Big Fish Games Giveaway! Win a $25 iTunes card.

There are times when I need to decompress after a busy day of blogging, working and taking care of the household. I sometimes watch TV but when I really want to zone out yet have a good time, I play online games.

My favorite type of online games are casino games. I love playing slots and sometimes poker and blackjack. Slots are my favorites because I don't really have to do anything but place a bet and spin the wheels. It helps me zone out a little and relax. I am not sure why but that's how I chill out.

I was recently introduced to Big Fish Games. Big Fish Games is an online site that allows you to download games to your computer or phone. You can also play online as well. You can find games for your PC or Mac. They have games for Droid and iPhones and iPads.

The variety is great. You can find games for adults and kids. They have puzzle games, hidden object games, matching games, arcade games, adventure games and, of course, casino games. I tried out the casino games because those are my favorites. I liked the variety of slots they had. They also have some of the big games like Bejeweled and Scrabble.

The graphics are great. The games are easy to play and they offer a good time if you like playing online games. If you are like me and love playing online games, you need to check out Big Fish Games. You might find something for you or your family.

Thanks to Big Fish Games, I have a $25 iTunes card for one lucky reader. Think of all the games or music you can download with this card. YAY! 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.

Valentine's Day Gift Idea! Post-it Note Dispensers!

For all those who want to send me a Birthday or a Valentine's gift, here is a hint of what I would love! Yes, Post-it Notes!! These new Post-it Valentine Heart Dispensers are the cutest things ever!! They look like the heart candies that we all eat too many of on February 14th! I love the sayings. My favorite: "You Rock" because I do. The others are adorable as well. The dispensers come with “MSG ME” and “BE MINE” as well. So if you are looking for a cute gift for the Post-it Lover in your life, go buy these!

Big Game Treats and Recipes!

Are you looking for some great food for the Big Game? I found some great recipes on the Unilever site from Chef Ema Quevado. I love cooking for the the Game Party but I also want time to watch the game. No one wants to have to stay chained to the kitchen. I look of easy and delicious recipes to satisfy my guests. Since I am a fan of Latin food, I will be trying some of these recipes. I am definitely making the Street Vendor Corn. I never tried making this before so we will see how it goes.

Here are a few recipes you need to try.

LATIN-STYLE STREET VENDOR CORN ON THE COB

CAUTION FLAG CHICKEN WINGS WITH MAPLE BOURBON GLAZE

CHICKEN FAJITA GRILLED PIZZAS

CHIPOTLE ENCHILADAS

photos provided by Unilever

Neutrogena Cosmetics Giveaway!

This year, Neutrogena's Latina Ambassador, Elizabeth Ulloa, brings her beauty secrets for a great look in 2014.  Elizabeth recommends a radiant look that incorporates cosmetics that have SPF protection as well as moisturizing ingredients and anti-oxidants. During the winter, the cold, wind and low humidity can leave your skin dry and looking rough. She suggests you select multifunctional products to help you maintain a healthy tone round.

Some of the Neutrogena products you can use this winter for a radiant complexion are the following.

NEUTROGENA® Crease Proof Eye Shadow - instantly revives and brightens eyes with sheer, silky color and light reflecting pearls. Built-in primer prevents creasing, fading and smudging, while the anti-oxidant rich formula nourishes the delicate eye area.

NEUTROGENA® Healthy Lengths Mascara - delivers a lash lengthening formula for lashes that look 100% longer, beautifully healthy and noticeable. Exclusive vitamin E and olive oil formula deeply nourishes and strengthens lashes from the inside out so lashes stay strong day after day. Gentle bristle brush combs through each and every lash, applying anti-oxidant rich color to instantly intensify the look of lashes. No clumps, flaking or smudging.

NEUTROGENA® MoistureSmooth Color Stick - instantly moisturize lips, while continuously conditioning them so they are softer and smoother in just 3 days with nothing on them. Made with fruit extracts along with mango and shea butter, the balm-like formula glides on easily, providing a sheer wash of moisturizing color that lasts for hours. In addition, the twist up package allows for perfect application each time – with no sharpener needed.

