Keurig 2.0 - Review and $200 Gift Card Giveaway

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

I've never owned a Keurig before, but I did use one once in a waiting room while at the eye doctor's office. I thought it was pretty cool, but the Keurig 2.0 is simply amazing. I was worried it would be complicated, but it is very simple to make a fabulous cup of coffee. Keurig 2.0 is available at Kohl's stores and at www.kohls.com.

The Keurig 2.0 is designed so that I can make either one cup of coffee using a K-Cup Pack and any mug, or a carafe of coffee with a K-Carafe Pack and the included Keurig Carafe. The Keurig 2.0 is so advanced that it can read which size coffee pack is inserted and provides the perfect amount of water for the pack.

It has a touchscreen for programming the time, language, display type, wallpaper, auto brewing, water reservoir light color, favorite settings, and more. It took me about a minute to set up my preferences and I was ready to brew my first cup. I love the sleek Keurig 2.0 shape and the color combination of black/gray/chrome easily fits into my kitchen decor.

Keurig 2.0 comes with variety packs for both the K-Carafe and K-Cup sizes. The carafe fits right under the spout, just like a coffee mug. When using a mug, I attach the drip tray to keep my counters cleaner, and the drip tray is removable for when I use the carafe. The included user guide was easy to follow and I felt confident making my first cup!

I am absolutely thrilled with my Keurig 2.0! I am really enjoying being able to make a fresh cup of coffee for myself any time of day. I also love the huge variety of K-Cup coffee flavors available. I got a special deal when I registered my Keurig and have four different flavors of mocha coffee on their way to me.

Say hello to the new Keurig 2.0 at Kohl's! When you purchase the Keurig 2.0, you can enter the "Win Free Coffee for a Year When You Say Hello to Keurig 2.0!" contest (no purchase necessary; there is a mail-in form of entry as well; contest runs from Aug. 24 - Sept. 17). Be sure to enter MY giveaway HERE to win a $200 gift card to Kohl's so you can purchase your Keurig 2.0!

Free Printables - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day #Disney

Free printables are a great activity for rainy days and boring after-school hours. Here are some fun printables you can download and print as many copies as you want from your own printer! Just click on the link and you'll go to my Google docs where they are saved as a pdf file. Have fun!

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day opens in theaters October 10th!

Alexander Bad Baby Coloring Sheet

Alexander Birthday Cake Coloring Sheet

Alexander Hide and Seek Activity Sheet

Alexander Maze Activity Sheet

Alexander Memory Game Activity Sheets

Alexander Spot the Difference Activity Sheet

Alexander Untangle Activity Sheet

Plus, you can enter the amazing ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY sweepstakes that just launched and to enter all you need to do is share your Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad throwback family photo using #VeryBadDaySweeps on Twitter or Instagram for a chance to win an Adventures by Disney trip for four to Disney Aulani Resort and Spa!
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. See official rules: http://on.fb.me/1tatOdF

Disney’s “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. He soon learns that he’s not alone when his mom (Jennifer Garner), dad (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn't had one.

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” directed by Independent Spirit Award-winner Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl,” “Cedar Rapids,” “Youth in Revolt”) from a screenplay by Rob Lieber, is a 21 Laps Entertainment/Jim Henson Company production. The film hits theaters nationwide Oct. 10, 2014.

Like ALEXANDER on Facebook: Facebook.com/DisneyAlexander
Follow ALEXANDER on Twitter: @DisneyPictures

BirkSun Boost Solar Backpack - Review #tech

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

The BirkSun Boost Solar Backpack is one of the coolest products I've ever reviewed. This sleek backpack is packed with power to charge your tech products on the go. It's so easy to use - just expose the outer solar panel to the sun and connect a charging cable to the built-in USB charger, and hook up your device. You will never have to stress about your phone dying again! It even works in low sunlight.

The BirkSun Boost Solar Backpack features a modern teal and gray color palette which is great for both guys and gals. There is also a gray/black option. It's perfect for toting laptops because the interior has a 15" fleece sleeve to cushion your laptop. It also has an organizational front pocket and a neoprene organizer sleeve, so you can fit all your other tech toys in it too.

