CSN Stores $45 Gift Card Giveaway 12/23 - WINNER CLOSED

CONGRATULATIONS TO ...

matt4melis said...

2-Fan CSN Stores on Facebook 

http://www.facebook.com/matt4melis

matt4melis at hotmail dot com

An e-mail has been sent!

Can you believe Christmas is less than three week's away?  I am very behind which is unusual for me as I am on top of Christmas shopping and am done by now.  This year has been a mix of my husband's two week return from Kuwait to battling sick kids coupled with their chronic medical conditions.  I will probably be doing the rest of my shopping online to make things easier with everything else I have going on.  This is where I love the CSN  line of stores as they have over 200 online stores where you can find a variety of items ranging from shoes to office supplies to tv tables or even fitness equipment.

Our TV is acting up and the other two are older sets so I am in the market for a brand new TV.  CSN offers such a variety of tv tables to choose from that it will make it hard to decide which one I like the best.  I definitely like the corner versions (see picture above) to maximize the space in one of my rooms.  One of the things I like most about the CSN line of stores is the ease of searching for that perfect product you are looking for based on how they have the search functionality set up. 

I'm not sure which one we will order but I do know from past experiences, we have been very happy with our past two purchases from CSN's line of stores.  The prices were competitive, quality was exceptional and the delivery was quick.  

Just in time for Christmas, I'll be giving away a $45 gift card to CSN Stores.  I have the code ready to give so I will ensure the winner's information is drawn promptly and delivered in time for an e-gift if selected!

____________________________________________________________

To Enter:

Follow my blog and leave a comment on which CSN Store you like the most or what you would do with the $45 GC.

Extra Entries:

• Fan CSN Stores on Facebook (three entries)
• Follow CSN Stores on Twitter (two entries)
• Follow me on Twitter (two entries)
• Fan me on Facebook (two entries)
• Subscribe to my blog (two entries)
• Tweet about this giveaway & leave your URL link (two entries - can be done daily)
• Blog about this giveaway (five entries)
• Enter any of my other giveaways (five entries)

Giveaway ends 12/23 at midnight (EST).  Open to US and Canada but international fees are not included.

Disclaimer:  I wrote this post as part of my participation in a product giveaway.  The opinions expressed in the post are true and accurate based on prior purchases.

Our Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was special this year in that we, my oldest daughter and I, cooked and we cooked everything from scratch which made it more fun.  I even brined our turkey and used a recipe (below) that involved stuffing the cavity with a cinnamon stick, an apple, sage and rosemary.  This recipe was rated by over 3000 people and had five full stars so I figured I couldn't go wrong.  I also stuffed the turkey for the first time ever with a sausage stuffing and I have to say that it turned out wonderful!  I had so many compliment on the taste and texture.

My oldest with the two younger ones made turkey shaped brownie bites and added gum paste feathers in which they were able to paint with slight food colored water.  Brownie bites are so easy to make.  All you need are baked brownies, a can of frosting to mix in with the brownies, chocolate for dipping and that's it!  Shape your brownie bites into whatever you want, cool in the refrigerator.  If you are going to make brownie pops, dip the stick into the dipping chocolate and carefully insert into the brownie shape before you refrigerate and then place in the refrigerator.  After they have cooled, you can dip.  I found that I have to mix vegetable oil in with the chocolate to thin it enough to not make the brownie bites/pops too thick and rich.  Once I dip, carefully, I try to let the excess drip off and then put back on the wax paper or parchment paper to cool.   They make great decorating pieces for your table.

 

Good Eats Roast Turkey

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, also featured in Food Network Magazine

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Romancing the Bird (A Good Eats Thanksgiving)

Ingredients

• 1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey

For the brine:

• 1 cup kosher salt
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 gallon vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
• 1 gallon heavily iced water

For the aromatics:

• 1 red apple, sliced
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup water
• 4 sprigs rosemary
• 6 leaves sage
• Canola oil

Directions

Click here to see how it's done.

2 to 3 days before roasting:

Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.

Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.

Early on the day or the night before you'd like to eat:

Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.

Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan and pat dry with paper towels.

Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skinliberally with canola oil.

Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

Good Night, Little Sea Otter by Janet Halfmann Book Review

Another great children's book written by Janet Halfmann is the best way to sum up Good Night, Little Sea Otter.  Janet's books are engaging since they center around wildlife which most children enjoy.  Little Otter is a story of a cute little otter who is about to go to sleep.  Little Otter, like many children, don't always want to go fast to sleep and are clever with finding ways to stay up a little later.

The illustrations by Wish Williams are equally impressive and also entertain the children as they hear the story of Little Otter.  Both my girls listened intently and smiled at the illustrations.  It was a delightful little tale and ideal for bedtime since it wasn't too long.

Overall, we enjoyed Good Night, Little Sea Otter and would definitely recommend it for anyone with children.  The suggested ages were 3 to 6 but even my 7 year old enjoyed the story.  Priced at only $5.95, it would even make a great stocking stuffer or a book swap for Christmas gift giving.

Good Night, Little Sea Otter was provided by Star Bright Books for the purposes of this review.

GourmetGiftBaskets Nutcracker Drum Gift Basket Giveaway 12/7 WINNER CLOSED

CONGRATULATIONS TO ....

Jenna said...

Im an RSS GoggleReader subscriber

papajm25 {AT} gmail {DOT} com

December 4, 2010 7:27 PM 

An e-mail has been sent to Jenna and she has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected via random.org.  Thanks to all those who entered!

Lucky, Jenna! I wished I could have entered and won ;)

There is still time to find that perfect gift idea and nothing hits the spot than a little gourmet food and snacks wrapped up in a delightful gift basket.  I love giving gifts in gift baskets given how beautifully wrapped they are coupled with the quality of great products like English Toffee Caramels, praline pecans, peanut brittle and so much more.  GourmetGiftBaskets.com has a huge selection for Christmas and much more if you want to surprise your loved one with gourmet food tucked into a nice basket or container.


I wrote a prior post and giveaway from GourmetGiftBaskets.com a few months ago and loved the product they sent for our new baby.  They have a wonderful selection of gift items for every occasion to include a just because or "I love you" type reason.  The delivery is fast and again, the quality is excellent.


The beauty of GourmetGiftBaskets.com is the selection and search functionality.  You can shop by most popular, price, themes, same day gifts and much more.  They also offer flowers and if you are like me, the luxury of same day gifts is paramount for when we forget the special day due to life's every day chaos!


The Giveaway:


The Nutcracker Drum Christmas Gift Basket:


Another exclusive addition to our collection of Christmas baskets, this stunning red and gold Nutcracker drum will delight for years to come. Overflowing with decadent festive treats, your recipient will rejoice in holiday cheer when they receive this stunning holiday gift basket. We’ve selected classic nutcracker cookies in both red and green, chocolate peppermint cookie brittle, peanut brittle, butter wafers, white chocolate amaretto wafers, English toffee caramels, peanut roll, and  praline pecans to star in this jolly gift. While the multifunctional keepsake drum will last a long time, the snacks will not! When you send one of our holiday gift baskets, you can be confident that you will receive rave reviews.


To Enter:


Follow my blog and "Like" GourmetGiftBaskets.com on Facebook and just leave a comment that you liked them.


Bonus Entries:

• Leave a comment on GourmetGiftBaskets.com Facebook wall on another product you like and return here to leave a comment that you left a comment on their wall.
• Follow GourmetGiftBaskets.com on Twitter.
• Subscribe to my blog.
• Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily)
• Blog about this giveaway (five entries -one time)
• Like me on Facebook.
• Follow me on Twitter.
• Enter any of my other giveaways.

Giveaway ends 12/7 at midnight - open to US and Canada

Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop 12/1 - 12/5 - 2 GC Giveaway for 2 Winners (US & Canada) $110: WINNERS CLOSED

CONGRATUALATIONS TO ...

WINNER 1 - Starbucks & Jasmere:

Anonymous said...

follow (greerbethany at rocketmail dot com)

WINNER 2: Visa, Zazzle & Panda Express

barbara.montyj said...

I follow you on Twitter @JalapenoMama
barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com

Giving things away especially at in time for Christmas is a highlight of being a blogger.  I love to be able to help someone with their shopping especially in light of the economy.  My participation in the Holiday Gift Giveaway was met with great eagerness for this reason.

