OTL: Private Selection Frozen Foods

Kroger is our primary grocery store and we love the Private Selection ice cream so I was very pleased to be invited to try some other Private Selection products through BzzAgent.com.

I found the appetizer selection at our store to be fairly limited and there was nothing I thought my husband would like. He did see one that he thought he might be interested in but I told him I was pretty sure we'd already tried it and not liked it very well. Of course now I can't remember which one that was. I chose the Mediterranean-Inspired Hors D'Oeuvers Collection which contained 3 each of spinach pesto puff, mushroom phyllo triangle, and feta sundried tomato phyllo roll. This is supposed to be 3 servings with each serving being one of each type of appetizer. I ate the entire box for lunch and was still hungry. I really enjoyed the spinach pesto puff and the mushroom phyllo triangle while the feta sundried tomato phyllo roll was just okay. The information I received said appetizer prices range from $3 to $7 per box but I don't remember seeing any at my store for less than $6. I have managed to lose my receipt but I'm pretty sure the box I got was close to the $7 mark making it fairly expensive to me. I can't imagine buying several boxes of appetizers for a party could possibly be cheaper than making something on your own even if there would be plenty of other food for guests to eat. Another thing to note with the variety that I purchased is that even though all the appetizers bake at the same temperature, the spinach pesto puffs take nearly twice as long as the other two. If I had been thinking I would have put the spinach pesto puffs in first and then added the others halfway through the baking time but I did it totally backwards and cooked the other varieties first and then ate them while the spinach pesto puffs baked.

For my pizza, I chose the Barbeque Chicken as it looked like one of the few varieties that my husband might try with me. He is definitely not a fan of unusual pizza toppings! While the description on the box sounded very good, the pizza ended up being somewhat of a disappointment. First when I took it out of the box I wasn't sure it was going to be enough for the two of us even though it says it is three servings. It turned out that we were filled up but we did eat the entire thing in one sitting with nothing left over. We both liked the crispy, flat bread crust although I may have over baked it just a bit in trying to get the cheese to look more melted. There were very large pieces of onion on the pizza and the only good thing about this is that it made them easier to pick off since there were so many. The barbeque sauce had a strong flavor and my husband even said it had a bit too much of a kick for him and he likes spicy foods. I thought there was too much sauce as well. While there was bacon visible on the pizza, neither of us could taste it over the flavors of the barbeque sauce and onions. While $5 isn't a bad price for a frozen pizza, we can purchase multi-packs of pizzas at Sam's Club which come out cheaper per pizza, feed the entire family not just the parents, and give us some leftovers.

Now dessert is where Private Selection seems to have things right. We are big fans of the Private Selection ice creams, although there have been a few flavors we didn't care for as much as others. The offer from BzzAgent didn't include ice cream which was okay because it gave me a chance to try another Private Selection dessert. I found the desserts to have more of a selection than the appetizers or the pizza and had a hard time choosing just one that I wanted to try. The range of sizes is better here too from packages with one or two servings to packages of four servings. The range of prices reflects this also at $3 to $5 a package. When I saw the package of four Belgian Chocolate Lava Cakes I knew that was something everyone in the family would like. These are yummy, rich, and chocolaty and I am sure we will be purchasing them again! They only take 40 seconds in the microwave and come out with lots of delicious molten chocolate in the middle. They aren't kidding when they say to wait a minute or two before eating them though because that chocolate gets hot. Last night my husband and I started out sharing one cake but we had to make a second as sharing was just not doing it for us! I think one cake each is pretty perfect though. It is enough to give you lots of chocolate but not so much that you will be overly full or go into a chocolate coma. Just like warm chocolate chip cookies, these chocolate lava cakes are perfect with a glass of milk.

Overall I was not as impressed with the Private Selection Frozen Foods as we have been with some of the other Private Selection products like ice cream and lunch meat. I don't think I'll be purchasing the appetizers or pizza again in the future but I can see trying more of the desserts and other Private Selection products through out the store. I believe the Private Selection products are available at all of the Kroger family of stores, although selection may vary by location.

