Karen

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker Review and Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Hamilton Beach. I received this product to review.

The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Coffeemaker truly lives up to its name. You can brew a full pot using ground coffee on one side; and make a single serving on the other side using * K-CUPs OR ground coffee, with the included coffee filter basket. Either way, you’ll get a great cup of coffee brewed the way you like it.

* K-CUP is a registered trademark of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. Use of the K-CUP trademark does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew CoffeeMaker is so easy to use.

It is a little different to use from other single brew coffee makers I have tried, so you’ll need to read the instructions first. It is a quick learning curve though, so you’ll me brewing your coffee in just minutes. I LOVE the single serve coffee filter that lets you use any ground coffee.

The single serve coffee filter is reusable.

The full pot brewing side is programmable for regular or bold brew, so if you like your coffee stronger, you can do it with this coffeemaker.

Large filter basket takes the “cupcake” style filters

Here is the full list of features for the 2-Way FlexBrew CoffeeMaker from Hamilton Beach:

Single serve side:

Compatible with K-Cup^®* Packs or ground coffee
Brews up to 14oz from ground coffee in travel mug**
Adjustable cup rest allows for standard-size cups or travel mugs
Better coffee extraction than the leading competitor

12 cup carafe:

Brew a full pot of coffee
Regular or bold brew strength
Programmable timer with 2 hour automatic shutoff
Automatic pause & serve to grab a cup before the brew cycle is done

Durable, stainless steel features and dishwasher safe, removable parts

Equipped with a “Quick Start” Guide with simple, step-by-step brewing guidelines

Customer service support available through a US toll-free number

One-year warranty

BUY IT: You can find the Hamilton Beach 2-Way FlexBrew Coffeemaker on their website for $99.99. It is also available at Best Buy for $89.99 and at Amazon.com for $80.50.

WIN IT: Win a Hamilton Beach 2-Way FlexBrew Coffeemaker! Use the Giveaway Tools form to enter.

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My #SoleStory: My Love Affair With Pretty Shoes Ended Way To Soon. Vionic Revived The Flame

Karen · 6 Comments

This post is brought to you by Vionic

My #SoleStory

I have loved pretty shoes for as long as I can remember. When I was about four or five years old, I got a pair of white patent leather Mary Janes, and the love affair with shoes began.

I was probably showing off those shoes in this old photo.

Over the years, I have been known to buy shoes, then buy an outfit to wear them with. I once had a pair of pink wingtip heels that I bought because they called my name as I walked past the shoe store window.

Alas, my affection for pretty shoes ended some time ago, because although they were pretty, shoes with heels just hurt to walk in. My toes felt crumpled and squeezed. It was impossible to continue to wear heels of any height.

I started wearing flats to work, and for any occasion for which I had to dress up. Even for my step-daughter’s wedding, I had to pass up the gorgeous silver sandals with rhinestones because they had a half inch heel. My Plantar Fasciitis made my feet scream just looking at them. That’s MY #SolesStory. What’s yours?

Ah! My feet feel so good in my Vionic Venture Walkers!

When I received my Vionic Venture Walkers, and put them on my feet, they felt so good. The deep heel cup insures that I have the support I need for my feet to feel good all day.

Vionic is the leading manufacturer of medical shoes, and the Orthaheel technology was introduced in 1991. Orthaheel Technology helps reduce over-pronation, which can improve foot function and relieve common associated pains such as plantar fasciitis (heel pain), knee pain and back pain. It is the only footwear recommended by both the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and world-renowned integrative medicine expert Andrew Weil, MD.

Vionic shoes come in so many different styles and colors that you can wear them every day and for every occasion! Flats, mules, clogs, sandals, slippers, sneakers, walkers,and boots for women. They also have many styles for men that include some very nice looking dress shoes, casual shoes, sandals, and sneakers.

One of my favorite styles! Joan in pewter.

