Sammi's Blog Of Life

February Extreme Cash Giveaway

2012-02-17T07:31:00.002-05:00

This time we’re bringing you MORE PRIZES which means MORE CHANCES for YOU to win!

We are giving away:

(1) $300 Paypal Cash prize

(1) $200 Paypal Cash prize

(1) $100 Paypal Cash prize

(1) $50 Paypal Cash prize

(1) Kodak Easyshare Sport Camera

There are lots of entries available and this giveaway will go on for a whole month, so take your time! Be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back every day and claim your daily entries too.

This giveaway ends 3/15 at 11:59 pm EST and is open worldwide. There are over 100 participating blogs, but you only need to enter the giveaway on one of our blogs. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Questions in conjuction with QVC contest

2012-02-16T07:33:00.002-05:00

Hi all,

Here's the questions that go with my currently-running QVC contest. I can only pick one winner (even if multiple people answer correctly.)

1.

Q: What does I/O stand for?

2.

Q: For topical application to the skin, what other IO Beauty product would you mix the booster with?

3.

Q: What type of special “delivery system” is used in IO Beauty?

4.

Q: What are 2 of the active ingredients:

5.

Q: How many ORAC units (the scientific measure of anitoxidants) does the IO Beauty Booster deliver?

Good luck!

San Diego Pretzel Company Review and Giveaway

2012-02-15T21:39:00.006-05:00

Pretzels are one of my all time favorite snacks. I love those crunchy, salty, little bites of goodness. Don't even get me started on soft pretzels, I can devour those in a minute flat. Here in NYC we have large soft pretzels that are warm, chewy, and soft all in one bite. They are heavenly! There's nothing like a satisfying snack to make your day.

The San Diego Pretzel Company makes assorted types of all natural soft pretzels that are delivered fresh to your door. The company is dedicated and committed to baking and delivering the highest quality soft pretzels. Quality, authenticity, and freshness are their top priorities. Eat, savor, and get twisted with the San Diego Pretzel Company's soft pretzels.

Whether you're looking for jumbo Bavarian pretzels, twisted traditional pretzels, or Philly pretzels, they have you covered plus more! The pretzels are shipped fresh to your door to enjoy within 48 hours or freeze for more pretzel deliciousness later.

I was sent a pack of jumbo Bavarian pretzels. They actually arrived to me tonight and they were beautiful! I couldn't wait to dig in and enjoy one.

The pretzels are a toasty brown color and they are very large! You can heat them in the oven or in the microwave. The pretzels come with a salt pack too. Just put a few drops of water on the pretzel for the salt to stick. I added a little bit of salt and popped my snack into the microwave. In just under 1 minute the pretzel was done.

Look at this beauty!

The pretzel was just perfect! It was warm and had a great chewy firmness to it, but had a balance of softness with it too. I like that I only added a little bit of salt to it, instead of making it extremely salty. The salt gave the pretzel a wonderful boost of flavor. It was also very fresh, it reminded me of one of the soft pretzels you'd get in the mall. It was a very satisfying snack that fulfilled my carbs craving. I'm excited to have one of my favorite snacks waiting for me in the freezer in the coming days. Pretzels from The San Diego Pretzel Company would make the perfect gift for any pretzel or snack lover in your life! What are you waiting for? Order some pretzels today!

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win a shipment of Jumbo Bavarian Pretzels from San Diego Pretzel Company

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me what your favorite kind of pretzel is.(1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Follow San Diego Pretzel Company on Twitter for 1 entry
(http://twitter.com/#!/SanDiegoPretzel)

13. Follow San Diego Pretzel Company on Facebook for 1 entry
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Diego-Pretzel-Company/110710236493)

Winner will be chosen on February 29, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Sena Cases Review

2012-02-13T19:40:00.005-05:00

There's only one computer in my household and it's my boyfriend's. I have my laptop from college but it's painfully slow and very old. So when my boyfriend's using his laptop, I only have my iPad. I can't really blog on my iPad, it's a challenge and doesn't work very well. I used to have to wait to use the computer and that was annoying. Now my days of annoyance are gone!

Sena Cases is a luxury mobile device accessory designer offering classy, stylish protective leather cases for today’s most popular mobile devices. There are cases for phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, readers, MP3 players and more. The unique cases not only offer an upscale, quality and appearance, but also provide exceptional functionality. The cases are built to last and quality made.

Sena would make an excellent gift for someone who just bought an iPad or a kindle. Let them protect their new electronic device, but also keep it in a stylish case!

I've been wanting an iPad keyboard for a long time. It's hard and frustrating to write emails or surf the web when you keep pushing the wrong letters on the screen. Instead of going to yahoo.com, you go to yafhoo.com. Not quite the same, huh? I've been eyeing various iPad keyboard online and drooling over them, and hoping to own one of them soon.

Well my lucky day eventually came when Sena Cases gave me the opportunity to review a black leather iPad keyboard case. I was sent a black leather keyboard case and I love it! The case also comes in red or orange as well.

The case is a sleek black one that is classic. I love black electronics cases, they are always in style and truly look great all the time.

The keyboard is an integrated bluetooth keyboard for iPad 1. It connects to the iPad very easily. Just easily slip the iPad into the case and turn the power switch on. Once you've done that, push the connect button on the top of the case. After that, go into your settings on the iPad and activate the bluetooth setting. The keyboard is then connected with your iPad The case came with no instructions, so I had to go on the website and find them. I do think the case should come with them, because not everyone would think to do that right away. The buttons on the keyboard are easy to push and I had no trouble typing on the iPad at all. I won't make any typo's now!

I love that this small little case turns my iPad into a mini computer! There's a stand that pops out in the back of the case, so as to easily prop the iPad up on a desk or table. The case stands up without any problems. The case easily folds up to be stored in a bag, purse, or drawer too.

I'm really happy that I'll now always have computer access even when my boyfriend's using the laptop! This would be the perfect gift for a technology lover who you normally don't know what to buy for. They will love it! Why not treat yourself too?

*DISCLOSURE* Thanks to Sena Cases for providing me with this complimentary case in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.

Thundershirt Review and Giveaway

2012-02-13T18:49:00.005-05:00

Pets are our babies, and we do whatever we can to make them feel loved, safe, and wanted. Why should we let them have to feel anxiety or be freightened? Pets give us unconditional love and happiness, it's time to give the same back to them!

Thundershirt is the proven solution for dog anxiety. With its patent-pending design, Thundershirt’s gentle, constant pressure has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs if they are anxious, fearful or over-excited. Based on surveys completed by over two thousand customers, over 80% of dogs show significant improvement in symptoms when using Thundershirt. Thundershirt is already helping tens of thousands of dogs around the world, and is recommended by thousands of veterinarians and dog trainers.

If your dog is fearful of loud sudden noises, has travel anxiety, or even hyperacticity, the Thundershirt would be perfect for them.