Do you shop at one of the Kroger family of stores? Have you tried any of the Private Selection products? Are they products you regularly buy for your family? Any favorites?

Full Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a marketing campaign for BzzAgent.com. I received one free Private Selection Appetizer, Pizza, and Dessert in order to provide my honest feedback. I will also receive points for MyPoints.com when this blog post is reviewed by BzzAgent. This review contains my honest opinion and experience and was not edited in any way by BzzAgent, Private Selection, or Kroger.
 
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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Author: Shirley Jackson
Publication Date: October 2006
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Source: Library

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson is the odd, but enthralling, story of two sisters living with their uncle after the rest of their family is poisoned at dinner. The story is narrated by Mary Katherine Blackwood, the younger of the sisters. She is the only one of the family to venture into the village where she must endure the taunts of the townspeople. Things change drastically for Mary Katherine when cousin Charles comes for a visit and exerts his influence over Constance, the older sister.

I don't always read the introductions to books but in this case I'm very glad that I did. Knowing that Shirley Jackson is the author of the short story "The Lottery" gave me a little better idea of what to expect from this story. I really knew nothing about it when it was chosen as the December selection by the Reading with Tequila Book Club on Goodreads. While the author's name clearly didn't stick with me, I do remember reading "The Lottery" in high school and the impact the story had on me. If you haven't read this short story, I highly recommend it!

I'm honestly not quite sure what to say about We Have Always Lived in the Castle. The story, as Mary Katherine tells it, drew me in completely even though it seems that very little actually happens. I do not think the story would have been nearly as interesting if another of the characters had told it. Being in Mary Katherine's head and seeing how she thinks about her situation is exactly what makes the story so compelling. The other characters seem a bit flat but I think that is because we only see them as Mary Katherine sees them and she is quite wrapped up in her own vision of the world.

As far as what actually happens in the book, it isn't much. While there are a few key events, the girls' situation at the end of the story is very similar to the beginning. Their dependence on each other has only increased along with their self-imposed isolation. The strength of We Have Always Lived in the Castle is in the characters and the writing rather than the plot. Had it been written in another style or by another author, I do not think it would be nearly as successful in capturing the reader.


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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Closed: Giveaway: 52 Small Changes One Year to a Happier, Healthier You

I recently reviewed 52 Small Changes One Year to a Happier, Healthier You by Brett Blumenthal and think it is a great book to start the new year. Rather than simply providing ideas and suggestions about making lifestyle changes, Blumenthal provides an actual road map for success.

Thanks to Natalie with AmazonEncore, I have a second copy of the book to give away. The giveaway is open to US residents, 18 or older and ends at 12:01 am EST, January 2, 2012. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond with a shipping address or another winner will be chosen.

This is my first time attempting to use Rafflecopter for a giveaway so we'll see if I have it set up correctly. If you are unable to use the widget for any reason, please leave your entries in the comments and I will factor them in. If you are seeing this post via email or a feed reader, you will need to visit the blog in order to see the Rafflecopter widget and enter the giveaway.

52 Small Changes by Brett Blumenthal

Title: 52 Small Changes One Year to a Happier, Healthier You
Author: Brett Blumenthal
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Source: ARC from publisher for review

52 Small Changes One Year to a Happier, Healthier You is the perfect book to start off a new year. So many of us make New Year's resolutions only to have them fall by the wayside after a few weeks or even just days. We have lofty goals and try to accomplish them all at once rather than attacking them one at a time and breaking them down into manageable portions. We try to turn our lives at 90 or 180 degree angles instead of working on more realistic 2 degree changes. We forget that many little changes add up to some big lifestyle changes over time.

Brett Blumenthal helps to avoid these typical New Year scenarios by providing a concrete road map of 52 changes, one per week, that you can implement over the course of a year. She focuses on the areas of Diet and Nutrition, Fitness and Prevention, Mental Well-Being, and Green Living. Making small changes in each of these areas can have a big impact on the quality of a person's life overall. Blumenthal gives background on why each of these changes are important, examples of how to make each change a part of your routine, and gives you the tools necessary to do so.

