Winner!

I'm a few days late.

Wait, I should qualify that statement before my husband goes into sudden cardiac failure.

I'm a few days late announcing the giveaway winner. (I have to get used to this giveaway bit!)

There were 4 entries.

By random drawing, (performed live by Sydney on Flip Video) the winner of the boxed dinners and the gift card is.....

Nico's Mom!

Congratulations!  Get your info to me, and I'll get your goodies to you!!

Speaking of Flip Video, I'm super excited for my next promotion.  I was asked by Hasbro and MyBlogSpark to review their Candy Land game just in time for the upcoming holiday season.  

Monday morning, FIFTEEN board games arrived on my front porch.  Yes, folks, fifteen games!  Now that's a lot of Gramma Gooey, Lord Licorice, Princess Frostine and Princess Lolly, but No Fear.  I have a captive audience of three-year olds at Sydney's preschool and will be hosting a Candy Land party to share these games!

We'll be playing a real life game of Candy Land in the gymnasium and (lucky for you) you will get to see all the fun on video, brought to you by my Ultra Flip Video camera (also provided courtesy of Hasbro and MyBlogSpark- Thanks!).

Would you like to win your own copy of Hasbro's Candy Land??  Watch for my upcoming review for details on how you can win!

Stay in and go all out

I told you all it was coming...

...a super awesome giveaway and a chance to save some money!

Who couldn't use a time-saving, money-savy dinner AND a visa gift card for $25?!?

Well, you're in the right place if you answered "Yes!!!" to the above questions...Just in time for the start of the holiday season.  This week's giveaway is sponsored by Wanchai Ferry and Macaroni Grill, as well as MyBlogSpark.  My giveaway prize pack and information are provided by the above companies.

How many of you remember your first date night with your sweetie?  Was it a fun activity?  Maybe a sporting event or concert?  A romantic dinner for two?

Having just celebrated our 12th Sweetest Day together (gah!), I took a walk down memory lane and decided to share a story about my first date with my "sweetest"...

Jason and I had met over Easter weekend at a local bar.  He was the cute guy/good dancer whose name I couldn't remember months later.  I won't rehash the details of that first night...There may have been an R-rated "Girls Gone Wild" moment, but enough already.  Needless to say, I was young, liberated, and maybe just a little wild.  No comment from the peanut gallery...

I was just finishing up my senior year of college, heading into final exams.  I was focused on finishing up nursing school, getting my bachelor's degree, passing nursing boards, and finding a job.  I most definitely was not interested in finding a boyfriend.  But you know what they say about Cupid and that arrow of his...

Jason and I spent a few weeks talking on the phone, writing emails and letters back and forth, and sending cryptic pager messages to one another (yes, we dated "way back when" before the era of texting!)  Basically, we got to know each other pretty well over those first few weeks, and decided a date should be forthcoming. We planned to meet up at my home and head out on the town for a fun night.

The toll of late night studying and early morning final exams began to wear thin on my mental and physical well-being.  I got quite run down and tired as the weekend date approached.  I could barely keep my eyes open at my last final exam on Wednesday, and had a very sore, scratchy throat.  I went to the student health clinic on my way home from the exam, hoping to get some Robitussin and cough drops.

I detailed my complaints to the student health nurse.  I was sure it was just a mix of stress, fatigue, and anxiety.  After taking my temperature, feeling my glands and looking in my throat, the nurse decided a rapid strep and monospot test might be helpful.

Guess what came back positive??

I had mono.  Affectionately known as "the kissing disease" because of its easy spread from one to another, especially people who kiss.

I called Jason right away and told him I needed to cancel our date.  I was so tired I was practically falling asleep on the phone talking to him.  I explained to him that I had mono, I was too tired to drive home, I planned on just staying cooped up in my dorm room and recuperating until graduation.

Jason, not to be deterred, decided I needed a visitor.  To this day, I'm not sure if he believed I was really sick, or if he was just coming to "check up" and make sure I wasn't ditching him for another date an end-of-year frat party a lot of studying.  Regardless, he drove to Cleveland after working all day and brought me some homemade chicken noodle soup and crackers, and ginger ale.  We spent the evening curled up on my futon, sipping chicken noodle soup, watching the Cleveland Indians, dozing on and off,  and decidely NOT kissing.

And that, my friends, was my first date with my sweetheart.

We've had many "dates" since then- some out on the town and many hanging out at home.  But it still tickles my fancy when Jason cooks for me.  And meals like Macaroni Grill and Wanchai Ferry Boxed dinners make cooking easy.  Why, just tonight, Jason cooked Wanchai Ferry's Orange Chicken.  It was simple, took less than 30 minutes to make, and tasted delicious and authentic.  My kids loved it, and (although they love broccoli, brussel sprouts and asparagus) said how tasty and flavorful it was.

We have also cooked Macaroni Grill Boxed Dinners frequently in the past.  My favorites are the Chicken Marsala and Creamy Basil varieties.  We really love the different flavors and meals we can get with the same basic ingredient- chicken.  The meals are easy, complete, and tasty!!

And now it's your turn...
You can win a boxed dinner from Wanchai Ferry, a boxed dinner from Macaroni Grill, and a $25 Visa gift card for simply leaving a comment here telling me where you went on your first date with your sweetie.  One lucky commenter will get the prize pack mentioned above.  Winner will be drawn at random on November 1st.  Couldn't you use the boxed dinners to make a quick family meal during the rush and hub-bub of the upcoming holidays?  Couldn't you use $25 to help buy groceries or Christmas gifts this holiday season?  Of course you could!!  So don't be shy...comment today and have a chance to win!!

