More Giveaways!

Okay peeps I promised more giveaways and here are a few more. If you only see one be advised I will be adding more.

Go over to The Mom Reviews where she is giving away a Red Velvet Cake from bake me a Wish. Okay with my birthday coming on Sunday, this would be a great b-day gift for me. Feel free to send me stuff too!! (hee hee)

Head over to Thyme for Herbs if you are a gardener. I am so I need to win this one. She is giving away a seedling kit from Burpee. I tried these last year and they were terrific.

At Who Moved my Cheese Straw you can win a really cute Emile Henry Olive Oil bottle. I need this baby.

Super Mommy to the Rescue has a great yoplait smoothie giveaway going on. Ends on my birthday so hopefully that will bring me luck.



Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Giveaway Round Up

I have been so busy lately that I have totally neglected entering giveaways for myself. I hate that because as you all know I am a giveaway junkie!! So here are a few giveaways I am posting to get those fantastic extra entries! Now if you were nice people, you wouldn't enter so I have a better chance but I know you guys will! So I will say good luck and hopefully we will all win something!! WOO!

GIVEAWAYS
Head on over to What's Cooking at DD to snag a smoothie blender and coupons. Woo. This is perfect for the diet!
MomStart always has some good giveaways. You can snag a $50 AMEX card. Who doesn't need some money?


Go to My Red Apron for cheese. Yes, I said cheese. I love cheese. I want cheese so back off peeps!!

Chips and goodies from Ballreich are being given away over at Jamies Precious Peas!! These look absolutely delish.

Enter to Win a trip To Colorado!!

Just click on the image below for your chance to win one of three trips to Colorado. Prize includes three nights of lodging for (2), (2) two-day adult lift tickets for the Telluride Ski Resort, as well as complimentary performance ski or snowboard rentals from Boot Doctors.

Cool beans. I entered!! WOO!

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

CLOSED ~ Tillen Farms Review and Giveaway

When I saw blog reviews for Tillen Farms goodies, I knew this was something I wanted to try. I love reviewing food products and was excited when I found out I was going to be able to review Tillen Farm products. Tillen Farms was created by Tim and Helen Metzger following a delicious tradition first begun by the Hogue family over forty years ago in the fertile, volcanic soil of Yakima Valley of Washington State. As the website says: From this rich soil, irrigated by pure river water running down the Cascade Mountains, comes some of America's finest vegetables and fruits.
So the Metzgers have created a special line of "pickled" products that are hand packed at the peak of freshness. The use a special hot brine of vinegar, herbs and spices. The packing keeps them fresh and crispy and I can attest to that. These products are delicious.

These are also healthy. Since I am dieting, these have been a great addition to the Nutrisystem program I am on. They have given some of the foods on the program a needed flavor lift! The products are naturally fat free, cholesterol and gluten-free and they are low in calories and carbs. You can eat them as is. I did this with the asparagus. Yummy. Or you can add them to different dishes.

Here is the pack I received. It included:
Asparagus-Spicy
Asparagus
Crunchy Carrots
Dilly Beans
Hot and Spicy Beans
Merry Maraschino Cherries

I tried the Crispy Carrots first. I was making some soft tacos and decided to add a little crunch to them and I added the carrots as filler. They were delicious. They were sweet and tasty. I really liked them. The next product I tasted was the Asparagus. These were so tasty that I ate them out of the jar. The Spicy Asparagus was a perfect treat when I added them to my salad. I chopped them roughly and tossed them in and it made for a nice little bite. They are spicy but I like spicy. I cooked some chicken breasts the other day and I took some Dilly Beans with the juice and added them to the pan and ladled them on top of the breasts. Delish!! I am really enjoying these as snacks and as a ingredient to a dish. I am also using the products I have left to make up veggie platter for a Superbowl party. I think these would be great along with cheese and olives.

I really want to try the rest of the products especially the White Asparagus and the Sweet Bell Peppers. I still have to try the Maraschino Cherries but I am saving those for a special occasion. I would love to use them as a cake topper. And I saw the coolest idea on the Tillen Farms site. They were using the Dilly Beans as a Martini Stirrer. That would be so good because the pickled flavor would go nicely with a dry martini, shaken not stirred!

I totally recommend these veggies if you like pickled items. They are really good. I have thought about pickling the veggies I grow in my garden but why do I want to do all that work when I can buy them already pickled. Right? These would also make great gifts. You can buy a single jar or buy a gift pack that includes a variety of Tillen Farms products.

I got to try these tasty treats and one of my lucky readers will also be tasting them. The wonderful peeps at Tillen Farms have offered a VIP pack that includes their products so I can giveaway to one of you! Thank you!! You know the drill, my friends! Good Luck!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Tillen Farms website and come back and tell what veggie or fruit you would like to try and what you might use them in.

Extra Entries

* Sign up for the Tillen Farms newsletter (1 entry)
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (1 entry)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Add my site to your blogroll (1 entry)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission - unlimited)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Tuesday, February 16 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.




Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the products I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Old El Paso and Dean's Dip WINNERS!!!!

Drumroll please. The winners of the Old El Paso & Dean's Dip giveaways chosen by Random.org are:

El Paso Winner: hminnesota
Dean's Dip: petteytiffany

Congrats! I have sent you all an email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank Old El Paso/MyBlogSpark and Dean's Dips for these great prizes and the opportunity for one of my readers to win. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! There are some really good ones!! So enter and win!!

WOO!! CONGRATS AGAIN!!

CLOSED ~ Cool Special Edition Dentyne Gum Review and Giveaway!

Dentyne recently launched a line of Dentyne special edition bottles, a first in the U.S. gum category. These cool bottles come in limited edition designs and in three flavors: Peppermint, Spearmint and Arctic Chill. The cool artwork is the work of Anthony Yankovic. Yankovic has previously produced limited edition designs clothing, skateboards and snowboards. And his designs are really cool.

When I saw these little artsy cups, I immediately liked them. I love the artwork. I really like Yankovic's funky style of art and actually have a few things in my house that remind me of his artwork. The bottles are short and stout. They are also grooved which makes them easy to grab. The design is perfect to drop in the cup holder of your car.

I took a road trip and made sure to have one of these there at all times. Because the lid is wide, I could easily pop it open while driving and grab a few pieces of the delish Dentyne gum. They are also the perfect size to keep on my desk at home or to pop into my purse. I went out to lunch with friends and when I pulled out my Dentyne cup and offered them a few pieces of gum, they loved it. And I always keep gum in my purse because you never know when you need a piece to freshen up your mouth. Nothing is worse than being around people and not knowing if your beath is not fresh. So I always keep it handy!

The best part is while the packaging is new, the gum isn't. It is still the same tasty Dentyne gum you are used to. My favorite flavor? The Spearmint! The Spearmint is minty and fresh. I like the Peppermint as well. The Artic Chill was a little too spicy but that didn't stop me from chewing it!! Each bottle holds 60 pieces of yummy bits of deliciousness. Fantastic because you can share with all your friends!

And as you guys know, I am dieting so these are perfect for the diet. I keep a bottle on my kitchen counter so when I get the urge for something sweet, I make a grab for some gum and that wards off my munchies!!

And now my dear readers, I have a giveaway for you!! The great people at Dentyne have offered TWO of my readers the opportunity to try all three flavors of Dentyne gum in these awesomely cool bottles. Think how cool you will be when you pull these out of your purse or have them in your car! WOO! Read the entry rules and enter!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Anthony Yankovic website and come back and tell me something you learned.

Extra Entries

* Tell me where you would use these funky bottles
* Follow Dentyne on Twitter
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (1 entry)
* Add my site to your blogroll (1 entry)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Monday, February 15 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.




Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the products I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Got Savings? MySavings.com Review

You guys know I love freebies, coupons and sweeps. There is nothing like getting deals. And now that I am a stay-at-home wife, I need all the help I can get. I have learned I need to start budgeting my money. One of the best ways is to use grocery coupons and the freebies don't hurt either.

I recently discovered a new site MySavings.com. MySavings.com is a great site where you can go and find free samples, printable grocery coupons, online coupons, freebies and other discounts. It is a really comprehensive and had tons of great coupons and freebies. I have learned that before I buy anything anymore, I look for both printable and online coupons.

I went onto the Free Samples page and immediately found a great sample. I signed up for a freebie of Prilosec. I take Prilosec and it's pricey so this is something that was great for me.

If you go on MySavings.com make sure to sign up for free Grocery Coupons. Once you sign up, you will have access to hundreds of printable coupons. And trust me, if you don't use coupons, you have to. I must have saved hundreds of dollars this past year using coupons at the grocery store.

The site also have a page for freebies and it has a community forum where you can get information from fellow savings hunters! You can also follow MySavings on Twitter so you can receive daily tweets of the good stuff. So my friends, go grab some deals!!



Disclosure This is a sponsored post by MySavings.com: As part of my review, I received compensation for the review. The opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the website. My opinions have not been influenced by the compensation given.

Ocean Isle Inn, Ocean Isle, North Carolina

As you know, I was away this past weekend at the Ocean Isle Inn. If you visited my blog these past few days, you saw my crazy Vlogs. Boy I like vlogging because it is so much easier to do one than to write a blog post. Plus, they show a lot more than I can with pictures but I swear I look like a demented troll on camera so I might do more here but not include myself in them!

Anyway, I was invited to Ocean Isle Inn on what I call a blogger junket. We were invited to check out the Inn and see what it has to offer. Now this was a Mommy Blogger event but I was also invited although many of you know I am not a mommy. I always appreciate being invited and accepted although I have no children. And I find that I am always welcomed and that is important. I am so glad I went because I really enjoyed my stay at the Ocean Isle Inn and the surrounding areas. The Inn is really nice and it is right on the beach so it makes for a wonderful place to stay.

