I Love My Spices

I just moved and for those of us like me who move around a lot, it's a pain.  My kitchen is a good bulk of the items I own from appliances to my spice rack.   I cherish my spices and so I have quite a few and they outgrow the rack I have for them.  I suppose it's probably time to look at other spice racks or even a wall spice rack to take on the extras I have.  I can't imagine cooking without them which I did for some time until I really started watching all the cooking shows and learned the importance of what spices can do for a dish.  I was really surprised at how the flavor can be enhanced with just a couple.  I also like fresh spices and pending on the spice, I will use them.

All in all, I purchase the traditional try, easy to use spices but when I cook, I don't like having to sort through shelves trying to find one which is why I need another spice rack!  A couple of days ago, I sent a text to my oldest with only, "spice rack" in the message.  She's always telling me how hard it is to shop for me so I figured I'd give her a hint.  One thing I do like are the selections available now for racks.  When I first hit adulthood, they were all boring and limited but now there are some really cool designs that are functional too.  All I know is I love to cook and bake and without my spices, I'd be lost.

Can't Go Wrong with Cheesecake

My girls and I love cheesecake and we are very picky on the cheesecake we like.  It's one of those things for us that we will definitely indulge in and it's also a special occasion type treat.  For my oldest and I, we prefer a cheesecake for our birthday instead of the traditional type of cakes.  One of my favorites is white chocolate cheesecake and I also love creme brulee cheesecake.  


I have made cheesecake at home but it never turns out as well so I stick with ordering mine which I have ordered online many times in the past.  You'd be surprised at how amazingly good it can be in spite of thinking an online order of cheesecake wouldn't be.  In fact, the last few times I've had it, it was ordered from online.


I'm a big party planner so deserts are really important with my themes and the person I'm hosting the party for.  If I can choose the ultimate desert, it makes the occasion that much more special.  Dinner parties or holidays are also a great time to wow the guests with some delicious desert.  My oldest turns 24 this July and I think sending her a surprise cheesecake will make the perfect gift for her.  Have you ordered cheesecakes online before and if so, how did it turn out?

Don't Miss Out MANY Giveaways - iPad, Kindle, Amazon GCs & More!

Current Giveaways:

• YouthfulTips Master Lock 1534D Password Lock Giveaway 4/8 - US
• YouthfulTips Newman's Own Organics Review and Giveaway 4/15
• YouthfulTips $25 Amazon GC Giveaway 4/18
• YouthfulTips GourmetGiftBaskets.com and Gourmet Excellence Review & Giveaway 4/21
• YouthfulTips Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler Review & Giveaway (US & Canada) 4/18
• Ficklets' 5 Year Anniversary Giveaway: 5 Pairs Ficklets, $75 Amazon GC & Xia-Xia Pets 4/21
• YouthfulTips April iPad Mania + Kindle Giveaway 4/21
• YouthfulTips Pong™ iPhone/Blackberry/Galaxy/Evo/Motorola Phone Case Giveaway $49.99-$59.99 Value 4/21
• YouthfulTips WhitePages Names $25 Amazon GC Giveaway 4/21 - US/Canada

Finally Moved!

This was one chaotic week or so after moving yet again.  I forgot how much I hated moving since this time, I didn't have a moving company doing all the work.  I was sore for days afterwards and running four miles is nothing compared to the pain I had from all those boxes and furniture.  Now that it's moved, I can get back to running and focusing on healthy living instead of stressful living!  The girls love their new home and are having a blast with the extra room we now have.  I just have to get their bedroom set up and I gave them their own playroom in hopes of keeping the toys in one place.  Unfortunately, the work out room didn't turn out well because hauling a treadmill upstairs was too big of a job.  I have the tanning bed and elliptical trainer in the exercise room which will serve as my craft room.  The treadmill is downstairs which will inspire me every time I open the fridge and the recumbent bike is in front of the big screen TV perfect for watching The Biggest Loser.


The other good news is my oldest and her baby are coming to visit next Saturday and I cannot wait!  We're going to spend the time making memories and progressing our non-profit for children with epilepsy.  It will make fore some fun times!


My middle child and I finished our book for children with epilepsy and the illustrations are beautiful!  I can't wait to find a publisher and I decided I need to finish my historical novel.  Hopefully, I will also be able to spend more time blogging!

