Nature's Path Photo Sweepstakes - Enter Now!

Okay all you photo takers out there, here is your chance to win an Eco-Vacation from Nature's Path.

Enter the Nature's Path 3PMmmm Photo Sweepstakes on Facebook. What is a 3PMmmm moment you ask? It’s that delicious time of the day when you take your snack break. It could be hiking, sitting in traffic, post-yoga, walking the dog and picking up kids from school. You just need to share a photo of your 3PMmmm Photo moment to win a grand prize of one of three exciting eco-vacations: a Hawaiian tour, spa resort getaway in Tofino, Canada or a visit to an organic farm in Oregon's Willamette Valley. There will also be a weekly winner of a prize package full of Nature's Path goodness.

All you have to do to enter is:

1. “Like” Nature’s Path’s Facebook page

2. Click on the 3PMmmm Contest tab

3. Click on the Get Started (or Enter tab at the top)

4. Share your 3PMmmm moment by uploading a photo of your 3PMmmm moment

5. Each photo you submit, and the more people you tag, the more entries you get (up to 50 entries per person, per week).

What are you waiting for - get those photos entered!

Please note: This promotion is running now and will end November 14, 2010 at 11:59PM PT. It is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Limit fifty (50) entries per person, per email address, per week during the Promotion Period. Multiple participants are not permitted to share the same email address. More official rules can be found in the 3PMmmm tab under Rules.

Disclosure: Information provided to share with readers a sweepstakes opportunity. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post.

Cooking For Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free - Cookbook Review

In my family there are a few of us with food allergies and sensitivities. Our danger foods are peanuts and some berries. We need to read every label to avoid a seriously dangerous reaction.

Imagine finding out your child is sensitive to gluten and dairy. Two of the most common ingredients in most foods we eat. Silvana Nardone, the Editor in Chief of Every Day with Rachael Ray, was faced with such a challenge when her son Isaiah was diagnosed with these sensitivities. Going to work she made choices for her entire family. Hours of research to find the ingredients she could use to make tasty meals for the entire family to enjoy. Her goal was to not have to make separate meals for Isaiah but delicious meals for all. Her findings and kitchen time brought her to the conclusion that cooking and baking gluten free or dairy free is easier than you think. The cookbook is Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals.



Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy Delicious Meals is a beautiful cookbook. The full color many photos included are stunning. The true beauty of the book is the recipes. Silvana shares her basics for other ingredients needed to make her recipes. A big plus! Once you mix up a batch of her special flour blend and pancake mix, the possibilities of recipes are endless.

The recipes are tantalizing! For Breakfast - try s'mores pancakes with marshmallow sauce or potato-crusted bacon bits and egg pie. My hubby loved this one. Made with bacon and potatoes plus eggs baked in the oven for 25 minutes, YUM! It was so easy to make and good enough for a dinner too. I also made Isaiah's fruit smoothie - strawberries, frozen peaches, banana, a little honey and pear nectar. It was so refreshing on a heat wave day.

How about making corn-shrimp fritters with creamy salsa dip? One of Isaiah's requests was cornbread and Silvana made a double corn cornbread I bet is spectacular. The main dishes are nothing short of gourmet! Sweet chile salmon with jalapeno slaw is calling my name.

Here is a recipe to tickle your taste buds:

Oven-Fried Frito Chicken Fingers with Honey-Mustard Dip
by Silvana Nardone,
Author of Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals

You can swap tortilla chips for the Fritos and use store-bought salad dressing, barbecue sauce or just plain ketchup in place of the honey-mustard dip.

SERVES 6 PREP TIME 20 minutes COOK TIME 20 minutes

Extra-virgin olive oil, for greasing
6 cups corn chips, such as Fritos, coarsely crushed
Salt and pepper
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1½ pounds (750 g) chicken tenders
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with olive oil. In a shallow bowl, combine the corn chips, 1½ teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. In another shallow bowl, beat the eggs. Coat a chicken tender with the corn chip mixture, dip into the eggs, then coat again with the corn chip mixture; place on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Bake until golden and cooked through, about 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, honey and lemon juice; season with about ¼ teaspoon salt. Serve with the chicken fingers.

The above is an excerpt from the book Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals by Silvana Nardone. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.
Copyright © 2010 Silvana Nardone, author of Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals.

Yes she also includes desserts! Cookies, cakes, brownies and more. No need to be without decadent sweets.

