By now you should know that I am madly, head-over-heels, truly in love with my Keurig. It’s by far my most favorite appliance in our home. I cannot go a day without using it.

Most people associate Keurig and K-cup portion packs with coffee. Some might even think about tea. But did you know that you can make MORE then coffee and tea with a Keriug? How about rich, dark chocolate hot cocoa? Or sweet Chai Latte? Mmm!

There are many brands that offer K-cup portion packs for the Keurig. I have reviewed several of them over the past year. I’d now like to tell you about Cafe Escapes.

Cafe Escapes offers Keurig users something different than coffee and tea. They offer rich indulgences like Cafe’ Mocha (a combination of cocoa and coffee), Milk Hot Chocolate, Dark Hot Chocolate and Chai Latte.

I have had the Cafe Escapes Milk Hot Cocoa before. In fact I’ve been purchasing it for the past couple of years from a local store. I didn’t know that Cafe Escapes offered Cafe Mocha, Chai Latte or even a Dark Hot Chocolate.

As a Keurig Brand Ambassador I received samples of all four varieties to try out and share with family and friends. I tend to share my K-Cup portion packs with others. This time I might just keep them all to myself. LOL!

I have already been using the Milk Hot Chocolate for some time now. It’s perfect for me. Not too sweet. It’s just right. Sometimes hot cocoa mixes tend to be too sweet for my personal preference. I have found that the Milk Hot Chocolate make a perfect cup for hot chocolate for me.

The first K-cup portion pack I tried was the Cafe’ Mocha. It’s a sweet combination of cocoa and coffee. To me it takes more like cocoa but with a bit of a kick to it. My husband had a cup. He doesn’t drink coffee. He liked the Cafe’ Mocha but did say that he noticed there was a little more to the taste then just regular cocoa. It wasn’t until after he started to drink it that I told him it was also made with coffee. He was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed it too.

I like Chai Latte. I have ordered it when I’m out and about or out to dinner. The Cafe’ Escapes Chai Latte smells amazing! The aroma alone is enough to make you drool. I did find that this K-cup portion pack was too sweet for me. I have to remove some of the hot water with the Chai Latte mixed in and then add more hot water to water it down a bit so it’s not as sweet. I’m not suggesting that there is anything wrong with it. There is not. It’s just too sweet for my personal preference.

I was really excited to try the Dark Hot Chocolate. There is an obvious difference between the Milk and Dark Hot Chocolate varieties. The Dark Hot Chocolate is richer. I don’t know if it tastes like dark chocolate, but it’s much more “chocolatey” then the Milk Chocolate variety. Toss in some marshmallows and you have a delightful and super delicious treat.

All four of these wonderful and indulgent coffee house treats are specially blended to allow you indulge and enjoy more “me” moments. I agree with that because I have been enjoying some quiet time with a hot cup of one of the Cafe’ Escape varieties and a good book or magazine during the day when the kids are at school. Ahhh… perfect!

To learn more about Cafe’ Escapes please visit Cafe’ Escapes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/CafeEscapes. If you “like” their Facebook page you will be entered into a “sweet” giveaway for a year’s worth of spa quality indulgence. Check it out!

You can also follow them on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/CafeEscapes). You can even follow the conversation using the hashtag #YourPerfectCup.

You can also check out Cafe’s Escapes and other K-cup portion pack varieties on the Green Mountain Coffee. I even have a special discount code. Upon check out use the code AM0016-3593 to save 15% off the entire store and free standard shipping (within the U.S. with no minimum order) at www.GreenMountainCoffee.com. This code is valid through February 29, 2012.

Keeping with the theme of indulgence I have a special giveaway from Birchbox. Birchbox is an innovative, new way to try beauty products before you buy them, Birchbox provides its subscribers with monthly deliveries of samples from well-known beauty brands. Each month subscribers will receive 4-5 hand-picked beauty samples form the best brands around – from the luxe lines you covet to the new and niche companies you’ve yet to discover.

But Birchbox is so much more than that!  

-   An online mini-mag filled with how-to videos, articles, and tips from the pros

-   An online Shop filled with the best skincare, haircare, makeup, and more – we’ve done the editing for you!