Pampers Limited Edition “USA” Diapers & Wipes Plus Sweepstakes

The Olympic games are coming to London and I can imagine the excitement there!  I've been to London a few times and love it and can't imagine how it will be with the Olympics too.  I wanted to share the news about Pampers upcoming Facebook sweepstakes and their London 2012 Olympic Games partnership.  Building off Pamper's Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games sponsorship, the world-renowned brand of baby diapers continues its commitment to the littlest of athletes – babies.  From crawling and walking to balancing and tumbling, the efforts they go to in order to overcome everyday challenges are podium-topping in their determination. 

To celebrate this unique spirit of play, Pampers has partnered with two-time Olympic Games Gold medalist (Beach Volleyball) and Team USA Hopeful, Kerri Walsh, to help introduce Pampers Limited Edition “USA” diapers and wipes, which will be hitting shelves this mid-April along with a new sweepstakes just for Pampers Facebook fans.

In celebration of these great products, Pampers will launch a Facebook sweepstakes of ‘podium-topping’ proportions. Beginning April 16th through May 19th, parents can visit the “Team USA Sweeps” tab on the Pampers Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/Pampers) and register for a chance to win the grand prize trip for a family of four to attend the London 2012 Olympic Games and attend the first ever Pampers Playground event alongside Team USA Hopeful, Kerri Walsh, and her husband and sons. 

The recipient of the grand prize trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games will be drawn on or around May 21st. Additionally, Pampers will be randomly selecting weekly winners between now and August 12th to receive a prize pack consisting of one month’s supply of Pampers Limited Edition “USA” diapers and wipes as well as a souvenir volleyball signed by Kerri Walsh.

How awesome would that be to win a trip to the Olympics?  

Be on the lookout starting April 16th to enter and if you win, you have to take me!  Okay, you don't but think of me!

Costume SuperCenter Star Wars Ahsoka Review

What child doesn't like to dress up?  Halloween is always the big event that everyone thinks of when it comes to dressing up but there are so many other events like just every day dress, parties and more.  When I plan a birthday party, I often find a costume or two to add to the wow effect.  I also have two girls that love to dress up so costumes are more than just Halloween in our house.  We had an opportunity to review a Costume SuperCenter Star Wars' Ahsoka costume for my little one.  It was perfect because a couple of year's ago, I ordered the deluxe Clone Wars Trooper from Costume SuperCenter as well.  They had a lot of fun dressing up.  Unfortunately, I don't have any photos because my camera was dropped and I have to get a new one but I can tell you they had GREAT fun!

I was going to review and post about the Ahsoka costume but decided to add the Clone Wars Trooper too because it's a great costume.  The Ahsoka costume is well made and looked great on my four year old.  We did have some trouble with the headpiece as is expected with most headpieces such as this but we were able to work around it.  She looked adorable!  My eight year old worse her Clone Wars Trooper costume on and off for a couple of years and it still looks like new.  We are big Star Wars fans so having costumes that will last more than a day or two is important.  

 

Costume SuperCenter also has very rapid delivery.  As noted, my complimentary review item is not the first costume I have received.  I have bought many other costumes from Costume SuperCenter due to the quality, speed of delivery and customer service.  To date, I have never received an incorrect order or had issues with the quality of the product.  As a repeat customer, I highly recommend them for the selection, price, delivery, risk free shopping/free exchanges, quality and customer service.

Stay up to date via Facebook and Twitter.


*Disclosure:  I did receive a complimentary costume for this review but the opinions are of my own.

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.

Master Lock 1534D Password Lock Giveaway 4/8 - US

Back in February, Master Lock brought the National Random Acts of Kindness Week and throughout the week, Master Lock shared a bit of kindness by distributing free gym locks at six area workout centers to inspire gym-goers to stick to their New Year’s fitness resolutions. You can stay up to date by liking the Master Lock FB page.

Master Lock has this great 1534D Password Lock that is easy to use and looks cool.  Although I did not use my 1534D Password Lock on a locker for my fitness goals, I did get to use it on a moving truck and was very grateful to have Master Lock guarding my possessions.  I can't say if it deterred anyone but I do know my belongings were safe and sound.  The lock was easy to use and I have it in place to use again.  I like how I don't need a key and the lettering is larger than normal which makes it great for those who have vision problems.