One change a week both sounds like a reasonable goal and like too much, too quickly as one of the first things the author admits is how long it can take a change, even a small one, to truly become a habit. One way the author avoids overwhelming the reader is by changing the area of focus from week to week. Another is by letting the changes build upon each other so you have one change established before adding another component. A weekly checklist is included at the end of each week to remind the reader of each change that has already been worked on so past changes continue to be a focus as one moves through the program.

The book is laid out in a very easy to read fashion. It is divided into three parts - an Introduction, the 52 Week Program, and Tools and Resources. The book makes great use of white space by breaking up the text with text boxes, lists (both numbered and bullet points), and charts. Headers of different types are distinguished by bold text and the text size. Icons are used throughout the book for a quick, visual identification of which area a specific change addresses.

I think 52 Small Changes is a program that can be tailored to each individual's specific focus. If you have already implemented the assigned change for the week, Blumenthal provides extra ideas to take that change a step or two further. If a change is something you are truly not interested in pursuing or you don't agree with it, just skip that week and continue focusing on the changes you have already made up to that point. The overall program seems to be fairly well-rounded with changes that will work in harmony to improve one's health and well-being over the long term.

I received an advance reader's copy (uncorrected proof) from AmazonEncore in exchange for an honest review. I also received a second copy because we thought the first had been lost in the transit process. This is great for my readers as it means I get to give away a copy! The 52 Small Changes One Year to a Happier, Healthier You giveaway is now up and running so if this is a book that interests you, please go enter. It is open to US residents and ends January 2, 2012.

What changes do you want to focus on in 2012? I definitely want to get exercise back into my routine and continue to work on making my family homemade meals so I can influence healthy eating.

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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Kitty and The Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Title: Kitty and The Midnight Hour
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Publication Date: November 2005
Publisher: Warner Books
Series: Kitty Norville, Book 1
Source: Personal Collection

I was introduced to the Kitty Norville series with the eighth book in the series Kitty Goes to War (link to my review). Normally, I wouldn't begin a series with such a recent book but I had received it for review and didn't have time to read the seven previous books in the series. The book was great and I wasn't too lost even without having the background information from earlier books.

I finally just got around to reading Kitty and The Midnight Hour, the first book in the series. Based on the first book and the eighth book, this is definitely a series that I want to catch up on and continue.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour sets up Kitty's world and her place in it. Her personal struggles with being a werewolf are clearly evident even as she endeavors to assist other supernaturals on her late night talk radio show. When she is called in to assist in a police investigation, the publicity escalates conflict within her pack and with the local vampire family. Has Kitty taken on more than she can handle?

Vaughn weaves several different plot lines into this first book and at times I thought there were too many. I can see that each one is a set up for further stories in the series but there were times that  threads were being lost only to have them pop up again in what seemed to be a random part of the story. It just seemed like a lot when also introducing characters and creating a world which Vaughn does very well.

My favorite parts of the book were when I learned about Kitty as a person and not necessarily all the action surrounding her. It was interesting to read this book after reading the eighth because I can see how much Kitty grows and changes throughout the books. I really want to see how she develops from a werewolf at the bottom of the pack into an alpha in her own right.

Overall, I can see development in the writing from this book to that one as well and that makes me more eager to continue on with the series. I think Kitty and The Midnight Hour is a good start to the series but the books will only get better.

Have you read the Kitty Norville books? What do you think of them? Any favorites?


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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Title: Crocodile on the Sandbank
Author: Elizabeth Peters
Publication Date: January 1988
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Series: Amelia Peabody, Book 1
Source: Library

Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first book in a series of historical mysteries centered around Amelia Peabody. When Amelia's father dies leaving her a sufficient inheritance, she travels to Egypt to indulge in the passion for archeology that she and her father shared. Along the way, she rescues Evelyn Barton-Forbes and they become companions on a journey down the Nile. Upon meeting up with some acquaintances on an archeological expedition, a mummy begins appearing in the night to threaten the group. Who is this mysterious mummy and does it post a threat to a specific individual or is it just trying to scare the archeologists away from their finds?

