the simple joys in life. It's about that warm, comforting feeling you get from a homemade treat. It's about the memories made around the kitchen table, flour dusting your apron (and probably your hair, if you're anything like me).

So, on May 29th, 2025, I encourage you to get your bake on! Try a new biscuit recipe, support your local bakery, or just grab a tin of those pop-open wonders (no judgment here, we all have those days!). Share your biscuit creations, tag me in your photos, and let's spread the biscuit love!

What are your favorite ways to enjoy a biscuit? Let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to wear pink while you’re celebrating – it just makes everything better. 😉

Stay fluffy, my friends! 💖 

#NationalBiscuitDay #Biscuits #FoodBlogger #SouthernCooking #ComfortFood #Baking #HomeBaking #May29th #TheReviewBallerina #PinkLover #Foodie #TexasFood #ButteryGoodness #GetYourBakeOn 

How the Electronic Screen changed Society:

Before the internet (and yes, I was alive for that) you had to look at people in the eye when you worked with them. If you wanted to talk to someone you picked up a phone, dialed or spun the dial and you made sure that they could hear your tone of voice. Friday nights were usually met with pizza and movies. Saturday nights were game nights whether it was cards, board, but mostly you sat there with friends. I can't tell you how many Saturday nights I spent with my Dad out at a bar watching him play pool with his buddies, or we'd go visit Uncle Dave and I'd play with their daughter while they hung out and chatted for hours. If you debated? You did it in person. If you needed to talk to someone? You did it in person (most of the time). I find that these days the internet has taken away the ability for society to be able to accept you for you. They now want to hide you away from them if you are a bother to them. Or, they want you to hide from them so they can't see you because you bother them. When did this become acceptable?

My Weight-Loss Journey: How I've been doing it!

Left: Fall of 2022. Right: Fall of 2023

So I was told I should lay out what I've done to lose weight in the last year, and I figured I'd go ahead and tell! I mean it may not work for everyone but if it helps ya'll go for it! These are just some of the things I've been doing, because without health insurance I can't see a nutritionist, get weight loss surgery, etc.

Thinking Thursday: Thoughts on Nadine West:

I have been a Nadine West ambassador for a year now if not a little more. I find myself with every Nadine West package having a wide range of emotions and I'll tell you why in this article! I know so many people want the truth about subscription services, especially clothes, so today, you get the truth!

Recipe Wednesday: Summer Fruit Salad!

I don't know about all of you but Texas Summers just suck. I cannot stand Texas heat, I love cold. So when I wanted a fruit salad, this was the perfect one to make!! Although this calls for bananas due to my stomach I can't eat them, but you can make sure to add them to yours!

Ingredients

Sauce:

• ⅔ cup fresh orange juice
  ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
  ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
  ½ teaspoon grated orange zest
  ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Salad:

• 2 cups cubed fresh pineapple
  2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
  3 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced
  3 bananas, sliced
  2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
  1 cup seedless grapes 
  2 cups blueberries

Instructions

• For the sauce: Bring orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, orange zest, and lemon zest to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.
  
• For the salad: Layer fruit in a large, clear glass bowl in this order: pineapple, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bananas, oranges, grapes, and blueberries. Pour cooled sauce over fruit; cover and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

#recipe #recipewednesday #summer #summerfruitsalad #reviewballerina

I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye...

I look over to my right every day at my desk and see your face. I remember taking that picture of you. I was sitting on the couch and you had just finished talking to Bryan. As he walked away, I called out "Dad!" and you turned and gave me a sarcastic smile. You didn't mind doing it though and now I have this picture of you. I wrote on the back "Uncle Larry (Dad)" and immediately I feel my heart break. That wasn't right, that wasn't right at all. It was just Dad. Completely just Dad and now that you're gone, it hurts even more.

Our last full conversation rings in my head every day. You told me you wanted to come up here and surprise your Granddaughter at her school for lunch one day just to make her smile. I was going to make sure I was off work and meet you there. We weren't sure when it would happen but you were so excited at the idea. You were so proud of her when I told you how she was planning to do honors math and science starting next year. You planned on giving her your telescope the next time we came to your house because you found out how she was so excited to learn about space. You had to tell the pup to quiet down so we could hear each other, but I could hear how tired you were so I said I had to go get some things done. Truth was, I knew you wanted to rest but talk at the same time. Dad you never liked ending a conversation and I knew you wanted to just rest before Mom got home. Now I wish I'd just kept going.

