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

Happy Halloween!


Yeah this is a picture of an old pumpkin I carved, sue me. I don't have one this year. But I love my ghostface pumpkin!

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Universal Orlando Here We Come!


By the time you read this, I will hopefully be at Hogwarts School for Wizards having a blast.

I am MIA this weekend because we are headed to Orlando and we will be going to Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. YAY! Well Tom has a conference but I get to play. I might even bring back a Harry Potter treat to giveaway on the blog. Maybe.

Remember to keep entering the current on-going giveaways!!



Thursday, October 27, 2011

Winners!! Milky Way Giveaway and Finlandia Cheese!

I love Rafflecopter! It picks my winners and that is awesome. It also announces the winners but sometimes it might be missed so I decided to continue announcing winners on a separate post. So here it is: the winners of the Milky Way giveaway are:

Tammigirl
Julie Matek


I had to use random.org to pick the Finlandia winners and here they are:

Aleksandra Nearing
Tylerpants
Kristen



Congrats! I have sent you a email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!!

I want to thank Milky Way and Finlandia for the awesome prizes. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!! I have quite a few giveaways going on! As you see I have started using Rafflecopter as well. Hope you guys like it! I LOVE IT!


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Slim Fast On-the-Go Shakes Review and Sephora $25 Gift Card Giveaway!! 5 WINNERS!

I tried Slim Fast eons ago to lose weight and it worked. Of course, I stopped using it and gained the weight back. But since my clothes are getting tighter and tighter, it is time to go back and see if I can't lose a few pounds. And with the holidays coming, I need all the help I can get to lose this weight.

Slim Fast now has a new product: On-the-Go Shakes. These are perfect for me because I can grab one of these and have it on my way to work. I also can keep them at work and have one for lunch as well.

The Slim Fast plan is easy:
* 3 nourishing snacks a day – Slim·Fast 100-calorie snack bars, nuts, fruits and/or veggies. You need snacks in order to keep your hunger at bay and it keeps your metabolism going and makes sure you have the energy you need.
* 2 Slim·Fast shakes or meal bars. Replace 2 meals with a Slim fast shake or meal bar then have one regular meal. Luckily the shakes and bars are quite delish and fill you up.
* 1 500-calorie balanced meal per day. Check out the Slim-Fast website for some really delicious meals that are specifically designed by the Slim-Fast Test Kitchens.

The shakes provide about 1/3 of the recommended daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals. They are also under 200 calories which is pretty good. Slim Fast also has a great variety of shakes. Here are the flavors:
*Strawberries N Creme
*French Vanilla
*Creamy Milk Chocolate
*Rich Chocolate Royale
*Cappuccino Delight
*Low carb milk chocolate and vanilla

I got to try the Creamy Milk Chocolate Shake and it was so good. I am a chocolate fiend so it helped me feel full and feel like I just had a treat. Next on my list is the Rich Chocolate Royale. I have yet to try the meal bars but I did try the peanut butter crunch time snack bars and they were good. The plan is so easy that anyone can follow it. Let's hope I can lose a few pounds before the holidays!! And also keep those pounds off by staying on the plan.

You can find Slim Products at Target, WalMart and other retailers. I know my local grocery store has Slim Fast products. You can also find them online at Amazon. Visit the Slim Fast Facebook page and get a $1.50 off coupon.

I have a treat for my readers courtesy of Slim-Fast! Five (5) of my wonderful readers will win a $25 Sephora Gift Card!! YAY! So enter to win. Remember I am using Rafflecopter so it takes time to load! Good Luck!!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Silk Coconut Milk Review and Giveaway!!!

A few months ago, I reviewed Silk Pure Almond and was surprised I actually liked it. I will be honest, Silk is different than regular milk. I don't think I will give up my regular milk but it is a good alternative.

Recently, I tried the Silk Coconut Milk. I love coconut anything so I wanted to see if this could be something I could have in the morning with my cereal. I tried it with my Cheerios. Now Cheerios have really no flavor but I like them. What I found is that the Silk Coconut Milk actually gave them a better taste. I usually add a packet of Splenda to the cereal to give them some flavor. With the Silk Coconut, I had a more flavor and did not have to add the Splenda.
According to a national taste test most people prefer the taste of Silk Vanilla in their cereal over typical dairy milk.* What’s more, Silk also brings an extra boost of nutrition -- with 50% more calcium than typical dairy milk.**
*National Taste Test, January 2011 (products included in test were Silk Vanilla Soymilk, Silk Light Vanilla Soymilk, and Silk Pure Almond Vanilla Almondmilk.).