Additional Tip: To cover dark circles under the eyes she recommends selecting a concealer that is two shades lighter than your skin tone to brighten the eye area. Try NEUTROGENA® Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfecter Broad Spectrum SPF 25 for sheer coverage and a natural, flawless finish. This product is also ideal for use as a pre-base on the eyelids before applying shadow.

I loved the Healthy Lengths Mascara because it made my lashes look longer. And I need all the help I can get because my lashes are thin and small. And the MoistureSmooth Color Stick was great on my lips. It left them soft and kissable and gave me just the right amount of color that lasted a long time.

If you want to win a Crease Proof Eye Shadow, Healthy Lashes Mascara and MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Rich Raisin, just enter on the Rafflecopter 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.

Prime Beef Stroganoff or how to use prime rib roast leftovers!

I had a lot of Prime Rib Roast left from our New Year's Eve dinner. We usually will have another full meal the next day and then I have to get creative. Usually I make some tacos or have "steak" and eggs for breakfast. This year, I decided to make a stroganoff. This, of course, is a willy-nilly recipe. I have made stroganoff before so I just winged it but it was easy to make. It was so delicious. If you have any leftover beef, including ground beef, this is a great way to re-use it and make a new meal. Yummo. 

Here is how I made my dish.

Saute some onions and garlic. 

Chop up some Portobello mushrooms. I use these because they are meaty and make the dish more hearty. 

Mix the mushrooms, onions and garlic and saute. 

Take your leftover meat and chop into chunks. 

Add the meat to the mixture and saute.

Add a little Vermouth or Port Wine to the mixture and cook it down. 

Add a little beef broth. I didn't have beef so I used chicken sock. 

I would say about a cup of broth will do it. 

To thicken the sauce, I used a little cornstarch. You can use flour as well.

Start cooking your noodles. 

Add the cornstarch to the mixture. Then add the a cup of sour cream into the 

mixture and whisk it all together. 

When the noodles are ready, put them into the mixture and make sure they are totally coated with the sauce. 

Viola! A delicious, fresh meal made with leftover beef. OMG it is so delicious! 

Buen Provecho!

An EXCLUSIVE interview Olympic Free Skier David Wise and Pampers Giveaway!

I recently had the opportunity to ask Olympic free-skier David Wise a few questions about his journey to the Olympics and his family! WOO! I am thrilled that he took the time to answer my questions and also film this video so I could share it with my readers! Please check out the video because his answers are super interesting.


I have to say that I am very excited that the Sochi Winter Olympics are right around the corner. I am a huge fan of the skiing events and also figure skating. Free skiing is making its Olympic debut so as an inaugural athlete, these games are especially important for David. I will be cheering for David to win a gold medal.

As David said, this are his first Olympic Games so it must be so exciting for him. He is also a dad of a 2 year old and his partnership with Pampers is a great fit for him. I love that he will support Nayeli in anything she wants to do in the future! She also sounds like a handful, so he needs to be prepared! I wish David and his family all the best.

And if you did not catch it, David mentioned the “Pampers Game Face” sweepstakes, which begins on February 4th and gives parents the chance to upload their baby’s best “game face” to create custom memes that can be shared. Your photo might just win you a great prize so remember to go to the Pampers Facebook page and enter in February!

Thanks to Pampers, I have a Pampers prize pack for one lucky reader that includes $50 worth of Pamper products! You know the drill, 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.

Disney's Maleficent "Dream" Trailer!

Last night while watching the Grammy's I saw the trailer to Maleficent. I CANNOT wait for this movie. Not only am I an Angelina Jolie fan but I love Maleficent! She is one of my favorite Disney villains! Award-winning, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has recorded a unique re-imagining of the renowned fairy-tale tune from Disney’s classic animated film “Sleeping Beauty,” which will feature in the end credits of the upcoming Disney film.

Lana Del Rey’s “Once Upon a Dream” is free for a limited time, only on Google Play, Google’s online store offering digital music, movies, books, games and more. The song was made available as a free download today and will be available exclusively on Google Play through Monday, February 3^rd.