-   Birchbox Points, a super generous rewards program – so easy to earn, track, and redeem points

-   Great shipping offers on full-size orders, including free shipping on monthly product picks, and all orders $50+

One lucky reader will win a FREE 12-month subscription from Birchbox, compliments of Keurig/Green Mountain.

To enter please comment on something you love to indulge in?

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional. 

- Subscribe to She Scribes via RSS or E-mail. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about your favorite flavor from Cafe’ Escapes and/or this giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet AND the hashtag #YourPerfectCup. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share this review and/or giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post about this review and/or giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on February 4, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply. Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place. A gift code will be sent via e-mail to the winner.

Other awesome giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I am a Keurig/Green Mountain brand ambassador and I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. 

The Super Bowl kicks off on Sunday, February 5, 2012. Are you attending a Super Bowl party? Or are you hosting a Super Bowl party?

If you are hosting a Super Bowl party you’ll no doubt be looking for delicious foods and snacks to serve your guests. Thankfully Super Bowl parties don’t require a sit down meal. A few pizzas or a 3′ foot sub is good enough for most parties. However if you are looking to offer your guests a bit more, stop by Family Dollar where you’ll find plenty of Super Bowl party treats at budget friendly prices.

Did you know that Family Dollar has their own brand of food products? They are called Family Gourmet.

Family Gourmet products taste just like similar brand name products, except Family Gourmet products are much more budget friendly. Because they are a lot less expensive you can purchase a lot more for your Super Bowl party.

Family Dollar was kind enough to send me a few samples of their Family Gourmet brand products. I received the following items.

Sadly the Fudge Striped Shortbread cookies barely made it past two days. LOL! My kids (and my husband!) gobbled these up in no time.

My husband is VERY picky when it comes to certain items and brand names. He used to think that you had to buy the big brands to get quality items. I proved him otherwise. Thanks to me he’s more open to trying different brands. In most cases he has found that the products are similar in taste and quality. With that in mind it’s silly to spend more money on something just because of the brand name. Especially when it comes to something like food items which are not meant to be kept for a long time.

My husband loved the cookies so much he told me to pick some more up the next time I’m at Family Dollar.

I like the snack crackers. They go great with soup as well as with some peanut butter smeared on them.

I would never buy spray cheese for my family. There is just something “odd” about the idea of spraying cheese. Since I received one to try I let my kids enjoy it. I tried some too. We sprayed some on the snack crackers. It was good, and I have to admit I’d probably eat more of them if I wasn’t on a diet program at the moment. My kids had a blast with it. I had to take the cheese away from them or they would have used up the whole can in one shot.

The crackers tasted just like the big brand crackers. In fact we have those in the pantry. My kids can’t tell the difference.

The Family Gourmet salsa from Family Dollar was pretty good. I love salsa with scrambled eggs. The Family Gourmet salsa tasted good. It had a nice fresh taste to it too. I was pleasantly surprised.

Every Super Bowl party needs a big bowl of chips and salsa.

Popcorn is a great Super Bowl snack idea. I honestly keep forgetting that I can serve popcorn at parties. Most everyone likes popcorn. If you keep some popcorn seasonings on hand everyone can season the popcorn to suit their tastes. I have Buffalo, White Cheddar and Kettle Corn popcorn seasonings on hand.

Popcorn is also a great snack anytime. Once I topped off some tomato soup with some left over popcorn. It tasted really good.

I honestly wouldn’t think to serve Trail Mix at a Super Bowl party. It’s not a real “manly” sort of treat. However if you have guests coming to your party who are a bit more health conscious, I think serving a bowl of trail mix would be a nice surprise.

If you were to blindfold me and serve me Family Gourmet, from Family Dollar, foods along side their brand name versions, I couldn’t tell the difference. The products I tried all tasted like the big brands (with the exception of the Trail Mix – I wasn’t sure what big brand it was like). Even my very picky husband had to agree with me.

This year, when you are making up your menu for your Super Bowl party, be sure to stop by Family Dollar to stock up on plenty of treats and other goodies to serve to your party guests. Don’t forget to pick up beverages, plates, napkins and even football party decor at your local Family Dollar too.

