The Art of Random Willy-Nillyness: January 2011
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Monday, January 31, 2011

CLOSED ~ The Original Turbie Twist Review and Giveaway - 3 winners!


I review a lot of products. There are some that are just okay and, while not terrible, I might not buy them for myself. Some are pretty good and I might or might not buy them again. Then some are so good, that I continue buying and using them forever.

The Original Turbie Twist is the latter of those products. It is such a great product for me that I know I will be using it until they stop making it. And if that ever happens, I will stock up! I have to admit that I had never heard of Turbie Twist until I came across one in a blog giveaway. I read the review and was like: wow, I need to try and win one of these babies because it is something I need.

Before, I got the chance to win, I got contacted to do a review. I was all over that like white on rice. And let me tell you, I am not disappointed.

The Turbie Twist is a Super-Absorbent hair towel that has a unique tapered design, which allows for a perfect fit on all head sizes. When it came, I took it out and noticed it does have a unique shape. But it is this unique shape that make the Turbie Twist such a great product. Basically you take this baby, put it over your wet hair, twist and wrap and then tuck the excess into a small loop in the back to keep it in place. Genius!

I have long, thick hair. It takes me forever to dry my hair. A lot of times, I wrap it up in a towel and let it sit for at least 25 minutes before I even attempt to dry it. I hate regular towels because they are big and bulky and uncomfortable to be wearing around the house for any period of time. The towel is always so heavy and never stays put and before I know it, it is falling off my head and I have to rewrap it several times. It is literally a pain in the neck.

Many times, I have pulled my neck muscles trying to keep the bulky towel on. But no more because the Turbie Twist is anything but bulky. Yet, it keeps my hair out of my face and the hair stays put in the Turbie Twist.


I just love this Turbie Twist. It is one of those products that you see and think, "Why the heck didn't I think of that." I know I have to buy more because I need to have several around the house. I also know I need an extra one to toss into my luggage when I travel.

The Turbie Twist comes in solid colors and prints that are very cute. They also have microfiber towels as well as the Turbie Twist. I can't believe I hadn't found out about this product sooner!

Now three (3) of my lovely readers have a chance to try out this fabulous Velour Turbie Twist as well. All you have to do is enter to win! Good Luck!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Turbie Twist site and tell something you learned.

Extra Entries
* Follow Turbie Twist on Facebook (1 entry)
* Follow Turbie Twist on Twitter (1 entry)
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Like The Art of Random Willynillyness on Facebook page (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog on GFC (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* GRAB MY NEW BUTTON CODE!! Add my button to your site (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: Saturday, February 26 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: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Swiss Colony ~ Valentine's Gifts


Yes, Valentine's Day is fast approaching. What are you getting your honey? I am hoping my hubby sends me flowers. And I know what he wants: Chocolate!

My man is a chocoholic. But he is super picky with his chocolate. He won't eat just anything. So when I got the opportunity to review an item from The Swiss Colony, I figured I would some chocolates for him.

I love the Swiss Colony for gift giving. I like ordering from them especially when I need to send someone a gift quickly. I always find the perfect gift. Gift are also reasonably priced. They have the best gifts fro under $25.

My favorite item from the Swiss Colony is definitely the Original Beef Log. I LOVE the beef log. But The Swiss Colony also has other tasty treats like hams, all types of cheeses, nuts and cakes. Let me just say that I am very partial to the Red Velvet Cheesecake as well. It is so creamy and delish.

I reviewed the Valentine's Chocolates. I choose these because they have a little bit of everything. Inside the box was a wonderful variety of chocolates. There were butter toffee chocolates, chocolate with sea salt, macadamia nut chocolate, truffles, dark chocolate, milk chocolate with nuts, peanut butter bites and much more.

Of course, I had to fight to get a piece because hubby took hold of the box and I had to actually look for it to get more than one piece. About 3 days later, I found it and it had a few chocolates left. He literally ate most of the box. Luckily, I got to sample a few pieces before he finished it off. They were delicious. My favorite were the truffles and the peanut butter bites. So good. Any chocolate lover would love this assortment!

