Sunday, August 31, 2014

Bru Joy Vegetable Peeler


Looking for a perfect peeler that lets you create restaurant-style presentations for salads? Then you've found it! Hunting for a tool to dress up desserts with julienne apple, lemon and orange peels? Bru Joy Dual Julienne Peeler is the answer!

Befefits:
Bru Joy Dual Julienne and Vegetable Peeler allows you to create professionally presented julienne salads, vegetable spaghetti or zoodles in seconds. Even the pickiest chef/guest will be amazed at what you can achieve!
Saves You Time: Peeling or julienning vegetables & fruits in seconds, the peeler saves your food prep time by at least 50%! Extremely easy to clean too - just rinse the dual blades in running water then put the peeler in dishwasher! 
Saves You Money: Made of unbreakable, heavy duty stainless steel from head to toe, Bru Joy julienne peeler will not easily break, rust or get blunt and is the only vegetable peeler you ever need to buy!

Features:
Made of top quality solid stainless steel - heavy duty and will not break.
Ultra-sharp dual julienne and peeling blade - minimum hand efforts required and produces julienne slices in seconds.
Sleekly packed, this gorgeous deluxe stainless steel vegetable peeler serves a perfect wedding/bridal shower/birthday gift!
 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Shuriken School

The plot of Shuriken School follows lead protagonists Eizan, Jimmy, and Okuni during the summer holidays. The three friends soon engage in an interesting, albeit dangerous, struggle for reputation, family, and a whole lot more when Eizan's dad is kidnapped by professional ninjas. Upon setting out to find and rescue Eizan's father, the kids must employ the skills and techniques they studied so fervently during their first year of ninja training. Things are difficult however, when they learn that the Jade Shuriken, an ancient symbol of extreme ninja power, threatens Eizan's dreams and potential to become a true ninja. A series of events unravel as Eizan strives to clear his name, realize his dreams and secure his place at Shuriken School.
 
 

Liquid Chalkers #BackToSchool

We received some Liquid Chalkers, and it was just in time for a wedding! We painted/wrote on the car and it was fun, and cool! Plus, Callan can use these for school projects, and so much more! We got Bright White.
The Liquid Chalkers go on easily and then wipes off with a damp cloth. They have hyper pigmentation ensuring bright, beautiful colors with marker tips that don't dry out or crack. The true 6mm chisel tip marker means you can write with precision and easily fill large areas as well. It is dustless, causes no smearing, and there will be no ink running down your surface while you write - so it's mess free!
  
 

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Summer In February

An epic true story of love and betrayal, Summer in February features Dominic Cooper, Dan Stevens, and Emily Browning. Summer in February follows the early life and love of 20th Century equestrian painter Sir Alfred Munning before his rise to acclaim. Adapted from the book by Jonathan Smith, Summer in February is set in an idyllic artist colony in England, 1913, as the world stands on the brink of war. When fledgling artist Munning (Cooper) and his best friend Gilbert (Stevens) meet the beautiful Florence Carter-Wood (Browning), romance soon blossoms between Munning and Carter-Wood. However, Gilbert finds that he is falling in love with her as well. As the country is brought to its knees with the start of the World War I, the deeply moving film follows the heartbreaking love triangle that ensues to its tragic result.

This is a great movie. I did not think I was going to like it, because I generally do not like era pieces, but this was great! Get a tissue!
 
 

Peppa Pig: The Balloon Ride

Peppa Pig follows the hilarious adventures of Peppa, a loveable little piggy, her family, and all of her animal friends, including Suzy Sheep, Pedro Pony, Danny Dog and more. Peppa loves playing games and making new friends, but her absolute favorite thing is jumping up and down in muddy puddles! Includes 10 fun packed peppasodes!
  
 

#1 Rated Ultrasport Travel Towel From Shandali


Get the #1 rated Ultrasport Travel Towel from Shandali for a guaranteed flawless Yoga experience. The #1 rated travel towel is microfiber, guaranteed bleed free, and includes hook loop for hanging. Lighten your load and stay dry all day long with new and advanced microfiber lightweight material ultra-absorbent and quick-drying. Support your active lifestyle with a towel that absorbs wetness and drys 10x as fast as a cotton towel.