All I know is that I liked it. I also know that I need to start eating better and making better choices. Simply Silk might be that better choice especially in the morning with my cereal. Silk has 13 different varieties under 100 calories so it is perfect for those of us trying to lose some weight. They are also nutritious, calcium rich and cholesterol free. 

If you want to try Silk, you can head over to the site and get a coupon. You can also follow them on You Tube. Or you can try your luck here on my blog. Enter to win 2 Silk coupons, a Silk to-go cereal bowl and a Silk Chico bag. I love Chico bags!! I have about 4 of them. I also loved the cereal bowl because I can take cereal to work if I am running late.

So enter to win. This is a Rafflecopter giveaway so be patient as the widget loads!! Good luck!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

WINNER - Hill's Science Diet Giveaway Kitty Basket!

The winner of the Hill's Science Diet Kitty Basket Giveaway chosen by random.org is:

diane

Congrats! I have sent you a email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!!

I want to thank Hill's Science Diet for this awesome basket. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!! I have quite a few giveaways going on! As you see I have started using Rafflecopter as well. Hope you guys like it!


Friday, October 21, 2011

Keri Lotion Review and Giveaway!


Keri Lotion has been around for over 50 years. That is pretty impressive. When I received the opportunity to try it, I was excited. With winter coming, I start getting alligator skin and it is NOT pretty. You know what I am talking about, right? It is terrible because my skin gets dry and flaky and sometimes itchy. At this time, I start moisturizing a few times daily.

I was able to try the new Keri Luxurious Lotion. I liked it. It was smooth and went on easily. It smelled delish like apples and I really liked that. It mositurized my skin and was non-greasy. I would definitely consider buying it again for a summertime lotion. During winter I need something a little stronger but I am definitely looking into trying the Keri Shea Butter Conditioning Therapy because I think this would serve me better in Winter.

I also like that Keri offers a line of hand and body lotions to meet the needs of different types of skin. Each lotion is formulated with the Keri Hydro-Deep technology, which penetrates the skin with a unique blend of moisturizers to lock in long lasting moisture protection, helping to keep your skin looking and feeling its best all day long.

The Keri® Hydro-Deep® Technology penetrates skin with a unique blend of moisturizers to lock in long lasting moisture protection helping to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. Keri® Lotion is available in five different varieties, ranging in price from $5.99 to $7.99, tailored to meet the needs of individual women’s skin:

* Keri® Original – Enhanced with five essential moisturizers, this product is daily dry skin therapy for smooth, healthy looking skin.
* Keri® Advanced – This non-greasy, lightweight formula is fast absorbing for silky, soft skin.
* Keri® Shea Butter Conditioning Therapy – Provides a conditioning therapy that penetrates deep into skin to nourish with naturally rich Shea Butter.
* Keri® Basic Essentials – Made with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for a lightweight formula that provides optimal hydration.
* Keri® Luxurious – A total indulgence for the skin, with a light apple scent and Vitamins A, C and E.

Keri® Lotion is available at Walmart, Rite Aid, DrugStore.com and other retailers nationwide. To learn more about the line of Keri® Lotion products, visit the website for special offers. Right now you can get $2 off coupon!

I also have a bottle of Keri Lotion for one lucky reader. With winter coming, you need this! All you have to do is complete the RaffleCopter entries! Good Luck!





Note: **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 review sample from Keri Lotion through the Family Review Network. 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 prize.

WINNER!! Real Steel Giveaway!

The winner of the Dreamworks Pictures Real Steel Giveaway chosen by random.org is:

anastasia

Congrats! I have sent you a email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!!

I want to thank DreamWorks Pictures for the prize pack. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!! I have quite a few giveaways going on! As you see I have started using Rafflecopter as well and it seems to be eaasier for me and I know it is so much easier to enter now!!!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Kelloggs FiberPlus Cereal and FiberPlus Bars Review and Giveaway!


