AE & JW working on forever...

Lawry's can make Monday Night Football even better!

2011-09-15T13:25:00.000-04:00

BzzAgent.com is looking for BzzAgents to try Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Seasoning Mixes & I would be perfect for this new Campaign. Monday nights in my household are made for chicken wings, marinades, dips, and football. We love trying new sauces for the wings and getting opinions from everyone. Not only would they be great for Monday but practically every night because we grill a lot like tonight I have already taken the ribs out of the freezer.

I am a BuzzAgent & was not compensated to write this but am trying to join the Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Seasoning Mixes campaign. *Fingers Crossed*

Our "New" House

2011-09-04T14:54:00.001-04:00

Side View

Side view of screened in porch

Front Door

We started working at the house today trying to clear out the yard so the house is more assessable. It will be a long drawn out process but has to be done for insurance purposes. And of course trouble occurs when you start clearing out debris that hasn't been touched in years for instance yellow jackets:

Ritani Treasure Quest Votes needed

2011-05-01T14:13:00.000-04:00

Another voting period has arrived. This is the story (JW's version) of how we met. It is labled "White Lighter." Please vote for us. http://tinyurl.com/3mnxtfu

I appreciate it & if you would like the favor returned please feel free to ask anytime for my vote on anything. Thank You So Much!

Vote for me Please!

2011-04-17T23:37:00.000-04:00

I know I have been a slacker on blogging. Life has been busy. I am working towards graduation from college. But I would like to take a minute to ask my fellow followers to take a second and vote for me. http://apps.facebook.com/ritanitreasurequest/contests/107181/voteable_entries/20001374?order=votes

Voting ends tomorrow at noon and I would really appreciate it & will gladly return the favor if you just post a comment. Thank You So Much!

CSN Stores Upcoming Review

2010-06-28T15:58:00.000-04:00

I had so much fun hosting my first CSN giveaway that I jumped at the chance to review an item of my choice. Now let me tell you this was no easy task picking something out because you could spend hours checking out all their websites. Items included are stunning dining room tables, cookware, and even pets.
I thought about my readers/followers, what might interest them, and something that would be fun to review for the Summer Time. I am going to keep the suspense and tell you what it actually is in my review post so be sure to check back.

got2b smooth operator with cashmere Review

2010-06-27T21:34:00.000-04:00

As a Bzz Agent I recently signed up to be a product tester for got2b smooth operator with cashmere. I received samples for the smoothing lustre lotion and a coupon for a free 6.8 oz product. However, I realized after I used my coupon it was not the same as the product samples because it did not have the so-called cashmere but it was still just as good and I honestly could not tell you the difference.

Charmed Life Lesson #18: Know when to skimp and when to splurge -- but it's always more fun to splurge!

This is a great product for the summer weathers in North Carolina, it was light weight and reduced frizz. I used it with towel dried hair and after blow drying. It worked well either way and I have really long hair. I love that it contains an UV protectant and the smell is wonderful, honestly it is one of the best smelling hair products I have probably ever used. I would defiantly recommend this product but my only downside is the price, at CVS I found it for $7, which in my opinion is a bit steep for such a small bottle so be sure to look for coupons.

Want a chance to win a Tiffany's Key Necklace?!?

2010-06-27T20:02:00.000-04:00

Maddycakes Muse is hoping to reach 1,000 by her birthday, August 14th & when she does she will give away a really awesome gift, a Tiffany Co. Key Heart Necklace. I have always wanted one but of course being a college student doesn't allow for splurging. So please help her reach her goal and enter for a chance to win. If you do become a follower please leave a comment with Ashley Elaine (my name) because I referred you. Thank You So Much!

$15 Wal-Mart Gift Card Giveaway @ Get Along Home

2010-06-27T19:17:00.000-04:00

Get Along Home has a Febreze Home Collection Review & Giveaway that ends July 16. There are 104 comments so far.

Moms Wear Your Tees.com

2010-06-27T16:45:00.000-04:00

Social Media Marketing to Promote Your Website

I Love June

2010-06-21T16:10:00.000-04:00

Today is the first day of summer which means tomorrow is my Birthday! Hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather, it is very hot & humid in NC.

Free Undies

2010-06-14T18:37:00.000-04:00

Are you a Smart Ass Thong Facebook Fan? If not you may want to become one because they are giving away a free pair of thongs to the first 20 people who email them once they reach 200 fans. So far there are 181.

Another candle giveaway!

2010-06-12T21:34:00.000-04:00

I love candles & I love to enter giveaways to win candles. The Giveaway Lady is giving away one lucky winner their choice of scent from Luminarias Candles. Giveaway ends June 18th.

unpaint is having a giveaway!

2010-06-12T21:25:00.000-04:00

unpaint is giving away a Perfect Gardenia candle from Timothy Jay Candles. Giveaway ends June 18 and so far there are only 12 comments.

Waterwaif is having a giveaway!

2010-06-10T12:45:00.000-04:00

So I stumbled upon an etsy shop that I love, Waterwaif . She also has a personal blog, where she host giveaways from other etsy shops. The most recent giveaway I entered is the Mother of Pearl earrings from Amyfine's Etsy shop. They are gorgeous and pearl is my birthstone & my birthday is coming up soon (June 22) I would love to won these *fingers crossed* Giveaway ends June 23.