My dog has very bad separation anxiety. Whenever anybody leaves, she lays by the door and just howls! It doesn't matter if they are gone 10 minutes or 3 hours, she will continuously howl. It's very sad and I feel awful for her. I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to help her.

I received a gray Thundershirt and couldn't wait to try it on her! Even before you open the garage door to my house, you can hear her crying and howling. This happens everytime somebody leaves, without fail. I put the thundershirt on her before I left. It fit her great and looked very cute on. Some dogs may not like wearing it, but Colby didn't seem to mind at all. I told her good-bye and gave her a kiss. She just looked at me and started crying a little bit. I hoped the Thundershirt would calm her down and help her to feel more relaxed while I was gone.

Once I left I was anxious and was hoping that she was okay. Once I got home and went to open my garge door, I heard no crying or howling! Her crying is always very loud! I opened the door and she was laying in the couch wagging her tail. Usually she is laying on the floor howling. She seemed much calmer and happier, and that made me happy too. I was very impressed with the Thundershirt! I think that the more you use it, the better results you will have. This fantastic product has made my Colby's life a lot easier. It truly breaks your heart to hear your baby upset. I will be using this on a constant basis now. Thank you Thundershirt!

This would be the perfect calming aide if you have an anxious dog. Don't let your dog have anxiety for another day!

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win a Thundershirt in their choice of color and size.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me what anxieties your dog has.(1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. "Like" Thundershirt on Facebook for 1 entry
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thundershirt-the-best-solution-for-dog-anxiety/88107376556)

13. Follow Thundershirt on Facebook for 1 entry
(http://www.twitter.com/Thundershirt)

Winner will be chosen on February 27, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Fun POM Wonderful Recipes

2012-02-12T17:53:00.004-05:00

I bet you never would have guessed that the delicious pomegranate juice that you love could be turned into fabulous recipes, right? I have some delicious and satisfying recipes that will turn up the heat on your love for POM wonderful!

POM Salsa
Juice from 1 large POM Wonderful Pomegranate*, or 1/4 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
2 cups arils from 2-3 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates or POM POMS fresh pomegranate arils
3-4 teaspoons chopped jalapeno pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow bell pepper
4 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Preparation:
Quesadilla:
Score 1-2 fresh pomegranates and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranate underwater to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)
Place 2 strips of cheese on each tortilla
Using fingers, press 1 teaspoon of arils into cheese.
Add 2 slices of pear, sprinkle with sugar. Fold tortilla in half.
Add 1/2 teaspoon oil to a nonstick skillet and heat.
Place folded tortillas in the pan and brown lightly; turn over and cook until crisp. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon of oil if needed.
Cut each tortilla into halves and serve with POM Salsa

POM Salsa:
Score 2-3 fresh pomegranates and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranate under water to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 2 cups of the arils from the fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)
Prepare fresh pomegranate juice.*
Thoroughly mix to combine all ingredients. (Salsa will keep covered, in the refrigerator, for 2 to 3 days.)

POM Velvet Cupcakes with POM Cream Cheese Frosting

Time to Table: 35 Minutes Prep, 20 - 25 Minutes Baking and 20 Minutes Cooling

Servings: 30 regular cupcakes

Ingredients:
POM Cream Cheese Frosting
Juice from 3-4 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates*, or 1-1/2 cups POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
1 cup arils from 1-2 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates or POM POMS fresh pomegranate arils
4 oz. soft unsalted butter
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
14 oz. powdered sugar

POM Velvet Cupcakes
Juice from 6-9 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates*, or 2-1/2 cups POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
16 oz. granulated sugar
12 oz. soft unsalted butter (3 sticks
4 ea large eggs
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
15 oz. all-purpose flour
1-1/2 oz. cocoa powder
3/4 oz. baking soda
pinch salt
1/4 cup heavy cream

Preparation:

POM Cream Cheese Frosting:
Prepare fresh pomegranate juice*, score 1-2 fresh pomegranates and place in a bowl of water, break open the pomegranates under water to free the arils (seed sacs), the arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top, sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside, (refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use), reduce the pomegranate juice, over low heat, down to 3 fl. oz., Allow to cool, place butter into electric mixer bowl with paddle attachment and cream on medium-high speed for 1 minute, add the cream cheese and continue to mix for 2 more minutes, turn the speed down to low and slowly add in the powdered sugar and the pomegranate juice reduction, mix until the sugar is fully combined, remove icing from the mixer and place into a piping bag with a round or star tip.

POM Velvet Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350ºF, reduce the pomegranate juice, over low heat, down to 1/2 cup, place sugar and soft butter in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream on medium-high speed, until the mixture is pale yellow and fluffy, turn the speed down to low and add the eggs in one at a time, in a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, pomegranate juice reduction, white vinegar and vanilla extract, and then slowly add half of this to the mixer, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, and then sift at least two times until well mixed, add half of this to the mixer, add the remaining half of the liquids to the mixer, and then the remaining dry ingredients, finish off with the heavy cream, beat just until combined, place cupcake liners into cupcake pan, and using a spoon, fill with cake batter until it is just about 3/4 full, bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, allow the pan to cool slightly, and then remove cupcakes to a wire rack to cool fully, once the cupcakes are cooled completely, they can be iced with the pomegranate cream cheese frosting and topped with fresh pomegranate arils.

Enjoy!

*DISCLOSURE* I was not compensated for this post. I simply just wanted to share great POM Wonderful recipes with you!

QVC Giveaway

2012-02-09T18:47:00.008-05:00

Who doesn't love beauty products? I'm a sucker for new products, and as a result of that my bathroom closet is FULL to the max with lotions, scrubs, cremes, and more. I can't help it, I'm a girl! I'll try anything that looks good! I'm sure some of you are the same way.

QVC unveils a new way to boost your beauty inside and out: IO Beauty, a synchronized topical and ingestible skincare regimen designed to deliver comprehensive beauty benefits. Developed by renowned beauty expert Sue Devitt and leading nutritionist Tanya Zuckerbrot—top experts in outer and inner beauty, respectively—io BEAUTY launching on QVC, bringing a new dimension to the multi-channel retailer’s renowned range of beauty offerings.

These products guarantee you the results that you want to see. They are easy to include in your beauty routine too! Every woman wants to look younger, right?

Ingest the USDA’s daily recommendation of 3,000 ORAC Units (measure of antioxidant potency)and fight free radicals that cause aging with just a few droppers of the IO BOOSTER, and io beauty is the first skincare line of its kind, specifically formulated with exclusive Apply/Digest™ technologies to rejuvenate skin, combat free radicals and protect skin from future environmental damage.

IO Beauty is a synchronized and comprehensive beauty regimen that’s easy and effective, with real results you can see and feel. Give your skin everything it needs, inside and out - in three steps, in a few minutes and, amazingly through one core, “beauty boosting” solution.

