Lori's Culinary Creations - Adventures in the Kitchen

Mexican Food Gem in Spokane, WA

2012-01-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

I recently had to travel to Spokane, WA and I found a GEM of a Mexican restaurant. I was staying at the Econo-Lodge and it was in an area near the airport that really has nothing around it but some hotels. I asked the desk clerk about dinner options and she directed me to Fiesta Charra 2.

It was directly across the street next to Motel 6. I saw it when I drove up to my lodge and thought it was some dive bar. It was a peachy pink building with no windows and a lit up neon Dos Exxis sign in the only tiny window on the side of the building. I was a bit skeptical since it didn't appear to even be a restaurant, but there was no other place to eat (except for hotel vending machines) anywhere nearby.

When I walked in, it was a bit dark. You enter into the bar then beyond is the restaurant. I was the only person there since it was a Sunday night and the nearby hotels were near deserted. The hostess was very pleasant and brought me chips and salsa right away. The menu is extensive. It's not just your enchilada and burrito type place. I ordered the Camerones Mexicana and I was NOT disappointed. The shrimp were large and sauteed in garlic, mushrooms tomatoes and cilantro. It came with rice and beans and a small lettuce and tomato salad in the middle of the plate. The shrimp were very good, not overcooked and full of flavor. The beans and rice were good too. The price was very reasonable.

After dinner she brought me a little dessert; ice cream on a large tortilla. Just the right amount for me since I'm not much of a dessert person.

If you are ever in Spokane, I highly recommend a visit here.

Fiesta Charra 2

1520 S Rustle Rd
Spokane, WA 99224
(509) 835-5605

"I Love Your Presence" CD Review and Giveaway

2012-01-24T11:35:00.000-08:00

As a Christian, I love reading the Bible and listening to Christian worship music. There are so many CD's out there that deliver the powerful message of hope, love, faith and the love of God. I especially love listening to Christian music when I'm at work. My job can be very busy at times with many deadlines looming at once. I like music that calms the mind and soul as well as give me a feeling of peace and the love of God.

I was recently blessed to have the opportunity to review Vinyard Music's "I Love Your Presence" CD as a digital download from iTunes. It was released to iTunes January 10, 2012 and will be physically released February 7, 2012

LOVE OF GOD was recorded live at the Burn Bright: Worship and The Kingdom Of God conference, hosted by Vineyard Worship. Several hundred worship leaders and worshippers gathered in the Arizona desert to explore the nature of God's kingdom through music and teaching with some of the Vineyard's most gifted communicators and musicians. This inspiring collection of songs recorded live at the The Vineyard Church North Phoenix will immerse listeners in the powerful worship that was the highlight of the event. LOVE OF GOD reminds us to not just think of worship as singing songs, but also laying down our lives for Him.

Featuring worship leaders Matt Turrgiano, Chris Lizotte, Steve Jones, Anabeth Morgan, Kirsten Ford, Nigel Briggs and Casey Corum

Here is the list of songs:
1.Let It Come
2.Glory To The King
3.Saving Grace
4.What Can I Bring
5.Love Of God
6.One Thing Remains
7.Now And Ever
8.Invitacion Fountain
9.Sweet Mercies
10.Isn't He / Amazing Grace
11.I Love Your Presence
12.Perfect Sacrifice
13.I Lift My Eyes Up (Psalm 121)

This worship CD speaks to my heart. I can listen to this over and over. The first song, "Let It Come" nearly had me up and out of my seat dancing. If I was not at work, I would have. It has a great upbeat tempo and the vocals are full of spirit. If you like a more "rockin" worship song, this one is for you. It goes straight to the heart and is so very uplifting.

The second song on the CD, "Glory to the King" is amazing. I can picture myself in my church's sanctuary or at a large gathering of believers with everyone singing and lifting their hands into the air for Him. It's an ultimate worship song that literlly gives glory to our almighty God.

