12/8/12

Netflix, LG, and Popcornnopolis Giveaway Event


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One lucky winner will be watching a year of free Netflix on a free tv while eating free popcorn! Enter below to win!

December 9th 12:01 am EST-17th 12:59 pm EST

Netflix revolutionizes the way people watch

TV shows and movies

NETFLIX With more than 30 million streaming members in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Nordics, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world's leading internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV programs. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can instantly watch movies and TV programs streamed over the internet to PCs, Macs and TVs. Among the large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, internet-connected TVs, home theatre systems, digital video recorders and internet video players; Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, over 800 devices that stream from Netflix are available. For additional information, visit www.netflix.com. Follow Netflix on Facebook and Twitter.

LG 32CS460 32-INCH Let your TV do the adjustments for you. Intelligent Sensor automatically optimizes the picture to the lighting and color conditions in the room for a more enjoyable viewing experience.

POPCORNNOPOLIS Six regular-sized of our most incredible gourmet flavors jostle for position, nearly bursting out of their cones in their eagerness to overwhelm those unsuspecting taste buds. Creamy Our wildly popular Zebra® Chocolate, Luscious Pecan Caramel, Classic Caramel Corn, Cheddar Cheese, Kettle Corn and Cinnamon Bun.

One lucky winner will be selected to win all three prizes. Simply enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. GOOD LUCK!
1 Winner
USA ONLY
1 year Netflix subscription
6pk Popcornnopolis Gourment Popcorn
LG 32" Flat Screen TV
Disclosure: This is not a Planet Weidknecht giveaway. I'm sharing the contest in exchange for a spot on the contest form.

Holiday Cheers for Torani Flavored Syrups - Review

Although I've only been drinking coffee about four years, I'm definitely a fan. I don't add sugar or creamer to it because I figure if I can't drink it black, it's not good coffee. Recently, I've begun to experiment with some sugar free coffee flavorings and one of my favorites is Torani Syrup. They offer a whole bunch of sugar free flavors like Pumpkin Pie, Hazelnut, Brown Sugar Cinnamon, Gingerbread, Peppermint, Salted Caramel, and more.
  
I love to add them to my coffee, but I've also discovered another way to really enjoy Torani. I added 1/4 cup of Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie Syrup to a sweet bread recipe and baked it in my bread machine. Not only did it turn out beautifully, it is absolutely delicious.
The consistency of the bread is moister and it almost has a cake texture to it. I could hardly believe this was a simple sweet bread mix I found in the back of my pantry. I've made this mix once before and that one didn't turn out as good as this one.
The only difference between the two breads is the Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie Torani Syrup so I have to attribute it to that. I can't wait to try it in more of my breads. I also want to try the Hazelnut Syrup in some breads to see what that tastes like.
At www.torani.com you can find all their flavors, both regular and sugar-free, plus there are some recipes you can try! Plus if you go HERE you can get a free coupon to use on Torani. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Plus, you can enter below to win a Holiday Cheers Torani Prize Pack!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks and Torani. I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
To enter to win a Holiday Cheers Torani Prize Pack that includes a Torani Recipe Booklet and Five $1 Torani Coupons, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the US. Only the first entry is mandatory; bonus entries increase your chances to win. Giveaway ends at midnight ET on 12/15/2012. Good luck!

Unique Gifts from Novica - Gift-Finder Review


If you're having a hard time finding a unique gift for someone special, let me introduce you to the Novica Gift-Finder! Featuring hundreds of original products and designs from around the world, Novica will help you locate the perfect gift that makes your recipient simply glow with joy.
The Gift-Finder allows you to sort by Gifts for Her and Gifts for Him, plus you can select categories like jewelry, sculpture, home decor, clothing, handbags, games, tableware, vases and more. You can even search by the type of personality, favorite interests, gift type and occasion!
You'll find so many wonderful handmade gifts and even be able to read about the artist that created each one. Novica is a wonderful webstore that showcases some of the most unique gifts from across the world. I chose these stunning August Poppy Peridot Earrings by Bali's Nyoman Rena and I can hardly wait for my package to arrive! Shop at www.novica.com and follow them on Facebook and Twitter, plus enter to win a $40 gift code to Novica below!
Disclosure: I received a gift code to purchase product in exchange for my post about Novica.
Win a $40 Gift Code to spend at Novica!
To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. Only the first entry is mandatory; bonus entries increase your chances to win. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA. Giveaway ends at midnight ET on 12/15/2012. Good luck!