The future of skincare starts now with io beauty.

Can't you just imagine these products in your bathroom now?

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win an Beauty Booster from IO Beauty. All you have to do is tune in on February 17th to watch IO Beauty’s debut on QVC and answer 10 questions correctly! If you answer all the questions correctly, you win!

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me what your beauty routine is to stay young.(1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

Winner will be chosen on February 17, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Nokia Lumia Giveaway

2012-02-08T18:47:00.003-05:00

Let's face it. We're a society that depends on technology to get through our day. We need our smartphone to remind us of the doctor's appointment on Thursday at 3, we are constantly checking and responding to email, and even purchasing items on the internet provided by the phone! This is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just how life is today. I like to have the latest gadgets and I'm sure you all do too.

The Lumia is the first Windows phone available from Nokia. It's important to have a phone that you can depend on, and the Lumia definitely fits that need. This is the perfect smartphone for any mother or individual who needs a reliable device which will keep up with their often hectic schedule.

The Nokia Lumia 710 is designed to be personal and affordable. With deeply integrated social networking experience through Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, the Lumia 710 allows users to stay in touch across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter right from the people hub.

More fun features include:

Available in a black or white finish, with colored backs for customization, the Nokia Lumia 710 features a 3.7-inch ClearBlack WVGA scratch-resistant display (a must for those with curious children!) for outstanding outdoor viewing and a Qualcomm 1.4 GHz Snapdragon(TM) processor providing speedy access to entertainment and information on-the-go!

It also features a 5-megapixel camera with Nokia's leading camera technology, enabling you to take pictures in almost any light condition and then share on social networks and with friends and family in under five seconds.

The pricing of the Nokia Lumia 710 is unmatched. Starting as low as $49.99, it’s the perfect phone for moms on a budget who need to stay connected!

The Nokia Lumia 710 features great tools like Office Notes for to-do and shopping lists, as well as apps such as Fandango, Groupon, CNNireport, and Nokia Drive.

Great apps for moms from Sesame Workshop, exclusive for Nokia Windows Phone users – available through the Windows Marketplace.

For more information visit: www.nokia.com/us-en

This phone has so many great features and it is very reasonably priced. If you're thinking of purchasing a new T-Mobile phone, why not turn to the Lumia? Better yet, enter for a chance to win one here!

This video has a great review of the phone:

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win an Nokia Lumia 710 cell phone.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me which how the Nokia Lumia could simplify your life. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Like La Fresh on Twitter for 1 entry (http://twitter.com/#!/nokia)

13. Like Nokia on Facebook for 1 entry (http://www.facebook.com/nokia)

Winner will be chosen on February 22, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Kiddie Academy Post #3

2012-02-07T19:41:00.008-05:00

This is my third post for Kiddie Academy. I had never thought about opening a franchise, but this is something that is working well for individuals like Dwight!

Dwight Wilkinson opened his Kiddie Academy, located at 1020 Horsham Road in North Wales, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 2003, at the age of 42. He has remained dedicated to educational excellence, which along with a passion for children’s mental and physcial development, has helped him and his academy achieve success.

Background: As a previous business owner of a Haagen Dazs Ice Cream Shop, Dwight Wilkinson was looking for a business concept that would grant him more time with his wife and four children. He began researching opportunities with a Monday - Friday schedule to help accommodate his family-oriented lifestyle and responsibilities as a community volunteer and coach of his children’s soccer, basketball and baseball teams. Dwight narrowed his search down to the child care franchise industry due to his love of children and managerial background. After two years of looking at child care companies, he chose Kiddie Academy for its warm, caring personality. He found Kiddie Academy to have a vested interest in the success and well-being of their franchisees. He has remained dedicated to educational excellence, which along with a passion for children’s mental and physical development, has helped him and his academy achieve success.

Goals: Dwight often sets goals around educational achievements and finds opportunities for his academy to reach a higher standard. He continually looks to improve the quality of services at his Kiddie Academy, whether through hiring qualified, passionate staff members or adding educational resources. Dwight hopes to grow his academy’s enrollment and is looking into the possibility of opening a second location in the future.

Challenges: Each new generation of parents find a new way to communicate with each other, their children and their child care providers. For Dwight, finding the most effective way to communicate with his families has proved to have its challenges. However, by experimenting with various communication methods, including take home folders, outdoor signage and technology, he has learned more about the consumer and how to reach his target audience.

Results: Dwight’s hard work and commitment has earned him great success. His academy was recently licensed by the Department of Education and accredited by AdvancEd, which is an achievement no other child care in his area can claim. From a personal stance, becoming a Kiddie Academy franchisee has been both fun and rewarding for Dwight. It has given him a better quality of life and allowed him time to spend with his children and family.

More information about Kiddie Academy franchising opportunities can be found at their website and you can follow them on Twitter too!

*DISCLOSURE*I have a 3 month relationship with Kiddie Academy for which I am being compensated for. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine, and not based on anything else.

La Fresh Giveaway

2012-02-06T19:11:00.005-05:00

I love to polish my nails and I regularly do them. I honestly think it's been years since I've had bare nails. I much prefer beautiful polished nails, than unpolished. I have a huge bag of nail polish in my bathroom that I regularly add to. It's hard to resist a pretty color at the store! The only thing that's annoying is when the nail polish remover doesn't do a good job of taking the color off.

La Fresh makes a difference in people’s lives through its performance, convenience and conscientiousness. Their products are designed with exceptional ingredients and packaged to deliver chic style with less substance making the world better, brighter and more beautiful for all of us.

Whether you're looking for pet care, personal care, beauty, or cleaning products they have you covered and feature much more too! There's definitely something for everyone at La Fresh.

If you're like me and enjoy polishing your nails, this giveaway is perfect for you! One winner will win an 8 count trial pack of eco-beauty acetone-free nail polish remover packets.

-Eco-Beauty wipes quickly clean & condition all 10 nails with just one pad

-Moisturizes with Aloe, Glycerin and Vitamin E

-Strengthens nails with natural extract

-Paraben-free

-Acetone-free

Not only will these pads quickly take off your nail polish, they will strengthen and moisturize your nails too! That's definitely something to feel good about during this cold winter weather!

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win an 8 count trial pack of eco-beauty acetone-free nail polish remover packets from La Fresh.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me which how often do you paint your nails? (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Like La Fresh on Twitter for 1 entry (http://twitter.com/lafreshgroup)

13. Like La Fresh on Facebook for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Fresh/186989741300)

Winner will be chosen on February 20, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Golden Cannoli Review

2012-02-04T21:59:00.007-05:00

As you all know, I'm a huge lover of desserts and anything sweet. I have a sweet tooth a mile wide! I enjoy trying new treats and expanding my dessert palate. I've only had a cannoli a few times in my life and I wanted to refresh my taste buds with the decadent cannoli taste! There's nothing better than a crispy treat filled with sweet cream.

