McDonalds Arch Cards Giveaway - $15

I have $15 in McDonalds Arch cards. I will not be using them because we rarely eat at McDonalds. But I knew that one of my readers would probably love to have these. So I am giving them away to one lucky reader.  Just enter on the Rafflecopter widget below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Rules: One entry per person per day. 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. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Gorton's Seafood Coupon Giveaway! 3 Winners!

I found some Gorton's coupons in my coupon holder and I am not going to use them. So I decided to give them away! I have 6 coupons so I am sending 2 full-value coupons to to each winner!

Gorton's products are delish and great for quick and easy meals. I know hubby loves the beer battered fish. I serve these up with a salad and some homemade fries and he is in hog heaven!

For a chance to win, just enter on the rafflecopter widget below! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules: One entry per person per day. 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. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

A Little Help for the Holidays from Kraft + Hashbrown Casserole Recipe! #KraftHolidaySavings

During the holidays and all year round, I want fast and easy meals. One of my go to meals is my world famous Hash Brown Casserole. Okay, it's not world famous but anyone who has ever had it will tell you it's delish and should be world famous.

The recipe is also for the cheese sauce that makes the hash brown casserole delicious. I created the cheese sauce one day while trying to recreate the casserole I had at Cracker Barrel. I actually made it better than the original dish.

The cheese sauce has now become a staple in my household since I can use it in a variety of dishes including mac & cheese and scalloped potatoes. I sometimes use the cheese sauce for parties and use it as a fondue. It is great.

The best part is you can customize the recipe to suit your taste. Check out my video to see how it is made.

Carolyn's Hash Brown Casserole

Ingredients:

1 bag of KRAFT shredded cheese (you can choose your flavor)
1 bag of shredded hash browns
1 medium diced onion
1/2 cup beer
1 cup of milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
salt & pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions:

* Make a roux by heating up the butter and flour
* Once the roux is ready, add salt, pepper, mustard, garlic powder and onion powder
* Add the beer and milk and mix until the mixture thickens up
* Turn off heat and add the KRAFT shredded cheese and mix until it melts into the sauce
* In the meantime, take a casserole dish and start layering the potatoes and onions
* After every layer, add a little salt and pepper to season
* Add the cheese sauce to the potatoes and onions and mix 

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

This is a quick and easy recipe for any occasion. The cheese sauce can be used in a variety of dishes and will be the hit of any meal. I use KRAFT shredded cheese because it is so much easier to melt and it tastes great.

The best thing is that KRAFT has some special savings for you. You can find some great savings on KRAFT products to make delicious recipes for quick weeknight meals/easy entertaining available at Target.com. Click for up to $20 in savings.

I know I will be heading over to the site because I love to save money! And I love cooking with KRAFT products! I hope you enjoyed my recipe and try it because I know you will love it!

From shopping for gifts to planning family dinners, it’s hard to keep up with all your holiday to-do’s. This year, Kraft is helping out with great weeknight meals and entertaining ideas to make the season a little bit easier. Plus, Kraft is offering up to $20 in coupons, redeemable exclusively at Target, to make food shopping easier and to help you have a happy holiday season.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kraft. The opinions and text are all mine.

Target Weddings ~ Give an Unforgettable and Unique Gift! #TargetWedding

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.

This year and last year, we attended quite a few weddings. Sometimes finding gifts for people is easy because they have a registry or you know exactly what they want. Sometimes we give money to a couple because they are young and starting out. And sometimes, I try and get creative and so something unique for the couple.

The Target Wedding Registry has everything you need to gift any couple a fantastic gift. You can buy one big gift or buy several different gifts and do something special. I have a friend who is getting married and she has put a Keurig brewer on her gift registry. I decided I would buy her the Keurig because I have one and love it.

I also want to make it special for her and her future husband. I thought I would also make her a basket with items for a special Newlywed breakfast.  I thought I would add a few coffee mugs, single serve brew cups, pancake mix and other items to have breakfast in bed. Along with that, I want to add a tray and some beautiful napkins and possibly some place mats.