To find a Family Dollar near you visit www.FamilyDollar.com. You can also follow Family Dollar on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/FamilyDollar) and on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/FamilyDollar).

Kimberly

*I received free sample products in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

Is anyone familiar with vision boards? Does anyone use vision boards to help them to achieve their goals and dreams? I’m seriously considering starting one.

If you are not familiar with a vision board, or have never even heard of the term before, let me explain it a bit.

A vision board is a board (poster board, cork board…) where you put images that “speak to you”. They can be images of things you want out of life (a dream vacation, a beautiful house, a fancy car) or they can be visions of things that inspire you (a colorful photograph, an image of a child). Some people have been known to create vision boards of images that they are not 100% sure why they are attracted to them but hold on to them to see if their purpose and meaning becomes clear to them one day. 

The purpose of a vision board is to keep your mind focused on the things you want to achieve in life, or to use it as your muse to inspire you to write, create artwork or for some other purpose. The vision board gives your “vision” clarity and helps to keep your attention on your intentions. If you look at it every day it helps you to keep your “eye on the prize”, so to speak. It can also be used as a force to help reinforce your daily affirmations. 

I have heard vision boards are also similar to The Secret, which all the range a few years ago. The vision board is a place for things in your life that are positive. As per The Secret when you think about positive things, positivity is attracted to you. It is suppose to help you achieve your goals and dreams.

I have an “online vision board”, so to speak. I bookmark on my computer things I really want in life. For example, one of my dreams is to own a house. I want a house with a yard where I can grow a garden and plant Lilacs. I would love for my children and our pets to have a place to run around and play. I have even gone so far as to look up appliances online, as well as furniture, for my dream house.

Making a vision board is really easy. You can make a simple one with some poster board. Or you can use a large cork board. I’m looking to get a corkboard just in case I want to add or remove pictures as I go along.

Once you have the board you are going to use the next step is to go through magazines and cut out images that stand out to you and that “speak” to you some how. Perhaps it’s a photo of a couple on a beach that represents a dream vacation for you and your significant other. Or maybe you’ll find a photo of a gorgeous dress you would love to wear, which will inspire you to lose weight or save money so you can have such a dress.

Don’t worry about putting the pictures on your board just yet. First just gather the pictures that interest you.

After you have finished collecting pictures your next step is to lay them all out on the table and pick out your most favorite photos. Once you have your favorites you’ll need to figure out how you want to arrange them on the board. Do you want to put them on the board with no specific “game plan” or do you want to specify the different corners to represent different things (one corner could be goals, another for dreams, and another for creative inspiration…). The board is YOURS so it has to make sense to you and only you. Don’t worry about what others think.

Once you have the pictures arranged you need to attach them to the board. You can use tacks (cork board) or glue. If you use glue use a glue stick or rubber cement. Regular glue might make the images get bumpy and they won’t look as nice.

After your board is complete you need to hang it some place where you can look at it each and every day. For me, I’m going to hang mine by my desk. Other people might want to hang it in the bedroom, in the bathroom, or any where else you think you will have the chance to look at it and focus on it every day.

Do you have a vision board? I would love to hear about it. If you have been inspired to make one for yourself, what kind of images do you think your board would have?

For the record, vision boards are great for kids too!

Kimberly

I so a lot of web surfing when I’m bored. Often I look for funny and unusual things.

Here are a few funny animal theme photos and comics that I have found over the years on the Internet. Well…one features dinosaurs. They were not REALLY animals but I’m sure it’s OK to squeeze that one in here.

I do not know the copyright information (some of these are rather old). If you do know the copyright information please contact me so I can apply the appropriate credit.

Enjoy!

Kimberly

I have partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Pet Blogger. As an official blogger, I will be sharing articles filled with tips for living on a budget. This month our topic will focus on ideas for pet-friendly decorating on a budget.

My family has five cats and a dog. I know that sounds like a lot, but it all seems to work out just fine. All of my pets get along great and they all seem to have their own spots and do their own thing.

