Kristian Regale Sparkling Juice Giveaway!

How would you like to win a generous prize selection of non-alcoholic, champagne-like sparkling juices by Kristian Regale?  They are perfect for Holiday Gifts, hostess gifts, non-alcoholic drinks, family friendly, and OU certified kosher!  What's not to love?

All you have to do to enter to win is complete one or more options on the Rafflecopter.  Remember, the more options you complete, the greater your chances of winning!  

Kristian Regale Mocktail Cranberry Spritzer: Non-Alcoholic Product for the Holidays!

I know that for many people the Holidays mean parties both for work and on a personal level and this usually means alcohol.  However, what if you are pregnant or don't drink for any number of reasons? What about all those presents you need to buy for 15 co-workers, 6 school teachers, your neighbor, and heaven forbid all those church members you love!  What in the world do you buy for someone you only know on an acquaintance level? Why not solve both problems by bringing a fabulous "hostess gift" that is a non-alcoholic addition to the drink selections?

Kristian Regale offers a line of sparkling juices made from all natural products, and use as few ingredients as possible.  I feel great as a mom offering my kids a drink that is choc full of antioxidants, and they are even Orthadox Union certified kosher!  My kids love having a drink in mom's "pretty" cup, and the bubbles make them giggle.  I also love that I can enjoy a glass as I am relaxing in the tub or enjoying a quiet evening!

Kristian Regale Sparkling Juices are:

*Preservative free

*Gluten Free

*Caffeine Free

*Alcohol Free

*Contain 25% less sugar 

*Contains Natural Fruit Juice

*Dye Free

I was blessed to try all 6 flavors of Kristian Regale Sparkling Juices, and I discovered they make quick and easy cocktail alternatives.  I was in the mood for a Cranberry Spritzer, so I would like to share with you a recipe I came up with.

Kristian Regale Mocktail Cranberry Spritzer

1/4 cup of Cran-Apple Juice

3/4 cup of Kristian Regale Sparkling Apple Juice

Pour the Cran-Apple Juice in a wine glass/flute and top with the sparkling apple juice.  Enjoy.

Yes, my "recipe" is literally that easy, and it is so good!  The girls loved their "mommy" drink, and Mika loved his "soda."  This is so much better for them than soda, so I am completely sold on this, and can't wait to offer my guests this champagne-like bubbly drink at my Holiday meals and parties!

Kristian Regale has a variety of sparkling juices to choose from that will be the perfect gift for acquaintances, co-workers or your children's teacher!  Don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Twitter so that you can keep up with all their promotions and recipes during the Holiday Season! You can buy the perfect Holiday gift basket, or purchase on Amazon for convenient shipping straight to your front door!

You can also win some for your very own!  That's right, one of my beautiful readers is going to win a prize selection of juices!

Click Here to Enter the Giveaway!

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Kristian Regale for the product(s) I received for review purposes.  All opinions are honest, my own, and unbiased!  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase a product as your opinions may differ from mine.

Update:  This product is actually 25% less in sugar than typical juices and sodas, so in my opinion it is a healthier alternative than soda!

Week 8 with Nutrisystem #NSNation, #Spon

I have officially hit a plateau in my weight loss.  I knew this was coming, and I am okay with it.  However, I would be lying if I didn't admit I am begging the scales to get a move on buster!  The program is pretty self-explanatory and easy, so it had gotten to the point that I was able to know what I should be eating and just do it.

I am really using my online support with Nutrisystem, and that is what makes this program so much better than losing weight on my own.  I have hundreds of people to support me, help answer my questions when I have them, and they have experience with this.  Many of them have been losing way longer than me so they have excellent advice, and there are even more who have reached their goal weight and give excellent advice and moral support.

This week I am paying very close attention to what I am eating in my handy dandy Nutrisystem journal, and I am trying to switch things up.  Several forum members suggested this as a way to get my body to move past this plateau so this is my goal this week.  Regardless, I am still 18 pounds lighter than I was 8 weeks ago so I am thrilled!  Also, I am staying positive because some of my measurement numbers went down some this week as well, so I am seeing it in my clothes if not on the scale itself!


Starting Measurements:

Upper Arms: 15.0

Chest: 49.8

Waist: 54.0

Hips: 59.0

Thighs: 23.6

Current Measurements:

Upper Arms: 13.0

Chest: 46.0

Waist: 49.0

Hips: 54.3

Thighs: 19.5

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem

*Nutrisystem is providing me with 4 months of free food and support service as part of the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger program. In exchange, I will be posting each week with my progress. All thoughts expressed are my own, and my experience using the system may vary from that of other participants.*  

Asking a favor: Vote for me please!

My washing machine has not been working properly for a while now, and as anyone with kids knows, this is a real issue!  I have six of us here and doing daily laundry is a must just to keep a clean house!  I need a new washer and am trying to win one, so please vote for my family to win this one!  This is an easy one click vote, so please help.

                    Vote By Clicking Here!

Packaways-The Perfect Storage Box Solution!