This review couldn't have come at a better time. The other day I realized that my pants were just a little tighter than usual. When that happens, I know it's time to watch what I am eating. So when I was contacted to review Kellogg's FiberPlus cereal and Fiber Plus bars, I knew that was a sign.

Fiber is something I do not get enough of and my doctor told me I need to get more not only for good health but to help lose weight. I already eat Kellogg's Special K cereal and the Kellogg's Crisps so it is easy to incorporate these new products into my lifestyle.

I received a whole lot of goodies and they were delicious. I received a box of Berry Yogurt Crunch cereal and Caramel Pecan Cereal. I also received a box of the following bars: Dark Chocolate Almond, Chocolaty Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip and Caramel Coconut Fudge.

The cereals were really good. My favorite was the Berry Yogurt. It was sweet but not so sweet. I loved munching on the little yogurt clusters. The Caramel Pecan cereal is something you can even eat as an evening snack because it tastes so good.

I took the most of the bars to work. I keep them in my desk for that dead time around 2:30-3:00pm when I need a little something to get me through the rest of the day. They are delicious. They are also great for breakfast and have to say that if I don't have breakfast at home, I know I have the bars in my desk and can have a nutritious breakfast there. My favorite bars were the Dark Chocolate Almond and the Chocolaty Peanut Butter. At around 120-130 calories per bar and 35% of daily fiber, 7 grams of whole grains, plus antioxidants vitamin E and zinc, it is a snack I feel good eating. Plus, they have chocolate and I am all over that.

To learn more about Kellogg’s FiberPlus bars and other FiberPlus products please visit the website.  I also have a fantastic giveaway for you my wonderful readers. Five (5), yes 5 of you will win five (5) coupons each for these Kellogg's FiberPlus products! This is a great giveaway so enter now!!!

I am using RaffleCopter so be patient as it loads!!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Milky Way Simply Caramel Halloween Giveaway!! 2 Winners!


It's Halloween and that means CANDY! I love all sorts of candy and one of my favorites is Milky Way. They are light and fluffy and so delicious. We always have a bag or two of Milky Way chocolates for the trick or treaters and ourselves!! Now Milky Way has a new flavor: Milky Way Simply Caramel. Yum!

The marriage of chocolate and caramel is delicious. These are delicious. Of course, I had to try one when the package came and it was so tasty. Sweet, creamy and so good. What a special treat for Halloween or anytime!

To celebrate the new flavor of Milky Way, I have a wonderful treat for two of my readers. Two winners will receive a Halloween trick-or-treat tote bag, two bags of the new Simply Caramel Fun Size, and two bags of the classic Milky Way Fun Size! YAY!

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter widget and enter to win!!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

WINNER! $75 Sephora Card! WOO!

The winner of the Sephora $75 gift card Giveaway chosen by random.org is:

Slehan

Congrats! I have sent you a email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!!

I want to thank ABC for the gift card. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!! I have quite a few giveaways going on! As you see I have started using Rafflecopter as well. Hope you guys like it!


National Association of Insurance Commissioners Exercise Heart Monitor Giveaway! *RaffleCopter*


About this time every year, health insurance enrollment opens for those who receive health benefits from their employer. This is the perfect time to reevaluate what your options are. I know every time I look at my paperwork, I have no idea so hubby and I sit down and look over everything.

Luckily, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has created a list of helpful tips for you to look at and consider what your options might be. These are super handy and since this is such an important decision, it is something I suggest you read.

NAIC Health Insurance Tips

If you receive health insurance through an employer, consider the following before selecting coverage this year:

* Review options for changes: Don’t automatically renew what you have had before because employers are making changes due to rising costs.

* Do the math: To pick the best plan, calculate healthcare costs from recent years and try to estimate costs for the coming year; don’t assume you know what plan will be the most affordable.

* Check out tax-free savings: Open a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plan or a health savings account if that is available to you. And, don’t forget about dependent care savings accounts.

* Look for wellness incentives: Find out if your employer is offering a wellness program or incentives for healthy behaviors such as exercising regularly or not smoking.

If you are self-employed, you face some unique challenges in finding and keeping health insurance, but you have a range of choices. Tax laws may allow you to deduct the cost of health insurance for yourself, your spouse and dependents.

