5/16/14

CoolBrew Coffee Concentrate - Drink #Recipes and Review

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
CoolBrew cold-brewed coffee concentrates are amazingly delicious and versatile. A step above in both taste and convenience, CoolBrew can be added to cold or hot water for a quick gourmet coffee drink. Located in New Orleans, the company uses a cold-dripped process to create a fabulous, always-fresh taste. Their twin-neck bottle makes measuring simple, and the compact bottle size makes them perfectly portable so you can take them along to the lake and beach this summer. Whenever you're in the mood for an iced coffee, just add a shot of CoolBrew coffee concentrate to some cold water and enjoy. Using CoolBrew to make my morning hot coffee also eliminates the long wait for a traditional coffee brewer to finish. While I was browsing their website, I discovered all great recipes they've created and decided to give several of them a try.
The Hot Cafe au Lait is the authentic flavor of New Orleans when you use the Original CoolBrew, but I love chocolate, so I tried their recipe with the limited edition Chocolate Almond coffee concentrate. This recipe is a scrumptious blend of chocolate, coffee and milk that warms me to my toes. The aftertaste is fantastic! Many of their recipes allow for experimenting with their different flavors to find the one you love.
Here's how I made it:
Combine 1 oz CoolBrew Chocolate Almond, 4 oz Hot Water, and 4 oz Hot Milk, then stir.
The White Alligator is similar to a White Russian, but much better. This one is served over ice, so it's perfect for those lazy, muggy evenings where I don't want to do anything more than lounge under a ceiling fan. The CoolBrew Mocha is richly delicious. This one was my most favorite recipe of the three I've tried so far.
Here's how I made it:
Pour 1 oz CoolBrew Mocha, 1 oz Vodka, 3 oz milk, and 1/2 tsp sugar into a shaker. Shake about 10 times and serve over ice.
The Coffee Martini is similar to a dirty martini, but with a kick. It has a very deep, rich flavor. This one is my husband's favorite recipe. Since, for some reason, I apparently don't own any martini glasses, a wine glass worked just as well and it made me feel glamorous drinking it this way. The Coffee Martini makes for a very elegant after-dinner drink!
Here's how I made it:
Fill a shaker with 1 oz CoolBrew Original, 3/4 tbsp sugar, 1 oz Vodka, and add ice. Shake about ten times, then strain into a glass.
Discover your favorite CoolBrew flavor and try out the recipes on their website. Or just enjoy it mixed with hot or cold water. Now I can take my favorite coffee flavors on road trips and I won't have to drink awful hotel coffee anymore! Visit www.coolbrew.com today and don't miss out on their limited edition Chocolate Almond flavor...it'll be gone at the end of this year! Which of my recipes do you think you'd try first?

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Bic Soleil Glow - Review and Video

This is a Fashionista Events opportunity.
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Springtime means it's time to shave those hairy winter legs, ladies! No more hiding inside your jeans, because it's time to pull out the shorts and miniskirts and show off your legs. I just tried the Bic Soleil Glow and I'm switching to these razors this year.
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From the fantastic sunny colors to the fabulously silky-smooth shave, the Bic Soleil Glow out-performs my old razor in every way. I love the wide razor-head because it lays flat against my skin, even in the curviest parts. It's perfectly balanced and it gave me an incredibly close shave without any nicks. Even the handle is designed to help me hang onto it in the shower.
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I absolutely recommend the Bic Soleil Glow! Check out www.feelthesoleil.com to find out more and don't miss the Make Your Own Sun With 100 Days of Giveaways at the bottom of their homepage! Be sure to watch this sunny video too:

Million Dollar Arm - Review @Disney #MillionDollarArmSweeps

Disclosure: I viewed this movie at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
First off, let me say...I don't watch baseball, so I am unfamiliar with teams, players and coaches. I had never heard of Rinku or Dinesh, or any of the other characters in the film. As the film started, there was a note about "based on a true story." This is such a well-written film that I completely forgot that it was a true story all the way up until the end when it flashed to the news clippings about the players. I guess the story in and of itself was "highly improbable" to me. That said, I truly enjoyed Million Dollar Arm. It's a fabulous tale of opportunity, determination, and setting priorities. The actors are fantastic and I laughed a LOT throughout this movie, even though it's been labeled a Drama. A great story!
STARTS FRIDAY, MAY 16 - Go see it!
Based on a true story, sports agent JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) finds that business has changed and things aren’t going well for his career. In a last ditch effort to save his livelihood he concocts a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “The Million Dollar Arm.” With the help of cantankerous but eagle-eyed retired baseball scout Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin), he discovers Dinesh (played by Madhur Mittal from “Slumdog Millionaire”) and Rinku (played by Suraj Sharma from “Life of Pi”), two 18-year-old boys who have no idea about playing baseball, yet have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to America to train. While the Americans are definitely out of their element in India, the boys, who have never left their rural villages, are equally challenged when they come to the States. As the boys learn the finer points of baseball, JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda (Lake Bell), learns valuable life lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family. Rated PG.


Cast: Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Bill Paxton, Suraj Sharma, Lake Bell, Alan Arkin
Director: Craig Gillespie
Producers: Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray, Joe Roth
Executive Producers: Palak Patel, Kevin Halloran, Bill Simmons, Connor Schell
Written by: Tom McCarthy

Website and Mobile Site: www.Disney.com/MillionDollarArm
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MillionDollarArm
Follow us on Twitter: @DisneyPictures

5/15/14

Cruising with @RoyalCaribbean on #NavigatoroftheSeas #Travel

Disclosure: I attended a complimentary one-night cruise in exchange for my honest review.
This event is a MomDotMedia opportunity.
cruise-travel
I was so excited to be invited by Royal Caribbean for a day-trip cruise on Navigator of the Seas. My husband however was not very thrilled. In fact, he swore he'd never go on a cruise. The thought of being in the middle of the ocean with no escape from a possible tragic accident just did not sit well with him. But when I informed him that we were going on this trip, he relented, mostly just to appease me.
We drove the 3-1/2 hours from Austin to Galveston, Texas, early Saturday morning, then climbed into the shuttle from the parking lot. You could even see the trepidation in his face as he hung on for dear life in the parking shuttle. He wondered aloud how something so big would even float. I just grinned. I knew he was going to have a wonderful time. Side note: make sure your luggage has wheels, because it's quite a walk to get from the port door to your ship room.
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Upon arriving at the port, we went through security and checked in to get our Sea Pass. A Sea Pass is linked to your credit card, so you really only need cash handy for tips and the casino. Your Sea Pass is your room key, your on-board charge account for nearly everything, and it's Royal Caribbean's way of keeping track of who gets off and on the ship at different ports. Since this was just an overnight trip, we only floated out into the Gulf and then back, but it was a party all the way!
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Since I've once cruised before, on the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas, I was excited to find that the ships are laid out very similarly (however, the entertainment shows are different). Our room was a private balcony room, with a king-size bed, couch, desk, television, closets, and bathroom with a shower. Ours had a royal blue theme, which I thought was very appropriate for a Royal Caribbean cruise, especially since the balcony curtains had a wave-like design.
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The king-size bed is designed so that guests can have the bed separated into two twin beds if they prefer. One of the things I love most about having a private balcony is being able to leave the sliding glass door open a bit during the night, so the sounds of the waves can lull me to sleep. I sleep very soundly on a ship and love the light rocking of the water.
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Once we'd settled into our room, we set out to explore some of the decks on Navigator of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has recently added lots of new features to this ship and it's simply gorgeous! The Promenade Deck is where we found all the shops and some of the restaurants. I love all the glamorous decor and the beautiful art everywhere. The windows that overlook this area are those of the inner rooms (those without a water view).
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Just before setting sail, the gangway to the ship is closed and everyone on board reports to their muster station for a drill. At that time, security features of the ship are discussed, evacuation procedures are explained and we got a close-up look at the giant boats that would take us to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency. I think this is where my husband finally relaxed, knowing what to do "just in case."
cruise-travel
As we pulled out of the port at Galveston, we headed up to the pool decks to wave goodbye to the poor landlubbers who didn't get to come along. Even the seagulls and the pelicans flew alongside Navigator of the Seas to wish us a "bon voyage!" It's a good idea to always have a camera handy to capture the moments you don't want to forget.
cruise-travel
There are plenty of places for food and refreshment all over the ship. We stopped at the Sky Bar near the pools to get some "foo-foo" drinks, which I think should be a requirement of cruising. I have also decided that calories do not count when one is on vacation.