For even more recipes visit Silvana's website Dish Towel Diaries. You will find many great recipes to make.

Cooking for Isaiah is a lovely cookbook for those needing to cook gluten or dairy free as well as those wanting to make scrumptious foods. I have several pages bookmarked I want to make for my family.

You can buy Cooking for Isaiah at Amazon or check with your local book seller.



Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Readers Digest (August 26, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606521659
ISBN-13: 978-1606521656

Silvana makes everything look so delicious and easy to make with simple substitutions. Cooking For Isaiah is definitely One 2 Try!

Disclosure: I received a gratis copy for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

We are melting!

Here is the really awful part, when the heat gets so high, our power grid gets maxed out too. We had record electricity use yesterday and it fried some area transformers. Now they have no power at all in many areas. Oh that is bad.

Today the forecast is slightly cooler, about 5 degrees, but the humidity went up which makes is more sticky feeling. It is like Laughlin hot! I think the hottest temperature I have ever been in - was in Laughlin at 117 degrees. We almost reached it here.

Where have I been?

Hi Everyone! It feels good to be back. I really needed that little break. So what was I doing? Well lots of things that needed attention but one of the main events was a quick 3 day, two night RV trip. My hubby and I finally fulfilled a dream of ours. We recently bought an RV. We decided to take a stay on the coast. We had a lot of fun figuring out all the goodies in our motor home. Camping is something we have always liked to do, but RVing is camping on a different level. I have my own shower in my coach! I have a mini kitchen with a fridge, a microwave and even an oven! Being in the RV is not like tent camping.

Last days to enter your talented teen! Ends 9/28.

Last Days To Enter!

Do you know a talented teen? The executive producers of Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars are looking for female singers, age 16-24 to audition for Talent – a hot new web series debuting early 2011. Winners will receive a lead role in Talent and a recording contract with Jive Records! Girls can submit their audition videos at The Talent Show through September 28th.



One lucky girl will receive a major label recording contract and a starring role in the hot new series, Talent!

Get those auditions in! The deadline is September 28th. Your talented teen just might be a star in the making!

Disclosure: Information provided by Alloy Digital. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post.

Lotus Foods: Rice Cooker - Giveaway (ends 10/8)

Have you heard about the healthy benefits of rice? A few of you may remember a posting here on One 2 Try, from a few months back, about Lotus Foods rice. The rice assortment they offer is amazing. One of my favorite rice tastes was the black rice known as Forbidden Rice. I knew then it was something I had to try because of its unique qualities. According to Health dot com - a recent article asks the question - Is black rice the new brown? The Forbidden Rice from Lotus Foods is an exquisite black rice.


Lotus Foods understands rice and is bringing us many different types of rice varieties. Read my full rice review here. It is a natural progression for Lotus Foods to offer their very own Rice Cooker and Steamer.

The Lotus Foods Rice Cooker and Steamer could be your new favorite kitchen gadget. What makes this cooker so special is the Stainless Steel inner cooking pot. Something I was not aware of is the danger of non-stick coatings. Bits of the coating can flake during cooking. Have you noticed some of your cooking pans with non-stick coating missing? Think about it. Where does the coating go?

The Benefits of Stainless Steel
•The ONLY non-reactive metal used in cookware.
•Preserves flavor and nutritional value.
•Does not absorb unusual odors or flavors.
•Will not react with acidic foods or sauces.
•Will not rust, tarnish, peel, or pit, ever!
•Cooking pot & steaming tray are 100% recyclable.
•Simple 1-2-3 cooking with fast, easy clean up!

I love the looks of the Lotus Foods Rice Cooker and Steamer. The unit looks sharp in its cool touch white base with the sparkling stainless steel cooking pot insert. It is very easy to set up and use. Simply measure your rice, add your water and start the cooking. I like my rice a little more tender so I added slightly additional water and cooking time as suggested. My provided Forbidden Rice came out perfect. I also made a white jasmine rice and was so pleased with the results. It cooks thoroughly and quietly. Once the cooking process has completed, the unit automatically switches to keep your rice warm. My rice stayed light and fluffy.

You can also use the Lotus Foods Rice Cooker as a Steamer with the provided steaming tray. It is great for vegetables, or fish. It truly is a remarkable cooking tool.

You can purchase the Lotus Foods Rice Cooker and Steamer directly online. While you are visiting Lotus Foods, be sure to explore the world of rice in the incredible rice varieties. Try something new!