What is your #SoleStory? Which pair of Vionic Shoes would you choose?

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The Hand on The Mirror: Book Review

Karen · 11 Comments

Grand Central Publishing sponsored this post

In 1979, my youngest brother, Bobby, died from injuries received in an accident. At the time of his death, he was in a hospital in Albany, Georgia. He had been hovering between life and death for three days. All of our family was there, spending as much time as we could at the hospital, just in case he regained consciousness and might be able to speak to us.

My brother Bobby about 3 months before he died.

I was sleeping on the sofa in the intensive care waiting room, dreaming about my brother. In my dream, he was walking away from me, towards a wooden fence at the other side of a meadow. On the other side of the fence, there were people waiting for him, waving for him to come on over, smiling at him. Bobby turned to look at me, smiled, waved, then turned around and continued to walk away from me.

I thought when I awoke that the dream meant that he was getting better. But suddenly, an alarm went off in the intensive care unit, and several doctors, nurses, and other hospital attendants ran into the small room where Bobby lay. About a half hour later, my brother’s doctor took my Mother and me into a conference room to tell us that Bobby had died.

My Mother was, of course, inconsolable. I did not shed a tear, because I know that Bobby came to me in his dream to tell me goodbye, and that he was happy to go.

I have not told this story to many people, but I recently came across the book, The Hand on The Mirror by Janis Heaphy Durham.Here is a synopsis of the book, taken from the book website:

In 2004, Ms. Heaphy Durham’s husband, Max Besler, died of esophageal cancer at age 56. Heaphy Durham soon began encountering phenomena unlike anything she had ever experienced: lights flickering, doors opening and closing, clocks stopping at 12:44, the exact time Max died. But then something startling happened that changed Heaphy Durham’s life forever. A powdery handprint spontaneously appeared on her bathroom mirror on the first anniversary of Max’s death. Incredibly, a similar image appeared on the second and third anniversaries as well. Clearly, something otherworldly was occurring.

This launched Heaphy Durham on a journey that transformed her spiritually and altered her view of reality forever. She interviewed scientists and spiritual practitioners along the way, as she discovered that the veil between this world and the next is thin and love is what bridges the two worlds.

Have you ever experienced anything paranormal, or “other worldly?” Do you believe in life after death? If so, you really do need to read this book. Download an excerpt here.

You may purchase The Hand on the Mirror: A True Story of Life Beyond Death at Amazon.com, or at Barnes and Nobles; Books-A-Million; Apple ibooks; Powells.com; and IndieBound.org.

You can win a copy of The Hand on the Mirror. Use the Giveaway Tools entry form to enter.

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The Sweet Side of Ancient Grains: A review

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The Sweet Side of Ancient Grains, an exciting new cookbook from Erin Dooner that will show you how to use these ultra-healthy grains and flours in tasty, better-for-you desserts. With an introduction to such ingredients as teff, oat flour, emmer, and buckwheat, as well as a guide to the many recipes that are vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free, this is the perfect cookbook for anyone interested in baking with ancient grains, but the recipes will all work with standard whole wheat or even all-purpose flour as well—making them as versatile as they are delicious.

While not all of the recipes in this book are gluten free, the table of contents shows you which recipes are gluten free, dairy free, or vegan. You can also experiment with the recipes that are not gluten free, to try making them with gluten free flours.

The book is filled with beautiful photos of the completed recipes that will leave you wanting to try making a new one every time you look through it. Such recipes as Teff Raspberry Chocolate Crumble Bars; Quinoa Coconut Chocolate Cookies; Quinoa Molten Lava Cakes; and Oat Flour Plum Crumble will make your mouth water just reading them.