Last day to enter at Whatever DeeDee Wants

2010-06-06T11:59:00.000-04:00

Whatever DeeDee Wants She's Gonna Get It is giving away a Zwilling JA Henckels 8 piece steak knife set from CSN Stores. Giveaway ends tonight at midnight and so far there are only 77 comments.

Classy Covet is giving away another pair of zooshoo shoes!

2010-06-02T21:46:00.000-04:00

One lucky person will win a pair of super cute flats from zooshoo at classy covet. the winner will be able to chose their favorite color. (I personally love the turquoise) giveaway ends june 30th.

Please Vote for Bear, my dog!

2010-05-26T10:52:00.000-04:00

I have entered Bear into a contest on FaceBook to win a Kakadu Pet Adventure Mat. I would appreciate it if you would take the time to vote. Just click here. Thank You so Much!

Etsy it Up! is having a giveaway

2010-05-24T23:02:00.000-04:00

Esty it Up! is giving away a choice of shirt from cafe press. Giveaway ends May 31st.

Smokey ShadowBlast & ShineBlast Lipgloss

2010-05-23T12:05:00.000-04:00

I was picked as a BzzAgent to review the new Smokey ShadowBlast & ShineBlast Lipgloss.

I am not real sure what color of the ShineBlast lipgloss I reviewed but I love it. It isn't sticky like most lipgloss. The smell is great and the color is perfect. The only downside I have found is the price is a bit much for such a small tube.

The Smokey ShadowBlast that I reviewed was Temptest Blue. I never wear blue makeup so I thought it would be fun to try something new. There are 2 steps to achieve the smokey look, the first is the round light blue and the second is the pointed darker blue. I found it easy to apply but both ends of mine did break because I twisted them out too much like the picture but obviously that was a bad idea. It took several coats and I loved the color but it did wear off very easily. Since then I have tried the Onyx Smoke and it was much easier to achieve the smokey look Overall, I think Cover Girl needs to make a few improvements for me to actually buy the product.

Covergirl Review

2010-05-18T23:59:00.000-04:00

I recently signed on as a BzzAgent for the new Covergirl ShadowBlast & LipShine campaign. I should be posting my review in the next few days.

Free Rubbermaid at SheSpeaks?

2010-05-18T23:52:00.000-04:00

I have heard that SheSpeaks.com is offering a free Rubbermaid set to certain members. I am not one of the lucky few. I think it is based on a certain region and many have received emails regarding it. I have been enrolled in programs in the past so it is worth checking into if you are not already a member & if you like to review products for free.

Classy covet is having a giveaway!

2010-05-15T19:42:00.000-04:00

Go here to enter for a chance to wear a cute pair of summer sandals from ZooSho!

Debbiedoos loves livin in the carolinas is having a giveaway!

2010-05-13T18:32:00.000-04:00

Enter here for a chance to win either a pink Coach bag or a fabulous gold Kathy bag. Giveaway ends May 24th!

Katydid & Kid is giving away A Brown Ribbon Crusher Hat!

2010-04-21T11:42:00.000-04:00

Katydid & Kid is giving away A Brown Ribbon Crusher hat with 5.5" brim. Giveaway ends May 2nd.

And We Have a Winner...

2010-04-19T18:54:00.002-04:00

I let JW have the pleasure of picking a random number and he said 9 so Jennifer is our winner! Congrats! I have contacted you.

Jennifer said...

I follow you on Twitter (@jkgorcery) #2

Lisa Cooking.com is having a Giveaway!

2010-04-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

Lisa Cooking is giving away a pair of Mary's Marinating Sticks.

Color Outside the Lines is having a giveaway!

2010-04-17T16:53:00.000-04:00

Color outside the Lines is giving away $100 towards CSN Lighting! Giveaway ends April 24th.

"Nourish Your Inner Goddess" Giveaway

2010-04-14T20:34:00.001-04:00

I love yogurt & it doesn't hurt that it is an excellent source of calcium and protein. Yoplait has teamed up with Izabella Miko, who plays Greek Goddess Athena in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ film new epic feature film “Clash of the Titans,” which launched in theatres on April 2 in 3D to encourage women to nourish their inner goddess. It is in celebration of their new Greek yogurt that is now available in 4 delicious flavors:

Strawberry
Blueberry
Plain
Honey Vanilla

I have tried Strawberry and I loved how smooth and rich the flavor is. I had never had greek yogurt before so I wasn't sure what to expect but I was truly surprised & happy. I plan on using it as a substitution to sour cream in recipes and even trying a few of the Yoplait Greek recipes.

Win It!

Thanks to MyBlogSpark One lucky reader will win a Yoplait Greek yogurt “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” gift pack in the above picture that includes a pair of slippers, plush towel wrap around, Bath spa set and 2 VIP Free coupons for Greek yogurt of your choice!

To Enter: Please tell me which flavor you are most interested in trying & why you think you deserve to "Nourish Your Inner Goddess" . This is mandatory and must be done before all other entries can count.

Leave a separate comment for each one you complete and please leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.

Become a follower of my blog. 2 extra entries
Follow me on twitter. 2 extra entries
Tweet about this giveaway. 1 extra entry

Giveaway ends April 18th. Good Luck!