Stay Connected with Lotus Foods
Facebook
Twitter
***Giveway Closed***

Here is your chance to win! Lotus Foods is providing to ONE lucky reader - A Stainless Steel Rice Cooker and Steamer. That is a $79.95 value! Thanks very much Lotus Foods!

Mandatory Entry (First entry)
--Visit Lotus Foods and tell me in a comment which rice you would love to taste.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Subscribe to my blog and verify the subscription. Current subscribers are eligible too.

--Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

--Follow Lotus Foods on Twitter.

--Follow One 2 Try on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Tweet this giveaway message and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).
Giveaway: Win a Rice Cooker Steamer from @lotusfoods. Enter @one2try $79.95 value http://bit.ly/a0avgs ends 10/8 Pls RT

--Like Lotus Foods on Facebook.

--Like One 2 Try on Facebook.

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

--FOR 5 MORE ENTRIES - Make any purchase from Lotus Foods. Post FIVE separate comments about your purchase. Subject to verification.

Giveaway ends on October 8th, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Many thanks to Lotus Foods for providing the review sample and giveaway product.

Disclosure: I received a gratis sample for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Taking a Break

I have been a little missing in action here on One 2 Try lately. I am in the midst of things away from the computer. There is so much to do lately. I have been trying to do both with little success. My family needs my full undivided attention. That being said, I am taking a break from blogging for about a week or so. I will return to posting soon. Sometimes you need to spend more time on real life and less in the computer world. Not to worry, I will be back with lots of reviews and products to share.

See you then!

Today is National Creme Filled Donut Day!

I think my waistband just expanded thinking about this sweet treat day.
Today is National Creme Filled Donut Day! I am sure you have a favorite from a local donut store. I am partial to the Krispy Creme filled ones.

Here are a few recipes I located if you are so adventurous to make your own.

Southern Food at About dot com: Cream Filled Doughnut Recipe - I like this recipe because you can choose your favorite instant pudding for the filling.

cdkitchen has a copycat recipe for Dunkin Donuts Vanilla Filled doughnuts. YUM

You could always leave the donuts to the professionals and choose one like this:

More creme than donut! Mmmm

From Le Pain Quotidien in NYC. Good thing they are many many miles away! This donut is for sure One 2 Try.

Enjoy your day!

The Comfort of Apples - Cookbook Review

With the fall season comes apple picking time. I have fond memories of apple picking trips growing up back east. The smell and taste of apples has long been a favorite of mine.

The Comfort of Apples: Modern Recipes For An Old Fashioned Favorite is a delightful cookbook celebrating the wonderful tastes of apples. Written by Philip and Lauren Rubin, graduates of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, own 2 Peas & A Pot, a Manhattan catering company. Having worked in several restaurants, and Lauren as a personal chef, they bring us their love of cooking to us in The Comfort of Apples.

Inside the beautifully apple colored pages, you will find nearly one hundred recipes for good foods like, breakfast, entrees, desserts and more.

I love the apple tasting chart at the beginning of the book. Listed are common varieties as well as newer coming to market apples. The chart details the taste levels - Sweet-tart, Sweet, Tart and whether it is good for eating or pie. It makes it easy to determine which apples are good for cooking. Very handy. Cooking with apples takes certain types for the best results. As tastes vary in eating apples, some like them crisp, sweet or tart, certain varieties will work better in recipes.

The recipes are scrumptious. How about a BLT with Cider Aioli which is made with sliced apples. Try a salad of Citrus Beets with Apples. YUM! I can't wait to make the Cider Ribs recipe for my next BBQ. The dessert selection of recipes makes your mouth water. From a simple Apple Cake to a decadent Coconut Panna Cotta with Caramel Apples, oh my!

Here is a sample recipe:

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
by Philip & Lauren Rubin,
Authors of The Comfort of Apples: Modern Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Favorite

Soup should be a smooth, friendly spoonful, which is why this is a lasting combination. Some ingredients just work well together: Butternut squash and apples have a complementary, mellow sweetness. Sweet potatoes and apples have a similar agreement, hence our sweet potato side dish

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
4 cups apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 quart chicken stock
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Salt and pepper
½ cup walnut halves
4 ounces goat cheese, sliced in ¼ -inch rounds
Procedure:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent about 3 minutes. Add the squash, apples, carrots, stock, and cinnamon and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer until the vegetables are soft when pierced with a fork, 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Ladle the vegetables and half of the broth into a blender or food processor. Puree until very smooth. Return soup to the pot and stir in the remaining broth, one ladleful at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. Season well with salt and pepper.

