HI FROM NEW YORK !!
I've got such eclectic tastes that you're going to find a little bit of this and that here...I just love life, plain and simple!
I love being a woman, a real woman. I love learning, sharing, loving my man, family, friends and strangers.
I am a woman after Gods' love, my mans' heart, my sons' future and living life as a proverbial woman.
Acts 16:31 says: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will
be saved. You and your household."
Friday, March 12, 2010
Personal Review - Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ritz
I am not sure where you can buy these little addictive crackers, but man, they sure are good! Almost like a cinnamon graham cracker, but the texture of the famous ritz is the foundation. We recieved a wonderful gift Kraft gift basket (here) and I admit, I have been hesitant about trying them. I mean, who would have tought of THIS flavor, right? Well...they are definitely good. They would be great with cheese OR served with ice cream or where ever your imagination will take you, these are definitely a must have to keep in the cupboard.
Hi everyone! Well, its been awhile since I did a food review of something we really enjoy (for all new members, Honey Bear and I travel the US East Coast to West Coast, mostly NY to Denver & the Rockies)...well, we found a frozen meal we really enjoy. When you cant cook homemade or you want something quick, let me tell ya, this is a go-to meal. Milano's Italian Grille. We havent been dissapointed with any of the flavors. Do not let the price or size fool you - the size is ONLY for two people IF you serve something else with it, otherwise its a very hefty one person meal, NOT anymore then that. The lasagna comes in a dish inside the package one, its about 2 inches high by about 4 inches long, but its very dense...thick. The milano is my favorite and so is the marsala.
You can find them at your local Walmart. I havent found any coupons for them, but we buy these on a weekly basis, they are that good (for frozen meals).
Hi there, I did a post last month regarding these meals and I really cant stop talking about them, why? Because they have really taken me by surprise.
You can buy these shelved meals for 2/$2 or 2/$3....at walmart that is...but they are so worth it, especially if you have kids.
Ok, here is a breakdown...
The pot roast is like dinty moore stew...one big piece of meat, lots of gravy and vegs and tastes like the canned stuff, but filling.
The swedish meatballs, just need a dash of dill or black pepper and its pretty darn good!
The chicken kinda stinks, its fake looking and tasting, but is the real deal...I dont eat the chicken ones anymore
The spaghetti, cook it for 2.5 mins, let it sit 1-2 mins, and its pretty darn good!
The teriyaki is just like other frozen kinds
And the list can go on.
Each meal is enough for a kid, two really fills an adult. They dont lack salt, but you dont taste it either. If you were to make a side veggie and serve with buttered bread, I am not kidding when I say, you have a filling meal, even if it LOOKS small, looks are decieving.
I am not one for packaged foods, cant stand them really. But with Honey Bear and I being on the road, we conserve our money by eating in the truck mostly and treating ourselves to a meal out of the truck now and then. We have a fridge, micro, toaster, stove, burner and coffee pot...I can make you a meal here :-) . We usually eat while driving, so I want small things to serve for easier and safer handling. Which is why we are eating these. One day while at Walmart, we ran into a real good deal on these meals, they were 2 for 3 bucks. Ok, we never had them before and decided to give them a try. Seriously, they are not attractive when you open them up, and the package says to cook for 1.5 mins, I cook for 2.5 mins. The package says to let it sit for 1 minute before eating because they are hot...not so, I say...they dont get that hot, but you DO need that minute to sit so the flavors have a chance to come alive. The spaghetti, if you dont let it sit, it tastes like a packaged meal, if you DO let it sit, have some green beans and buttered bread, its no different in taste then if you were eating leftovers.
For the money and convenience and if you are anything like me, dont like that canned stuff or any packaged dinners for that matter, you really will enjoy these. They are all trial and error like with anything else, but we have bought these two more times and they are on my shopping list again. They are small, easy to store and so very convenient.
Nothing at all beats a home cooked meal, nothing! But, when you are on the road like we are, these really do fill that spot in the tummy and are not at all bad, and the best part is, I am really particular about salt..love how it enhances the flavor of food, but hate how it affects my body, you will enjoy these little dinners too, because you dont taste the salt and they really dont affect me too much.