Disclosure: The VIP coupons, gift pack, information and additional gift pack to give away to one of my readers were all given to me from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. Any opinions made by me are purely my own.

*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

Hey, A Mom Can Dream is having a giveaway!

2010-04-14T20:03:00.000-04:00

Hey?! A Mom Can Dream is giving away a pair of OKA b. Shoes. Giveaway ends April 27th.

Coffee Break with Liz and Kate is having a Giveaway!

2010-04-12T20:47:00.000-04:00

Coffee Break with Liz and Kate is giving away a Red and White Polka Dot Slouch Purse. So cute! Ends April 18th.

A Bluebonnet in Beantown is having a giveaway!

2010-04-08T22:35:00.002-04:00

Enter a great giveaway for a Zwilling JA Henckels Twin Signature 8" Chef's Knife from CSN Stores at A Bluebonnet in Beantown. Ends April 14th.

The Twinners(R&G) are having a giveaway!

2010-04-08T21:30:00.000-04:00

The Twinners Reviews & Giveaways is giving away Monopoly Deal Card Game for Family Game Month. It ends April 17th.

Please Vote For Me!

2010-04-04T09:56:00.000-04:00

Please vote for me in the Name That Bling contest... I created the name Sunflower Fields. Thank You So Much!

Lauren Nicole is having a giveaway!

2010-03-30T13:11:00.000-04:00

Lauren Nicole Jewelry & Gifts is giving away these adorable Wax Seal Pendents during the month of April.

This Mama Rocks Giveaway: Built Laptop Sleep

2010-03-29T20:15:00.000-04:00

This Mama Rocks is giving away a Built Laptop Sleeve. Giveaway ends April 12th.

Solutions Sleuth is having a giveaway!

2010-03-22T23:55:00.000-04:00

Solutions Sleuth is giving away adorable Lunch Box Love cards. *Fingers crossed* Giveaway ends March 27.

Need a Tan?

2010-03-21T21:29:00.000-04:00

Just in time for the warm weather Bella's Beauty Spot is giving away a Mystic Perfect Tan Kit. Giveaway ends April 4th.

Love Hope Faith has a Giveaway!

2010-03-21T20:54:00.000-04:00

Love Hope Faith Blog is giving away an adorable Thermal Tote from Thirty-One Gifts!

Free VS Tank Top

2010-03-17T12:46:00.000-04:00

Victoria Secret has reached 1 million members in the PINK Nation. So if you are an existing member head on over to here and log in to print off a coupon for a FREE Tank Top!

Victoria Secret Pink Nation Coupon

2010-03-10T19:19:00.000-05:00

Are you a member of the Victoria Secret Pink Nation? Well if not go and sign up so you can get a coupon for a $10 V-Neck T-Shirt dress cover up that retails for $19.50. They are still running the Mystery Reward card deal so you will get a card worth $10 or more so this makes a pretty sweet deal.

Yoplait Smoothie

2010-03-09T17:51:00.000-05:00

Pssst... A General Mills product review that I have blogged about in the past sent me a coupon to try the new Yoplait Smoothies for free along with some $1.25/1 that I have given out to friends and family. Well I used the free coupon for the Triple Berry awhile back but the weather hasn't seemed like smoothie weather until today. Today's weather has been great by the way which is good considering my morning got off onto a horrible start but back to smoothies.... They are available in 3 fruit combinations: Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Strawberry Mango Pineapple. I don't like Banana's or Pineapple so my obvious choice was Triple Berry that includes strawberry, blueberries, and raspberries, with yummy yogurt pieces so I have no opinion about the flavors.

They are real simple to make by just adding a cup of milk and blending. The serving size in one bag is 2 cups and of course I ate the whole bag by myself. It is satisfying knowing that it contains 1 full serving of fruit and an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin if prepared with milk the way it states on the package. It also contains Yoplait yogurt pieces that contain live and active cultures. If you would like to try them for yourself and perhaps you like the other flavors you can use this $1.25 coupon.

Bath & Body Works Free Shipping Code

2010-03-08T16:16:00.000-05:00

Bath & Body Works is offering FREE Shipping on all items today only! Use the code SHIP4FREE at checkout.

White-Chocolate Chip Brownies

2010-03-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

So I have gotten really slack about posting recipes and pictures. Actually I always forget to take pictures of the finished product because I just get so overwhelmed or I am just so hungry I think about it usually after I have eaten half of my food. So these are my take on Mrs. Cooks Easy-Peasy Bars from Heaven. I refer to them as my white-chocolate chip brownies.

Ingredients:

2 cups Sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
5 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup (of your choice) chocolate chips

All ingredients are mixed together until moistened except the chocolate chips. Spread into a greased pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Simple enough, right? They taste amazing but aren't probably the best thing for getting ready for bathing-suit season.

Upromise

2010-03-02T21:57:00.000-05:00

A new month means it is time to reset your Upromise eCoupons. Not a member of Upromise & wondering what it is? It is a website set up to save for college or in my case to help pay off debt after college. You earn money by shopping online, buying groceries, and even eating out. Participating stores in my area are CVS, Food Lion, Lowes Food, & Harris Teeter, since I am in a very rural area I am sure it varies. You simply use the stores card that you have such as MVP or CVS card and register the number and start earning a percentage back from what you buy. The list of participating items that earn you money back can be found here. I am not an avid shopper for only these items so my earnings are not that great but it's better than nothing, right? I recently started using the eCoupons with in the last few months and I have noticed an increase in earnings. The coupons are NOT taken off at the register, the money is actually credited to your Upromise account. So overall if you use regular coupons sometimes this can be a money maker. For the month of March, the coupon values are $31.30.