This would make a great gift because when she and her new hubby return from their honeymoon they will have the making for a special breakfast to start their new life together.
For the Newlywed Breakfast Basket you will need:

• Keurig Brewer
• Krusteaz Pancake and Waffle Mix
• Place mats 
• Napkins
• Beautiful tray
• Syrup
• Variety of Single Serve Cups
• Coffee Mugs
• Black and Decker Waffle Maker

That is my interpretation of the gift I would give. Of course, the items at Target are so much better. All I know is that this would make a special gift. Sure a Keurig brewer is a great gift but why not make it better? With my Newlywed Breakfast Basket, the happy couple will have all the fixings for a wonderful yet simple breakfast in bed. They can brew coffee and serve it in their new cute cups. They can make waffles and have a lovely breakfast in bed. How special is that?

Target's registry says: Be yourself, together and that is a good way to start a new life. With my gift, the happy couple can be themselves but do it together. I think my friends will enjoy a new twist on a simple wedding gift. It is both traditional and unique like the merchandise at Target.  There are so many cool items at Target that you will be able to find any type of gift for any couple.

Gift giving is fun and even more fun when you can create an unforgettable gift for loved ones. 

Universal Studios Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is celebrating its 2014 opening with an incredible preview offer, allowing guests to be among the first to experience Universal Orlando’s new moderate-and value-priced property, inspired by iconic beach resorts of the 1950’s and 60’s.

For a limited time, the whole family can experience Cabana Bay Beach Resort's new family suites with rates starting at $104 per night for a seven-night stay to $134 per night for a three-night stay. Offering up to 47 percent savings off regular prices, this introductory offer is available now for purchase for stays from March 31 to June 14, 2014.

The all-new family suites sleep up to six, surrounding guests with bold design, period colors, neon and a cool retro feel. The suites also feature a kitchenette with microwave, mini-refrigerator and sink. Combining affordability with convenience, the hotel’s location is within walking distance of both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Plus, hotel guests enjoy Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort is Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth on-site hotel with striking color schemes and nifty, nostalgic details throughout the décor. The new, 1800-room hotel features moderately priced family suites available this spring at the special preview price and value-priced guest rooms available in summer of 2014 along with a wealth of recreation. When complete, guests can experience a 10-lane bowling alley and enjoy two massive pools with sand beaches, a lazy river, waterslide and more.

This preview offer is available for booking until January 31, 2014. Conditions apply.** To learn more or to make a reservation, call 888-273-1311 or visit www.universalorlando.com. See more details below:

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Introductory Offer
**Pricing is per night, per family suite (sleeps up to six).
This limited time offer includes:
* Incredible rates for the entire family to enjoy all-new family suites
*  Seven-night stay: as low as $104 per night
*  Five-night stay: as low as $108 per night
* Three-night stay: as low as $134 per night
* On-site convenience – the hotel is within walking distance of Universal’s two theme parks and Universal CityWalk
* Early Park Admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (when guests purchase theme park tickets)
**Package is available for purchase now through January 31, 2014 for travel March 31, 2014 through June 14, 2014.
**Theme park tickets are not included.

Information provided by Universal Studios. 

How to Re-purpose Leftover Hamburgers!

Handy tip, if you have leftover hamburgers make chili. It's fast ad easy and makes a great hearty meal. That's what I did and it came out delicious!

I chopped up the leftover hamburgers. I used one can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, two cans of sweet onion diced tomatoes and one can of kidney beans. 

I added the tomatoes and beans into one large pot and then added cumin, coriander, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. 

I added the hamburger to the mix. 

I added half a bottle of beer to add a little flavor. 

I let it cook for a few hours. 

I served it with cheese and onions! It was delish! 

Buen Provecho! 

Best Buy E-Gift Cards are the Perfect Lunar New Year gift! #bbylunarnewyear

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

This year, Best Buy is celebrating the Lunar New Year that falls on January 31, 2014. Best Buy supports the spirit of diversity in its company and of its customers.

For Asians all around the world, including Asian-Americans, Lunar New Year not only celebrates the beginning of the year but also the ending of winter and the anticipated arrival of spring. It is one of the most important holidays celebrated in countries such as China, Tibet, Korea, and Vietnam.

I actually have celebrated the Lunar New Year for years. I had a friend who taught me about the Lunar New Year and it interested me. There are a lot of different traditions that I celebrate even though I did not grow up celebrating them. I find that learning about others traditions makes you a better person because you can understand where they are coming from.

In honor of the Lunar New Year, Best Buy is celebrating by releasing an Asian inspired gift card. The red card features two Koi Fish and is quite beautiful. I would definitely buy this for someone even not on the Lunar New Year.

Best Buy has others cute gift cards on their site. Right now they are featuring Holiday Gift Cards. Best Buy also has birthday, wedding, thank you e-cards and even gift cards in Spanish. You can find one for any occasion.