Golden Cannoli is the headquarters for delicious cannolis! They sell traditional and chocolate cannoli shells and sweetened ricotta filling to make your taste buds sing. These sweet treats are perfect for any time of day when you're looking to indulge in something fantastic. I've never heard of a chocolate cannoli until finding Golden Cannoli, but I knew that it had my name written all over it! The sweetened ricotta filling is provided in your order as well.

The company generously sent me over a few boxes of shells and a large bag of filling to get the cannoli party started!

I decided to dig into the chocolate shells first. When I opened the box, this is what emerged.

My heart instantly turned into liquid chocolate when seeing the fabulous shells! They are beautiful!

The chocolate shell was large and the inside had a lot of room to be filled with the filling. I snipped the edge of the filling bag and the beautiful white filling emerged and lusciously filled the interior of the cannoli. It was easy to fill the treat and I felt like a pastry chef! I had a good time filling the shell too. Once the cannoli was filled I couldn't wait to dig in. The cannoli had a permanent date with my stomach. :)

Usually cannoli's have chocolate chips in them, but I opted not to put in any. The cannoli shells came with cute Valentine's Day sprinkles too!

When you take that first bite, you're literally in cannoli heaven! The shell was perfectly crispy and very fresh. It had wonderful crunch that I really enjoyed. The chocolate flavor was sweet and very noticeable, which was great for me because I'm a big chocolate lover. The cool filling was sweet and refreshing and full of great flavor. I didn't put too much filling in my cannoli because I didn't want it extremely sweet. The filling pairs perfectly with the chocolate flavor and it was a fantastic combination. Each bite was better than the next and I truly look forward to having my next cannoli soon!

I highly recommend these cannoli's for your next dinner party or social function. Everyone will love them and you'll be very popular for serving them!

Check out Golden Cannoli on Facebook and Twitter.

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Golden Cannoli for supplying me with these cannoli's in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.

Blog Hop Time!

2012-02-02T20:01:00.001-05:00

Looking for a Sesame Street Giveaway?

2012-02-02T18:43:00.002-05:00

I have one for you right here! I don't normally post children's giveaways, but I'm helping out a fellow blogger!

Elmo 1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo and Friends
New York, New York; Theater Madison Square Garden
Thursday, February 16 - Sunday, February 26, 2012

Join Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and all your favorite Sesame Street Live friends for a singing and dancing adventure. This high-energy musical will transport audiences to far away places as Ernie captains the high seas, Elmo dances to the rhythm of the African rainforest and Bert meets an octopus who has the blues. It’s a story of adventure and fun that teaches children they can be anyone, do anything and go anywhere with the power of imagination.

Arrive up to one hour before the show and enjoy the new Play Zone created by VEE Corporation for Sesame Street Live - a fun new way for children to experience their favorite street. Imagine your child sitting in Big Bird's nest, popping up in Oscar's trash can, twirling in Zoe's dance studio or visiting Elmo's World. You never know who'll make an appearance! Best of all, Play Zone is FREE with your Sesame Street Live ticket! Imagine the photo memories you will create. There are not many people who can say they've been to Sesame Street. How cool is that?

Go to http://mamagoesbam.com/sesame-street-live-1-2-3-imagine-elmo-giveaway/ for your chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets to Elmo 1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo and Friends.

Nature's Path Review and Giveaway

2012-02-01T18:31:00.014-05:00

Granola is one of those versatile foods that taste great when mixed with practically anything. Pair granola with honey, cinnamon, chocolate chips, m&ms, peanuts, or even fruit and it tastes awesome. I love that granola is a great mid-day snack, perfect for school lunches, and even delicious on top of ice cream too! Those crunchy clusters are truly irresistible.

Nature's Path was found by Arran and Ratana Stephens in 1985. Nature’s Path Organic Foods® was formed because of their passion for creating healthy, delicious, organic breakfast food. It’s Nature’s Path’s reason for being, which explains why it is the number one organic cereal manufacturer in North America.

If you're looking for delicious and natural foods, please turn your attention to Nature's Path. They produce whole grain cereals, hot cereals, pancake mix and waffles, granola, granola bars and more! The products come in a range of different flavors and there's something for anyone's taste.

Nature's Path has recently come out with four new Love Crunch granolas. I've had the Love Crunch cereal before and it was heavenly. I knew that I couldn't pass up the chance to try these new snacks! The packaging of the granola is very cute. I love the little "window" that the front has so you can view the yummy snack that's about to meet its match with your stomach!

The Love Crunch Granola comes in four flavors:

Aloha Blend – a tropical treat filled with pineapple, coconut and white chocolate chunks with 14 grams of Whole Grains per serving, no cholesterol, low sodium and no trans fat.

a deliciously sweet blend of green apples, pecans and cinnamon, with omega-3 and fiber-rich chia seeds that has 15 grams of Whole Grains per serving, no cholesterol, low sodium, no trans fat and is a good source of ALA Omega-3.

a melt-in-your-mouth combination of carrots, raisins, yogurt, pecans and pineapple with 15 grams of Whole Grains per serving, no cholesterol, low sodium and no trans fat.

the perfect marriage of flax granola, strawberries, raspberries, coconut and dark chocolate chunks that has 14 grams of Whole Grains per serving, no cholesterol, low sodium, no trans fat and is an excellent source of ALA Omega-3.

These granolas were fantastic. The granola was large and full of flavor and each bite did not disappoint! I loved that they have such a high amount of whole grains per serving. That's very important to me!

The dark chocolate with raspberries was hands down my favorite. I had a VERY hard time not eating the whole bag in one sitting. It was just beyond good! I love any foods that combine raspberry and chocolate together, and this granola definitely had my name written all over it. :) The fresh flavor of the raspberries and the dark chocolate chunks were magical together! The granola was perfectly crunchy and had just the right amount of sweetness to it. The dark chocolate had a mild hint of sweetness, the raspberry pieces were tart and the coconut was definitely noticeable too. The raspberries and chocolate chunks were evenly distributed throughout the whole bag. This granola would go well with a small bowl of yogurt, or even with a bowl of fresh fruit too. Everything tied together wonderfully to create my new favorite granola! I highly recommend that you try this snack if you haven't already. It's highly addictive though! :)

The apple crumble reminded me of a warm, fresh out of the oven apple sweet treat but without all of the fat and calories. The pairing of cinnamon and apples is such a classic pairing, and I enjoyed the way they taste together. The pecans gave the granola an extra notch of crunchiness which I loved! The apple pieces were petite, crunchy, and sweet, and evenly distributed throughout the granola. The cinnamon gave the granola a nice kick of sugary sweetness. This is a great snack to indulge in whenever you're looking for a pick-me-up treat.

I was not a big fan of the carrot cake granola. I know many people like carrot cake and would appreciate this granola.