I also recommend signing up for e-Rewards. It is a survey site that is for the sole purpose of adding money to your Upromise account. It isn't like the typical survey site that takes 30 minutes to complete a survey & if you don't qualify for the whole length you still get credit. I get emails every so often so I complete the surveys then. I think the reward system is somewhat a bit extreme and would suggest just holding on to your balance until you reach the highest level to cash out because it takes $30 to get $5 put into your Upromise account, $60 for $20, $120 for $50.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

2010-03-01T19:11:00.000-05:00

I love Lasagna & I love cooking it. But I have been under the weather so I wanted something warm but simple & JW had a Fire meeting at 7 so it had to be done by then. So I went to Kraft Foods and I found this great recipe for slow-cooker lasagna. I do make a few variations to make it less fattening and more so to the way I know JW will eat it without asking too many questions. I took pictures of the process but decided my pictures may turn off someone from actually trying it but I promise it taste way better than it looks. I also think this is a great budget recipe.

My Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
Jar of sauce (I used Bertolli Marinara w/ Burgundy Wine)
1 cup of water (next time I will use a little less)
15 oz. part-skim ricotta cheese
package of italian mixed 2% cheese
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 egg
parsley, basil, garlic basically whatever you like to add for seasoning
6 uncooked lasagna noodles broken into halves

Directions:

Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Mix ricotta, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan, egg, and seasonings of choice.
Spoon 1 cup meat sauce into slow cooker; top with layers of half each of the noodles, broken to fit; and cheese mixture. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles, broken to fit; cheese mixture and meat sauce. Cover with lid.
Cook on LOW 4 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; let stand, covered, 10 min. or until melted.

Free Nabisco Cookies

2010-03-01T00:13:00.000-05:00

Nabisco coupons just became available on Facebook so become their friend and print off a coupon for a FREE package on cookies when you buy a gallon milk & cookies. So this means you have to buy a package of cookies and milk and your second package of cookies are free. This will continue the the first Monday of every month in 2010. March has a maximum of 500, 000 coupons.

Restaurant E-Clubs

2010-02-28T22:10:00.000-05:00

The internet is a great way to get valuable coupons to many restaurants and fast food places. A few of the ones that I have signed up for are:

Fast Food:

Wendy's - Emails come almost monthly with coupons, mainly when they are promoting a new product.
Schlotzsky's - They send email's every so often & always include coupons.
Zaxby's - Free Nibblers on your birthday - not sure about this one I just signed up but it does state they will mail you a Free Meal Coupon.
Cold Stone - Monthly promotions & Free Ice Cream on your Birthday!

Restaurants:

Chili's - once you sign up they send an email for Free Chips & Queso
Moe's - They send an email for Free Queso. on your birthday you get a Free burrito.
Texas SteakHouse - first email is $5/$25, monthly emails & a few coupons.
Olive Garden - Occasional emails about limited-time offers and specials.

I am sure there are a lot more so please share if you know of any that are worth signing up for.

30 Day Shred

2010-02-28T21:16:00.000-05:00

I am sure many of you are familiar with the name Jillian Michaels. But have you heard of her crazy workout DVD, "30 Day Shred"? I call it crazy because I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought it last year and well it almost kicked my butt. Well I plan on starting up once again and taking the 30 day challenge to get ready for swim suit season. Unfortunately I woke up this morning sick as a dog so I did not start and then I started thinking that I should use the blog as motivation to keep up with my progress to make sure I actually stick to it.

Texas Steakhouse

2010-02-28T20:44:00.000-05:00

Do you live near a Texas Steak House? If you aren't sure you can find out here. If you are a few of the lucky ones then you may want to think about joining their Real Texan Club. There are 3 levels: Bronze Spurs, Silver Spurs, and Golden Spurs.

Bronze Spurs: (all you have to do is sign up for the e-newsletter)

$5 off any purchase of $25 coupon, just for signing up
A free dessert on your birthday
Exclusive specials delivered via e-blasts

Silver Spurs: (this requires a mailing address)

All Bronze Spur Benefits
Call-ahead seating
Bring 5 friends to Texas with you and receive one free entree
$5 off on your anniversary date (With purchase of $25 or more. Offers and discounts exclude alcohol)

Golden Spurs: (requires mobile phone number & inviting 5 friends via email)

All Bronze & Silver Spur Benefits
Monthly coupons good for $5 off any purchase of $25 or more (Offers and discounts exclude alcohol)
Top of the list, no wait seating. (Excludes major holidays. Offer only applies to parties of 6 or less)
A free "Real Texan" t-shirt

-We signed up a few months ago for the silver spurs and received a nifty card. I also receive emails that keep up with great deals going on (such as 99 cent Monday Margarita Madness & All You Can Eat Love Me Tender Sunday) and there have even been coupons. On Wednesday's they are offering Wild Card Wednesday, where you can draw one card per table for a chance to win free food!

