I will be MIA in MIA!

Yes, folks I will be MIA a few days. I got invited by Telemundo to attend the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Miami on April 27 and 28.

You all know I love Miami, my adopted hometown. I moved there and attended the University of Miami. I met Tom there as well so I have tons of really good memories. Plus, I know lots and lots of people who live there. I won't have time to see them this trip but it's always good to go home.

I am excited about the trip as well. Attending the Latin Billboard awards will be the bomb. I love my Latino music. Plus we also get to attend the after party and tour the Telemundo Studios. It will be a unique and, hopefully, fun experience.

I will try and get my usual "look at my room" vlog. I will also try and make some vlogs at the award show and tons of photos. If I meet any famous peeps, I will be a celebrity geek and get pics with them as well. Remember to check my personal blog, Carolyn in Carolina, for updates.

I want to thank Telemundo for inviting me to this event! WOO!

CLOSED ~ Frigidare Yahoo Store Review and Giveaway!

I recently had the opportunity to review the Frigidaire Yahoo store. I was also given the opportunity to choose an item from the store and review it as well.


The Frigidaire store has lots of goodies. Besides items for your Frigidaire appliances, they have some items for your kitchen and laundry room. You all know the first thing I did was go check out the kitchen store. They had so many cool gadgets that it was hard to choose what to review.


They had some fabulous cutting boards, food storage, kitchen gadgets, thermometers and other accessories. After a bit of deliberation, I decided I wanted a mandoline. I have been wanting one of these in forever. I watch a lot of cooking shows and always watch as chefs use mandolines to cut potatoes, fennel, onions and other veggies.


Last year I had so much squash from the garden and would have loved to have a mandoline as I made every squash recipe available. I decided to get the Stixx Suctionware Mandoline because I loved the fact that it has a suction base to keep it in place.

This mandoline rocked. Not only does it have a suction cup in the front but the legs in the back are rubber tipped for extra hold. These also flip out for easy storage. The suction really held the mandoline steady on my granite counter tops. It didn't even budge once. The handy food holder made sure that whoever uses it will not get cut.

There is a double sided blade for straight cuts and one for waffle cuts. A lever on the side lets you choose the thickness of the cut. In the back by the flip out legs, you have extra blades that can be used to julienne. I made potato chips and it was quick and easy.

I made thick cuts, really thin cuts and some waffle chips as well. The Stixx Mandoline worked like a dream. It was also a great price.

The Frigidaire Yahoo store was easy to navigate. It was also very easy to place an order. They have great items. They also have a great section that has some recipes. One of my lucky readers will be able to go shopping. YAY! The Frigidaire people were nice enough to offer a $30 code so one of you can buy shopping cool! You know the rules.


Mandatory Entry

Go to the Frigidare Store and tell me what you would buy.

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)
* 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)
* 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: Wednesday, May 18th 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.

CLOSED ~ "Taste of Costa Rica" Giveaway

Because I appreciate you all, I decided to get some Costa Rican goodies when I was in Costa Rica a few weeks ago to giveaway on my blog. You know why? Because that's how I roll peeps.

I had a good time in Costa Rica and it was great to see my parents and my sister. I was not feeling great so I missed out eating all my favorite foods but had a few. My mom even made me tamales and I have a vlog up on my other blog about how to make Costa Rican tamales.

I even got a little shopping in and that's when I decided to buy a few things for one of my lucky readers. First of all, I always come back with bags and bags of coffee every time I go. I am biased and believe Costa Rican coffee is the best around. So included in the giveaway is some Costa Rican coffee.

I am also including some of the my favorite condiment, Salsa Lizano. It is like a Costa Rican Worcestershire sauce. Also in the goody bag is some chocolate covered cocoa beans, yummy. A cute frog keychain, a rustic coffee bag and a cool XL tee shirt.

Good Luck!

Mandatory Entry

Just leave a comment. Whatever you want to say or tell me a story or interesting fact about yourself. Or just say "I want to win."

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)
* 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)
* Visit my other site - Carolyn in Carolina - and leave a comment on one of my posts (1 entry per comment)
* 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, MAY 14 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.

