Frugal Creativity

Skin Care from #EclosBeauty - Review and Giveaway

2012-05-31T06:16:00.001-04:00

This post brought to you by éclos Skin Care. All opinions are 100% mine.

Over the years, I think I've tried every affordable skin care product for my sensitive, combination skin. Although none of them were quite right, I'd settled on a hypoallergenic moisturizing soap. It was simple and didn't irritate my skin, but I knew I needed more--at least a moisturizer, especially as I got older.

When I read about éclos Skin Care, I was intrigued. It's different from other products because it combines plant stem cells in combination with plant extracts, vitamins, and anti-oxidants to create a line of all-natural skin-care products. According to clinical results reported by the company, 100% of women in the study saw a reduction in wrinkle appearance within two weeks. That's a pretty remarkable statistic!

I tried three of the products: Face Serum, Eye Cream, and Regenerative Cream. I'll tell you a bit about each one.

Cellular Activator Face Serum is intended to regenerate skin cells, rehabilitate aging skin, and resist further damage.
Restorative Eye Cream is recommended to slow signs of aging, firm delicate skin, and reduce fine lines.
Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream is to awaken cell renewal, brighten dull skin, and reduce lines and wrinkles.

The Face Serum is a nearly weightless, almost translucent fluid that glides smoothly over skin. The Eye Cream is thicker and richer. Both of these products come in pump bottles. After I'd inadvertently left the bottles upside-down, I had some difficulty priming the pump of the Face Serum; it did work after I pressed the dispenser a number of times. I didn't have the same issue with the Eye Cream, maybe because it's thick enough not to flow.

The Regenerative Cream, which comes in a jar, is the richest of these three products. Even so, it absorbs quickly and leaves no sticky residue.

All three products have a pleasant fragrance that I would describe as herbal. My husband is picky about the scent of anything I put on my skin--he especially doesn't like strong floral scents--and he didn't complain at all about the éclos Skin Care products.

I think most of my wrinkles are from being perpetually tired. That said, here are my Before and After pictures, as unflattering as they are:

I don't see much change after these ten days, but I still like the éclos Skin Care line. I like the fragrance, I like the feel, and I like that it didn't irritate my skin at all.

Would you like to try it for yourself? One lucky reader will win the same eclos Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit that I received. The kit contains the following:

Facial Cleanser Skin Prep
Cellular Activator Face Serum
Instant Radiance Facial Scrub
Restorative Eye Cream
Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream
Skin Renewal Clay Mask
Terry Cloth Head Band

Here's how to enter: Leave a comment and tell me which product in this kit you are most excited to try. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry per person.

More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 6/15/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winner will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited. éclos Skin Care, through SocialSpark, is providing the giveaway prize.

Disclosure: I received the Starter Kit, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own. I have received no compensation in any form for hosting this giveaway.

Summer Learning #Giveaway from Carson-Dellosa

2012-05-24T07:09:00.000-04:00

When my husband talks about the summers of his childhood, he talks about playing sports with his friends from morning until night. I remember reading, swimming, and chasing fireflies.

credit: Flickr user terren in Virginia

I'm sure, though, that neither of us was thinking about the schoolwork that we were forgetting during that summer break! Now that I'm a mom, however, I see things a little differently.

Studies have shown that kids can lose up to 2.5 months of learning over the summer, with most loss appearing in math and spelling. The loss is cumulative, and by ninth grade, it is blamed for two-thirds of the achievement gap between higher- and lower-income students. Here are more statistics, courtesy of Carson-Dellosa:

Fortunately, as the graphic indicates, parents can encourage summer learning. One way is to use Summer Bridge Activities from Carson-Dellosa.

Thanks to Carson-Dellosa, I have the chance to give away a Summer Learning Kit to one lucky reader. The kit, which is available for grades K-6, will include everything pictured here:

These are the items:

Summer Bridge Activities card set
Summer Bridge Activities workbook
Access to the Summer Bridge Activities Online Companion
2 Sun notepads (50 sheets each)
2 packs of Sea Life name tags (40 per pack)
1 pack of Sea Life mini incentive charts (30 sheets, 630 stickers)

Here's how to enter: Leave a comment and tell me how you plan to help your child(ren) learn this summer. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.

Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):

Visit the Carson-Dellosa website and identify another product you like. Comment here to tell me which product it is. (1 entry)
Share the link to this giveaway post on Facebook. Leave a comment here with a link to your post. (1 entry)

More details: Open to residents of USA and Canada, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 6/7/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winner will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited. Carson-Dellosa is providing the giveaway prize.

Disclosure: I have received no compensation in any form for hosting this giveaway.

