Wrappitizers Time!

I was finally able to host my Nasoya Wrappy Hour party this past Sunday.  After a couple of date changes, we finally got our act together.  Sort of.  I had a hard time finding the wrappers at my area Publix. I considered changing the date again, but with the holiday parties approaching, I knew that I would not be able to reschedule for any time before 2011.  I finally hit Winn Dixie at the suggestion of @Nasoya on Twitter.  This saved me a 45 minute drive to Whole Foods. Forget the fact that Winn Dixie only had TWO packages of egg roll wrappers available in stock.  I snatched them up and made my way to the register with my handy dandy coupons.  While waiting in line at the register, I notice the "use by date" on one package was Dec11.  Um, no.  One package would have to do.  Fortunately, we were only a total of 6 including myself.  I cant believe how much I got out of one package! I made 10 chicken empanadas. 6 spinach artichoke egg rolls, 12 mini dessert cups and made chips with the left overs! I had also made my famous cranberry & feta salad, so nobody would go away hungry.

 Chicken Filling

 Chicken Empanadas

There are a couple of things that I learned.  Number one being that I can never get a job as an egg roll roller. My "egg rolls" looked nothing like your regular egg rolls!  I also learned that I loved the presses that Nasoya sent me! They are so easy to use! Since I can't be an "egg roll roller" maybe I can survive as an empanada maker!

One last lesson  learned, is that I must remind my female guests that I would like to take and post pictures.  I must do this not only when I invite, but also several times before the event including the day of said event. That way they can be totally primped and made-up and allow me to take and post pictures! Geez! Even after a couple of sangrias, they were unwilling models.

We did have a great time and they enjoyed the food. Each of my guests left with a recipe pamphlet, an apron and coupons for free product and $ off.  If it weren't for the party poopers, my photos would be more interesting. But whatever. We'll be getting together again in January, and I want to make the crab rangoons.  There are wrapping instructions on the Nasoya website.  Maybe with a little practice my rolling skills will improve.

 Getting ready to roll

 Spinach Artichoke Filling

 Spinach Artichoke Egg Roll, Chicken Empanada, Nutella & Whipped Cream Dessert Cup

I baked everything because I do not like frying inside the house. Plus it is healthier.  Although everything toasted up quite nicely, I believe that the wrappers would have a nicer texture when fried. All in all, I really liked the wrappers.  The price is great.  I just wish that my Publix will actually carry them soon.  I also really want to try the Nayonaise. I see a trip to Whole Foods in my future.

***To help defray the cost of the party, I am being provided with products, coupons and a gift card by Nasoya®. All opinions expressed are strictly my own. Please refer to my disclosure policy***

$1 for 3 DVD Rentals at Redbox!

Click through to Groupon by before midnight tomorrow to score 3 Redbox rentals for $1. Yeah, you can usually get a coupon code for a Free rental but this is a pretty good deal too!

* Three one-night rentals
* Nearly 25,000 kiosks
* Up to 200 new releases
* Rent & return at any location

Four Year Subscription to Weight Watchers Magazine

 Description:
Weight Watchers Magazine is the perfect companion for women or men who are dedicated to their health and fitness goals. Issues of Weight Watchers provide great quick-recipe ideas, seven-day menu plans, exercise tips, and other great health and lifestyle advice that can help the reader stay on track. Weight Watchers Magazine brings many inspirational stories from Weight Watchers members that will be sure to keep motivation high. Whether already enrolled in a weight loss program or simply trying to maintain current fitness, Weight Watchers is a valuable tool for success.






For a limited time, you can get a 4 year subscription (24 issues) to Weight Watchers Magazine for just $14.00, regularly $47.96.  Click here to order before the offer ends.  Use coupon code 8530.

My Coke Rewards

If you collect My Coke Rewards codes, be sure to get your Bonus Points! Between 12/6 & 12/26, if you enter 3 12 pack codes each week, you will get an additional 20 bonus points each week for a total of 60 points over the three weeks! Valid on Coke®, Diet Coke®, Sprite® and Coke Zero™.