3. To serve, place a few walnuts in the center of a soup bowl. Shingle 2 slices of goat cheese on top of the walnuts and ladle the soup around the goat cheese. The idea is to have the goat cheese visible atop the soup. (Hint: it may be easier to ladle the soup into a large measuring cup with a spout and pour from there.)

Serves 6

The above is an excerpt from the book The Comfort of Apples: Modern Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Favorite by Philip & Lauren Rubin. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2010 Philip & Lauren Rubin, authors of The Comfort of Apples: Modern Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Favorite.

Get out there and pick those apples. You will have plenty of apple inspiration recipes to make.

You can find The Comfort of Apples: Modern Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Favorite on Amazon or check with your local book seller.



Disclosure: I received a gratis book copy for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

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The Club No One Wanted to Join - Book Giveaway (ends 9/20)

The Club No One Wanted to Join: Madoff Victims In Their Own Words. The title says it all. The Madoff Ponzi scheme affected thousands. You would be surprised by who it affected. It was not something only Wall Street moguls with plenty of pocket cash fell prey to. It found its victims in the average home. Folks that have been saving their entire lives for retirement and the future. Simple investors to complex, hardcore investors and many shocked investors in between. The book's message is: this can happen to anyone.



How could it have happened? How did these unsuspecting investors be taken for their money, many of which was entire life savings? These were hard working people, real victims falling prey to greed and scandal. You will find they come from all walks of life, blue collar, white collar workers, professionals, retirees from all areas of the country. As the title states - they became involved in The Club No One Wanted to Join.

I had many conversations with my father about the Madoff Ponzi scheme. I remember when pyramid parties were all the rage a few years back. When my dad explained to me, that was pretty much what had happened with the Madoff fiasco, all I could think of was the phrase a sucker is born every minute. Easy to say when things are showing red flags everywhere, but when you have no suspicions, as was represented by the Madoff Swindler, there are no warning signs.

The essays in The Club No One Wanted to Join, are the true tales of 29 victims of the Madoff scheme. In short they are regular people, Americans who got sucked into a Ponzi scheme that even the federal government has yet to solve. They all have one thing in common: they were robbed of their life savings by the worst financial criminal in history, Bernard L. Madoff. It is time the public learns the truth. Real stories with real emotions!

Baring all their gritty details of decisions made and life paths taken, this book is a testament to resilience. Each of these 29 stories will take you into a private world. You can relate to stories. The folks could be your neighbor, or your parents, or you for that matter. Why share their experiences? So others can be aware and protected with information. Known now as Madoff Survivors, they want the public to learn the truth.

I was immediately drawn in to the heart wrenching stories. Each well written essay brings you the experiences from a first hand report.
Here are a few of the essay titles:
Rags to Riches, to Rags
True Wealth - The Gifts of Devastation
What Remains
The Sixty-Five Billion Dollar Question
Trouble is a Great Teacher

This is a book of lessons learned. A story of hope and determination to bounce back. One writer states "Life is hard and often painful. Sometimes a super powerful current comes along and you get your clock cleaned"


It has been a financial disaster of epic proportions for those involved. Since the scheme came to light and after the shock has passed, these authors want to convey how this can happen to anyone and how they survived. The stories are touching and I could not put the book down. I was touched by many of the stories. I am glad they decided to bring their experiences to print. Bravo!

You can purchase The Club No One Wanted to Join - Madoff Victims in Their Own Words, at Amazon or check with your local book seller.

Paperback: 229 pages
Publisher: The Doukathsan Press Of The Massachusetts School of Law; First edition (June 10, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0982250932
ISBN-13: 978-0982250938



Stay Connected with the Madoff Survivors
Facebook

***Giveaway Closed***

Would you like to read this incredible book? Here is your chance to win. ONE lucky reader will get a copy of The Club No One Wanted to Join.

Mandatory Entry (First entry)
--Tell me in a comment if you know a victim of the Madoff Scheme OR simply if you would like to read this book.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Subscribe to my blog and verify the subscription. Current subscribers are eligible too.

--Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

--Follow One 2 Try on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).

Giveaway ends on September 20th, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Many thanks to Alexandra Roth for providing the review copy and giveaway product.