Cheerios #Giveaway: Because Two Boxes are Better Than One

2012-05-21T06:39:00.000-04:00

Buying club-size items can save money. It can also present storage issues: for example, how many jumbo boxes of cereal can you fit in your kitchen cabinet? We've found ourselves opening the big box, transferring a portion to another container, and repeating this process until the box is empty. Half the time the cereal is stale before we finish it.

The team at Cheerios must have heard these concerns, because they're doing something about it. Club packages of Cheerios are now in two boxes--hence the name, 2 box Cheerios.

I like this because it solves the storage issue as well as the freshness one. The packaging is designed to contain less air, so these two boxes are smaller than the previous box, and they contain more cereal! And of course, you get all the goodness you've come to expect from Cheerios. In addition, less packaging saves trees and reduces the number of trucks needed to transport the boxes.

The new club packages of Cheerios are available now at Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's. For more information, read about the 2 Box Package or watch the short video about the Cheerios New 2 Box Package.

Would you like to win a prize pack containing two 2-box packages of Cheerios? Thanks to General Mills and MyBlogSpark, two lucky readers will win this prize, as pictured above.

Here's how to enter: Leave a comment and tell me how this new Cheerios packaging might benefit you and your family. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.

Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):

Share the link to this giveaway post on Facebook. Leave a comment here with a link to your post. (1 entry)
Comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog, and mention the post in a comment on this post. (1 entry per comment; limit 3 total)

More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 6/4/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winners will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Each winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited. General Mills and MyBlogSpark are responsible for prize fulfillment.

Disclosure: Cheerios^® cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

As One Devil to Another (Book Review & Giveaway)

2012-05-13T06:45:00.000-04:00

I can think of no better short description of As One Devil to Another, by Richard Pratt, than the subtitle of the book:

A fiendish correspondence in the tradition of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters

Even Walter Hooper, biographer and editor of C. S. Lewis, writes in the preface that "the narrative voice ... is almost indistinguishable from Lewis' own." He concedes that "the tone is sharper than anything from Lewis' pen," but "it is surely the tone he would have used had he lived to see the abyss of moral relativism we endure today."

So imagine The Screwtape Letters updated for current times, and you'll have an idea of As One Devil to Another. In a series of letters, a senior demon is mentoring a new cadet (a recent graduate of Temptation University, a.k.a. Tempt U).

While I don't think the basic weaknesses of humans have changed, the tools that the enemy uses to exploit those weaknesses have. For example,

Excess, with modern media advertising, has become almost too easy. All excesses are to be encouraged, except, naturally, excessive devotion to the Adversary [God]. We have managed to sell the humans on the idea that the only excess that is unhealthy is alcohol, leaving us free to do as we please with food, sex, and material acquisition. ...

The author also addresses other tools and attitudes that the devil tries to use in his favor. He also has Slashreap write about the world we would live in if everyone followed God; of course, Slashreap's perspective is that they must never allow that to happen.

I couldn't put this book down. I've already described it to a friend, who immediately asked to borrow it. So yes, yes, yes--I recommend As One Devil to Another!

Links for more information:

Tyndale House Publishers page for As One Devil to Another (with links--on the left--to read the first chapter, watch a video clip, and download a discussion guide)
Purchase As One Devil to Another on Amazon.com (not an affiliate link)
Purchase As One Devil to Another on Amazon.com (my affiliate link)

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers, I have the chance to give away a copy of this book! The prize will be awarded in the form of a certificate, which can be redeemed at a local Christian book store or by mail.

Here's how to enter: Leave a comment and tell me why you want to win this book. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.

Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):

Share the link to this giveaway post on Facebook. Leave a comment here with a link to your post. (1 entry)
Comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog, and mention the post in a comment on this post. (1 entry per comment; limit 3 total)

More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 5/26/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winner will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited. Tyndale House Publishers is providing the giveaway prize.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own. This post contains an affiliate link. If you click through my link and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!

Organic Gardening with Whitney Farms

2012-05-05T00:42:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms. All opinions are 100% mine.

From the time my husband and I decided to create a raised bed garden for vegetables, we have been very picky. In particular, I didn't want any chemicals in the garden. (I mean, we're eating these vegetables!)

I think I drove my husband a little bit crazy when I said that we should use something other than pressure-treated wood for the frame. But he used his super-human resourcefulness to find this plastic wood, which was very new at the time.

Since then we've used only organic soil amendments, organic plant food, and so on. It's been a little inconvenient, since we had to mail-order everything, but it was worth the effort.

Now, however, we have another option, and it looks pretty exciting to me. Whitney Farms® has a brand new line of all-natural plant foods and soils for both flowers and vegetables.

I like that the Whitney Farms® products are formulated to have low or no dust, to have no manure odor, and to contain beneficial microbes that help with the breakdown of organic matter into nutrients.

I don't know if we're going to be able to plant a garden this year, because of all the health issues we have right now. But when we do, I definitely want to try some of these new products. If you are interested, too, don't miss out on the printable $3 coupon from Whitney Farms®.