So if you are looking for a last minute Holiday gift or any other gift, you should consider giving a Best Buy gift card or E-Gift Cards. If you celebrate the Lunar New Year, this new card would be such a wonderful gift for someone!

Holiday Gift Idea! The Chef's Choice WafflePro 854!

I love waffles but I never make them because I didn't have a waffle maker. I do not like the frozen waffles so I do without unless I go to a restaurant where they serve them. But, luckily, now I can make my own waffle from home with my new Chef's Choice Classic WafflePro 854!

I received this wonderful appliance and now I can't get enough of it! After trying it a few times, I wondered how I lived without it. It is easy to use. Easy to clean and makes tasty waffle in minutes.

The set up was easy. Just plus it in and warm it up. I cleaned it before I started with a damp towel. The instructions were easy. Just plug in and wait. A little green light comes on when it is ready to go. You can choose to have your waffles crisp with a moist interior or with a uniform texture by just flipping a switch. There is also a setting button to control the color you want your waffles.

Since I have never ever made waffles in my life, I had no idea what to do so I improvised. First I found a waffle mix at the grocery store. I think in the future, I will buy fancy mix or make my own though. I mixed it up and turned on the WafflePro. It took about 5 minutes to heat up and it beeped and the ready light went on.

I poured some batter into the Wafflepro and closed it. I chose to have my waffles crispy and brown. About 3 minutes later they were done. My first batch was a little off because I had not put enough batter in but hubby gave the waffle a thumbs up. He actually loved the crispiness.

My second batch, I put in a little too much batter and it spilled out a little but the clean up was easy. These came out so much better and were moist and delicious. I was really surprised how easy ti was to make yummy waffles in minutes. The waffles came out easily because of the non-stick coating.

The Classic WafflePro® 854 makes 4 waffles at a time which is a time saver. If you had a bunch of people to feed, breakfast would be done lickety split with the Quad Baking System. The precise temperature control ensures consistent even baking and the floating hinge and latching handle guarantees uniform waffle thickness for perfect waffles.

I loved this little waffle maker because it makes my life easier. And, I no longer have to buy frozen waffles. I can have fresh waffles in minutes. Now all I have to do is perfect a delicious waffle mix or find one that I can buy.

It is the perfect Christmas gift for anyone on your list who loves cooking and waffles. The Classic WafflePro® Model 854 is available for $99.99 US and $119.99 Canada through leading department stores, mail-order catalogs, and specialty stores.

Las Vegas Adventures!

I recently went to Las Vegas and had a wonderful time. While there, I was able to do a few things that I wanted to share. Of course, I posted full stories on Carolyn in Carolina. But I wanted you guys to also get a taste of my experiences. So read on and if you are interested, click on the links because that will take you to my other blog and more pictures and info!

We stayed at the Paris Resort & Casino. It was very nice and we were able to eat at the new Gordon Ramsey Restaurant: Steak. The food was good but did not blow us away. For that amount of money, it should have blown us away. I, of course, lost my shirt on the slots but I had fun because I love gambling.

We attended the Latin Grammy Awards. It was so much fun. I saw some of my favorite artists like Marc Anthony, Miguel Bose, Juanes, Pitbull and others. The show was fantastic and it was something cool we were able to do. We then had some delicious food at KUMI at Mandalay Bay.

We did something unexpected and were invited to visit the Guns and Ammo Garage. We fired real guns. Now real guns scare me but I am not totally opposed to guns. If people want them, they should be able to get them but we restrictions and background checks. We shot a glock and an uzi. It was amazing and scary all at once.

We ate at Roy's Restaurant. I LOVE Roy's. We had an amazing meal and a really fun time. If you never visited a Roy's, you need to go! We also had some other amazing food!!

We even saw a Burlesque show called X Burlesque. It was a lot of fun and something we have always wanted to do but never did. It was a little racy but not bad at all. The dancing was great. The music was great and they had a great comedienne who cracked us up. It was a sexy show but not a sexual show. I would recommend it.

So head over to Carolyn in Carolina and check out more photos. Also, since I am out this week, I might be posting pictures from Cancun.

iPad Mini Giveaway!! Sign up with Slice for a chance to win!

Disclosure: I received compensation for posting this giveaway. Opinions are solely my own.

 

 

Have you ever wanted an app that can track all your purchases and shipping info? I order so many things online that I forget what I ordered. I lose track of the endless order confirmation emails. And during the holidays, it gets even worse.