As a pet owner, especially in a small condo which is no bigger than an average apartment, the challenge is not to let my home get over run by my pets. I don’t want people to walk in my home and right away now that we have pets (although my barking dog would be  dead giveaway – ha ha). What I mean is, I don’t want the first thing people see when they step into my home are dog and cat toys, a litter box and dog beds. Ideally I would like for these things  to blend into my home’s decor, or at least not be THAT noticeable.

Here are a few ideas to keep your pets entertained and comfortable while keeping your home free from clutter and looking more like a home then a pet hotel.

Cat Cubes & Tunnels – I have seen these sold just about any where that you can buy pet products. They are cubes and tubes (sold separately) that quickly fold up so you can tuck them away when company comes over.

We have a fun Twinkle Chute made by Petlinks. When one of the cats goes through it there is a little sensor that makes the chute light up. Cats LOVE lights so the moment the lights appear the cat will jump around inside to try and catch the lights. Sometimes more then one cat plays with it at a time too. The great thing about this toy is that is folds up and can be easily tucked away inside the closet or under the bed.

Cat Cubes are also a lot of fun. They easily pop up and when you need to put them away they fold up flat. The cube can be tucked away when company comes over. Some cubes even connect to one another so you can create a long cube tube.

Both the cubs and tunnels are inexpensive. I’ve seen the cubes for as low as $10 for two cubes and the tunnel ranging in price from $10-$15.

Litter Box – One of the biggest “eye sores” in any home with a cat is the litter box. No one wants to see it (or smell it). Sadly it’s a part of cat ownership unless you cat does all his business outside.

I think this is the PERFECT litter box for any home (especially if you live in a small condo or apartment). It’s a litter box and bathroom accessory all in one. The top part can be used to hold decorative pieces or beauty supplies. The bottom half is the litter box. It even come with a towl rack.

I love it! It keeps the litter box out of site for the most part. Even if your guest should use the bathroom they will not have to deal with an unsightly litter box. I think this piece is rather pretty (and functional!). I have seen this for around $104 but I am sure you can find it for less if you do a little research.

Another great litter box cover is this combination litter box, storage box and bench. One side houses the litter box. The other side can be used to store the extra litter and cat supplies. You can also use it as a bench to sit on. This would be perfect in a hallway. No one would ever suspect it was a litter box.

If your home is too small for another piece of furniture you might want to check out these fun litter box covers made by KattySacks.com. For around $30 you can purchase fabric litter box covers in different designs. They might not make the litter box less obvious in your home, but at least you can have some fun with it and make the box look a little nicer too.

The Kitty Sack covers are available in three designs.

Pet Beds – My dog and cats love to sleep in the lap of luxury. No hard wooden floors for my pets. They want to sleep in the softest spots in our home.

I LOVE this space saving KittyWalk Closet Sleeper. You can hang it inside your closet off one of the rods to provide your furry friend with a comfy, and quiet, sleeping spot.

Cats are not the only ones who love to have their own special places. Dogs do too.

I love the soft, portable and easy to fold up indoor dog houses. We had one but had to toss it out when we accidentally left it out on our balcony during a bad rain storm and it blew off the balcony and ended up in the mud.  We have to get another one because both our dog and our cats loved it. You can find similar indoor dog houses for $20 or less. The one pictured below is from Animal Planet and is selling on Amazon for $19.00.

Similar to the bathroom kitty litter box (mentioned at the top of the box) you can also purchase indoor dog houses that act as end tables. These are a perfect addition to your living room. I have even seen a large one used as a TV stand.

The dog bed furniture pieces tend to be expensive so you will need to shop around to find one in your budget.

Cat Scratch Posts – Cats need to have a place to scratch. If not, say good bye to your furniture or carpet because cats will scratch at just about anything. I have one cat who refuses to use the scratch pads. Instead she uses the legs of the coffee table and dining room chair legs. Ugh!

Places like PetSmart and Petco carry a variety of scratch pads and posts. They have small mats and scratch pads that hang from a door knob. Both are very affordable (around $10-$20). These options take up a lot less space than a regular post. If your cat likes posts you can find small posts at Walmart for around $10.

One of the best products I’ve seen for cat owners who have a small space is The Climber from CatLivin.com. Not only can your cats scratch on the carpeted surface, but it can also double at a “cat tree”. Cats love to climb just as much as they love to scratch. This products gives them the best of both worlds.