"Sweet Mercies" is another that reminds me of all of God's mercies and what He can do for me and all of mankind. Her sweet voice resonates her faith and her dedication to Jesus. Listen for yourself and you will see. Here is a great verse from the song:

"Your mercies fall from heaven

Sweet mercies flow from heaven

New mercies for today

Shower them down Lord as we pray"

Wow......

In summary, this is a worship CD destined to become a classic. I think it contains songs that will be popular with adult Christians of all ages. There is something there for everyone from someone newly saved or someone who is a lot further in their walk with the Lord.

A little bit about Vinyard from their website:
Vineyard Worship exists as an organic extension of the Vineyard church movement in the USA (Vineyard USA). We are, in a phrase, "from the church, for the church". We are not a music company first and foremost; we are a non-profit worship ministry. Our efforts will be centered in the cultivation and empowerment of the core value of worship in the Vineyard or more simply put "to help the local church experience God", rather than in a profit-driven music business model.

How can you connect?
Visit their Website

Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

Buy it!
Download from iTunes

Win it!
One lucky reader will recieve a digital download of "I Love Your Presence." Simply enter your information into the Rafflecopter form below and review the rules. That's it!

Giveaway is open from January 25, 2012 to February 8, 2012 at 11:59EST and is open to both US and worldwide entrants 18 years of age or older. Please keep in mind that any mandatory entries must be completed before you do any of the extra entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. 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 Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Mustard Tasting at Home

2012-01-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

Last night was the NFC Championship playoff game between the SF 49ers and the NY Giants. I'm a HUGE 49ers fan, so nothing was going to tear me away from the TV. But dinnertime rolled around and my hubby was hungry so, what to do?

I was perplexed.

Whatever it would be, it must be simple and easy to prepare during time-outs and commercials. So, I defrosted a Costco hamsteak and prepared some veggies. But that's kind of boring, so I turned dinner into a "Mustard Taste Testing." With all the varieties we have in the house, which goes best with hamsteak?

Here are the contenders:

#1 - Albertson's basic yellow mustard

#2 - Beaver Sweet Hot Mustard

#3 - Beaver Honey Mustard

#4 - Good ole Great Value (Wal-Mart) brown mustard

#5 - Chicago Fire Mustard

I sauteed (ok, I fried) the hamsteak in some extra virgin olive oil and garlic. I cooked it low and slow so I wouldn't miss a minute of the game.... or the fumbles... or the incomplete passes..... and paired it with green beans seasoned with butter and lemon pepper.

So how did each of the mustards rate? The Albertson's Yellow Mustard is best served with a hot dog. Or mixed with mayo and seasonings for deviled eggs. The sweet and hot tells it like it is; first you taste the sweet, then the heat. But the cool part was that the heat doesn't keep on burning. It actually is a temporary sensation and your taste buds are still intact. Very nice! The honey mustard was equally good. Nice and sweet and has that tartness I like in a mustard. The brown is our go-to mustard for most things. I like to add it to my rice based quiche crust or with au gratin potatoes. It adds flavor without being overpowering. Finally, the Chicago Fire. Yep, it's hot. Spicy and hot. It's perfect for when you have a cold, all stopped up and need to breathe because this sure does clear out the sinuses. I would not prefer it for ham, but I'm sure I can find many uses for this.

The winner: the honey mustard from Beaverton Foods. Perfectly paired with ham. In fact, once my husband tasted it, everything else was untouched. Thumbs up, honey mustard.

Cook'n Recipe Organizer Review and Giveaway

2012-01-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

As you all know, I love to cook!!! I have many many cookbooks, recipe cards, recipes from magazines that I've ripped out and put in a binder and even some handwritten on sticky notes. Sometimes it's just hard to find that right recipe or find one at all. I've wondered if there was any type of software out there for me. Then I received the Cook'n Recipe Organizer.

I swear, this program was written for me!!! This easy to use software makes finding and storing recipes simple and efficient. My favorite feature so far is that it will capture a recipe for you and file it. Seriously, I go out to the internet looking for a salmon recipe, find one I love then hit the "capture" button and poof!! It's in my files and catagorized. How amazing is that? Sounds too good to be true? Just keep reading. This program is amazing.