Well, now there is one app that will solve that problem.

Slice is a free app that pulls together all the purchase and shipping information from your email inbox into once place so you can:

• Track all your shipments
• Stay organized and on budget
• Get Price Drop Alerts: Price Drop Alerts send you a notification when an item you have purchased has recently dropped in price and you are eligible to recoup the difference. Once you receive a price drop alert, the app guides you through the steps you need to take in order to get your money back.
• Track With Friends (perfect for holiday gift giving!): If you're mailing a gift, you can send customized notifications to recipients—plus or minus the details of what’s inside, so you don’t have to ruin the surprise.
• Get Product Recall Alerts (a must-have for parents!): The app will send you an alert if a product you've purchased is recalled. This is particularly useful for parents because it's hard to keep up-to-date on recalls and they certainly wouldn't want to continue to use faulty baby products or something that could be potentially harmful to their child. Also, they'll never miss an opportunity to get their money back.
• Make returns easy

There is no need to manually enter any information. The app saves you time, frustration, money and can potentially save lives. It's a must-have tool, during the holidays and beyond.

This app will definitely make my life easier during the holidays and, actually, all year round. this is one cool app! I love I can get info on price drops. I love that I can track all my packages from my laptop or my phone. It is super convenient.

 

If you're not already convinced to get Slice, here's an incentive. If you sign up for Slice, you'll be entered to win an iPad Mini! Okay, who doesn't want an iPad Mini, right? So all you have to do is sign up for Slice here (or get the app for your iPhone or Android), then enter on the Rafflecopter widget below.

I have given you some extra entries so you have more chances to win, so use them! And, the folks at Slice will be verifying that those email addresses are valid when we pick a winner on Friday, January 10, 2014. Note: winners must reside in the United States. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Rules: One entry per person per day. 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 compensation for this post but 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. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Make the Holidays Special with merci Chocolates #merciHoliday

It's holiday time and I love it. It is a time to give presents, eat good food and spend time with friends and family. These are the times I am thankful for and appreciate.

I love hosting parties at my house but many times we are invited to other people's parties. And I never show up without a gift. This is something I learned from my mother and have always kept up the tradition. My mother said it was rude to go to a person's house and not bring a little something. It didn't have to be big or pricey, you just had to being something to show them that you were thankful to be invited into their home.

Plus, hosting a party is a lot of work so the hostess deserves a little something. It takes a lot of work to be a great hostess. You have to make sure all your guests are fed, hydrated and having a good time. You also have to plan, coordinate and then clean up after the party. I think any host or hostess needs a gift for all that work.

I always vary the hostess gifts depending on who we are visiting. Sometimes, we bring a bottle wine. Sometimes, we bring dessert or a food item. I like making up a little basket that means something to the person we are visiting. Sometimes, I bring chocolates. I think it's a nice gesture.

This year, I received a gift from merci chocolates. Once I saw it, I knew this would make a perfect hostess gift. It is the kind of gifts I like to create. It was a nice theme package that includes a box of merci chocolates, a bag of coffee and two lovely coffee mugs. This is the perfect gift for someone like me because I love chocolate and coffee.

I know I have given merci Chocolates to friends and family an they loved them. And they make a great gift for any occasion. Whether it be the holidays, a birthday or just to say that you appreciate the person, merci makes that statement. Besides the merci chocolates are delicious and come in a beautiful package!

Head over to  the merci Facebook page and try the Thank You Maker app. You can send a friend a meaningful thank you and then you will receive a BOGO (Buy one, get one free) coupon!

I have another merci gift pack for one lucky reader. It is to say I appreciate you because I have very loyal readers who support this blog! Included in the prize pack is:

A box of merci
Coffee cup set of two
Delicious roasted coffee

To win, just enter on the Rafflecopter widget blow! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Rules: One entry per person per day. 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. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Tis the Season for Hershey's Holiday Treats + GIVEAWAY!

I really cannot review Hershey's because what can I say. I love Hershey's chocolates. I am sure unless you live under a rock, you have not tried some type of Hershey's chocolate.

When I was sent a box full of Hershey's goodies, I was in heaven. I received Twizzlers licorice,Candy canes filled with Jolly Rancher hard candies and Bubble Yum, York Peppermint Patties, new Hershey's cane cane kisses, Reese's peanut butter cups and bells, Hershey's milk chocolate bells and a beautiful tin filled with kisses.