I have been hinting to hubby that I would love a Beef Log for Valentine's Day. He thinks I am nuts but there is nothing like the Beef Log in my opinion. But there are so many great Valentine's gifts to choose from that you will find a gift for everyone. I loved that they have the cutest ladybug truffles that I know my sister would love. My mother in law and mom would love the "Be My Valentine" Petits Fours.

So if you are looking for wonderful and tasty Valentine Gifts, head on over to The Swiss Colony and check out what they have to offer. I am sure you won't be disappointed. I know I never am at The Swiss Colony.


Disclosure: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Frank's Red Hot Party!

I recently had the opportunity through Collective Bias to review Frank's Red Hot Sauce and a Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker. I hosted a small get together with some friends and made two dishes using Frank's! It was all very delicious, if I do say so myself!

If you read this blog and also my personal blog, Carolyn in Carolina, you all know I love food. You all know that I participate in Sabroso Saturday, weekly cooking meme with several friends. And you all know I love to eat. So this review/party was right up my alley!

I love hot sauce of any kind. I always have since I was a little girl. I will be honest and tell you I never ever tried Frank's Red Hot Sauce. I was excited to find a new hot sauce that I might like. Besides the Original Hot Sauce, Frank's also has other flavors like Chile n' Lime, Sweet Chili, Sweet Heat BBQ and Xtra Hot. I live in a small town so our WalMart only had the Original Red Hot Sauce and the Buffalo Chicken Wing Sauce.

I decided, for my recipes, I would need the Original Sauce. So I headed over to our local WalMart and gathered up all my ingredients. Got to love WalMart! They had everything I needed as usual!

We had some friends over to watch a game so I decided to create a new recipe called: Willy-Nilly Spicy Meatballs Two Ways. If you have ever read my recipes, you know I am all about being random and willy-nilly when I cook. I love just taking ingredients and seeing if I can make something delicious from them. Of course, that means there is no real recipe to follow but it is so easy, you can't mess it up.

I started out with ground beef. To the ground beef, I added some spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, bread crumbs, grill seasoning, paprika, and Franks' Red Hot sauce. You can add as little or as much as you want. It depends on how hot you want your meatballs. You can add any spices you like and even mince some onions and add them in for a little more flavor. I mixed it all up and made mini meatballs. You don't want giant meatballs in this recipe because you will be using them in two dishes.

Cooking Tip: I love entertaining and I learned a long time ago that the best way to cater a party is to keep it simple and delicious. Making a dish and using it in various ways will save you time and money! Plus, most people will not even notice you are using the same item to make 2 dishes.
Anyway, make the meatballs. In the slow cooker add a can of diced tomatoes, a little tomato paste (to thicken), salt, pepper, peppers, onions and more Frank's Red Hot Sauce. Again, the best part of a recipe like this is that you can add various veggies or spices. There are no rules here, folks. Add meatballs and let them cook for a few hours.

Once these meatballs are done, take some buns and toast them in the oven. Make sure to put some provolone cheese on the bread so it melts. I used provolone because it is sharp and I like that. You can use mozzarella, Parmesan or even cheddar. Once toasted, add the meatballs and some peppers to the bread. Add a little bit of sauce. You can also add more cheese to the top and place it back into the oven to melt the cheese. One of our guests wanted to add tomatoes and lettuce. We let him. See how easy this first recipe is?

My second recipe is even easier. Take some meatballs from the sauce and drain. Cut up some tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil leaves. I suggest cherry tomatoes but I didn't have any so I just cut my tomatoes into small pieces. Take a toothpick and skewer the tomato, add a piece of mozzarella and a basil leave then pierce the meatball. Make a few of these. Drizzle the appetizers with a little of the sauce from the slow cooker. If you want to add a little more spice, drizzle a little of the Frank's Hot Sauce over the Spicy Meatball Appetizers as well.

How easy is that? The Frank's Red Hot Sauce added a much needed spice to my spicy meatballs. I actually loved this sauce because it is vinegar based. It has a little tartness and, yet, it wasn't so hot that it was impossible to eat. It had the right amount of heat.