As part of the prior Random Act of Kindness Week, Master Lock also provided some suggestions for helping you keep yours:  

Write It Down…and Share It. Simply thinking through your resolutions and storing them mentally isn’t going to ensure you stay committed. Having a list of goals in your organizer, smart phone, or social media profile that you can easily access and share will reinforce your promise to yourself and spur encouragement from your followers and friends.

• Get the right gear. Whether your goals revolve around getting back in the gym or being more organized at home, having the right products to help you succeed is a must. For organization, the 7148D document storage box can help keep important documents safely filed away.  To securely organize your digital life, register for a free account at www.masterlockvault.com to safely store your user names, passwords and other confidential data for easy access anytime, anywhere.  Getting good shoes, proper work-out wear, and a new gym lock such as the 1534D Password lock will help reinvigorate your enthusiasm to exercise.
• Do it for a Month. In order for a new behavior to become a habit, you must stick to it for at least 30 days. Setting this small goal will make achieving your overall resolution more realistic. Plus, you can be encouraged when you’ve reached the one-month mark and assess your progress.
• Keep a Journal. Commit to writing one to two sentences about your progress toward your goals each day. Keeping a written record of how you’re doing will keep your resolution top of mind and motivate you to continue to make changes. 
• One Step at a Time. Don’t set too many goals and then try tackling them all at once. Make one goal your priority and focus on changing your habits to achieve it. Once you’ve mastered it, set your sights on two additional goals, giving yourself realistic timelines to achieve them and go from there. 

The Giveaway:

One reader will win their own 1534D Password Lock (pictured above)!


To Enter:


Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

WhitePages Names $25 Amazon GC Giveaway 4/21 - US/Canada

If you are a regular with my blog, you have read about WhitePages and the great services provided.  I use WhitePages quite a bit and love the neighbors feature to locate my neighbor's information.  Since I recently moved, I needed to find one of my old neighbor's but I didn't know his last name but a quick look on WhitePages was all I needed.  Prior to our move, I wanted to see a location of a house and I used WhitePages again to try to determine the location since it wasn't on Google Maps.  I love WhitePages and now they are offering a new service called Names.  


Names provides the user with an easy to navigate site that can be used to find information about a name.  Whether you are a soon to be parent, a prospective animal owner or even a gamer or want to know how to pronounce a name, WhitePages has it all for you.  With the digital age, many people who play games online has to create their character or toons and then need to create a name.  This is often hard to do so I can see this feature very useful for them too.

The Names home page will show you the most popular names and a hand picked name of the day.  I was curious so I used my name, Judy.  As easy as entering the name in the right hand box and the information is really cool:

• Continue reading if the name is the first name or click on the link if the name is the last name.
• Option to hear how it's pronounced.
• History of the name and ranking in the US.
• Nicknames of Judy.
• Quick facts and apparently, South Dakota has the most Judy's!  As I suspected, my name is an old name and the popularity was at its height in 1945.
• Distribution map of the name and percentage of ages with the name.
• Top Twitterers.
• Common last names and more.

I think it's a great site to learn about names, to pick names and more.  It's neat factoid information.  You can even view names by city, state and more.  It's a fun thing to do just to learn a bit more about names.

The Giveaway:

One reader will win a $25 Amazon GC!

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

Pong™ iPhone/Blackberry/Galaxy/Evo/Motorola Phone Case Giveaway $49.99-$59.99 Value 4/21

If you own an Android or iPhone, you know how expensive they are to replace.  If you own one of those phones, you also want to protect it from damage with a cell phone case that not only works but looks great.  Pong™ cell phone cases can also reduce your exposure to radiation which is a big plus at least for myself.  I am one of those consumers concerned about the level of radiation emitted from electronic devices such as phones.  Now, whether or not it's true, I figure why take the chance?  With Pong's™ array of cases and colors, I suspect there will be one for anyone's taste!