Here is an example of one of the recipes included in the book, Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars

PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 35 MINUTES | READY IN: 55 MINUTES, PLUS COOLING | YIELD: 16 BARS
CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar or raw sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1⁄8 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, room temperature
COOKIE CRUST AND TOPPING:
1⁄3 cup (75 grams) unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
½ cup (100 grams) light brown sugar or raw sugar
2 tablespoons (40 grams) honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ cups (188 grams) whole-wheat flour
1 cup (170 grams) semisweet -chocolate chips, divided

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8 × 8-inch (20 × 20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite ends.
Prepare the cream cheese layer. In a medium mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and salt. Once thoroughly combined, beat in the egg just until combined. Set aside.

Prepare the cookie crust and topping. In a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter or coconut oil, sugar, honey, vanilla, and salt at medium speed until well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the flour and mix until thoroughly combined. It will be crumbly.

Reserve 2⁄3 cup (170 grams) of the dough and pat the remaining dough evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan. It will be a very thin layer. Sprinkle 2⁄3 cup (113 grams) chocolate chips over the dough and gently press down. Spread the cheesecake filling evenly over the top of the chocolate chips. Stir in the remaining 1⁄3 cup (57 grams) chocolate chips to the remaining dough and evenly distribute the dough over the cheesecake layer.

Bake for 28 to 35 minutes or until the top cookie part has lightly browned. The bars will slightly puff up in the oven and fall back down after you take them out. Let the bars cool to room temperature, about 1 hour, and then using the parchment paper overhang, lift the bars out of the pan and cut into squares.

It’s important to cut the bars before refrigerating as they become quite hard. Chill the bars for 3 hours before serving. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Tip:
Just like with regular chocolate chip cookies, you can omit the chocolate chips and add other add-ins, such as nuts, dried fruit, or candy pieces.

This recipe is NOT gluten free, but I am sure you can replace the Whole Wheat Flour the author used in the original recipe with your favorite Gluten Free Flour blend to make this delicious recipe.

About the Author: Erin Dooner, the writer and photographer behind Texanerin Baking, began her blog in 2011 to share her healthier whole-grain dessert recipes. Since then, her work has been featured on the Huffington Post and Gourmet Live and in Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Parade, and other online and print publications. Originally from Plano, Texas, Erin currently lives in Germany.

You can purchase The Sweet Side of Ancient Grains: Decadent Whole Grain Brownies, Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and More at Amazon.com for $9.99; or in bookstores for suggested retail price of $19.95.

In stores on APRIL 20, 2015 ● 9781581572926 ● Paperback ● $19.95 ● 240pp

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‘Help Rebuild Nepal’ Benefit Concerts at City Winery Nashville

Karen · Leave a Comment

There is going to be two incredible benefit concerts at City Winery Nashville on May 16th and May 23rd to support an imperative and urgent cause involving the recent devastation of the earthquakes in Nepal. City Winery is proud to host a lineup of caring and talented individuals to raise money for Nepal in this time of need. The ‘Help Rebuild Nepal’ Benefit Concerts are bound to be unforgettable nights, featuring artists who are very passionate about this cause, including Keb’ Mo’, Jack Pearson, Phil Keaggy, John Oates and more TBA on May 16th. On May 23rd, City Winery welcomes Kathy Mattea, Leigh Nash, Melanie, Jim Lauderdale, Peter Bradley Adams and other very special guests. All net proceeds from ticket sales of these events will benefit Revolutions Per Minute’s When Disaster Strikes Fund.

Also, at City Winery’s New York City location, there will be a benefit hosted on May 17th called Everest Awakening A Gathering for Everest and Beyond, benefitting Everest Awakening and featuring artists who are very passionate about the cause, including Patti Smith, Loudon Wainwright III, Kaki King, Nicole Atkins, Jesse Smith, Martha Mooke, Tara Lobsang, Shyam Nepali and other very special guests. There will be a second benefit hosted on June 17th with performances by Lizz Wright, Joan Osborne, Lucy Wainwright-Roche, Suzzy Roche, Bettye LaVette and other guests to be announced –all net proceeds from ticket sales from this evening will benefit RPM’s When Disaster Strikes Fund.