They are definitely cheap enough for you to try them for yourself. And like I said earlier, they are great for kids meals....just the right size and if they like the canned stuff, they will LOVE this stuff!
Hey, you want to try something cheap, easy and pretty much good? Well, Honey Bear and I eat more IN the truck, then out (at $25-$30 a sit down meal, who can blame us?)....well, at a recent stop to Walmart, we picked up some of these Hormel Complete meals down in the ravioli/spaghettio aisle at $1.78 each and they are not too bad. I have tried the spaghetti one, and to be honest, if you want to grab a quick pretty good meal (especially for the kids), this is a hit. It is SO much better then canned yuck and the taste is thick, rich and filling. I have also tried the turkey and stuffing - its alright, not bad, not good, just alright, but thats ok..it IS worth what we paid for.
So we give these a thumbs up and recommend you try them. They wont dent the budget, great for kids or quick snacks and not too bad....give `em a try!
Have you read my review on Jesus Calling? (Located on right side of screen under reviews).
Well, I just wanted to say something extra here.
I've been reading this daily for awhile now and it reminds me of a book that someone gave me once, where it daily had an inspiration about being a Princess in our Father's eyes. This little book has inspired me greatly. I read scripture, I read the day's page and it really helps start my day, really...There's only been one day that my emotions went the wrong way and sure enough, it set my day in the wrong way, BUT...the greatest thing I wanted to share with you is, it made me remember one really big thing...
I'm NOT the bad I feel inside of me when life gets so out of control, I fall, I don't fail...He IS my strength in my weakness....
And let me tell you, truly believing this SETS YOU FREE.....I was able to get through three really trying days, that without this really soaking up in me, would have put me in a self pity hell that I wouldn't be able to see God's ways thoroughly OR appreciate them, because things turned out BETTER with this knowledge in my heart...my faith did NOT falter and that's amazing through those days!
So, seriously, this little book IS a great read, it IS a great gift and it IS a little voice to tuck away in your heart daily...
I hope you truly consider it (I make no money off the review, so this is a sincere post just for you!)
Dove® Visibly Smooth anti-perspirant/deodorant combines a unique Pro-Epil™ Complex with natural extracts and Dove 1/4 moisturizers, to help you feel stubble free for longer. Of course, this new product offers the 24 hour odor and wetness protection you’ve come to expect from Dove deodorant.
We want to extend a special invitation to join the Dove® Visibly Smooth Facebook group. The page will feature weekly contests and foster great conversations with Dove® Visibly Smooth fans as well as beauty, lifestyle, travel, fitness and wedding experts…all sharing beauty advice and tips."
This stuff smells great, is great when you worry about those pesky under-arm hairs peaking through or being visible...
Now me, I am a natural blonde, through and through - actually white, blonde because no one told me that as blondes age, blonde = WHITE....humph....
But, even blondes get BLACK underarm hair - why? I haven't a clue...
I received this new product and I have to admit, it's one of the few out there that delivers what it promises to be...
Hop on over to their website, join their facebook community and even look for coupons for it, you will NOT be disappointed!
(Disclaimer: Dove provided a full size sample and coupons to share)
Anytime you see me attach 'personal' to a review, it is our opinion on something I've bought, not a review from the particular company...
Ronzoni Bistro...I'm disappointed.
I've been carrying around a coupon for buy one, get one free. I've found two stores in our area that sells these and finally braved up buying them, I chose the Linguini with chicken and mushrooms - it LOOKS like chicken tetrazini and I LOVE tetrazini! So, with Honey Bear being on the road, I figured I'd eat something I love, save some money and try something new...
What a HORRIBLE experience!
Mind you, this review is ONLY on the flavor I've posted. Maybe I should have chosen a different flavor. The packages look small, enough to fill a corner of your tummy when you're not terribly hungry, you just want something light. The flavor is just not there. I added a little salt and pepper to try to pick it up, it did, BARELY....the sauce is thick, plenty of noodles, the chicken is dry and the flavor is horrible. If I didn't need to eat it, I would have tossed it or given it to the dog, THAT'S how horrible it tasted.