Since I am slightly addicted to Diet Coke, I end up with tons of codes.  I have redeemed for some cool stuff including 2 tickets to Universal Studios Orlando and 2 tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood! Cool beans!

Meet Mark: Body Care that Cares

There are many, many brands of body care items out on the market, but not many are Fair Trade Certified™ . Products which are Fair Trade Certified™, promote fair prices, safe working conditions and funds for community development for the millions of farmers who grow and source products like Mexican honey, Indian white tea, Peruvian cocoa butter and Egyptian hibiscus. By using products that are Fair Trade Certified™, you help support the future of the planet and the people living in it.

I was recently given the opportunity to try and review four products by mark. Appropriately named "mark. body care that cares". Each product is fragrance free and allergy tested. I personally do not care for un-scented products. But for many that are sensitive to fragrances, these products will be ideal. The good thing about fragrance-free products, is that it won't interfere with your perfumes. I used the products for a little over a week before posting this review. The following products are all formulated with Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients and antioxidants.

• Do The Right Thing Smoothing Body Lotion SPF 15 with Fair Trade Certified™ Cocoa Butter, Honey, and Hibiscus - $12
I found the lotion to be light and soothing. It is easily absorbed and I LOVE that it contains sunscreen. Sunscreen is a daily must for me, I appreciate that this lotion leaves my skin hydrated but not oily. The lack of scent is the only thing that I do not like.
• Fresh Approach Hydrating Body Cleanser with Fair Trade Certified™ Honey and White Tea - $10
I did not like this product as a body cleanser simply because it really does not lather up well. I used it as a facial cleanser though, and I loved it! It is light, gentle, and did not dry up my face. I also used it as a shave lotion, it worked well and did not clog up my razor.
• The Big Fix 15-in-1 Big Benefits Balm with Fair Trade Certified™ Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, and Vanilla - $10
Now this one, I absolutely LOVED! I used it on my heels & elbows. I also used it on my lips (after wiping it down!LOL) It also works well as a brow wax. All in one portable stick. Perfect for travel.
• Relief Effort Total Comfort Body Creme with Fair Trade Certified™ Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, and Chamomile - $14
This creme is wonderful as well. Again, no scent. It is thick but it is easily absorbed and keeps your skin hydrated. I live in sandals and my heels take a beating. After just 2 days of using this creme at night, my heels were smooth.

By choosing Fair Trade Certified™ products you are directly supporting a better life for farming families through fair prices, direct trade, community development and environmental stewardship. Learn more at fairtradecertified.org

Try these products for yourself. Find the mark. body care that cares collection exclusively at meetmark.com. Use offer code BUYFT3 for $3 off any body care that cares product (no limit). That's $3 off each mark. body care that cares product that you buy.

**I am a BzzAgent . I was provided free products to review and provide an honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not paid for this review **

Nasoya® Wrappy Hour!

It's almost time for my Nayosa® Wrappy Hour Party! I had to move the date from the 4th to the 5th to accommodate my guests. But the party is on! I just received my party box today. I can't believe how generous they were with the supplies! Just look at all my stuff!

The box included the following:

~ Recipe booklets
~ A bottle of Honey Ginger Soy Sauce
~ A jar of Marinara sauce
~ Dough presses
~ Wrappy Hour napkins and aprons
~ 6 cute bamboo appetizer plates
~ 12 coupons for free Nasoya products
~ PLUS a $25 AMEX gift card for other supplies!

Thanks Nasoya®!  I'm sure that we will have a great party! In the meantime, here is the recipe for the Hazelnut-Choc Wontons that I am planning on making.

• 16 Nasoya® wonton wraps (you can use raviolis or egg roll too!)
• 1 egg, beaten to blend
• 1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (I LOVE Nutella)
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Nonstick vegetable oil spray
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Place 1 wonton wrapper on the work surface. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with egg. Spoon 1 tablespoon of chocolate-hazelnut spread into the center of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper diagonally in half over the filling and press the edges of the wrapper to seal. Place the ravioli on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining wonton wrappers, egg, and chocolate-hazelnut spread.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Add enough oil to a heavy large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
Working in batches, carefully add the ravioli to the hot oil and cook until they are golden brown, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the ravioli to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Then, transfer the cooked ravioli to another baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven while frying the remaining ravioli. (The fried ravioli can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool them completely, then cover and refrigerate. Before serving, place them on a baking sheet and rewarm in a preheated 375 degrees F oven just until they are heated through, about 7 minutes.)