The California Wine Club Review

I am not a wine expert but I occasionally like to indulge. My theory on wine is if I like it, I buy it. I wish I knew more to make an educated purchase but I usually find wines I like through word of mouth. I also know that Californian, Chilean and Spanish wines are among some of the best I have had so I tend to stick to those when I can. I don't drink a lot of wine because I don't drink all that much but I always love to have wine in the house, just in case. I also have it on hand because the main thing I use wine for is for cooking. I love cooking with wine.

I recently had the opportunity to review some wines from the California Wine Club. I had heard of The California Wine Club and many times have looked at the site when wanting to purchase a gift for a friends. I never actually did it because I wasn't sure what to expect. But now I know.

I was sent a shipment of two wines. I received a bottle of Robledo Family "Los Braceros" Red Wine and a bottle of Robledo Family Lake County Sauvignon Blanc White Wine. When I received the shipment, I liked that the box was marked with exactly what was in it and that it was shipped FedEx requiring a signature by an adult. That is the way it should be.

I loved that the bottles came in a foam encasing. This guarantees that they will not get broken. I kept the foam case because I know sometimes when we go to a party, picnic or other event that requires us to bring wine, I can reuse it and ensure my bottles do not get broken. Yes, I have broken wine bottles when traveling.

Once I got the wine out, I was impressed that inside the box was a newsletter that was completely dedicated to the wine that was delivered. This was a great help since I am wine clueless. I found out about the winery. I loved that it included a recipe (I am all about recipes) for Chiles Rellenos that used the wine I was shipped. I will definitely have to try this recipe.

It also gave a lot of information on the wines shipped. It included the price of the wines and also some tips on what to serve with the wine. I loved the fact they highlighted the family who runs the winery. If I am ever in Northern California again, I am so visiting this winery!

Okay, onto the wine review. Again, I am not a wine expert. But what I do know about wine is cooking with it. First, I take the experts advice and never use a wine to cook with that I wouldn't want to drink. Thus, I tend to stick with the wines I have already used. But I have found that certain wines just don't cut it.

I decided to use the Robledo "Los Braceros" Red Wine to make a bolognese sauce to go with spaghetti. Bolognese sauce is a bit time intensive. You need a mirepoix to start. Remember mirepoix is: onions, carrots, celery. You cook that down, add spices and then add ground pork and ground beef and brown that up. Once that is done, you add the wine and some tomato paste. Remember this is willy-nilly cooking and my own recipe. For a true bolognese, you better look up a real recipe online!

Anyhow, you let that cook down and it gets thick and wonderful and delicious. Let me tell you that this was delicious. Because you have to add at least 3 cups of wine to the recipe and really no other liquid, the wine has to be good or you will have a nasty sauce on your hands. This wine was perfect for this recipe.

Of course, the cook must sample the wine before using it and I did. It was rich and full-bodied (see I know some wine lingo) and very tasty. What I loved about it was that it had a light sweet and spicy taste. The best thing though was that it was not bitter and didn't leave any aftertaste. Sometimes when I use red wine in cooking, I can only use a little bit because it is too bitter. But this wine was not bitter at all. It made the sauce so delicious. With a recipe like this you need a wine that will stand up to the richness of the sauce yet mellow it out and this Robledo wine did just that. I would buy this again in a heartbeat.

The Sauvignon Blanc was tasty too. I prefer to drink white wine and cook with red. I do use white wine in some recipes but not that many. This Robledo wine was clear and crisp. It had a fruity taste that actually went really well with some bread, cheese and fruit I had made as a snack. It was refreshing and quite good. Like I said, I am not a wine expert but I know what I like. I think this wine would be great for making some chicken in wine and pasta with mushrooms. I have a little left so I might give it a try this coming week.