Shandali UltraSport Travel Towel is a multi-purpose towel that allows you to use the same great towel in multiple places. Enjoy it during a relaxing day at the beach, a kick-butt workout at the gym, or while you're camping out on a kayaking trip. It is soft on your skin, super-durable, and extra-compact so you hardly notice it's in your bag. Take it backpacking and keep your load light!
 
 
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Friday, August 29, 2014

I Challenge You

Stewie Boomstein Starts School #BackToSchool

Stewie Boomstein Starts School by Christine Bronstein

About The Book:
Stewie Boomstein Starts School will help children aged 3-6 prepare to enter pre-k or kindergarten. Stewie Boomstein is a loud, comical, and sometimes cranky child, who has a big problem: he had a very bad first day of school! His entire family (including the pets) works together to solve Stewie's problem. The next day, Stewie has a very good day at school. This illustrated book includes an interview with two well-regarded child psychologists who give simple tips and practical advice to parents on smoothing their children's transition into school.

My Thoughts:
This is a great book for kids just starting school, and their parents! It is real and educational and informative! Plus it is a fun story too!

About The Author:
Christine Bronstein is the founder of A Band of Women, a social network and information website for women. She's also the editor of ABOW's first book, Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God: 51 Women Reveal the Power of Positive Female Connection. Christine is the founder of Nothing But The Truth Publishing, an independent publishing house specializing in works by female authors and artists from around the globe, all with varied racial and ethnic groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ages: everything from famous authors, celebrities, and entrepreneurs, to nannies, soccer moms, and starving artists. Christine was CEO of one of the few women run, venture backed health and fitness companies in the nation for eight years and was president of a child-welfare foundation for three years. She is a graduate of the Columbia/UC-Berkeley executive MBA program and is a member of the honor society Beta Gamma Sigma. She's been published on Forbes.com, in The San Francisco Chronicle, and on Maria Shriver's website. Christine and A Band of Women have been featured in Marin Magazine, 7x7 Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Christine is married to Center For Investigative Reporting Executive Chair Phil Bronstein and is mother to three children and many small creatures.
  
 

#BackToSchool With Kidecals

Kidecals makes removable decals for walls and other surfaces to create a decorative, hand painted look in an instant! Kidecals also makes cool custom name labels that easily adheres to all your stuff and is totally washable!
Does your pantry or closet need some major re-organizing? Are your kids constantly losing their clothes and toys? Well there is a simple solution to help you out - Kidecals waterproof labels! Kidecals personalized labels that are dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer safe! Plus they stick to any surface! You can use these stickers on clothing, backpacks, toys, devices...you name it. Perfect for Back To School! 

Check it all out at Kidecals on Facebook, as well as Kidecals on Twitter.
 
 

3 Year Angelversary

My Mason has been in Heaven for 3 years today. Seems like so long, but yet not that long ago. I'll see you on the other side Baby Boy!
 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Huggies Little Snugglers At Target

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies and Target. I received samples and a promotional item to facilitate my review.
Give your baby unbeatable skin care with the new Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers. Your hug is the first thing your baby feels. Make sure the second hug feels just as good! Get an extra layer of protection with the new GentleAbsorb Liner from Little Snugglers. The new GentleAbsorb Liner draws more mess away than Pampers Swaddlers with a cushiony layer of protection. The wetness indicator helps you keep track of wet diapers by changing color when they are wet. An umbilical cord cut-out, perfectly shaped to gently protect your little one's belly button as it heals for newborns! Pocketed back waistband to help keep in the runny mess! Ewww. But helpful! New soft graphics with Winnie the Pooh and friends. Ahhh! The Huggies Leak Lock protection you know and trust.
Product Attributes:
•Cottony-soft inside and out to help keep new baby comfy
•Wetness indicator lets you know when it’s time to change
•Umbilical cord cut-out to help protect sensitive belly buttons
•Flexible, pocketed back waistband to help keep in mess
•Unique stretchy SnugFit Waistband provides a gentle, secure fit

Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers are in grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide. Available in five sizes, from Preemie (up to 6 lbs) through Size 3 (16-28 lbs). Target's suggested retail price of $11.99 for a Jumbo Pack and $22.99 for a Big Pack (diaper count varies based on diaper size). Add them to your Baby Registry or your Baby Wishlist!