* Spouse plan: First, check about being added to your spouse’s or domestic partner’s employer plan.

* Individual insurance: Consider shopping for private insurance. This option allows you to customize care to your lifestyle, health and budget. New Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans could help if you have had trouble qualifying for coverage in the past

If you are unemployed, you were likely forced to determine how, or if, to continue your health insurance coverage within the past year.

* Now is a good time to review your decision and determine if your choice is still appropriate and if you or your family members might be eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

* Some professional or philanthropic associations offer state regulated health plans. For a fee, you can join these organizations and have the ability to participate in their plan.

I hope these tips help you out as you are thinking about health insurance. It is so important to make the right decisions when choosing plans. The great peeps over at NAIC have generously donated a Timex exercise heart rate monitor ($36 value) to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle. Enter to win! This is a RaffleCopter giveaway and the widget make take some time to load.


Friday, October 14, 2011

CLOSED ~ Marzetti Sweet and Salty Caramel Dip Review and Giveaway! 2 winners!


I love caramel. Ever since I was a little girl, it has been one of my favorite foods. So when I was given the opportunity to try the new Marzetti Sweet and Salty Caramel Dip, I was so excited.

There is nothing like caramel and apples. I had to use my Caramel Dip with apples. I had some golden red apples so I chopped them up and started dipping. You can take the caramel and eat it as is or warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave. I opted for the warm caramel.

It was so delicious. I almost ate the whole tub in one sitting. I had to control myself because it was that good. the dip was creamy and sweet but not so super sweet. It had a little bit of saltiness but not so much that it is unappetizing.

Marzetti has a lot of flavors and I intend to try them all. Here are the flavors they offer:

Old Fashioned Caramel Dip
NEW Sweet and Salty Caramel Dip
Cinnamon Caramel Dip
Peanut Butter Caramel Dip
Light Caramel Dip
Fat-Free Caramel Dips

I love they have Fat-Free dips because I need that. What I love most is that you can have a quick tasty snack just by heating up some caramel dip and cutting some apples. Any other fruit will do as well. I would love to try the Peanut Butter Caramel Dip with bananas. How good would that be?

Also, head on over to the Marzetti website because Marzetti is giving away $75,000 in prizes with their Lucky Pick Instant Win Game!! You can enter to win by picking up a specially marked tub of Marzetti Old Fashioned Caramel Dip; if you get a lucky pick, you enter your code and claim a prize.

I also have some coupons to giveaway. I have 2 coupons for 2 winners so 2 lucky people can try the Marzetti Caramel Dips just in time for Fall and the upcoming holidays! So enter and win!!

Mandatory Entry

Head over to the Marzetti website and tell me which flavor you would like to try.

Extra Entries

* Like Marzetti 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 (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (1 entry)
* Add my site to your blogroll (2 entries)
* 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, October 28 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: Ireceived a review sample from Marzetti’s through the Family Review Network. 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 prize.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A little bragging and a Happy Birthday!

Today is my friend Dion's birthday. Happy Birthday!! I have to brag because this past weekend, Dion and, his company, Sketch to Form were featured Miami Herald. Go read the story because it is really good. I needed to share it with you all because I am so proud of him.

I met my almost 2 decades ago. I was living in Coral Gables in a house that was chopped up into 3 different living quarters. The landlady lived in the biggest section. I lived n a studio apartment that had a small kitchen, a full bath and a walk-in closet. There was a a smaller apartment in the back next to mine.

I lived there while attending the University of Miami. People came and went from that apartment so I was never surprised when I had a new neighbor. One day, I was at home doing yoga and someone knocked on my door.

I open the door and he introduced himself as my new neighbor. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. From the get go, I think we both knew we would be friends forever. It was just written in the cards. Yes, there were ups and downs but we survived and are still friends. I actually consider him the brother I never had.

Dion is an architect and a brilliant one at that. I remember seeing the designs he would create while at UM. I knew that he would succeed because he was that good. I always had faith in him.

When he told me he was going to create furniture, I never doubted that would be some kick ass stuff and I was right. He started Sketch to Form . He makes some of the most incredible items I have seen. And they are made in the USA!

He even donated a wonderful piece, the ballena, to a charity auction in memory of Clarence Clemons a few weeks ago. It was an awesome piece.