Another favorite feature (or features.. there are so many!) is the shopping list. I can create a weeks worth of meals and then hit the "shopping list" button and it makes a list for me including estimated costs for each of the items. If you already have the item, say like speghetti for a pasta meal, you check if off the list and it recalcuates the total cost. What a great money saver.

There is also a way to look at the nutrtional information of your recipe. The program looks at each ingredient and will give you calorie counts, fat, sodium etc. You can calculate the entire dish or by serving. I've been using this now for a week. I created this weeks menu and printed the shopping list. Talk about a timesaver. Any program that makes the list for me gets my vote.

This program is available in both Windows and Mac versions. And soon, there will be an iPhone app too.

Here's a great video to show you all the great features of this program:

As you can see, Cook'n is several products in one!

Buy it now!
The sponsor has kindly offered a 50% discount to purchase this software today. Simply go to the Sponsors Site and enter the code mb-lori at checkout.

Enter to win!
One lucky reader is going to win their very own copy of Cook N Recipe Organizer, an $80.00 value. To enter this giveaway, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US and International entrants.

This giveaway will end on February 3, 2012 and a winner will be chosen at random and announced.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. (http://momblogsociety.com/)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Mile in His Shoes Review & Giveaway

2012-01-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

Good Day readers!

I am so excited to be hosting my first ever giveaway and even more excited to share with you a review of this family friendly, inspiring and uplifting DVD, "A Mile in his Shoes" starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder.

Synopsis:
Only a miracle can help baseball coach Arthur “Murph” Murphy (Dean Cain) and his losing minor league baseball team. As Murph sets out to recruit new talent, he stumbles upon Mickey (Luke Schroder), a young farmer with an incredible pitcher’s arm. However, Mickey’s parents are reluctant in allowing him to join the team because he has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. Murph convinces Mickey’s parents that life in the minor league will benefit their unique son, but he doesn’t realize just how much his new recruit will help the team’s game and, more importantly, their spirit. Based on a true story,  A Mile in His Shoes is an inspirational film that celebrates faith, determination and the power of friendship.

A Mile in His Shoes was originally shown on GMC TV in September of 2011 and it was released on DVD January 10, 2011.

I sat down to watch this with my husband, who loves these types of movies and probably cries more then I do when we watch them (Ssshhhhh....don't tell him I said that!). This was amazing!! Inspiring, uplifting and shows us what can be achieved when you look beyond what's in front of you and looking at a persons abilities. Dean Cain was great, Luke Schroder gave a moving performance. I don't know a lot about Asperger's so this gave me some insight. As a Christian, this movie spoke to my heart. Highly recommended.

And yes, my husband did not disappoint, lol. We were both very moved by this movie. It's family friendly and sends a great message.

Buy it! - You can purchase A Mile in His Shoes at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $14.93).

Win it! - One lucky reader of Lori's Culinary Creations will win a copy of A Mile in His Shoes. Just enter youir informatioin into the widget below and that's it! Easy peasy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the product or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. 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 Commission's CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Simple and Tasty Snack

2012-01-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

While watching football this weekend (Go Niners!!), we needed a little snack. This is so easy and simple.. quick too.

I took a bunch of shrimp and marinated it in lime juice, a dash of garlic powder and some Mrs. Dash Carribean Citrus seasoning. I put it in the fridge for about an hour. Then, I alternated the shrimp and a small piece of bacon on skewers. I put in on my stove stop grill pan and cooked it until doen, about 5 minutes or so. You can precook the bacon if you wish, but I just used enough so that it cooked with the shrimp. Turned out great!

Layered Mexicali Casserole

2012-01-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

This is an easy family friendly recipe that doesn't take that long, unless you choose to soak the beans the night before and cook them prior to assembly. I choose to rinse and soak mine since it contains considerable less sodium then if you use canned. You can substitute black or kidney beans if you choose.