Enter today to win all these great gift cards:

• $25 Jasmere Gift Code - Lesser known retailers are spotlighted on Jasmere and great savings are passed on to you.

• $25 Starbucks Gift Certificate

• $20 Gift Certificate

• $10 Gift Card

 

 

• $25 Zazzle Gift Certificate

The Giveaway

First Winner will Receive:  $25 Jasmere & $25 Starbucks

Second Winner will Receive:  $10 Visa, $25 Zazzle & $20 Panda Express

$110 in Gift Cards/Certificates in total up for grabs.

To Enter:

Follow my blog and leave a comment.

Bonus Entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway
2. Tweet about this giveaway
3. Subscribe to my blog
4. Follow me on Twitter
5. Enter any of my ongoing giveaways

The first winner chosen via random.org will be given the choice of which gift certificate package they want.  The winner has 24 hours to respond before the second winner has their choice.  

Both winners have 48 hours to respond before new winner(s) are chosen.

Open to US and Canada.

Winner chosen after giveaway ends on 12/5/10 at 11:59 pm (EST).

Norah Jones - "...Featuring" - Available Now & Review

Norah Jones - "...Featuring" - Available Now


If you haven't had a chance to listen to the new Norah Jones CD, you are missing out on a great collection of Norah with many other great musicians.  I have never listened to a Norah Jones CD before but I really liked this and am a new fan.  Her voice is amazing and soothing.  I loved how she blended her style in with the other songs and musicians.  It's a fantastic collaboration of many genres.


Here are the 18 songs and a link to listen to a sample:

• Love Me - The Little Willies Listen
• Virginia Moon - Foo Fighters featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Turn Them - Sean Bones featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Baby It's Cold Outside - Willie Nelson featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Bull Rider - Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson Listen
• Ruler Of My Heart - Dirty Dozen Brass Band featuring Norah Jones Listen
• The Best Part - El Madmo Listen
• Take Off Your Cool - Outkast featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Life Is Better - Q-Tip featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Soon The New Day - Talib Kweli featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John - Belle & Sebastian featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Here We Go Again - Ray Charles featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Loretta - Norah Jones featuring Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Listen
• Dear John - Ryan Adams featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Creepin' In - Norah Jones featuring Dolly Parton Listen
• Court & Spark - Herbie Hancock featuring Norah Jones Listen
• More Than This - Charlie Hunter featuring Norah Jones Listen
• Blue Bayou - Norah Jones featuring M. Ward Listen

Overall, I enjoyed the CD and love her voice.  I would definitely purchase her past and future CDs just for her sound.


I am participating in a One2One Network project.

Pink Digital Photo Keychain Review

The Pink Digital Photo Keychain is a cute little product that displays approximately 72 digital photos on a 1.5" LCD display.  It has many features such as manual or auto slide show, manual switch between photo and time, utilizes many file formats such as jpg, bmp, png and gif, picture size is automatically cut by software, a built in rechargeable battery and many more features.  It's a little powerhouse that's easy to use.

It weighs only 85g so it's very lightweight and won't cause interior damage to your vehicle with scratches.  It also comes with a USB cable for your computer which is a nice feature since many products no longer provide that.  Priced at only $9.99, it's a good deal.



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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Who do you gift boxed chocolates to?

Boxed chocolate is perfect for any occasion but with the holidays fast approaching, it's even a better reason to give the gift of delicious, tempting goodness!  My daughter is always a sure win for receiving chocolate as she's a chocolate fiend.  For just about any person that you aren't sure what to buy for, chocolate is always a good idea.  All my girls love chocolate and they especially love the smooth, wonderful taste of Hershey's.

One place I stopped to look for gift ideas was Celebrate with Hersheys.  There are wonderful recipes, crafts, product information and much more.  The recipes will make your mouth water!

These Peanut Butter Temptations look amazing:

Ingredients:

• About 40 (13-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures or 12 (0.8 oz. each) REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups, quartered
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from candies. Line small muffin cups (1-3/4 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups.

2. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy in large bowl. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place one in each prepared muffin cup. Do not flatten.

3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until puffed and lightly browned; remove from oven. Immediately press peanut butter cup or piece onto each cookie. Cool completely in muffin pan. About 3-1/2 dozen cookies.