I didn't want to leave that day. I saw Mom walk out of the hospital room at 2:30pm, and I knew I had to go get my daughter from school. Sadly I'd kept the stupid card from the car, so her Dad couldn't even go up there and get her I had the only card for release. I didn't want to leave. I watched her go out of the side of my eye, and then I just looked at you. I touched your arm, and it was warm. I was almost petting it because I was so afraid to go. I then just said "Daddy, I love you." and you looked at me. You pushed the words out. "I love you." and I smiled. Then I said "Merry meet, and Merry Part." and your face...you nodded and just shut your eyes. It's like you knew, that was it. I didn't want to leave that day. 

When I got to the hospital after the call to hurry back, I ran in thinking there was time...and you were gone. When she told me, my heart sank so far down it almost felt like it had stopped. We went to walk in, and my feet didn't want to move. Then I saw you...and for one fleeting moment I hoped you would open your eyes again. You looked the same as you did when I left and then I saw the machines were off. I wasn't ready to say goodbye. When I touched your arm... it wasn't the same. You didn't open your eyes and look over and nod realizing I was there. It wasn't until her small voice quivered saying goodbye to you, that I lost my strength. I'm so lucky your son in law became such a strong rock for me in the recent weeks because I feel completely weak. I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

I sleep all day now. I only eat out of necessity. I go to bed so late because I just don't feel like going to sleep. I play Sims 2 and my phone games just to pass the time not because of any enjoyment. I had to call the doctor and they had to prescribe me another medication on top of what I am already on just so I could function again. I'm so lucky my boss understands that this has hit me so deep and has allowed me the time to cope.

In front of others, I'm smiling and laughing. I post videos for my blog and unboxings and cat videos just so I keep that going as I know you were proud of the work I'd put into it. I'm thanking everyone for their kind words but inside I feel like a large part of my soul has been ripped from me. You were one of my best friends Dad. I could call you any time just to shoot the breeze about anything. You'd call me to do the same and we'd spend an hour just talking about it all. You helped me find my Wiccan path and having that special connection with you was so wonderful. 

My mentor is gone. My Dad is gone. My rescuer is gone. 

I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Daddy, I love you. But I can't say goodbye, yet.

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

Mommy Mondays: I'm a Mom first, and a friend second!

The following is the opinion of The Review Ballerina and though it may not be shared by everyone, it is a proud opinion!

When I was growing up, I was raised by my Aunt, Uncle, and Grandmother. Sadly, my Grandmother was not really a "Mom" to me but moreso a friend kind of position. The other sad part is I spent Sunday night through Friday morning with her, and only Friday night through Sunday afternoon with my Aunt and Uncle. So I really did not have the "parental" influence in my life as much as I should have. I've seen so many people in the generations after me (with my generation as their parents) become disrespectful, criminals, smart-mouthed, and more all because in this time for some reason society has stopped parenting. Well, I continue to do so.

Nadine West: The Subscription Box for Women!

Nadine West: Official Website

Nadine West: Official Facebook

If you're like me, finding clothes that not only fit, but look good on my body and also are affordable is almost impossible. But then I heard about Nadine West and after a few packages, I have to tell you all about this awesome subscription service!

Recipe Wednesday: Baked Cinnamon Apples!

This has to be one of the most incredible desserts we've ever made! Make sure to make this with a little vanilla ice cream to cut the sweetness, as Dolly Parton said in Steel Magnolias!

Prep:

10 mins

Cook:

45 mins

Total:

55 mins

Servings:

4

Pan:

1 8-inch glass pan

Ingredients

• 3-4 Golden Delicious Apples
• 2/3 Cup of Water
• 2 Tablespoons warm butter
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1 Teaspoon corn starch
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• pinch of salt

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Layer apple slices in the bottom of an 8-inch glass baking dish. 
• Mix water, butter, flour, and cornstarch together in a bowl until no lumps remain. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until smooth. Pour apples in the baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes, until soft and juicy, about 45 minutes.
• Once cooler, add one scoop of vanilla ice cream into bowl, and top with delicious apples!

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music! 

#recipe #recipewednesday

Positive Prints: Custom Star Map Review!