Before the event, I got an email from the Social Media director of Ocean Isle Inn, Tracy Spencer, asking if I could pick up another blogger on my way down to Ocean Isle and I agreed. I had never met Maricris from Zen Mama Adventures but I thought it would be nice to have a travel companion because the rise was a long way from the mountains.

The ride to Ocean Isle was great but long. It was made longer because the GPS that Maricris had took us a roundabout way on the highways instead of the back roads. But we made finally made it around 5pm. And it was beautiful. After settling in, we went downstairs to have a little wine and cheese and then we headed out to the mainland to grab some Mexican food because we had missed lunch. We went to Las Palmeras restaurant located on the mainland and it was delish.

We went back to our rooms after dinner to get some rest for the next day. On Saturday morning we got to meet the rest of the bloggers who were there. Malise from Carolina Mama, Jen from One Moms World and later on Molly from Go Mom Inc. joined us. We had a breakfast meeting with the General Manager or "Coach" Lee Shapiro and the fabulous, Tracy. They explained to us what was going on at the Inn. They gave us a little history. They spoke to us about the wonderful amenities and the improvements being done to the Inn. The Inn is about 18 years old but they have done a nice job keeping it up. Lee told us that they have painted the rooms, added crown molding and do deep cleanings. And you can tell. So many times, I am in hotel room and you know they do not deep clean. My room at the Ocean Isle Inn was super clean and very nice. The room isn't fancy but nice. Plus, I had an ocean view room and let me tell you, that's the room you want. It was so nice to be able to wake up every morning and look out. Lee also told us the they are updating the rooms. The next thing will be the bedding and the doors around the site. I liked that they are taking the time to keep the place up.

I also liked that they recently changed over to "green" paper products at the Inn and I believe that some of the proceeds from these go to saving the turtles in the area. That's another cool thing I learned. There is turtle watching during May-October. And Malise said they had seen dolphins out in the surf. I wish I would have caught that from my room!

In our breakfast meeting, they also pointed out that there are many cool attractions not only on Ocean Isle but the surrounding areas. Only 35-40 minutes south is Myrtle Beach and just about 40 minutes north is Historic Wilmington. It was quite informative.

After our meeting, we met up with Malise and Jen's families who were so nice and we all walked over to the Museum of Coastal Carolina which is about 2 blocks from the Inn. The museum is tiny but it was really cool. If you have kids, it is a fantastic place because they have interactive exhibits. My favorite part was the cool touch tank where they had fish, crabs and starfish. I touched a Starfish that looked nothing like Patrick from Spongebob but it was cool nonetheless. My favorite fish was a little puffer looking fish that when I took a picture gave me the stink eye! He looks mad.

After the museum, we walked over to Cinellis Restaurant. Peter, the owner, had opened the restaurant just for us which I thought was so great. He also gave us a complimentary meal and drinks. The food was fantastic. I tried to be good and ordered Chicken and veggies. Unfortunately, the rest of the weekend was not as healthy but that is a whole other post. The portions were HUGE and the food was delish. The service was great and the company was excellent. I thought is was so nice of him to host us. They also have a take out and delivery service to the Inn.

After lunch, we all headed back to the Inn and got in the cars because we were also invited over to the Ingram Planetarium. The Planetarium is located on the mainland in Sunset Beach. It also was small but interesting. We saw a cool cartoon on the myth behind Orion. Then they showed us a picture of the area and time lapsed it with all the stars and moon and planets and basically it was pretty neat. I think I can now find Orion in the sky!! Again, if you have kids they would love this place. There are other places to visit on the mainland. If you have kids, you will want to check out Planet Fun because they have tons of indoor games.

After the Planetarium, we went back to the Ocean Isle Inn to rest up for the Tweet Up at 7 p.m. The Twitter Party was great fun. Some of you might have been there!! We gave out prizes and had a party online. The big prize of the night was a stay at Ocean Isle Inn and it was won by @misslori. It was a rocking Twitter party and the Inn supplied the pizza and salad.

By the end of the night, I was dead beat tired. And let me tell you that although it was chilly, there was nothing like going back up to the room and listening to the surf and the rain outside.

The next morning, I got up and went out to the beach because the sun was out. It was cold and windy but I wanted to walk on the beach. It was fantastic. I wish Tom had been able to come because I know he would have totally loved it. Then I went back to the Inn where I had breakfast with the rest of the bloggers and their families. Malise and Molly left after breakfast. Maricris and I had decided to drive over to Wilmington and check out the U.S.S. Battleship North Carolina.

We spent the day there (if you want to see pictures and videos head over to Carolyn in Carolina, my other blog) and then it was back to the Ocean Isle where we relaxed until we went downstairs for another mini-tweet up and they were so nice to provide some cold cuts and chips for us. That was great because we were so tired there was no way we wanted to get back in the car and drive out to dinner. After the tweet up, I retreated back to my room to pack up my stuff and watch the Golden Globes!