Out of Reach

2012-05-01T06:34:00.000-04:00

When my son was little, his Grandma would bring him balloons for his birthday--one balloon for each year. Invariably, the ribbons would be just a bit too short. He would try and try to pull one of those shiny, colorful balloons down from the ceiling, but he couldn't quite reach the ribbon. Eventually he would ask an adult for help.

image: Flickr user jekemp

I thought of that last night when I was thinking about something that Paul wrote:

... I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ... [2 Cor 12:7-9, NIV]

I made the association because, when I'm in a valley, God seems far away. Grace can seem out of reach. I can stand on tiptoe, stretch as far as I can, even jump--and still not be able to grasp the ribbon.

But God, in His grace, has sent help: sisters and brothers in Christ. They show God's love through their words, their hugs, their smiles. They remind me, when I'm stuck in a rut, that praise music helps me keep my focus on the Lord. They point me back to the promises of God.

They pull down the ribbon so I can reach the balloon.

What helps you when God seems far away?

Can You See Me Now?

2012-04-27T06:30:00.000-04:00

In my family, everybody wears glasses: my grandparents, my parents, my uncle, my sister ... even my husband, my brother-in-law, and my son. Well, maybe not everybody:

credit: Flickr user TheGiantVermin

We start young, too. I started wearing eyeglasses when I was in second grade. By eighth grade I'd switched to contact lenses, but I had nothing but trouble with them. I lost a lens on a roller coaster (and spent the rest of the day being able to see with just one eye). When my eyes were irritated from seasonal allergies, the contact lenses were intolerable. And so on, all of which brought me back to wearing glasses.

When I got to be 40-something, I needed my first pair of bifocals. We paid an astronomical price for the no-line type. In six months, when my near-vision prescription changed, we decided it was time to try purchasing eyeglasses online. It was a good experience: with all of the frame dimensions and my prescription in hand, I found shopping online easier than looking through a wall of frames at my optometrist's office. And we saved a heap of money!

Another helpful tool, if you want to order glasses online, is this Virtual Mirror:

You can upload your photo to "try on" glasses, or you can choose a face that's similar in shape to yours. (I had fun "trying on" glasses that I would never buy, just to see how bad they looked!)

If you'd like to try GlassesUSA.com, you'll want to know about these discount codes:

Take 50% off any pair of prescription eyeglasses or sunglass frames, available storewide (for eyeglasses, basic single-vision lenses are included). Code:SPRING50

Take 10% off any order of prescription glasses. Code: Blog10

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by GlassesUSA.com. All opinions are my own.

The Infrequent Blogger

2012-04-23T06:30:00.000-04:00

Hi ... My name is Melissa and I am an Infrequent Blogger.

You can't imagine how many times I wanted to write a post. But I haven't had the ideas, the time, and the energy simultaneously.

A quick update? It's been SS,DD (Same Story, Different Day), as they say. I've got darkness behind me, in front of me, and on both sides.

I am still praying for healing, but, many days, I'm praying that the Lord will sustain me for just one more minute. He is faithful! A few days ago I was struggling, feeling not very useful at all. The next time I checked my email, I found a thoughtful message from a woman who was helped by our church food pantry, which I maintain. God's timing was, as always, perfect.

I have a few book reviews to write, and another couple of posts that I hope to write. For now I just wanted to pop in and let you know I'm still here. Thank you for still being here, too.

Strawberry-Topped Phyllo Cheesecake (Recipe)

2012-03-07T06:51:00.002-05:00

In my last Friday's Fave Five post, I mentioned the dessert that I made when my husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary last month. Cheesecake is not my favorite dessert, but this one was so good that I wanted to share the recipe.

The original recipe is from Athens Foods, the manufacturer of the phyllo I used. The changes I made are noted in brackets.

FRUIT-TOPPED PHYLLO CHEESECAKE

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons milk
20 sheets Athens® Fillo Dough (9”x14”), thawed
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed [2 cups fresh strawberries]
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, thawed [omitted]
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier [water]

In a large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, egg, lemon juice and milk, until smooth.

Lightly butter a 9” pie plate. Cut a 10” circle out of wax paper to use as a pattern. Fold the pattern in half and use this as a guide to cut through 20 phyllo sheets. Overlap the sheets of phyllo (using curved edges of phyllo to fit along sides of pan), brushing each sheet with melted butter as you cover the bottom and sides of the pan. [See Note below.] Spread cream cheese mixture over the top layer of phyllo.

Bake in preheated 350ºF oven for about 30 minutes or until center is set. Let cool 15 minutes.

While cheesecake is baking, make topping. In a medium saucepan, combine berries and sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture is hot. In small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water and Grand Marnier. Stir cornstarch mixture into berries. Cook over medium heat, stirring, about 2 minutes or until mixture is thick. Remove from heat and let cool. Spread berry mixture over cooled cheesecake.