With one bite of the aloha blend granola, I was transported to an exotic island in Hawaii! The combination of the pineapple, coconut, and white chocolate was a very interesting one. The pineapple was fresh and sweet, the coconut was smooth and refreshing, and the white chocolate gave the granola the sweet touch that it needed. With each bite of the granola, your taste buds are delighted with fantastic flavors! The granola chunks are large and in charge and each bite was better than the last. I would certainly recommend this blend of granola if you're looking for a unique snack!

To spread the love even more, for each bag of Love Crunch sold, Nature’s Path will donate the equivalent in cereal or cash (up to $1 million) to food banks. This “Bite4Bite” initiative bundles the goodwill of all the consumers buying Love Crunch into what Nature’s Path calls “love miracles” by helping to ease hunger for those who need it most.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win all four flavors of Nature's Path Love Crunch Granola.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me which granola flavor sounds best to you. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Like Nature's Path on Twitter for 1 entry (http://twitter.com/#!/naturespath)

13. Like Nature's Path on Facebook for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/naturespath)

Winner will be chosen on February 15, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

The Lady and The Tramp Review

2012-01-30T19:23:00.012-05:00

Even though I'm way past the age for animated movies, there are still some Disney classics from my childhood that I love. I never get tired of them and they always make me smile when I watch them. There's nothing like watching a feel-good movie that brings back memories of when you were younger.

Lady and The Tramp is a classic love story that unfolds in the best Disney tradition. A lovely young pedigreed Cocker Spaniel named Lady, who lives a pampered life, finds herself falling romantically for Tramp, an amorous street-smart pooch without prospects. Although they have fun together on several dates, including a sentimental spaghetti dinner by moonlight at Tony’s restaurant, their relationship is strained not only by Lady’s loyalty to her human family and their newborn baby, but by Tramp’s devil-may-care attitude that eventually gets Lady in trouble and tossed into the dog pound. However, good-hearted Tramp redeems himself by saving the baby from potential harm and thus wins Lady’s love and the affection of her human family.

Lady and The Tramp arrives on Blu-ray Diamond edition for the first time on February 7, 2012 from Walt Disney Studios. One of the great classics…more glorious than ever in dazzling Disney Blu-ray high definition!

Lady and The Tramp is a movie that's great for all ages. Your children will fall in love with the movie and the characters in no time. You'll sympathize with Lady during some points in the movie and you'll root for the Tramp too! There are some tricks and surprises along the way. I just watched the movie today for the first time in many years and I still thought it was cute. It's funny how Disney movies today are not made like this anymore. There's something missing in children's movies today. I wish they were still made like this! The blu-ray high definition quality is perfect and crystal clear. It looked fantastic on my TV.

This is one of the more famous scenes of the movie

The trailer:

If your children have not seen this movie, I urge you to share some classic Disney with them. If you're a child of the 80's, this would be great for you to reminisce with too!

*DISCLOSURE* I received a complimentary copy of Lady and The Tramp on BluRay/DVD in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.

Need Storage Space? Read on!

2012-01-30T19:02:00.004-05:00

If you're in near Tucson, AZ and need storage I have a great option for you.

It is always nice to maintain a clutter free home, but is not always possible. As families grow there is bound to be an increase in items cluttering the house. Or, as loved ones pass on, they leave us with their most valued and cherished items. Unfortunately, most of us just don’t have the storage space in our homes for all this stuff. Additionally, those same people are of the mindset that they may use these items down the road, so parting with currently unused possessions just doesn’t seem feasible. Other items that are passed down from generation to generation should not be disregarded either. In the past we have been forced to shove these unused items into closets, attics and basement, which provided less than ideal storage solutions. Luckily, we now have the option of storage units, which provide optimal storage across the country.

If living in the Tucson area, you will want to look to Tucson storage for all of your storing needs. You will find the best comparison rates on various sized units. There is a unit and a price for every storage need available. Prices will vary from location to location, and based on the size of the unit. Additional costs may arise depending on the type of storage unit you prefer. Features like additional security and climate control tend to cost more. Despite what you are looking for you will find it with
Tucson Storage, which offers some of the best rates that are close to home.

*DISCLOSURE* This is a sponsored post for which I am being compensated for.

Alecia Bakery Review

2012-01-28T07:47:00.009-05:00

If you know me by now, you realize that I have a big sweet tooth. I would implement dessert into the food group pyramid if they would allow me! There's nothing like having a warm cookie that's freshly baked out of the oven on a cold, winter's day. Cookies and brownies and other yummies are comfort foods that are best shared with friends and family over warm and fun conversation.

Alecia Bakery is the collaboration of a passionate baker and businessman with an eye for quality. They are a NYC bakery that prides themselves on producing truly artisanal, all natural baked goods. Their treats are made in small batches and adhere to traditional methods and in-house created recipes. Using high-quality and unprocessed ingredients, hand-chopping chocolate, and toasting nuts to golden perfection, they produce incomparable sweets.

They honor the slow and local food movements and produce in a sustainable manner. Emphasizing local and seasonal produce in their house made purees, they look to Red Jacket Orchards, Jersey Fresh Farms and other NYC Greenmarket gems for the very best of every season. They use Ronnybook Farms butter and cream and Red Bee Honey to produce their rich, delicious toffees and caramels. When available, they choose organic over conventional ingredients.

If you're looking for classic favorites with a modern twist, I suggest Alecia Bakery.

What really caught my eye about the bakery is that they feel strongly about animals and truly believe in rescuing. A portion of their proceeds are donated to Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals organizations. This is wonderful because I am a big animal lover and I pride them on doing this.

I received a large package filled to the top with goodies! In that box were gorgeous dark chocolate with sea salt cookies, german chocolate brownies, an olive oil loafs, a chocolate loafs, a banana nut bread loaf, mint chocolate chip brownies, caramel and sea salt brownies, and more! Everything was packaged so nicely and I loved the pretty ribbons adorning each box of brownies or cookies. I was in awe of all of the fabulous treats and I of course couldn't wait to dig in!

The treats are very large, so I suggest sharing with a friend, or eating half and having the rest later. I first indulged in the dark chocolate with sea salt cookie, which I split with my boyfriend.

Look at this work of art. :)

I had heard for some time that sea salt in desserts really brings out the flavor and gives more personality. This is true! The cookie was absolutely beautiful and very large! It had big chunks of dark chocolate dotted throughout the cookie. Alecia Bakery did not skimp on the chocolate chunks! The round piece of heaven was not as soft as a normal cookie, and was a bit harder. It had a great flavor and each bite had an equal amount of chocolate in it. The sea salt was an interesting added bonus and definitely brought out the fantastic chocolate flavor! Even though the sea salt and chocolate were paired together, each had an equal balance. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed the cookie and couldn't wait to try more Alecia treats.