There is no resemblance to tetrazini, which I admit, the package does NOT promote it to be, but by the looks of the package, you would think it would. It had a 'dead' wine flavor or something off that I can't think of a better word for it...I served it over two pieces of toasted bread for extra filler.
I bought two packages of this flavor, wishing now that I had bought a different flavor as this was simply...yuck!
I'd love to hear if you've tried this and have a different point of view on them. As always, I give HONEST reviews and this is as honest as it comes! LOL!
Seriously, maybe a different flavor would have been better, this flavor was a huge let down and at $2.99 (Pathmark), I really feel it was a waste of money, even at buy one, get one free...
Sometimes, All A Person Needs Is A Little Perspective
By Andy Andrews
This review is straight from the Thomas Nelson website, as I simply could not write a better description of this book - this review says it all:
"Perhaps no one knows what hitting rock bottom feels like better than author of The Traveler's Gift, Andy Andrews. Once homeless, directionless and living under a pier, Andrews is now a best-selling author and an in-demand speaker for U.S. presidents, top corporations, celebrities, and the U.S. military. With his latest book, The Noticer, releasing the week of April 27th, Andrews draws on his own remarkable true story to reveal the healing power of perspective."
A new story of common wisdom from the bestselling author of The Traveler's Gift
Orange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But like all humans on the planet, the good folks of Orange Beach have their share of problems - marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, as well as the many other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.
Fortunately, when things look the darkest - a mysterious man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. An elderly man with white hair, of indiscriminate age and race, wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and leather flip flops carrying a battered old suitcase, Jones is a unique soul. Communicating what he calls "a little perspective," Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. "Your time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely," he says. "Don't squander your words or your thoughts. Consider even the simplest action you take, for your lives matter beyondmeasure…and they matter forever."
Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what we can do about it. Like The Traveler's Gift, The Noticer is a unique narrative is a blend of fiction, allegory, and inspiration. Gifted storyteller Andy Andrews helps us see how becoming a "noticer" just might change a person's life forever.
Visit http://www.thenoticerproject.com/ for more information about "The Noticer Project." Also, launching April 7th, "The Noticer Project" is a worldwide movement to "notice" the five most influential people in your life - one of the core messages of The Noticer. Noticing those five people can be as private (just a letter or email) or as public (posting to your blog or Facebook page) as you choose, but the movement is meant to encourage us to step outside our busy schedules and avoid waiting until a wedding, graduation, or even funeral to take notice of the special, influential people in our lives.
Book Review - Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
Special thanks again to Thomas Nelson for this opportunity to review yet another amazing book!
Author Sarah Young took her prayer journal and decided to share it with the world - her experiences of listening to Jesus speak to her. We all have a special connection with our Lord and how He chooses to speak to us, and I am so thankful for this little book, which would be a blessing to add to your personal library, as well as, give as a gift.
The very first day I read this book, I opened to that days date and I have no idea what YEAR she wrote her personal notes in, but that particular day, what I read was exactly what I longed to hear from our Father.
Maybe that's the purpose of this book, Jesus Calling, to not be the answer, but to be a voice above our own. I love how the entries are faith impacted enough to lft you during the day, and I also love how it's dated just by the month and date, no year attached - It feels more personal.
I truly appreciate an author like this who shares from their own experience where true knowledge and wisdom come. We can only give what we, ourselves, have gained. Sarah's personal one on one time with our Lord has been spread world wide due to the benefit her little notes written from what she claims to be, Jesus talking to her in her own prayer time.
It's wonderfully written, hardcover, beautiful and impactful!
I love to look sexy, pretty, dress my best when and where I can for Honey Bear .. I'm a firm believer that we should always look appealing to our men as well as our other appealing qualities.
Right now, they're running a clearance sale of 40% off thier original catalog prices. Check out their Clearnace sale, the prices are amazingly affordable.
These clothes are very stylish, pretty, sexy, value priced and I have sat down and made out an incredibly long wish list already!!
Seriously though, there is no age limit on us looking sexy for our men. So stop on over, give a look around and they even have an email list you can join!