I got up early Monday morning and had breakfast and then it was back in the car to drive to Charlotte to drop off Maricris and then drive back to good ol' Sylva.

Overall, I had a wonderful time at the Ocean Isle Inn. It is a great place for a vacation. I know I will go back with Tom because I know he will love it. And I have to say that the ladies who were here this weekend were so nice and I am so glad I got to meet them. Lee and Tracy and the whole staff at Ocean Isle Inn were friendly and so wonderful. It was a terrific little break!! Thanks to everyone at Ocean Isle Inn and to the wonderful ladies who attended!!

And if you want to visit Ocean Isle Inn, you can enter the contest on their Facebook page by becoming a fan and then clicking on the Sweepstakes tab. This is a great prize that not only includes a stay at the Inn but also spa treatments from Cinzia Spa!! WOO. I know I entered and you should too. And as a special treat for my readers, if you want to visit Ocean Isle Inn, make sure to tell them you saw it on either of my blogs Carolyn in Carolina or this one The Art of Random Willynillyness and receive a 15% discount!!! That is pretty darn good if you ask me.

I have included some other pictures below so you can see how wonderful my trip was to Ocean Isle Inn.

Here are some other pictures I couldn't work into the post:

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received a stay at the Ocean Isle Inn. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Sunday at Ocean Isle Inn

I thought Sunday was going to be rainy but it wasn't. Saturday night was super stormy. But we all had a great Twitter party and if you were there, thanks for making it so much fun!!!

But check out my Sunday!! Some of the audio sucks because of the wind!









Disclosure: As part of my review, I received a stay at the Ocean Isle Inn. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

WOO! Saturday at Oceans Isle Inn!!

Oh boy I am becoming a Vlog Maven!! Two in a row, babies. If I didn't look like such a troll on camera, I might consider just doing vlogs because they are so much easier to do than writing stuff. But I love to write and will have a huge recap on Carolyn in Carolina. If you read that blog, you know I write freaking novels and have tons of info when I travel.

Don't forget we have a Tweet up tonight at 7pm EST - hastag: #oceanisleinn and I know you guys love love love sweepstakes so head over to Facebook and Fan Ocean Isle Inn and enter the sweepstakes they have for a stay and spa package. Trust me, you will love it.

Enjoy the vlog!





Disclosure: As part of my review, I received a stay at the Ocean Isle Inn. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Video Vlog from the Ocean Isle Inn!!

Okay not only do I suck at taking pictures but obviously suck at making videos. Excuse how I look but I drove around 8 hours and had just gotten into the Inn so I look like Holy Hell! Dios mio!! I also couldn't figure out how to stop the video because I am a doofus so the last 10 seconds are me trying to stop it. LOL

But after driving to Charlotte to pick up Maricris, who is super duper cool, we had to drive another 5 hours to the beach. Who knew it was so far away. But we made, checked in, had a little wine and cheese and then went out and had a great Mexican dinner.

Tomorrow I should have some pictures to post. Lots to do tomorrow!! Enjoy my vlog and don't judge the quality!!





Disclosure: As part of my review, I received a stay at the Ocean Isle Inn. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Heading to the Beach - YIPPEE!

I will heading over to the Ocean Isle Inn this weekend and participating in the Mom Bloggers Retreat 2010. Yes, I know I am not a mom but I am a blogger and was welcomed. I am so glad too because I could use a little respite from the cold here in the mountains. I wish Tom were going but I am going alone. Well, alone until I hit Charlotte where I am picking up a fellow blogger Maricris from Zen Mama Ventures.

We will be participating in the retreat and also taking in some of the local attractions as well. I will try and update everyday on this blog and I will have a wrap up on Tuesday or Wednesday on Carolyn in Carolina.

You can join the fun and participate in the Mom Bloggers Twitter Party Tweetup on Saturday, Jan 16th at 7PM EST. You don't want to miss out because during the Tweetup there will be a giveaway and you can win a Two Night Stay for Two at Ocean Isle Inn! Head on over to Carolina Mama blog and RSVP via the Mr. Linky. WOO! How cool is that. Plus, you get to talk with me, if you want. I know how some of you are. ;0) LOL

But I will try to post some pictures when I arrive this afternoon. And I even have my Flip camera and I might get crazy and vlog something. Yay! On Sunday afternoon we will have another Tweetup so you can follow on Twitter. I know most of you follow already so keep an eye out. The weather should be nice. By nice I mean sunny and over 50 degrees!! I can't remember the last time I was anywhere 50 degrees. Holy moley!

And don't forget to enter my giveaways including my new one for Skin MD Shielding Lotion. It's good stuff.




Disclosure: As part of my retreat, I am receiving a stay at the Ocean Isle Inn. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

CLOSED ~ Skin MD Shielding Lotion Review and Giveaway

Winter is the worst time of year for my skin. It gets dry and scaly and itchy. I have to always slather myself up with lotions and creams. It's not pretty.