Crocodile on the Sandbank is a good book that took me too long to read due to various personal circumstances. It is full of very descriptive passages of Amelia's journey through Egypt. I loved the language that Peters used as it was so fitting for the Victorian age Amelia inhabits. However, there were times that the descriptions got a bit lengthy and I found I could only read so many pages before needing to take a break. I do think part of this inability to concentrate was due to exhaustion though so it is hard to know how much was due to the book and how much was just my state of mind while reading it.

I loved the characters in this book. Amelia is so full of fire and personality. She is an independent woman full of ideas and ideals. She is not afraid to go against convention when it suits her and she certainly doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. Evelyn seemed strong at times when interacting with Amelia but other times she was too aware of the conventions of society and concerned about how she would be perceived. Emerson and Walter were both a little harder to read even though they were so integral to the storyline.

The story itself is entertaining, although it did get a bit repetitive at times. I think this is another reason that I was only able to focus on the book in small pieces. Each time the mummy appeared, the group seemed to have the same conversations but came no closer to solving the mystery or catching the mummy. Although the book is not long at 262 pages, I think a few of the descriptive passages and repetitive scenes probably could have been trimmed to tighten it up even more.

Overall I did enjoy reading Crocodile on the Sandbank as the November selection for the Reading with Tequila Book Club. If I have an opening in my reading schedule, I would consider picking up another Amelia Peabody mystery but at this point the TBR pile and my book wishlists are too out of control for that to happen in the foreseeable future.

Have you read an Amelia Peabody mystery or any other books by Elizabeth Peters? If so, what did you think of it?


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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Mega Swagbucks Friday

The first Friday of each month, I post about Swagbucks.  That is because every Friday means Mega Swagbucks for searching (but I don't want to overwhelm people with reminders every Friday)!  Haven't tried Swagbucks yet?  It is super easy - simply use the Swagbucks search engine to do your normal Internet searching and sometimes you will be rewarded with Swagbucks which can then be redeemed for some great prizes. My theory is that if I'm going to be searching the Internet anyway, I may as well get rewarded for doing it.

My favorite prize is the Amazon.com gift card.  I did my first Christmas shopping on Amazon yesterday and my entire order was paid for using the gift cards I earned through Swagbucks. With fiances being tight this year, having the gift cards to use for Christmas gifts is a HUGE help in allowing us to continue to give gifts to everyone we want to even if they are smaller gifts this year.  There are also tons of other gift cards available or you can redeem for various merchandise as well.

On Fridays, Swagbucks gives out more Mega Swagbucks (anything over 10) than usual which means you can earn your desired prizes even faster.  The most I've gotten from one search so far is 59 Swagbucks.  I'd love to hear if one of my readers finds a high value one today or any other day!

Swagbucks has added a lot of options for getting bucks on a daily basis even without searching.  There are Special Offers, Daily Polls, Surveys, Tasks, Swagbucks TV, and games to play.

With all of these great ways to earn Swagbucks and get gift cards or other items that you really want, what are you waiting for?!  Sign up and start searching :-)

Swagbucks links contained within this post are referral links and I will earn some Swagbucks if you sign up using those links.

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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Peter is Just a Baby by Marisabina Russo

Title: Peter is Just a Baby
Author: Marisabina Russo
Publication Date: November 11, 2011
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

In Peter is Just a Baby, the older sister relates all the things that she can do that Peter can't like using big words, learning French, and dancing.  The story is cute as it leads up to Peter's first birthday and the sister hoping that Peter will now be able to do some of the things that she can do.