The next day, I tried the mint chocolate brownie. I love when mint is added to chocolate and I knew that I had to try this. The fact that the brownie was sitting uneaten in my kitchen had to change! The round brownies are baked in 3" individual portions and they are very cute! I'm sorry that I forgot to take a picture of the brownie before I ate it. I am not sure if the camera could have handled its deliciousness though! The brownie was fantastic! It was soft with a wonderful, rich chocolate flavor throughout. The treat was fudgey and rich, just like how a brownie should be. The mint flavor was noticeably there, and each bite had an equal amount of chocolate richness and mint. Each bite was better than the first. I was sad when it was gone!

I froze the rest of the treats so I could indulge at later points. I know that they will be just as delicious as the treats that I've already tried. Alecia Bakery ships nationwide, why not indulge in some yummies today? http://www.aleciabakerynyc.com/shop/

*DISCLOSURE* I received these goodies in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.

Kiddie Academy Case Study Post

2012-01-28T07:39:00.011-05:00

This is my second post for Kiddie Academy. I had never thought about opening a franchise, but this is something that is working well for others like the Malangas. They have been running it for almost 16 years now!

Jill and George Malanga opened their first franchised Kiddie Academy in July 1996 at 233 Sparta Avenue in Sparta, New Jersey, at ages 50 and 59.

Fueled by their overwhelming success, they opened their second location at 179 Cahill Cross Road in West Milford, New Jersey, in September 2004. Unlike owners of other child care concepts in the area, the Malangas treat each parent and child as they would a member of their own family, regularly going above and beyond to provide the best service possible.

Background: Jill was a franchisee for NutriSystem, but shortly after the birth of her first child she wanted to shift her attention to her son. When it came time to select a child care facility for him, the options in the area were not up to her standards. As a result, she decided to open a Kiddie Academy franchise, not only for her son but for other parents in the community looking for a better option. George, a former high school teacher and 30-year veteran of the music industry, saw the success of his wife’s venture and decided to follow in her footsteps with a second location shortly after his retirement in 2003. Each time they see a satisfied parent or hear a student’s laugh, the Malangas know that their decision to become Kiddie Academy franchisees was the right one.

Goals: For George and Jill, giving parents peace of mind is their top priority. They regularly consult with parents to provide the best possible service to their children, including waiving the tuition for any student with a parent deployed overseas. With enrollment at both academies nearing capacity, the Malangas are also considering opening a third location in the area.

Challenges: Maintaining the company’s cozy, nurturing atmosphere is always one of Jill’s top concerns, since she operates one of the largest Kiddie Academy facilities in the United States. Kiddie Academy’s innovative curriculum and hands-on approach to educationally-based child care keeps the academies inviting and personal. Jill and George want each parent and child to maintain the special feeling of being part of their Kiddie Academy community.

Results: Jill’s constant drive to make her academy the best it can be has paid off over the years. Events such as date nights and shopping days, as well as pancake breakfasts and end-of-the-year recitals, continuously receive rave reviews from parents and children alike. Not only has she received several awards from both her franchisor and the local community, she has also made quite a difference in the lives of the children who attend her academy – an achievement that cannot be measured by a certificate or plaque, but instead by the smile on a child’s face.

More information about Kiddie Academy franchising opportunities can be found at their websiteand you can follow them on Twitter too!

*DISCLOSURE*I have a 3 month relationship with Kiddie Academy for which I am being compensated for. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine, and not based on anything else.

Sweet Leaf Tea Review

2012-01-28T00:12:00.017-05:00

I love a fantastic, icy cold, refreshing drink. In the summer I always indulge in a lightly sweetened lemonade to quench my thirst. Even though it's winter-time right now, that doesn't mean I can't partake in a chilled drink to satisfy my taste buds with. I enjoy iced tea with a lot of lemon and a hint of sweetness to balance it out. I think I'll have one right now!

Sweet Leaf Tea creates fantastic naturally iced teas that anybody would truly love. The teas are quality made, have a wonderful flavor and taste, and are best served ice cold. The drinks come in a range of choices ranging from, diet peach, diet original, diet citrus green tea, original, raspbery, and many more. There's a beverage for anyone's taste preference.

I've been aware of Sweet Leaf Tea for a few months now. I purchased the diet original tea from my local grocery store and fell in love with it. I couldn't believe how great it tasted for having no calories and sugar! I try not to drink too many sugary drinks, or I buy low-sugar drinks.

Sweet Leaf was kind enough to send me some samples of their other drinks to try. I didn't realize that they had other flavors at first that weren't diet. When the package arrived at my door, I declared it was time for a taste-test!

I received raspberry, original, and mint and honey green tea. The bottles are very recognizable and I love the design of the packaging.

The raspberry had a great berry flavor, although it was a little too sweet to me. I'm sure that someone else would love it though. The entire bottle has 18g of sugar which isn't exactly terrible, but not low-sugar for sure. The drink was very refreshing and quenched my thirst easily. It was perfectly cold and very smooth. I bet this drink would be perfect on a hot summer's day too.

The original was my favorite. How can you go wrong with good ol' Southern sweet tea? It had the perfect balance of sweetness and tea flavor. I really enjoyed it. It went down easily and was very smooth. I recommend this tea for anyone looking for a basic iced tea to quench their thirst.

The mint and honey green tea was also quite refreshing. The taste was very crisp and fresh. The mint and honey combined together were great. I love those two properties together, it's such a classic pairing. I'm a big fan of green tea so I love that this was also an element of the drink. I feel that each ingredient was noticeable, but had equal balance among the other flavors in the drink. This would also be a very satisfying beverage on a warm summer's day. Why not indulge any season though?

Try Sweet Leaf Tea today, your taste buds will thank you!

*DISCLOSURE* I received some Sweet Leaf Tea samples in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.

Sammi Richardson-2012 Duane Reade VIP Influencer Blogger Contest #DReade

2012-01-25T21:57:00.010-05:00

This is my official entry for the 2012 Duane Reade blogger contest.

I am very proud and passionate about my blog. I created it while still a college student studying communications. It has grown to almost 2300 followers. This is a product review blog and chance for followers to win products through contest giveaways. I have a large demographic that includes young and old, male and female, various socioeconomic backgrounds, and all from around the world. The products I review range from health and beauty, home and garden, food and nutrition, jewelry, pets, and more.

Blogging has provided me an awesome opportunity to receive products I get to keep and often, so does one of my lucky followers. I have worked with such major brands as Dirt Devil, Barilla, Skinny Cow, Bertolli, Ocean Spray, Keurig, among many others. The products that I am able to receive and keep are amazing. I am truly blessed. In addition, through this fantastic experience I have been invited to trips and conferences that were life changing.

I live across the street from a Duane Reade and I visit it a few times a week. It is my go-to store for a quick gallon of milk, a bag of chips, or any necessities. I have been shopping at Duane Reade for years and it's one of my favorite stores. Living in Manhattan, I walk in the streets with thousands of people and large crowds everyday. Duane Reade in contrast is a place I can go and feel like I am not just another face in the crowd. The employees know me, I know where everything is, and feel right at home.