Like MALEFICENT on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyMaleficent

Follow Disney on Twitter: @DisneyPictures

Instagram: http://instagram.com/disneystudios

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/disneystudios/maleficent/

Tumblr: http://disney.tumblr.com/

Official website: disney.com/Maleficent 

MALEFICENT releases in theaters everywhere on May 30, 2014!

Getting and Staying Motivated! Best Buy keeps me on track! #GetMotivated

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, I decided to get healthier. I want to to lose weight but eating better and getting fit are my main goals. This requires me to get back on the treadmill, do cardio and Zumba my life away. I have a Misfit fitness tracker I need to start using more often. It helps me when I am on the treadmill.

When I am on the treadmill the thing that motivates me is my workout music. I have my music on my phone. I hop on the treadmill, pop in my earphones and go to town. Okay, I just walk fast not run. But even a little walking is better than none. Here is part of my playlist:

David Bowie: Let's Dance and Modern Love
Queen: This Thing Called Love and Killer Queen
MarcAnthony: Y Hubo Alguien and Nadie Como Ella
Shakira: Ojos Asi, Suerte and Te Aviso, Te Anuncio
Elvis Crespo: Suavemente, Tu Sonrisa and Pintame
Michael Jackson/Jackson 5: ABC Shake Your Body, Beat It, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Earth, Wind and Fire: September
Rick Springfield: Love Somebody, Jessie's Girl, I've Done Everything For You
Will Smith: Gettin' Jiggy With It and Welcome to Miami
Oscar D'leon: Me Voy Pa' Cali
Ricky Martin: Maria, She Bangs, Living La Vida Loca and La Bomba
Jennifer Lopez: Waiting for Tonight
Def Leppard: Pour Some Sugar on Me
Britney Spears: Work B**ch

The music keeps me motivated. When I Zumba or do an aerobics DVD, I usually use my own music instead of the music on the DVD because it is music I love and music that keeps me wanting to exercise. Recently, I lost my favorite earphones and now need a new pair. While checking out the Health and Fitness section on the Best Buy website, I saw a new pair of earphones I might buy: yurbuds.

What I loved about the new yurbuds is that they are wireless!! OMG that is so fantastic because when I am exercising, I always have to worry the cord getting in my way of exercising. Sometimes, I accidentally hit the cord and the earphones pop out and then I have to stop my routine and put it back in. So wireless yurbuds are just what I need for my fitness routine!


yurbuds was founded in 2008 by an Ironman Triathlete and a 24-time marathoner. yurbuds are ergonomically designed for comfort and exceptional fit, while providing best-in-class audio quality and durability. yurbuds listens to and learns from our athletes to produce solutions to their needs. yurbuds is dedicated to innovating and creatively changing the industry of sport audio.

These Stereo-Bluetooth® earphones lock in place comfortably so they never hurt and never fall out. The 15mm drivers provide the biggest sound available. The earphones are sweat and water resistant and feature full track & call control with a wind-blocking microphone designed for call clarity. The battery lasts up to 6 hours and provides visual and audible indicators when running low. With yurbuds TwistLock™ Technology and FlexSoft Comfort Fit, these Stereo-Bluetooth® earphones lock in place comfortably and are guaranteed never to hurt or fall out.

To me, yurbuds are a godsend. The fact that I can now hop on the treadmill and listen to my music without worrying they will fall out or I will get tangles on the cord or that the cord will be pulled out of the phone, is great! I am going to cut the cord and purchase a pair!

Luckily, there are some special promotions going on at Best Buy. You can get 20% OFF ALL yurbuds. This coupon is valid both in stores and online, online coupon code is yurbuds20off. You can also enjoy a $5 Best Buy Gift Card when you purchase a qualifying Health and Fitness product at a Best Buy Mobile Specialty Store. Both offers are valid 1/19/14 - 2/22/14.

So head over to Best Buy and find a large selection of yurbuds. I know this will make me stay on track and get healthy!

Join Purex in Supporting Make-A-Wish + GIVEAWAY!

