MROStop is giving away a $100 Amazon.com gift code! Go on over to their page and enter to win. What would you buy if you won? I would buy something for my new house, or gifts for my grandchildren, or some gluten free crackers, or, or, or…
MIsc
Shopping Online In Canada
My daughter, Becca, moved away last year. By away, I mean she left the country. She moved all the way to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. While it isn’t THAT much farther away than when she lived in Denver, because it is out of the United States, shipping anything to her means it costs way more than it used to. Because shipping costs more, I decided to look for a Canadian company where I can order something online, and have it sent directly to here.
While looking around online, I found a wonderful store that has so much from which to choose. They have a gigantic selection of Harry Potter toys and books, which is great because Becca loves Harry Potter. I found an adorable Harry Potter Hogwarts Snow Globe at Indigo toys that I think will make her smile.
Becca is also quite a creative girl. I found some interesting artist supplies like a Monochrome Artist Tin set, and a graphite pencil set, both of which I am sure she would put to good use doing sketches and drawings.
There were so many things to choose from, even a pets gifts section, so I could even get gifts for Ken and their dog, Ilex, too. I think the best part, though, is that I am able to order and have it shipped, and save money doing it.
Keurig Coffee Brewer Giveaway
Some friends and I are giving away a Keurig Coffee Brewer valued at $189!
The giveaway is Hosted By: Simply Budgeted
and Sponsored By:
Double Duty Mommy
My Silly Monkeys
Details on model:Unique design brews coffee in under one minute.K-Cup® Portion Pack allows you to enjoy a single-serving of your favorite blend.Three settings let you customize the intensity of your coffee.Blue back-lit LCD message center is programmable and has a 24-hour digital clock.Removable drip tray offers simple cleanup.Water reservoir is back-lit and removable for total convenience.Sleek chrome accents add a modern touch to your countertop.Prize Details:1500 watts48-ounce water reservoirIncludes 12 K-cup coffee & tea variety packManufacturer’s 1-year limited warrantyModel no. B60This giveaway is open to US residents that are 18 or older and runs from December 1 – 14.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: This prize has been sponsored by the participating blogs. The prize will be shipped directly to the winner by the owner of Simply Budgeted.
Lifestyle changes: Start thinking about your New Year resolutions
With the end of 2012 rapidly approaching, it might be wise to start thinking about your New Year’s resolutions. Although lifestyle changes can be made at any point, January 1st is a great time to wipe the slate clean and make some improvements – so what could you do?
Organise your finances
While it has been a tough financial year for many, the UK has finally emerged from a double-dip recession. Not only is this good news for the economy, but it could be the catalyst you need to get your finances in order. One of the first things you could do is to consolidate credit card debt by making a balance transfer and set up a direct debit to help you clear your debts quicker. If you’re in the red, it’s also worth speaking to a financial adviser to see how you can make investments and reduce the amount you spend.
Improve your health
If you promise yourself that you’ll get into shape every year, but never manage to do it – why not join a weight loss club to help you shed those extra pounds? Meetings often take place on a weekly basis and you’ll be given the help and support your need to achieve an ideal body mass index. If you don’t need to lose weight, you can still improve your health by going to the gym or exercising at home on a regular basis. According to the NHS Choices website, regular workouts can improve your fitness and help people with chronic illnesses, so it’s definitely worth digging out those trainers.
Spend more time with friends and family
Do you spend enough time with your friends and family? If the answer’s no, put a few more hours aside each week to see the ones you love. Of course, your diary might already be full to the brim, but try to free up an evening to have tea with your Mom or play golf with your Dad – they are sure to appreciate it. If you can’t pop by for any reason, pick up the phone and let them know you care. A good chinwag doesn’t take much effort and can help keep you in the loop.
Make some home improvements
If you have wanted to make some home improvements for a while now, 2013 is a great year to start. Set yourself some manageable goals and apply for a low interest credit card to help you fund your projects. By doing this, you will be able to pay the money you borrow back over a longer period of time and have the financial flexibility to revamp your living environment. Wouldn’t it be great to look back at the end of next year and see what you have accomplished?
New Year’s resolutions are easy to make and just as easy to break, but with a little dedication they can give real structure to your life.
Rooster Potatoes From Albert Bartlett
Never heard of Albert Bartlett? They have been a household name in the United Kingdom for over 60 years. This year, they partnered with farmers across the United States, and have recently harvested their first crop of their Rooster potatoes.And, they are only going to be sold in Wal-Mart stores in Colorado and Georgia this year. Once they are sold out, there won’t be any more until next year.
The company is committed to natural farming. There is nothing more natural and wholesome than the good ole potato! Potatoes are fat free, cholesterol free, gluten free, and a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Manganese. I’m sure everyone has a favorite potato dish. Mine is potato salad. I used to only make it for holidays, but a couple of years ago, I decided that I could have it any time I want. So, now, I make it often. I never get tired of it.
Here are a couple of delicious potato recipes from Albert Bartlett:
You can find more about Albert Bartlett and the Rooster Potatoes on their Facebook page or by following them on Twitter.
I was provided with product to review these potatoes, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Udi’s Gluten Free New Products & A Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipe
I may have told you all before how much I love Udi’s Gluten Free Breads. They are the best gluten free bread on the market, in my opinion. So, I was so happy to see that they have come out with some new products, that I know will be just as tasty as their plain old bread is.