I love the way this book is illustrated. The characters are bears and the illustrations are soft. The pictures match the text very well and flow easily on the pages. Some of the pages have several smaller pictures illustrating different activities while other pages have one large picture. This makes the book more visually interesting than having one large picture on each page and it also allows for more activities to be shown. The book has really nice use of white space for the text as well. Some picture books are difficult to read if the text is placed directly over the illustration but this book avoids that issue completely. The text also flows well around the pictures which keeps the narrative moving visually.

Although there is a glossary in the front of the book with the French terms including pronunciation and definition, I didn't care for the use of French throughout the text. I took French in high school and am somewhat comfortable with the pronunciations but I can see the foreign words being a turn off to parents who are not familiar with the language. I know I don't like reading a story to my daughter if I am uncertain of how to pronounce some of the words. This is really the only thing that I didn't enjoy about this book though.

I received an advance copy of Peter Is Just a Baby from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program in exchange for providing my honest review.

Interestingly enough, Amazon.com shows a shipping time for this book of 3 to 5 weeks, meaning it would not arrive until after Christmas, but Eerdmans Books for Young Readers shows a shipping time of only 3 days.



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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Torani Flavored Syrups

As part of a program through SheSpeaks.com I was sent two full-size bottles of Torani Flavored Syrups to review. I received Peppermint and Sugar-Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

I used the Peppermint syrup in coffee and hot chocolate and loved it! With the Torani syrup, I can have some of my favorite coffee shop drinks at home at a fraction of the cost. I also made a lazy peppermint mocha by making hot chocolate with strong coffee and then adding the peppermint syrup and some milk. I only wish I had some whipped cream to put on top.

Every so often I used to get a peppermint mocha or peppermint white chocolate mocha from a coffee shop but I would often ask for less of the peppermint syrup because I found it to be too strong. The peppermint flavor would overpower all the other flavors in the drink. This was not the case with the Torani Peppermint syrup at all. The peppermint flavor and sweetness were both light, enough to taste but not too strong. Check out some more reviews of the Torani Peppermint Syrup from SheSpeaks members.

I have not actually tried the Sugar-Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon syrup that I was sent and I will probably end up giving that one away to someone who uses sugar free products. The Torani sugar-free syrups are made with Splenda and we try to avoid artificial sweeteners around our house. In general, I don't like the way they make things taste but that is just my personal preference.  The Brown Sugar Cinnamon flavor does sound interesting and Torani does offer it in the regular version as well as the sugar free. Check out what some other SheSpeaks members had to say about the Torani Sugar-Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup.

I am amazed at the number of flavored syrups that Torani offers! I always thought of the Torani syrups as being just for coffee drinks but the flavors they offer give you so many more options. They have light fruit flavors like Mango, Passion Fruit, and Peach which would be a great addition to lemonade or for making an Italian Soda. You can find an entire list of regular and sugar free Torani syrup flavors at http://torani.com/home/products. While you are there, make sure you check out the recipe section for great ideas on how to use all the flavors.

Torani flavored syrups are available at some retail stores such as Wal-Mart and major grocery stores. Amazon.com also has a large selection of flavors. The best selection of flavors is offered at Torani.com and you can use the discount code shespeaks to receive 10% off your purchase. (Note: I do not know how long this code is actually good for as I did not see an expiration date in the materials I received.)

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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Grammar Girl's 101 Words to Sound Smart

Title: Grammar Girl's 101 Words to Sound Smart
Author: Mignon Fogarty
Series: Quick and Dirty Tips
Publication Date: November 8, 2011
Publisher: St Martin's Girffin
Website: quickanddirtytips.com

Grammar Girl's 101 Words to Sound Smart is filled with interesting words. Each one is clearly defined but not with the clinical precision of a dictionary. Instead, Mignon Fogarty provides interesting background on the origins of most of the words and gives concrete examples of how the usage may have changed over time. Each word is also accompanied by a quotation or two showing it being used correctly. These quotations were very fun to read and their sources ranged from journalists to politicians to popular authors and television shows.

Some of the words contained in this book were familiar to me but Fogarty pointed out subtle nuances of usage that I was unfamiliar with. Other words were completely new. While I do not see myself regularly interjecting these words into my reviews or other writings, I will be keeping this book on hand as a reference guide for those occasions when an extra special word is needed.