YUMMY!


***To help defray the cost of the party, I am being provided with products, coupons and a gift card by Nasoya®. All opinions expressed are strictly my own. Please refer to my disclosure policy***

Epcot Food & Wine Festival 2010

I started this post on the 14th and now finally have time to (attempt to) finish it!

Although I am not a huge foodie, I always look forward to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. For one, it's EPCOT, my favorite park. And two, there are desserts everywhere! Yes, we are not wine connoisseurs either. We just know what we like. Even if it is a $7 bottle of locally produced wine. I lean towards reds and enjoy a Zinfandel every now and then. White wine is the devil and has me on the floor after just one sip. I LOVE Sangria and I make a mighty good pitcher, if I do day so myself. But no, I'm not a wine connoisseur, I am a pretty good froo froo drink know-it-all though! D is a beer drinker...and loves trying regional beers, so he was content.

First, we would look at the menu, then hang back and watch what others would buy and see what it looked like. We would also buy just one plate to taste between the two of us. Except for desserts. I require one dessert sample all for myself. I'm greedy like that. I would offer him on tiny taste though, so I did share.

We were there for two short days. and had the most amazingly beautiful weather on both days. Crowds were light and manageable. Perfect Disney weather and conditions!

Most of the food that we tried was just ok. Nothing was WOW! Some sample portions were generous, others were downright tiny. For instance, the cheese soup from Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion. I LOVE this soup and I love Le Cellier! The portion served was approximately 1/4 cup! Tini tiny!

Now, the Asopado in the Puerto Rico booth was way more generous plus we also had the media noche sandwich here. Go figure, we're Latin and have that stuff here.

We both enjoyed the Nurnberger sausage in a pretzel roll from Germany. And D enjoyed their beer as well.

D liked the escargots en brioche from the France booth. I don't like snails, but I tasted the garlicky bread part and it was really good! The Chocolate Creme Brulee, on the other hand, was a HUGE disappointment! It was served cold and not at all creamy. I make a killer creme brulee, so I may be a bit biased. But come on, creme brulee is not served cold. Period.

The BBQ Short Rib in South Korea was ok. Quite tasty but very fatty. Didn't care for the kimichi at all.

I love fondue, but I was just not feeling the fondue from the Charcuterie & Cheese booth. All I know that the cheese was a white cheese, as no one knew exactly what cheese or combination of cheeses was used. It also had an over powering white wine taste.

My FAVORITE booth was, surprise surprise, the Desserts & Champagne booth! YUM! I got the sampler. Three times. The sampler comes with one of each or any combination of the three.

Strawberry Angel Verrine A+
Pear Strussel Pudding Cake B+

Dark Chocolate Sensation A++

As for drinks, I really don't remember what we had. I never got around to trying the Cranberry Cosmo thingy in France. But I did have a couple of my favorite Grand Marnier Orange Slushes!

The Eat to the Beat concert was a hit. I hope not to date myself by my next comment, but back in the day, I LOVED Dr. Noah Drake. I had my Tiger Beat posters all over my walls. Right there next to Shaun Cassidy & John Travolta. So, it was no coincidence that I chose these days to go to the festival. Rick Springfield was performing and I am happy to say, that at 61 (OMG!) he still puts on a great show! There were even groupies in attendance. Albeit, middle age groupies, but groupies nonetheless!

The line for the concert started about 2 hours prior to the show and reached all the way to Germany before they started letting people in. If you really, really want to see the show, and actually get a seat, make the line. The America Gardens Theater holds a lot of people, and I can tell you that even if you're all the way to Germany, You'll get a seat! :-))

Can't wait to see what's in store fore 2011!

One Day Deals!