Positive Prints: Official Website

Positive Prints: Official Facebook

Positive Prints is a beautiful company that creates amazing artwork of your life events that are most important. Whether it's when you became a parent, met your spouse, moved somewhere, it doesn't matter! You can have a perfect print that shows off that moment for the rest of your life. I was lucky enough to receive a Custom Star Map which I customized for the day our daughter was born, and now I get to show all of you!

Free Chocolate Bar from Red!!

Hey everyone! Check out this delicious opportunity for free chocolate! Just go here and enter in your information to get a free chocolate bar! You should see “The form was sent successfully.” after you submit your information. Get it now!!

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

Recipe Wednesday: Five Minute Fudge!

Delicious, Decadent, Quick and Easy to Make! Take a look on how to make delicious 5 minute fudge!

Ingredients

• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 9 ounces butterscotch chips 
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Lightly butter an 8-inch square pan. 
• Heat chocolate and butterscotch chips along with the sweetened condensed milk together over low heat. 
• Stir until fully melted and smooth. Velvety!
• Stir in vanilla and remove from heat. 
• Pour into the prepared pan making sure the top is smoothed out, and chill covered in the refrigerator. 
• Slice and serve when fully cooled and you have some delicious, amazing fudge!

A Couple of Sweet Notes:

• If you’re adding nuts, make sure to add them before removing the mixture from the heat. It will set up quickly once removed and you don't want the nuts to just fall off.
  
  
•  Any type of chip can be substituted for the butterscotch. Some suggestions: peanut butter, mint, a different depth of chocolate flavor, or even those delicious peppermint ones from Toll House!

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

#recipe #recipewednesday

Mommy Mondays: Reasons I love being a Mom!

Hi Moms! It's Monday! I wanted to write something inspirational and something feel good. I realized, it's Mommy Monday! I should write about, being a Mom (duh!). I know how hard it can be sometimes. You are tired, stressed, running around cleaning and cooking, working, helping with homework. Sometimes you feel so guilty just wanting to hide in the closet with your glass of wine for five minutes. But, remember why you're so happy being a Mom!

1. My child brings me so much happiness! 

Has your husband/spouse ever just come up behind you and put their arms around you? They hug you close and smile and then you feel all your stress melt away? When my daughter rests against me, snuggles, cuddles, "Nuggles" (as we jokingly call it), hugs, or kisses me I feel that same feeling but times a thousand. She's my sweet miracle baby and finding that joy of Motherhood with her is completely a blessing. Life feels so incredible with her, and I know your children make you feel the same!

2. I'm so proud to impact someone's life and guide them in a positive way!

Growing up my childhood was split between two households: my Grandmother, and my Parents. My Grandma really didn't do a lot of "guiding" moreso she just kind of went through the motions in raising me. I wasn't taught how to balance a checkbook, understand about credit card debt, student loan debt, auto loans, etc. I wasn't even taught about how to live on my own and what happens if you don't pay a bill. I think if I'd had more time during the week with my parents they would've taught me so much more and helped me be an independent person. I'm so grateful that now as a Mom, I'm able to teach these things to my daughter. She already knows she doesn't have to attend college, but she can learn a trade (like auto tech) or something along those lines. She's learning about how to handle bullies so she doesn't skip school (like I would), and more. The fact is, being a parent is so rewarding because you get to help guide and lead a young soul into their own.

3. Being a Mother is something no one can take from me, or you!

My situation is very unique in the sense that my Mom, is not my biological Mother. She though, is my Mom and no one can take that from her. Just as no one can take from me that I am my daughter's Mom. I work very hard to ensure she is taken care of, she is loved, respected, and more and that feeling is something that will never be taken away. Do you know that feeling? Whether you carried your child, adopted your child, or helped raise them, you're their Mom!

4. Being a Mother has helped me to be a more caring and giving person, and being more of a nurturing individual!

I struggle with my own medical conditions, and sometimes I can appear grumpy even when I'm not. But when my daughter comes to me because she doesn't feel well, or wants to be snuggled, or wants to tell me something that is important to her, I get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside! I'm sure you do too, because you get to become this big cuddle bunny for your child to not only take care of them, but love and protect them. It makes you a better person too, because you put them before you.