Serve cool or chilled.

Yield: 10 servings [not if you cut slices like the one pictured above]

Note: I misunderstood the directions for cutting the phyllo, and I used the 10" circle of wax paper without folding it. As a result, my phyllo was cut into 10" with two flat sides (because the sheets are only 9" wide). It turned out fine, but not exactly as the recipe creator intended.

Like Sweet Potato Pie (Book Review)

2012-02-29T06:27:00.001-05:00

Witness as Shiloh’s new life in Virginia crumbles around her. The house she inherited from her mother is much more than a place to live—it represents Shiloh’s changed life and what little financial security she has. But her half sister is contesting their mother’s will and the IRS is threatening to take it for back taxes. She’s also discovering God’s ideal when it comes to love and romance. When Mr. Right shows up will she recognize God’s hand or let circumstances and prejudices blind her heart to the love of her life?

Since I hadn't read Southern-Fried Sushi, the first book in this series by Jennifer Rogers Spinola, I wasn't sure how easy it would be to pick up the story. I needn't have worried: aside from a few times when I had to flip back to remember who a character was, I caught right up to speed.

Shiloh is a new Christian, thrown into a situation that she would not have chosen. She is surrounded by friends who support and encourage her, but problems keep cropping up: she has back taxes to pay, her ex-fiance shows up, and she keeps getting tangled up in sticky situations along the way. As Shiloh words it,

Why in the world did Jesus make things so hard? If you read some of the gospel tracts out there, you'd think utopia dawned the moment you said yes--and everything after that swirled in butterflies and roses.

Ha! I got nettles and wasps.

Even with these challenges in Shiloh's life, Like Sweet Potato Pie is a light, fun, quick read. I enjoyed it, and I hope you will, too!

For more information, visit the Barbour Publishing page for Like Sweet Potato Pie or the website of author Jennifer Rogers Spinola.

Title: Like Sweet Potato Pie
Author: Jennifer Rogers Spinola
Publisher: Barbour Books (March 1, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-1616263652

Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity. The link immediately preceding this disclosure is my Amazon affiliate link. If you click through the link and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!

Friday's Fave Five - February 24

2012-02-24T06:16:00.001-05:00

Whew! It's been a rough week ... actually, life has been challenging for quite a while ... but we have some definite highlights!

This news is more than a week old, but I am still rejoicing: A few weeks ago I had my first mammogram since I finished radiation therapy. The doctor found no indication of any problem at all. Wonderful news, for sure!
This week my husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. It seems as though we've been through a lot in these fifteen years, but we're still standing together.
We went out for our anniversary dinner, but we came home for dessert: a variation on this fruit-topped phyllo cheesecake. Sooo good. I'll try to post more photos and details next week.
My Bible study group has been especially good in recent weeks. I think we're learning more and, at the same time, having more fun.
Peace. Thursday had the potential to be a stressful day, full of sudden changes of plans and such. But I kept on praying, and the day was more peaceful than most "normal" days.

The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11, NIV

What were the best parts of your week? Visit Susanne for more Friday's Fave Five.

"Heart Your Cart" with Welch's

2012-02-13T06:14:00.003-05:00

As you probably know, February is American Heart Month. Can we talk for a minute about heart-healthy food choices?

A recent study* revealed that two-thirds of Americans recognize salmon, olive oil, red wine, or oatmeal as heart-healthy foods--yet only a fraction of us purchase these items monthly.

I'm not surprised to read that knowing which foods are healthy doesn't necessarily equate to consuming those foods! Like many others, I tend to think that heart-healthy foods are too costly or too time-consuming to prepare.

The good news is that Welch's grape juice can help "heart your cart." Made with Concord grapes and no added sugar, each 4-ounce serving of Welch's 100% Grape Juice counts as one serving of fruit. I think it's a great go-to treat: keeping Welch's grape juice on hand would definitely help me bypass the junk food when I'm craving something sweet.

Links for more information:

Grape Science (chemistry, nutrition, and health benefits of grapes)
Reward Your Heart (coupons, heart health, and sweepstakes)
Welch's on Twitter
Welch's on Facebook

*Porter Novelli Styles survey of more than 4,000 Americans, conducted on behalf of Welch’s

Click to enlarge

Disclosure: Welch's provided me with product for review purposes and product information for this post. All opinions in this post are my own.

Grapes/heart image credit: Image: Sailom / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cottonelle Clean Care: Grocery Gift Card Giveaway (Closed)

2012-02-09T06:03:00.005-05:00

Cottonelle has been around for a long time, and you might think that nothing new could be said about it. However, you might change your mind after you hear about the new spin that Kleenex has put on it.

Cottonelle Clean Care is the same product you might know, except that it's been improved with the addition of extra-absorbent ripples and 30 percent more strength when wet.