-Be sure to become a Texas Facebook Fan & Follow on Twitter

In celebration of the Olympics...

2010-02-28T20:22:00.000-05:00

There is a Swagcode out right now posted on the blog. It is EASY so be sure to get it before it expires.

Allure Giveaway

2010-02-28T12:45:00.000-05:00

Starting March 1st Allure is giving away new items to the first 500 people who sign up at noon. So be sure to head here tomorrow for a chance to win Rene Furterer Acanthe Perfect Curls Curl Enhancing Leave-In Fluid.

Want to grow your own garden?

2010-02-28T00:42:00.000-05:00

Eatin' on the Cheap is hosting a giveaway for Springtime Gardening Giveaway from Hometown Seeds. The seeds are Corn, Lincoln Peas, Radish, Onion, Beef Tomato, Spinach, Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Carrot, Bell Peppers, Winter Squash, Cucumber, Pole Beans, and Zucchini. Sounds amazing & would really help me start my garden.

Sample of Bounce Dryer Sheet

2010-02-27T17:38:00.000-05:00

Sam's Club is offering a sample of Bounce 4 in 1 Dryer Sheet. Membership number is not required .

Bath & Body Works Coupon

2010-02-26T16:11:00.001-05:00

Bath & Body Works as 2 new coupons available for use In-store or Online:

Free Home Fragrance or Signature Collection Body Care Item with any $15 purchase- If shopping online simply use the code FLOWER. (Coupon expires 3/14)

Free Signature Collection Travel size item with any purchase- If shopping online use the code 1628. (Coupon expires 3/24)

Only the best of Etsy has a new Giveaway

2010-02-24T15:20:00.000-05:00

I just entered to win a cute pair of Fish earrings from Zoozi at Only the best of Etsy. If you would like a chance to win too just click here. Zoozi is an Etsy shop that carries a variety of earrings and pendants so be sure to visit their website.

All-Bran Promise Pack

2010-02-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

Kellogg's is offering a Free All-Bran Promise Pack. I am not quite sure what comes in this but it say's that it will arrive in the mail in about 4 to 6 weeks. Hopefully there will be cereal.

Charmin Extender

2010-02-21T11:49:00.000-05:00

Charmin is offering a Free toilet paper holder extender.

Free Excedrin Coupon

2010-02-20T16:54:00.000-05:00

Click Here to fill out a short survey for a free coupon Excedrin coupon by mail. Be sure not to click Excedrin because well then of course they won't send you anything.

Crest 3D WhiteStrips Sample

2010-02-18T19:27:00.000-05:00

Wal-Mart is offering a sample of Crest 3D Whitestrips.

Olay Rebate

2010-02-17T00:08:00.001-05:00

Olay has a $15 rebate going on currently in case you haven't heard.

The "Special" Dinner

2010-02-14T22:35:00.001-05:00

The Menu for tomorrow night's dinner will be extravagant to me because I will be attempting to cook my first whole chicken along with a vegetable medley casserole & for dessert there will be lot's of chocolate, basically I am not sure of the name but I will be making my own version. The main dish is thanks to Ina Garten & her "Engagement Chicken" The side dish is my own version of Campbell's Swiss Vegetable Casserole as JW doesn't like certain vegetables. And I found this great dessert recipe (I love Mrs.4444's blog) but I am putting my own twist so I will be sure to take pictures & post about all the details. I guess you can consider this dinner to be our Valentines & 2 1/2 year anniversary (which is the 16 but I have to work late so no cook time) so I wanted to make sure it was extra special.

Emergen-C Sample

2010-02-13T13:23:00.000-05:00

I love getting these samples & they tend to reset them a lot. Head on over here & fill out your information.

Free Oreo Cakesters ?!?

2010-02-10T11:53:00.000-05:00

Are you a Kraft First Taste Member? If so head on over & print a coupon for a Free package of Oreo Double Stuff Cakesters. If not I suggest you sign-up to become a member so you can be offered such great coupons.

*Note some people are only being offered $1.00 off a 10-pack. And you know until after you print it.

Dockers is giving away more free pants

2010-02-08T12:14:00.000-05:00

Go here to enter daily for a chance to win a free pair of khakis. Sweepstakes ends 2/15.

Kikkoman Chinese New Year Celebration

2010-02-07T13:07:00.000-05:00

Kikkoman is giving away lot's of prizes, just fill out the information and they will email you a pin . Contest ends 4/30. I won a coupon but I would love to know what else others win.

Free Fitness Magazine Subscription

2010-02-02T16:38:00.000-05:00

Head on over to Mercury Magazines and sign up to receive Fitness Magazine for free. I have signed up for lot's of magazines in the past from this company and have never been billed. These usually go really fast.

And We have a winner...

2010-02-02T16:14:00.000-05:00

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

52 Timestamp: 2010-02-02 21:11:26 UTC

Congrats To Ann! AnnCrabs said...

I like the TN Titan's mug. adutt at yahoo

I will be emailing you & you have 48 hours to respond with your information or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all that entered.

Marie Claire Jewelry Giveaway

2010-01-31T23:16:00.004-05:00

Marie Clarie is giving away free Jewelry from Alexis Bittar everyday this month. Go here to enter each day & be sure you click the link that let's you sign up with out purchasing the magazine, unless of course you want it. I have won a giveaway in the past & was completely surprised when it came in the mail because they don't let you know if you are a winner. Hopefully some of yall will be lucky because who doesn't love free jewelry!