And just in case you don't win (or even if you do!) you can visit the MyBlogSpark website for a coupon off of Wanchai Ferry or Macaroni Grill Boxed Dinners.

I'll be anxiously awaiting your comments about your first date.  Can you beat a mononucleosis-infected dorm room futon?

Sweet Moments Winner!!

O.my.heck.

I am such a bad, bad giver-away-er.  Or however you "verb-ize" that word.  Apparently, I'm bad at English too.

Anyways.  I'm sure you all don't care about the details.  But, I'm going to provide them anyways.  I guess there was some confusion about the link from my regular blog pointing here to the giveaway blog, so some people didn't come here.  Also, the comment notification was turned off on my last post, so I didn't know people had visited and entered the giveaway, so I never drew a winner.  BUT...one of you three ladies is about to get lucky.

The winner of the Sweet Moments prize pack from Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark is..........................
Number 2...MomofTwins!  Here's to some "sweet moments" with your yummy prizes!  Get me your info (mailing address, email, and phone) and Pillsbury will get your prize to you soon!

Now on to new business....

I have another giveaway.  And you definitely want to be a part of this one.  Do you like Macaroni Grill?  How about Chinese Food?  Could you use a $25 Visa Gift Card?  How about a couple of ready-in-minutes meals?  Stay tuned...more info to come this week!!!

Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark Sweet Moments

I briefly mentioned in my last post about an exciting opportunity of which I've been asked to be a part.  I'm super excited to announce that I will be writing some product reviews and hosting some giveaways for some products that I really believe in.

I should begin this by stating my intentions.  Through MyBlogSpark, I am asked to review some popular products.  Usually, these offers come with some free products, coupons, or a giveaway item to share with my readers.  

That being said, my opinion of a product, favorable or not, can not be "bought".  I personally try every product I review on my blog, and only share with you the products that I like, and products I think you would enjoy.

Each review will have a disclaimer saying who provides the product, prize pack, information and giveaway.  

So, are you as excited as I am?  Well, then, let's get down to business!!

This week, I've been asked to review Pillsbury Sweet Moments Bite Size and Molten Lava Brownies.

I probably don't need to tell you that they only had to ask me ONCE to provide this review- any product involving chocolate gets an automatic pass to the front of the line.

Found these little gems in the refrigerator section at Target.  Although they come in caramel flavor, I much prefer chocolate fudge, so I chose the molten lava brownies.  They come in a convenient two-pack- one for me and one for you.  Or one for now and one for later, if you're anything like me!!

These little morsels sat in my refrigerator for about three days, calling my name each time I opened the doors. "Eat meeeee....eat me-e-e-e-e....e-e-e-e-eat me-e-e-e-e!!!"  I was waiting for the perfect opportunity- I was imagining a warm bubble bath, candlelight, decadent chocolates, and a handsome, shirtless man.....

But Tuesday morning found me and the youngest struggling with those early morning blahs after the long Labor Day weekend.  With the "big kids" now back in school, this called for a special "Sydney and Mommy" week kick-off.  What could be better than a "Sweet Moment" with my youngest over breakfast?

So, out of the fridge, off with the individual wrappers, and into the microwave.  Fifteen seconds.  That's all that stood between us and our "Sweet Moments".

Eating dessert for breakfast is probably not what I should be teaching to my daughter during her formative years.  But I've completely justified this by deciding it's no different than eating some pastry or doughnut to start my day.  Besides, a girl needs to splurge every once in awhile, right?  Right?  RIGHT?!?!

So there sat Sydney and I, digging our spoons into this decadent treat.  The best bite?  The very first one, of course!  The chocolate molten lava filling was warmed to perfection.  A fragile crust on the top, that gives with  soft pressure from your spoon, into a yummy mess of melty, warm chocolate fudge and ooey, gooey brownie.    Is there anything better than fudge-like brownies?  I think not.

Every bite after the first was equally as delicious.    Did you know they have special brownie pans that turn every piece into an edge piece?  I'm not joking.  And Pillsbury's Molten Lava Brownies achieve this feat to perfection.  The edges of this brownie treat are chewy and yummy.

Indeed, my Sweet Moments dessert turned into a sweet moment between me and the little one.  After a few minutes of happy eating, I glanced up at her chocolate-covered smile and realized that starting the week off with dessert for breakfast is not such a bad idea.  Her smile turned the normal rush and hurry of the school week into a happy mother-daughter moment that brightened my day.  In fact, we may start doing this a little more often!!

So, did I talk you into it?  Do you want to try this yummy treat for yourself?  Well, now's your chance!

Remember that dream?  You know, the one about the chocolates, bubble bath, and shirtless hunk?  No? Well, neither do I.  Ahem.   I'm prepared to provide the winner of this giveaway with two-thirds of that equation.  I'll let you guess which two items you'll win, but I'll give you a hint: I'm keeping the shirtless hunk for myself. 

You guys are so smart!  Here's your chance to win a spa package with bubble bath, foot scrub, lotion, and bath salts, along with a coupon for FREE Pillsbury Special Moments brownie desserts.

Just leave a comment here telling me when you would enjoy your own Sweet Moments Molten Lava Brownie.  Would you nosh over your morning coffee?  Maybe a mid-day pick-me-up?  After a long day in the office?  Or perhaps as a sweet treat just before bedtime?  Regardless of when or how you would enjoy your dessert, rest assured you WILL enjoy this chocolate-y ambrosia from Pillsbury.

Winner will be announced Monday...Good Luck!