Here are the ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
2 cups beans (pinto, black, kidney etc)
9 corn tortillas
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 can enchilada sauce
1 ear of corn, kernals sliced off
1 chopped roma tomato
1 small can of sliced black olives
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 cup of shredded cheddar (or spicy pepper jack)

If you are soaking the beans, place them in a saucepan, cover with water so all beans are covered and there is an inch of water above the beans. Cover and soak overnight. The next day, bring beans to a boil, then cover and simmer 30-45 minutes.

Pour the oil into a large sauce pan and saute the beef, onion and garlic until the meat is done. Drain off the excess fat. Add corn, tomato, olives, enchilada sauce and seasonings. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Spray a casserole dish with non stick cooking spray then layer three tortillas on the bottom. I have a oblong shaped dish, so I halved one tortilla to cover the bottom.

Layer 1/2 the beef mix on the tortillas. Cover with another three tortillas, then layer the beans. Cover with the final 3 tortillas, then layer the remaining beef mix.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. When done, sprinkle the top with the cheese and bake until melted.

Serve with sour cream, guacamole or any of your favorite salsas.

I'm now on Facebook!

2011-12-31T11:55:00.000-08:00

Lori's Culinary Creations is now on Facebook! Please click here Lori's Culinary Creations and like my page.

Updating and Improving the Blog

2011-12-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

Hello Readers

Just working on making this blog not only more user friendly, but also more robust. Like a good recipe, the blog is getting "spiced up" to make way to start hosting giveaways and reviews.

Stay tuned. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. Just comment on this post.

Have a wonderful Wednesday. God Bless.

Pasta Primavera with Ham

2011-12-24T09:56:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned how much I love to cook? Well, I do and garlic is one of my favorite ingredients. I keep it in this super cute garlic holder. I got this probably 30 years ago from my Aunt Gladys. It has travelled over state lines and has been a staple in my kitchen since I got it. Isn't he cute?

I just love pasta. It's easy, versatile and you can whip it up quick and it makes great leftovers. This recipe is great because you can substitute any veggie for what I've listed here. I guess you can always call it my "what's in the fridge that needs to be eaten" pasta. My husband thought it was wonderful!!!

Lori's Pasta Primavera with Ham

Serves 6

You'll be tossing the pasta, vegetables, and sauce in the same pot you used to cook the pasta, so use a pot that holds at least 8 quarts.

2   teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1   Ham Steak. I used the Kirkland brand from Costco

3   medium garlic cloves, minced ( you can use more if you love garlic)

3   fresh tomatoes, medium to large

1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (optional)

1   cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

1   tablespoon of Italian Seasoning

12  ounces pasta. I used thin spaghetti

1   pound asparagus spears,tough ends snapped off, cut diagonally into 3/4-inch pieces (about 3 cups)

2   medium zucchini (about 3/4 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 3 cups)

1   6-ounce package baby spinach (about 8 cups, loosely packed)

2   tablespoons chopped fresh green onion

1/4 cup shredded fresh basil leaves

Ground black pepper

Shredded romano cheese

1. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in large pot for cooking pasta.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced ham and cook about 5-8 minutes.

3. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, broth, italian seasoning and cream.

4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium,and cook at rapid simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half,10 to 12 minutes.

5.  Add spinach and salt to taste.

6. Cover sauce to keep warm. Add a tablespoon of flour if you want your sauce thicker. Add some parmesan if you like it a bit cheesy.

7. Add 2 teaspoons salt and noodles to boiling water and cook for 3 minutes.

8. Add asparagus and zucchini and cook until pasta and vegetables are just al  dente, 2 to 3 minutes more

9. Drain pasta and vegetables and return them to empty pot. Add spinach, peas, and ham-tomato sauce. Toss to coat all ingredients with sauce.