Free Arm & Hammer Sample

2010-01-31T12:52:00.000-05:00

Click here to request a free sample of Adavnace White Brilliant Sparkle toothpaste from Arm & Hammer.

The reason I loved my mailbox this week

2010-01-29T21:39:00.001-05:00

I have been super busy this week so I decided to just put everything from this week in one post. I received a $10.00 Gift Card to Bass Pro Shops, a camo hat from Mossy Oak, and a coupon for a can of Copenhagen that I will never use... all Thanks to Copenhagen. A pedometer & exercise dvd from Tylenol that I blogged about in the past. And I won a giveaway, sorry that I forgot from whom at the moment, a bamboo cutting board that I love. I also got an Earthlust drink container that I love from another giveaway. & the free mousepad from Arts Cow that I made for JW came.

Heluva Good! Fan Appreciation

2010-01-29T15:13:00.000-05:00

Go here to become a fan of Heluva Good Dips and receive a coupon for a free dip in the mail.

Dove Instant Win Games

2010-01-27T11:34:00.000-05:00

Dove has a new game called The Soap Toss, you can either play the game or skip it. If you aren't a lucky winner you still get to print out a $1 off coupon for a 6 pack of Dove Beauty Bars. You can enter daily until March 31st.

The Spin For Your Skin game is also going on, if you match 3 Dove Bars you win a coupon for a 2 pack of Dove Bar soap. You get 3 spins daily. Contest ends March 8th.

My First Giveaway & CSN Stores

2010-01-26T17:44:00.001-05:00

I am excited to announce my first giveaway! I was contacted by CSN stores and given the chance to pick out an item from Dining Rooms Direct that I would love for one of my readers to win. CSN Stores is compiled of over 200 sites and has become a Top 3 online retailer for the US. They have a very large selection ranging from bar stools, office supplies, fitness equipment, and so much more.

In honor of the Colt’s being a part of Super Bowl XLIV CSN Stores and I am very happy to give away a choice of a 16 oz Crystal Freezer Mug or 16 oz Crystal Freezer Pilsner Glass with your favorite NFL Team logo. I love how beverages stay cold without becoming watered down. The frozen crystals in these mugs turn frosty white after being placed in the freezer helping you know when your glass is just right. I myself am a Colt’s fan & a freezer mug girl.

To Enter: Click here to visit Dining Rooms Direct and tell me your favorite team & glass. This is mandatory and must be done before all other entries can count.

Leave a separate comment for each one you complete and please leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.

Become a follower of my blog. 2 extra entries
Follow me on twitter. 2 extra entries
Tweet about this giveaway. 1 extra entry

There are 6 ways of winning. The contest will end February 2, 2010 and will be chosen at random and contacted by email and posted on the blog. You have 48 hours to respond, if not a new winner will be chosen.

Good Luck! ~ Ashley Elaine

My First Giveaway!!

2010-01-26T13:58:00.002-05:00

I am so excited that I have been chosen by CSN Stores to host my very first giveaway so stay tuned for details....

AFC Champs!

2010-01-25T20:00:00.000-05:00

As many of you may already know but the Colt's are going to the Super Bowl & I couldn't be more happier. We will be playing against the Saints on February 7th. Go Colt's!

Subway Coupon

2010-01-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

I love food coupons. Subway is currently offering a free 6 inch sub with the purchase of a 6 inch sub and 32 oz fountain drink. You must build a sub and you name it first, and then you get to fill out information to have the coupon delivered to your email address. The coupon is printed with your name on it and some locations are not taking them so hopefully the ones around here will. The expiration date is 1/31/2010.

Kashi Free Sample

2010-01-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

Go to Kashi to request one of three samples. Chose between GOLEAN Crisp!™ Toasted Berry Crumble cereal, TLC® Dark Chocolate Coconut Fruit & Grain bar, or GOLEAN Crunch!® Honey Almond Flax cereal. Food samples are always the best.

Rouge Magazine by Proctor & Gamble

2010-01-23T20:46:00.000-05:00

Visit Rouge to sign up for a new magazine that contains coupons and special offers towards beauty products & fashion trends.

Sample of Rachel Ray Nutrish Dog Food

2010-01-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

Go here and request a free sample of Rachel Ray Nutrish premium dog food. I had requested this in the past and it has not been reset so I was unable to get it again. My sample was big enough to feed my smallest dog & came with coupons that I never used because I just thought it was too high priced.

Sample of Comfort Clean Floss Picks from DenTek

2010-01-23T14:25:00.000-05:00

Head here and request a FREE sample of Comfort Clean Floss Picks from DenTek! You must become a Facebook Fan of Dentek.

Free Samples by SampleSocial is an application that allows you to get free samples and coupons from major brand names delivered to you, and share your ratings and comments about those products with friends.

Saturday's Trip to the Mailbox

2010-01-23T14:09:00.002-05:00

In my mailbox was a sample for green works natural laundry detergent and a $1.00 off coupon, 2 ChapStick fresh Effects refreshing mandarin & invigorating green tea mint that I won and a check from SurveySpot.com from taking surveys in the past.

