Veronica Mars DVD Giveaway Winner

Thank you for your entries to this giveaway!!  I am excited to announce that our newest winner for the Warner Bros Veronica Mars DVD Giveaway has been chosen.  The winner was chosen at random by rafflecopter.

And the WINNER is:

Entry #15 Katie Ellis

Congratulations!!  The winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or sadly a new winner will be chosen.  Thank you to everyone for taking the time to check out my blog.  Don't forget to enter all of my other current giveaways. Good Luck!!

Fresh Express Salads Review

*I received the product featured free of charge in order to give an honest review.  No other compensation was received.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and others may have a different opinion.** 

 

 Have you heard of a newer brand of bagged salad called FRESH EXPRESS?? 

 The Fresh Express Story

A Glorious History of Freshness

The Fresh Express story begins way back in the Roaring Twenties. It was at that time that our founder, a California produce visionary named Bruce Church, returned to his Salinas, California roots and began working in the Salinas Valley produce industry. By the 1930s, he and three partners formed an ice company that supported a growing wave of packing and shipping fresh heads of lettuce across the country in ice-packed rail cars.

All the way to Maine, as the train pulled into each stop, folks would call out excitedly, "The icebergs are coming! The icebergs are coming!" The name would stick, as would America's blossoming love affair with fresh salads.

To meet this growing hunger for fresh, healthy salads, Fresh Express created the very first ready-to-eat packaged Garden Salad available in grocery stores nationwide in 1989. It was this same pioneering spirit and dedication to freshness that has "greened up" family menus with winning new combinations of fresh salads ever since. Today, Fresh Express is the market leader in delivering great-tasting, nutritious, fresh products to health-conscious people like you. 

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to taste Fresh Express salads with my mommy group.  I love salad so I think all of these were winners in my eyes. :)

We tried 3 different kinds of salads from Fresh Express:

50/50 Mix (above)

 Green & Crisp (above)

And the Caesar Kit (above)

The majority of the favorite was the Caesar Kit.  I especially liked the 50/50 myself because I love spinach.  All these salads by Fresh Express were delicious!!  Everyone in my group had the chance to try at least one or all three of the salads.  I am pretty sure most of us tried all 3 since this was a tasting.  Fresh Express salads bring healthier food into your home and are very easy to eat.   I really enjoy the size of leafs that these salads are cut into.  Some other bagged salad varieties have leafs that are cut much larger and are sometimes harder to get into your mouth especially if you are a small child.   These bagged salads were amazingly comparable in pricing.  They were not too different than other brands of the same size.  The only downfall to this product is that it is not sold in all stores.  Target does sell this salad and there is one near my home.  You can check online here to find other locations near your home that sell Fresh Express bagged salads.

Try Fresh Express Salads today with your family!!

Follow Fresh Express on Twitter

Become a fan of Fresh Express on Facebook

*I received the product featured free of charge in order to give an honest review.  No other compensation was received.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and others may have a different opinion.**   

Earth Balance Buttery Spreads Review

**I received the product featured free of charge in order to give an honest review.  No other compensation was received.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and others may have a different opinion.**

 

Earth Balance was a product I had not heard of before recently being able to sample.  Earth Balance is a fairly new brand.  

A little about Earth Balance:

Just outside Boulder, Colorado is where you’ll find a company that’s committed to quality on a whole new scale. That’s us. We’re Earth Balance^®, and we can’t wait to introduce you to our line of naturally irresistible buttery spreads, shortenings, nut butters, soymilk, coconut spread and MindfulMayo™ Dressing and Sandwich Spreads.

All of our products are 100% plant-based, vegan, non-GMO, lactose-free, gluten-free, egg-free, casein-free, have 0g of trans fat and, oh, did we mention they’re absolutely delicious? Because they are. At Earth Balance^®, taste is king, and that’s a commitment we live by every single day. Everything we make is tasty enough to stand strong on its own, but any of our products can also be the perfect substitute in all your favorite cooking or baking recipes.

To put it simply: We use only natural ingredients. We’re organic-minded. And we’re whipping up the good stuff to share with everyone who follows a plant-based diet, suffers from food allergies, or just wants to lead a more health-conscious and earth-loving life.

I had the wonderful opportunity of sampling these buttery spreads with my mommy group.  The flavors I chose to try were original, soy garden, and buttery whipped.

   It was so much fun getting together with my mommy group and participating in this tasting.  For this particular tasting I decided to make some homemade bread to be able to sample the spreads with.  I also made a loaf of bread for each of the other moms to be able to take home. 

Earth Balance makes great new products geared towards a plant based diet.  This is especially important when trying to have a healthy diet.  Earth Balance buttery spreads are also great for those people looking to eat vegetarian or vegan.  They even have egg-less vegan Mayo!!!  This is pretty cool.  Sometimes it is hard to find those right substitutes for foods you may love but are no longer able to eat or for things that you might be allergic to.  