Check it all out at Target on Facebook!
  
 
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies and Target. I received samples and a promotional item to facilitate my review.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

A Taste of Comfort Foods #cascadeshiningreviews - Cascade Platinum Party 1 #Giveaway

Thanks to Cascade Platinum and Double Duty Divas I am able to host two awesome cooking parties! Cooking, eating, having fun and letting my party guests witness first-hand the powerful cleaning ability of Cascade Platinum. Each guest will get to take home a full size Cascade Platinum and Cascade Platinum Rinse Aid as a thank you for coming, plus yummy food and good company!
Here are some great tips shared by Cascade Platinum:
Skip the pre-wash. It’s true! This is a key step for success in the dishwashing process, and just about everyone gets it wrong! Here’s why you need to skip the pre-wash: Cascade Platinum works best when food soil is left on dishes because its special enzymes latch onto that food, breaking it down so it can wash away. If there’s no food soil, there’s nothing for the enzymes to attach to and your detergent isn’t working its hardest for you.

In lieu of any pre-washing, simply toss the large bits of food into the trash or garbage disposal and then stop there. No need to run anything under the water. Just load into the dishwasher. Don’t worry about food left on the dishes damaging your machine or pipes. Few people know that there is a garbage disposal built into the bottom of almost all dishwashers – but there is! That disposal works exactly like the disposal in your sink.

Follow these tips for loading your dishwasher with success:
  • Stack your dishes high and low but please be sure that bulky items DO NOT block the sprayer.
  • Place tall dishes and pans in the back of the bottom rack so they DO NOT block the detergent chamber.
  • Place glasses and other fragile items in the top rack. This helps keep them from the powerful sprayer under the bottom rack.
  • Set glasses between tines on the rack NOT over them as wet contact points can cause spots.
  • Thread any long utensils through coffee-mug handles to help keep them secure in the wash.
  • Check to ensure that there aren’t any stray utensils that will block the nozzle or sprayer.
  • And a special call out for any big dishes: load them on the bottom rack, face down so the water is sure to reach all the nooks and crannies.
Try Cascade Platinum for yourselves, and post your authentic reviews at www.cascadeclean.com/us/cascade/review using #cascadeshiningreviews for a chance to win a prize pack. Also, see my giveaway below! Good luck!
For my first party I made yummy Mac n’ Cheese (courtesy of The Pioneer Woman), and some delicious brownies!

Ingredients:
4 cups Dried Macaroni
1 whole Egg Beaten
1/4 cup (1/2 Stick Or 4 Tablespoons) Butter
1/4 cup All-purpose Flour
2-1/2 cups Whole Milk
2 teaspoons (heaping) Dry Mustard
1 pound Cheese, Grated
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Optional Spices: Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Thyme

Directions:
Cook macaroni until very firm. Macaroni should be too firm to eat right out of the pot. Drain. In a small bowl, beat egg. In a large pot, melt butter and sprinkle in flour. Whisk together over medium-low heat. Cook mixture for five minutes, whisking constantly. Don’t let it burn. Pour in milk, add mustard, and whisk until smooth. Cook for five minutes until very thick. Reduce heat to low. Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking eggs. Whisk together till smooth. Pour egg mixture into sauce, whisking constantly. Stir until smooth. Add in cheese and stir to melt. Add salt and pepper. Taste sauce and add more salt and seasoned salt as needed! Pour in drained, cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Serve immediately (very creamy).

Yum yum yum! Plus the awesome brownies. We ate good! One of my lucky readers will win a Party Pack, which includes:
Cascade Platinum
Cascade Platinum Rinse Aid
A Whisk
Spatula
Cheese grater
Oven mitts
GOOD LUCK! Check it all out at Cascade on Twitter, as well as Cascade on Facebook
Have an opinion to share? Head to the Cascade website to leave a short review of Cascade Platinum (http://www.cascadeclean.com/us/cascade/review) including #CascadeShiningReviews. One reviewer will win a Kitchen Aid Dishwasher!
   