For even more fun, Cottonelle has introduced these fun roll covers, designed by Jonathan Adler. One of these would certainly add a splash of color to our pastel powder room! To get your own, while supplies last, purchase an 18-pack of Cottonelle at a participating SuperValu store and pick up a free roll cover in-store. If you have no local SuperValu store, don't despair: you don't have to miss out. You can get a roll cover free (pay just $1.99 shipping) with the purchase of a specially marked package of Cottonelle, or purchase one online at Cottonelle.com ($3.99 including shipping).

L-R: Chevron Pink, Barjello Blue, Clover Green

To help spread the word about these new developments, Cottonelle is going to give one lucky reader a prize pack that's both fun and useful:

A $25 gift card valid at SuperValu supermarkets (ACME^®, ALBERTSONS^®, CUB^®, FARM FRESH^®, HORNBACHER'S^®, JEWEL-OSCO^®, SHAW'S/STAR MARKET^®, SHOP ‘N SAVE^® and SHOPPERS^®)
A Cottonelle roll cover
A 4-pack of Cottonelle toilet tissue

Would you like to win?

This giveaway is closed.

Here's how to enter: Leave a comment with your answer to this question: If you were one of the Cottonelle roll covers, which would you be ... and why? Your answer can be short or long, silly or serious (but must be family-friendly). Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.

Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):

'Like' Cottonelle on Facebook. Leave a comment here with your Facebook name. (1 entry)
Share the link to this giveaway post on Facebook. Leave a comment here with a link to your post. (1 entry)
Comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog, and mention the post in a comment on this post. (1 entry per comment; limit 3 total)

More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 2/29/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winner will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Prize will be fulfilled by Cottonelle. Void where prohibited.

Disclosure: I received product and a gift card, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own.

Valentine Hug Bug Cookie Greeting (Giveaway Closed)

2012-02-01T06:02:00.006-05:00

Are these not some of the cutest cookies you've seen? These are Buttercream Frosted Hug Bug cookies from Cheryl's, shown here in the Hug Bug Cookie Greeting.

The gift includes a cookie and a $5 reward card, all in a Valentine's Day gift box. The price? Just $5.00, delivered. No kidding. Last time I picked up a greeting card in the store, it was about the same price!

For more information, visit Cheryl's website or see Cheryl's on Facebook.

Thanks to Cheryl's, three lucky readers will each win their very own Hug Bug Cookie Greeting. Would you like to win?
This giveaway is closed.

Here's how to enter: Visit Cheryl's online store, then leave me a comment with another product that you like. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry per person.

Please note that the prizes are not guaranteed to arrive before Valentine's Day.

More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 2/6/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winners will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Each winner must claim prize within 24 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Prizes will be fulfilled by Cheryl's. Void where prohibited.

Disclosure: I will receive a Hug Bug Cookie Greeting, at no cost to me. All opinions in this post are my own.

Baking Basics and Beyond - Book Review (Giveaway Closed)

2012-01-23T06:28:00.031-05:00

I learned the basics of baking from my mom, then continued learning through lots of trial and error. Baking Basics and Beyond by Pat Sinclair is the next best thing to learning from an experienced baker in your own kitchen. And compared to my trial-and-error approach, it will probably save you from a lot of crumbled cakes, charred cookies, and tough biscuits!

Baking Basics and Beyond is divided into 12 chapters. Each begins with a few pages on key points, ingredients, equipment, and techniques. That's followed by about ten recipes--some traditional (blueberry muffins, peanut butter cookies, old-fashioned baking powder biscuits) and some creative (wild mushroom tarts, honey orange scones, gingerbread nectarine cobbler, savory blue cheese cheesecake).

I like this book not only for the recipes (over 100 in all), but for the background information and tips. I appreciate that the author includes notes about substituting ingredients and baking pans, as well as tips on what to look for and what to avoid. She also explains why certain steps are done the way they are. Novice bakers will learn the fundamentals, and experienced bakers are likely to pick up some hints, too.

The recipes themselves are very appealing. The author advocates the use of real ingredients--real butter, for instance--and I fully agree. I found many recipes that I am eager to try. I'm especially looking forward to spring, when I can bake the blueberry tart with vanilla whipped cream!

The first recipe I tried, though, was Grandma's Old-Fashioned Coffee Cake. I found the instructions well-written, easy to follow, and practical. (All of the ingredients were staples that I always have on hand, and the author doesn't assume that I want to use every mixing bowl in my kitchen!) The cake was a hit with my family! The cake is tender, the crumb topping is delicious, and both are flavored with the warmth of cinnamon.

For more information, visit the publisher's page for Baking Basics and Beyond.

Thanks to the publisher, Surrey Books / Agate Publishing, one lucky reader will win a copy of Baking Basics and Beyond. Would you like to win?