Oh! And don't let yourself tell you that you can't be pretty in something stylish or sexy, I am far from perfect in the body department, BUT let me tell you something Honey Bear told me many times: if he wanted to look at someone in heels and classy/sexy...it's me. Now how can you think your man won't say or think the same about you?! Come on girls, they chose US, they look at US, they want US, let's do something to show them too!
Book Review - I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse: Insider Business Tips from a Former Mob Boss
Special thanks to ThomasNelson.com for this incredible opportunity to review this book:
I was trying to sum up this book in a few short words, but the very best description I've read is: "The small book contrasts a Machiavelli (the end justifies the means) and Solomon (integrity first) way of life/business, asking the reader to decide which way of life to choose."
And I have to agree. It's filled with a lot of business common sense that you can carry into your regular, day-to-day life and helpful information that you can lend to others without intimidation or too much pressure on them, as it is, like I said, common sense.
He explains why Machiavelli is followed by mobsters, and why following Machiavelli can be your undoing. He covers concepts like starting the day early, working hard (which doesn't always guarantee success), keeping your mouth shut, and of course, not getting whacked in your pajamas! Another serious discussion Michael Franzese covers is learning from your failures - that not everybody is cut out for everything. Find what you're good at and do it. You can always delegate the things you're not good at. And don't run away from your problems.
The last two chapters of the book deal with picking which philosopher you will follow: Machiavelli or Solomon, and making sure you have the right idea about success. Trying to convince yourself that you can follow both Machiavelli AND Solomon is a Machiavellian trick. Also, having millions of dollars while spending no time with the family really isn't success.
This is a great book for anyone beginning in the business world of any kind really. It's filled with knowledge and wisdom that you only learn from timely experience.
The author, Michael Franzese, integrates what he learned from life in the mob by expressing short, sometimes humorous stories that has now helped him in his business life. If anyone is inspired to do business in a moral, ethical way, then this book is a must read!
We were lucky to receive the Ilede France Goat Cheese for bloggers to review and enter our recipe in an upcoming surprise at their site.
As you already know, we LOVE Goat cheese here, so this wasn't a new experience to us, just a different brand. I will tell you this...this brand is AMAZING!
The tube came the other day and recipe galore started running through my mind. Instead of being super creative about it, I decided to serve it as is, how we'd normally eat it. Nothing too amazing in my creativity here, but it sure did work!
We were taken aback at the product at first. It's crumbly, yet firm - it's bitter like cream cheese only with more tang - it melts like silk...it's, like I said, AMAZING!
Our first try was next to my scrambled eggs which I mix with veg's and meat...alone, too tangy, stirred into eggs, awesome!
Then, last night, I was cleaning out the fridge. We had leftover rice (a concoction of 2c (raw) mixed rices - 1c. black, 1/2 c. red and 1/2 c. brown, which I cooked in the rice cooker with a tsp of olive oil). Ok, so I cooked up some ground beef with onion, garlic and pepper. Sprinkled half a package of Knorr pork gravy mix over meat after I drained it, gave it a good stir to coat the ground beef. I stirred in 3 c. of that cooked rice, added 1c. water and stirred it around to thicken. Heated up can of mustard greens, opened the can of chilled cranberry sauce and served the goat cheese on the side. On the plate, it was all so pretty: The rice/beef combo was dark, but interesting looking, delicious tasting- the mustard greens, cranberry sauce and pure white from the cheese, a color heaven! With each bite, you stirred a bit of cheese into the meat to melt, and it melts so silky!! And you took a little greens and popped it into your mouth - seriously, this was creamy goodness!!
We have half a pkg of cheese left and I can't wait to keep experimenting with it!
Alone, you won't like it - the tang is just 'there' and if you don't like tang, you won't like this cheese, BUT...mixed into ANY heat, it melts with such delicious flavor, that all I can say is: mm-mm-good!
We received a wonderful treat in the mail, actually two from Sensible Portions. These little packages pack a whollop of flavor!
Sensible Portions are part of the Sensible product line which satisfies your sweet tooth cravings! They both make you feel like you either ate a bowl of sweetened cereal or had a couple cookies but without the cheating!
Both packages are single servings with 100 calories in each and the fat calories are at 30 (x3=90, below the limit) and no cholesterol.