About Revolutions Per Minute: Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) is a nonprofit agency that provides artists with strategy and support for their activism and philanthropy. RPM was founded in 2005 by musicians, managers, and advisors from bands including Pearl Jam, The Beastie Boys, and R.E.M. in order to share best practices and lessons learned from their own activism. Today, RPM’s network includes over a thousand musicians, comedians, and other allies. As the leading nonprofit dedicated to helping artists be powerful allies for change, RPM provides a wide range of offerings, from finely honed “DIY” resources to customized advisory services. The agency is best known for its disaster response program, artist activism retreats, ticket add-on services, issue briefings, and election-year strategies. More about the Nepal fund can be found here and more about RPM’s disaster response strategy is here.

About City Winery: City Winery is all about giving back. In past years, City Winery has raised $200,000+ to aid in disaster relief for crises including 2013 Hurricane Sandy, 2011 Tsunami in Japan and 2010 Earthquake in Haiti with the power of awareness through live music. City Winery is the venue where musicians and audience members alike can share an up-close and personal experience, flashing back to nostalgic favorites while enjoying great food and world-class wine. City Winery strives to deliver the highest-end combined culinary and cultural experience to our customers who are passionate in sharing wine, music, and culinary arts.

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High Cholesterol? New Clinical Trial May Be For You

Karen · Leave a Comment

The SPIRE program is looking for people who are taking a cholesterol lowering medication but still have high cholesterol. If you qualify, you might be interested in participating in a research study.

This study evaluates the PCSK9 inhibitor, Bococizumab compared to placebo, in reducing the occurrence of major cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and unstable angina requiring urgent revascularization, in high risk subjects who are receiving background lipid lowering therapy and have cholesterol laboratory values of LDL-C >/= 70 mg/dL or non-HDL-C >/= 100 mg /dl

The full study details and eligibility criteria are listed here.

Please complete the online questionnaire to check if you’re eligible for the trial.

If you’re not familiar with clinical trials, here are some FAQs:
What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are research studies to determine whether investigational drugs or treatments are safe and effective for humans. All new investigational medications and devices must undergo several clinical trials, often involving thousands of people.
Why participate in a clinical trial?

You will have access to new investigational treatments that would be available to the general public only upon approval. You will also receive study-related medical care and attention from clinical trial staff at research facilities. Clinical trials offer hope for many people and an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments for others in the future.
Learn why I’m talking about Clinical Trials

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Get Caught Reading With Association of American Publishers and Jim Henson Company

Karen · 2 Comments

The Get Caught Reading campaign was devised by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read! Member organizations of the AAP participate in a variety of ways to encourage everyone to enjoy books and magazines and to share that pleasure with the young children in their lives. I read to my children from the time they came home from the hospital, and enrolled them in a children’s book club so we always had new books to keep them reading. It’s no wonder that one of my daughters is a teacher, and one is a librarian.

The new chapter book series, Enchanted Sisters, targets newly independent readers—girls ages seven through nine—and tells the stories of the four sisters – the Sparkles: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer who come together every three months to join their Mother Nature in a ceremony that changes the seasons in our world. Their world is magically different from our own, yet the Sparkles are completely relatable. They are confidently themselves, even when that’s the hardest thing to be. Continuing the longstanding Jim Henson Company tradition, the message in these stories about strong girls making bold choices are clear: embrace and celebrate our differences; anyone can be a hero; and families come in lots of different packages. The books are co-authored by Elise Allen, author of the book Anna’s Icy Adventure (Disney Frozen), and Halle Stanford, eight time Emmy-nominated children’s television producer and senior vice president of children’s entertainment at The Jim Henson Company. Paige Pooler, whose artwork can be seen in American Girl magazine, and the Liberty Porter, Trading Faces, and My Sister is a Vampire middle grade book series, is the illustrator.