Bloggers Wanted - Dads and Grads Giveaway Hop

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Join us for the Dads and Grads Giveaway Hop
hosted by Planet Weidknecht
and LeahSay's Views
from May 26 - June 8, 2014

By adding your blog link below, you agree to:
Post your own dedicated giveaway for this event, from May 26, 2014 at 12:01a.m. until June 8, 2014 at 11:59p.m. Giveaway may be company-sponsored or self-sponsored. Giveaway prize must be worth at least $25.00. Blogs without giveaways posted by 10:00a.m. on May 26 will be removed from the linky list. Signups close on May 25.

You aren't required to post in advance of the giveaway hop, but if you'd like to add the button to your sidebar, please link it to this post so that others may join in too.

Please also join the Weidknecht Events Facebook Group at:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/WeidknechtEvents/
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Your giveaway post (on May 26) must include:
Dads and Grads Giveaway Hop button
Link to the hosts: Planet Weidknecht (http://www.weidknecht.com)
and LeahSay's Views (http://leahsaysviews.com/)
Provided linky list of all participating bloggers
Your giveaway and contest form

HTML will be provided at least one day before the hop begins, both by email and post in the Weidknecht Events Facebook Group. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

Sign up here:

5/14/14

Giveaway Linky - Wednesday Wealth (May 14-20)

Got giveaways? Link 'em up!
Love giveaways? Enter to win!
Thanks for stopping by!

5/13/14

Cold Steel Kudo Knife - Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Many people view a knife as a weapon, but in truth a knife is a tool that comes in handy for hundreds of tasks. My husband has always carried a good quality knife and uses it often. Knowing the value of a high performance knife is important and Cold Steel makes knives that are among the world's sharpest, strongest and most durable. The Cold Steel Kudo Knife design originates in South Africa, but this one is a much higher quality knife. The first thing I noticed was the razor-sharp edge, and it cut cleanly and quickly through several materials that I tested it on.
Cold Steel uses a Krupp 4116 Stainless steel flat ground blade, heat treated to Rc 56-57 for better edge holding ability and ease of re-sharpening. To make this knife a superior performer, the locking mechanism securely holds the blade rigidly open. To close the Kudo, the ring attached to the back spring must be pulled up to release the lock. The knife folder is not only attractive with its polished steel Kudu horn emblem, it's also strong enough and sturdy enough to complement the knife when in use. My husband, who is much more knowledgeable about knives than I am, gave his full approval of this knife and happily claimed it for his own.
Get the Cold Steel Kudo Knife at www.swordsoftheeast.com, for just $8.99, an unbeatable deal! Father's Day will be here soon and your dad would much rather have one of these knives than another tie. You'll find hundreds of quality knives on their website. Be sure to follow them on Facebook too!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

5/12/14

CD and DVD Binder Set Organizer - Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Keep Filing sent me this handy CD Binder Set and I'm so happy to be able to organize all my music CDs. Clutter makes my life crazy and I hate wasting time looking for things. It will also fit my movie DVDs or my computer software CDs. This set comes with a binder, 10 sleeve pages, and index label tabs.
This 65% recycled polypropylene, black binder comes in four different contrasting colors - green, red, blue or white - so I can get several to organize by type. It's a very sturdy, coated binder that measures 1-1/2 inches thick, allowing me to add more pages as I need them.
The spine of this 3-ring CD binder has a slot for a category label (also included) and a finger hole so I can easily pull it off the shelf. The binder rings are coated black and are 3-1/4 inches apart, just like a regular paper binder. The flat edge on the rings makes it easier to turn the pages and prevents the pages from slipping off.
The sleeve sheets are designed to hold 2 CDs or DVDs, and along each page edge is a smaller sleeve to hold the included index label tabs. The labels offer plenty of room for me to list music artist, CD title and even song lists. My computer CDs often come without labels so this really helps for that.
The durable pages are made of a super heavyweight material and are archival-safe, so I know I can count on my Keep Filing products and my CDs to last a long time. The 15 minutes I took to organize my 20 favorite music CDs will save me hours of searching for my music discs.
Check out www.keepfiling.com to order your CD Binder Set Organizer and be sure to check out their huge selection of organizational products for home and office. You can also follow them on Facebook.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Swapdom Online Swapping Community Now Features Home Category