The Hamilton Beach slow cooker rocked! It was easy to set up and use. I love that it has rubber around the lid to hold in the food. It will travel really well if you need it to! I love slow cooking. It makes my life so much easier. There is something to be said about being able to add a bunch of food to a slow cooker and then hours later having a wonderful meal! I cannot wait to try the slow cooker again. I am thinking of some of my Willy-Nilly Chili with a little Frank's! Yummo!

Also, check out my Whrrl story. Click on the image below!! And as always, Buen Provecho!!






Disclosure: I received compensation and a slow cooker for this post through Collective Bias. The opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

CLOSED ~ Kirkland's Lunch Tote Review and Giveaway!


I had the opportunity to review a lunch tote from Kirkland's. If you never heard about Kirkland's, it is a leading specialty retailer of home décor in the United States. They have 303 stores in 29 states.

I used to visit Kirkland's when I lived in Miami. It was a fantastic place to find nice items at reasonable prices. There is one an hour away from where I live now. I went when we were looking for new furniture. I love just browsing because if you are looking for big items or just decorative items, you will find them there.

The lunch tote I received was so darling. I wanted to review this item because I am trying to get healthier this new year. One of my resolutions was to start bringing lunch to work because it is better than fast food and also I am saving money by doing so.

This tote is big but not so big it won't fit in my mini fridge. I can actually fit 2 plastic containers, a piece of fruit, a water, juice or soda and still have room to spare. The handles are strong and you can keep them together with the Velcro strap. There is also an outside zippered pouch.

The other day I took a sandwich and soup and everything fit perfectly into the bag. The soup is pretty heavy but I had no issues. It is a sturdy tote. It helps to keep my lunch organized and in one place. The best part though is that it is cute. I have had a few people ask me where I got it. I am so fashionable with my lunch tote! You can buy this tote for only $9.99 at Kirkland's!
Now, you can be a lunch fashionista like myself! Kirkland's is generously offering one of my readers a lunch tote for the New Year. WOO! Just follow the rules and enter!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Kirkland's and tell me where your nearest store is using the store locator.

Extra Entries
* Tell me which lunch tote (in the above picture) is your favorite. (1 entry)
* Follow Kirkland's on Facebook (1 entry)
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Like The Art of Random Willynillyness on Facebook page (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog on GFC (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* GRAB MY NEW BUTTON CODE!! Add my button to your site (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: Saturday, February 19 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: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes. Check rules for more information.


About Kirkland's - Kirkland’s is a leading specialty retailer of home décor in the United States, operating approximately 303 stores in 29 states. Kirkland’s was co-founded in 1966 by our current Chairman Emeritus, Carl Kirkland. The first Kirkland ’s store opened in Jackson , Tennessee and the company has grown steadily thereafter. The stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, accent rugs, garden accessories and artificial floral products. The stores also offer an extensive assortment of holiday merchandise, as well as items carried throughout the year suitable for giving as gifts. The company provides customers an engaging shopping experience characterized by a diverse, ever-changing merchandise selection at surprisingly attractive prices. The stores offer a unique combination of style and value that has led to our emergence as a leader in home décor and has enabled the company to develop a strong customer loyalty.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

CLOSED ~ Tyson Any'tizers Review and Giveaway


I was contacted to do a review for the new Tyson Any'Tizers. They have a great new line of QuesaDippers! QuesaDippers snacks come in 2 flavors: Taco Seasoned Chicken with Zesty Garden Salsa and Fajita Chicken with Cilantro Lime Salsa. Basically, they are quesadillas you can pop into the oven or microwave and have a great snack at any time. They also come with their own dipping sauce. YUM!

You all know that I live in a tiny town and sometimes it is hard to find any new product. While I found the Any'Tizers chicken wings in my local store, they did not carry the QuesaDippers. Luckily, I recently popped into my local WalMart and they had them. I was so excited because I these looked fantastic.

I grabbed a bag of the Fajita Chicken with Cilantro Lime Salsa variety. I also grabbed a bag of the Tyson Any'Tizer Tequila Lime Chicken Wings because I had not tried those either.