Wanted: twitter followers

2010-01-23T11:47:00.000-05:00

I recently joined Adly, which is an advertising company that pays you to advertise through twitter. Advertisers pick twitter accounts they want to use, you get the chance to confirm or deny, and if you allow then they will post to your twitter account once per day for a week.

You fill out a few simple questions, chose what you interested in, and then pick an amount that you want to be paid. I went with only $1.00/per tweet mainly because I am new to this. If it does start working then I might up the price. Your twitter account needs to be older than 120 days and you need to have 50+ followers. I have only 29 at the moment so I am guessing the program will not be effective for me until I reach that number. I have added a referral link on the side so feel free to click on it to check it out for yourself & make sure you start following me via twitter if you do not already. Thanks.

Faboulus Friday's Mailbox

2010-01-22T11:26:00.000-05:00

Awhile back I became a fan of Fresh Wave on Facebook, in return then sent me an 8oz jar of Odor Neutralizing Crystals. It was one of those things that I signed up for thinking it would never actually come because so many other people requested a freebie so I am pleasantly surprised.

ConAgra coupon booklet

2010-01-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

Wal-Mart is offering a coupon booklet of up to $17.00 in savings towards ConAgra Foods. It will arrive in your mailbox in 6-8 weeks.

$10 Betty Crocker Coupon Book

2010-01-21T12:14:00.000-05:00

Head on over to Betty Crocker to sign-up to receive a $10 coupon book in the mail. You have to sign up for one of the e-newsletters. Since I already subscribe to one it was labeled in red so I just checked that box. The book should arrive in the mail in about 6-8 weeks.

Today's Mailbox Edition

2010-01-20T12:26:00.000-05:00

I joined Pssst...A General Mills Product Company that allows people that sign-up to be the first to know about new products and send coupons to try them. Today in the mail, I received A coupon for a free Yoplait Smoothie. They are found in the freezer section and come in 3 fruit combinations: Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, & Strawberry Mango Pineapple. All you do is add milk and blend. Along with my free coupon, there are 10 $1.25/1 coupons to share.

So if you want to try new products I suggest signing up for the program because it is one that requires very little on your part.

I love my Mailbox.

2010-01-19T18:01:00.001-05:00

Today was a very good day to open my mailbox. I received a free scotch fur fighter (so glad i never actually bought one & I am not even sure where it came from but thanks!), my free subscription to Shape magazine for the month of February, a full size of Pureology Antifade Complex for my hair (I think this is from the Allure website sweepstakes) so with all this I didn't mind opening the light bill (mainly because I was smart and paid it in advance) So I have decided to keep up with everything I receive in the mail just so I will know & let others see that free stuff actually does come.

Free Organic Notepad

2010-01-17T17:17:00.000-05:00

Head on over to Solar Energy Pittsburgh and fill out the form on the bottom of the page for a cute little notepad.

Possible free Johnson & Johnson Products

2010-01-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

Johnson & Johnson has a neat program called Friends and Neighbors. Be sure to sign up only once because multiple sign-ups will disqualify your participation. I have read where other people took surveys and were paid for them, others have received coupons, and if you are lucky they send out free full-size products. I am not sure if everyone gets accepted but it is worth a try.

Drive-Thru Diet? Seriously, Taco Bell

2010-01-14T13:23:00.000-05:00

I love Taco Bell don't get me wrong but the commercials are just driving me insane. First it was "It's All About the Roosevelt's" and now it's the "Eating Better Just Got Easier, Drive-Thru Diet". I of course was curious and visited the Drive-Thru Diet® website. I came to the conclusion this was not a serious diet and my love for beef, cheese, and lettuce will never be replaced by the lettuce, beef, and fiesta salsa that is contained into a Fresco Taco but I did find a coupon that made it worth trying. This coupon has already been reset 3 different times, 1st for a free Fresco Taco, 2nd was buy any large drink & receive a free Fresco Taco, & now it is back to the original free Fresco Taco. Your coupon will be printed through SmartSource, which sometimes takes a bit longer to print and you will need to use within 7 days.

Free Ink Pen from uni-ball

2010-01-14T13:13:00.000-05:00

Visit uni-ball at 12pm Central Time (which is happening now) to sign up to receive a free uni Super Ink pen. Everyday they give away 10,000 so if you aren't lucky today just try again tomorrow, the giveaway ends April 30.

Do you shop at Food Lion?

2010-01-13T15:39:00.000-05:00

Food Lion is offering a great idea for coupons added to your MVP card via text messages. I received an email that states to text MVPBIGGAME to 467467. Once you have done that, you will receive a text message from them asking for your 11-digit MVP card number. Simple enough.

There are a few guidelines: Opt-in between January 13-January 24th and you will be able to redeem your offers between January 27th-February 3rd.

The offers that I received are:

Free 2-L Canada Dry OR 7UP

$1 off Tyson Anytizers

$1 off 12″ DiGiorno pizza (all-limit 1)

40¢ off Pringles (limit 5)

Visit Food Lion for more information.

Kraft First Taste

2010-01-13T13:36:00.000-05:00

If you haven't joined Kraft First Taste then you should head on over and sign up because they recently added a coupon to try the new DiGiorno 200 calorie portions pizza. My coupon was for $1.25/1 but many people have been lucky enough to receive a free pizza. I have not tried these so I might actually check out prices and see if it is even worth it because normally DiGiono runs high around here.