#sponsored
If the economy has you depressed because shopping for your home has become too expensive, you must check out Swapdom.com! It's an online swapping community where you can swap all your unused items for great stuff that other people no longer use. Unlike typical swapping sites that rely on a complicated points system or tons of negotiation, Swapdom takes the work and worry out of swapping. It uses an algorithm that matches swappers up in swaps. You just tell them what you want and what you would offer for it, and they will find a swap for you. Swapdom features swaps for fashion and children's items, and JUST TODAY added a new Home Goods Category!
Every time I clean my house, I come across something else that has just been sitting for months at a time. I hate clutter but I also hate organizing garage sales. Who wants to sit in the garage all morning waiting for cars to show up? With Swapdom, I can sit in the comfort of my home, upload photos for my swaps in just minutes and then get something else I really want. It's a great idea because I save money and clear out old stuff without having to throw it away.
Items are swapped in a multi-party circle, which works like this: you want Sally's item, but Sally wants Mary's item, and Mary wants Kathy's item, and Kathy wants yours, so Swapdom makes all the swap arrangements for everyone. Swapdom's website is extremely user-friendly and I can browse through the swap photos looking for new baking pans, vases, clocks, phones, banks, jewelry boxes, as well as purses, belts, shoes, and clothes for everyone in my family. It's a great place to find vintage items too! When it's time for a swap, I just mail it off and wait for my new stuff to arrive. All this for just the cost of postage and a small $1-2 fee. It's a fabulous timesaver for me! There's even a badging and reward system on Swapdom that allows users to WIN gift cards to Amazon, Etsy and Fandango or win free shipping for a swap.
Don't miss the Swapdom Team Tidy Challenge, a 4-week event starting today, to introduce Swapdom’s Home swapping category and encourage swappers to get excited about spring cleaning. Each week’s Team Tidy Challenge will focus on a part of the house to tackle, and of course, upload all that stuff to Swapdom. One random person who uploads an item to each week’s featured category will win free shipping on their next swap. It’s a chance to organize your space, clear out the clutter, and reward yourself for work by swapping for great stuff you’ll actually use!
  • Week 1 - Crush Living Room Clutter
  • Week 2 - Curate Your Kitchen
  • Week 3 - Say Bye to Bed & Bath Clutter
  • Week 4 - Consolidate Craft Goods and Games
Check out www.swapdom.com now and get registered for your FREE user account. I've already uploaded three items for my first Home Goods swaps and I've got my eye on some pretty silverware. Still have questions about how it works? There's a great video on their site that will give you a quick run-down on Swapdom's Circle Swaps and Square Deals! Make sure to check out Swapdom's great tips on scoring the swaps you want.

Skora Fit Training Shoes - Funky, Featherlight, and Fabulous

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
Okay, I admit it, I'm not in training and I don't run unless something is chasing me. However, I do walk a lot and the comfort of my feet is very important. When I'm wearing substandard shoes, my back and hips are even negatively affected. Skora Fit training shoes are unlike any other shoes I've ever worn.
When I first opened the box of my new Skora Fit shoes, I was immediately struck by how funky they look. They are a fabulous pink (my favorite) with accents of blue and white. The lacing grommets start at the top of the foot and, instead of going straight down, they angle over to the outside of each foot. I put them on and was amazed at how featherlight these seamless shoes felt on my feet.
When I slipped my feet into them, tied the laces, and began to walk in them, I immediately noticed how balanced I felt. The first day, I wore them all day long and honestly, it felt like I was barefoot because they fit perfectly. Every curve of the shoes cradled my feet. There is no "breaking in" period required on Skora Fit! Even the cushioned insoles of these shoes have tiny little bumps that worked like acupressure on my feet.
The other huge benefit I discovered is the airmesh upper allows my feet to breathe even when I'm outside in the hot Texas sun. Although I'm no runner, I can easily see how the Skora Fit shoes would be loved by those who run because the design and balance create a perfectly flexible fit across the top of my feet, around my heels, and across the bottom of my feet. There are also reflective elements on the shoes for those who run at night. I love these funky, featherlight, fabulous shoes!
Check out all the great training shoes for men and ladies at www.skorarunning.com. These award-winning shoes will make everyone's feet happy!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.