Can I tell you that these are fantastic!! They come in a reusable bag so you can make the whole bag or make a few. This is great because sometimes hubby wants a snack and I don't or vice versa. So I can make a few and not waste the whole bag. The taste was really good. I really enjoyed the salsa! Now the chicken wings were very tasty as well. It was spicy but not in a hot way but in a well seasoned way. Let's just say we had a feast of Any'Tizers!!

I am certainly putting these on my list of snacks to keep in the freezer. I would also serve these at any party or get-together. These would be great for a tailgate party or just when friends pop by! You can't go wrong!

I totally recommend the QuesaDippers because they are very tasty. You can try Any'Tizers for yourself. Three readers will win a coupon each to try these tasty snacks. You all know the drill!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Tyson site and tell me what you would like to try!

Extra Entries
* Follow Tyson Any'Tizers on Facebook
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Like The Art of Random Willynillyness on Facebook page (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog on GFC (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* GRAB MY NEW BUTTON CODE!! Add my button to your site (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: Saturday, February 19 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: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Monday, January 17, 2011

CLOSED ~ Joe's Shopping Review and $50 Amazon Card Giveaway

I rarely shop offline anymore. I live in a little town and there is not much here. For the past few years, I probably do at least 80% of my shopping online.

I recently came upon JoeShopping.com. JoeShopping.com is a great site where you do some comparison shopping. JoeShopping.com is not an online retailer but a clearing house where you can find some great deals. The really cool thing about this site is the social media networking part.

You can shop and socialize at the same time. You can chat with others. That is fantastic when you have questions about products. You can also participate in the forums, upload videos and even blog. JoeShopping.com also has product reviews. I love this feature because before I buy anything online, I read reviews!

It is easy to sign up and the website is easy to navigate. Once you sign up, you can start earning Joe Points and badges. Badges are given for performing various activities. The more active you are the more badges you receive. Joe Points are converted into sweepstakes entries that can be used to win!!

I found a great deal on the EA Sports 2 for Wii. The prices ranged from $39.95 to $99.99. I was able to compare prices and stores and saved a lot of money!

Every month, JoeShopping.com has the $1,000 Monthly JoeShopping Sweepstakes. You earn JoePoints just by using the social network side of the site. You can earn points throughout the entire month. At the end of the month, your total points are converted to entries in the sweeps. So the more active on the site you are, the more points you earn. Which means the more active you are, the better your chance of winning.

Go check out JoeShopping.com and see for yourself. If you like shopping online, like I do, I think this would be a great site for you to explore. I know I am bookmarking this site for future use.
Thanks to JoeShopping.com one of my lucky readers will win a $50 Amazon gift gard. WOO!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the JoeShopping.com site and tell me something you learned or a great deal you found!

Extra Entries

* Follow JoeShopping.com on Twitter
* Follow JoeShopping.com on Facebook
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Like The Art of Random Willynillyness on Facebook page (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog on GFC (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* GRAB MY NEW BUTTON CODE!! Add my button to your site (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: Friday, February 18 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: Sponsor is providing the $50 Amazon card. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

CLOSED ~ KiKi's Maternity Fashions Review and Giveaway

When I got contacted to do a review for Kikisfashions.com, I was excited but then a saw they sell maternity clothes. If you are a loyal blog follower, you know I do not have kids and will never have kids. But after looking around the site, I realized that some of this clothes is really cute! Since many of my readers are moms or, maybe moms to be, I decided to review an item.

About Kiki's Maternity Fashions:

Kiki's Fashions is dedicated to bringing our customers today's cute and trendy maternity clothes at low, low prices. While most maternity clotes out in the market are boxy, boring and expensive, we pride ourselves on having a wide selection of unique maternity styles at prices mostly under $20.

By selling exclusively on the Internet, Kiki's Fashions is able to maintain very low operating costs and we pass those savings on to our customers by offering prices 15%- 30% off many of our competitors. We also change our inventory often, so our customers always have access to today's hottest fashions and trends.


I have a friend at work who is pregnant, so I thought I would get a dress and give it to her. After I got the dress I ordered for her, I thought twice about it. Now I am not pregnant but I am curvy. When I saw the dress, I thought wow this is so darling.