So go check out the Miami Herald article. Go like Sketch to Form on Facebook as well!

Happy Birthday Dion!!! xoxo



p.s. I totally took these images from Dion's website and Facebook page!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Rafflecopter Poll - Like or Dislike?

Hi all. I am thinking about using Rafflecopter for my giveaways but before I do I want to hear from you, my loyal readers and giveaway fanatics!!

Should I or shouldn't I? I want some feedback from you guys!! Just leave a comment letting me know what you think of Rafflecopter and if you would rather me use it for giveaways. Thanks.


Thursday, October 6, 2011

CLOSED ~ DreamWorks Pictures: Real Steel Giveaway!


This Friday, October 7th, Real Steel opens in theaters nationwide. I cannot wait to see it. Besides being a huge Hugh Jackman fan, the movie looks to be a winner.

Here is the synopsis of the movie:

A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, “Real Steel” stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

Real Steel is directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum” franchise and “Date Night”).


Here is a a clip from the movie (Charlie & Max):



And I have a little treat for you my lovely readers from DreamWorks Pictures! I have a Real Steel Prize Pack for one of you! Woo! Here is what you can win:

Real Steel t-shirt in adult sizes of S, M, L, XL
Real Steel bottle opener
Real Steel stickers
Real Steel temporary tattoos



Okay this is one awesome prize pack so enter to win. You know the drill, my dear readers!!

Mandatory Entry

Tell me if you will go watch Real Steel! I know I will be there with bells on!

Extra Entries

* Like Real Steel 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 (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (1 entry)
* Add my site to your blogroll (2 entries)
* 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!!)

LinkMake sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!

Deadline: Wednesday, October 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: No compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

WINNER!! Bounty $25 Visa card!

The winner of the Bounty $25 gift card Giveaway chosen by random.org is:

Mel4Him 6

Congrats! I have sent you a email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose new winners. So send me your info!!

I want to thank Bounty for the prize pack and for having such a wonderful program for teachers. Remember to support your local schools. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! Don't forget to enter the Sephora $75 gift card and Hill's Science Diet for cats giveaways!! I am hoping to have a few other giveaways before I slow down for the holidays!


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Celebrate National Noodle Day with P.F. Chang's Home Menu


October 6th is National Noodle Day! Woo! I love noodles! And in honor of National Noodle Day, P.F. Chang’s Home Menu is introducing four new frozen noodle entrees to the already available line of delicious frozen entrees.

If you love Asian noodles, you will love P.F. Chang’s Home Menu frozen noodle entrees. The entrees feature tasty combinations of robust sauces, marinated meats, and unique “noodle nests” that unravel in the skillet midway through cooking as the noodles get coated in a flavor-packed sauce, ensuring the delicate noodles maintain their trademark textures.

There are several tasty P.F. Chang’s Home Menu noodle meals available and they are tasty:

Garlic Chicken with Dan Dan Noodles – White meat chicken with a savory garlic sauce, bell peppers, bok choy and yakisoba noodles

Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles – Steak with a sweet and peppery sauce, bell peppers, onions and chow fun noodles

Grilled Chicken Teriyaki with Lo Mein Noodles – Grilled chicken with a teriyaki sauce, pineapple, red bell peppers, onions and lo mein noodles

Firecracker Shrimp with Yakisoba Noodles – Lightly battered shrimp with spicy sauce, carrots, edamame, onions and yakisoba noodles

I had the opportunity to try the Garlic Chicken with Dan Dan Noodles and the Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles. They were really really good and easy to make. Basically, you take the packet and open it. Then you place it in a pan for about 6 to 10 minutes and you have a tasty meal. That's it. Now I have to say that the package is supposed to feed 2 people but I could eat one by myself.

I liked them enough to say that I would buy these to have on hand for a quick meal on a busy day! I cannot wait to try the other flavors. Yummo!

You can join in the fun and celebrate National Noodle Day starting October 5th, at the P.F. Chang's Twitter party!!! Sign onto Twitter from 8 to 10pm EST. Follow @PFChangs and follow the hash tag #noodlenight for a chance to win prizes and get the Noodle Day celebration started right.