5. I love getting to see my husband be such an amazing Father!!

I saved the absolute best for last, because this is definitely the best part of being a Mom for me. My husband did not grow up with a purely supportive household. His Dad really was never there for him, in fact his Dad was abusive at times. He went through that abuse until he was 15 or so, and then ended up homeless. The one thing he has always told me is he was going to raise his daughter, to never feel he wasn't there for her. My husband is an incredible father, and I adore knowing that I gave him that chance. He has always told me that having me in his life made him a better man, but having his daughter has made his life perfect. 

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

#article #mommymondays #reviewballerina #moms #parents

April 9 - National Unicorn Day!

Did you know that April 9 is National Unicorn Day? What a beautiful day for such a beautiful creature!

Unicorns are mystical, majestic and of course, fictional. Although you'll see many places add cute little horns to their horses for children to pet and ride. Remember, Unicorns do not have wings, but they definitely floated right into all our hearts with their sprinkles of magic flying behind them as they run!

For your own Unicorn photoshoot, check out our experience here or their official website here.

How about some adoriable (adorable, adoriable, you say tomato I say...) facts about the fictional Unicorn??

1. Unicorns are born, and are only found on Earth - Despite possessing beauty and power that seemingly defy the laws of our universe, unicorns call our Earth “home.” Aren't we blessed to have them?

2. Unicorns are energized and fed by the Sun! -  If you happen to stumble upon a unicorn in the forest, you won’t see it munching grass. That’s way too boring, and come on grass is pretty bland. They actually use their horns to absorb the sun’s light and convert it into energy. No wonder we have so much sunlight every day!

3. Unicorns are only found in Forests (Enchanted they must be!) - You’re pretty unlikely to ever see a unicorn unless you hike far and away. Of course, you should still stay vigilant the next time you take a stroll through the woods. Who knows, one could pass right by you.

4. Unicorns tend to have Blue or Purple Eyes - Sometimes if the prominent color of a passing Unicorn is green you may find their eye color matches. But just like humans, that is more rare than the sighting of a Unicorn! 

5. They are magical beyond all worldly feeling and love - If you manage to lay hands on a white unicorn, you’ll receive a special gift: Eternal Happiness. Finding one that happens to sheen rainbow in the sunlight will give you Everlasting Peace with Nature, but again those are even more rare!

Unicorns today can be found on clothes, shoes, furniture, wallpaper, and more. Try to get with your children today, and "find" a Unicorn in your home! Comment below, or tag @reviewballet (instagram) or @reviewballerina (Twitter) with the picture of you with your Unicorn!

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

Luca & Friends: The Fun Way To learn STEM and More!

Luca & Friends: Official Website
Luca & Friends: Official Instagram

If you have a child ages 4-8, you have probably already started wondering how to keep them immersed in learning, while knowing that these days it's all about apps and gaming. Luca & Friends is a new ground-breaking children’s app from GOFA INTERNATIONAL. This is a one of a kind learning app that connects your children to education, fitness, and healthier habits through AI technology! Whether your child goes to school then comes home, does K12 Public School, or is homeschooled, this is a fantastic opportunity for them to grow at their own pace!

All images courtesy of Luca & Friends.

Mommy Mondays: Top 3 Things to Remember Always Being Home!

I've been working from home since 2012. I have found over the years that many women have moved from working in person to at home, and even though my husband is a stay at home father (explained before and later in this) I tend to do a lot on my own. My daughter is also doing her school from home so during the day I'm not only an employee for a company, I'm a learning coach, and a Mother. Here are just some tips that help me get through the days that may assist you all as you transition!

ShutEye - The Application That Records You at Night!

Apple Store Link

In the last several...well years, I have not been able to sleep well. I've gained more weight, had severe stress due to bad neighbors, struggled financially due to COVID19 impacting one of my jobs, and even my blog took a nose dive like many others because companies are forced to shut down. Just like millions of other people in the world stress makes me think and worry once my head hits the pillow. I was scrolling through Facebook one night in bed (who doesn't, right?) and saw this advertisement for ShutEye. You get a 7-day trial period and I thought, what the heck? Let's give it a shot!

Recipe Wednesday: Lemon Lush!

It is seriously like the best lemon merengue pie ever but in a different form! Enjoy!!

Recipe Wednesday: Strawberry Shortbread!

Delicious Strawberry Shortbread, a must have during a get together!