Perky-Pet Design a Seed Feeder - Review

In the colder weather, birds often have a harder time finding food. I try to keep my seed feeders full so they come around. This time of year, I often see cardinals visiting my feeders. The Perky-Pet website has just introduced their new Design a Seed Feeder program and it took me just minutes to make a unique bird feeder for the birds who visit me. I got to choose the size of the feeder tube as well as the color of the cap, base, ports and tray. A few days later, it arrived in the mail completely assembled and ready to hang!
I love the antique copper look! The tube is made from plastic, so no worries about breakage. I especially like the long hanger attached to the tube, because that makes it easy to hang on a hook or a tree branch.
All of the design pieces are securely attached and each little feeding port even has a perch bar so the birds can relax for their meals. The lid is attached to the hanger and simply lifts off and over to the side so it's easy to fill with seed.
Since we've been stringing popcorn and cranberries for garland, I decided to treat the birds as well. I layered the popcorn and cranberry in the bird feeder so it would be appropriately festive for them. The kids helped me fill the new feeder (and snack on popcorn themselves).
I hung the Perky-Pet Seed Feeder on an existing hook on the arbor, where we can watch the birds while we're out in the backyard. The kids' excitement must have scared the birds away, but I noticed later in the day that it was already half empty so I think the bird approve!
Go design your own Seed Feeder at www.perkypet.com and see how easy it is! 


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

Making Holiday Memories with JOLLY TIME Pop Corn and Habelman Brothers Cranberries


It's the time of year where we, as families, should be slowing down and spending quality time together. Too often, we run full-speed through our daily lives. Our society pushes convenience and instant gratification, so it's nice to see companies like JOLLY TIME Pop Corn and Habelman Brothers Cranberries reaching out to encourage families to make time for meaningful holiday memories.
With just a few simple and inexpensive things, you can create some great memories this Christmas season! We made a batch of JOLLY TIME Pop Corn the old-fashioned way with a bit of oil in a stock pot with three test kernels to let us know when the oil was hot enough, then adding the rest of the kernels and keeping the stock pot moving until all the kernels popped.
 
The best part was the conversation about our childhood memories of making popcorn this way all the time. My husband and I even both remember stringing popcorn for Christmas tree decorations. That led to reminiscing about many of our childhood holiday traditions. We also filled the mason jar with popcorn kernels to share as a gift this year.
After we let the popcorn sit out overnight (with a note taped to the bowl that said "do not eat"), it was time to string the popcorn and cranberries. With a needle and thread, I stuck the first cranberry and tied it off around the berry for extra stability.
I only stabbed myself once as I threaded them in a cranberry, popcorn, popcorn pattern. I also used double thread to make sure it didn't break on me halfway through the garland. We found ourselves snacking on popcorn while we worked.
I've never been a big fan of eating cranberries, but with some encouragement I tried one. Everyone laughed at the funny face I made! It was a lot of fun to spend time together doing something as a family.
Once the garlands were done, there was much discussion about whether they should go inside the house on the Christmas tree or outside the house for the birds to enjoy. We finally decided we'd hang them in both places.
It looks so pretty on the Christmas tree and every time I look at it, I'm reminded of the fun we had making it. I can't remember a single meaningful memory about the plastic red balls I bought at the discount store and hung on the tree.
As I decorated the palm tree out front with our popcorn cranberry garland, I laughed out loud when I realized, "Gee, we had a jolly time." We haven't yet made popcorn balls with the tool that was included in our kit, but over Christmas break when none of us are working or going to school, that will be another fun family memory to make!

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.

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Shains Prize Pack - Shea Balentine

Cook's Delight Chicken Base - Marti Parks

A Bit of Applause for Mrs. Claus - Lyza Jo

12/7/12

Crazy in Love And Wanting to Show It

Have you ever been in love so much with someone that you’d be willing to do anything to show you care? Does the thought of making a grand, magnanimous gesture send shivers down your spine? Does it make you think about how your loved one will feel?

If the answer is yes to any of the three, chances are you’re in love. If you answer yes to all three, then you’re crazy in love with this person.

An old Stylistics song from the 1970s suggested a way to show you cared was to write your lover’s name across the sky. All right, maybe skywriting isn’t the way to go. Or maybe it is. If you are willing to show just how much you care about someone, the odds are you’re thinking of any way to show it.