I got a little crazy and thought I would try it on and it fit. Now this was an XL dress. I am a little bigger than that so I wasn't sure if it would fit. It did. And it looked great. As a plus size gal, that made me happy because I realized that if I wanted a really cute dress, I could hop on over to Kiki's Fashion and pick something up there and who would know, right?

The fabric is stretchy and the dress is totally trendy. I am starting to think I might keep it for myself and buy her something else. I know that sounds weird but that is how cute this dress is.

Kiki's has cheap maternity clothes that includes tops, bottoms, dresses and other cute items. It is perfect for any mother to be or, if you want to cheat, any plus size gal as well.

I still haven't decided if I am keeping the dress or giving it away but either way one of us will be one stylish happy camper. And thanks to Kiki's, one of lovely readers will be able to win a $25 gift certificate to purchase an item for themselves or a friend on the site! WOO!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Kikisfashions.com site and tell me your favorite item.

Extra Entries
* Follow Kiki's on Facebook
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Like The Art of Random Willynillyness on Facebook page (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog on GFC (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* GRAB MY NEW BUTTON CODE!! Add my button to your site (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: Sunday, January 30 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: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Go Red Twitter Party!


A few years ago, my abuelita died of a heart attack. She had an attack a few years before but she never changed her eating habits or lifestyle. We tried to get her to be healthier but she loved to cook and eat.

I also love to cook and eat and I know that I am susceptible to heart disease because of my family background. I also am overweight, eat unhealthy and it is a miracle if I exercise.

I know that I need to make a change soon or I will be in trouble as I get older. Heart disease is not something to take lightly. And as another birthday approaches, I have made the decision that this is the year to take it seriously.

I have started this year. I know it will take a while to change all of our unhealthy eating habits, I am starting slowly. I have started watching the amount of fat I am cooking with. I have been making better choices at lunch. I have been choosing lighter meals when eating out.

I also bought more fitness Wii games and have made a pledge to exercise at least 2-3 times a week. If this also helps me lose weight, that would be a huge plus. My goal is to get healthier and get my blood pressure down.

It'll be hard because hubby is a little resistance but because he loves to eat as much as I do but I think if we do it one step at a time, we will succeed.

Luckily, there are organizations like Go Red Por Tu Corazón. This February, Go Red Por Tu Corazon invites you to Live for Your Heart and Go Red by living a healthy life to help prevent the No. 1 killer of Hispanic women – heart disease.

What better want than to join me when I co-host the "Go Red" Twitter Party with one of the Go Red for Women and Go Red Por Tu Corazon Spokeswomen, Latina on a Mission, on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, between 8 to 9:30 PM.

Not only will you be able to get some great tips about preventing heart disease, the effects of heart disease, healthy living tips but you can win some goodies. Check out the fabulous prizes you could win!

Grand Prize ($200+ Total Retail Value)
• Go Red Boutique Mirror ($18.00)
• Go Red Rhinestone Short Sleeve Shirt featuring Red Dress ($28.00)
• Go Red Rhinestone Brooch ($27)
• Go Red Leather Journal ($22)
• Go Red Utensil Set ($24)
• Macy’s Gift Card ($100)

Second Place Prize ($100+ Total Retail Value)
• Go Red Rhinestone Short Sleeve Shirt featuring Red Dress ($28.00)
• Go Red Rhinestone Brooch ($27)
• Go Red Leather Journal ($22)
• Go Red Utensil Set ($24)

Third Place Prize ($100+ Total Retail Value)
• Go Red Rhinestone Short Sleeve Shirt featuring Red Dress ($28.00)
• Go Red Rhinestone Brooch ($27)
• Go Red Leather Journal ($22)
• Go Red Utensil Set ($24)

15 Smaller Prizes – 5 of each item noted below (Retail Value Varies)
• Go Red Leather Journal ($22)
• Go Red Boutique Mirror ($18)
• A one of a kind Go Red Sports Bag not sold anywhere else ($20)
There will be tons of winners!! So come join us!! Head over to Latina on a Mission and RSVP so you can be a winner!!! YOu can't win without RSVPing so get going! WOO!


