I had so much fun participating in the I Love My Mommy Hop that I have decided to participate in yet another huge event! This one is to bring awareness to a very special cause: Breast Cancer Awareness. I am blessed to say that I have not personally been affected by breast cancer, nor have any family members or friends, that I am aware of. But this is a disease that affects SO many women.... Peoples' mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, friends...Breast cancer is a disease that can be beaten, especially with early detection. Hopefully, sometime in my lifetime, there will be a cure. I don't want my little girl or my future grandbabies to ever have to worry about potentially losing their lives to this disease. We CAN raise awareness NOW so that future generations will look at breast cancer the way we as a society look at polio...A distant memory. Makobi Scribe and Boobies, Babies & a Blog are running the show, and I just know that turnout for this event will be HUGE! The I Love My Mommy Hop had over 70 participating blogs, and I am willing to bet that this event will surpass that! I am currently accepting sponsors for this exciting event, and will be throughout the summer. I would love to have a large prize package for my readers, preferably with items that women would enjoy or that are pink in some way. My question to my readers: What companies or types of items would YOU like to see me feature for this event? I'd love your suggestions so I can try to make them a reality!
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Unless you have literally been living under a rock, I'm sure you have noticed that bold, beautiful and unique jewelry has taken center stage on television, in the movies, in fashion magazines, and even on the red carpet. Long gone are the days when a simple strand of pearls and understated gems were all the rage. Today, accessories that are big, colorful, and bold are in high demand worldwide. But can you achieve this look while maintaining a sense of elegant femininity? With high-fashion jewelry and accessories from renowned Indian designer Amrita Singh, you can! Amrita Singh has literally taken the fashion world by storm, and has been featured in virtually every leading women's magazine, on hit shows like Gossip Girl, and J. Lo even recently sported these gorgeous Indian-inspired pieces on American Idol! It is clear that Hollywood has gone Bollywood, and the whole world has taken notice! Amrita Singh’s jewelry has been worn by a variety of celebrities, such as Princess Mary of Denmark, Jessica Simpson, Anne Hathaway, Faith Hill, Jennifer Lopez, Gabrielle Union, Virginia Madsen, Joan Allen, Jessica Lange, Tamara Mellon (Jimmy Choo founder), Kimberley Locke (American Idol), Jenny McCarthy, Patricia Heaton, Mischa Barton and others. Her Bollywood Collection and Bangle Bangle Collection have been particularly popular with the stars and have garnered a lot of attention from major fashion and lifestyle magazines. Amrita Singh jewelry has been featured in Life & Style, In Style, Harper’s Bazaar, JCK Style, Town & Country, Self, Lucky, Brides, OK!, Glamour, People, O, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Cosmo Girl, Modern Bride, Fashion, Marie Claire, Elle, Jane, Los Angeles Confidential and Gotham, to name a few. Some of the top fashion magazines in the world have used Amrita Singh Jewelry multiple times in fashion shoots and spreads. Clearly Amrita Singh Jewelry caters to a variety of women and fashion tastes, as magazine editors, readers, and celebrities alike have noticed. How can one NOT notice these beautiful, bold pieces? Amrita Singh's extensive collection of jewelry offers a wide variety of high-fashion pieces that even the average woman can wear with ease. There are hundreds of styles available; from BIG and eye-catching, to more subtle, demure and understated pieces. Amrita Singh offers bangle bracelets, bangle sets, necklaces, rings, cuff style bracelets, and earrings. They also offer other accessories to tie your look together like handbags, scarves, sandals, and hair accessories. There is literally something to suit every taste and make every woman feel glamorous. I received the Southampton Bracelet in Amethyst from the very generous folks at Amrita Singh for review as part of my Birthday Bash event. Filled with anticipation, I opened the package to find out what treasures awaited me. This gorgeous bracelet arrived very well-packaged, and even included a little birthday card from the Amrita Singh staff complete with a hand-drawn birthday cake on it! What a nice surprise! I love the little personal touches that go into everything offered at Amrita Singh, and they have a wonderful, expert staff as well. They are highly knowledgeable where fashion is concerned, and can answer any and all questions you may have about their wonderful pieces. They have been friendly, warm, and an absolute joy to work with! If you're anything like me, good communication and customer service are essential to me when I choose to do business with a company. On this aspect, I would recommend Amrita Singh to everyone looking to make a statement with their jewelry and accessories. I love the rich purple color in the cabochon resin stones. The color is vibrant, and each stone contains a beautiful marble effect, making it stand out wonderfully against the warm yellow hue of the 18K gold plated setting. This is a 3 strand bracelet, and closes with a secure and easy to operate toggle-clasp.This bracelet is 1.4" wide, so it is a nice size without being too bulky. It is also very well made, and is not a flimsy piece of jewelry. As a mom, this is important to me because my babies LOVE to grab and pull, especially on shiny things! This versatile piece of jewelry pairs beautifully with so many different ensembles. I have worn this with a cute casual top and jeans as well as with a nice, flowy sundress. This would also be fantastic worn with some skinny jeans, a dressy top and some killer heels! This will surely be my go-to-accessory when I want to feel glamorous and get noticed. I have gotten many, many compliments on this lovely bracelet from women young and old alike! Don't you just LOVE the look of this bracelet? I know I do! And one of my VERY lucky followers will win one of their own! That's right! The super-nice folks at Amrita Singh want to make your life just a little more glam, and will be offering a Southampton Bracelet in Honey Gold to be included in my For Mommy prize package during my upcoming Birthday Bash! This bracelet can be seen below, 3rd one from the left! Isn't it pretty?! In the meantime, I would love to share some exciting promotions going on at Amrita Singh, as well as tell you how to connect with this amazing company!
HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase this and other gorgeous pieces on the Amrita Singh website. You can also follow them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest additions and promotions. (FYI: Doing so NOW will put you one step ahead of the game once my Birthday Bash giveaways begin!) SPECIAL PROMOTIONS: The nice folks at Amrita Singh are offering my readers 20% off their first purchase by clicking here. The South Fork Hampton Necklace Lily wore on Gossip Girl went on sale today! All the Editor's Pick Statement Necklaces are 50% off with promo code DOW53, available here. The Beatrice earrings Serena just wore are also still available, and selling out quickly, available here. Please note, only ONE promotion code is allowed per purchase, so choose wisely! ***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** If you've recently had a baby like I have, you know how difficult it can be to shed those extra pounds acquired during pregnancy. I have had 2 babies in the past 16 months, and I am struggling to lose the last few stubborn pounds. My goal weight is 125lbs, and my scale is currently stuck at 142.6lbs. So rather than throw my scale out the window, bury my face in my pillow and scream, I have decided to accept the fact that I just might need a little extra help in getting my body back to the way I would like it to be. As the mother of an infant and a toddler, it is not always easy to find the time to work out. Sure, I go up and down the stairs about 5 million times per day. Sure, I chase my very active toddler around as she tries (and often succeeds) to destroy my house. Sure, there are plenty of things that the simple demands of being a mother demand that keep me relatively active. But I have yet to lose the baby weight. Not all of it, anyway. It can be downright frustrating, especially with summer rapidly approaching. I want to look GOOD in my bathing suit for probably the first time in my life, and I am getting serious about making this goal a reality. How? I am enlisting the help of a specially formulated postnatal weight loss supplement. Until recently, I didn't know such a product even existed! Sure, I have heard of the countless diet supplements on the market that aid in the loss of unwanted weight. But as a new mom, none of those catered to my body as a mother. And most certainly are not safe to use if a mom is breastfeeding! Postnatal Thermogenic For New Moms is not only safe while nursing, it actually has special herbal ingredients that promote lactation! This unique supplement contains White Kidney Bean extract, Glucomannan, Fenugreek, and Marshmallow extract, four herbs that nutritionists agree is a great blend for increasing lactation! Please note: This is NOT a diet pill. This is a 100% natural, caffeine and stimulant free supplement that contains key ingredients that assist in losing those pesky pregnancy pounds safely and naturally. This product is a unique, herbal formulation that is not only safe for mama, but safe for a nursing baby, too. Did you know that medical experts say that for new moms, the ideal window for weight loss is within the first 6 months after giving birth? Not only is it beneficial to Mommy to do so, it is beneficial for your new baby as well. A mom with less body fat simply feels better, has more energy, and has a lower sleep requirement, too! And let's face it.. Sleep is something that is seriously lacking for most new mothers! Losing the "baby weight" also has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol, and make for a happier, healthier mama! And a healthy mom = a healthy, well cared for baby! So anything that can maximize the body's efficiency truly does go a long way. I am excited about Postnatal Thermogenic For New Moms, and I can't wait to see my results! It's only been about a week, but I am already feeling more energetic. That's a promising sign! Would you like to try this supplement for yourself? These products have a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, so there's nothing to lose but that unwanted baby weight! Here's how to connect: BUY IT: For more information on the Postnatal Thermogenic For New Moms, visit www.ShopDeltaLabs.com You can also follow them on Facebook. WIN IT: One lucky follower will receive a bottle of Postnatal Thermogenic For New Moms to try for themselves! Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. Also, please leave a valid e-mail address with each entry. I have to be able to contact you if you're my lucky winner! MANDATORY ENTRY:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure. I don't know about you, but I L-O-V-E the hot yet complex flavor profiles that are unique to true, Louisiana-style Cajun cooking! But how much do you know about Cajun cuisine? Cajun is a style of cooking found predominantly in the extreme southern United States, in places like the swamp-lands of Louisiana and the deltas of Mississippi. Cajun cooking is actually named for the Acadians. These were French-speaking Acadian or "Cajun" immigrants deported by the British from Acadia in Canada to the Acadiana region of Louisiana. It is a culinary style that has many, many different influences, making it a true cultural melting pot that yields delicious results. Some influences in Cajun cooking include: French, African, Native American, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and even South Asian Indian! What happens when you mix these very different types of cuisine together? DY-NA-MITE! For your taste buds, that is! Since Cajun cooking began with very poor farmers, immigrants, and refugees, Cajun cooking relies heavily on rice and other meal-stretchers, that allow a meal to satisfy a large family with minimal investment. Other common ingredients that are predominantly used in Cajun cooking are smoked meats like Andouille sausage, peppers, and even seafood, such as shrimp and crawfish! In Cajun cooking, a base often referred to as the "Holy Trinity" is often use. This is an aromatic saute of bell pepper, onion, and celery, and can be bound in a myriad of Cajun dishes. They are often seasoned with cayenne pepper, bay leaves, parsley,hot sauces, thyme, and sage. Some of the more popular Cajun dishes include Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Ettouffee. Can you saw Mmmmm? So knowing a little more about the history of this All-American cuisine, it's no wonder that chefs around the country try and capture some of that good old Cajun flavor every day in their own kitchens. I just discovered a company whose products make achieving that unique Cajun bite so much easier for the home cook! This fantastic company is Mossy Bayou Foods. Mossy Bayou Foods is a Louisiana specialty foods company with several products that appeal to those seeking zesty and exciting flavor experiences. I was lucky enough to receive a nice sampler of their many flavorful concoctions, and they certainly did not disappoint! Check out some of the tasty treats I received: Mossy Bayou Louisiana Swamp Scum: Award winning! Louisiana Style hot sauce with a delicious smoke flavor. We really enjoy this hot sauce! It is just spicy enough to make your eyebrows sweat, and it has a delightful, smoky finish. I could probably drink the stuff, to be honest. I have had it on just about everything, from burgers and sandwiches, to soups and stews and everything in-between. This sauce is a wonderful addition to any meal. I especially enjoyed it on Macaroni and Cheese and on a baked potato with some sliced andouille sausage. Yum! This stuff is SOOOO good! Don't believe me? Check out the awards that Swamp Scum has under it's belt: 1st Place Winner - 2002 National competition conducted by Chile Pepper Magazine. 2nd Place Winner - People's Choice Award, 2003 Zesty Food Show, Ft. Worth, Texas. Cajun Chow Chow It's a "relish with an attitude". Made with green Cayenne peppers, onions, garlic, salt and a special blend of spices. This is fabulous as an addition to hot dogs, burgers, smoked sausages, and my son liked it on scrambled eggs! It's got a little kick to it, and is definitely a relish that bites you back, but in an oh-so-tasty way! I plan on using a dab of this Cajun delight tonight on my burger! Mmm...A nice juicy burger smothered in pepper-jack cheese topped with this Chow-Chow and maybe some jalapenos?YUM! Louisiana Popcorn Rice A gourmet rice, grown in South Louisiana, with the unique light flavor and aroma of fresh popcorn. 100% Natural. This was uncanny. This is rice, but as the name suggests, it tastes just like popcorn! I don't know HOW the folks at Mossy Bayou pulled that off, but I am certainly not complaining! I used this served with a nice, spicy gumbo. It was good. So good, in fact, there were no leftovers at all, and my husband actually licked the pot clean. Bayou Blend Seasoning A special blend of cajun spices, with an added Mexican Accent. No salt. DOES NOT contain MSG. This was my favorite product of all, since it is so incredibly versatile. I have used this in SO many different dishes now. Probably too many to count! A sprinkle here, a pinch there....This is a wonderful substitute for most seasoned salts. And you don't have to worry about your sodium intake. There is no actual salt in this amazing seasoning blend! I did use this in my Cajun Chicken Pasta, and it was spectacular. Doesn't this look yummy? Who's coming to my house for dinner? I absolutely LOVED the assortment of products I received from Mossy Bayou. Anyone can easily prepare authentic tasting Cajun cuisine in the comfort of their own kitchen! Use as little as you like, or as much as you like, depending on the amount of heat you're aiming for. I guarantee it will be flavorful and delicious with a unique Cajun kick!