I am a huge fan of Groupon! I love shopping and I love saving money, so it's a win-win situation. I especially love the Groupons for services like spas and salons. I have also purchased Groupons for attractions, both at home and for vacations. I am a proud Groupie!

I was watching Nightline last night, and they were talking about Groupon and its founder and CEO. Groupon has been around for 2 years and the CEO is now 29 years old! They started with 7 employees and now have over 500! It all comes down to the power of Social Media! Maybe some day, I will come up with some super cool idea and make some millions!

Now, I admit, I have bought coupons from Living Social , DealOn, & Dealtificate. Hands down, I have found the best deals on Groupon. I like that they have a discussion board for each deal and that you are able to ask questions before you buy. They actually answer too! I was considering purchasing a deal on Living Social, but the description was rather vague. I emailed them on Friday and I am still waiting for a response.

Remember that these are generally one day deals, so if you see it and like it, buy it. Check your city, you might find something that you can use! I know that I always do! :-))

Free Museum Day Sept 25th!

Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Media. Participating museums across the country open their doors for free to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket

You can get your Free ticket for you and one guest here

Check for museums near you here

Our local Zoo is included as well, so that is great for the little ones!

Enjoy!

Review: Breyers Smooth & Dreamy

I am a HUGE sweets freak. Food is over rated, give me my dessert! I live by the mantra of "Life is too short, eat dessert first." Being a sweets-aholic is generally not a good thing, or at least that is what my thighs tell me. So I am very excited to try the new Breyer's Smooth & Dreamy Bars and Sandwiches! I need to have my daily sweets fix, no matter what diet I am on. If I deprive myself for one day, the next day I could probably eat an entire gallon of ice cream. At just 160 calories or less, the Breyer's Bars & Sandwiches may just be the answer! Sweet indulgence without all the calories.

Product Details:

* New Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy bars and sandwiches are indulgently delicious, and have less fat and fewer calories than regular ice cream bars and sandwiches and no artificial flavors or colors.

* The lineup of Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy frozen novelties includes ice cream bars and sandwiches with extra creamy light ice cream and delicious mix-ins.
Smooth & Dreamy Bars and Sandwiches are available in rich flavors like Chocolate Caramel Brownie, Vanilla Caramel Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Vanilla Fudge Brownie, and Triple Chocolate Chip. Each bar or sandwich has 160 calories or less and 4-6g of fat per serving.

* Moms need to treat themselves here and there to some much-needed “me” time. Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy Bars and Sandwiches are a great way for moms to reward themselves with an indulgent treat that has fewer calories than regular ice cream.

Breyer's is hosting a sampling event right here in Miami! I'm posting the info for ya'll and maybe I will see you there!


Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream Bars and Sandwiches Complimentary Sampling Event
Miami, FL
Dolphin Mall – In front of Ramblas Plaza
Friday, July 23
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
$1.00 off product coupons will be handed out throughout the event

There is also a daily sweepstakes on the Breyer's site! You get three chances to win daily! So what are you waiting for?
Smooth and Dreamy Wheel of Delights Sweepstakes:

Visit Breyer's to spin the Wheel daily for a chance to win an instant prize
Registers in the Sweepstakes for a chance to win the Grand Prize
Each day, enter your email for one Sweepstakes entry
3 chances a day to win an instant prize!

Day at the spa
Manicure & pedicure
Bookstore gift cards
Maid for a day
Free Smooth & Dreamy
Move Tickets
Sweepstakes Grand Prize - $10,000!
A day with celebrity trainer, Kathy Kaehler
$10,00 cash

Let me know if you win!

 UPDATE:  I had the opportunity to try each variety (except for the strawberry) and although they were all very good, my favorite was the Vanilla Caramel Chip Bar. You would never be able to tell that these were only 160 calories each.  The ice cream was smooth & creamy, not icy and watery.  Full of flavor and a fantastic treat! These yummy sweets should help me stay on track.  I can have one of these and feel like I'm cheating, but I really am not!

*** Breyer's is supplying coupons for me to try the new Smooth & Dreamy Bars & Sandwiches.***