So when I was contacted to review a bottle of Skin MD, I agreed. I had actually tried a sample of Skin MD Shielding lotion last year at the Type-A-Mom conference. It was a little sample so I used it on my hands and liked it. I pulled some info from their site because it explains what this lotion is all about better than I can. I think it's important information for people to know.

From the Skin MD website:
Everyday contact with soaps, cleansers, shampoos, household chemistry and other substances that strip away skin's own protective layer (a thin film made of natural fats, lipids), leaves the skin's deeper layers unprotected. Without this protection in place oils and the natural moisture of the skin evaporates and absorption of irritants is no longer prevented.

Conventional lotions only add artificial moisture to the skin temporarily alleviating the dryness or itching, but these moisturizers don't actually solve the problem, they only treat symptoms without eliminating the cause. Dry skin is unable to absorb the newly added moisture to allow repair – it does not get "locked" into the skin. It gets lost easily. That’s why we keep applying more and more of the conventional lotions. Even so, skin easily gets addicted and may even suspend production of it's own moisture, relying on added moisturizer.

Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion, a very special type of lotion helping the skin restore its integrity, enhance its protective functions so that the skin is able to heal naturally and regain its youthful appearance. Skin MD Natural works by bonding with cells of the skin's outermost layer to form what works as an invisible shield. This layer of protection prevents environmental irritants and pollutants from penetrating the skin, while sealing in the skin's own natural oils and moisture, helping resolve the dry skin condition.

Skin MD Natural uses only the finest natural ingredients, and is focused on urging the skin to be active, and to use its own moisture to effectively heal itself. It is not oily or sticky, doesn't sit on top of your skin leaving a greasy residue on everything you touch, it doesn't rub or wash off easily, is hypoallergenic, fragrance, colorant and paraben free and dermatology tested.

The bottom line, in my opinion, is the lotion is really good. When you put it on it is neither thick nor watery. It almost feels like it might be greasy but it isn't. It goes on smoothly and it is absorbed immediately. And a dab will do ya! I didn't have to use tons of lotion to my skin. Plus, because it is absorbed quickly, I didn't have to worry about leaving lotion fingerprints everywhere.

After a few days of using the Skin MD Shielding lotion, I noticed my skin was not as dry as it used to be. It felt good. The lotion is odorless and hubby loves that. He tried it and it really worked for him as well. My skin feels moist and hydrated now and I love that.

The only downside I see is that a bottle will cost you $18. That might be a little steep for most. As much as I like this lotion, I am not sure I would pay this much. But it works so well, that it is worth it.

And if you want to try Skin MD, then read the rules and enter. Skin MD is going to send one of my lucky readers a bottle for you to try as well. WOO! Good Luck!


Mandatory Entry

Visit the Skin MD website and come back and tell me something you learned and why you want to try the lotion.

Extra Entries

* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (1 entry)
* Add my site to your blogroll (1 entry)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Wednesday, February 3 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.



Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Tom's and Blogher 1/15

WOO! Another wonderful Blogher contest. This time in conjunction with Tom's of Maine they are giving away $100 Visa cards so you know you want to get in on this. The deadline is the 15th so hurry and enter!!!

The Karianna Spectrum
Jenny On The Spot
Bonggamom
Cheaper Than Therapy
Izzy Mom
Life with the Boys
Owlhaven
Suburban Turmoil

Dentyne Fill The Cup Holder Twitter Contest

Gum for your cupholder? Well, why not. Dentyne has recently launched a line of cool bottles for Dentyne gum that will fit in your cupholder. And now you can get your very own Dentyne Fill the Cup Holder.

You have to be a Twitter Follower of @dentynegum. At approximately 12 noon EST on 1/12/10 @dentynegum will send a tweet offering the opportunity to receive a free sample bottle of Dentyne gum, while supplies last.

Just follow the rules and instructions below and enter before 11:59AM EST on January 13th to claim your free sample bottle of Dentyne gum.

RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS

To receive a free sample bottle of Dentyne gum, while supplies last, do all of the following:

1) Take a picture of an empty car cup holder (hereafter, “Photo”) using a digital camera or wireless device which has email capabilities;

2) During the Offer Period, and no later than 11:59:59 am ET on 1/7/10, post your Photo on twitpic.com in one of two ways: A) Online: visit twitpic.com, login with your Twitter username and password, click on the "Upload Photo" link, follow the provided instructions to upload the Photo, insert "#emptycupholder" AND "@dentynegum" in the message space indicated and finally, click "upload". NOTE: The Photo must be posted to your Twitter account in order to be eligible; or B) Email via Mobile Device: To post your Photo via email using your mobile device, email the Photo to the Twitpic email address assigned to your Twitter account including "#emptycupholder" AND "@dentynegum" in the subject line. If you do not know the twitpic.com email address assigned to your Twitter account, visit twitpic.com, login with your twitter username and password, click on "Upload Photo" link and your assigned email address will be provided on that page. Standard text messaging and data fees will apply for Photos that are uploaded via mobile device. See your wireless service provider for mobile device capabilities and pricing plan details.