There are numerous ways for someone to show just how much they care and display it in a way that no one will view you as a fool for trying. If there is one thing you can learn from love, it is that your significant other will think the world of you for anything that goes outside the box.

A creative way to show off your thoughts is to take your date to an intimate restaurant. Dinner by candlelight is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to building up intimacy and affection, but what if it were a restaurant with a strolling singer/musician that wrote songs based on current events or people? Someone may be willing to write a song or play a tune that shows off your lover’s romantic side. It may make your partner blush a bit or feel a bit embarrassed at first, but the grand gesture will pay off.

Gardeners out there could show their love in a colorful display. Find out what your lover’s likes are in terms of plants and vegetables, then build an entire garden in their honor. Spell your lover’s name in flowers, the more colorful the better. Vermont Wildflower Farm deals in flowers of all shapes and colors, and the prettier you make the flower collection the more impressed your partner will be. If you don’t want to spell your lover’s name in flowers, just say I love you. That will get them every time.

Be cognitive of what your partner’s likes and dislikes are when it comes to food. If three or four of the likes fall into the same category, make a meal that features everything. Your partner might like caprese salad, veal parmesan and tiramisu. Pair it with a cozy wine and you have instant romance Italian style.

You may want to take your date on a scavenger hunt. Leave little items or suggestions of where to go next. Drop little trinkets or rewards for him or her to collect. At the end of the road, be there in a secluded location and redeem everything for a night of intimacy, rated PG or R.

There are many ways to be simple when it comes to impressing a partner. Most of the time the women know what is coming. (Or the men, for those out there who love it when a woman does something off the wall.) Be smart. Be creative. The two, put together, result in a grand plan with a grand reward at the end.

--guest post

Getting Closer this Christmas


The holiday season provides plenty of opportunities for couples to grow closer to one another. There's nothing better than spending time curling up in front of the fireplace on a cold night or going out on a fun date. Growing closer can also make it easier to shop for your partner and choosing a great gift will show how much you care. Here are a few great ideas to help couples grow closer this year.

Fun Date Ideas

1. Ice Skating

Even if you live in a warmer climate, the holiday season is the perfect time to take your other half out to the ice rink. Imagine enjoying a special night full of fun and laughter as you ice skate together, sip on hot cocoa and just spend quality time together.

2. Go Christmas Light Hunting

Some towns, cities and neighborhoods put on amazing displays of lights and decorations. Find the best display in your area and spend time with your significant other just enjoying the lights. Take your time as you drive or walk through the display and cuddle close together while experiencing the beautiful lights.

3. Spend a Night In

You can spend a night inside listening to soft holiday music together. Send the kids to a friend's house and just enjoy each other's company. Cook dinner together, turn off all the technology and enjoy a romantic evening you both deserve. If you live in a colder climate, you can even enjoy the smell of lighting a fire in a wood burning stove.

4. Enjoy a Holiday Play

This may not be something all guys want to do, but giving your lady a night out with a holiday play, such as The Nutcracker can help you grow closer. Make a reservation at one of her favorite restaurants, take her out and surprise her with tickets to the play. She will know you love her and will appreciate the trouble you go through to make the night special.

Meaningful Gifts

As you become closer throughout the holiday season, you can think about what type of gift to get for him or her. As a man, you just need to listen to her and she will give you plenty of great ideas. You can also use What She Buys online to help you figure out some different ideas for gifts. Women, you may have to ask a few questions to really figure out what he wants and what type of gift will show him how much you care.

The holiday season is a great time to become closer to everybody you love, especially your significant other. It's a time of giving and a time for family. Use this holiday season to grow as a couple and it might just affect your relationship for the rest of the year.

--guest post

New Winners to Announce

Hooray for all these new winners!
Enter more giveaways HERE!

