Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil: My Review and Giveaway!

I recently received from Tropical Traditions a sample of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.  I must say that at first I was at a loss as to what to do with this product.  After discovering a wealth of recipes here that problem was quickly solved!  Take a look at how easy this one for Roasted Winter Squash Soup really is:

Roasted Winter Squash Soup


4 cups roasted winter squash

1 large onion, diced

2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil

32 oz chicken or vegetable broth

32 oz regular milk or unsweetened almond milk

2 tablespoons Coconut Cream Concentrate

pinch of nutmeg

Seed and cut the squash and bake in 1/2 inch of water in a pan at 350 for about 1 1/2 hours.

When the squash is done, sauté onion in coconut oil for a few minutes until caramelized. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer together in a pot. Season with salt and cayenne to taste. Blend mixture in blender until smooth and return to pot to warm before serving.


Doesn't that sound like a yummy addition to your holiday meals?

The Tropical Traditions website has a whole host of information related to the use of coconut.  Check out this video about how  “How We Discovered Virgin Coconut Oil - An Interview with Brian Shilhavy, CEO
Tropical Traditions”

They also have a referral program where you can receive a FREE book with your first order, "Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy".

Here's what you have to do to get the free book: ( it is a little complicated so I advise that you contact customer service  if it is too confusing)

If you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my sponsor ID number… 5627928. By telling Tropical Traditions that I referred you, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy with your first order! This book is filled with testimonies and research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how one can incorporate coconut into their diet. Here are some easy to use directions for your referrals:

1. Add the items you would like to purchase from the order form linked to Tropical Traditions. Visit www.healthybuyersclub.com/orderform.cfm

2. You'll be directed to the Order Form at the Tropical Traditions/Healthy Buyers Club website. You do not have to be a member or purchase a membership to buy from Tropical Traditions. Membership in the Healthy Buyers Club allows you to purchase in bulk amount at club member discounts if you choose to join. If you choose not to purchase a membership to the Healthy Buyers Club please order under the heading “Retail Sale Items”. This will enable you to purchase less than case amounts of any of the individual items without a membership.

3. Select the items you would like to purchase.

4. When you are ready to check out please click on the "Continue'' link which will take you to your shopping cart.

5. Review your order and then click on the "Check Out" button from your shopping cart.

6. Fill in your account information as directed. In the box: "How did you hear of us?'' you must select: "Referred by a friend'' on the drop down arrow. When you make this selection, a box for your sponsor's User ID number should appear if you are a first time customer.

7. Enter your sponsor's User ID number 5627928.

8. To complete your order click on "Save and Proceed to Checkout" at the bottom of this page and follow the instructions through the checkout process. You will receive an order number when you have successfully placed your order.

By following these steps, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy. Your sponsor will receive a coupon for a complimentary gift to redeem on their next order.

If you have stuck with me until this part of the post, you have reached your reward!  Tropical Traditions has agreed to sponsor a give-a-way of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Certified Organic 1 Quart (32 FL. oz.)  which is exactly the product that I was provided with by Tropical Traditions!

Here's what you have to do:

(1) You MUST be a follower of my blog ( this will be verified)

AND

(2) You MUST subscribe to the Tropical Traditions email Sales Newsletter via this link!

BOTH  (1) and (2) MUST be done for your initial entry!  Leave me ONE comment stating that both items were completed and make sure the email address that you subscribed to the newsletter with is provided within your comment.

If you want additional entries:

(3) Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway ( leave one comment with a link to your tweet)

(4) Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post.

Give-a-way to run until 11:59 pm EST on December 9, 2009.  Winner will be chosen via Random.org.  Email will be sent to winner with a response needed within 72 hours of winning email with shipping information.  If winner does not respond to email, an alternate winner will be chosen.  Good only within the continental USA.  Make sure you leave a contact email within your post or check to make sure that I can email you via your blogger profile. 

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was
under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

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Happy 16th Birthday to My Daughter, Sarah!

Yep, today is Sarah's 16th birthday!  I can't believe that this child has now become this child!!

Where did all the years go?

Twilight New Moon: Why I loved the movie but hated the ending!

Last night, Sarah and I went to the Lafayette Theater to see the new Twilight movie.  I enjoyed the first one although to be honest I have never read any of the books  (yet). 

The movie itself was quite enjoyable; good music, great special effects, a good overall storyline, and appropriate to see with my soon to be sixteen year old daughter.  What I did not like was the abrupt way that it ended ( I won't give it away for any of my readers who have yet to see it).

I have nothing against a movie that opens itself up for a sequel ( or in this case a double sequel) and I have been told that the way the movie ended is the same way that the book ended.  I needed closure on some level to at least one the the storylines in order to feel "satisfied" that the story had a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

That is what was missing - and ending.  To me it all felt abrupt and unfinished.

But then again, I am a not a swooning teenager on either Team Edward or Team Jacob.

Your thoughts?

To Sleep Perchance Not to Sneeze All Night Long: My Review of the Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protector ( and the best part is that it will include a give-a-way of the same product too!)