The Boost is very well-constructed and I can carry it comfortably with either one or both adjustable shoulder straps. The materials used are durable and classy-looking. It's just the right size, too, not too big and not too small. It's compact depth-wise too, so it's not bulky or cumbersome.

It's very roomy inside so there is room for lots of tech products plus the other things you need with you every day. BirkSun Boost is perfect for students and business people, and as a blogger who needs fully charged electronics when I'm mobile, I've found it works wonderfully for me!

This solar backpack is also the optimal pack to use in the case of a natural disaster. Imagine having to evacuate your home because of an emergency and being able to connect with friends, family, and emergency services, because you have the BirkSun Boost! It helps you stay charged while you travel, go camping, or go to work or school.

I may have to end up getting a second BirkSun Boost because my tech-saavy husband is very enthralled by it. I have a feeling I'm going to have to grudgingly share it with him. The BirkSun Boost Solar Backpack is perfect for charging iPhones, Androids, iPods, Kindles, and much more!

Go check out www.birksun.com and check out the Boost Solar Backpack, as well as their variety of packs, messenger bags, and their lightweight, slim external batteries. You'll never be tied to a wall outlet again!

www.birksun.com

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Tell Me of Brave Women by Laura Riley

Disclosure: I received this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Tell Me Of Brave Women by Laura Riley really grabbed at my heart. It's a very well-written novel about three women in abusive relationships. Every woman should read this book. As I read this book, my emotions from a past abusive relationship rose to the surface. The book's characters are very real and the author does a masterful job of setting the story in its locations and taking the reader right to that place. I couldn't put it down. A must-read that I give a solid five stars!

About the book:
In this exciting novel, three dynamic women stand up to old traditions and fight abuse in new ways. Samara, a famous storyteller, creates Secret Sisters, an underground society that shelters battered women in the Middle East. She's hunted for her beliefs and stalked for her beauty. Thelma, a tough waitress in Appalachia, witnesses a beating, gets a gun, and changes Samara's destiny forever. Evangelina, a South American teen, is forced to be a drug lords sex-slave until she's emboldened to flee to Secret Sisters. To escape, she must use a killer's own tactics against him. Through escalating dangers, the three heroic women battle abuse and wager their lives for liberty.

About the author:
Laura Riley received her B.A. from UCLA, and her M.A. and PhD. degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Southern California. As a psychotherapist, lecturer and teacher, she has helped battered women become achieving women for more than three decades. Studying the status of women in eighty-nine countries, she's met survivors of violence everywhere and believes that abuse will only end when women unite against it. She writes to encourage them to come together and demand justice and equality with men. She loves art, fairy tales, reading, walking, traveling, gardening and listening to people talk. She lives in Southern California with her husband, Patrick, and their extended family. For more information about Laura and her work, please subscribe to Laura's blog, What Nana Knows at tellmeofbravewomen.com.

Buy it HERE!

Hungry Man - Eat Like A Man - Review

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

I remember eating tv dinners as a child. It was such a big deal because we didn't get to do it often. I'd sit next to my sisters on the couch and we'd each have a metal tv tray set up in front of us. I remember they were always tiny little meals that didn't taste all that great.

In celebration of Hungry Man's "Eat Like A Man" campaign, I received some coupons to pick up some Hungry Man dinners. I was really surprised at the wide variety of meals available. I chose six meals that sounded quite delicious - Beer Battered Chicken, Boneless Fried Chicken, Smokin' Backyard Barbecue, Salisbury Steak, Boneless Pork, and Classic Fried Chicken.

I was really pleased with the quality of food in each meal I tried. Everything was delicious and who doesn't love a brownie dessert?? A Hungry Man dinner can be prepared in the oven or microwave and it's perfect for those nights where I'm eating alone or don't have time to cook. My husband likes to take them to work for his lunch meal too, because it saves him from spending money on fast food and is much healthier. A Hungry Man dinner is definitely enough food for a meal. The portions aren't too big and they aren't too small. I leave the table full and happy!