Disclosure: I received a gratis copy for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

nuNAAT Cosmetics - Review

I love finding products made from exotic natural ingredients. nuNAAT Cosmetics is made with a variety of natural ingredients found in the Amazon Forest.

nuNAAT Cosmetics takes incredible ingredients such as Brazil nut, cocoa butter, guarana, passion fruit, shea butter and more to create exotic, products for your hair. I was specifically drawn the the Chocolat Special line. Imagine a cocoa butter based rich shampoo, conditioner and a so decadent cream mask all in delicious - though not edible - hair pampering product.

nuNAAT was so kind in sending a sampling of the Chocolat Special line to experience the Brazilian bliss. My first impression is the packaging is very classy. It speaks of the richness of the cocoa blend inside. The Chocolat Creamy Shampoo - made with Cocoa Butter and Brazil Nut oils - truly made my hair very moisturized. I have color treated hair so it does get dry and damaged. Using the shampoo created a lovely softness to the touch. The scent of the Chocolat line is a bit of chocolate Heaven. It even looks like rich melted chocolate. I loved the way my hair felt completely pampered and moisturized. After using the Chocolat Creamy Shampoo, I treated my hair to a deep conditioning with the Chocolat Cream Mask. Just opening the jar made my chocolate senses tingle. The mask looks like a bowl of melted chocolate chips. Using the mask as directed - massage a generous amount into hair and leave on for 20 minutes, (I took a long leisurely bath in chocolate scented bliss), then rinse. The results were incredible. I had a brilliant shine and my hair felt naturally soft. The mask works best if used once weekly with amazing restorative results. My color treated hair was bathed in moisture.


I followed my Chocolat hair treatment with the Chocolat Special Anti Frizz Therma Active styling product. Just a little dab applied evenly on wet hair then style as normal. The aroma was delightful. The Anti Frizz works with your blow dryer heat to reduce frizz. I did notice a more controlled style with less fly aways. I did feel that I may have used too much of the Anti Frizz as it left my hair feeling a little heavy. Next time I will apply a much smaller amount to get my desired results. A little goes a long way. It also works with straightening irons.

nuNAAT products are available at various locations nationwide or you can order directly online. Besides the Chocolat Special line you will find a variety of products for your hair needs. The prices are very reasonable. If you are a fan of chocolate - the nuNAAT Chocolat Special products are definitely One 2 Try.

Many thanks to nuNAAT for providing the review samples.

Disclosure: I received gratis samples for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Lucky Winners to Announce!

Here are the winners for recently ended giveaways!

The Confectional Cheesecakes
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
207 Timestamp: 2010-09-02 17:20:31 UTC

207. Monica

Walmart GC
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
511 Timestamp: 2010-09-02 17:26:46 UTC

511. coriwestphal

Macaroni Grill
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
75 Timestamp: 2010-09-03 18:54:27 UTC

75. Busy Working Mama

Toxic Waste Candy
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
45 Timestamp: 2010-09-10 19:27:21 UTC

45. Nicole C

Congrats to all the lucky winners! Thanks everyone for entering.

Take it all off Thursday! - Nutrisystem Final Results

For those not familiar with my Nutrisystem journey, I have been on the program for the past 24 weeks. I have decided it was time to try it on my own so this will be my final Nutrisystem post.

My success is exciting to me. I am a slow and steady weight loser plus I hit a terrible 6 week plateau with no movement in loss. That was so hard to get through. Although I did not reach the ultimate goal I had hope to, I did make great strides in losing. My final total after the 24 weeks is 22 pounds! I am in smaller clothes, I feel good! I loved the program, it was very easy for me to follow. I enjoyed the foods. I lived for the structure of the program. I had support from friends and family as well as my Nutrisystem contacts.

What I learned about myself is I can control the cravings. I can watch portion sizes. I can make good healthy choices. I have also learned to really love vegetables and fruits. From this point forward, I have a new respect for eating healthy. I feel good about choices.

I want to thank the wonderful people at Nutrisystem that helped me experience the program. I am deeply grateful to Meredith and Susan for the chance to make a healthy difference for myself.

If you are considering Nutrisystem - now is the time to take advantage of the last weeks of the Summer Sales Event. Big savings are available on all the programs. There are over 150 tasty foods to select from. The food is really good too! Many times I felt like I was eating a gourmet meal. Nutrisystem has plans for everyone and for those with specific nutritional needs. Start your program today. Visit the Nutrisystem website for more information.

Thank you to everyone for the support and the encouragement along the way.