Purex Laundry Detergent provided me with Purex coupons in exchange for sharing the Purex Make-A-Wish Camapign. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Purex is partnering with Make-A-Wish to being bright wishes to kids with life-threatening medical conditions. Starting on February 1, Purex will donate 5 cents per bottle of 75oz+ liquid detergent for the first 4 million bottle sold. Then Purex will increase that donation to 10 cents for every bottle after 4 million. For every bottle of Fabric Softener sold, Purex will donate 8 cents per bottle for the first 620,000 bottles and 10 cents for every bottle after the 620,000. This offer will end on February 28.

This is fantastic because Make-A-Wish is a great organization. Granting wishes to children with life-threatening conditions is so wonderful. It helps the child and also the family who has to deal with the daily work of taking care of their child. Since its inception in 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 226,00 wishes. Make sure to visit Make-A-Wish for more information.

If you all have read my blog for a while, you know I am a fan of Purex. It is the detergent and Fabric Softener that you will find at my house. Since I am a Purex insider, it has really become the only detergent I buy anymore. I find that it fantastic for cleaning my laundry. It keeps them bright and clean and also make them smell so good!

I know I will be stocking up on my Purex during the month of February and you should consider it as well. Help Purex help Make-A-Wish. If you want to win a coupon for a bottle of Purex, then enter on the Rafflecopter widget below! There will be 3 winners!

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.

POND’s Luminous Finish BB + Cream review

In a few weeks, I will be 50 years old. This upcoming birthday started to get me thinking that I need to make changes because I officially going to be middle-aged. I have started eating healthier and exercising. I have also started using more lotions and potions on my skin to help it transition into my 50's.

I am always looking for new products that will help me keep my skin looking younger than it really is. I am already seeing a few wrinkles and some skin discoloration. I am not liking that!

I recently had the opportunity it try POND’s Luminous Finish BB+ Cream. Now, I have to admit that I rarely is ever use any foundation on my face. I usually go au natural. I have to give credit to my mom and dad because I have pretty good skin even for a 50 year old! But there are times when I need a little help. Usually when I am attending a special event or occasion, I use a light foundation to make myself look better.

POND’s Luminous Finish BB+ Cream did just that. I put some on and it covered all my small imperfections. It looked natural as well. It did not look like I was wearing foundation. It went on easily and smoothly. But I have to admit that it felt a little heavy on my skin. But that could be because I never wear any type of foundation.

I liked the fact that it also was not shiny when I was wearing it. I did not have to even put on face powder over it. It is not greasy. I also like that it has SPF protection. I will not wear any face cream without SPF nowadays. As you can see from the pictures below, it did make my face llok smoother and blended my skin tone.

While, I liked the product, I am not sure I would use it all the time. I would prefer something a little lighter on my skin. But if you actually wear a heavy foundation, you might want to try POND's Luminous. It is one of the lightest foundations

POND’s Luminous Finish BB+ Cream 

Essential Features

• Superior* Coverage of Imperfections

• Superior* Visible Dark Spot Reduction

• Superior* Non-Greasy Feel, with a Matte Finish

• Broad spectrum SPF 15 sun protection

• Non-comedogenic – won’t clog pores

• Dermatologist tested

• Hypoallergenic

You can find POND's Luminous Finish BB + Cream at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS or online. Retail price is around $9.99. You can find POND's on Facebook.

Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe!

This is one of my new favorite recipes. I love anything that has potatoes in it and this not only has potatoes and cheese. YUMMO! Besides the fact that this recipe is so delicious, it is pretty easy to make. It can be served as a side dish to fried chicken to a prime rib roast. Now that we are starting to eat less meat, this can be served as an entree with a salad.

I also use my easy cheese sauce recipe for this dish. You can use this cheese sauce for anything like hash brown casserole, fondue, mac & cheese etc. It is easy to make and I guarantee it is the best!

Here is my recipe, step by step:

Start by making a roux. You need equal amounts of flour and butter. I usually use 2 tablespoons each. But you can use more or less depending on the amount of sauce you want. Melt the butter and flour until they are blended and the roux has a little bit of color. 