Overall, I felt the whole California Wine Club experience was great, from delivery to consumption! The California Wine Club Site is easy to navigate. If you want to join, all you do is sign up. There is no membership cost and you can cancel at any time. There are four different wine clubs to choose from. The price varies depending on how many bottles of wine you want to receive per month. I priced all the clubs out at 2 bottles of wine per month and here is the breakdown:

* Premier Club - The most popular club - about $36 per month
* Signature Series - For collectors and connoisseurs - about $94 per month
* International Selections - From small "mom & pop" wineries around the world - about $62 per month
* Aged Cabernet Series - Napa's most prestigious Cabernets aged 8 - 12 years - About $241 per month

Again, I priced these out for 2 bottles per month, so you will have to go and check out the prices based on your preferences. I spend about $20-$40 a month on the cheapo wine at the grocery store. If I were a real wine expert, the prices I see seem reasonable to me. Plus, it is shipped and I love that the wine is from wineries that the proprietors of the California Wine Club know and visit. On the site they have a quote that says they started the wine club so it is like "one friend recommending a great bottle of wine to another friend".

It is because they are the experts and as a consumer, it is great to have someone send me wines that they believe are good for me to try. I know I would consider giving some friends this as a gift for a few months. I would even like to this myself for a few months. Since I am wine clueless, it is a huge help to have someone recommend wines to me.

If you are looking for wine or gifts for friends and family, you should check out the California Wine Club. I think the concept is pretty cool and the wines are pretty tasty!


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.

CLOSED ~ Simply Potatoes Review and Giveaway!

My favorite type of reviews are when I get to review products that I already use and like. Sure, it's fun discovering new products but it even better reviewing and letting others know about products that I already use and stand by.

When I received the opportunity to Simply Potatoes, I jumped on it because this is one of those products that I buy all the time and that I love. The simple reason is that these potatoes taste great and, better yet, they make my life so much easier.

Sure, I could peel, cut and grate my own potatoes but why? I sometimes opt for the convenience because I don't always have the time. If it makes my life easier, I am all over it. And Simply Potatoes makes my life easier.

Simply Potatoes come in several varieties: Shredded Hash Browns, Southwest Style Hash Browns, Diced Potatoes with Onion, Homestyle Slices, Red Potato Wedges and Rosemary & Garlic Potato Wedges.

Since I live in the boonies, I have only found the Shredded Hash Browns, the Southwest Style Hash Browns and Diced Potatoes with Onion. I have tried them all and love them. My favorite Simply Potatoes product is the Shredded Hash Browns.

I use them at least 3 times a month and not only for breakfast. My favorite recipe ever is my version of Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole. I love that stuff and one day while searching in my fridge one day for a side dish, I found the Simply Potatoes Hash Browns and decided to see if I could recreate the recipe.

I wasn't sure if I could make it work but a few years ago I learned a simple trick to making scalloped potatoes and macaroni and cheese. The key is to make a delicious cheese sauce first then go from there. If you get the cheese sauce right, it would make the dish.

I learned to make the cheese sauce watching Rachel Ray and then I made it my own by "borrowing" a few tricks from The Melting Pot. I realized that Rachel's cheese sauce was like fondue. When I would watch the servers at The Melting Pot make the fondue, they often used beer, garlic and other spices and it was tasty. So I decided I would willy-nilly make my cheese sauce using some of those tricks.

To make my cheese sauce, I start with equal parts flour and butter to make a roux. Now I usually use 3 tablespoons each but you can use 2 or 4 or as many as you want as long as it is equal parts. You melt the butter, add the flour and cook it off so it loses the floury taste. Then I add some ground mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder and some onion powder. That is the basic recipe but I have also added fresh herbs like thyme or sage when I want a different taste. I have added paprika or green chile powder to shake it up. The beauty of this cheese sauce is that it can be changed up. This time I added some fresh thyme I had lying around. Yum!

Once the you have the roux, you add milk. Since I am all willy-nilly, I can't tell you how much because I eyeball it. But I would say start with a 1/4 cup of milk and then a 1/4 cup of beer. You can use any beer but I have found that a darker hearty beer makes a richer cheese sauce. Then you just add a little more milk or beer as it thickens up. Since I am lazy, I buy already shredded cheese. I prefer a cheddar cheese when making the hashbrown casserole but you can change that up and use any type of cheese.

Once the mixture thickens a little take it off the heat and add the cheese. I usually use one pack of cheese. Mix the cheese in. Now if the sauce gets too thick start adding a tablespoon of milk or beer to loosen it up a little. Taste and spice it up more if needed and it is done.

