Luggage Travel Hacks

LORAfied On-the-Go Grocery Store Hacks: Costco vs Crumbl Cookie Throwdown

Have you tried Costco’s NEW Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie? It just replaced their long running food court churro (much to the dismay of Kid 2, but to the delight of Kid 3). When I first saw it, I immediately thought of Crumbl cookie, which is just around the corner from my Costco. Here’s the thing, the Crumbl cookies are 5 bucks each ?while Costco is charging half that? I grabbed a few at each place and conducted my own, non scientific study, which includes Scooter and someone on the street ? Is the Crumbl cookie worth the price? Or has Costco just turned the cookie world upside down?! Let’s find out.

First up is the price. A single Crumbl cookie goes at 5 bucks a piece. But at Costco, it’s half the price at $2.49. For that price, we can pick up our own pink box!

These cookie are both super similar in size. And they both have some good lookin bottoms ?

Lookswise, the Crumbl cookie is more uniform. It’s basically picture perfect! The Costco cookie on the other hand looks more homemade. Crumbl wins for softness, but Costco takes the cake on the chocolate pull. Costco also wins best-smelling cookie!

Let’s talk about the chocolate chips. Costco almost has twice the amount of chocolate chips! It also tastes more homemade. Bottom line? Crumbl is a darn good-lookin’ cookie, but for half the price and the smell, Costco is a winner!

Which one looks and sounds better to you? You know how I feel about chocolate AND saving money ??

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LORAfied On-the-Go Grocery Store Hacks: Costco vs Sam’s Club Pizza Throwdown

WHICH ONE WILL WIN? Have you tried the pizza at either store? Both a HUGE DEAL and delicious…but each in their own way! I’ve had so many requests for this challenge I thought I’d better get it up before the Super Bowl so you can start your party planning ?? Good news: both places let you call and order in advance ? Who has the best pizza? Time to find out. ?❤️?

In terms of price, both pizzas are under $10. Sam’s Club comes in at $8.98 while Costco is $9.95. Sam’s Club does not require a membership for purchase, but to get Costco’s pizza, you definitely have to be a member.

At Sam’s Club, you’ll find 4 different options but just 2 at Costco. Costco’s pizza wins for size, serving 12 slices. Sam’s club is a bit smaller, giving you 10 slices.

Now for the real test, the taste test. Up first is Sam’s club. I talked to costumers who agreed that this pizza was more firm. While they taste pretty similar, the textures are different. Costco has a thinner crust. Costco won for overall flavor!

But at the end of the day, Scoot and I agreed that both are great. He just needed a beer to go with them?

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Fun and Easy Donut Latte Hack

Are you a donut dunker? I am! I LOVE the combo of donuts & coffee and that little bit of glaze left behind in the cup YUM! ? Just wait until you try my new little trick! Honestly, I wasn’t sure this was going to work and I think the folks at Dunkin thought I was nuts, they finally asked what I was doing after my 3rd trip to the counter. Each time I bought a different cream filled donut…vanilla cream…chocolate cream (my fav)…Boston cream…you get the idea ? THEY ALL WORKED! You can use ANY cream filled donut (I don’t suggest jelly filled, as it doesn’t seal as well) I can’t wait for you to try this one ?

This donut hack starts your favorite cream filled donut. Any type works- I went for the chocolate cream! I also ordered my favorite latte for this hack.

Now for the fun part. Cut a circle on the top of your donut to make a spot to pour your coffee. Make sure you only cut about 1/2 way through the donut.

When you cut it open, you are going to see that cream filling. Spread the filling around the donut until you can’t see any more donut. Doing this creates a waterproof barrier between the donut and latte. Don’t forget to cover the hole where they fill it with cream!

All that’s left to do is pour your latte into the donut, and it is DELICIOUS! To be honest, I wasn’t sure if this hack was going to work, but it does and it’s so fun. I can’t wait for you to try it!

Which donut would you try this combo on? Comment and LMK! Chocolate filled is my favorite because it gives my latte a hint of mocha ?

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Genius Movie Hack: Buttered Popcorn Trick

Do you butter your popcorn when you go to the movies? I’m a big fan, but always struggled to get the butter evenly distributed…even when shaking the container around there was always a splash zone where the popcorn was absolutely soaked ? This fantastic hack solves this problem once and for all ? It works at home, too ?❤️

We all know the struggle of trying to get an even layer of butter on our popcorn. No more struggling with the butter dispenser… instead grab a plastic spray bottle. My super cute bottle is glass and fits in your pocket. It’s also airplane approved ?

Now time for the hack… instead of dispensing butter onto the popcorn, we are actually going to fill our mini spray bottle with melted butter! I know it sounds crazy, but trust me on this one. Our bottle is going into the movies with us.

All that’s left to do is spray the popcorn with a layer of that melted butter. The best part is, you can spray after every layer you eat, making sure the butter is evenly distributed on your popcorn.