Disclosure: This is a paid post created in collaboration with Latina On a Mission and the American Heart Association Go Red Por Tu Corazon.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

CLOSED ~ Flip HD Video Camera Giveaway

Yes, I have been slacking lately but I had some post-vacation depression or something. Really, I didn't want to get back to my real life. I wanted to stay in Jamaica and do nothing but, alas, I had to come back.

But that's a good thing for you because that means more reviews and giveaways. And this giveaway is a pretty good one. Last year, at the suggestion of one of my Facebook friends, I followed EXPO* on Facebook. Next thing I know, I have a private message telling me I won a Flip HD camera. WOO! (You might want to go follow because I know they are giving away prizes at certain follower levels)
See, I get lucky sometimes. But as with my iPad, I already have a Flip camera that I love. So what to do, what to do? Give it away, of course. You know I love you my dear readers and I figured that one of you would love to have this camera. You guys know, that's how I roll.


This is a white Flip camera, brand new, never opened. I took a picture of the specs so you could see exactly what you can win. Yes, the picture is sucky but what can you do?



All I have to say is that I love love love my Flip camera and it is not even as fancy as this one. They are so easy to use and you can immediately upload video to your computer. This one takes a full hour of video.

I am not going to yammer on and on because I know you guys just want to enter to win, right? So follow the rules and enter. You might get lucky too!

Mandatory Entry

Tell me what you would film with this.

Extra Entries
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Like The Art of Random Willynillyness on Facebook page (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog on GFC (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)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)
* Enter another one of my giveaways and tell me which one you entered (1 entry per giveaway entered)
* 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: Monday, February 7 (my birthday) 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. The iPad is given as is. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.


Disclosure: I won this and I just felt like giving this away to someone else.

*EXPO is the first video-based community specifically created for consumers to share their unbiased opinions about the products they buy. This fast-growing community has created the world’s largest catalog of consumer insights with over 300,000 video product reviews covering everything from shampoo to cell phones to hybrid cars. EXPO’s videos have been viewed over 30 million times and are available at www.expotv.com, retail websites, YouTube, Facebook, manufacturer sites and other consumer research destinations. Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LifewithEXPO or www.expotv.com for a chance to get free products, prizes or points.

Monday, January 10, 2011

CLOSED ~ Purex Complete Crystals Softener Review and Giveaway ~ 3 winners!


I found out that I was chosen to be a Purex Insider again this year. I was very excited because I really like Purex products. What does it mean to be a Purex Insider? It means that I was chosen to be one of the first to try Purex products and participate in promotions. That is fantastic because that means I will also be telling you about the new products and maybe even have special discounts to pass on and/or news about promotions that Purex has going on!

One of my first perks is that I am getting to try the New Purex Complete Crystals Softener. I received a cool "Welcome Kit" that included a sample of the the Purex Complete Crystals Softener and a coupon to try a regular size bottle. What I received was a bottle full of little crystals. I wasn't sure if they could actually do the job. It just seemed a little strange to put crystals in my wash.

The directions said to add the crystals with the clothes in the washer. I thought it was a little funky but went ahead and tried them anyway. It was easy. I added some crystals directly to the wash not the fabric softener area.


When the laundry was done, the first thing I noticed was the clean fresh scent. I was given the Fresh Springs Water scent sample and it smells fantastic. It does have a crisp, clean smell and I really like that. I cannot wait to try the other scents: Lavender Blossom and Tropical Splash.

Even after the clothes came out of the dryer, they still smelled fresh and clean. Three days later when I put on my jammies they smelled so fresh. The clothes were soft and static-free. The crystals worked well.

I have an HE washer and had no problem with the crystals. I washed sheets, towels, clothes and my delicates with the crystals and they all came out fine. Because Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are not oil-based the crystals will not wear down or discolor your fabrics. The crystals do not inhibit the wicking on athletic wear, they maintain your towels' ability to absorb water, preserve the flame retardant benefits of your child's clothes and keep your white clothing from yellowing or graying.

There is nothing like fresh smelling and soft laundry! So I recommend this product. It really worked for me and I cannot wait to try the other scents as well.

Because I am a Purex Insider, I have a giveaway for you guys as well. Three of my lucky readers will win a full value coupon for a free bottle of Purex Complete Crystals!! YAY! Now you know the drills peeps.