This giveaway is closed.

Here's how to enter: Just leave a comment. (Tell me whether you're a novice or experienced baker, what you would like to learn about baking, which of the recipes appeals to you, or just that you want to win.) Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry per person.

More details: Open to residents of USA and Canada, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 2/8/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winner will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Prize will be fulfilled by Surrey Books / Agate Publishing. Void where prohibited.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own. I have received no compensation in any form for hosting this giveaway.

Wayward Son (Book Review)

2012-01-19T06:55:00.001-05:00

Buried near Italy's Mount Vesuvius is a remarkable observatory containing artifacts dating to the earliest record of human events. Only one person--the Getty Museum's Amanda James--can unlock the mysterious doors that guard the chamber.

But once inside, Amanda is shocked to discover evidence left behind by a notorious biblical killer--who long ago wandered off the pages of history.

The first novel of a series, Wayward Son takes the reader on an amazing voyage, where epic adventures in Egypt, Greece, China, and Rome collide with modern-day intrigue and suspense.

Last month I told you about this book, but I hadn't finished reading it. Now that I have, I can tell you more.

Wayward Son is a story within a story. In the modern-day opening, we meet Amanda--an independent young woman who has had her share of heartache. When she agrees to take part in an archeological project in Italy, the door to the second story is opened. This story centers on Cain (yes, the son of Adam and Eve) and begins just after he has killed Abel.

Through Cain's eyes we live through various historical events. We see how he learns and changes over time. Finally, the authors skillfully bring together Cain's and Amanda's storylines. All the loose ends are tied up, and a tantalizing opening for a sequel is introduced.

At first I was more confused than captivated. The frequent jumps in time and location were hard for me to follow, and I wasn't entirely comfortable with the fictionalized extension of Cain's story. As I kept reading, I was increasingly drawn into the story.

I liked the writing style of Wayward Son. The language was rich and enjoyable to read, and the story was compelling and well-crafted. I look forward to the next book in the series!

For more information or to read a preview, visit the Wayward Son website.

Title: Wayward Son
Author: Tom Pollack with Jim Alves and John Loftus
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Cascada (November 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1450755631
ISBN-13: 978-1450755634

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own. Thanks for Glass Road Public Relations for the opportunity!

ShopRite Cans for Fans

2012-01-06T13:24:00.000-05:00

If you live in the mid-Atlantic area (between Maryland and Connecticut), you almost certainly know about the annual Can Can Sale at ShopRite. It'll be March before I stop humming the jingle. :)

This year, ShopRite is again combining the Can Can Sale with feeding the hungry, which happens to be a passion of mine. In 2011, ShopRite donated 40,000 cans of food to local food banks in commemoration of 40 years of Can Can savings. This year they've added a new element with the "Cans for Fans" Facebook program. It's simple:

During the 2012 Can Can Sale (1/5 - 1/21), ShopRite will donate one can of food (up to 50,000 cans) to local food banks in the communities it serves, on behalf of every new ShopRite Facebook fan.

Easy, right?

Just go to the ShopRite page on Facebook and click 'Like.'

For fun, you can go to the ShopRite "Get Can Canned" website to upload your photo and become a virtual ShopRite Can Can dancer. Or, if you'd rather get right to the savings, view the circular at the ShopRite website.

See you at the Can Can Sale! I'll be the one humming. :)

Disclosure: I received the campaign information from ShopRite through MyBlogSpark.

Wayward Son (Book Review - Preview)

2011-12-22T06:52:00.002-05:00

But once inside, Amanda is shocked to discover evidence left behind by a notorious biblical killer--who long ago wandered off the pages of history.

The first novel of a series, Wayward Son takes the reader on an amazing voyage, where epic adventures in Egypt, Greece, China, and Rome collide with modern-day intrigue and suspense.

Although I have been reading and enjoying Wayward Son, I have not been able to finish the book before the tour date. This is what I can tell you so far:

Wayward Son is a story within a story. In the modern-day opening, we meet Amanda--an independent young woman who has had her share of heartache. When she agrees to take part in an archeological project in Italy, the door to the second story is opened. This story centers on Cain (yes, the son of Adam and Eve) and begins just after he has killed Abel.

The Cain storyline is very much fleshed out from what is recorded in the Bible. Consequently, it has to be viewed as highly speculative. While the story is interesting to read, a few parts of the plot are quite far-fetched.

I'll tell you more after I finish reading the book.

Title: Wayward Son
Author: Tom Pollack with Jim Alves and John Loftus
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Cascada (November 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1450755631
ISBN-13: 978-1450755634

Disclosure: I received an e-reader copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own. Thanks for Glass Road Public Relations for the opportunity!