Awhile back I shared with you my new favorite eco-friendly storage solution:  Packaways Boxes.  They are super sturdy, bright colors, super easy to assemble-so easy my 3 year old found one and assembled it himself to use as a choo choo train, and collapsible.  Did I mention how sturdy they are?  See the part about the 3 year old, Demolition Mika who used it for a choo choo train?  Yeah, he sat in it, jumped in it, played in it,  packed it full of miscellaneous toys, and it is still going strong.  

NO other box lasts this long.  I have gone through umteen cardboard boxes that were destroyed within an hour that don't begin to be as sturdy as Packaways boxes.  I have even let Mika play choo choos in those super sturdy rubber storage containers from the store to find out they will crack within a day.  Guess what?  If Packaways boxes withstand Mika, they are the only boxes for me from now on!

Besides sturdy, my favorite feature is the white label on the boxes.  I can write what is in the box now, but later erase it so I can re-label with whatever new item I place in the box.  I tell you, they had me in mind when they created these fabulous boxes.  They are a tad pricey upfront, but when you realize how much use you can get out of these boxes,and how little space they take up when not in use, the cost really isn't an issue!  You can view all the different colors and sizes at Packaways and Facebook has some great use ideas along with any promotions going on!

Please do your own due diligence when determining whether to purchase a product as your opinion may differ from mine.

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.

Best Ever Healthy Whole Wheat Buns Recipe for the Bread Machine!

That's right, I use a bread machine, and I'm PROUD of it!  Yes, I know, a real baker will use brawn and muscle to knead that dough by hand lovingly, and I know how to do this very well.  But, why would I, if I have a handy dandy machine that will do the work for me leaving me time to do something equally important?  I wouldn't.  There are some pretty great recipes out there for the bread machine, but I am discovering that "whole wheat" usually doesn't really mean whole wheat.  Most recipes call for 2 cups of white flour to 1 cup of whole wheat, and you still have to add in wheat gluten.

The reasoning behind this is that the gluten is what makes your bread soft and yummy, and white flour naturally has more gluten in it.  The additional gluten is to make up for the gluten the whole wheat is lacking.  Perfect, right?  If you don't have diabetic issues or gluten sensitivity which we have both of in our home.  A recipe with this ratio of white to wheat only has 1 gram of fiber in it so it won't properly slow down how fast the carbohydrates break down .  It all sounds confusing, but the easy way to remember is that your bread, pasta, and crackers need to have at LEAST 3 grams of fiber per serving for a diabetic. I'm not a doctor, but my Pediatrician told me this is the ratio to look for on the nutritional label.    Also, remember that every 4 grams of sugar equals 1 tsp, so baking recipes with sugar should be substituted with Splenda.  My recipe is a tad heartier than rolls you buy in the store, but it is in my opinion better for me.


Allyson's Bread Machine Whole Wheat Hamburger/Hot Dog Buns

3 cups of whole wheat flour
1 organic egg
1 cup of water
1 tps salt
1/4 cup of Splenda
1/4 cup of Virgin Coconut Oil (click the link to find out more about my favorite brand)
3 TBS of Instant Yeast or a packet of the brands you see at the market

Place all of your ingredients in your Bread Machine pan and press the dough setting.

When the timer goes off indicating the bread has risen enough, remove the dough, roll it into a 12 inch "snake" and cut into 8 equal pieces for hamburger buns or 12 inches for hot dog buns

Grease your cooking pan or use a Silpat as I do. You can read more about the wonders of Silpat by clicking the link.  I promise once you use a Silpat you won't ever want to mess with greasing a cookie sheet again!

Shape the dough into balls for hamburger rolls or cylindar shapes for hot dog rolls, place on the pan, cover, and let rise until almost double.  You can speed up the rising time by placing a bowl of boiling water under the pan.

Tuesday's Giveaways-Come Link Up!

I am going to start hosting a Tuesday Giveaway Linky for my readers and other bloggers.  This will allow you to find other great blogs to follow and enter giveaways.  It is also a great resource for other bloggers to gain more following.

Simple Rules:

*Link up as many giveaways as you want to.  The more the merrier!

* Please use the format below.  I will delete if the format is different, so please help us out by doing it correctly!

Name of prize, Ending Date

*It's not required, but I would love if you would follow me in some sort of way. Again, all are welcome regardless!

*PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT when you are done posting your giveaways.

*How about showing some other blogger love while you are here?  Not mandatory, but if you see a giveaway that looks interesting, jet on over and get your entries in before it's too late!

Fun Halloween Picture Modification!

It's that time of year, that my normally all work and little play self starts having lots of fun.  Hey, what's more fun than Halloween?

I wanted to share this with you, because it is such fun.  I always edit my photos with Pic Monkey because I have the world's greatest, yet most unsophisticated camera in the world.  It's a Sony Bloggie Touch, and I honestly love it.  It's a snap and go, hooks up to Facebook, I can download quickly, and I can even take short videos.  Awesome right?  Yes, and no.  It has no flash. So for marketing purposes, it's about the same quality as your iPhone pics!