It attaches easily to the door and is easily removed so you can put it away or move it to another door.

Having a pet doesn’t mean they need to take over your home. When you have a small space, such as an apartment or condo, you are limited to what you can offer your pet. However with a little imagination and the power of the Internet you can find plenty of products available that won’t hurt your budget or take up too much space in your home. Your pets will be happy and so will you!

If you liked these space saving ideas and tips you can find more on the Apartment Guide website. They have some great pet-relater articles including Bringing Home a New Pet, Pet proofing your apartment and Essential items for your apartment pet.  

The Apartment Guide is much more then just pet tips and articles. The Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of your space, moving tips and so much more. Of course the Apartment Guide was created to help you find an apartment, whether you are moving across town or across the country. Visit www.ApartmentGuide.com for more information.

You can find the Apartment Guide on Facebook at Facebook.com/ApartmentGuide. You can also follow them on Twitter @AptGuide for real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space. 

Kimberly

*Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Every now and then, usually late at night, I see a brief commercial for a loan service. We are NOT in the market for a loan (we have no need for one). The only reason why the commercial stands out to me is because it’s a very short commercial (30 seconds if that). The lady in the commercial also says, and I quote, “the money is expensive”. Ha! That is an Understatement.

The commercial goes by very quickly, and it’s difficult to make out the fine print. It looks to me like the interest rate is OVER 100%. Surely that can’t be possible.

HA!

Oh yeah… it’s possible.

On the commercial the interest rate is 116.73%. You read that correctly – 116.73%. That is their rate for a $5,000 loan. PLUS you have to pay a $75 loan fee on top of that.

But wait. It gets “better”.

The 116.73% interest rate is for a $5,000 loan. If you only need about half that amount you can take out a $2,600 loan (which includes the $75 loan fee) for a whopping 139.22% interest rate. And that is not even their higheset rate!

If you are just short some funds until your next paycheck, or need to have some emergency work done on your car, you can take out a measley $1,000 loan. HOWEVER… there is an unbelievable $500 loan fee – AND – the interest rate is a staggering 234.25%!!!

At these rates this is what you’ll end up paying.

$5,075 loan (includes the fee) @ 116.73% interest – 84 payments (7 years) totals $40,872.72

With their payment plan the $2,600 loan (including the $75 fee) will cost you $13,839.62.

The measly $1,000 loan, plus $500 loan fee ($1,500 total loan) will painfully cost you $4,756.56.

Don’t believe me. Here is the payment chart directly from the site.

The company is called Western Sky and yes, it’s 100% legal and legitimate. The company is on an Indian Reserve so they don’t follow the same rules that govern regular banking and loan institutions.

What makes me really sad (and at the same time scared) is the fact that there are people who are either so desperate for money that they are willing to agree to such astronomical interest rates and fees. Plus there are many people out there who are blissfully unaware of the interest rates because they choose not to read and understand the fine print that are suckered into this loan.

My family has found ourselves in dire need of $$$ from time to time. We have never been THAT desperate to take up such an insane loan offer.

If you need money please exhaust all options before signing your life away with a loan like this. Borrow money from friends and family, sell stuff on Ebay and Craigslist, get a part time job, pawn anything you have of value. Do whatever it takes so that you don’t have to resort to a loan like this.

And remember… ALWAYS read the fine print.

Kimberly

Real Steal is available TODAY (January 24, 2012) on Blu-ray and DVD. In honor of it’s release I though it would be fun to share with you the profiles of the various ‘bots you’ll meet in the film.

Ambush is a low-rent circuit bot. The best fight that Charlie can arrange for Ambush is literally against a piece of livestock.

Atom may not be in the biggest or the flashiest bot in the ring, but he is the most extraordinary. He is the “hero” robot.

Colored in gold and red, Midas sports a mohawk. He’s a brawler. He follows no rules. He’ll use whatever means necessary to win a fight.

Noisy Boy is a former league bot. When he started losing fights, he was exiled to doing boxing exhibitions in South America and Asia. He’s now back, but he’s no longer league caliber, so he’s fighting in underworld venues.