10. Stir in onion and basil, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, passing cheese at the table.

Private Selections Margharita Pizza

2011-12-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

I am a member of bzzagent (www.bzzagent.com) and am given the opportunity to try products for free. I've been a member for years and they are a wonderful company to work with and I have had the pleasure of trying really great products. Private Selection, Kroger stores specialty frozen foods, is one of them.

I received three product coupons; one for pizza, one for a dessert and one for an appetizer. They also gave me some coupons too. Last weekend, my husband and I were watching the Broncos' (GO TEBOW) game and needed a snack. I had purchased the Margharita Nepolitana pizza with my coupon and it was perfect for a game day snack.

The pizza looked pretty good when I took it out of the box, but it seemed a bit small compared to the box size as you can see below. In any case, it was going to be a quick cook, about 8-12 minutes at 425 degrees. Because some of the mozzarella balls were all bunched up below, I broke them up and spread them across the pizza so they were equally distributed.

After what seemed to be an eternity (we were pretty hungry), it was ready. Boy did it look and smell good!!!

Mark and I each had two slices. It was amazing good. Probably some of the best frozen pizza I've ever had. The cherry tomatoes were not mushy at all. They tasted fresh picked and full of flavor. The pizza had just enough cheese and the fresh mozzarella balls were a nice touch. The crust was perfect. Thin, crispy and flavorful, not like some that taste like the box you just removed it from. Nice herbal flavor, and each half was enough for Mark and I. I highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a quick and tasty snack. Or if you pair this with a side salad, it's a nice light meal.

Pastitsio!!!

2011-12-10T08:24:00.001-08:00

When in Arizona in September, my husband and I went to the Greek Restaurant, Posiden. Had Pastitsio for the first time and it was awesome. Since I love to cook and love to try new recipes, I just had to make this for myself. I finally did it last night. It is a long process so make sure you have lots of time to get it together. I'mlucky to have a big kitchen to do this in. So first, get everything out so you have all the ingredients at your fingertips.

Notice I have to have my wine there too. First off, chop 3 medium yellow onions, 2 stalks celery, 3 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley and 2 cloves of garlic. Sautee in 3 Tbsp olive oil for about 5 minutes and set aside.

Take 2 lbs ground beef and sautee in 1 Tbsp olive oil and cook about 10 minutes. Add 1 15oz can of diced tomatoes, , 1 Tbsp of tomato paste, 1/2 cup red wine, 1 tsp allspice, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp cinnamon, dash of salt and ground black pepper. Simmer 40 minutes.

While that is cooking, take 1 lb of ziti and cook in a large pot with water and a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking. Drain and set aside. Just when you have 8 minutes left on the meat mix, start the bechamel sauce. In one sauce pan, heat 4 cups of milk with 2 bay leaves and a 1/2 tsp of allspice berries. In another saucepan, melt 8 Tbsp (1 stick) of butter. Add 1 cup flour in the butter mix and whisk till thick. Slowly pour the milk into the flour butter mix (remove the bay leaves and berries) and whisk constantly until thick. Add 3 Tbsp Kefaloytri cheese or fresh shreded parmesan and a pinch of nutmeg. By now your meat sauce is also done simmering.

In a large bowl, take 1 cup of the bechamel sauce, 2 lightly beaten eggs and mix it with the ziti till it's coated.

In a 9x13 baking dish, spray the bottom and sides with Pam. I use butter flavor Pam to add to the taste. Be sure to do this as the noodles and meat will stick for sure if you don't. Layer 1/3 of the noodles, 1/2 the meat sauce, another 1/3 of the noodles, then the other half of the meat sauce. Top it with the final layer of noodles. Then cover it with the remaining 3 cups of bechamel sauce. Sprinkle the top lightly with 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and 3-4 Tbsp of Kefaloytri or parmesan.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let it set 10 minutes before serving. This yields 12 servings of deliciousness. I served it with a Greek salad and red wine.

I cheated with the salad. It's just 1 large cucumber, 3 roma tomatoes, 1/2 medium red onion, 2 Tbsp capers, whole olives tossed in Kraft greek dressing then I sprinkled it with regular feta although you can use tomato basil or garlic & herb.