Hershey's also has a few new products which look as delicious as these are. I received the following new products as well.

•NEW – Hershey’s® Collection Pretzels
•NEW – Hershey’s® Collection Almond Clusters
•NEW – Hershey’s® Kisses® Milk Chocolates Gifting Canister
•NEW – Twizzlers® Tree Shaped Cherry Candy King Size
•NEW – Hershey's® Candy Cane Bar Mint Candy with Candy Bits

Where do I start? I loved them all. Sure there are some candies I liked better than others but, overall, you cannot go wrong with any of these candies and chocolates. We always seem to have Hershey's in the house. Sure, that is bad for my waistline but one or two or three or ten a week doesn't hurt.

Hubby loves Reese's Peanut Cups and Hershey's kisses. I love Hershey's Kisses as well and the Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses are delish. I adore York Peppermint Patties and do not get me started on the new Hershey's Collection Almond Clusters. I had to hide those in the pantry (I hope hubby is not reading this) so I can eat them all myself.

If you want to be inspired this holiday season, head over to the Celebrate with Hershey's site to find holiday recipe ideas, crafts, decorations, party invitations and more. You will find tons of festive ideas to use throughout the season such as baking "Kisses Candy Cane Blossoms" or "Rolo Pretzel Delights." There is also a section with Gift ideas. I know every year, I buy a couple of Hershey's® Pot of Gold® Collections boxes to give to friends and family.

So head over to the site and celebrate this holiday season with Hershey's. The holidays are a perfect time for any Hershey's products. Heck, Hershey's are good all year round! And if you want to win a box full of goodies like the one I received (items will vary) then enter below on the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Rules: One entry per person per day. 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. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Marriott Makes My Destinations Special! #marriottvacay

My hubby and I joke about how 2013 was our year of travel. We traveled together and then separately quite a few times this year. We are positive we have never ever been on more trips in one year ever.

2013 started with me going to Disney on a press trip in February. It was wonderful but that was one of the trips I took alone. In March, hubby went off to South Korea and China on a trip through the university he works at. I have to admit I was super jealous because he got to walk on the Great Wall of China and see the Forbidden City.

In May, we took a trip of a lifetime when we went to Europe. My hubby had been there before but I hadn't and it was magnificent. We traveled to London, Paris, Barcelona and Madrid. I got sick in Barcelona and ended up in the ER but it all worked out and we still had a fantastic trip.

In June, I headed off to Cincinnati to the P&G Headquarters, which was a lot of fun. I went alone. We also headed to Cleveland for a nephew's wedding. In July, we took a mini vacation to Atlanta. We had a wonderful time. We only live 2.5 hours from Atlanta and we had never visited. It was great!

In August, I went off alone again to Costa Rica to see my family. It had been a year since I had visited the family and it was a nice trip except for the fact that my husband did not come because he had to work. But that didn't stop me.

In September, I headed off to New York as part of the LATISM Top Latina Bloggers group. I love New York but this trip was extra special because I attended the LATISM conference and we were able to visit the United Nations building. That was amazing.

October took us to Charlotte, NC. We went to see the Carolina Panthers play and made a long weekend of it. We had a blast. In November we headed to Las Vegas. We love Las Vegas. And now we are headed to Cancun in December.

As you can see, we love traveling. Whether it be alone or together, we are gypsies at heart. What makes traveling bearable for us is finding a place we can call home for those days we are not at home. When we travel, we always fly out of the Atlanta International Airport because where we live there is no international airport and Atlanta is the closest.

Our one constant is that we always stay at a Marriott property because we have to spend the night to catch the flight the next day. And the Courtyard by Marriott near the Atlanta Airport we stay at has become one of our second homes. The Courtyard makes our travel easier and we always feel comfortable and special when we are there. We know we will always have a clean and comfy room. We will have great service and we have stayed there so often, they know us.

We are already planning our next trips for 2014. Our next trip might be to Washington D.C. We have been wanting to go back there for years. Marriott makes is easier with their interactive site that helps you plan and create your trip. After playing with the Marriott D.C. Trip Creator, it looks like I will make sure D.C. is our next trip. Take a look at it because it is a pretty cool tool.

I love Marriott properties. Did you know that Marriott International is a leading hospitality company with over 3,800 properties in over 74 countries and territories around the world? That means wherever you travel in the world, you are likely to find a Marriott property that suits your needs. I know Marriott is one of our go to hotel chains and it will continue to be on our future travel adventures.