With a block-shaped upper body, Twin Cities is a vicious two-headed robot!

Zeus is the champ of the WRB. He is enormous. He is described as “The Death Star.” He is painted reflected black. He has piston-programmed punch mechanisms in his arms. Not only has Zeus never been beaten, but also, no other robot has even survived beyond the first round with him.

If you would like to read my movie review you can find two of them. One from the Blu-ray/DVD, and the other from the original time I saw the movie. Just click on the bolded text below.

Blu-ray/DVD review

Original Movie Review

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the benefit and enjoyment of my site readers.

I know. You probably think I’m crazy for posting about a movie that doesn’t come to theaters for another 8 months. OK, so I might be a wee bit off my rocker – – but the truth be told – I LOVE FINDING NEMO! It’s actually a favorite of mine, as well as my husband. In fact my husband sometimes quotes line from the character Dory (played by Ellen DeGeneres).

I’m sure many people have already seen the film. It’s great to know that Finding Nemo is going to be seen by a whole new generation. This Academy Award winning Best Animated Film winner returns to the big screen for the first time ever in thrilling Disney Digital 3D.

In this stunning underwater adventure, with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion, Finding Nemo follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

The movie is not only funny but very heartwarming too. It’s the perfect family film!

Here are some interesting facts about the movie. 

-  Finding Nemo won the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

-  The film won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture–Musical or Comedy.

-  At the time of its release, Finding Nemo was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time.

-  Ellen DeGeneres won an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.

-  In 2008, The American Film Institute named Finding Nemo among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made.

The movie was stunning to begin with. I cannot imagine seeing their beautiful underwater world in 3D. I bet it’s going to be amazing!

Finding Nemo 3D swims into theaters on September 14, 2012.

If you would like to learn more about the movie and it’s characters please visit www.Pixar.com/FeatureFilms/Nemo. You can also follow the movie on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/PixarFindingNemo.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the benefit and enjoyment of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are entirely my own.

We had our first snow fall of the season this past weekend. I think snow is beautiful to look at and it’s fun to make snowmen and go sledding, but aside from that, I am not a huge fan of snow. I hate driving in it and shoveling it. Most people dread this time of year for the very same reason, except some people. Some people anxiously await Winter’s return for one reason – skiing!

I used to ski in my backyard when I was a little girl. The ground was pretty much flat with just a wee bit of a decline. I wouldn’t necessarily call it skiing, but my cousin and I did have skis on, so it was close enough.

I have always been curious about skiing, but seeing as how I’m a total klutz I’m deathly afraid that I’ll break my leg.

I have plenty of friends who are obsessed with skiing. It does seem like a fun past time.

My son’s school has a ski club. I keep telling him to join because they give you ski lessons. At least one person in my family could learn how to ski.

If you are someone who loves to ski, did you know that last week (January 14, 2012 - January 22, 2012) was National Safety Awareness Week? Mammoth Mountain was just one of the popular ski destinations that helped visitors learn about what precautionary steps individuals  could to take to avoid injuries during winter vacation and when they are on the slopes. I think it’s a great idea that Mammoth Mountain did that. I think more places should. It might help reduce the risks of serious ski injuries.

For the fun of it I looked around their website to see what else they offered aside from their ski package deals. I was surprised to see that they offered so much more than just a ski lift, rentals and lodging deals. It looks like they might have something for everyone, including those of us who don’t ski.

Mammoth Mountain looks like a shopper’s paradise with plenty of shops, outlets and boutiques where you can find everything from the latest fashions to high tech ski gear. They even have outlet stores for Coach and Ralph Lauren.

If it’s the night life that you are interested in, Mammoth Mountain has plenty of nightclubs, wine bars and lounges available to suit anyone’s tastes. Plus they have plenty of gourmet restaurants and other eateries to suit anyone’s budget.

Something that really stood out to me was their Snowcat Tours. You can take daytime or evening tours of the back country in a heated Snowcat. The evening tours include dinner at Parallax Restaurant. I think it would be SO COOL to tour some place not necessarily easily accessible to most people. It would be fun to see all the native wildlife that live in the area. Not to mention the breathtaking mountain views. As someone who is passionate about photography I’m sure I would take A LOT of pictures on that tour.