Chop up an onion. Take some Pam and spray the backing dish. I like using a deep round baking dish for this recipe but you can use any you have. Open the Simply Potatoes and start layering the potatoes, onions and a little bit of cheese sauce. I like salting each layer just a little. Continue doing this until the ingredients are all in there. Add any remaining sauce on top. Now if you want a brown crusty top you can some shredded cheese on top.

Again, I can;t tell you how long I cook it for because I have never timed it but if I had to give an answer, I would say cook it at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. But I have left it in longer with no problems.

I have to tell that the first time I tried this recipe, I thought it was better than the Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole but that's just me. It is also a dish you can eat as a side dish or entree. You serve this with a salad and you have a veggie dinner in a jiffy! You can serve this with chicken, beef, pork and hubby loves the leftovers for breakfast with some eggs.

There you have it. Simply Potatoes are one of those products that I love and will continue buying. I give Simply Potatoes two thumbs up!

Also, become a member of the Simply Potatoes site and be entered to win free Simply Potatoes products for a whole year! OMG think of all the cool recipes you could make! WOO! And thanks to the peeps at Simply Potatoes, one lucky reader will win a Simply Potatoes coupon to make your own recipe. YAY!

Mandatory Entry

Tell me how Simply Potatoes could assist in building your weekly food menus.

Extra Entries

* Go to Simply Potatoes and tell me your favorite recipe (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 and use #simplypotatoes in your tweet. (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)
* 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: Wednesday, May 4th 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.

CLOSED ~ Chili's Bar & Grill Review - Are you Wild or Mild Contest!

I was given the opportunity to review Chili's Grill and Bar. I love Chili's. Unfortunately, there is not a Chili's in my town but there is one about an hour away in Asheville. Maybe one day our little town will get one but that might be a bad thing because I would never cook again.
Chili's has a new Wild or Mild menu. They have great new menu items like the Wild Kicked Up Queso, Blazin' Big Mouth Bites, Jalapeno Chicken Quesadillas and the Mild Crispy Sweet Maple BBQ Chicken Crispers. There are so many new and old items on the menu that it is always hard to chose what to eat.

I went for the Mild Big Mouth Bites. I can't eat spicy right now or I would have had the Wild Big Mouth Bites because I love the spicy food! I love the Big Mouth Bites. The little burgers are topped with applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, and sautéed onions. They were served with crispy onion strings and jalapeño-ranch dressing. The jalapeño-ranch dressing is the best thing around. I tried to convince hubby to get something new but he loves the baby back ribs and he always gets the baby back ribs.

As usual, it was delicious. Before you go to Chili's, remember to go on the site and sign up for Chili's e-mail club, you will receive a coupon for Chips and Queso. I love the Chips and Queso. It is absolutely divine. Chili's is such a great place for lunch or dinner and especially a dinner date with your significant other.

If you want a chance to win a Chili's gift card so you can have your own date night or just a family night out, you have to go enter Chili's Shout Out to Eat Out Wild or Mild Contest! ENTER NOW because the contest ends 4/30/11! To enter you have to upload a head shot and create a wild or mild avatar on shoutouttoeat.com. One winner will be randomly drawn every day and will receive one a $20 gift card. The most voted "wild" and "mild" avatar will win a trip. The Wild winner will go to Vegas and the Mild winner will go to Disney!

I entered because I would love a trip to Vegas! I also have a treat for you, my lovely readers, thanks to the great peeps at Chili's, I have a $20 gift card for you. You know the drill.







Mandatory Entry

Tell me if you would go Wild or Mild!

Extra Entries

* Go to the Chili's site and tell me a menu item you would love to try. (1 entry)
* Follow Chili's on Twitter (1 entry)
* Follow Chili'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)
* 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, April 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.

Flip Flop Wine Review

I recently had the opportunity to review a variety of Flip Flop Wines. I am not a big wine drinker but every once in a while I indulge. All I know about wine is I know what I like and I will buy the brands I have liked.

I also cook a lot with wine. If you have a slow cooker, wine can be your best friends when making a delicious dinner. There is nothing easier than taking meat, veggies and a bottle of wine and letting it stew all day. You will have a wonderful dinner at the end of the day.
I received three bottle of Flip Flop wine and I have to say that I am very impressed. Like I said, I am not a wine expert so I will give you some info from their site about the wines I received:
Riesling

Appellation: Washington

Tastes like: Medium-bodied, Riesling with peach, apricot and melon which lead to a satisfying, smooth finish.