This hack is SO fun and satisfying. Follow along for more helpful hacks!

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LORAfied On-the-Go: 2 Game Changing Fast Food Sauce Hacks

Are you a sauce fan? I LOVE SAUCE! In fact, I don’t eat many things plain ? But the challenge has always been how to get the correct sauce ratio. I’m not a fan of blobs of sauce, nor the idea of opening a packet and pouring on it on a paper covered tray, that’s always bothered the neatnik in me ? Thanks to these genius hacks I’ve got all your bites covered ?

Sauce Hack #1

First up is my hack for getting the perfect sauce ratio when you are dealing with a sauce packet. Often times, opening up the packet ends in one big glob of sauce on your food item. No worries because I have the perfect solution! Poke a hole in the corner of your sauce packet (I just used a plastic fork), helping you get the PERFECT drizzle!

Using the hole, I drizzle the sauce right on the bite I’m about to take. This way, you get the perfect amount of sauce with EVERY bite!

Sauce Hack #2

Instead of opening up your tearable sauce packet the way we were all trained to, try tearing it all the way down the side of the packet. This creates the perfect sauce pouch!

Creating this little pouch isn’t just adorable, it also keeps your sauce cleaned and contained, instead of making a giant mess. This is also my secret for getting the perfect French fry to ketchup ratio.

Thanks to these genius sauce hacks, you’ve got all your bites covered! What’s your favorite sauce? Comment and LMK! I’ve always been a ketchup girl and still put it on my scrambled eggs ?

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6 Easy and Genius Summer S’mores Hacks

??S’MORES HACKS ?❤️

Have you ever tried toasted marshmallow fluff? I’m not a marshmallow fan and I LOVE IT ? And that just one of the 6 hacks that will change your s’mores game this summer! From NO MESS S’mores to the craziest toasted thing EVER, I can’t wait for you to try my easy s’mores hacks ?

Shop HERE for everything I used in the post

Hack 1: Rice Krispie Treats with Fluff

As if regular s’mores couldn’t get any better, wait until you try this marshmallow fluff hack. Simply dip your Rice Krispie treat into your fluff, then roast it like a regular marshmallow. This combo tastes AMAZING!

Hack 2: Reese’s with Fluff

If you loved the Rice Krispie treat with fluff, just WAIT until you try this insane combo. I used frozen Reese’s peanut butter cups for this hack. For best results, put the frozen Reese’s on the stick, coat in fluff, then freeze again until it’s time to roast ’em. Putting them in the cooler works just as well. I promise you, this hack is worth the mess!

Hack 3: Chocolate Stuffed Rice Krispie Treats

If fluff isn’t your thing, I have a hack for you! Cut your Rice Krispie treat in half, place the chocolate right in the middle, then close it back up. AFTER stuffing the Rice Krispie treat with the chocolate, freeze or store in a cooler until it’s time to roast. This hack takes Rice Krispie treats to a whole new level.

Hack 4: Walking S’mores with Mini Chocolate Chips

Up next is my walking s’mores. Any cookie bag works for this hack. Simply add chocolate chips (I used mini) and your roasted marshmallow right into your cookie bag. The best part of this hack is that your hands stay MESS FREE!

Hack 5: Cereal S’mores

This one is similar to the walking s’mores, but we are going to use mini cereal cups instead! Add chocolate chips and your toasted marshmallow right into the cereal cup. Once again, your hands stay mess free, and it’s perfect for folks who don’t love graham crackers.

Hack 6: Mess Free Walking Scooby S’mores

If you are more of a purist but don’t love the mess, pick up a mini bag of those Scooby snacks. These are basically mini graham crackers! This hack is just like the walking s’mores hack: add your toasted marshmallow and mini chocolate chips to your Scooby snacks bag. It’s mess free but tastes just like a classic s’mores!

What would you rather have a toasted chocolate stuffed Rice Krispie Treat or the Reese’s s’more? Comment and LMK! Of course, classic s’mores is just as great! Follow for s’more ?

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LORAfied Capsule Wardrobe: Staple Pieces to Add to Your Closet

It’s here! The official LORAfied Capsule Wardrobe. I’m sharing this curated collection of essentials that are timeless, versatile, and can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. The best part? Every item is under $40! These pieces are a great way to maximize style and functionality but won’t break the bank. Hope you love them as much as I do!?

Click the photo above or here to shop?️

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Genius Firecracker Chocolate Popcorn Hack

?✨FIRECRACKER POPCORN HACK with CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE TRICK ?❤️

How much popcorn do you eat? Kid 2 eats A LOT and we’ve come up with some pretty crazy combos! To date this is our favorite sweet one! This popcorn hack includes so many goodies, including the easiest way to melt chocolate and a secret ingredient to add to your popcorn. This treat is customizable for any occasion and perfect for the Fourth of July!