Guess what? Mossy Bayou will be giving one lucky follower a gift box of these wonderful products during my Birthday Bash event as part of my For the Home package, now worth several hundred dollars! How cool is that?! In the meantime, here's how you can learn more about the wonderful products Mossy Bayou has to offer: HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase these and other Cajun delights on the Mossy Bayou website. ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** What a gorgeous building, don't you agree? It reminds me of a place I have visited often in dreams, a serene Mediterranean villa in the Italian countryside, brimming with beautiful landscapes, wonderful conversation, and of course only the freshest, most flavorful foods, like pestos, sun-dried tomatoes, and wonderful, fresh olive oils to dip a crusty loaf of Italian bread in....Ahhh, one can dream! But this gorgeous setting is not in Italy...It is the Tuscan inspired headquarters of Mooney Farms, a well-known gourmet food manufacturer based in sunny Chico, California. This family owned business has recently remodeled and expanded, the 100,000 square foot facility reflects their family’s rich history of the Mediterranean with 200 year old olive trees planted among the rows of lavender and rosemary. Sounds like heaven to me! The Mooney Family originates from Sonoma County and has always appreciated the natural beauty and style of Sonoma’s Vineyard landscapes and wineries which line the beautiful farming valley’s. Reminiscent of this area, they have created a beautiful rustic Italian style tasting room and storefront, which welcomes you to their family business. If I ever make my way to Cali, I will certainly add this to my stops, as I would love a tour of this gorgeous, rustic facility! And maybe I would beg for a taste of whatever delectable concoctions they had available! Mooney Farms has a HUGE variety of Mediterranean-inspired food items, such as sun-dried tomatoes, available in halves and julienne cut in a few mouth-watering flavors, AMAZING pesto sauce, pasta sauces, olive oils, even a sun-dried tomato risotto and some of the most delicious marinades I have ever had the pleasure of tasting! Their foods are so good, their Italian Basil Sun Dried Tomatoes even won the distinction of being featured as one of the BEST prepackaged foods of 2010 by Women's Health Magazine! That is quite an honor, and one well-deserved, if you ask me! I have the opportunity to sample several of their fabulous products, and let me tell you, they are GOOD. The flavors are clean, simple, and very, very fresh. I especially loved the Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce With Whole Pine Nuts. I LOVE a good pesto, but had never tried a tomato pesto before. I made some homemade crusty bread and used this as a spread, and I also served this with a nice linguine. The flavors were delightful! The tomato marries perfectly with the pine nuts, and creates a flavor explosion that makes me think of only the finest Italian restaurants. But with Bella Sun Luci products, you don't need to spend a ton of money on a sitter and hefty dinner bill...You can recreate these fantastic dishes right at home, in your own kitchen! My kids LOVED this pesto sauce, as did I. My husband didn't care for it. (Surprise!) But he doesn't like tomatoes in general. Hey, you can't win them all! I also tried their julienne cut sun-dried tomatoes and they make for a wonderful addition to pizzas, bruschetta, and for pasta dishes. I even used these in a stuffed chicken breast recipe that included these tomatoes, ricotta, mozzarella, fresh garlic, and kalamata olives. It was spectacular! The husband did eat this with no complaint, too! While I absolutely LOVED their tomato products, I have to say the star of the show was their Basque Norte Meat Marinade. Oh. My. Goodness. I used this to prepare some thick, juicy Ribeye steaks. I usually prefer to make my own marinades, but decided I would give this a try. I am SO glad I did! I marinated my steaks in this product for about 4 hours and then let my meat come to room temperature before grilling them. Let me just say, these were by far the BEST steaks I have EVER had outside a restaurant. Heck, they were even better than most restaurant steaks I have had in the past! As a matter of fact, the ONLY steak I have had that compared was served at a restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario Canada called The Keg that I had the pleasure of visiting almost 10 years ago! The marinade truly helped bring out the natural flavors in the beef, and lended a savory, delicious kick as well. I like my steaks well-done, (I know...This is considered a crime by many!) and the steaks were tender, juicy, and flavorful...Even though they weren't still "moo-ing" at me! It is so easy to ruin a steak by preparing it well-done, but this was not the case when using the Basque Norte Marinade. My steak was beautifully seared and the burnt edges that I LOVE had a wonderful caramelization to them that tasted utterly to-die-for! Even my husband agreed, these were THE BEST steaks he had ever eaten, too! Mooney Farms also has a Carne Asada Marinade that I plan to use very soon for a potential dinner date with friends. Overall, I LOVED the assortment of products I received from the nice folks at Mooney Farms. They were all fresh, delicious, and very reminiscent of the finest Italian dining experiences. The flavors are rich, bright, and with Mooney Farms, the culinary possibilities are endless! If you can dream it, you can make it! And Mooney Farms, like a nice old Italian lady, is there to help perfect it. And I am so tickled to announce that Mooney Farms is contributing to my Birthday Bash as well! One winner will receive this fantastic Mediterranean Gift Basket packed full with a vast selection of their oh-so-yummy products! This will be a part of my For The Home prize package, worth hundreds of dollars! Stay tuned, because the giveaway will begin on June 1st! In the meantime, let me tell you how you can connect with Mooney Farms and learn more about these amazing products.
HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase Mooney Farms products on their website, as well as find mouth-watering recipes and more! You can also follow Mooney Farms on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of all the latest news and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you one step ahead of the game once my Birthday Bash begins! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** As you all probably know by now, I am a self-proclaimed "Foodie" and I LOVE to cook. That's why I was so excited when I heard about the new quiz on the Carrabba's Italian Grill's Facebook page that determined what MY perfect pasta would be, based on various personality traits. The quiz was super-easy, fun, and an eye-opening experience. They call it the Pasta Personality Quiz. What were MY results, you might ask? It is no surprise that due to the fact that I am laid-back, shy, and sometimes introverted and prefer small groups and intimate settings to big crowds, I scored..... SPAGHETTI! You’re genuine and well loved, like Carrabba’s Spaghetti and Meatballs. Your warm and comforting personality makes you everybody’s best friend. So go for our equally popular hand-prepared meatballs over perfectly cooked imported spaghetti. Take the Carrabba’s Personality Quiz on Facebook for yourself! I would love to compare results! Speaking of Carrabba's Italian Grill, have you heard about their delicious, limited time offers? My mouth is watering just thinking about the fabulous meals that await at Carrabba's! I have not yet had the pleasure of sampling their vast menu, but this restaurant is on my Must Try List for sure! Who knows? Maybe the hubby will surprise me and take me to Carrabba's for my birthday dinner at the end of June! Hey, a girl can hope, right? Check out these amazing offers: LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Now through July 2011. Featured Signature Pasta Meal: Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost. Other Limited Time Offers: Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio. Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir. Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce. Now Introducing: Peach Sangria – Carrabba’s new light and fruity Peach Sangria blends Copper Ridge White Zinfandel, Absolut Apeach vodka and Patrón Citrónge with a splash of citrus. Topped with a fresh lemon wedge and strawberry, it’s a taste of the Amalfi Coast in spring. Locations: Visit www.carrabbas.com for the closest Carrabba’s location. There are more than 230 locations nationwide. If all this talk about yummy Italian food has made you hungry, I would love to share my family's favorite pasta recipe, which I make often, usually accompanied by my "famous" Chicken Piccata! I am usually forced to prepare pastas that have no tomatoes in the sauce, as my husband does not enjoy tomatoes unless they are raw, sliced, and sprinkled with salt. But in a sauce, stew, or chili? No way, Jose! I have perfected my Fettucine Alfredo, and any friends or family that have tried it will agree: It is pretty darn good! Especially with my chicken, a nice, crisp salad, and don't forget the garlic bread! Here is my recipe, should you want to make it for YOUR family, too! Brandy's To-Die-For Fettucine Alfredo: Ingredients
Stir 2 cups of the cream and the lemon juice in a heavy large skillet to blend. Add the butter and cook over medium heat just until the butter melts, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the pasta and toss. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of cream, the cream cheese, and Parmesan to the cream sauce in the skillet. Add the lemon zest, nutmeg, salt, black pepper and white pepper. Toss the pasta mixture over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute. Of course, I will share the recipe I use for my Chicken Piccata, as well. This chicken is moist, tender, and has a nice blend of flavors thanks to the lemon and white wine in the sauce. This marries beautifully with my Fettucine Alfredo recipe above! Ingredients
I hope you'll try my recipes, and that you'll head on over to Carrabba's Italian Grill's Facebook Page to take the Pasta Personality Test! I'd love to hear your results! Also, if you have been fortunate enough to have dined at Carrabba's, I would love to hear about your experiences! What are your favorite menu items? Do you have any special memories? I'd love to chat with you about it!
***Disclosure:I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.*** I never heard back from my winner, so I am choosing another...PLEASE check your spam folders! I hate when someone misses out on such a wonderful prize!
My new winner is Jayedee! I am e-mailing you now! Please reply within 48 hours and I will forward your info to the sponsor immediately! As many of you may recall, I have recently kicked a horrible caffeine and soda addiction. It was BAD. I would drink a whole 2L bottle of Dr. Pepper PER DAY, all by myself. It has been a few weeks now since my last soda indulgence, and I think it's safe to say I have kicked the habit altogether. Now that I am fully functioning and the terrible caffeine withdrawl stage has passed, I will allow myself the occasional diet caffeine free soda. But I do mean occasional...The rest of the time, I am drinking sparkling waters. Yes, I have to have the "fizz" in order to be satisfied. Conventional sodas are terrible for one's health. They are full of processed sugars, artificial flavors, preservatives, and are just chock full of empty calories that all to often get converted by the body into FAT. (Who knew?) Not only are they a key contributer to this country's obesity epidemic, they are also a key factor in determining one's risk for certain diseases, like diabetes. A person who drinks soda that way I used to is much more likely to become diabetic. I suppose it's no surprise, considering the amount of sugar and other "junk" that goes into these seemingly innocent beverages! I have been on the lookout for satisfying and refreshing beverages that I can enjoy without feeling guilty or potentially relapsing into my old soda habits. I have recently discovered are a new line of naturally sweetened bevarages called Kahe Sparking Nectars, made by California Naturals in the San Francisco area. KAHE Sparkling Nectars, the worlds first sparkling juice drink sweetened with Stevia Rebaudiana or natively known as ka'a he'e (sweet herb). We are a Menlo Park, California beverage company dedicated to providing the ultimate stevia drinks that, taste great and are healthy and refreshing. Our stevia beverages are full flavored, low-calorie, simple, refined and our unique blend of ingredients will leave you refreshed and satisfied. Kahe Sparkling Nectars are not your typical soda....But try telling your taste buds that! They are flavorful, lightly carbonated beverages that taste just like REAL FRUIT rather than a sickly sweet imitation of a piece of fruit. There is good reason for that, too! Kahe Sparkling Nectars are sweetened with only the highest quality natural and organic ingredients. And in this case, as always, every ingredient matters. Here's some of the black and white facts about these unique beverages: Kahe is made with ONLY the good stuff:
These drinks are light, crisp, and thoroughly satisfying. They are truly a gourmet treat, and are currently offered in the following varieties: Passion Fruit: Passion fruit have a beautifully fragrant, fruity aroma and an exotic, sweet yet tangy flavor. This is a fruit that is uncommon in the United States, but is quite popular elsewhere. It is a sweet and tart fruit with seeds shaped like those of a watermelon, but often eaten with the fruit, which adds a nice crunch. The outside of passion fruit is purple or yellow depending on the region in which it is grown and it has an orange to yellow pulp. Passion fruit is native to South America and is widely grown in New Zealand, India, the Caribbean, Brazil, Ecuador, California, Southern Florida, Hawaii, Australia, East Africa, Israel and South Africa. Passion fruit are known to be a good source of Vitamin A and C as well as potassium and iron. Our passion fruit comes from Ecuador. I enjoyed the Passion Fruit Sparkling Nectar very much. This has a wonderful, tropical aroma and a sweet taste with a slightly tart but smooth finish. And at only 40 calories per bottle, I do not have to worry about adding any extra pounds drinking this! My son and husband liked the light and crisp flavors in this drink as well. Oh, and did I mention this can be paired beautifully with food? I enjoyed this beverage with a nice Caribbean Grilled Chicken salad! This beverage contains 20% juice, is Kosher, and ALL SUGARS ARE FROM THE JUICE OF THE FRUIT ITSELF! Kiwifruit Kiwifruit is native to the Yangtze Valley of China though it owes its name to a flightless bird native to New Zealand named "Kiwi", which look just like the kiwifruit; small, brown and furry. Your average Kiwifruit is packed with more Vitamin C than an equivalent amount of orange and is also a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium and Vitamin E. KAHE Kiwifruit uses real kiwifruit from beautiful New Zealand. We chose to name it Kiwifruit instead of Kiwi because that's what the Kiwi's - a nickname for New Zealanders - call it, and we like Kiwi's. The drink is fabulously light and refreshing and represents the taste of a ripe kiwifruit with a slight tanginess and a smooth finish. We believe kiwifruit requires a mature palate to truly appreciate the loveliness of the drink. Like the fruit itself, KAHE Kiwifruit has a sweet flavor followed by a very slight tang and contains just 65 calories (per 12 ounces). I loved the sweet and tangy flavors of this beverage. It tastes JUST like a slice of nice fresh Kiwi! If only they had a strawberry-kiwi mix! I would be in heaven! This is also a very good choice for a meal accompaniment. I enjoyed this variety with a Jamaican Jerk pork tenderloin, and it was delicious! My husband was sad when this was gone, as he loves the unique flavor of kiwi, and even he remarked how true to nature the flavor of this sparkling nectar was! 28% Juice - Lightly Carbonated Beverage - Kosher All sugars are from the juice of the fruit itself. Bing Cherries Bing cherries are not only delicious but packed with nutrients, vitamins and health benefits. In addition to being a good source of Vitamin C, Bing cherries are also high in iron, potassium, beta carotene, dietary fiber and antioxidants. Cherries have even been hailed by some as "America's super food". Bing Cherry uses real Bing Cherries from Oregon and Washington along with other cherry varietals. Bing cherries are more than likely the cherries you're used to brining home from the grocery store. They are a deep red firm cherry with a wonderful taste. KAHE Bing Cherry showcases the true taste of Bing Cherries. Opening a bottle of KAHE Bing Cherry starts with a sweet cherry smell reminiscent of a crate of cherries straight from a cherry farm.The heady aroma will have your taste buds revved up before you even take a sip and have you smiling with its very smooth and natural cherry taste. KAHE Bing Cherry contains 50 calories per bottle (12 fluid ounces) and big, delicious flavor. This is cherry drink at its finest. This was hands down my absolute favorite of the 3 varieties. It is sweet, light, delightfully refreshing, and had a very smooth finish. I loved the smell, too! If the aroma of this drink could be bottled and sold as a perfume, I would most definitely buy it by the case. When I cracked open the bottle of Kahe Bing Cherry, I was greeted by a smell reminiscent of picking fresh cherries on a farm and biting into a super fresh, just picked cherry at its absolute peak of ripeness. YUM! I wish I could say the rest of my family loved this as much as I do, but I can't. Why? Because this was SO good that I did not share. This was MY treat! 19% Juice - Lightly Carbonated Beverage - Kosher All sugars are from the juice of the fruit itself. So definitely grab some Kahe Sparkling Nectars if you're in the SF Bay area. These are fantastic, tasty, and guiltless alternatives to conventional soft drinks. Unfortunately, these are not yet sold throughout the rest of the country. I am hoping they will be in the future, as I would become a happy, loyal customer!
HOW TO CONNECT: Visit their website to learn more about the science behind these refreshing beverages You can follow Kahe Beverages on Facebook and on twitter! SPECIAL PROMOTION GOING ON NOW: (For local CA residents.) If you visit Sigona's Farmer's Market at either of their 2 locations, you can bring this printable coupon that will let you try a 4 pack of Kahe Sparkling Nectars for FREE! (With $30.00 purchase.) This is a $7.99 value! Offer is valid from May 18-24, 2011. So rush on over and discover what all the hype is about for yourself! Your taste buds will thank you! Here are the participating locations: Sigona's Farmer's Market Palo Alto 650-329-1340 399 Stanford Shopping Center Palo Alto, CA 94304 (next to Schaub's Meat, Fish & Poultry) Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am - 7:30pm Sunday: 9am - 6:30pm Sigona's Farmer's Market Redwood City 650-368-6993 2345 Middlefield Road Redwood City, CA 94063 (across from Costco) Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am - 8pm Saturday: 8am - 7:30pm Sunday: 8am - 6:30pm ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** I was a teen in the 90's, and while I didn't experience horrendous acne breakouts, I DID have occasional flare-ups, usually on my chin, nose, and forehead. Most of the time, it was blackheads I was battling. And sometimes, especially around that time of the month, I would get one or two HUGE mutant pimples. You know the kind I mean....They are BIG and red and have a nasty white head to them. It was embarrassing to go out in public looking like that, especially as an impressionable teen, whose main concern in life was "How do I look?...Are people going to stare at me?...Is something so glaringly wrong with me that people will point and laugh?....Will that cute guy over there notice me?..." Let's face it. Teenagers can be very shallow creatures. It's in their nature. Hormones gone awry can cause a multitude of physical issues that kids tend to be very self-conscious of. Maybe a girl is growing out instead of up, or a boy is tall and lanky, and feels bad that he hasn't quite "filled-out" yet. There is so much pressure on today's youth to look a certain way, and it's hard when your body is developing and isn't quite THERE yet. But one of the most common ailments that teens have to face? Acne. That's right! Teens don't only battle body issues. Many of the problems that occur that can damage a teen's self esteem are right there on the face. A person's face is usually the first thing others notice, and if that face is red, blotchy, and broken out, that doesn't give the best first impression. Of course acne is just a part of growing up. It is almost unavoidable as the changes that come with puberty go into effect. When I was a kid, I used OXY products to help clear my skin up. The products I used were their pads. They are circular, wet, textured pads that scrub the skin. While these worked, they often left my face feeling dry. Sometimes it even burned! As the mom of a preteen who is just starting to experience the Wonderful World of Breakouts,(note sarcasm) I am so glad that there is a better solution available to him. I am excited to let you know about OXY's newest skin care innovation, their OXY Clinical Line. You know that highly publicized line of greenish acne medication you see on TV all the time? This definitely rivals that system, hands down. OXY Clinical is a wonderful solution to teens and adults alike that suffer from acne problems. (That's right! Acne is not just a teenage problem!) Take a look at this quick video to learn more about this revolutionary new system! This is NOT your mama's OXY, that's for sure! I received the OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack to try out here in my home. Of course, my 11 year old wanted to do the honors, as he has been experiencing breakouts in the past few months that he has felt very self-conscious about. I am not quite ready as a mom for my baby to hit puberty, but this is not exactly something I have much control over. If I could keep them all little forever, I probably would! When this package arrived, he literally scooped it up for himself and said that he wanted to be my "employee" and try this wonderful product for himself. I agreed, since I only experience one very occasional blemish, and he would be the better guinea pig to test the effectiveness of this product. So for the past 2 weeks, my son has eagerly been using this product on his face once a day. You can use it twice a day, but I felt that that might be too much for him, since his blemishes aren't too terribly severe. YET. The Oxy Clinical line of over-the-counter acne medication is clinically shown to provide prescription-level results without a dermatologist. The patented, pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and continuous-action technology eliminates 99% of acne bacteria in just eight hours. This is a very promising formulation, since many other acne solution products tend to fall short and provide less than favorable results. Let me tell you more about the products in this cute little package: Advanced Face Wash - Twenty-five percent more acne medicine remains on the skin after rinsing to fight acne and it does not burn the skin. The patented AcneShield salicylic acid technology unclogs pores and fights flare-ups. How cool is that?! So this unique facial cleanser continues to fight acne causing bacteria long after you're done washing your face. So my son can use this in the morning, along with these other products, and feel confident that they will continue to battle bacteria and impurities while he is at school or at play! With clearer skin, the girls are sure to notice my little blue-eyed boy! Clearing Treatment - Clinically proven to eliminate 99% of acne bacteria in just 8 hours. Does not leave a white residue. BIG plus! A lot of acne solutions I have used in the past DID leave a nasty, white residue. With this product, all you can see is nice, clear skin. No films. No chalky residue. Just beautiful skin! No one wants to look like they're a student at a Mime Academy, and OXY gets that. No, they REALLY do get it! My son has not once had that chalky glow while using this product. Hydrating Therapy - This 3-in-1 formula exfoliates, hydrates, and controls oil. I LOVE the addition of this product. So many other acne products I have used have left my skin feeling like I had just spent a month or more in the arrid Sahara Desert: Dry, parched, and even cracked! Not exactly a pleasant feeling at all. This wonderful Hydrating Therapy leaves skin soft, supple, and moisturized; exactly as it is meant to feel! Kyle's skin is as soft as can be, and I know that this amazing system is hard at work, keeping him protected from acne flairs. Since he has begun using the OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack, he has not experienced a single blemish. His chin, nose, forehead and cheeks are all beautifully clean and clear. His skin also appears renewed in a sense, and he has more of a healthy glow than he did before using. Probably because this fantastic system helps balance the skin and keeps oiliness at bay. Overall, I think this is an amazing product that is a must have for any parents of preteens or teens that have embarrassing skin issues. Or, if you're a sufferer of adult acne, this would be a great addition to your daily hygiene routine to help you put your best face forward. My son plans to keep using this product, and I feel good about letting him. The OXY Clinical line is gentle, effective, and affordable. GREAT NEWS! The nice folks over at OXY are so convinced that you'll have wonderful results from their products, they are offering one of my very lucky followers the same package I received, the OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack! In the meantime, here's how you can learn more about these awesome products: HOW TO CONNECT: To learn more about the OXY Clinical Line and receive coupons and special offers, please visit their website. For the latest news and awesome giveaways and promotions, follow OXY on Facebook and on twitter, too! HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: Please complete these mandatory entries FIRST.
This giveaway will run until 11:59PM on May 31, 2011. I will choose a winner using random.org, and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will be forced to redraw a new winner. ***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** When I saw this That's What She Said t-shirt from the Funny T-Shirt Collection at Costume Squad, I just HAD to have it....Not because I am a fan of "The Office." As a matter of fact, I have never even seen The Office, nor do I have any clue what it's about. To some, this is a crime punishable by Chinese Water Torture, as this apparently has a sort of cult-following, but what can I say? I don't really watch too many sitcoms. It IS a sitcom, right? Or maybe a movie? Heck, I don't know, and it doesn't really matter to me one way or the other. Let me tell you why I, a non-Office lover, just had to have this shirt. It reminds me of a friend of ours that we haven't seen in ages. He was almost like a pseudo-brother to Dan and I, and for awhile he basically lived with us. Which we didn't mind one bit, since he was always a blast to hang out with. Anyway, this friend CONSTANTLY answered random things with this very statement, "That's What She Said." And the way he said it made this almost wildly comical for some odd reason. Maybe it was because he was just such a cool guy to be around, or maybe it's because he looked just like the chubby curly-haired guy in the movie "Super Bad" (which I HAVE seen, by the way.) Regardless, he always had us cracking up when he said this. I never learned who SHE was, but I guess it doesn't really matter. It's apparent that this mythical "She" is a very wise woman, as she has said many enlightening and often hilarious things. We haven't seen our friend in...Wow...Almost a year now. He met and is engaged to the love of his life and has a baby daughter of his own, and that has taken up a lot of his time and energy. I am sad to say we have just touch because well, life happens. We miss him though, and Dan always laughs and recalls fun memories when I wear this shirt. One of the best things about this T-shirt is that it is SO. RIDICULOUSLY.SOFT. It has that worn-in, comfy, vintage-tee feel to it, and it fits very nicely. The blue is very vibrant, even after several washes, and the printing on the tee has not stressed or cracked one single bit. The stitching is also nice and uniform, and doesn't have any frays or loose threads. It is definitely a very high-quality, whimsical tee for a price that won't break the bank. I love wearing this tee since most people crack a smile at it...Even though I have absolutely no idea what or who it is referencing! Costume Squad offers this and many other fun shirts on their website. I'm willing to bet that if you peruse their selection, you'll find something that would bring back fond memories for you, too! Just check out their awesome collection of Funny T-Shirts! And of course, Costume Squad offers the obvious, as well: COSTUMES! They not only have a ton of great T-shirts for everyday wear, they have a wide selection of Halloween (or anytime it strikes your fancy) costumes! They carry costumes for men, for women, and even for the dog....Now, I find it pretty pitiful when I see poor little pups all dressed up and humiliated, but to each their own. It just seems like whenever I see a pup all decked out in some crazy gear and I make eye-contact with them, they look away quickly, almost like they're ashamed. Maybe I am imagining this, but it's just my opinion on the matter. However, I know plenty of dog lovers that can't get enough of dressing up their pooch, and Costume Squad has you covered there! Have you seen The Office? If you're a fan and not totally oblivious like me, there are other shirts from this pop-culture favorite in the Funny T-Shirts Category at Costume Squad. Be the coolest kid in YOUR office and check them out! Why should you take my advice? Cause That's What She Said, of course! HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase all their fun products on their website. You can also become their Facebook fan and stay on top of all their newest designs and exciting promotions! ***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
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PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
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