3) Upon verification of the posted Photo, dentynegum will, in the order of Photo posting, send a Twitter direct message or @reply to each participant inclusive of a web address and instructions to claim a sample bottle of Dentyne gum, while supplies last. To claim a sample bottle of Dentyne gum, while supplies last, between 12:00:00 pm ET on 1/12/10 and 11:59:59 am ET on 1/13/10, visit the provided web address and follow the instructions provided to complete and submit the Offer Form. Gift will be mailed 8-10 weeks following verification.

If you are not a Twitter Follower of dentynegum, you may participate in the Offer, while supplies last, by first becoming a Twitter Follower of dentynegum and then, follow the Offer Instructions below. To become a Twitter Follower of dentynegum, do the following: a) During the Offer Period, visit www.twitter.com and login to your account. If you do not have a Twitter account you may sign-up for free at www.twitter.com; b) From your Twitter home page, click on the "Find People" tab and perform a search for "dentynegum"; c) Click on the "Follow" icon button to the right of the dentynegum Twitter Feed.

Offer open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, 13 years of age or older, except for residents of Maine who must be 18 years of age or older. Begins at 12:00:00 pm (noon) Eastern Time (“ET”) on 1/6/10 and ends, except as set forth below, while supplies last, at 11:59:59 am ET on 1/7/10 (“Offer Period”). LIMIT ONE GIFT PER PERSON AND PER HOUSEHOLD.

Participants who do all of the above will receive a sample bottle of Dentyne gum, while supplies last. Exact flavor and size of sample bottle of gum at Cadbury's sole discretion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Terms and Conditions, Cadbury may cancel or modify this Offer at any time in its sole discretion due to unexpected demand.

WINNERS!! Staples & OXO Giveaway

Drumroll please. The winners of the Staples & OXO giveaway chosen by Random.org are:

MommyKennedy

Tammigirl

Hondaray6

Congrats! I have sent you all an email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank Staples & OXO for these great prizes and the opportunity for one of my readers to win. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! There are some really good ones!! So enter and win!!

WOO-HOO!! CONGRATS AGAIN!!

CLOSED ~ Old El Paso Green Chiles Tackle the Taste Gift Pack Review & Giveaway

Superbowl Sunday is coming up on February 7 (my birthday, by the way). If you are like me, you love to cook up some tasty treats for the big day. I do several different dishes but one standby is always the Seven Layer Bean Dip!! I was given the opportunity by Old El Paso through MyBlogSpark to sample some Old El Paso Green Chiles! I was sent this cool “Tackle the Taste” gift pack that included two free cans of Green Chiles, a football-shaped ceramic serving platter, two sets of football-themed plates, cocktail napkins, and a themed table runner. Perfect for any Superbowl Party!!

Now I have tried Old El Paso green chiles before. I like to use them in Chili, enchiladas, dips and sauces. They are tasty and easy to incorporate into any recipe. If you haven't tried them, you should.

I headed over to the Old El Paso website and perused the recipes they have. After looking around, I decided to try the recipe for Chicken Enchiladas. If you follow my blog you know I like to cook but rarely can follow recipes so I tweaked the recipe a little mainly I decided to use green enchilada sauce instead of red.The recipe was easy. I added the chiles to the chicken mixture and they certainly added a spicy flavor to the enchiladas. Yummy.

There are so many other recipes I want to try on the website. But I am saving my other can of chiles for that delish Seven Layer Dip I plan to make for Superbowl Sunday. But here are a few of the recipes that I really liked and will be trying in the future.

Southwestern Dip
Cheese Enchiladas
Taco Salad Dip
Green Chile Cornbread
Green Chile Dip

If you want to try Old El Paso Green Chiles there is a $0.55 coupon available!! So if you want to spice up your Superbowl or any party, you need to try Old El Paso green chiles. They also have other great products. One of my other favorites are the taco shells. I always have at least 2 boxes in my pantry because we LOVE tacos!!

I have a treat for one of you fantastic readers! Thanks to Old El Paso, through MyBlogSpark, I am giving away one “Tackle the Taste” gift pack. Yippee!! I know you guys love giveaways and this is a fabulous gift set that can be used for your Superbowl party or even a Football themed party! So read the rules and enter to win!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Old El Paso website and check out the Old El Paso recipe collection then come back and tell me which recipe you would like to try.

Extra Entries

* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Sunday, January 24 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.



Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the same prize pack that I am giving away in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

CLOSED ~ Dean's Dip Dipstakes Review and Giveaway

With Superbowl Sunday coming up on February 7th (my birthday by the way) it's time to start planning what tasty foods you will be serving at your party. When I do a Superbowl party, I like to get a little crazy and make some fancy dishes but I always stick with some basics. I find that there are certain dishes that I have to have because my guests expect them.