These ARE a sensible serving as I can't sit here and eat the entire package at once, a bite here, another there, they truly are sweet tooth satisfying. As the bag states: "Grab a bag and satisfy your sweet tooth craving with a delicious snack that only 'feels' like you're cheating!"
You can find the Cinna-swirl and S'mores crisps online or check out the many locations they are sold at.
I've dropped many hints that this post was coming - Justin from Marxfoods.com sent us a wonderful array to review! This is the same company that I did a review for those amazing environmental friendly dishes - they also have a large array of gourmet foods.
I am not only going to tell you about the actual products, but I'm going to include links to recipes for you to try them out yourselves!
First we had the Chinese Black Rice: Black rice is also known as Forbidden rice, eaten only by the Emperor - so needless to say, I felt like royalty eating it! If you enjoy brown rice, you will absolutely LOVE and I mean LOVE black rice!
To cook it up is easy as pie: 1 c. rice, 2 c. unsalted water in your pot, brought to a boil, simmer until it's done. Due to this grain not being the same as white or brown rice (similar though), I found it cooked easy and quickly, but like with all recipes, you will have to judge the cooking time accordingly.
Remember I made a post the other day about how to cook rice? Well, forget about it with this rice. I didn't use my rice cooker, I used my pot on the burner and I only added the rice and water...no sauteing, no salting, nothing...it had a unique smell as it cooked; not sure how to explain it, but it was a mixture of good and what is that? But the outcome is SO good! The flavor is nutty and the grain is slightly chewy. I served black rice with sliced avocado, steak and buttered bread. It was simple and seriously delicious.
Honey Bear said he enjoyed it more then brown rice and I have to agree. It was great eating alone or taking a fork full with steak or avocado on it, it was all good!
Next we had Himalayan Red Rice. The taste and texture of this rice is great for pilaf due to it's wonderful nutty taste. This red rice is a lovely addition to salads that call for rice for the flavor AND color. It's great with fish, chicken and/or vegetables - light meats, nothing heavy as it will overwhelm the wonderful taste of the rice. I served it next to homemade refried beans and cheese. I cook a lot of Latin foods and instead of the usual white rice, this was real good! This time, I used my rice cooker. I was worried because it needs longer cooking time, but I did my usual 1c rice to 2 c. water and 1/2 tsp salt. I turned off the cooker and let it 'steam' while I made the rest of our meal and it turned out PERFECT.
For an attractive dish, try combining redrice and white rice. The combined textures are also a treat for the palate. Just remember that the two kinds of rice have separate cooking times, so you'll want to cook them separately and then combine them.
I highly recommend both of these delicious rices - their health benefits are as big of a selling point with me as their incredible tastes! Both are full of flavor and their color is so attractive. I also recommend that you never cook either of these rices with anything else because they will change the color of what ever you're cooking with them. But as I stated earlier, wouldn't it be so cool to go to a party with a combo of red or black rice tossed with white rice. How often do you see something like that at a gathering? Plus, you'll surprise the other guests with their flavors...both of these I will be buying as often as possible.
Now we move on to peppers. Do you like peppers? I sure do...Their health benefits and intense flavors are my two top reasons for buying them.
Now, with peppers, what is hot or mild to me is not going to be the same degree with you. I'm going to make these brief and ask you to review the links to the individual peppers to see which pepper is best to your liking.
The De Arbol peppers are my favorite. These are hot, I won't kid you about this. Have you ever ordered lo mein from your local Chinese food place? It's mild, right? It is to me, but I love lo mein. I order it extra spicy - and of course, they look at me. What the finished product comes back is, they have thrown 3-4 small dearbol peppers into it and trust me when I say, it's hot, but oh so good! These peppers are great to be finely chopped up in homemade tacos if you like to make your own fresh, natural tacos. (I take green peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper, and enough hot peppers to our liking. Simmer it until the natural waters almost evaporate, stir in cooked meat of your choice and serve-delicious!)
Dried AjiPanca Peppers - these are great. If you like the flavor and heat index (mild) of poblano peppers, you'll like these - ALOT!
Dried Aji Amarillo Peppers - these peppers have a medium heat index in my opinion. What makes them great is that you can use them reconstituted or dried (grind and store). I cook Dominican food which isn't spicy, but my best friend is from Mexico and when I tasted these peppers, it brought back fond memories of eating Mexican food that was so hot, but so good....