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Pillsbury Sweet Moments - Giveaway (ends 9/18)

Pillsbury does it again! Have you seen the new Sweet Moments decadent treats? They are sinfully rich sweetness you can savor anytime, simply enjoy your Sweet Moments!

Sweet Moments comes in two enjoyable baked goods. Bite Size and Molten Lava Brownies. The Bite Size Brownies flavors include buttery rich caramel or deep dark fudge covered in a chocolaty coating. They are ready to eat anytime! The Sweet Moments Molten Lava Brownie comes in a single serve bowl again in either rich caramel or fudge varieties. For a chocolaty moment all to yourself, simply microwave the Molten Lava Brownie for 15 seconds, then your brownies is warm and ready for your anytime indulgence.


Courtesy of My Blog Spark and Pillsbury, I was treated to a package of the new Sweet Moments desserts. You can find them in the refrigerated section next to the cookie dough. I was drawn to the Bite Size Brownies so everyone could share a taste. I decide the Caramel flavor was the One 2 Try. I am so glad I did. These moist rich brownie bites are delicious. Per the serving size, each brownie is only 60 calories and oh so chocolaty! Perfect for when you just have to have that chocolate fix. As a true chocolate fanatic, I am pleasantly delighted with the goodness of the Sweet Moments Brownie Bites. The little bites are so satisfying. The sweet caramel adds a richness to the chocolate. You have to be careful not to eat the whole bag in one sitting, which takes a lot of willpower because they are so good! I hope to try the Molten Lava Brownies on my next decadent Sweet Moment!

You can find Pillsbury Sweet Moments in your local grocers refrigerated dough section. The hard part is choosing which scrumptious treat to devour! I say buy two! You never know when you deserve to have a Sweet Moment in your hectic days.

Stay Connected with Pillsbury
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Ready to have a Sweet Moment in your day? Here is your chance to win! Pillsbury coordinated with My Blog Spark to provide to ONE lucky reader - A “Sweet Moments” prize pack that includes a VIP coupon for the new Pillsbury Sweet Moments and a chocolate spa kit. Thank you very much Pillsbury!


***Giveaway Closed***
Mandatory Entry (First entry)
--Tell me in a comment which time of the day you are most likely to indulge in a Pillsbury Sweet Moment.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Subscribe to my blog and verify the subscription. Current subscribers are eligible too.

--Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

--Follow Pillsburytreats on Twitter.

--Follow One 2 Try on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Tweet this giveaway message and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).
Giveaway: Win a Pillsbury Sweet Moments Pack. New Brownies and Chocolate Spa Kit. #mbsspark Enter @one2try Ends 9/18 http://bit.ly/cTQMEJ

--Like Pillsbury on Facebook.

--Like One 2 Try on Facebook.

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

Giveaway ends on September 18th, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Many thanks to Pillsbury and My Blog Spark for providing the information, review sample, prize pack and giveaway product.

Disclosure: I received a gratis sample for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Got Costumes? Wholesale Costume Club - Review

I love this time of year. The weather changes from summer and we feel the chill of fall. I look forward to the holidays coming up. Halloween is just a few weeks away. Now is the time to get your costumes. For an incredible selection of costumes, shop at Wholesale Costume Club.

You will find costumes for everyone. Boys, girls, infant/toddler, men's and women's as well as plus size, couples and much more. The prices are below retail values and with such an assortment, it is your one stop costume shopping destination.

About Wholesale Costume Club:
Wholesale Costume Club is an innovative new concept in costume shopping. We are the only costume website on the Internet that lets you purchase Halloween costumes at wholesale club member or non-member prices that are below the lowest retail prices you'll find on any online costume store.

It is easy to browse the selection at Wholesale Costume Club. The categories are well defined to search out your costume idea. I spent a bit of time browsing through most all of the categories before finding a fun couples costumes for us this Halloween. Courtesy of Wholesale Costume Club, hubby and I will be wearing the .....Bacon & Eggs Adult Couples Costume! Oh my gosh, how funny! My guy loves bacon, he will be wearing it for the smiles. I think the egg costume is adorable. I plan on making a couple frying pan hats for us too! Taking it one step further, while we are handing out candy in our Bacon & Eggs costumes, I will be cooking bacon for added smellavision. Hubby will be craving bacon all night while in his bacon costume anyway.  It will be a breakfast party at our door. Now if only I can find bacon and eggs candy to give out, hmmmm that sounds like fun.