One thing they expect is chips and dip. All my parties have chips and dips. Sometimes I make my own dip but most times I buy it already made because it's easier. Plus, there are just some dips out there that are better than mine.

I recently had the opportunity to review Dean's Dip and let me tell you, these dips will be at all my parties from now on. They were delicious. The Dean's Dips I tried were the French Onion and the Guacamole.

Since you all know I am dieting I had to be very careful how much I tasted. I was glad to see that Dean's has lower calorie dips so I grabbed the Lite French Onion. They also had a Lite Ranch and a No Fat French Onion dip. I love the fact that two tablespoons of this dip is only 35 calories and that is perfect for my diet. Plus it has ZERO Trans Fat! WOO!!

We tried our dip with potato chips. I only had a handful and it was delish. I don't get dip on the diet so this was a treat. Even though it was Lite, it was creamy and I couldn't tell the difference between this dip and dip with fat and more calories. The real test was Tom. He is picky about ready made dip and usually avoids it but he loved it! He kept munching on the chips and dip throughout the evening. I finally had to take it away. He gave the dip a BIG thumbs up.

The next day, I tried the guacamole. It was really good as well. I looked at the label and saw that 2 tablespoons of the dip is only 90 calories. Plus, it also has ZERO Trans Fat. YAY! I decided to spice up my lunch veggies with the dip. I dipped some carrots and celery in the guacamole and it was tasty. Tom tasted the dip with Frito's and he gave the guacamole a thumbs up as well.

I am excited to find such a tasty dip that I can serve to my friends and family. Plus they have so many flavors and varieties that you can please any palate. Dean's even has specialty dips and pretzel dips!! I loved it and totally recommend it for your next party or just to have at home to snack on.

And I know you readers love giveaways and contests so head on over to the Dean's Dipstakes website and enter the Dipstakes contest. All you do is vote for your favorite dip and you are entered to win weekly prizes like free dip, a BBQ set, football memorabilia, sporting gear or a home entertainment system!!

And remember if you are looking for tasty treats for your Superbowl Party, try Dean's Dips. They are super tasty and easy. I know I will be serving a few of these at my Superbowl/Birthday party. Yummo!

I want to thank Dean's Dip for the opportunity to try these tasty dips and also for the opportunity for one of my wonderful readers to win a Dean's Dip Prize pack that includes a coupon for dip, a Dip tray and a Stadium Blanket. How awesome is that? So folks, read the rules and enter for your chance to win!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Dean's Dip website and come back and tell me what dip you would love to try.

Extra Entries

* Enter the Dean's Dipstakes Contest
* Follow Dean's Dipstakes on Twitter (1 entry)
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Sunday, January 24 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.



Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the products I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

Extraordinary Measures Inspirational Quilt Contest

 

"Don't Hope For a Miracle. Make One," is the tagline of CBS films’ upcoming release Extraordinary Measures, starring Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford. It is inspired by the story of John Crowley, a father who defied conventional wisdom and great odds, and risked his family's future to pursue a cure for his children's life- threatening disease.

To celebrate Crowley’s story, a wonderful opportunity was created to get the word about a cause that is close to you and also win some money for them!

It’s so easy, all you have to do is upload an inspirational video.

Go to the Inspirational Quilt and click on Upload Your Story

Once your video is uploaded, you will be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to designate the charity of your choice to receive $10,000.

Some fantastic videos have been uploaded to the Inspirational Quilt and are already in the running for the $10,000 donation.

What a cool contest. Not only do you get to share your inspirational story but you can win money for a charity. This ma be something you want to check out. Plus, you can learn about the new movie: Extraordinary Measures. I know I will be watching this film because I am a huge Harrison Ford fan!!

WINNER!! Village Tea Company Teas!!

Drumroll please. The winner of the Village Tea Company canisters of Organic tea chosen by Random.org is:

Donna C.

Congrats! I have sent you all an email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.

I want to thank Village Tea Company for this great prize and the opportunity for one of my readers to win. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! There are some really good ones!! So enter and win!!

WOO-HOO!! CONGRATS AGAIN!!

Get Closer to Your Food Campaign with Sunny Anderson & Viva Towels Review

VIVA towels and Food Network’s Sunny Anderson have partnered up for the Get Closer to Your Food Campaign. Sunny shows her sophisticated yet easy hands-on cooking style.

In conjunction with this campaign, I received some VIVA towels to review. I have used VIVA paper towels before but I am using another brand since I buy them in bulk. I really like the towels I use now so I wasn't sure if I would want to change.

I tried the VIVA towels and I can say that they are terrific. Their motto: Soft & Strong Like Cloth holds true. The paper towels I use now feel like paper. The VIVA towels actually feel much thicker and like cloth. The other thing I like about these towels are that I can choose how much I want to use. I use one sheet for drying my hands. If I have a bigger mess, I can use 2 or more sheets.

The VIVA towels are super absorbent and soft. They were able to pick up everything from spilled milk to the greasy mess on my stove. They held up well. I used them for cleaning my kitchen counters and I was able to wet them, squeeze them out and use them again. I really liked these VIVA towels and would consider switching from my current brand to these.