I normally check the website a few times a month just for updates on new products and for coupons that are released.

Rapid Cool Rise White Bread

2010-01-10T17:32:00.000-05:00

So I remembered to get my camera out to take pictures while cooking this time but of course I forgot to actually take pictures during the whole process.

My first recipe was the Rapid Cool Rise White Bread from the KitchenAid mixer book.

Ingredients:

6-7 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

3 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 packages active dry yeast

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 cups very warm water (120-130F)

Directions:

Place 5 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and butter in mixer bowl.

Attach bowl & dough hook to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 20 s

econds. Gradually add warm water and mix about 1 1/2 minutes longer.

Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix until d

ough clings to hook and cleans side of bowl, about 2 minutes. Knead on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.

Cover dough with plastic wrap and a towel.

Let rest 20 minutes.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a loaf as directed on page 66. Pl

ace in greased loaf pan.

Brush each loaf with oil and cover loosely. Refrigerate 2-12 hours.

When ready to bake, uncover dough carefully. Let stand at room temp. 10 mins. Puncture any gas bubbles which may have formed. Bake at 400F for 35-40 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks. (Sorry this picture was taken after I had already but the bread in the fridge.)

JW is turning 25

2010-01-09T16:47:00.001-05:00

My special plans are to have family & friends over for a dinner and some Wii fun. The menu that I have planned out is as follows:

Bacon Brunch Bites, Crisp & Creamy Chicken, Mashed potatoes with a spin so they aren't plain, salad, homemade ultimate chocolate chip cookies, white cake from scratch with confetti icing.

I have class Monday morning and hopefully I will be out before 4 so I will have time to get everything cooked and ready by 6, when people start arriving. I guess the title of my previous post, stress runs my life, I just bring it on myself but I am really excited about cooking so maybe it won't be too stressful. After all it is JW's birthday so hopefully everything will go smoothly.

Stress runs my life.

2010-01-07T16:57:00.001-05:00

So the past few day's have been hectic. First of school is already stressful and I haven't even been to my first class yet. Go figure. I "officially" start back Monday though. I will be so glad when I no longer have to worry about classes, books, & everything else that is associated with school. And I just realized that Monday is my big plans for JW's birthday so now that makes things a bit difficult.

Keep Moving: Free DVD & Pedometer

2010-01-03T19:44:00.000-05:00

I recently ran across a program from Tylenol of all places for a free workout DVD & pedometer. (I personally have not received mine but when I do I shall update.) This would be a great thing for people wanting to stick with New Year's resolutions. The website: Keep Moving allows you to sign up and if you read on the side once you have entered your first name, it states they will send these things to you within 6-8 weeks, so be sure to fill out all the information.

Old Fashioned Homemade Pancakes Recipe

2010-01-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

For Christmas I got a KitchenAid mixer so now I am all about finding recipes that are exciting to make and taste yummy. I recently ran across the website My Wooden Spoon and got a lot of great recipes that I am excited to try. It also gave me the idea of taking pictures while I am cooking to refer back to because I am more of a visual learner so hopefully she doesn't mind that I got the great idea from her website. I just wish that I found the website before I made my first recipe, which happened to be bread & turned out great, which was a big surprise to me. My second recipe was from My Wooden Spoon-Pancake Recipe . This was the first time JW & myself attempted scratch pancakes & from the past I have never had luck with boxed mixes so this required a lot of patience on both sides.

Old Fashioned Homemade Pancakes Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour 1 Tablespoon sugar 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

3/4 cup milk (but I added more)

2 Tablespoons oil

& I forgot to add vanilla to mine but I am sure it will taste great with

*I separated the dry and wet ingredients to make it easier when reading & I did reword the directions more so for me. The original recipe can be found on the website listed above.

Directions:

In a mixer bowl, combine dry ingredients and then add wet ingredients.

Mix until smooth, making sure it isn't too thick.

Pour into a measuring cup (or anything that has a pour spout to make it easy.) I used (or I should say JW used a cast-iron frying pan) to cook the pancakes. According to him, the eye should be on number 3 & you should flip the pancake when it begins to bubble.

Happy 2010

2009-12-31T09:58:00.001-05:00

Wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Unfortunately my other half has to work tonight

at the firehouse so I will be ringing in the

New Year without him.

Vacation ends today.

2009-12-29T14:04:00.000-05:00

So our Christmas was wonderful. Mine mainly had the theme of cooking so I am excited to start using all my new things so I see the Your Shape for the Wii coming in handy.

Yesterday I received my packing from BzzAgent that included: L'Oréal Paris^® Concentrated Lash Boosting Serum & L'Oréal^® Paris Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara. This product will be available in stores January 2010.

I tried both last night since I was so excited. I must say that I am very impressed with the mascara. I could actually see the difference it made to my eyelashes compared to my normal mascara that I was currently using. They stood out by looking thicker and longer. I must admit I was/am skeptical about using the serum. It was easy to apply and didn't irritate my contacts or eyes. Since I knew that it was there, I felt like my eyelashes felt heavy but I know that is just me being me. The main purpose for the serum is to help enhance the mascara and reduce lashes from falling out. I will be participating in this Bzz Campaign for 4 weeks so I will keep everyone updated on my lashes.