Three additional Enchanted Sisters books in the series are available: Autumn’s Secret Gift, Winter’s Flurry Adventure and Spring’s Sparkle Sleepover. PLUS – Keep a lookout also for NEW books coming in August featuring Doozers.

As part of the Get Caught Reading campaign, two NEW posters are available from the AAP beginning today,May 11—Enchanted Sisters and Doozers—featuring adorable characters that are “caught reading” in these fabulous FREE posters made available to teachers and parents for use in classrooms, libraries and other locations.

The posters are available for everyone, and can be ordered at Get Caught Reading . Posters are FREE plus a $5.00 charge per set (1 – 12 posters each of the same title) for shipping and handling! Click here for the order form.

A great way to improve the reading achievement of low-income children is to increase their access to books. Communities ranking high in achievement tests have several factors in common: an abundance of books in public libraries, easy access to books in the community at large and a large number of textbooks per student.

Anyone can get together to help increase reading achievement and literacy by organizing a book drive. This tool kit provides the basics to run a book drive, organize your group, and make an impact.

Jim Henson’s Enchanted Sisters: Summer’s Friendship Games suggested retail price for hardcover is $15.99, softcover $5.99. You can purchase it at Amazon.com.

Win a copy! Just use the Giveaway Tools entry form below to enter.

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MGM Gold Strike Casino: The Perfect Girlfriends Getaway Part 2

Karen · 1 Comment

MGM Gol Strike Casino in Tunica, Mississippi

Elaine and I arrived at the MGM Gold Strike Casino Resort around 2:30 in the afternoon. As we drove up to the entrance, I told Elaine to use the Valet Parking and I would pay for it because I didn’t feel like walking far from the parking lot. We were both pleasantly surprised to find that the Valet Parking was complimentary!

From the moment we arrived at the MGM Gold Strike Casino, we felt like we were treated like royalty, or at least like we were two famous ladies. The only disappointment of the entire weekend was that our room was not ready when we arrived. To be fair, though, my reservation confirmation said we could check in after 4:00 p.m. The front desk clerk told us that we could check our bags at the bell stand, and they would store them in a closet until our room was ready. With that problem solved almost before we asked, we were free to explore a bit.

We decided to sit in the Food Court for a while to rest a bit from our journey. The salads and sandwiches look very appealing, so we were soon eating a quick bite.

At 4:00 p.m. we checked in, and gave our baggage claim check to the bell attendant. We went up to our room, and in a few minutes, the bell attendant was at the door with our bags. We were greeted with a welcome package of snacks, tied up in pretty red bow!

Just look at this room! Both of us got our things settled right away, and crawled into our beds to nap. We woke up about fifteen minutes before we were supposed to be at the Chicago Steak House for dinner. Before I tell you about that, let me show you pictures of the room:

mgm gold strike casino handicap accessible room — Our beds were soooo comfortable!

Those beds were so comfortable. I slept so good on mine. We were on the 25th floor, so our view out the window was of the Mississippi River at flood stage.

mgm gold strike casino room — We had a desk, a large chest of drawers, a big screen TV and two ver comfortable chairs.

This hotel has one of those little coffee pots that makes one cup at a time. There was no fridge or microwave, but there were bottles of water in the room. The bell attendant asked us if we wanted him to fill our ice bucket, too! So, we had ice available for our water.

A card addressed to me! I felt so special.

I just had to show that because I have never had anything like this waiting for me in a hotel. I started looking for my princess crown, hahaha.

I asked for a handicap accessible room, and they delivered.

After my awful experiences trying to get a handicap accessible room in Flagstaff, Arizona, I was so impressed that MGM Gold Strike promised AND delivered one for my stay. I just can not tell you how much those bars and bath seat mean to me.

The handicap accessible bathroom has enough space to accommodate a wheelchair.

Now that I have told you all about our room, tomorrow I’ll tell you about our meal at Chicago Steak House at MGM Gold Strike. Believe me when I say it was delicious!

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