  

Some of the variations include:

• iPhone 4/4S Leather Touch  Pong™ Case
• iPhone 4/4S Soft Touch  Pong™ Case
• iPhone 3/3GS Soft Touch  Pong™ Case
• iPad 2  Pong™ Case
• Original iPad 2  Pong™ Case
• Blackberry Bold 9900/9930 Leather Touch  Pong™ Case
• Blackberry Bold 9700/9780  Pong™ Case
• Blackberry Curve 9300  Pong™ Case
• Blackberry Curve 8520/8530/9330  Pong™ Case
• Samsung GALAXY II for AT&T  Pong™ Case
• Samsung GALAXY S II (International)  Pong™ Case
• HTC Evo 4G  Pong™ Case
• Motorola Droid X/X2  Pong™ Case

I haven't upgraded my phone in years but that doesn't mean I'm not suffering from phone envy as I am!  I know if I did have a phone, I would definitely be looking into a Pong™ case mostly due to the protection of the phone itself but also for the protection against microwave energy also called electromagnetic radiation (EMR).  

Now you get to benefit since I decided to give a case away instead of reviewing one compliments of Pong™.

Don't forget to like on Pong™ Facebook to stay up to date on the latest news, promotions and more!

The Giveaway:

One US reader will win the phone case of their choice!

To Enter:

Please complete the Rafflecopter form below.

Ficklets' 5 Year Anniversary Giveaway: 5 Pairs Ficklets, $75 Amazon GC & Xia-Xia Pets 4/22

This is no April Fool's joke!  Ficklets is celebrating five years in business!  Ficklets are the first patented interchangeable eyewear charm huggers that fit on children's glasses.  There are so many shapes and themes to choose from that will leave your child wanting more.  Even though it's our anniversary, you will receive the gifts!  As part of our celebration, we are thanking our customers and fans by giving you this great prize pack:

• Five Pairs of Ficklets (winner's choice)
• $75 Amazon e-Gift Card
• 3 Xia-Xia Pets Plus Additional Shell Accessories

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

April iPad Mania 4/21

 
Are you ready to win an iPad or a Kindle Fire?  Bay Area Mommy has teamed up with some awesome bloggers to bring you this amazing chance to win the two hottest tablets in the market today! Grand Prize: The New iPad (or $550 cash) Second Prize: Kindle Fire (or $200 cash) 

Entries will be accepted from April 1 at 12:01am EST until April 21 at 11:59pm EST. There are no mandatory entries but there are lots of ways to gain more entries to to the giveaway. The more tasks you complete, the more chances of winning! 

Open worldwide!

Must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for the prize. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Apple or Amazon. 

Winners will be drawn on April 22 and will have 48 hours to respond to the notification email. 

Kindly include alice@bayareamommy.com to your email's whitelist to make sure that in case you are picked as the winner, the notification email would not go to your Spam folder. 

Good luck and let me know if you win and are a regular reader of my blog!

GourmetGiftBaskets.com and Gourmet Excellence Review & Giveaway 4/21

If you are an avid blogger giveaway person, you have seen other giveaways for GourmetGiftBaskets.com.  If you are one of the lucky ones, you have won or you found out what a great company they are for gifts to your family and friends and special occasions.  What I like about GourmetGiftBaskets.com, is the incredible selection of gift baskets but did you know that they also have amazing baked goods?  I didn't know either until I joined in for this delicious review and giveaway for a brownie sampler.  I confess that I'm a huge brownie fan ... almost as big as my obsession with Johnny Depp.  I know a good brownie and haven't had a good brownie in some time.  

To be honest, I was a bit skeptic because I keep getting let down on a delicious, stop you in your track brownie that I didn't think they would deliver.  I was immediately corrected.  I received the box of six fresh flavors and then the problem hit me.  Which one do I eat?  Do I eat them all?  Do I share them to have more feedback?  Oh, so many decisions!  I thought about it for a brief second as I broke open the Belgian Chocolate Chunk brownie as it was begging me to choose him.  I poured a glass a milk and took a bite and it was truly heavenly.  Moist, rich but not overly rich, chocolatey and truly decadent (by the way, my oldest dislikes that word after watching a chocolate baking show use it in every sentence).  This was one of the very best brownies I ever ate and was certainly the best one I had ate in a very long time.  I shared one bite with my youngest.  I ate the rest without advertising it because I wanted it all to myself.  Yeah, I know, I'm stingy but I did share two with them so they were able to pick which one's they wanted.