The overall consensus of my group was that the Earth Balance Buttery Spreads were delicious.  Being healthy and eating better is something that is very important to me and my family.  I really felt like my group was very impressed with the taste and healthiness of this product.  I will definitely be buying this product again.  I'm sure my group can't wait to bring some healthier foods into their families diets and share this product with their families. 

I highly recommend you check out Earth Balance and see what other great products they have and see where you can implement some new healthier foods into your diet!!

Follow Earth Balance on Twitter

Become a fan of Earth Balance on Facebook

**I received the product featured free of charge in order to give an honest review.  No other compensation was received.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and others may have a different opinion.**

NBC American Dream Builders and Lowe's $50 Gift Card Giveaway

**I received no compensation or products for this blog post.  All information was provided to me by NBCUniversal supplied these materials.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and others may have a different opinion.**

The American Dream Home is something everyone fantasizes about. Whether it’s a new closet, a larger family room, or simply a place to put all your stuff, there’s always something we want to change about where we live!

What if you could make your home into your Dream Home?

AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS – a new show premiering on NBC March 23 at 8/7c – and Lowe’s want to make your dream a reality.

Hosted by famed interior designer and best-selling author, Nate Berkus, AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS follows the nation’s top 12 designers and home builders as they compete to be crowned the Ultimate Dream Builder and take home a $250,000 cash prize. It’s the home competition that will change everything!

From the producers of Survivor and The Bachelor, don’t miss AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS, Sundays at 8/7c, only on NBC.

You can enter for a chance to win $100,000 in products and services from Lowe’s and a consultation with the winner of American Dream Builders!

Enter for a chance to win your dream renovation at www.nbc.com/lowes.

And starting March 23rd you will have the opportunity to earn 5 bonus entries when you “Dream It Yourself”! Upload a photo and description of a home project you are working on and EARN 5 BONUS SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES.

Finally, follow the show on Facebook and Twitter for a chance to win more prizes from American Dream Builders and Lowe’s!

 

Have a chance to win a $100k home renovation from NBC’s new show, American Dream Builders, and Lowe’s! 

 • Tweet using the #DreamBuilders hashtag to spread the word about the premiere of AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS Sunday March 23 on NBC.

• Tweet @NBCDreamBuilder

• LIVE TWEET with the judges - Nate Berkus, Eddie George and Monica Pedersen! #DreamBuilders
     - On March 23 at 8pm ET join the judges and contestants on Twitter and LIVE TWEET along with the show.

• Meet Darren!      - Darren Moore sets his sights on the top when American Dream Builders premieres Sunday, March 23.
     
• American Dream Builder’s First Look      - Get an extended look at American Dream Builders, the new makeover competition show hosted by Nate Berkus and premiering March 23 on NBC.
      

• Dreaming Big       - American Dream Builders is bigger and better than any show out there. See what the show’s designers can accomplish in just one week!
      

GIVEAWAY: WIN One (1) $50 Gift Card to Lowe's

 Ends 4/1 US

Each household is only eligible to win One (1) $50 Lowe's Gift Card via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

To enter the giveaway just simply fill out the rafflecopter below for your entries.  If you don't see the rafflecopter simply wait or refresh the page. Don't forget you can share the giveaway daily for extra entries!!  So get your entries in and share with your friends.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the current giveaways! Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

**I received no compensation or products for this blog post.  All information was provided to me by NBCUniversal supplied these materials.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and others may have a different opinion.**

Gorton's Grilled Fish Fillets Review and Giveaway

**I was provided with the featured product free of charge in order to give an honest review.  No other compensation was received.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.**

Gorton's Story 

A look at the map of the United States will reveal a small dot about three-fourths of the way up the Atlantic coastline. That little spot locates the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts at 42 degrees, 35 minutes North Latitude and 70 degrees, 40 minutes West Longitude. Gloucester is America’s oldest seaport, the birthplace of the U.S. fishing industry and the homeport of Gorton’s Seafood.

Gorton’s was founded in 1849 by a father-son duo under the name John Pew & Sons. Several years later in nearby Rockport, MA, Slade Gorton founded a fishing business and was the first to pack salt-dried codfish. Gorton’s became a registered trademark in 1875. In 1906, Slade Gorton, John Pew and two other Gloucester fisheries merged into Gorton-Pew Fisheries. When the merger became effective, the company offices were located in the same building where Gorton’s Main Office is located today.

At the turn of the 20th century, Gorton’s Codfish Cakes were a New England staple. A leader in innovation, Gorton’s was the first to develop a frozen convenience food – Gorton’s Fried and Frozen Codfish Fillets. Since then, Gorton’s has introduced countless seafood innovations, like “Fresh Lock” processing in the late 1950s and now-famous Gorton’s Fish Sticks in 1952. More recently, Gorton’s Grilled Fillets and Skillet Crisp items have introduced delicious and innovative ways to enjoy seafood.