No problem, Pic Monkey to the rescue. I can do everything from add lighting and even cut the pictures to get great angles and  make sure the product is shown in the best way.  I never touch up my product, but we all know that the best product in the world can look pretty bad if it's an overcast day with no flash!

For Halloween, they have some great photo editor options where you can make your pictures Vampire, Zombie, and much more!  I had the best time last night at 10 pm playing, and you can see for yourself this is such fun!  I am going to let my kids do their own pictures today, and I know they will be so excited!  So go ahead, touch up those photos, and show me what great Vampires and Witches you make!

Halloween Naturally Giveaway!

Elegant Minerals offers a safe alternative to harsh petroleum-based products. All of their colors are lead-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and made in the USA. You will get all the benefits of mineral make-up in your Halloween Make-up. The prize pack includes all of these colors: White, Black, Light Blue, Royal Blue, Light Green, Dark Green, Aqua, Purple, Hot Pink, Red, Silver, Gold, Yellow, Orange, and Brown. Also included are: 1 - 12 count package of latex-free sponges, 1 - 5 piece package of latex-free disposable applicators and 1 bottle of organic make-up remover.  I love using natural products for my family because I know they are safer for their young bodies.  It's refreshing to know I can stay natural even for Halloween!

WELCOME TO THE HALLOWEEN NATURALLY GIVEAWAY FROM BLOG IT FORWARD MEDIA

With Halloween just around the corner, Blog It Forward Media is bringing you the perfect prize pack to get your little goblins ready for the big event. The two sponsors for this event are YumEarth Candy and Elegant Minerals.

YumEarth Candy is offering a 3 pound bag of their delicious Organic Lollipops

YumEarth is a brand of candy produced by YummyEarth. Everything YummyEarth makes is certified organic or all natural, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and has no chemical colors, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. YumEarth Organics Lollipops come in eight mouthwatering flavors: Very Very Cherry, Too Berry Blueberry, Strawberry Smash, Sour Apple Tart, Pomegranate Pucker, Razzmatazz Berry, Mango Tango and Wet-Face Watermelon.

To make all your costumes as authentic as possible, Elegant Minerals is offering a complete set of Face Paints in 15 colors along with all the tools you will need to apply the make-up as well as the remover to return your ghoul to normal after all the fun.   Enter to win today! This contest closes on October 16, 2012. Good Luck! 

Minted Holiday Cards Review and Giveaway

It's hard to believe, but it is time to start thinking about the Holiday Season.  I know, it doesn't seem like it has been a whole year, but it has!  It's time to think about cooking, purchasing presents, and family portraits for Holiday cards that need to be addressed and sent out!

It can cost a fortune just for the pictures alone, and then you have to purchase the cards which are never inexpensive and stamps.  Last year, I discovered an awesome way to cut out some of the expense: Holiday Photo Cards!.

Minted offers a large variety of paper products from wedding needs, birth announcements, birthday invitations, and even Holiday Cards.  With Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years Day coming up, many of you are in the market for cards right now so I want to tell you about their Holiday selection.  They offer photo and non-photo cards with several paper options, and I love that they have literally hundreds of options on 100% recycled paper!

That's right, we can reduce our impact on the Earth even at Christmas time by purchasing eco-friendly, recycled cards!  They get the My Wild Crazy Life Seal of Approval simply for offering options that reduce their carbon footprint!

  You can discover the large selection of paper products and Holiday cards Minted offers, and keep up with their latest promotions on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.  You can also Win your Holiday cards this year!  That's right, Minted is offering one of my lovely readers a $100 Gift Card good towards their Holiday card purchase!  Just complete one or more options on the Rafflecopter to be entered!

Molly's Suds Dog Wash & Giveaway 10/7

Last week I shared with you a review and giveaway of a great company Molly's Suds, an eco-friendly company which was started by an RN on a mission to bring only the safest products into her home for her children to use.

Why Use Molly's Suds:

•  Paraben-Free
• Chemical-free
• Phosphate-free,
• Never Tested on Animals
• Contain's no SLS/SLES
• Dye-Free

As you can see, Molly's Suds is the perfect solution for my family, and that's enough, right?  No!  Molly's Suds offers solutions even for our pets! Molly's Suds Dog Wash doesn't suds, is dye free and paraben-free, but contains essential oils.  This makes it perfect for dogs (cats don't really like essential oils) and these oils help fend off fleas!

This has been a serious issue in our area for the last two years.  I don't know if it is because we have had mild winters, or what; however, the fleas have become immune to the prescription flea medicines that the Vet has given us to put between the dog's shoulder blades.  This dog was provides relief for Kimbo who has been a tad itchy this year.  I HAVE been bathing him more, but these oils really have helped him with his itch.  Also, it has helped keep the fleas off of him, which is awesome.  I still bathe him often, but since the soap contains oils, it doesn't dry him out!

From now until October 5, you can get 20% off your ENTIRE order by entering the code CRAZY20 !  Also, don't forget to jump over and get your entries in to win 128 loads of Laundry Wash and a full sized bottle of Dog Wash!