Win a Dress from Shabby Apple (Giveaway Closed)

2011-12-21T08:26:00.002-05:00

I know it's December and everyone is thinking about Christmas, Hanukkah, the New Year, and--for many of us--cold weather. Maybe that's why, when I had the opportunity to choose one of the Shabby Apple women's dresses to give away, I was thinking about summer. With that in mind, I chose Kanani, which is described as "[an] easygoing summer slip on."

Would you like to win this dress?
This giveaway is closed.

Here's how to enter: 'Like' Shabby Apple on Facebook. Come back here and leave a comment with your Facebook name. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.

Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):

Tweet this giveaway, including a link to this post. Comment here with a link to your tweet. (1 entry per tweet, 1 tweet per calendar day)
Share this giveaway post on Facebook. Comment here with a link to your post. (1 entry)
Enter my other current giveaway (see the top right corner of my blog, above Noah's smiling face). (1 entry)
Comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog, and mention the post in a comment on this post. (1 entry per comment; limit 3 total)

More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 1/3/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winner will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be allowed to choose any available dress size, and will be required to provide shipping address and phone number. Prize will be fulfilled by Shabby Apple. Void where prohibited.

Disclosure: I have received no compensation in any form for hosting this giveaway.

Out with the Old ...

2011-12-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

While we were waiting for my new stove to be delivered, we started talking about the old one. It's just a stove, but it's the first stove we owned. It's the one that baked cupcakes for my son's first birthday ... the one that cooked countless pots of pasta ... the one that set off the smoke alarms.

I tried to convince my husband that we should take out the burners and move the stove to the yard, where we could use it as a planter. He was having no part of that-- even after I described how flowers would pour out of the open oven door. ;)

So the installers took away the old stove and installed a shiny new one. It's not exactly like the one pictured, but it's close. We have the heavy-duty continuous grates, but no center burner. We have a high-power burner and a convection oven! I know the "experts" say that appliances are not good Christmas presents, but my husband knew that this would make me smile. And this is possibly the best part: we got this stove for a fabulous price because it's a clearance model.

One quick recipe: I haven't been baking cookies at all, but this is what I baked to try the new oven: almond macaroons (without the cherries). So, so good. The only problem is that the recipe only makes 18 cookies!

image: property of GE / The Home Depot

Holiday Eyewear from Zenni Optical

2011-12-16T01:45:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical. All opinions are 100% mine.

You know I've got a thing for Zenni Optical. More specifically, I've got a thing for not overpaying for eyeglasses. My family has been ordering from Zenni for a while, and we have been nothing but happy with them. We like our local optometrist, but I just can't bring myself to pay $350+ for a pair of glasses from him. Now that all three of us are wearing glasses, those costs add up fast.

Before I knew about Zenni, I never would have thought of eyeglasses as fashion accessories. Now that we can order glasses at a much more affordable price, it's fun to think about getting glasses for different occasions or outfits. With Christmas coming up, I would think about these:

I like the subtle burgundy design on the temples, but maybe you would prefer something bolder, like this:

Which of the holiday frames at Zenni do you like?

Just yesterday we received an order from Zenni Optical. I usually wear progressive lenses, but this time I ordered a pair of glasses with single vision lenses, which I'll use primarily for watching TV. (Ever try to look through reading lenses at a television across the room?) This would be a luxury we couldn't afford if we were paying full retail prices.

Just a few quick notes:

I don't like to think of Zenni Optical products as cheap eyeglasses. To me that suggests lower quality, and I haven't found that to be the case at all. These are every bit as good as the more economical glasses in my doctor's office.
Sign up for the Zenni Optical email list (at the bottom of their homepage) to receive special offers.
Right now, spend $50 or more at Zenni Optical to receive free shipping within the US.

Cold Weather Safety Tips

2011-12-14T09:16:00.001-05:00

Colder temperatures draw NFPA warning on fire hazards

NFPA's simple tips to stay safe and warm this winter

'Tis the season for rosy cheeks, button-down coats, and cranking up the heat. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), it's also the time of year when home fires peak, many of which are caused by heating equipment.

"Half of all home heating fires occur during December, January, and February, when we are fully utilizing our heating systems," said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. "The public can reduce their risk of getting left out in the cold by following NFPA's safe heating behaviors."

In NFPA's report "Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment," in 2009, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 58,900 reported home structure fires, 480 civilian deaths, 1,520 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage. Stationary and portable space heaters accounted for one-third (32 percent) of reported home heating fires--but nearly 80 percent of the home heating fire deaths, two-thirds (66 percent) of associated civilian injuries, and half (52 percent) of associated direct property damage.

Overall, fires, injuries, and damages from fires involving heating equipment were all lower than in 2008 and fit into a largely level trend over the past few years. The number of deaths from heating equipment was virtually unchanged.

As temperatures begin to drop, here are some safe heating behaviors to follow:

All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
Never use your oven to heat your home.
Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions.
Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
Test smoke alarms monthly.