If you ever wanted to try something different, or wanted to try a new international recipe and wasn't sure where to start - let me recommend you stopping off at Marxfood.com . The plethora of goodies they have there is amazing! They also simplify the description of each of their products so that you know exactly what you're buying - leaving out the guess work!
I am so thankful to Justin for allowing us the opportunity to review these products - they're worth their weight in gold - seriously delicious.
If I haven't sold you yet on checking out these products, visit Marxfood.com for yourself. There, you will find a giveaway for 2 lbs of the First Morels of the Season, their own blog which is packed with so much helpfull information, their newsletter which keeps you posted of sales and upcoming events, disposable dishes - perfect for parties or picnics and their very own recipes using their own ingredients!
See my review of their disposable dishes for further links around their site - and know one real important fact about Marxfood.com: the personal, one - on - one communication with them is fantastic! They care, and because they do, I know you will always be satisfied with any and all purchases you make.
Thank you for reading and considering this review, I know you'll find yourself as pleased with Marxfood.com as I am.
Simple Green Naturals™! Green on the inside, green on the outside -- Special thanks going out to Denise at Simple Green for this opportunity to not only review this awesome line of products (natural cleaners are all I use!!), but she is also offering to one lucky winner a complete set that I received!!
I bought a few different cleaners to compare quality, dollar sense, and performance - I am highly recommending this line of Simple Green Naturals to you because they not only smell GREAT, but also work fantastic!!
Seriously, we share a bathroom, which I am cleaning at least three times a day. I normally make a mixture of bleach or vinegar with water for disinfecting purposes, but no one likes the smell. So, I buy products like Lysol, Spic 'n Span, Fantastic, and the like - but no one likes the chemical smell or me using these chemically based products. So when Denise sent me these natural products, I was ecstatic!
The first product I used was the glass and surface cleaner. I used it on the window that's in (yes IN) the shower. It immediately removed the soap scum, (mist) which has collected on it and the rosemary mint fragrance made the shower smell, expensive!
I put the liquid handsoap by the sink for all to use and of course, I have used it at least a dozen times since I've put it up there! There's no fragrance, no dry feeling, no soapy leftover on my hands, this is something I have been trying so many different soaps to find!
I used the bathroom cleanser on the shower, toilet and sink. The added rosemary mint smell just makes the bathroom smell, like I said, expensive! I love this smell and never thought the two would make this great smell.
Then we have the multi surface care cleaner which is a lemon verbena aroma to it. With it's clean, fresh lemon smell, and the performance of the product, I am thoroughly impressed on how this worked in my kitchen!
Also included was the carpet care. There's absolutely no aroma to it, you just spray and blot - took my shopping cart (in New York, these are common) wheel stains out of the carpet in a snap!
And lastly, we have dishwashing liquid. Another nice citrus smell which when I used on my pans, took any and all grease off! I hate it when I have to keep re-washing a pan to get that 'greasy feeling' off the bottom of a pan (I cook with olive oil OFTEN!). Well, this dishwashing liquid took it right off in one wash!
It's been an absolute pleasure to not only review these products: Dishwashing liquid, liquid hand soap, multi-surface care, bathroom cleanser, glass & surface care, and carpet care, but this entire set will be sent to one lucky reader!
Simple Green Naturals are made from 100% naturally sourced ingredients, are never tested on animals, promote recycling of the bottles and I had a little laugh with this one, even a common sense note on each bottle - but that's a good thing! If you accidentally get any into your eyes or swallow it, water is your best friend!
For this giveaway:
1 - please visit Simple Green and tell me what product you have used in the past, still use, or would like to use. You will also find they have done thier own product comparison, and have that information on their site to help you in any choice to go natural; you can purchase their products online; and 2 - enter The Great Green Sweeps,<<<--now closed, no need to enter this option :-) 3 - and sign up for their newsletter.
Do one or all three of these and let me know (Giving you one to three chances to win right there!). For added entries, you can sign up for my own newsletter or twitter me, vote for me at Top Blog Sites, or tell a friend (all of which are located at the right hand side of blog-any page) - just let me know in a separate post that you did.