If given the chance to blog for Duane Reade, I would share my enthusiasm for the store with my followers and the existing Duane Reade followers. Firsthand, I will be proud to spread the word about products, new information, and rave about Duane Reade via social media. I am quite versed on Facebook and Twitter and am employed full-time as a social media assistant. This would be an opportunity of a lifetime for me and one in which I would take great pride. The experience of working with such a fantastic company, would be exciting and thrilling at the same time. I know it would be one I would not forget and remember for the rest of my life.

*DISCLOSURE* I am not compensated for this post. This is my official entry into the contest. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.

Neutrogena Review and Giveaway

2012-01-25T18:46:00.017-05:00

I've been using Neutrogena products for as far back as I can remember. I trusted their anti-acne creams and scrubs when I was a teenager. I depend on them now for general cleansing, and as I get older, anti-aging. I feel that they produce quality products that provide great results and they truly care about the well-being of your skin.

Neutrogena has been a skincare pioneer for more than 50 years now. They produce trusted skincare products for all skin types. Their products are instantly recognizable on store shelves. Whether you need a facial cleanser, anti-acne products, moisturizers, anti-aging products, or even cosmetics and more, they have you covered. The products provide fantastic results and are quality made.

Lately I've been having terribly dry skin on my face from the cold winter air. No matter what I did, nothing could keep my skin moisturized enough. I would put moisturizer on my face a few times a day and at night. In the morning my face would be so dry and it was really painful! I've never had anything like that before. Little did I know that with one click of an email in my inbox, my skin issues would be solved!

Neutrogena has recently come out with an Ultra Gentle Soothing Lotion line. This is the ultimate solution to combat redness, dryness and sensitivity in just one week. This revolutionary daily moisturizer will transform skin, instantly calming with its unique chamomile and feverfew blend – actually decreasing skin’s sensitivity over time. You no longer need to hibernate this winter!

Available in two soothing formulas’ including:

An oil-free lotion with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 – perfect for everyday use and outdoor winter activities – to protect skin from the sun’s damaging rays

A rich cream to keep skin smooth and supple – great for night use!

I knew this would be the answer to my dry skin problem! The products showed up at my door yesterday and I couldn't want to start trying them.

With literally just one application of the lotion, I noticed a difference in my skin immediately. My dry skin was still rough, but much less rough!
The lotion was easy to dispense from the pump and glided onto my skin like silk. It rubbed in easily and was non-greasy. I like that it has SPF 15 in it to protect my skin from the sun too. That's always a nice added plus when a product offers that. The lotion has a pleasant smell. I had been slathering on tons of lotion with no avail to my dry skin, so I was very impressed that this worked well so quickly.

The night cream is great because it's ultra gentle and soothing. It is dermatologist recommended, and clinically proven to instantly soothe even the most sensitive skin. This had my name written all over it! I used the cream before I went to bed last night. I rubbed it in all over my face and hoped in the morning my skin wouldn't be too dry and painful. The cream had a whipped, airy look to it. I liked that it came in a cute little jar too. The cream had a mild scent that did not bother me. I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up this morning that my skin was more visibly moisturized and the dry patches on my forehead and cheeks were dramatically reduced. These products are truly like magic. I think with continued use for a few more days my skin will be completely cleared up.

If you have dry skin, I urge you to try these Neutrogena products. Having dry skin is unpleasant, and in my case it was especially painful. Why suffer through that? Introduce Neutrogena to your bathroom medicine cabinet. I know I have!

GIVEAWAY RULES:

1. I will be picking THREE (3) winners for this contest. Three winners will win the night cream and the lotion from Neutrogena's Ultra Gentle Soothing Cream line.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me why you'd love to win these products. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Like Neutrogena on Facebook for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/Neutrogena)

13. Like Neutrogena on Twitter for 1 entry (http://twitter.com/#!/NeutrogenaTweet)

Winner will be chosen on February 8, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Stella and Dot Giveaway

2012-01-24T18:45:00.014-05:00

Jewelry is something that is loved by most every woman. Sure, each person has their individual style, but they always know what type of jewelry they love best. I love large dangly earrings, chunky bracelets, and big cocktail rings. Stella and Dot caters to every women's jewelry preference, leaving a smile on their face and a fuller jewelry box.

Stella and Dot is a San Francisco based social selling company that creates flexible entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Their boutique-style jewelry and accessories line is available exclusively through in-home Trunk Shows by Independent Stylists and online. Their one of a kind collections are designed by celebrated New York designers and featured in Gossip Girl, In Style and Lucky Magazine as well as on the wrists and necklines of today's hottest celebrities.

The company offers gorgeous necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Each piece is unique and gorgeous in its own way. Stella and Dot jewelry would make a fantastic gift for that special woman in your life for virtually any occasion.

Here are some examples of beautiful Stella and Dot pieces:

One lucky winner will win the gorgeous Chloe necklace. Can't you just imagine wearing this to your next office party or social event? I absolutely love it.

Hand knotted, faceted beads with ivory and brown acrylic pearls on a feminine ribbon.

•Approx. 17 1/2" length (beads).

•18" ribbon on each side.

•Self-tie closure.

•Lead & nickel safe.

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win a Chloe necklace from Stella and Dot.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me what you like most about this necklace. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Like Stella and Dot on Facebook for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/stelladot)

13. Like Stella and Dot on Twitter for 1 entry (https://twitter.com/#!/stelladot)

Winner will be chosen on February 7, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Mint Floor Cleaner Review

2012-01-22T09:49:00.051-05:00

I'm always looking for new and better ways to clean my house. If it makes cleaning easier for me, I'm all for it too! Cleaning is truly a chore and I would like to spend my time enjoying life, not worrying about cleaning my floors. With the Mint, that thought is now a reality!

The Mint Floor Cleaner is a robotic appliance that could save you hours by replacing cleaning time with leisure time. Smart enough to navigate and clean the hard surface floors of a room systematically and without human assistance, the Mint Cleaner offers consumers a simple, easy and affordable way to keep up with life’s demands while maintaining a clean and healthy home. It's programmed by NorthStar Navigation. The Mint cleans intelligently and meticulously so it doesn’t miss a single spot.

The Mint will make your life so much easier. Forget the days of mopping your floors by hand. This will revolutionize your mopping! The Mint will happily clean your home for you with no complaints with just a push of a button. The device uses cleaning cloths to both sweep and mop and it is ideal for pet hair pick up, dust control and maintaining clean floors everyday. The Mint performs quietly which your family will appreciate.

When I had the chance to review this electronic device, I was very excited. Years ago I had a Roomba and it worked really well. I loved being able to sit down while the happy little round device did all the hard work for me.