This popcorn hack is so easy and starts with the microwave. I used this microwave glass popcorn popper that I absolutely cannot live without! Whatever your preferred method is, whip up a batch of plain popcorn. After making your popcorn, spread it over a parchment lined baking tray.

Next up is my satisfying hack for melting chocolate, and it’s going to blow you away! You can use any kind of chocolate your prefer. Boil some water in a pot, and drop your chocolate bar into the pot with the wrapping still on. The chocolate bar will melt FAST, you’re basically going to dip it in the water, wait a few seconds and pull it out. Make sure you don’t walk away!

When your chocolate bar is melted, sprinkle the melted chocolate all over your popcorn to coat. I snipped off a corner of the chocolate’s wrapping to make it a mess-free process. We topped our popcorn with a white chocolate bar and mini M&M’s.

Now, here come the fireworks! Can you guess what the secret ingredient is? POP ROCKS! I picked up some popping rock candy and sprinkled it over the popcorn while the chocolate was still hot.

This popcorn hack is so fun, you are going to get carried away! What’s your favorite popcorn topping? Comment and LMK ?

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Easy Apple Pie Hack on the Grill

How much do you love apple pie?! Apple cobbler? Apple Brown Betty? If you said yes to any of those you’re going to love my deconstructed apple pie on the grill. QUICK & EASY with stuff already in your kitchen! And the best part is, no pie plate to clean up.

Grilled Apple “Pie”

Serves 4-6 People

Apple Filling:
2 apples, peeled and diced
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cold butter, cut into pieces
1-2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract

It’s time for the base of our deconstructed pie, the apple filling. The best part of this is that you probably have most if not all of these guys already on hand in your kitchen. Stir everything together until all of the apple pieces are coated.

Topping:
1/4 cup uncooked oats
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup cold butter, grated
Pinch of salt

Now it’s time for the topping. Just wait until you taste that grilled brown sugar. This topping comes together with butter. My secret hack is using a cheese grater to grate the cold butter. Add the grated butter to the mixture of other ingredients in a bowl and toss together. It will be lumpy and crumbly! This delicious topping is going to act just like a pie crust.

Now it’s time to put it all together. Divide apple filling on 2 sheets of foil (dull side) and sprinkle on that topping. Don’t worry if it’s not pretty sister, this guy is going on the grill!
Cover with 2 more sheets of foil, making sure to tuck the corners in and up to seal.
It’s grill time! Cook on the grill for 12-15 minutes. Because it’s going to be super hot when done, let it set for about 10 minutes before opening. I made sure to scoop some ice cream right on top, and boy was it good!

NOTE: I highly recommend adding a layer of parchment paper on top of the foil before you add the filling. Studies are showing it’s better for your brain health to keep food from touching foil when heating ❤️
Can be made with GF flour and Non-dairy butter ?

Would you add ice cream or eat it plain? Comment and LMK! I’m ice cream all day long! ?

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Life hacks, recipes and more!

The Best Tips for Flying with Pets

Have you ever flown with your pet? Or wished you could? It’s actually easier than you think! If you’re on a long trip, it’s also cheaper than hiring a pet sitter or boarding your pet. Here are my favorite tips for flying with pets.

Start by finding an airline approved pet carrier. Here is the link to the one I love- it is great!

When you book your flight, you are going to book your pets at the same time, but you aren’t going to pay for it until you get to the airport. Make sure to get there early- we do this because there are limited spots for pets, so make sure you secure your little guys a spot!

We’ve always flown Delta with our little guys, but there are many pet friendly airlines! Check the picture above for the full list of pet friendly airlines to travel with.

Here’s the current costs for a one way pet ticket:
Southwest – 125.
Delta – 95.
United – 150.
American – 150.
Jet Blue — 125.
Hawaiian – in Hawaii 35. Hawaii to mainland 125.
Spirit – 110.
Frontier – 99.

Now, onto security. Here, you are actually going to take your fur babies out of the bag and walk them through the metal detectors.

Just before boarding, we take one last stop at the pet relief station. Don’t forget to break down the carrier to avoid causing any traffic while boarding.

Although you bought your pets their own tickets, some airlines count them as your carry-on item. Make sure to check before you fly!

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Summer Grill Hacks: Part 1

GRILL HACKS: Summer Series Pt. 1 ?☀️

Are you a griller? In our house it’s Scooter ? Manning the grill is one of his favorite things! Today I am sharing 3 game changing grill hacks to step up your grilling game this summer.

Tip 1

Clean and season your grill with an onion! Scooter was probably just as surprised as your are, but this hack is a game changer. The onion helps get all of the pesky crud off!

Tip 2

When grilling veggies, just grab a baking rack! This keeps your veggies from getting lost in this grill forever.

Tip 3

Grab some fresh herbs to infuse a bit of flavor and place it on the baking rack! It smells great and does wonders for making your food taste extra fresh and flavorful. I added mine to my baking rack along with those veggies.

Stay tuned for more grilling hacks and summer tips.

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