In 1975, the Gorton’s Fisherman appeared on TV for the first time. “Trust the Gorton’s Fisherman” has since become a famous jingle beloved by Americans.

Much has changed at Gorton’s since 1849, but a few things will always remain the same. Gorton’s is a company proud of its Gloucester history, the Gorton’s Fisherman, and the dedicated people that work every day to help people everywhere enjoy the goodness of great seafood.

Gorton's puts out many great products.  One of the newer products we were able to sample were the Grilled Fish Fillets.  We chose to try the salmon because I love salmon.   The two varieties that we chose to try in the Grilled Salmon Fillets were the Classic Grilled and the Lemon Butter flavors.  I was very impressed with the taste and flavor these fillets had. 

My husband and I have worked hard to become fit and healthy the last couple of years and these varieties help you feel good about eating it.  These are not deep fried like many other frozen fish varieties.  They are surprisingly very healthy!! I know fish in general are usually healthier choice than many other types of fatty meats but these are a better choice.  We have gotten in to looking at package labels on everything we buy.  We want to be eating the right types of foods and the right amounts.    One of the things that impressed us the most was that each fillet is only 100 calories.  This is huge because many people during today's time eat more than suggested calorie intake per meal.   Gorton's Salmon Fish Fillets also contain 15-17g of Protein per Fillet. They also are a great source of potassium.  The fillets we ate had about 270-320mg of potassium each fillet.  

Gorton's Grilled Fillets are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to be a essential part of a healthy diet.  Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to provide many health benefits.  This is something we love to have in our diet because Omega-3 fatty acids have a lot of what your body is in need and at most times craving.

We love the taste and the healthiness of Gorton's Grilled Fillets.  I highly recommend you check Gorton's out and add them to your family's table today. 

Check out Gorton's AWESOME RECIPES!!!  Also see what else you can discover on Gorton's.

Enter the Gorton's Real Solutions Sweepstakes on Gortons.com

Enter the Gorton's Real Solutions Sweepstakes on Facebook

Get your entries in between March 3 and April 21

Print some Gorton's Coupons for yourself today!!

GIVEAWAY: Win One (1) Gorton's Prize Pack

Ends 4/25 US

PRIZE PACK INCLUDES:

Two (2) Coupons for Free Gorton's Fish Products

One (1) Gorton's Cutting Board

To enter the giveaway just simply fill out the rafflecopter below for your entries.  If you don't see the rafflecopter simply wait or refresh the page. Don't forget you can share the giveaway daily for extra entries!!  So get your entries in and share with your friends.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the current giveaways! Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

*I was provided with the featured product free of charge in order to give an honest review.  No other compensation was received.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.**

Pasta Dinner Salad Recipe - Guest Post

Family-Friendly Pasta Dinner Salad from Lynn L. with Hebrew National

When it comes to dinner time, sometimes you just don’t know what to cook to satisfy the whole family. How do you make just one simple dish that’s packed with nutrients and your kids will like? If you are looking to make the perfect healthy dinner for your family, you should take this hearty pasta dinner salad into consideration. This family dinner idea can help you make a colorful and healthy meal that everyone will love! So, now is the time to move to the kitchen and start making this homemade dinner salad to share with your family.

Family-Friendly Pasta Dinner Salad

Ingredients:
8 ounces rotini pasta, uncooked
¼ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 ounces beef franks
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into bite-sized strips
1 cup frozen green peas


Directions:
Prepare pasta, omitting salt. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, whisk olive oil, vinegar, salt, and black pepper together in large bowl to make dressing; set aside. Cut franks lengthwise in half and then slice into1/4 inch-thick half moons.
Heat large skillet over high heat for 1 minute. Add Franks; cook and stir 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add tomatoes, bell pepper, and peas; cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until peas are hot and peppers are crisp-tender.
Place pasta into bowl with prepared dressing. Add frank mixture; toss to coat all with dressing.

♥ Tips ♥
For those who prefer a “lightened” version of this recipe, you can combine 2 table spoons olive oil, 2 table spoons white wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper for dressing.

Here’s a short guide to substitute white wine vinegar in the recipe: 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest and 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice also work!
This recipe can be easily customized to suit your preferences! Try substituting the ingredients above for your kids’ favorite pasta or vegetables.

Now you can please the entire family with this family-friendly pasta salad.

Author Bio: This is a recipe from Lynn L. on behalf of Hebrew National. Lynn has a passion for good food, cooking ideas and creativity. View more dinner or grilling recipes at Hebrew National’s website. 

 Thank you Lynn for this awesome recipe!!  We are glad that you shared this recipe with all of us.