You should Eat Like A Man too! Check out www.hungry-man.com to see all their delicious meal varieties. And don't miss this funny video:


www.hungry-man.com on Facebook ~~~ on Twitter

Create UR Plate - How to Delight Diners - Review

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Hosting a quiet dinner for two? Hosting a family luncheon for six? Or perhaps a large gathering of sixty is more your style? Create UR Plate is the most unique way to delight your diners that I've ever seen! I personally love custom designed dinnerware, but it really stretches the budget. Create UR Plate is a very affordable alternative and since you can even choose to customize your design, it's a much more personal experience for everyone.

Create UR Plate offers both glass and plastic plate options, with several sizes of plates available. The glass plates are my choice for dining at home, but if I were to host a large party I would be much more likely to use the plastic plates. Fortunately, the Plate-Ables will fit both!

The Plate-Ables are the secret to designing the plate that fits your special occasion or spices up your everyday meals. They are reusable decals that easily and quickly adhere to the bottom of each plate, facing upward through the plate. There are SO many designs to choose from and you can even add photos and text to designs if you want.

The Plate-Able simply peels off the sheet and when you're done with dinner, peel them back off the plates and store them on the sheet again in the included Plate-Able folder. I literally spent hours looking at all the designs for holidays, seasons, special occasions, and events, plus there are bunches of everyday designs that are modern, classic, bold, trendy, and traditional.

I received six of the glass plates and since my home is now an empty nest, I decided to select three sets of two designs of the Plate-Ables so I could set a fashionable dinner for two. The fall leaves design is perfect for this time of year and will take us all the way through Thanksgiving.

These modern stripes are perfect for lunch any day of the year! The Plate-Ables stay clean for me because they are on the underside of the glass plates, but if they do become dirty I can just wipe them down with a damp cloth. I want to make sure I never put the Plate-Able decals in the dishwasher.

Since I painted my new empty-nest home kitchen a green, I thought these green blocks Plate-Ables were perfect for romantic dinners with my husband. I can also use them year-round. The Plate-Ables are under $2.00 so I could have "new" plates every week if I wanted. I can't wait to add more to my collection. I absolutely love my Create UR Plate dinnerware and we will be using these over and over again!

Go see all the amazing ways to delight your diners at www.createurplate.com. Customize them for parties, holidays, and every day. You're going to love them as much as I do!

www.createurplate.com

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CaliMojos - Flip-Flops With Sunny Style - Review #fashion

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

It may be September, but here in sunny Texas, we're still reaching temperatures in the upper 90s. I love wearing flip-flops and sandals, even through the fall season. My new CaliMojos are no ordinary flip-flops!

These beautiful flip-flops are comfortable, lightweight and fashionable. They come in four vibrant colors (orange, blue, pink or white) with either a tropical floral pattern or a fluttering butterfly pattern, and the straps feature sparkly rhinestones. But the most amazing thing about these flip-flops is that the straps change colors in the sunlight!

When worn inside, my new CaliMojos have straps that are opaque and understated, with a nice quiet tone. When I step into the sun with my CaliMojos, the straps become a bright, bold blue that makes a real fashion statement!

They are manufactured with the highest standards in color-changing technology by SolarActive USA and are made from recyclable, phthalate-free, and nickel-free materials. My CaliMojos are truly colors in motion!

Check out all the CaliMojos designs at www.calimojos.com and discover these unique, comfortable, and affordable flip-flops for yourself!

www.calimojos.com

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Giveaway Linkup! Wednesday Wealth (Sept 10-16)

8 Mouthwatering Chocolate and Wine Recipes

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With our love for chocolate never ceasing, we thought we’d bring you a round-up of luxurious recipes that involve another decadent household favourite: wine. Why? Well, because this amazing taste combination isn’t baked enough! It also gives you a great excuse to knock back some Merlot while cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Think of all those antioxidants (that makes it healthy, right?)!

Bon Appétit’s Darkest Chocolate Cake With Red Wine Glaze

Why do things in halves when you can go the whole hog? Invite your friends over, crack open a few bottles of Pinot Noir, and dig into this beautiful beast. It would be selfish to keep it all to yourself (but we won’t tell).