I can't wait to try some of them out for my family and friends.

I entering a contest for a Hershey’s Pot of Gold prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.

Heart of Haiti is helping to rebuild Haiti through "Trade, Not Aid"

Heart of Haiti is using commerce and culture to create social change and you can be a part of this great project by Macy's.

- Instead of providing one-time funding through charity, Heart of Haiti is creating opportunities for Haitian artisans to earn income with dignity by creating jobs and income for the people of Haiti.

- Through the sale of Heart of Haiti products, artisans are able to earn life-changing income for themselves, their families, and their communities. The initiative is enabling artisans to repair homes, pay school fees, and feed and clothe their families. The income also allows them to have access to better nutrition, improved education and healthcare.

- The Heart of Haiti collection is an array of handmade products for the home -- quilts, metalwork, ceramics, and paintings -- created by Haitian artisans. Each item is designed by a Haitian master artisan and produced by hand in Haiti from recycled materials.

- The collection is truly helping the people of Haiti rebuild their lives and communities through commerce and culture.


Here are some other key facts:


- The Heart of Haiti collection has already led to employment of 350 artists in Haiti and has provided some financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country

- Each item is designed by a master Haitian artist and made by hand in Haiti

- Each product is made from recycled materials.

- The collection includes 40 different home decor items and accessories

- Products include vases, candleholders, serving trays, picture frames, mirrors, coasters, necklaces, clutch purses and more

- Most items fall in the $25-$60 range


Check out the collection at Macy's now by clicking here.

Five Tips for Holiday Tech Shopping

I don't think you can find a person who doesn't like gadgets anymore.  Everyone is so techie with the increase of every day devices that are not only fun but make life easier.  From iPods to charging stations to wii gaming systems to iPads, they are everywhere and age seems to be boundless.  My little ones alternate between the wii, the iPods and laptops.  I can honestly say I don't mind because they are learning some valuable skills with these devices and they can be educational from a gaming standpoint to getting them moving around with the fitness and other activities found on the wii.  My oldest daughter and husband are also techies so finding gifts for them is also fun.


This holiday season, shopping for the latest high tech product can be difficult given all the various devices and manufacturers not even including finding the best deal.  Here are my five tips for holiday high tech shopping:

1. Know the person you are purchasing the gift for.  You need to know the gadget they already have or what they want precisely.  My husband picked out a refurbished iPod for his daughter and she had a fit over it. Nothing ruins a gift if it's not what the person wants or needs.
2. Shop around for the best deal.  Cyber Monday was a good opportunity to purchase a great deal but it's not too late.  Sign up for e-mail alerts from stores such as Best Buy to avoid missing out on a great deal.  I always Google the store I'm looking at and include "discount," "free shipping" and "coupons" to maximize my savings.  Stores like Kohls have great stacking deals such as a percentage off, free shipping and Kohls bucks.  Use the internet to maximize the savings!
3. When you decide on a product, make sure you conduct the proper reviews as well.  Always check at least a couple of sites.  I like to use Amazon for reviews since customers can enter their reviews and I feel I can trust them.  I also search by Google with the product name and add "reviews" at the end to ensure it's a good value for my money.
4. Open box deals aren't always a bad deal because many stores will simply put a returned item on the shelf even if nothing is wrong which means savings for you.  Always verify the return policy on the open items since some stores also take off for a return that is open.
5. Before you shop, check the Sunday advertisements for the best deal.  If you like a particular store over another, take the ad with you and bargain down for a reduced price.  Many stores over a guarantee price match if not a reduction.  Tis the season for trying to get a lower price as it never hurts and all they can say is no.

Techie gifts are ideal for so many but you really do have to make sure the person you are buying for wants it and it can be used.  You don't want to purchase something that the person cannot use or is too complicated due to age or mobility.  Whatever you end up choosing, you can find some wonderful presents such as digital picture frames, MP3 players, phones and so much more.  I always sign up and search for the best deals before I buy.

Happy hunting and Merry Christmas!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

About Staples:
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products and services. Our broad selection of office supplies, electronics, technology and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and copying and printing, helps our customers run their offices efficiently. With 2009 sales of $24 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia serving businesses of all sizes and consumers. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today ranks second worldwide in e-commerce sales. The company is headquartered outside Boston.