On October 6th, National Noodle Day, be sure to visit the P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Sweepstakes tab on Facebook for our National Noodle Day Sweepstakes. You can enter to win one of our VIP noodle tasting kits, chef-quality skillets to prepare your meal, and a grand prize trip for two to spice up your weeknight in Las Vegas!

I know I will be there so I hope you will me and maybe you might win!!

Disclosure: I received a sample product and a VIP noodle tasting kit 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.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Making Better Choices with Activia Selects Yogurts



I recently had the opportunity to try the new Activia Selects yogurt. I have eaten Activia yogurt before and it is one product I buy on a regular basis.

Activia now has some new products. They have a French style yogurt, a French style yogurt with fruit at the bottom, a Greek style yogurt and a yogurt parfait.

I decided to try the Activia Selects yogurt parfait and, for good measure, I bought the new Activia Selects French style yogurt as well. I love yogurt and granola so the parfait was the perfect choice. The granola comes in its own separate container on top of the yogurt so it is easy to mix and stays crunchy. It was delicious. The French style yogurt was delicious as well. It was smooth and creamy and had chunks of fruit. I love being able to taste the fruit when I eat yogurt.

This opportunity came at the perfect time because I have been noticing that my pants are getting a little tight lately. When that happens it is definitely time for me to start watching what I eat. No longer can I have a doughnut for breakfast or chocolate for an afternoon snack. I have to start switching to better choices. I find that yogurt is the perfect snack or breakfast for me.

I work full time so it is not always easy for me to eat breakfast. I love that I can grab a yogurt and have it before I hit the road. I can also pop it into my lunch box and keep it in my work fridge and have it sometime during the day. I think the Activia Parfait is the perfect snack for that dead time around 2pm and 3pm where I get tired and need a pick me up. The yogurt along with the granola gives me that extra added energy without the calories or fat.

Besides the fact that Activia tastes great, I know it is good for me as well. My doctor has told me that I need to take probiotics and Activia contains Bifidus Regularis, a probiotic culture, that helps regulate my digestive system when consumed daily for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. I get the best of both worlds: great taste and nutritious snack.

Also, I love that Dannon is sponsoring the Cups of Hope Campaign. All you have to do is enter the code that is underneath every lid of specially marked cups. Once you enter the code, Dannon will donate 10 cents to the National Breast Cancer Foundation!! That is awesome. They will donate up to $1.5 million dollars with a guaranteed donation of $500,000.

So if you need to start making better choices, consider Activia. It is delicious and, best of all, satisfying. It is also a nutritious option for any lifestyle.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Dannon Activia Selects Yogurt Series and received a coupon to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

CLOSED ~ Who Moved My Cheese? Finlandia Cheese Giveaway ~ 3 winners!!!


I was so excited when I was contacted to review Finlandia Cheese. I am all about cheese. It is probably one of my favorite foods. I love any type of cheese and use all the time.

The problem is that I got my coupons and then went to the store and there was no Finlandia Cheese. I cannot tell you how many times I cannot find products here in my little town. Not even Walmart had it! It was very disappointing for me but lucky for you. I have some Finlandia coupons to give away to my wonderful readers now.

Now who can't use cheese? And Finlandia Cheese looks to be a wonderful choice. These cheeses are naturally lactose free which is good news for a lot of people who cannot eat cheese because of that. Here is a list of the lactose free products: Imported Swiss, Imported Light Swiss, Imported Oltermanni Baby Muenster, Imported Muenster, Imported Light Swiss, Imported Thin-Sliced Swiss, Imported Havarti, Imported Gouda. Yummo!

You can go to the Finlandia site and check out some wonderful recipes as well. There are several recipes from Ariane Duarte, Executive Chef of award-winning CulinAriane restaurant and finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef.

Finlandia also has delicious options including Light Swiss and new Lacey Swiss, both so tasty that you will never know you are actually eating something good for you. Regardless of your favorite type of cheese, Finlandia’s line of all-natural, lactose-free, and hormone-free cheeses allows you to be your own chef with endless flavor combinations.

Okay my dear readers, I have 3 coupons for 3 lucky peeps. You know the drill by now. Good Luck.

Mandatory Entry

Head over to the Finlandia Cheese site and come back and tell me which recipe you would try.

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Deadline: Saturday, October 22 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: No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product.