 
This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Cascade. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

The Ultimate Cure for Back to School Blues

You know how giving something to others feels so good? And how watching the back to school bills (and piles of stuff) accumulate can feel so, well, not good? This year there are plenty of ways to combat the back to school shopping blues by contributing to charity as you make your purchases. Whether you're finishing up your shopping or have yet to begin, here's how you can do good with your back to school budget.

Smile – Amazon to the Rescue!
Let's face it, even if you're a diehard “mom n' pop” shopper, sometimes online mega-retailers like Amazon simply have the best prices on the products your kids need. With the new Amazon Smile program, you can shop Amazon knowing every dollar you spend makes a difference. Amazon Smile is easy to use and comes with no added fees. Just use Smile.Amazon.com as your entrance to the Amazon site and choose a charity to benefit from your purchases. After that, any time you shop via Smile.Amazon.com, the Amazon Smile Foundation will donate a portion of your purchase price to your charity of choice.

Disaster Relief One Backpack at a Time
Local disaster recovery non-profit Headwaters Relief Organization has an online store where you can conveniently shop for much-needed supplies like lightweight backpacks, water bottles with fruit flavor infusers and refreezable lunch boxes to keep homemade lunches cool. Headwaters Relief operates out of Golden Valley, MN, and works in the Twin Cities area, nationwide and globally, coming to the aid of victims of natural disaster. Proceeds of every purchase at their online store go directly to providing housing and emotional support to those affected by life-altering events like massive tornadoes, earthquakes and typhoons. And every item showcases the Headwaters Relief logo, so your kids can spread the word about a worthy nearby cause.

Give a Little Extra in Your Area
Even though school has nearly started, several local organizations are still accepting goods and cash donations for children whose parents are struggling to afford the costs of school supplies.

• The Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis maintains a school supply wishlist. For drop-off information, call 612-204-8295.
• The Salvation Army Northern Division invites you to donate money. They'll match your zip code with children in your area so your donation stays close to home.
Kids in Need Foundation will benefit from purchases of select Nordic Natural products. When you buy these products, Nordic Naturals will donate school supplies.
Yoobi produces great school supplies sold at Target and other retailers. Every purchase of a Yoobi item will be matched with a donation of school supplies to children nationwide.
• Boys & Girls Club of America has teamed up with Staples and made it very easy to donate supplies, if you're shopping at Staples for your kids this year. Simply visit your nearby Staples before September 17th to drop off goods. 
• Family & Children’s Service accepts school supplies at their Bloomington, Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis locations.
Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities offers two ways to give. You can donate money to fill backpacks for kids in need or you can drop off supplies at one of their many locations throughout our region.

So there you have it – lots of options to help you feel better about the back to school season. And once you send your kids off to start the year ahead, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you helped prepare less fortunate children for their own school year, too. 
 

Ebola's Scary Cousins

Did you know that Ebola is what is known as a zoonotic disease? As stated by the CDC, “Zoonotic diseases are contagious diseases spread between animals and humans. These diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi that are carried by animals and insects.” Other examples of zoonotic disease are avian flu, swine flu, malaria and the hantavirus, but the list goes on. It is estimated that 60% of diseases that infect humans are zoonotic diseases.

Check out more HERE.
 

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Old Farm Equipment And Scrap Metal Turned Into Stunning Sculptures

South Dakotan sculptor John Lopez creates life-sized scrap metal sculptures with a uniquely western American twist. In his hands, old discarded farm equipment is recycled into sculptures of iconic creatures from the American West like a bison, a horse plowing a field, or a Texas Longhorn. Lopez already had a career as a bronze sculptor, but after creating a family grave for his deceased aunt using scrap metal, he began creating recycled metal sculptures out of found or donated pieces of metal as well. "My favorite part about these pieces is the texture," explains Lopez. "I just start grabbin' stuff from the pile and welding it in, and if you weld enough of the same thing on over and over it creates this really cool texture that I've never seen in these kinds of pieces before. I think that's what draws people in."

Awesome Hair Finds

Esha Natural line from Esha Girl - Unruly hair and frizz don’t stand a chance when indulging in this terrific collection. It’s a one-stop s...