U.S. only, no P.O. Boxes (prize will be shipped via Fed Ex).
This giveaway ends March 27, 2009
PS: (from their newsletter) Exclusively at buysimplegreen.com! This month’s offer – get a free EGBAR plush toy with every order over $25.00. Order today and enter promotional code EGBAR09 when checking out. Don’t delay - he’s too cute to pass up! EGBAR is Simple Green’s environmental ambassador and his name is short for Everything’s Gonna Be All Right!
I love to read and when I had the opportunity to read such an inspirational book, I couldn't pass it up.
As you all know who Scott Hamilton is - beloved Olympic skater who suffered through testicular cancer and a brain tumor - he has a story to tell and it's not just his battle with these devastating illnesses, but how his faith, his profession and these experiences have given him peace...happiness.
He wrote this book in a sit-down-and-chat-with-you kind of way and to me, this is the best way of hearing his story...
On the cover of this book it says: "How to be happy even when you have every reason to be miserable." He has found his own way to happiness and put it down in such a way as not to be a guru or teacher, but through stories of his career and how what he learned from skating was his inspiration for overcoming life obstacles, of maintaining healthy relationships, and how to live a life of happiness.
In his story, you find he had suffered through the horribleness of testicular cancer first. When it seemed he was illness free, he resumed 'living his life' sans cancer, which he believed was his comeback, and even wrote a memoir of his life to this point in 1999. Devastation struck him again in 2004 - a brain tumor.
Through his highs and lows, he developed The Great Eight outlining what he found to be his fundamental secrets to being happy and wrote this book in hopes that these eight will be ours as well.
His story can be an inspiration to all. Even when things are going bad, or you are in a down time of life, happiness can still be found.
The key to all our success and happiness is to trust Jesus Christ. Scott had to trust his coach’s judgment, and instruction. He could not have succeeded on his own.
The best part of this book is his honesty. He's telling his story and sharing it in hopes to inspire others - plain and simple.
I highly recommend this book for yourself or as a gift. It's uplifting, encouraging, sometimes devastating and sad, but most of all, it's a wonderful nonfiction that anyone - in good times or bad - can connect with one way or another.
I've had the absolute pleasure of reviewing the program Scanalog thanks to Kim at scanalog.com and let me tell you, I am thoroughly impressed!
Enter at their main page , then click on product for a summary of what it does. Scanalog is a magazine cataloguing system- all you have to do is scan your treasured magazine article, recipe, child's artwork into the Scanalog system on your computer and then you can tag it and organize it and voila! You can keep it forever, know where it is, be able to find it again, and all without the stacks and clutter and mess!
I found scanalog very easy to use. The user guide explained everything and was easy to follow. The program comes with several very handy categories that you can put your stuff into. You are also able to add subcategories of your own which is very nice. For example under the crafts category I could add "crochet" or under the My Spirit category I could add "inspirational bible verses". It is wonderfully user friendly.
It is very easy to retrieve your stuff as well - no searching through random stacks of magazines for that one certain article you remember reading. The scans are easy to read, which you can adjust the view, print them up to share or what ever your need is, you can probably have this program do that too for you!! Oh this is truly a wonderful program....
So here's the bottom line: You look through a magazine and see an article that you want to save for future reference. You use one of the sticky tabs to mark that page. Later when you have the time, go to the computer and start Scanalog. Put the article in your scanner and click on Scan. Type the name of the magazine, title of the article, and the date. Then choose a category and subcategory. Add a few keywords (to be used later to help you find the article), and you are done. When you want to locate an article you simple click on the Search button and type in the name of the magazine or a keyword. You can also search for articles by looking through the categories and/or subcategories.
Seriously, I feel this program has a lot to offer. The way you can scan, save and then get rid of your piles (like I have) of magazines, paperwork, or any other scanable stuff you've got laying around, what an organizational friend!! Stop by Scanalog and give it a look through, I feel you will be as impressed as I am!
PS-regarding PDF's: Kim states: Scanalog was truly designed to help people to create their own library of their favorite magazine articles. By scanning, cataloging and actually being able to find them.,Scanalog makes your magazines and magazine investment so much more valuable. This should answer the PDF concerns.