Not only is the mint aesthetically pleasing to look at, it was very easy to operate for the first time too. I pushed a button and in no time I had it up and running and cleaning my kitchen! The instructions were extremely user-friendly and everything was easy to follow. It takes a little bit to charge, but after that it can start cleaning your floors in less than 30 seconds. I was so happy that it wasn't me cleaning my floors this week! Here's a video to show of it cleaning that I took, so you can see how it works:

(You can see the guiding device on my counter top in the beginning)

The device cleans my floors excellently! It goes along the baseboard and catches all of the debris that collects there. I do vacuum regularly but sometimes your vacuum can't do a job as well as a wet or dry cloth can. I like how it never misses a spot on your floors, thanks to its NorthStar Navigation!

What I think is fantastic about the Mint is that it has a mopping/scrubbing feature. It mops back and forth to remove any dirt that's trapped in tile or your flooring. The mint works tirelessly to please you. It has a rubber bumper so anything that it bumps against, it leaves no damage. You can barely hear the Mint when it's powered on too. I was amazed at how much dirt was on the cloth pad when it was finished! It just goes to show you that your daily vacuuming might not always be as good as you think. Since it's not a large device, it can easily be stored inside a cabinet or closet when not in use. I can't wait to use it in my bathroom and bedroom next!

Thanks to the Mint I will never have to view washing my floors as a chore again! This would be a perfect gift for a busy new mom or a senior citizen who can't clean as well as they used to. It really is the perfect gift for anyone who needs a little break from cleaning.

*DISCLOSURE* I received the Mint in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.

The Butt Bench Review and Giveaway

2012-01-21T13:30:00.008-05:00

Showers are extremely relaxing. There's times that I just want to stay in there for hours. What's better than letting warm water beat down on you while you think about what you have to do for the day? Sometimes you don't want to stand though, it's much nicer to lay down and take a bath. If you don't want to take a bath, there's no other alternative for sitting down. The Butt Bench will change your shower experience from now on!

The Butt Bench is a safe bathtub seat/storage bench that requires no installation. It simply attaches by suction cups to your shower walls. The bench is sturdy and made of natural wood. The tub seat supports your weight with no problem.

I think the Butt Bench would be a great new addition to any shower! I chose white and it blends in well with the rest of my shower and looks great!

The shower seat easily and securely attached to my shower walls with no issue. It fit in my shower perfectly and the length was just right. I used it for the first time today. It was nice to sit down while taking a shower and enjoy it. I deep conditioned my hair and sat down and waited the 5 minutes before rinsing it out. This was much easier, unlike before where I had to stand up and wait away from the water. It supported my weight with no problem and was still easily adhered to the shower walls when I sat on it.

Why not turn your shower into a sauna and sit down and enjoy the steam and water? When you're not sitting on it, the shower seat also makes a great extra storage ledge to store shampoo, body wash, or other bath products on it. It's perfect for sitting down and shaving too. Ladies, you won't cut your legs anymore like you usually do when standing up! I think the shower bench is a great new addition to my shower and I can definitely see myself using it each time I shower!

*The Butt Bench does not work in mobile homes or showers with glass sliding doors.

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win a Butt bench in their chosen size and color.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me why you'd like to add Butt Bench to your shower. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Like Butt Bench on Facebook for 1 entry (http://www.facebook.com/buttbench1)

13. Like Butt Bench on Twitter for 1 entry (http://twitter.com/buttbench)

Winner will be chosen on February 4, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.

Day-Lee Foods Review and Giveaway

2012-01-19T19:50:00.022-05:00

When I have date nights with my boyfriend, we usually pick a local Thai or Chinese food spot. Asian cuisine is definitely a favorite food of mine. I think my absolute favorite dish is flat rice noodles with shrimp. I'm also a big fan of potstickers, orange chicken, sesame chicken and so much more. The flavor in Asian cooking is bold, delicious, and full of many spices and seasonings all at once. I truly love it!

Day-Lee Foods is a leader in authentic Asian cuisine. They produce restaurant-quality frozen Asian dishes that marry authenticity with value and convenience. Their Crazy Cuizine lineup features everything from Potstickers to Mandarin Orange Chicken to Teriyaki and General Tso’s Chicken. You can feel good about enjoying these meals because they are made with authentic flavors from the Far East. The entrees are fully cooked (ready to heat and serve), high in protein, and free of preservatives, trans-fat and MSG. If you're a fan of Asian food, you'll go absolutely crazy for these entrees!

I was sent four samples to try in honor of Chinese New Year, which is January 23rd. I received:

Don't they all look wonderful? I think so too!

I served the orange chicken and pot stickers tonight for dinner (I look forward to trying the other entrees soon!) Since the foods are already cooked, they go right from the microwave or stove top to your dinner table. I love easy to prepare meals on nights that I'm tired from working.

The pot stickers were really great and large in size too! They had a nice chewy steamed outside and delicious pork filling inside. The pork was flavorful and hearty. They didn't taste like I just pulled them out of the freezer either! They tasted like they were ordered fresh at an Asian restaurant! The dipping sauce for them was flavorful and delicious too. My boyfriend and I both really enjoyed them. They would make a great party or dinner party appetizer.

Look how juicy this white meat was!

The orange chicken was equally as delicious. It had that same fresh, restaurant quality, look and taste. The chicken had a glossy orange coating on it too. The boneless chicken was very juicy and full of flavor. It practically melted in your mouth. Some orange chicken that I've had was spicy, this wasn't, which I was glad for. The orange flavor was tangy and just fantastic. This honestly was the best orange chicken I've had in quite some time!

I highly recommend Day-Lee Foods for your next family dinner. The foods are quality and delicious and I'm sure your family will gobble them right up!

Crazy Cuizine free-product coupons can be used at BJ's Wholesale Club locations nationwide and select club stores across the country as well as at Albertsons, Ralphs, Food for Less, Raley's and Lucky Supermarkets throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.

GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. I will be picking ONE (1) winner for this contest. One winner will win two free product coupons to purchase entrees from the Crazy Cuizine line from Day-Lee Foods.

YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED!

2. Please tell me what your favorite Asian food is. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

3. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

4. Subscribe to Sammi's Blog of Life in a Reader (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Blogger. (1 entry)

6. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pinkice88) (1 entry)

7. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) (You can do this daily)

8. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

9. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

10. Add Sammi's Blog of Life to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

11. Become a fan of my Facebook fan page for 1 entry (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sammis-Blog-of-Life/307593407356)

12. Like Day-Lee Foods on Facebook for 1 entry (http://www.facebook.com/dayleefoods)

13. Like Day-Lee Foods on Twitter for 1 entry (https://twitter.com/DayLeeFoods)

Winner will be chosen on February 2, 2012 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
One entry per day.
Alternate winner will be chosen if winner does not respond after 48 hours. Thank you and good luck!
Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly mine and not based on anything else.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.
Sammi's Blog Of Life Follows All New FTC & Facebook Laws for Reviews & Giveaways.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY ANSWER MY CONTEST QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REJECTED.