Mandatory Entry

Visit the Purex site and tell me what item you would like to try.

Extra Entries
* Follow Purex on Twitter
* Follow Purex on Facebook
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Like The Art of Random Willynillyness on Facebook page (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog on GFC (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* GRAB MY NEW BUTTON CODE!! Add my button to your site (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: Sunday, January 30 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: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Guardsman Furniture Care Products Review


The other day I received a cool goody bag full of Guardsman cleaning products. Okay, I hate cleaning but it's something I try to do as much as possible because I hate a dirty house more than I hate cleaning.

The goody bag was filled with some cool Guardsman products that included leather protector, leather cleaner, several polishes, dusting cloths and furniture markers.

I am always looking for new products to try. I hate cleaning but it is something that I have to do so when I do it, I want to have the right products.

Well, I have to be honest and say I had never heard of Guardsman products but I could not be happier that I know about them.

The first product I tried was the Furniture Touch Up Marker. You see, we have this very nice wood dining room set in our home. It was beautiful. I say was because after we got our cats 15 years ago, they have managed to wreck the table and several chair legs. I love them but they did a number on the table.

I have tried other markers and fillers and none seemed to work. These did quite a nice job on the deep scratches made by my kitties. I then used the furniture polish on the table and it looked quite good. I mean, if you get up real close you will see the scratches but, overall, it looked very natural. I need to try the liquid touch up on the chair legs.

I tried the water ring remover and while it worked, I could still see a watermark left on the table but all people, my mother. Bad mom! The furniture polish worked great as well.

My favorite products were the leather protector and the leather cleaner. We have a beautiful leather sofa in the living room but it is hard to keep clean and some cleaners just don't work on real leather. I have tried several products and I am always afraid I will ruin the leather with the wrong ones.

The leather cleaner worked well. Maybe too well since it picked up all sorts of grime. I then put some of the leather protector on the sofa and it looks really nice! Overall, I really liked these products and would recommend them especially if you need to clean leather. They worked so well!



Disclosure: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

SymptomPak Review


I recently had the opportunity to review a really cool product: SymptomPakTM. SymptomPakTM is a new product that is designed specifically to improve your cold, cough, allergy and flu therapy!

What I love about this product is that you can have all your basic, necessary medicines in one spot.

SymptomPak Contains:

•5 effective symptom-specific medications.
•Educational dosing chart to show you the exact medication(s) to take for your specific symptoms.
•Portable pill box with a mini-chart so you can easily take the correct relief with you.
•The easiest way to follow your doctor recommendations if you have high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes and for pregnant women.

The SymptomPak™ Cold, Cough, Flu, and Allergy kit is the end result of one pharmacy student's determination to help consumers make sense of the all so confusing pharmacy medicine aisle by developing a therapy system that helps all consumers' have the ability to easily, accurately and safely know what they are purchasing and using to help treat their symptoms.

Included in this handy dandy pack are 5 bottles containing 30 pills each of Acetaminophen (pain/fever reducer), Phenylephrine (decongestant), Dextromethorphan (cough), Guaifenisen (expectorant), Chlorpheniramine (antihistamine). There is also an easy-to-follow dosing guide which is fantastic because if you have little ones, you certainly need to know how much to give them. Also included was a blue pill box and a Symptom card. You can also head over to their site and try the online symptom-treatment matcher.

I love this because it has everything you need in one place. If you saw our medicine cabinet, you would know why I recommend this product. We have a hodge podge of medicines. I don't even how old they are or what they are. I blame hubby because when he gets sick he takes medicines out and places them in the wrong box and everything gets mixed up. Every so often I have to clean up the mess. But now with the SymptomPakTM, everything is where it should be.

SymptomPak is available on leading Internet sites such as Drugstore.com. It can also be found in 2,400 food, regional drug, independent drug, and discount stores. Check out the Where to Buy to find a retailer near you. Average Retail Price is $24.99 and $9.49 per refill. You can also follow SymptomPakTm on Facebook.


Disclosure: This post was written for Family Review Network & and Essential Home OTC who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine.