Entering the Zanussi Cookers Make Every Meal a Masterpiece Competition on Contest Corner

This is my entry for the Zanussi cookers make every meal a masterpiece competition

One way to make every meal count is with a great start!  Salads are easy even for those of use who aren't experienced cooks and can make a "so so" meal into a "WOW" meal.  The other thing about salad is that you can throw in various ingredients to change things up and keep it interesting.  This is one of our favorite meal starters.

Recipe:

• Baby Spinach
• Shredded Cheese (we prefer the mixed blends)
• Mandarin Orange slices (Canned oranges may be drained and used)
• Almond Slices (great for protein!)
• Drizzle with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing.

I love how this salad has it all: Vegetable, Fruit, Dairy, and Protein!

Too busy for a home cooked meal? Ordering out?  Pizza?  A meal from a box?  Add a salad like the one above and viola you've made a not so healthy meal much healthier and well...a masterpiece!

Bring Back Beatrice! by Jennifer Griffin ~ Book Review

Bring Back Beatrice! 1,108 Baby Names with Meaning, Character and a Little Bit of Attitude. By Jennifer Griffin is a great read for anyone thinking of having children.  Naming your child is an important and sometimes stressful task since their name will stick with them throughout life.  When we found out that we were having a baby I will be honest.  I didn't consult any of the hundreds of "baby names" books out there.  My husband and I had come up with a girl name several yrs before and a couple of possible boy names as we never could come up with a boy name that we just loved.  When our bundle of joy arrived she fit perfectly with the name we had in mind and we breathed a sigh of relief that we didn't have to make a decision on a boy name.
Bring Back Beatrice!  Is a book that I would have loved to have around when we were discussing baby names.  The author beautifully spells out her purpose of writing the book and her endeavor to save children from being named fad or made up names.  Does she really expect everyone to name their daughters Beatrice?  No.  The author simply wants thought to be put into the names we are giving our children and the history of those names.  What if you have your mind set on a fad name?  The author lists alternatives to the name and provides history behind the name.
I'm not in the market for baby names but found the book very refreshing and think it would be a great resource for anyone.  How many times have you cringed when you heard the name someone was planning to name their child?  Do the child a favor and let the expectant parents know about this book and that it provides a refreshing new option to the old baby names books.  The child just might thank you!  This would also make a great shower gift.

* Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of the book for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  This post is my own honest opinion and was in no way influenced by the sponsor.

Hot on Amazon! Haan FS20 Plus Steam Cleaning Floor Sanitizer (Steam Mop) with Deluxe Sanitizing Tray $25.84 Shipped! (tax may be added in some states) Amazon.com

Hurry over to Amazon.com for a seriously HOT deal!

Hurry to Amazon.com for the Haan FS20 Plus Steam Cleaning Floor Sanitizer with Deluxe Sanitizing Tray by Haan for $18.56.  This offer is through Ace Hardware Direct so it doesn't qualify for Free Super Saver shipping.  However with the $7.28 shipping making it $25.84 this is by far the best price that I could find on this unit new (not refurbished) as it lists for $99.99

Product Features

• Chemical-free steam cleaner for all sealed hard-floor surfaces--uses regular tap water
• Plus version comes with sanitizing tray attachment for refreshing carpeted areas
• Heats up in less than 3 minutes; produces up to 20 minutes of steam per refill
• Includes 2 super-absorbent, multilayer Ultra-Microfiber cleaning pads that are washable and reusable
• Measures 50-1/2 by 11-1/2 by 7-1/2 inches (HxWxD) fully extended and weighs 3.15 pounds; backed by 1-year warranty

Enter To Win $100 Amazon Email Gift Card- End Of The Year Giveaway

StuffSmart, One Moment in Time, Bits and Bobs, Ann Crabs, The Organic Blonde and 6 other super mom bloggers teamed up to bring this awesome $100 Amazon gift card giveaway to you all. The year is coming to an end, and the only way to show appreciation to each of you is by hosting this awesome giveaway. Each of the bloggers hosting this giveaway has an amazing site. Visit them as you enter this giveaway and i bet you won't want to leave so soon. This giveaway is open worldwide. If this is your first time of entering giveaway with Rafflecopter, all you need to do is to click on instructions and do what you are asked to do, then click I DID THIS..Jump to the next option

Freschetta Proud to Support Pink Program and Giveaway

In support of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Freschetta has launched their "Proud to Support Pink" program. From Sept 25 - Oct. 31, 2011 you can purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta pizza and Artisan Pizza Crusts and help them to reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The specially marked packages have codes to be entered at www.ProudtoSupportPink.com. Freschetta will donate $1 for each code entered up to $50,000. You can learn more about this exciting program at www.ProudtoSupportPink.com or on the Freschetta facebook page: www.Facebook.com/FreschettaPizza. To spread the word about the Freschetta Proud to Support Pink program, Freschetta is offering a giveaway.

*Disclosure- As a member of the Freschetta Fresh Connection Team I was given a prize pack like the one offered for the giveaway.

Giveaway: $25 Visa Card through Ann-Crabs

Ann Crabs is currently offering a great giveaway in conjunction with Essilor. You may read more about them in her post here: Ann-Crabs 

Thanks to rafflecopter you may enter here giveaway below.  (The Rafflecopter is the same for both sites so please only enter on one site to avoid disqualification).

See rule below on rafflecopter post.

If you don't already follow Ann's blog you definitely will want to for more exciting posts and giveaways!

HOT Offer! All You Magazine 6 month subscription for $6! Think Coupons!

Thank you All You and Amazon.com for easing our pockets a little in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays!

All You Magazine is well known in the couponing world for their great monthly coupons.  Today until October 25, 2011 you can get a 6 month subscription, which is one issue per month for only $6 on Amazon.com. I'm thinking that this will make a great gift for the coupon shoppers on my Christmas list!  Don't miss out!  Only $1 per issue!  Get this special offer here:  Amazon.com

*Notice the picture above.  It is the October 2011 edition and boasts having $61.40 in coupons inside! Not too bad for $1.

If you read about this tremendous offer here first please be polite and give a shout out with a link back.  Thank you.

KCWC Blog Tour --- Surrendered Sleep Blog Tour — September 19-23

KCWC BLOG TOUR
 Russ@kathycarltonwillis.com

Post by: Kathy Carlton Willis Communications

Surrendered Sleep
A Biblical Perspective
Dr. Charles W. Page
www.surrenderedsleep.com
Publisher: Camino Real Pub.
ISBN-10: 9-780-983-138105ISBN-13: 978-0-9831381-0-5 
Release Date: 9/15/2011

Paperback: 189 pages
Retail: $14.95

Book Summary

(Nacogdoches, TX) Sleep Clinics. Sleeping Pills. Sleep Systems. With all the focus on sleep, it’s obvious to anyone breathing (or not—in the case of sleep apnea) that sleep disorders are on everyone’s minds. Can’t fall asleep. Can’t stay asleep. So many problems, but so few zzzs.   Dr. Charles W. Page has been plagued with sleep deprivation his entire adult life. Whether from the rigorous unpredictable lifestyle of a general surgeon or dealing with obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Page sees sleep as a precious commodity. Many of his surgical patients also report sleep problems on their medical histories. It’s certainly a widespread problem.   Although there is extensive medical literature regarding sleep, insomnia and sleep disorders, there is little instruction about these issues from a Christian worldview. Sleep was God’s idea—why shouldn’t we go to the One who created rest in the first place for answers to our sleep problems. One of the reasons Dr. Page wrote Surrendered Sleep was to heighten people’s awareness of the spiritual side of sleep issues, which often goes neglected in health and medical literature.     BONUS FEATURE: Balin Jam (chapter 17 from Surrendered Sleep) Balin jam (“may you pass your night in peace”)—it’s how the Fulani people of western Africa say goodbye. This Fulani expression best captures the message of Surrendered Sleep. Passing your night in peace, from a biblical perspective, involves a whole lot more than sleeping well. It encompasses surrendering every aspect of sleep to God. The prerequisite for having peace as we lay down to sleep is a growing, vibrant relationship with God. Everything in our lives, including sleep, flows out of our pursuit of our loving Father in Heaven. The ability to sleep is a multifaceted gift given by God, who likewise pursues a love relationship with every individual on this planet.... MORE     Author Bio

Dr. Charles W. Page is a sleep-deprived surgeon. He completed medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and serves as surgeon in rural Texas. Dr. Page is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. In addition to his involvement in the teaching ministry of his local church, he has participated in medical mission trips to Cameroon, Pakistan, Milawe, Nigeria, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. He and his wife Joanna live in Texas with their five children.

Please Leave a comment related to this post below for a chance to win the Grand Prize.  Names will be submitted to KCWC from all blogs involved in the blog tour and one grand prize winner will be randomly chosen by KCWC September 30, 2011.

$69.35 Value Grand Prize Giveaway: Surrendered Sleep Products Surrendered Sleep - Book Surrendered Sleep - 8-Volume DVD Series Sleep Songs - CD of music from Fletch Wiley SLEEP - Lavender Vanilla Aromatherapy from Bath & BodyWorks Pillow Mist (4 oz) Body Wash & Foam Bath (2 oz) Lotion (2 oz) Candle (1.6 oz)

Amazon.com's Video game of the day will help you get fit while having fun on the Nintendo Wii or Xbox 360 kinect thanks to Zumba

Have you joined the latest home video game fitness craze Zumba?  If not today Amazon.com is featuring the game for nintendo wii and xbox360 kinect at Gold Box prices so it would be a great time to try them out!

Go to : Amazon.com for special pricing information.

Pricing for the Wii Version:

List Price: $39.99 Price:$25.00 You Save:$14.99 (37%)

Pricing for the Xbox 360 Kinect version:

List Price:$49.99 Price:$31.25 You Save:$18.74 (37%)

Both Ship for free via Free Super Saver Shipping.

Books to the Rescue' Apple iPad 2 Giveaway

I was so excited to work with Shana at  The Writer's Lair Books again and to promote this fabulous giveaway in order to promote reading and to be able to donate a book to our local school library.  Many of you may remember my review of The Flightless Goose a while back which is a fabulous book published by The Writer's Lair Books. I have always loved to read and have felt that reading is an essential part of childhood.  My daughter inherited my love of books multiplied many times over.  She was always a child that preferred books to toys.  People were amazed that even as a toddler she would bring you book after book to read and listen for as long as you would read to her.  When she learned how to read she was unstoppable!  She read everything from billboards, food packages, even her grandparents senior citizens magazines!  I love to see children reading and to encourage their love of books.  While I know most of you won't read past "ipad 2 giveaway" I hope that I'm wrong and the true message to promote literacy is heard.

'Books to the Rescue' iPad 2 Giveaway.

This giveaway is so fabulous and extrememly important. Why?

Because each blogger that is participating in this giveaway is donating a book to either a school, library, or youth organization.

Flightless Goose by Eric D. Goodman and Red Rain by Tim Wendel are two fantastic books that are appropriate for elementary and high school aged students respectively. I was so excited that so many bloggers wanted to be a part of this idea. Over 30 bloggers are participating in this event! Their fabulous blogs are listed below. AND one lucky person will win an Apple iPad 2! What do you have to do to get that? Well, it’s simple and easy to do. Below is our Rafflecopter entry form. In bold are the mandatory entries you have to complete in order to enter this giveaway. There are thirty-one (it's really not that many). You just go down the list and 'like' each Facebook page. You must like the facebook pages with your PERSONAL profile in order for your entry to be counted. You will click on “Click Here” and it will reveal a link. You must do them all to have officially entered the giveaway. You will earn 31 entries. It’s so easy (and fast). Below the mandatory 31, there are additional actions that you may do to earn extra entries (like bonuses). Some you can do everyday until the giveaway is over. Who doesn’t like extra credit? There is no need to re-enter on each blog. If you enter on one blog it will register on the other 30 blogs participating in this giveaway. You MUST be 18+ to enter. The contest begins at 12:01 a.m. EST, September 12, 2011, and the contest is over 11:59 p.m. EST, September 28, 2011 and is open worldwide. So, you got it? Sure? If you have any questions, you can leave us a reply and we will follow up. So, ON YOUR MARK…GET READY…GET SET…GO!   Our Cool Bloggers: Prowling Books In the Lair /Crazy for Books/voiceBoks /Misadventures with Andi/ The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug/ Our Family World/ At Home Moma/ Our Way to Learn/ Celebration Ideas Online/ Quality Baskets/ Counting My Kisses/ The Write To Make A Living/ Pawsitive Living/ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer/ Insights By April/ My Devotional Thoughts/ Enjoy Life, Enjoy Now/ChicnSavvy Reviews/Lori's Reading Corner/ 7 On a Shoestring/ Rants~N~Scribbles/ Bubba and Mack/ Simply Stacie/ Makobi Scribe/ Sassy Mama In LA/ Deals 4 Dummies/ Your Child Will Read/ Books Are Wonderful/ Centsible Savings/ Mummy Deals/StuffSmart