The Review Ballerina

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 n...

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 beca...

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.

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!

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 ...

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.

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 differ...

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...

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 gr...

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!

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

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

BLT Deviled Eggs (KETO) Recipe My husband makes these for every party practically that we go to. They are devoured and requested on numerous occasions! I'm sharing this amazing recipe with everyone because it's just too good to keep to ourselves...just know we'll still bring them to parties!!

I am definitely a 90s Mom. Seriously, I would prefer watching the original Roseanne or Grace Under Fire any day of the week over the current shows. BUT!! Thanks to the amazing works of Paramount+ we can now show our kids the awesome shows that we used to watch that they will get a kick out of! Each show will have a rating beside it letting you know if we think your younger kids  or older kids! 

I have spent my entire life fighting what millions are dealing with now. COVID-19 has caused so many to have anxiety, panic, self-doubt, worry, depression, and more. I want to help people see there are natural ways to help these chemical imbalances in the brain and to know...you are not alone. The Review Ballerina is not a medical blog/journal and as such should not be taken as a means to treat, diagnose, or cure any types of mental illness. These are just opinions and steps for this blogger to help those who are just like me.

I have always been a firm believer in the medical profession. I feel that those who take the time to learn how to do a medical specialty, are to be fully trusted to take care of you and your children. I believe in vaccinations, I believe in flu shots and yes, if a COVID19 vaccine comes out as long as there's enough medical proof that it's safe my home will be getting it. But, in the last two years I've begun to start doubting who I can trust...especially when it comes to my daughter.  The statements made in this article are completely 100% the opinion of this blog owner. This is not an attempt to sway someone one way or the other of their own medical trust. 

*Trigger Warning: Verbal and Emotional Abuse, Suicide Discussion Below* When I was a teenager, I lived with my Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. Unfortunately, my relationship with my Great-Grandmother was not very good...in fact I will never understand why but she was verbally abusive towards me for years. She would tell me many things like I was too fat, my clothes were too tight, my hair was too long and that was considered dirty, and other things. My Grandmother was caught in the middle so she never defended me or had her mother stop and as an adult now I can understand why she didn't. I have myself been in situations like that so I will never hold it against her for not telling my Great-Grandmother to stop.  One day, I was home sick from school (Truth was I was faking) and by mid-afternoon my Great-Grandmother was on a verbal rampage against me. My Grandmother was at work so she couldn't help and I just tried to endure it. But I remember walking into the kitchen in tears,...

July 10th is officially National "Don't Step on a Bee Day!" This day is especially important, because bees are what helps us with just about everything we need to survive. Food, shelter, oxygen, everything. How is that you ask? Well let's take a look! So I'm sure many of you every day see this kind of scene in your yards, around your cities and you can't help but wonder just how exhausting it must be to collect dust and pollinate right? Well, these bees help with that! When a bee lands on a flower and collects the pollen, it sticks to their their little legs while they also drink the nectar from the flowers themselves. Then, this little guy will fly around and find another flower landing upon it. The pollen from the first flower will now fertilize with the second flower, allowing for cross pollination to occur as well as reproduction. This is extremely important to allow us the change to continue to receive oxygen from plants but also importantly, it helps wit...

I have been a blogger and reviewer now for, I want to say about four years? You all have watched me move cities, watched my daughter start school, and more. But nothing could've prepared me for the challenge that we have faced over the course of the last few years and now that it seems to be getting under control, it's time to tell everyone what's been going on! First, to all companies that have worked and partnered with The Review Ballerina, thank you for your patience and understanding as we helped our daughter. We look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.