PetSmart Holiday Costume or Toy...Janet Fri

Heart of Haiti Songbird Picture Frame...Tracy Allen

Simple Food for Busy Families book...Brittany Christianson

ReUsies Snack and Sandwich Bags...Elle Tucker

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook...James Coyne

Status Update Wristbands...Rebekah Mercier

Fierce Women book...Linda White

Terro Spider Killer...Melissa Griffith and Rozy Nozy

Entertain Like a Gentleman book...Rab Pom

Peanut Butter Cake Recipe - with Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil? Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. 
When I received my jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, I did some reading on their website to see how I could use it. I discovered that coconut oil can be used in place of any other oil in cooking and offers health benefits that other oils don't offer. I checked the pantry and decided I had the ingredients on hand to create a Peanut Butter Cake recipe for you! Enjoy!
RECIPE: PEANUT BUTTER CAKE by Lisa Weidknecht
Ingredients needed - Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, butter, sugar, creamy peanut butter, egg, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, water, peanut butter chips.
First, I got a mixing bowl. Then I melted 1/2 stick of butter in a measuring cup in my microwave. I poured the butter into the mixing bowl.
I opened the jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. I was surprised it was semi-solid. Reading the label revealed that it's shelf-stable and needs no refrigeration, even after opening. I used a spoon and scooped 1/4 cup of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil out, then added it to the mixing bowl.
Then I added 3/4 cup of granulated white sugar to the mixing bowl. As soon as I opened the jar of peanut butter, my dog Buddy appeared. I guess he knows the sound well. Using a spoon, I scooped out 1/3 cup of peanut butter from the jar, then let Buddy finish the little bit left in the jar.
I added the peanut butter to the mixing bowl, wishing once again that I owned one of those fancy kitchen stand mixers because I knew I was about to make another mess with my pathetic little hand mixer. I keep praying the motor will burn out so I have an excuse to buy a stand mixer, but this old thing has already lasted for about 25 years.
Arming myself with a spatula for scraping and a pile of wet paper towels nearby (in anticipation of the batter likely to fly around the kitchen), I set my hand mixer in the bowl and took cover.
I mixed the bowl of ingredients until it was creamy, scraped the sides, wiped my counter and shirt off, and mixed a bit more.
Then I added one large egg to the mixing bowl. Next to add was the vanilla extract and apparently the design of the lid is different now. It used to be a tiny hole, now it's an open pour spout.
Fortunately, my 1/2 tsp was hovering above the batter when the vanilla extract poured generously over the sides of my measuring spoon. I'm guessing the extract spill was close to 1/2 tsp, so I didn't add any more to the bowl.
Once again, I grabbed my everlasting pathetic hand mixer and beat the batter until it was mixed well. I cleaned up the sticky counter and sticky shirt, then set aside the wet batter for the moment.
I grabbed another mixing bowl and added 1 and 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 tsp of salt. Luckily, I was able to measure those correctly.
I used a fork to stir the dry ingredients together. Even without the hand mixer, I was able to flip flour all over the countertop. Yay me!
I added the dry ingredient mix to the wet ingredient mix a little at a time, mixing well, then adding more, and mixing again. The batter starting clumping too much, so I added 1/2 cup of water to the batter.
The batter became beautiful smooth and creamy. Most of it even stayed in the mixing bowl this time. At this point, I remembered I was supposed to preheat my oven, so I turned it on to 350 degrees F.
A good mom always lets you lick the beaters. A great mom turns them off first! Since none of my teenagers were around, Buddy got lucky this time.
I measure just over a cup of peanut chips out of the bag, tossed in a few extras, then used the spatula to fold the peanut butter chips into the batter.
As the cook, it's my responsibility to taste the batter and make sure it's safe and delicious for the poor victims who will be eating it later. So I did. Delicious!
I poured the batter into an ungreased 9" x 13" metal pan, managing to not make a mess at all this time. It's a great day!
Using the side of the spatula, I spread the batter around in the pan evenly. I even made a nice swirly pattern but decided it needed something else on top anyway. Chocolate! Of course!
I found a bottle of chocolate syrup in the refrigerator. My boys love chocolate milk, so I always have some on hand. I created a nice little drizzly pattern all over the top of the peanut butter batter.
While the oven finished preheating, I was cleaning up the ingredients and rather than eat the remaining peanut butter chips straight out of the bag, I decided to add them to the top of the chocolate drizzle.
I baked the Peanut Butter Cake in a 350 degree F oven for 40 minutes, inserted a toothpick to make sure it was done in the center, then pulled it out and set it on a wire rack. Suddenly everyone in the house smelled something delicious and appeared. I made them wait until it was cool, then I cut it into squares.
It's absolutely heavenly! Everyone in my family loves it. My husband was thrilled when I showed him all the information about their coconut oil. I can't wait to try lots of other recipes with my stash of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. And maybe I'll ask Santa for a stand mixer.
Visit Tropical Traditions to order this wonderful coconut oil and get more information. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter too!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.