The costume is well made with bright colors. The bacon strips are the perfect bacon colors, while the egg yolk is a lovely yellow. One size fits most and we had no trouble with the fit. Simply wear it over some leggings or as hubby is wearing it, over shorts and a tshirt. There will be no doubt who is your partner if wearing this fun costume to a party.

A few other Couples Costumes that caught my eye are:
Tacky Tourists
Hillbilly Bride
Elite Gothic Vampira (Very Classy)

You can find costumes for year round needs too. The Christmas collection is available now.

The prices are unbeatable compared to high retail prices. Non-members get good pricing. Members will save even more. Membership is optional. You can become a member for only $5.00 per year which gives you the lowest prices, no minimum order requirement, lower shipping rates, and no recurring billing for the membership fees. One year at a time. Even if you do not become a member you can still purchase at the non-member prices for great savings. Order directly online today while your favorite costume is in stock for Halloween!

Whether you like sexy, funny, or need a very detailed costume or accessories, the place to buy is Wholesale Costume Club. Make your Halloween a fun one!

Many thanks to Wholesale Costume Club for providing the review sample costume.

Disclosure: I received a gratis costume for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Smiley Cookie - Giveaway (ends 9/17)

When you have a really good tasting cookie, doesn't it bring a smile to your face? How about a cookie that already has a smile on it? Introducing Smiley Cookie. Share A Smile with the happiest cookie you have ever seen!

Smiley Cookie started more than 20 years ago in the Pittsburgh restaurant Eat'n Park. Each time a smiley cookie was presented during the dining experience, instant smiles were all around. The Smiley Cookie became the symbol of giving and the mascot of the company.


Who can resist a rich, buttery, iced cookie? Now you can order Smiley Cookies to be delivered to your home! Each Smiley Cookie is fresh baked then hand-iced with the famous smiley face. Besides the amazing selection of Smiley's to choose from, you can create-your-own cookies in a variety of colors and shapes, perfect for special occasions or get togethers. Picture a flower shape for a little girls party in bold yellow with pretty purple faces. For a boy who just scored the winning goal - a star shape with blue icing and yellow faces. The possibilities for fun are endless.

The Smiley Cookie is scrumptious! I was able to taste the Original Smiley Cookie. A very happy dozen arrived at my home with the classic white icing and bright colored faces. We could not wait to taste the happiness! The cookies have a delightful rich buttery flavor with just the right amount of sweetness from the icing. The cookies are soft to the bite and practically melt in your mouth. The cookies are a good generous size, perfect for making smiles! We were all smiling with each nibble. It is good to know the Smiley Cookies will freeze well. We can have another Smiley Cookie anytime.

The Original Smiley Cookie comes in 12 cookies per order for only $11.99. Smiley Cookie is available in many styles and gifts. Awww they have the cutest Smiley Mug too. Adorable. You can order direct from Smiley Cookie. Free shipping on orders over $40 too! Order a couple dozen! Consider Smiley Cookies for baby showers or bridal showers. How fun!

Stay Connected with Smiley Cookie
Facebook
Twitter
e-newsletter - Sign up and Save $5 on your next order! (bottom of page)

****Giveaway Closed ****
Here is your chance to win! Smiley Cookie is giving away to ONE lucky reader - Original Smiley Cookies (12 cookies)! Thanks very much Smiley Cookies!

Mandatory Entry (First entry)
--Visit Smiley Cookie and tell me in a comment what cookie would make you smile.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Subscribe to my blog and verify the subscription. Current subscribers are eligible too.

--Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

--Follow Smiley Cookie on Twitter.

--Follow One 2 Try on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Tweet this giveaway message and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).
Giveaway: Win Original Smiley Cookies - 1 dozen YUM! Enter @one2try http://bit.ly/dt9vnl ends 9/17 Pls RT

--Like Smiley Cookie on Facebook

--Like One 2 Try on Facebook.

--Sign up for the Smiley Cookie e-newsletter and Save $5 on your next order! (bottom of page)

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

Giveaway ends on September 17th, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Many thanks to Smiley Cookie for providing the review sample and giveaway product.

Disclosure: I received a gratis sample for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Pacifica: Perfume - Review

It is not everyday I come across a perfume fragrance that I just adore. I have been introduced to the fabulous products of Pacifica. Pacifica truly has a scent for all spirits as their motto says.