It is full of: Tropical notes and sweet aromas

Eat with: Tofu stir-fry, shredded pork tacos and sake sashimi

Serve: Chilled

Store: Away from direct sunlight

Pinot Grigio

Appellation: California

Tastes like: Light-bodied, refreshing Pinot Grigio with tropical citrus, ripe pear and a zesty, clean finish

It is full of: Balanced crisp acidity

Eat with: Bruschetta, spaghetti carbonara or eggplant parmesan

Serve: Chilled Store: Away from direct sunlight

Pinot Noir

Appellation: California

Tastes like: Medium-bodied, structured Pinot Noir with bright cherry, sweet spice and a supple, velvety finish

It is full of: Cola aromas and hints of vanilla

Eat with: Grilled mahi mahi, bacon wrapped shrimp or chocolate chip cookies

Serve: Room temperature

Store: Away from direct sunlight

What did I think? Well, I really like Riesling wine and this one was as good as any of the more expensive brands I have bought. We had it with shrimp scampi and it was very good. It was tasty and refreshing. It paired well with shrimp so I suspect it would be good with any seafood or even chicken.
The Pinot Grigio I used in making an oxtail stew. Of course, I had a glass for myself because cooking is hard work. I actually use more wine when I cook then I actually drink. This was a great cooking wine. It was bold and full bodied so it worked well with oxtail because oxtail when cooked is rich and yummy. It made for a delicious sauce.
I served the Pinot Noir with some cheese and crackers and fruit. It was the perfect companion for an early evening snack. This wine had a clean taste and worked super well with a variety of cheeses.
I have to say that this wine, overall, was better than I expected. What I have figured out is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get good wine. Flip Flop wines cost about $7 a bottle and you can't beat that.
I also like that if you buy Flip Flop wines, you are also helping a worthy cause. For every bottle of wine purchased, Soles4Souls will distribute a pair of shoes to someone in need.
Here is more info on Soles4Souls from their website:
Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away nearly 12 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 7 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls has been featured in Runner's World, Ladies’ Home Journal, National Geographic’s Green Guide, and The New York Times. It has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC, CNN and thousands of regional news outlets across North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Anyone can join our cause, and we need your help.
Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate footwear (both new and used).
The idea behind gifts of shoes is nothing new to the Soles4Souls team, as they coordinated relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, netting over 1 million pairs donated for these disasters. The team originally operated as www.katrinashoes.org with several churches partnering in the collection and distribution of footwear.
Soles4Souls has a simple concept: we procure shoes and get them to those in need. In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls® Inc., felt compelled to do something. Like many of us, he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.
A year later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and they sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.
It has been that simple: changing the world one pair at a time.
Soles4Souls receives large donations from footwear companies, retailers, churches, nonprofit ministries, civic groups, schools, and individuals and saw that this could become a full time organization. That's why Soles4Souls was created – to facilitate the donations from these groups to the people who desperately need footwear.




So if you are looking for some inexpensive and tasty wine, check out Flip Flop wines. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how good it is. You will also be helping a worthy cause.
You can also follow Flip Flop on Twitter and Facebook! You can also follow Soles4Souls on Twitter and Facebook as 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.

WINNERS for Bob Evans, Que Rica Vida, Lysol and Untold News Giveaways!

Sorry I have been MIA and slacking. Between being sick and then having to go off to Costa Rica for a week, I am pooped. I have been trying to catch up on my offline life and now my online life. I have neglected this blog and my personal blog! Boo Me. But I knew I needed to choose winners ASAP! So here they are. Que Rica Vida: Connie Black Untold News: 1st prize: cmacaran totebags: hale2005, Diane52 Lysol: Ashley Bob Evans: Marilyn's Money Congrats! I have sent you a email or Twitter DM. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor. I want to thank Bob Evans, Que Rica Vida, Lysol and Untold News for the giveaways. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! Hang in there with me. I have a few giveaways coming up but they probably won't be up until next week!!