Hi there everyone! I am doing my very first official review thanks to Justin at Marxfoods.com.
I want to tell you something, at first, I wasn't sure how to react to these plates because they're different than anything we're used to in regards to disposable plates. I admit, I was leary. They look and feel like a cross between wood and Styrofoam - but....looks are VERY deceiving!
These plates are amazing! I want to encourage you to not only look over their site for the environment factor, but because these plates are worth every penny!
I received these a few days ago and wanted to wait until I put them 'to the test' before mentioning anything to you and now that I have tried them and can talk to you about them, I am thoroughly impressed.
They are reusable, which is a huge plus for me as I really hate seeing the trash build up due to disposable everything anymore! I do my dishes in running water (have a small sink which doesn't have a stopper to soak dishes in), so they have been washed three times already and still have not yielded to use! I have microwaved honey bears dinner on them, which at first, they got a little softer, but hardened right up again - stronger then the best quality cardboard disposable ones you buy in the store, MUCH stronger in my opinion!
We've been using two different sizes of the round plates from the above set - they are PERFECT child size portioned or portion controlled diets - in other words, they are the perfect size for the right way of eating (not too big, not too small). As you can see in the picture, you will notice the wood grain appearance, it's REAL and this 'grain' you can feel in them too - I don't know, I find it kind of cool actually.
The information from the site is 100% accurate:
These eco-friendly serving dishes are perfect for your next dinner party! Each piece is unique, attractive, stylish, rustic, and elegant.
Included in this place setting is: Round bowls for dips, 4 1/2" – 25 pcs Round bowl, 7 1/4", depth 1.5" – 25 pcs Round plate, 7 1/4", depth 1" – 25 pcs Round plate, 8 3/4", depth 1" – 25 pcs Forks (birchwood) – 25 pcs Knives (birchwood) – 25 pcs Spoons (papel wood) – 25 pcs
These environmentally friendly palm dishes are natural, renewable, and a biodegradable raw material. Naturally discarded sheaths of the leaves of the Adaka palm tree are collected, which in the course of its biological life cycle, dries, falls and regenerates. No trees are cut down. The palm sheaths are then cleaned in fresh spring water and molded into shapes. Their leak proof property and ability to withstand hot and cold temperature without getting soggy or flimsy make it a product that is one of its kind.
I did some researching on the net regarding these plates and everyone has the same thing to say that I do, we really like the environmental quality of them AND the durability. Realistically, when you think about it, if you were to buy enough heavy duty cardboard plates and enough silverware (plastic) as you receive in this set, you are basically paying the same price - the added benefit is the environmental impact your purchase will make. That choice is yours!
I am thoroughly impressed and will come to Marxfoods.com for our next get together to purchase a set - yes, they're worth it...OH! And honey bears' opinion? He was just like me, leary at first because we're not used to seeing disposable dishes like this (we're used to the store variety), but after only one use, he was sold.
There you have it, another Thumbs Up From Me and I truly hope that you will not only browse Marxfoods.com to see what they're all about, but will also really consider making your next purchase of disposable dishes from them.
While you're there, why don't you check out their blog where you can win great food items! They have this giveaway going on now: The winner will get one box of the Nuovo pasta of their choice! We’ll randomly select and announce a winner on March 2nd.
So what are you waiting for? Click on the link to their main page: Marxfoods.com and take your own personal tour around, I really love the products they carry and I'm sure you'll find them awesome too!
Remember me winning this Kimberly Clark prize? Well, in it was a roll of the new Scott brand tissue paper:
At first, I wasn't too interested in it because I had stopped buying these kinds of paper due to the balls of whatever they leave behind (lint, paper, etc)...well, these ARE thick, they ARE soft and leave NO traces behind! I only buy Scott tissue, the regular roll kind (hard, thin), but this one simple roll just sold me. I am now switching - not brands, but styles.
A homemaker from the heart!
My husband Robert and I have been together since March 5, 1999 - through many trials, mistakes, etc...there still is not one man more worth it to me than my Robert. LOVE YA HONEY BEAR!