I have a great life.  I really do.  Granted, not everything is the way that I would want it, but overall I am a pretty happy person, although I struggle with chronic allergies and asthma.  There is nothing that can quite kill a good mood like an allergy attack, especially one that occurs in the middle of the night.  I am particularly allergic to dust mites so it is a given that when I climb into bed I stand a good chance of having an attack as soon as I drift off into a peaceful slumber.  I have pillow encasements on all my pillows and had been using a mattress protector as well but it didn't seem to be doing me much good.

I was offered the opportunity to test for this review a Premium Mattress Protector from Protect-A-Bed!  Although I was provided with one with no cost to me by Protect-A-Bed, I really took my time and gave this product a month to see if it could deliver and it sure has!  I have seen a significant reduction in my night-time allergy attacks and I am a much happier person during the day.  It was easy to use and very comfortable to sleep on. 

Here's some info provided by the company which does a good job explaining what makes their product different then the other mattress protectors offered for sale:

Protect-A-Bed mattress and pillow products:



• Are made of a natural terry cotton surface that stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, providing a soft, quiet and comfortable sleep zone.

• Are ultra thin with four-way stretch that does not detract from the comfort of the mattress.

• Feature the proprietary Miracle Membrane®, a new age air vapor porous fabric, which is waterproof and protects against all liquids and bodily fluids that may otherwise revoke a mattress’s warranty.

• Are especially helpful in cases of incontinence and bed wetting.

• Include Allerzip® mattress encasements, which feature the patented Bug Lock® three-sided zipper system with Secure Seal™, the world’s first scientifically proven bed bug entry, escape and bite proof innovation.

• Are hypoallergenic to permit a hygienic and anti-allergy sleep zone.

• Prevent dust mites, bacteria and other allergens from breeding in a mattress, which can cause respiratory illnesses like asthma, eczema and rhinitis.

• Can be machine-washed and tumble-dried up to 200 times without losing effectiveness.

• Are recognized as a Class 1 Medical Device by the Food and Drug Administration and have received the Good Housekeeping Seal.

• Are manufactured in all bed sizes, including a unique crib-sized protector which stretches to fit tightly like a fitted-sheet.

In addition to the mattress protector I was given for review, they also make full mattress encasements, mattress pads,  crib protectors, pillow protectors, and other accessories, all with the same features as the item I just reviewed. 


You can purchase Protect-A-Bed products through their website and they are also offered for sale in many retail stores throughout the country.  Here is a dealer locator page to help you find one close to you!

Wishing you a sneeze-free sleep!

If there are other allergy free products out there that work as well as this one did, please let me know!

In the meantime, Protect-A-Bed has graciously offered to sponsor a give-a-way of the very same product that I reviewed in your choice of mattress size for one of my dear readers to win!  Here's what you have to do:

(1) You MUST be a follower of my blog ( this will be confirmed and besides how else will you know about all the fantastic give-a-ways I have planned for the next few weeks)

AND

(2) You MUST visit Protect-a-Bed and tell me another product you would be interested in and why it would help you

This information MUST be left in ONE comment for your initial entry!

For an additional entry:

(3) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this give-a-way.  Leave me the link to that tweet in a seperate comment for your second entry.

(4) Blog about this give-a-way, link back to this post, and leave me a comment with a link to that blog post

Give-a-way will end on December 2, 2009 at 11:50pm EST.  All winning comments will be verified.  Winner will be picked via Random.org and have 72 hours to respond to winning email with shipping information that will be forwarded to sponser for fufillment.  If initial winner does not respond in time, an alternate winner will be selected.  Offer good only for the continental US.

And dear readers...MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS TO CONTACT IF YOU ARE CHOSEN AS A WINNER.  EITHER LEAVE IT IN YOUR POST OR MAKE SURE IT IS VISIBLE IN YOUR BLOGGER PROFILE!

Disney on Ice: Celebrations - My Review of a Fabulous Show!

I had the privilege on Tuesday of attending the opening night of Disney on Ice: Celebrations at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.  What a fabulous show it was!  All my favorite Disney characters, great music, fantastic sets, amazing special effects....this show really had it all!

Here are some pictures Sarah took for you, my dear readers:

That is real "fire" during a Lilo and Stitch number

                                                                                  

It would not be a Disney Show without Mickey Mouse, would it?

Now it is your chance to see this great show at a great discount, courtesy of Mom Central! Use coupon code "MOM" when ordering your tickets. This code is valid for four tickets for $44 for Monday-Friday matinee shows (any additional tickets are still priced at $11), and $4 off Friday night and all weekend shows.

Take it from me....you won't be disappointed!

Let me know what you think of the show!

Shoes: My Secret Obsession (otherwise known as A Give-A-Way from SimplySoles.com)

Okay..I'll admit it. I love SHOES! What red-blooded American woman ever really has enough shoes? No one that I know! I for one talk endlessly with my girlfriends about the newest designer, the latest styles, and the hottest colors.

When I discovered SimplySoles the drool started dripping from the corners of my mouth! A great selection of shoes by the hottest designers and all at a reasonable price.

Like these by Bettye Muller:


or these by Lillybee ( which by the way is exclusive to SimplySoles)




Anyone notice the color on the Lillybee shoes? Can anyone guess why I picked this particular pair?