The products of Pacifica range from fragrances available as spray perfumes, roll-on perfumes and solid perfumes. Taking the lovely freagrances even further, they offer body butters, washes, lotions and soaps, plus candles. The fragrances are all developed by Brook the founder, using high quality essential and natural oils. The skin care products are formulated with natural, good for your skin ingredients and are non-irritating. You won't find petro-chemicals in any of the products. They are 100% Vegan!

I am so excited to experience the fragrance of Pacifica. I have always gravitated towards the citrus scents so I knew I would love the Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Spray Perfume. I love it! The sweet blood orange is blended with sweet Italian Mandarins to create this very uplifting, wake up your senses, fragrance. It is lightly spicy in fragrance with the delicate orange gracefully completing the scent. I love wearing Tuscan Blood Orange because it makes me feel happy being surrounded by orange. I feel like I am standing in a grove of orange trees in the peak of the blooming season. To me it is like bottled sunshine.

In Brook's words about Tuscan Blood Orange: Brook's Notes
At first, this seems like a simple fragrance. But once you smell thorough the layers, its complexity and sophistication comes to life. I love to blend this scent with any other fragrance or simply wear it alone during the day. It is also amazing in a candle, filling your space with fresh brightness.

My sentiments exactly. I enjoy the scent so much, I have never paired it with another fragrance. I will have to try that. Pacifica makes it easy to layer scents with the same fragrance in body wash, lotion, body butter and you can experience the scent in your home as candles. I would love a Tuscan Blood Orange Candle.

Pacifica has a fragrance for everyone.

Floral Fragrances and Perfumes:
California Star Jasmine
French Lilac
Lotus Garden
Malibu Lemon Blossom
Nerola Orange Blossom
Tahitian Gardenia
Tunisian Jasmine
Waikiki Pikake

Fruit Fragrances and Perfumes:
Bali Lime Papaya
Brazilian Mango Grapefruit
Hawaiian Ruby Guava
Mediterranean Fig
Tuscan Blood Orange

Herbal & Spice Fragrances:
Bourbon Island Vanilla
Egyptian Bergamot Rose
Madagascar Spice
Mexican Cocoa
Thai Lemongrass
Vanilla Vera Cruz
Zanzibar Cinnamon Almond

Wood Fragrances and Perfumes:
Avalon Juniper
Russian Fir
Sandalwood
Spanish Amber
Tibetan Mountain Temple

Have you picked out a favorite? The prices are very reasonable. The Spray perfume in the 1.2 ounce size is $22.00. Check out the Special Values for amazing deals on gift sets. I know I will be a repeat customer for more than one scent. Pacifica also offers free shipping on domestic orders over $50. Place your orders directly online. Surround yourself with fragrance that is Pacifica.

Stay Connected with Pacifica
Facebook
Subscribe to the Pacifica emails or request a catalog. You have a chance to win a $100 gift certificate each month by subscribing to the emails.

Many thanks to Pacifica for providing the review sample.

Disclosure: I received a gratis sample for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Do you know a talented teen singer? Audition by September 28th.

Do you know a talented teen? The executive producers of Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars are looking for female singers, age 16-24 to audition for Talent – a hot new web series debuting early 2011. Winners will receive a lead role in Talent and a recording contract with Jive Records! Girls can submit their audition videos at The Talent Show through September 28th.



One lucky girl will receive a major label recording contract and a starring role in the hot new series, Talent!

Throughout the contest, fans everywhere can rate the auditions to ensure their favorite contestants are top ranked. Each week, one standout performer will be featured in the coveted “Spotlight of the Week” position.

On October 6th, 20 semi-finalists will be announced who will vie for six exclusive spots to participate in Talent: The Casting Call. The six finalists will use their music and acting craft to stay alive throughout the reality series to become Alloy Entertainment and Jive Records’ top Talent. The winner will head to Hollywood for a lead role in Talent the scripted web series and receive a recording contract with Jive Records.

YOUR CHANCE AT STARDOM IN THREE EASY STEPS:
1) Choose a song from the song list. Record and upload one song or multiple songs on the list provided. Only one video upload per song will be accepted.
2) Submit your audition video!
3) Vote! Get your friends and family to vote for you by sharing your audition video on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Please refer to the Official Rules for complete details.

Connect with Talent on Facebook for the latest updates and audition tips!

Tune into the official Talent YouTube channel and check out the latest audition tapes!

Get those auditions in! The deadline is September 28th. Your talented teen just might be a star in the making!

Disclosure: Information provided by Alloy Digital. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post.