Wonderful meal and my husband loved it. Except olives... he hates those. SALUT!

ARM & HAMMER(TM) Simply Saline (TM) Neti Pot Kit

2011-12-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

ARM & HAMMER(TM) Simply Saline (TM) Neti Pot Kit: Thx Simply Saline(TM) 4 my free Neti Pot kit! Chk out the how to video http://bit.ly/tSVV9Y *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

PAM Cooking Spray

2011-12-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

PAM Cooking Spray: Thanks PAM for my free can of cooking spray! Be sure to check out #PAM on Facebook. http://on.fb.me/od4C5b *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

Google Plus

2011-12-02T12:48:00.001-08:00

Well, I finally did it.... created a Google + account. I have no idea what I'm doing so if anyone out there has any tips, please comment!

Yuck, ankle surgery looming

2011-10-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

My ankle has had some issues. Pain, swells up like a football etc. Doc thought it was tendonitis, but after getting an x-ray, it was discovered to be a big problem. Namely:

Osteo Chondral Defect
3 torn ligaments
Bone Contusion
Bone Spurs
Edema (fancy word for swelling)

You don't need to be a doctor to see what's wrong on the x-ray. Oh no, not at all. the surgery is going to be bad. Need to realign the heel, reattach ligaments (and use cadaver parts if mine are really bad.. they call it donor ligaments, but let's just face facts), file down the bone spurs etc. Then 6 weeks non weight bearing, crutches, blah blah.

Wish me luck. I'm so excited (not) for this to be done.

Vitaphenol Skin Care Win

2011-04-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

Winter is harsh. In fact in Utah it's still here. We had snow last night AGAIN! The last time I looked at the calendar it said April 30th which to me means time to weed the yard, trim the rose bushes and plant. I guess I get to wait another weekend.....

... but winter also means being inside and dealing with heaters and stale air. I have dry skin, which sucks and it's gotten drier since I have gotten older. So just imagine my happy dance when I got an email this morning I won the Vitaphenol Skin Care Regimen from the blog 2 Kids and a Coupon. I won an entire set and my skin can't wait to try it. Kim from the site notified me right away so my regimen should be here soon. Take a second and go check out Kim's site and review of Vitaphenol:

http://www.twokidsandacoupon.com/2011/04/new-giveaway-win-vitaphenol-skin-care.html

Hoping everyone has a great day.... I'm going to go wait by my mail box :-)

Texas Tornado Watch

2011-04-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

I was in Texas last week, specifically the Texoma area of north east Texas. While there I was treated to some amazing lightening shows and the occasional tornado warning/watch. I've lived in California most of my life and are used the earthquakes but this was something else. Although I did not experience an actual tornado (praise God), I did enjoy the unusual could formations and the skies all lit up with lightning.

My husband and I were out in a parking lot taking pictures of the cloud walls and most folks who were driving by probably thought "What a bunch of tourists." Here is a picture I took with my phone:

I tell you, it was something else!!!

2 lbs down... many to go

2011-04-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Started the whole weight loss journey again. I actually started over a month ago, but have been knocked out by a couple of nasty colds and now a "female" issue which is preventing me from hitting the gym. I've been eating right and including lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Unfortunatley, the doc diagnosed me with high blood pressure so now I'm on a low sodium diet. Oh. Joy. The second he told me that, I was craving Wendy's fries, lol.

There are lots of online resources for dieting out there but by far my two favorites are Dottie's Weight Loss Zone and Livestrong/MyPlate. I use both to track my food intake and to track calories/fat when I eat out. The links are:

http://www.dwlz.com/

http://www.livestrong.com/

I joined The Legacy Center Rec Center in my town and they offer lots of exercise options; weights, cardio, classes, an indoor track and an amazing aquatic center with an olympic sized lap pool. It's also less expensive then those 'big box' gyms too. The best part is it's not a pick-up gym many singles go to. There are families and it's a very relaxed environment.