Saveur’s Bittersweet Hot Chocolate With Red Wine

This is a beautiful winter beverage. If you haven’t tried it yet, you really should. Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Beaujolais, and Merlot are all great additions for this recipe (and are all wonderfully rich wines). This is hot chocolate the proper way, using melted bittersweet chocolate. None of that powdered stuff!

Taste’s Red Wine & Chocolate Tart

If you’re hosting a dinner party, this is the perfect piece de la resistance. After a delicious main meal, this tart sweetens the palette with rich chocolate and wine. This taste combination is no joke! Crack open some bottles of mellow Merlot for this recipe.

Food & Wine’s Chocolate Red Wine Bundt Cake

Adding wine to this delicious chocolate bundt cake gives it a gorgeous, boozy aftertaste. Choose a nice, dry red wine for this recipe and enjoy! (A bit for the cake, a bit for me, a bit for the cake, a bit for me…).

Table For Two’s Red Wine And Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a great idea for bitesized heaven (without scoffing down a whole cake). Incredibly moist, these boozy mouthfuls are a wonderful treat for weekend relaxation. Pile that frosting high! Although you can get away with pretty much any red wine for this recipe, we love this Banyuls Reserva by Yapp Brothers, a specialist independent wine merchant.

Bake Noir’s Red Wine And Chocolate Truffles

A seriously adult indulgence, these posh Cabernet Sauvignon truffles are packed with sophisticated, intense flavours. Unwind with these sumptuous bites and a glass of your red wine. You should be able to taste the fruitiness of the vino through the powerful chocolate.

Delicious Everyday’s Chocolate Pots De Crème With Red Wine Poached Cherries

Moving onto fruitier options, this is a fantastic dessert for sharing (or not). Definitely one for chocolate-lovers, these delightful pots taste out of this world with vino-poached cherries. Of course, everyone’s glasses should be filled with wine too! We can see this being a firm favourite at barbeques this summer.

Poached Pears In Red Wine & Chocolate Glaze

Another dish that can wow dinner party guests, these wine poached pears look professional. We think it would be a gorgeous finish to a wonderful meal with friends.

Check out my giveaways HERE!

Dog Food - Chicken Soup for the Soul - Review

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

The Chicken Soup for the Soul philosophy about dog food is probably one of the best I've ever heard: Because food is more than just nutrition, it's about comfort, love and appreciation. That makes perfect sense to me because food really isn't just something to fill the belly.

Their dog food brand is designed to be holistic, which is better for a pet's health. It contains chicken, turkey, duck, salmon and vegetables to ensure a dog gets a well-rounded diet. It's also enriched with antioxidants, vitamin E, and selenium, plus it helps reduce plaque and clean their teeth.

Chicken Soup for the Soul pet products are offered in both wet and dry foods, with selections for puppies, dogs, and mature dogs. They even make the kibble sizes different so you can choose the one that is right for your dog's size.

My dog Buddy absolutely loves the Chicken Soup for the Soul Dog food! In fact, his ears perked up when he heard me opening the bag for the first time and he trotted right over to me to help me review it. I gave him just a few at first to see if he liked it and then poured him an entire plateful, which he devoured.

Check out all their pet products HERE! If you're a pet owner, you'll definitely want to check out the Chicken Soup for the Soul books about pets too! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter to be first to hear about new products and special promotions.

Check out my giveaways HERE!

Left Behind - Movie Begins October 3

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I am SO excited that Left Behind is now a movie! I read every single book in the series and it touched my soul in so many ways. I can only imagine the number of people who will be touched by the movie. Nicolas Cage is also one of the actors on my "Very Best" list! Left Behind hits the theaters on October 3 and you can bet I will be there!

Check out the official trailer here:



Here's more information about the movie:
Among the most highly anticipated films to be released in 2014, Stoney Lake Entertainment announces the full-length action-adventure motion picture LEFT BEHIND. The movie stars Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage (NATIONAL TREASURE, CITY OF ANGELS, THE CROODS) as Rayford Steele, as well as Chad Michael Murray, Cassi Thomson, Nicky Whelan, Lea Thompson and Jordin Sparks. The movie is directed by veteran filmmaker, Vic Armstrong (THOR, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, WAR OF THE WORLDS), widely renowned for directing action sequences. LEFT BEHIND is produced and distributed by Stoney Lake Entertainment, with the national release slated for October 3, 2014.