They also have accessories and tons of other items.

The best part is that they have decided to offer, you, my dear readers, a chance to win a $50 dollar Gift Certificate to their site. If you take a look around, you will find a nice variety of things you can get without spending a dime of your own money. If you feel like splurging, you can apply the gift certificate to that
" to die for" pair of shoes you've always wanted to own. Here's what you have to do:

Main Entry: ( this must be done in order to obtain additional entries)

(1) You MUST be a follower of my blog ( this will be verified)

AND

(2) You MUST comment on your favorite item from SimplySoles

Both (1) and (2) must be in the SAME initial comment!

For additional entries:

- follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway ( please leave link for verification)

- Blog about this give-a-way ( please leave link for verification)

Give-a-way will end on November 25th, 2009 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Potential winner will have 72 hours to respond to winning email. Once verified, information will be forwarded to SimplySoles for fulfillment. If winner does not respond as outlined, an alternate winner will be chosen.

Please Note: Make sure you either have your email visible in your Blogger profile or leave it in your comment. If you don't, I have no way to notify if you are chosen as the winner.

Now go ahead, look around SimplySoles and you too can drool just like I did!

Greening The World: Three Ways at a Time

I wanted to take a moment to let my readers know about LighterSaferGreener.com, a website devoted to spreading the word about " going green". It highlights Airwear eyeglass lenses, which are made from 100% recycled materials. There is also a contest on the site that challenges you to live a greener life.

TwitterMoms, a site I belong to, also challenged me to come up with three ways that I can make the world a greener place.

1 - I already try to use my own cloth bags when I go to the grocery store, but did you even consider using those same cloth bags when you go shopping at the mall? Just think..no more ripped handles, no more broken bags!

2 - For my birthday, my boyfriend Daryl just bought me a Multi-Use Power Pad that charges three electronic devices at a time. Not only is it convenient I found out that I am also saving electricity as well!

3- Instead of just throwing things away when you longer need them, why not FreeCycle? There is a group on Yahoo for every community where you can post unwanted items for free. Other people can then claim the item and pick it up from you. No money is ever charged and lots of items get a new life instead of going to the dump.

What are some of the ways you are living a greener life? Let me know!

Name Your Tune Personalized CD's: A Review

I went to Macy's yesterday to do some shopping and I could not help but notice that the holiday season has begun! With the beginning of the season comes the ultimate search for holiday gifts for those on your list. Always looking out for something a young child can enjoy over and over I came upon a great idea for a gift that I thought I would share with you, my dear readers.

NameYourTune.com is a great company that specializes in personalized music CD's for your child. The winner of an iParenting Media Award, they produce custom CD's consisting of 18 songs that feature the name of the recipient over eighty times! They have a library of over 4000 names and are still growing!

Here is a sampling of the songs on the CD:

1 - If You're Happy and You Know It
2 - Wheels on the Bus
3 - Boom Boom Aint it Great to Be You
4 - Head and Shoulders

and many more!

The CD also comes with a printed label with the name of the child and a special message from you as well!

This makes a great gift and is easily mailed directly to your recipient, at a cost of only $20 or $18/each if you buy two! They also have lots of other personalized products if you want to send a whole package of items!

Take a look at NameYourTune.com yourself!

The Cougher....I Mean The Clapper: A Birthday Gift from My Daughter, Sarah

My birthday was Friday and my family took me to dinner at Mt. Fugi, a Japanese Hibachi restaurant very beautiful ( and very expensive) located in Rockland County, NY. We had a great dinner, a lot of laughs, and I got some great birthday gifts. Among those gifts was " The Clapper", a device made famous by countless late-nite commercials. You know, " Clap On, Clap Off...The Clapper".

Now I wont bore you with the rationale as to why my daughter ( with the help of my boyfriend) decided to buy this for my birthday. Suffice it to say I was under scrutiny by my daughter to get it set up and operational ASAP.

It was actually fairly easy to set up and worked just like the commercials demonstrated. Two hard claps and the lights turn on, two hard claps and it turns off.

Easy and simple.

Now, this should be the end of the story, but we all know that my stories are never simple. Daryl, my boyfriend has the most annoying chronic cough, and after setting this up in the living room, he happened to cough twice...

Yep, you know what comes next! My lights proceeded to turn off! We laughed but the real funny part was when I called Sarah in from her room to see. A coughing match ensued between Daryl and Sarah with the turning on/off of the lights being the coveted prize!

Lol! So now, I not only have a Clapper, I have a Cougher! I'd like to see that in the next commercial!

We have a Winner in the It Works! Body Applicator Give-a Way!

The winner is:

Michele said...
I follow you on twitter

@mrsmiki77

Congratulations and I hope you lose many inches!

We have a Winner for the Family 4-pack to Disney on Ice on Long Island, NY:

It is:

Dwalline said...
My favorite character is goofy! I follow your blog!

Congratulations! And I look forward to hearing back what you thought of the show! BTW...if you see me, stop and say " Hi!".

Please note: I had to end this early due to the need to get the winners info to the sponsor for the " Will Call" list. My apologies to my readers.