So far, I've dropped 2 lbs!! WAHOO!!!!!

2011-03-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

Check out the Cover Girl 50th anniversary. If you join the party, you can get:

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Create a COVERGIRL ad, get exclusive badges, and help shape the next generation of COVERGIRL through polls, quizzes, and more.

So go to Facebook and "Like" CoverGirl and join the MyCoverGirl page. So much fun!!

I am a BzzAgent and this is one of my campaigns.

Hand Stamped Necklace Win

2011-02-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

I won an Eternity Circle stamped necklace from a blog contest and it arrived on Monday. Gorgeous is a word to describe it. Classy is another. It's a lightly textured sterling silver circle I had inscribed with my name and my husbands. The two crystals represent our birthstones. This necklace is a gem!

Here is a photo:

As you can see, the script of our names is crystal clear and the colors of the crystals are sharp. It came with an 18" silver chain. You have your choice of script and can add up to three crystals.

You can order one for yourself here -

http://stampedunderthemoon.com/item_104/Eternity-Circle-with-Birthstones.htm

The giveaway was hosted by Cathy at Uncommon Lifestyle. You can check out her blog here:

http://uncommonlifestyle.com/

Thanks again to Cathy at Uncommon Lifestyle and Cisco at Stamped Under the Moon for a wonderful giveaway and most beautiful necklace.

"Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst

2011-01-30T11:28:00.001-08:00

I've been hearing on K-Love (Christian radio) about this book for a couple of weeks around the new year so I picked it up off Amazon.com. I'm on Chapter 8 as of today and it is really speaking to me. I am a new Christian, having started back to Church last May with my husband. I also have a good 30-40 lbs to lose so I figured this would help.

I'm a Weight Watchers vet, losing 34.7 lbs about 4 years ago. Bad habits and laziness have put it all back on and then some. It sucks. I hate photos of myself and just recently saw one of me and my husband and I looked HUGE next to him. Time to suck it up and do something about it.

I bought the book and I can say it speaks to me. It takes away all those negative thoughts and puts things in perspective. I love the way the author looks at God as a way to overcome her cravings. She said we are made to crave... God, not food. If we turn to Him, we will have all we need to overcome this struggle and get to that healthy place in life . Hey, that sounds great to me!!

So here I am on a new path... a path to weight loss with His help. I'm starting at a weight that I never thought I'd ever reach and am looking forward to being a healthier me.

Big win from LetsWin blog

2011-01-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

Last year I won the Holiday Gift Hop giveaway from LetsWin. Last night, I received two handbags from the $50 gift card to Handbag Heaven that I won. They are gorgeous!!!! The yellow is a large hobo bag with studs (or brads for you scrappers) and a blue background in the center of the stud/brad. the blue is a sling bag with an adjustable handle and lots of shine and sparkle. My husband thinks the yellow is "yucky and putrid" (his words) but loves the blue. I told him he doesn't have to wear them so he has no say, lol. Here is a photo (please ignore the junk on my kitchen counter):

Both bags are soft and plyable. Very high quality and fast shipment too!! I was amazed... they shipped same day and I received them in less then a week. Way to go Handbag Heaven!!

Also thanks to Rebekah from LetsWin blog for her giveaway and awesome follow up on my wins. You can check her blog out here: http://www.letswinblog.com/.

Have a great day everyone!!

Ebates

2011-01-19T13:37:00.000-08:00

Rediscovered Ebates this week thanks to BzzAgent (see previous post). Here is a site where you can shop with coupons, get cash back and save save save!!!

Website: www.ebates.com

If anyone wants to sign up under me, shoot me an email and I'll send you a link.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

BzzAgent

2011-01-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

Anyone familiar with BzzAgent? I'm signed up and I have the opportunity to review products, websites and other fun things. I just signed up for the 50th Anniversary Cover Girl campaign. I'm sure you've seen teh commercials featuring Taylor Swift. I love Cover Girl products.. they are high quality and long lasting.

I look forward to sharing more with my readers as the campaign progresses.