LEFT BEHIND follows Rayford Steele (Nicolas Cage) who is piloting a commercial airliner just hours after the Rapture when millions of people around the globe simply vanish. Thirty thousand feet over the Atlantic, Rayford is faced with a damaged plane, terrified passengers, and a desperate desire to get back to his family. On the ground, his daughter, Chloe Steele (Cassi Thomson) is among those left behind, forced to navigate a world of madness as she searches for her lost mother and brother. Shot mostly in and around Baton Rouge, LA., LEFT BEHIND was produced by Paul Lalonde and Michael Walker and co-written by Paul Lalonde and John Patus.

“We're seeing a number of big, biblical movies on the calendar this year, particularly SON OF GOD, NOAH, and EXODUS. What makes LEFT BEHIND different is that it is a contemporary story that could actually happen at any moment,” says Paul Lalonde, LEFT BEHIND producer and CEO of Stoney Lake Entertainment. “It’s also a historical account in a sense, because it's based on a true story, it just hasn't happened yet. So it’s very important to us that the core story not be changed. We had offers from three of the major studios in Hollywood to distribute this movie, but none would allow final control of the story to be left in our hands.”

"My greatest hope for this movie is that people will be entertained and thrilled by it, but also that they'll go home and have conversations with their family, and ask 'do you think this could happen, or couldn't happen?' and it’ll inspire discussion and closeness,” says leading actor Nicolas Cage.

The movie is based on the New York Times bestselling book series of the same name, co-authored by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. Based on the Bible and published in 32 different languages, the series has sold more than 65 million copies and is one of the best-selling fiction series of all time.

“I believe it does justice to the novel and will renew interest in the entire series,” author Jerry Jenkins said. “It is the best movie I have ever seen on the rapture,” added Tim LaHaye.

Behind the scenes, LEFT BEHIND features an award-winning team including Oscar and BAFTA nominated Director of Photography, Jack N. Green (UNFORGIVEN), Oscar, BAFTA and EMMY nominated Production Designer, Stephen Altman (GOSFORD PARK, CHRONICLE), Editor Michael J. Duthie and Costume Designer Abby O’Sullivan. The music was composed by Jack Lenz (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST).

Entertainment One has acquired the domestic home video rights. For the latest news and updates regarding LEFT BEHIND, please visit: www.leftbehindmovie.com.

About Stoney Lake Entertainment
Stoney Lake Entertainment (SLE) is a film production company created in 2012 by CEO Paul Lalonde, co-founder of Cloud Ten Pictures. SLE is focused on producing big budget faith-themed films for a wider audience. LEFT BEHIND will be SLE’s first feature film.

For more information visit:
http://www.leftbehindmovie.com
https://www.facebook.com/leftbehindthemovie
https://twitter.com/leftbehindmovie
http://www.youtube.com/user/leftbehindreboot
https://plus.google.com/+Leftbehindmovie

Check out my giveaways HERE!

Ritz Fresh Stacks - Review

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

I've snacked on Ritz Crackers my entire life. I love the buttery taste and flaky crispiness. They are great for stacking with slices of cheddar cheese and meat, or topped with a smear of creamy guacamole. I couldn't wait to try the new Ritz Fresh Stacks, a more convenient size of crackers that perfect for lunchboxes and snacking.

The new Ritz Fresh Stacks are available in Original, Whole Wheat, and Everything. I received a box of the Everything flavors, which is an incredibly mouthwatering blend of onion, poppy seeds, garlic, and sea salt. They are so delicious and the fresh stacks size keeps me from eating too many of them! I had never tried the Everything flavor and they're so good I may never go back to the Original flavor.

Try the new Ritz Fresh Stacks in Everything flavor. No toppings needed means a healthier snack for me and the smaller package size is great portion control. Check out the Ritz website for great recipes and fun snack ideas, and be sure to follow them on Facebook!

Check out my giveaways HERE!