Once blended add a pinch of salt and pepper. Grate a little fresh nutmeg to the roux. You can use ground nutmeg if you do not have fresh. Start with, literally, a pinch. Then you can add more when the sauce is done to make it to suit your taste. 

Add a cup or cup and a half of milk. Again, this will depend on how much sauce you want. Mix the milk with the roux until it starts to thicken a little. Once it starts to thicken add the cheese and mix well. You want to make sure the cheese is completely melted into the sauce. Grated cheese works well but I just sliced my cheese and mixed it well. 

I use Gruyere because it is the best for this recipe. But if you want to use other cheeses, go ahead. I actually use this same cheese sauce for my hashbrown casserole and mac & cheese. I make a few adjustments but you can mix and match cheeses. But for this particular recipe, use a white cheese. 

Slice potatoes into thin strips. I used 3 medium-sized potatoes for this recipe. Again, if you want to make less or more, just adjust the amount.

Slice some onions into thin slices as well. Use a yellow or white onion. Do not use red onions because the red onion is not the right one for this recipe. I like using Vidalia onions. 

Take your casserole dish and spray it with some PAM. Trust me, you want to do this because it will be sticky! Then start lining the casserole dish with the potatoes. 

Then add the onions and salt and pepper. You want to salt every layer. And just keep layering 

until the dish is full. 

Add the cheese sauce to the potatoes and onions.

Make sure the sauce covers the whole dish. The sauce will dry out a little when cooked so you want enough sauce so the dish does not dry out.  Place it in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour. But always check the thicker potatoes because they might need a little more cooking time. 

Look at that creamy deliciousness! Let me tell you folks, that once you make this recipe, you will keep making it. It is that good. Plus, you can eat this for any occasion and it makes a great dish for a potluck! And, it's easy. I always say, if I can do it, anyone can do it. 

Buen Provecho!

Manwich Makes Dinner Easy #Manwich

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Manwich for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have to admit that I never ate Manwich as a kid. My parents are from Costa Rica so we grew up eating more Latin food than American food. I started eating Manwich when I met my husband. He is not much of a cook but one of the things he always cooked were Sloppy Joe's.

I remember my first taste of the deliciousness that was a Sloppy Joe. It was salty, sweet and hearty. It was also messy but I was hooked. Every so often my hubby requests Sloppy Joe's for dinner. I also make Sloppy Joe's when I don't have time to prepare a meal and need something quick! And when I am out of town, I always leave hubby Manwich mix and ground beef so he can make his own dinner.

This year, however, we are trying to eat healthier. I thought we might have to give up our Manwich Sloppy Joe's but I came up with a better idea. I decided to see if I could take one of our favorite quick meals and lighten it up.



The first thing I did was change the ground beef to ground turkey. Then I added some fresh veggies. I chopped up some tomatoes, onions and green peppers. The Thick & Chunky Manwich already has bulk but adding fresh veggies made it chunkier and more hearty. Once I cooked the fresh veggies, I added the Manwich sauce and I was ready to serve.



I decided to to use lettuce cups instead of buns. Hubby was not having any of that though. He opted for the buns but I stuck to the plan. And, let me tell you, it worked. First of all, hubby had no idea I used ground turkey and was surprised after eating one sandwich that that was the case. He said he did not notice the change in protein. He said the filling was delicious and now he is on board to using a leaner meat.



I love the the Manwich in the lettuce cups. I figure that saved me a ton of calories without losing any of the delicious Manwich flavor. The meal was still hearty and I was satisfied. I am so glad that Manwich still fits into our quest to get healthy. I know hubby would not like it if I took our Manwich meals off the menu rotation. Now if I could get hubby to eat the lettuce cups, we are all set.



Manwich is a perfect quick and easy meal for any week day meal. If you have not tried it, you should. Manwich makes dinner or lunchtime easy! Plus, you can head over to the Manwich site and check out some Manwich Recipes you can make! Also check out these great Manwich TV Ads.