First, they have these French Baguettes. They are going to be perfect with soups, stews, and pasta dishes. I can hardly wait until my store gets some in. I asked the lady at Ingles last time I was there if she would order some.
Second, Udi’s has made not one but two different styles of dinner rolls. For those of you who don’t eat gluten free, you just have to imagine, if you can, how it would feel to be at dinner with a group of friends, and they are all eating these delicious smelling dinner rolls, and you have to just sit there munching on lettuce. Sad. But now, when we have friends over, or for just any old meal I want, I can have a yummy dinner roll too! I am so excited about that. Yes, I do get excited over good bread.
These Classic French Dinner Rolls could also be used to make hoagie type sandwiches. Or just eat them plain.
And look at these Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls! Is your mouth watering yet?
And just so you know, I was sent coupons for free product to review these items, but all opinions stated here are my own. I can tell you, that Udi’s Gluten Free Breads are good enough that I am using them in all my Thanksgiving recipes that call for using bread. My Cornbread Dressing and my Squash Casserole both use white bread in the recipe. Here is my Squash Casserole Recipe, just in case you’d like to try it.
Gluten Free Squash Casserole
5-6 medium yellow squash, scraped and diced
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 or 4 slices Udi’s white bread, crumbled
3 eggs
Salt & pepper to taste
1 cup gluten free salted pretzels, your favorite brand
1 stick of butter
Put the squash and onion in a sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for about 25 minutes, until the squash is soft. Add salt and pepper to taste and 1/2 of the stick of butter. Pour into greased or sprayed baking dish. Cover with crushed pretsels & dot with the remaining 1/2 stick of butter. Bake at 425° for 20-25 minutes or until set and browned on top.
I usually put the pretzels in a zip lock bag and use my rolling pin to crush them. Everyone I know, even people who are not gluten free, ask for this recipe whenever they eat this casserole.
Amway And Boys And Girls Clubs Of America Team Up To Teach Kids Good Nutrition
Yesterday was my son’s birthday. He turned 41! There were times when I didn’t think either one of us would make to him being a grown-up, but he has done very well for himself. He is a great father to four children, and has been in the United States Air Force for 18 years. When he was a young boy, he went to the Boys Club in our home town instead of going to day care for a couple of years in the summer months. He loved going there, and since it was just a block away from my office, we could eat lunch together every day. He gained a lot of valuable experiences during his time at the Boys Club. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America is a good organization that does great things for children.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Amway have teamed up to help educate club members about the improtance of healthy diets and lifestyles. Here are three ways they have partnered:
- POSITIVE SPROUTS® Sustainability Grants – Amway is providing $30,000 in Sustainability Grants to ten deserving Boys & Girls Clubs who previously received community gardens from Amway. The funds are designed to assist Clubs with the maintenance of their garden as well as improve nutrition for Club members. For more information on the POSITIVE SPROUTS program, click here:
- Garden In A Box Kits – Amway is donating 150 Garden In A Box kits to Boys & Girls Clubs who demonstrated an interest and need for establishing a community gardening program at their Club. The kit includes a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds and supplies Clubs need to get started.
- POSITIVE SPROUTS® Curriculum – Amway is enabling the delivery of a healthy food curriculum to 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide ensuring that all Clubs have access to educational materials promoting healthy eating habits.
This partnership is sure to have a positive impact on the children who are members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Giving these children hands on activities to help grow their own vegetables is a great learning tool, and what they learn now they will take with them through the rest of their lives. I know my son still remembers the things he learned while attending the Boys Club all those years ago.
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Amway. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
Operation Christmas Child #OCCGiving
For many years when my children were growing up, I was their Girl Scout leader. We did many fun activities, and went on many trips and camping four times a year. But, we also did many service projects, including making Christmas Stockings for the local fire department to deliver to needy families, and packing food boxes to deliver as well. These community service projects became a tradition in our family, and taught my children to give to others and to be compassionate. They are now in their late thirties, and they are still serving their communities with service from their hearts.
Operation Christmas Child is expecting to reach a milestone this year, with more than 100 million children receiving shoe box gifts since 1993. They hope to collect more shoe box gifts this year to reach as many children as possible.
One way you can participate, even if you have no children at home anymore, is through the virtual Build-A-Box website. There, you can fill your box online, and make a donation to Operation Christmas Child. It’s very easy to do, and will help a child somewhere in the world have a happier Christmas.
Instructions on how to pack a box at home:
1. Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required.
2. Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label shown below. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.
3. Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child.
4. Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs.* You can give online, or you can write a
check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are
preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.
5. Place a rubber band around each shoe box and lid and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you in mid-November. For locations and dates, call 1-800-353-5949,or visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child,
801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607
This holiday season build a box with your family to teach kindness, compassion, and generosity.
Operation Christmas Child and influencer marketing platform BlogFrog have teamed up with 200 bloggers like me to spread the word about this great cause.
BlogFrog will match the first 200 boxes that are built. Pledge your commitment below to build a box today on Facebook or Twitter!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Operation Christmas Child. The opinions and text are all mine.
This holiday season build a box with your family to teach kindness, compassion, and generosity.
Operation Christmas Child and influencer marketing platform BlogFrog have teamed up with 200 bloggers like me to spread the word about this great cause.
BlogFrog will match the first 200 boxes that are built. Pledge your commitment below to build a box today on Facebook or Twitter!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Operation Christmas Child. The opinions and text are all mine.