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, however all content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Swiffer Steamboost Steam Mop Review!

This holiday cleaning tips post is brought to you by Swiffer® as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.

If you have ever read my blog, you know that there are a handful of products I cannot live without. Some of the top products are my Swiffer products including my Swiffer Wet Jet and Swiffer Duster. I cannot say enough about these products because I love them. It's as simple as that. They are great products that make my life easier.

I love my Wet Jet. It is great for both my tile floors and hardwood floors. I use it for my weekly cleaning. But as much as I love it, it still does not do the deep cleaning that is needed at least once a month. For that I have a steam mop. I have a steam mop, I do not like.

My steam mop does a good job. But it is heavy, it is messy and too much hassle for me. I hate cleaning so I want to make sure if I have to clean, I want it to be as easy as can be. My steam mop has attachments and non-disposable cleaning pads. It is hard to drag around the house and washing the pads is a pain. The disposable pads are why I love my Swiffer Wet Jet. I want and need easy.

When I received the opportunity to review the new Swiffer Steamboost Steam Mop, I was thrilled. I have been eyeing one of these for months. My husband forbade me from buying it since I already have the other steam mop. But now, I have a Swiffer Steamboost Steam Mop.

The Swiffer Steamboost is easy to put together. There are 3 pieces and they attach to each other easily. You just need to put on a pad and then water into the reservoir. You plug it in and in 30 seconds it is ready to clean. It was that easy.

I decided to try it in my bathroom first. Our tile floors are clean but grimy. I plugged in the Steamboost and went to the problem areas. While it did clean the floors, the grime was not totally taken away. I thought the steam might be able to do a deep cleaning. Now, I have no doubt that it cleaned and disinfected my floors but I wanted all the dirt to be gone.

Next was the kitchen. The first pass picked up a LOT of dirt on the pad even though I had just cleaned the floors the other day. My floors were clean but like the bathroom, I could still see some of that grimy dirt. I decided to take another pass and the Steamboost was still picking up dirt. After 3 passes, I realized that I am the worst housecleaner ever. I do clean but, obviously, not enough. It wasn't the Steamboost that wasn't working. I am embarrassed to say that it was my floors that were that dirty. After the cleaning though, the floors looked great.

You can see from the pads that the Steamboost got a lot of dirt up and I liked that. Steaming the dirt and grime not only gets it up but also keeps it sanitized. What I liked about the Steamboost was that it was lightweight and the handle was at a good height. The trigger is at the top the of handle so it is easy to squeeze. But after a while, my hand was hurting from squeezing it so much. The Steamboost is also easy to maneuver in and around the floors.

The cord is long so it is very convenient. The only negative is I wish the cord were higher up because I had to reach down and pull it along. But that is a minor thing when I do not have to do a lot of work to get my floors clean. I was able to do at least three cleaning before having to add more water. Plus, there is no mess and hassle. The floors also dried almost immediately after I mopped.

I wish the pads were a little thicker. I am thinking of buying the Swiffer Sweeper x-large pads the next time I clean and see how they work. I think having the cleaning solution on the pad and not in the reservoir is pretty smart. There is no extra solution to buy. You do not have to use the Swiffer Steamboost pads either. You can replace them with washable pads or towels. But I like simple and easy and that means that I will always use the Swiffer pads although that might not be very green of me.

Would I recommend this product? Yes. I love my Swiffer Wet Jet but sometimes, I might have a mess that it will not clean. I also like to know that my floors are clean and disinfected and I need a steam mop for that. I definitely like the Swiffer more than my old steam mop. It was easier to use and does a good job. I am still appalled that my floors were so dirty. Here I was living in a fool's paradise like Morty and Lee from the Swiffer commercial. I think my floors might need weekly or daily maintenance before they are totally clean but with the Swiffer Steamboost I won't mind cleaning every day.

So, if you are in the market for a small steamer without a lot of mess and hassle, the Steamboost is the one to buy.


This sponsored post was brought to you by Swiffer®. For a limited time, get a $15 prepaid card when you purchase a SteamBoost Steam Mop Starter Kit between 11/24/13 and 12/31/13. Swiffer BISSELL® SteamBoost™ combines a dirt-dissolving cleaning solution with the power of steam for a deep clean that gets messes mops can leave behind. Also be sure to like Swiffer on Facebook and follow @swiffer on Twitter.