Most resorts have spa centers and Mammoth Mountain is no exception. They Double Eagle Spa at Snowcreek Athletic Club offers massages and facials, as well as a special treatment for die hard skiers and snowboarders.

Another fun feature, which is actually on their website, MammothMountain.com, is live webcams. I’ve been watching the various web cams for a while now. WOW! Mammoth Mountain sure received A LOT of snow. Twenty one inches in the past 24 hours to be exact. 

I don’t know. Maybe I’ll break down and take a ski lesson, just so I can see what all the fun and excitement is all about. I know skiing is a great form of exercise, and I certainly need more of that in my life. I also think it could be rather exhilarating to whoosh down the side of a beautiful mountain. I know ski lifts are fun. I’ve been on those before.

Do you ski? Is it really as fun as it looks? If you do ski, did you learn to ski as a child or as an adult? I’m wondering if it’s possible to teach an “old dog new tricks”?

Kimberly 

Do you realize that Valentines Day is just around the corner? Seriously, weren’t we JUST decorating our homes for Christmas? Sheesh! Time goes by so quickly. Actually our local grocery store had Valentines Day products on the shelves BEFORE New Years day. In fact they even have Easter products on the shelves too. Nothing like buying your Valentines Day cards next to Cadbury Eggs and marshmallow Peeps.

My kids don’t bring Valentines to school anymore. They haven’t in a few years. I miss those years. I still remember sitting with them at the table with their class lists helping them to fill them out. Now that I have a teen and an almost teen I have to worry about Valentines Day when it comes to them. I wonder if a teenage boy is going to give my teenage daughter a Valentines Day card – except at this age it means the real deal and no something fun. Sigh…

Over the years my kids have received cute Valentines Day cards, cards with sticks, cards with attached lollipops, homemade cards (my favorite!) and cards with small pieces of chocolates. Never have I see a Popcorn Valentines Day “card”.

Angie’s Kettle Corn has created a fun Valentines “Snack Pack”. Each special snack pack comes with individual packages of Angie’s amazing Kettle Corn and delightful Valentines Day stickers. Your child can fill out the “To” and “From” section of the stickers and then stick them on to the package of Kettle Corn. Then they can hand them out to their friends and classmates.

I love this idea! It’s unique compared to other Valentines Day treats.

Each Valentines Day snack pack comes with 20 individually packs of Kettle Corn and plenty of Valentines Day stickers.

Angie’s Kettle Corn has no trans fat, is certified glutten free and even has whole grains so you can feel good about giving this to your child’s friends and classmates. It’s a better option then a sugary lollipop or fatty piece of chocolate.

Have you ever tried Angie’s Kettle Corn before? Yumm! My husband introduced me to Kettle Corn. They sell it at the street fairs all the time. I had never heard of it before until I started to date my husband. He LOVES Kettle Corn. We can’t go to any street fair without picking up a bag.

Kettle Corn has a salty sweet taste to it. It’s like regular popcorn but there is a touch of sugar to it. It’s not too sweet at all. In fact Angie’s Kettle Corn is a lot better then the kind we get from the street fair.

To learn more about Angie’s Kettle Corn visit www.AngiesKettleCorn.com. You can purchase the products online or visit one of the many retailers across the country who sell Angie’s Kettle Corn. There is a store locator found here, http://www.angieskettlecorn.com/map.html.

Angie’s Kettle Corn has offered to give a lucky reader one of their 20-snack pack Valentines Day packages. Thank you Angie’s Kettle Corn!

To enter please tell me your favorite flavor of popcorn. Are you a movie theater butter fan, or do you like one of the many different flavored popcorn available (including Kettle Corn)?

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional. 

- Subscribe to She Scribes via RSS or E-mail. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” Angie’s Kettle Corn on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/AngiesKettleCorn. 

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow Angie’s Kettle Corn on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/AngiesKettle. 

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about this review and/or giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share this review and/or giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post about this review and/or giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on February 2, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box). Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Other fun giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. Angie’s Kettle Corn will be providing the prize.