In an effort to reduce winter fires, NFPA is partnering with the U.S. Fire Administration on a special campaign – Put a Freeze on Winter Fires. For more information, visit NFPA's website at www.nfpa.org/winter.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA's website at www.nfpa.org for more information.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for sharing this ... just helping to spread the word.

Christmas Shopping at Wayfair (Giveaway Closed)

2011-12-13T05:55:00.002-05:00

If you've been around the blogging world for any time at all, you've certainly heard of CSN Stores. Well, the exciting news is that CSN Stores is now Wayfair, "a zillion things home." And they really do have "a zillion things home," from kids duvets to closet organizers, bird feeders to hampers. Then, of course, there's my favorite section: everything for the kitchen from cookware and bakeware to gadgets and small appliances.

To celebrate the new name, Wayfair is offering one lucky reader a product worth $45.00. This giveaway is closed.

Here's how to enter: Browse the Wayfair store, then comment here with your favorite item. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.

Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):

Follow Wayfair on Twitter. Leave me a comment with your Twitter username. (1 entry)
'Like' Wayfair on Facebook. Leave me a comment with your Facebook name. (1 entry)
Tweet this giveaway, including a link to this post. Comment here with a link to your tweet. (1 entry per tweet, 1 tweet per calendar day)
Comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog, and mention the post in a comment on this post. (1 entry per comment; limit 3 total)

More details: Open to residents of USA, age 18 or older. Giveaway ends 1/3/12 at noon (Eastern time). Winner will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be allowed to choose any Wayfair product priced at $45 or less. Prize will be fulfilled by Wayfair. Void where prohibited.

Disclosure: I have received no compensation in any form for hosting this giveaway.

Friday's Fave Five: Some of Everything

2011-12-09T07:17:00.000-05:00

Thanks for stopping by! Even though recent weeks have been challenging, this week has brought a few bright moments. I'm choosing to focus on those instead of all the negatives. :) To help me do that, I put together a Friday's Fave Five list.

Good friends should always be on my list, but this week I've had more reason to think about and appreciate those friendships. While I was thinking about it, I came across this article on Keeping Your Friendships Christ-Centered. I liked it!
Last month my family saw Brandon Heath on his "Leaving Eden" tour. Since then I have been listening to the "Leaving Eden" CD almost every day.
I like that a common thread is woven through the tracks, and that every song has a different sound. I especially like the two songs "Stolen" and "Might Just Save Your Life," which feel to me like companion songs. "Stolen" describes the Lord's passionate pursuit of us, even when we try to run from Him. "Might Just Save Your Life" (the song sounds better than the lyrics read :) ) has a similar message, but is told from a different perspective.
One really good day: My son and I spent most of the day at church. I went to Bible study, talked with a friend, and straightened up the food pantry. It was productive but without pressure, which makes a perfect day for me. It even ended well: as I pulled up the blankets, I could listen to the rain tapping on the window as I fell asleep.
A friend sent me this video. In case you are one of the few others who hasn't seen it, I'm sharing it here:
The food pantry ministry at our church has really blossomed since its beginning last year. We have enjoyed consistent support from our Deacons and our congregation. I have been tremendously blessed by being involved with it.

What were the highlights of your week? Leave an answer in the comments or visit Susanne for more Friday's Fave Five. Have a happy weekend!

Disclosure: The album cover image contains an affiliate link. If you click on it and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thanks for supporting my blogging habit. :)

What's Old is New: Pine Bros. Throat Drops (Review)

2011-12-07T05:59:00.003-05:00

When I was growing up, I had a lot of colds, coughs, and ear infections. A lot. I think my parents put our doctor's kids and our pharmacist's kids through college. But it wasn't all bad. Even though Mom made me take icky pink antibiotics and eat applesauce with milk, she also gave me these:

Have you had them? Pine Bros. throat drops are different from other lozenges. They're "softish" ... not as soft as jelly beans but definitely not hard. The softness just feels more soothing, and the honey flavor is simply delicious. So why I have I waited all this time to tell you about these?

Sadly, after I outgrew the phase of having so many colds, Pine Brothers drops started to disappear from store shelves. Until now, that is: after 15 years, they're back! I was lucky enough to have a chance to try both Natural Honey and Wild Cherry flavors recently.

I like the Wild Cherry drops, but for me, Natural Honey throat drops are extra-yummy and special. I like to let them dissolve slowly, so the flavor lasts as long as possible. Because they're softish, they don't clang against my teeth like hard candies can. The puck container is convenient, too, because it's easy to carry and refillable.

If you'd like to try Pine Bros. throat drops, here are a few links for more information:

Pine Brothers website (including Where to Buy)
Pine Brothers on Facebook
Pine Brothers on Twitter

Disclosure: I received samples of Pine Brothers throat drops for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own.