For more information on VIVA towels and the Get Closer to Your Food Campaign visit the Fork Free Foods site. When you visit the site, you can see some of the easy and delish fork free foods created by Sunny. These would be perfect to serve at your Superbowl party or any party!!

While you are there stop by the VIVA Diva Cafe where you can get special offers, like coupons, recipes and so much more! You can also fan VIVA towels on Facebook, Follow VIVA towels on Twitter and on You Tube.

Here is a wonderful recipe for Buffalo Wings that I am so making for my Superbowl party!! Enjoy!!



Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.

CLOSED ~ Barbar Eco-8000 Professional Eco Friendly Blow Dryer Review and Giveaway

I have long hair and it is really thick. Because of this, it is also hard to dry. If it stays wet or damp, it immediately gets wavy and crazy. To dry it, it usually takes me at least 30 minutes just to get it sort of dry. For a thorough drying, I have to dry my hair at least 45 minutes. It is not a good thing. Lately I let it air dry then blow dry it but that is not a perfect solution because my hair stays wet. While this is fine in the summertime, it certainly isn't ideal when it's cold. So I have no choice but to stand in my bathroom drying my hair for a long time.

So when I got the opportunity to review a BARBAR Eco-8000 Professional Eco Friendly Blow Dryer I was thrilled. I had seen several blog reviews in the past months and they looked really nice. And most reviews were good so it was a product I really wanted to try.

I have always used the bargain blow dryers you get at Walgreen's, CVS, WalMart etc. I never had a really good hair dryer. My current blow dryer is a small Conair I got at Walgreen's years ago for about $19.99. It dries my hair but it takes a long time because it just doesn't have the power of a professional hair dryer. It also is one of those hair dryers that after a few months, you are almost scared to use because while drying your hair you see the heating element glow or the dryer gets really hot and it shuts down. It also tends to get really hot and if not careful, I end up burning my ears, my neck or temple area. I have no idea why I keep using it.

I never ever thought to actually buy a professional hair dryer until I started seeing the BARBAR Blow Dryer blog reviews. One thing that impressed me about the BARBAR hair dryers is that they are eco-friendly. If you read my blog reviews, you know that I have been trying to be more eco-friendly so this is a huge plus for me.

The other thing I like about the BARBAR blow dryer is that it has a ceramic heating element that helps negate radiation, thus being more green. I am not a scientist so for more info you can check out this You Tube video. It is pretty informative about the radiation in blow dryers.

When I first tried the blow dryer, I wasn't sure what to expect but I actually got more than I expected. The power on this baby is fantastic. Since it is a professional hair dryer it has all the power you find in a hair salon. It has 3 heat settings: high, low and no heat. It also has 2 power settings. Since my hair takes forever to dry, I used the highest and hottest setting. It was great. I could feel the dryer powering through my thick hair and getting it dry. I timed how long it took to get completely dry hair and it was about 10 minutes! I was amazed. I am also thrilled because I no longer have to dry my hair for over 30 minutes like before.

The hottest setting is hot but it never gets scorching hot. There is a cool release button but I never had to use it at all. The dryer itself never got hot to the touch either which is great because all the other hair dryers I have used always got hot to the touch and you had to be careful. It also left my hair shiny and smooth and not at all dried out and frizzy like my other dryer did. I really love this blow dryer and I cannot believe I waited this long to get such a wonderful dryer!!

One downside of this blow dryer is the price. The BARBAR Eco-8000 Professional Eco Friendly Blow Dryer costs $150 but let me tell you that it is well worth it. I am sure I will never have to buy another blow dryer again.

BARBAR also has other great styling products so go check them out if you are in the market for a new hair styling tool. If the rest of the products such as flat irons, curling irons, scissors, clippers and brushes are as great as the blow dryer then you will not regret buying one.

I also have a treat for you my dear readers. If you would love to buy one of these you can use the code: Blog4fun and receive 50% off any BARBAR product. How cool is that? And that is not all, BARBAR was generous enough to offer me an extra Eco-8000 Professional Eco Friendly Blow Dryer to give away to one of you!! Woo-Hoo. I tell you, this is one giveaway you want to win!! Read the rules and enter!!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the BARBAR website and come back and tell me what other product (be specific) you would love to try.

Extra Entries

* Subscribe to the BARBAR newsletter (1 entry)
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Friday, January 29 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.


About BARBAR:

BARBAR is based in Beverly Hills, CA and has been in operation since 2000. With over 20 years of experience as a former stylist, the company's founder, Dominic Barbar, has applied his years of techinical know-how to turn his passion into reality by creating a premium line of hair care products that simplify the hair stylist's job.

BARBAR products utilize Mr. Barbar's intrinsic knowledge of hair with cutting edge technology to bring the latest in hair tool innovations. BARBAR's variety of professional quality products cover all the hair needs without damaging a strand.

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.