My sampler included:

• Belgian Chocolate Chunk
• White Chocolate Macadamia Blonde
• Butterscotch Blonde
• Cheesecake
• Peanut Butter
• Fudge Walnut 

Next on the chopping block was the Cheesecake brownie.  Again, full of robust chocolate flavor with a hint of cheesecake.  I like a strong cheesecake flavor but this was amazing!  Again, fresh and moist and if I had popped it in the microwave for a few seconds, I wouldn't have been able to tell it wasn't fresh out of my kitchen.  The sizes are amazing too!  You really could share this, eat as two snacks or be like me and devour and savoir it all at once.  Next was the White Chocolate Macadamia Blonde brownie.  If you like or love macadamia nuts, you will love this!  The flavor of the nuts are perfect and I don't recall a bite that I didn't have a piece of the macadamia nuts and they were whole nuts.  The white chocolate was subtle and altogether, a perfect gourmet mix.  My youngest tried the Fudge Walnut and all I heard was "mmmm" and "yummy!"  

The Peanut Butter brownie was next and as you can see in the photo above, they are good sized and after I cut it, you can see the moist inside because it stuck to the knife.  Every brownie was fresh, moist and delicious.

Now for the giveaway, one reader will receive the same sampler as I did of one each of the six varieties.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form.  Due to the brownies being perishable goods, the giveaway is only valid for those in the lower 48 states (sorry!).

$25 Amazon GC Giveaway 4/18

Can you believe spring is finally upon us?  I dislike cold weather so much and cannot wait until warmer weather prevails.  If some of you notice, I write sponsored posts and I suspect my page rank took a hit for it but the money I make from the sponsored posts, is the money I use to giveaway to my readers.  When I'm in a slump and don't want to reach out to businesses, which is most of the time, I just giveaway the money I earn and try to help some of my favorite small businesses with new followers.  This giveaway is no different.


One reader will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.


To Enter:


Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

iPad 3 Event Coming in May! Blogger Sign Ups Now!

NEW BLOGGER OPPORTUNITY!


Signup for the iPad 3 MAY-nia Giveaway Event for only $2 per link! This is a great opportunity to gain new followers at a very low signup fee! CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!

Natural House Probiotic Cleaning Products Review & Giveaway 4/3

I don't know about you but the more things are being uncovered on the internet the scarier the news is.  I've been moving towards a healthier existence mostly for my children's health and as I get older, I want to ensure I'm around a bit longer.  Gone are the days that you would trust a brand or a product in being safe.  Gone are the days of having no idea what might be in a product which is why I've moved over to the organic or natural realm of living.  I can admit that I haven't fully embraced it as in many ways, I can't always afford it but when I can, I do.  I also look for products that won't trigger my youngest's unknown pulmonary condition.  The wrong thing can trip her off and away we go to the emergency room.  So when I learned about Natural House probiotic cleaning products, I wanted to give them a try.  I received three of their products complimentary to try out for a month.   Flushy, Trashy and Sinky.

   

What is unique or revolutionary with Natural House probiotic cleaning products in that it's a new way to clean.  The non-toxic, probiotic cleaning agents are strong enough to clean yet are safe for everyone in your house.  If you are like me, you might have a highly sensitive one so this is perfect.  The products are eco-friendly in that there will be no harsh chemicals dumped into the wastewater supply and it creates an odor eating ecosytem to naturally drive out the odors at the source.  They are plant-based ingredients furthering the eco-friendly benefit of the Natural House product line.


Sinky and Flushy work by breaking down and digesting fats, oils, grease and other solid wastes to keep the drains, pipes and disposal working better.  If you have have a septic tank, it might benefit that as well.  Not convinced yet?  Natural House even won the Retailers' Choice Award at the 2011 National Hardware show.


I used all three of my products and they did a great job cleaning, didn't leave a residue nor any harmful fumes.  I did notice the smell from the disposal side of the sink immediately vanished after using Sinky per the instructions.  The garbage can, which usually has minimal odors because it's emptied frequently, has no odor and looks spotless after cleaning with Trashy.  Flushy did it's job too.  Each are all very easy to use and I liked how the Sinky packs are drop, run water and let the magic begin.  All very easy to use!  I like how it leaves behind plant based enzymes to stay behind to keep fighting odors.   Overall, I liked the products and would recommend.

The have other natural household cleaning products such as for counters, glass and mops. 

You can watch this cute 2 minute video to learn more about Natural House probiotic cleaners. 

To learn more, just check out Natural House's site here or on Facebook and Twitter.

The Giveaway:


One reader will receive the same 30 day supply I received.


To Enter:


Please use the Rafflecopter form below