The one thing that I found to be missing from this book is a pronunciation guide for each word. While Fogarty is discussing the usage of these words in writing, I still like to know how the word should sound in my head as I am reading it.

I received a copy of  Grammar Girl's 101 Words to Sound Smart (Quick & Dirty Tips) from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.



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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Products

My skin isn't normally too sensitive to cleansing and moisturizing products but pregnancy hormones have thrown my entire body out of whack and I can definitely tell a difference in my skin. So I was excited at the opportunity to try out some of the Burt's Bees line of sensitive skin products.

I have used other Burt's Bees products in the past and really enjoy them. Some things that I really like about the company are:

• No animal testing
• Natural ingredients whenever possible and clearly labeled
• Environmental friendly packaging and manufacturing processes

I was sent a full size bottle of the Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser to try and I love it! I think it actually removes makeup better than the facial cleanser I have been using and it left my skin feeling super clean and soft. You don't need to use a large amount either so the 6 oz package will last a while. The cleanser is fragrance-free but it does have a scent to it. I found that it smelled strongly at first but the scent faded quickly. The cleanser has a very slippery texture which took a little getting used to but it rinsed off very cleanly. I wonder if the slippery feeling comes from the Yucca or Quillaja, both plant ingredients that assist in cleansing the skin. I love that all of the products in the sensitive skin line are 99% natural, hypo-allergenic, dermatologist tested, and allergy tested.

I also received a full size bottle of the Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Daily Moisturizing Cream. While I don't like the moisturizer quite as well as I like the cleanser, it is a good product. The main thing that I don't like about it is actually the container. I find it difficult to get the right amount out. If I use a full pump worth, it is too much but it is difficult to only press the pump part way down. The moisturizer has the same scent as the cleanser but again it fades quickly. To me the moisturizer feels a bit sticky when it is first applied but it leaves my skin feeling soft once it has a minute to soak in. The moisturizer contains rice extract for moisturizing and aloe for soothing along with the cotton extract which is in all of the products in the sensitive skin line. I do wish that Burt's Bees offered a version of this with the addition of sunscreen. I like having moisturizer and sunscreen in the same product so I am not adding layers of products to my face each day.

Other products in the sensitive skin line from Burt's Bees that I did not get to try are Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Night Cream and Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Eye Cream.

Overall, I was very pleased with the products in the Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin line. I have always found Burt's Bees to offer high quality products at reasonable prices. Have you ever used Burt's Bees products? I'd love to hear about your favorites!

I received these products from BzzAgent.com and will receive MyPoints for my participation in the Burt's Bees campaign. All opinions and experiences related here are entirely my own. Specific product links within this post are affiliate links.

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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Archon by Sabrina Benulis

Title: Archon
Author: Sabrina Benulis
Series: The Books of Raziel
Publication Date: December 27, 2011
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Although I read a lot of urban and paranormal fantasy, both YA and adult, the realm of angels was new territory for me. I'm not entirely sure if it is my lack of experience in this sub genre or just this particular book but I found Archon, the first book of The Books of Raziel series, to be completely confusing.

I never felt like I understood the world that Angela and the other characters inhabited. I didn't understand the rules, the prophecy, and even what was actually taking place at times. While it seemed that Benulis often provided details about the physical setting, the best mental picture that I could get was that everything was gloomy and falling apart.

I never connected to the characters either. I had trouble distinguishing the good guys from the bad guys even when characters were labeled angel or demon. It seemed that everyone was simply out to destroy the earth and rule over everything or merely wanted to indulge their own selfish desires. The true motivations behind the characters' actions were often hidden in the midst of the chaotic events and manipulation of others seemed to be the main goal. While Angela was the central character of the story I never felt that I understood her any better than any of the other characters. I simply didn't care what really happened to any of them.

It is also difficult to say what actually happens in this book. While the action and killing seemed to be non-stop, I didn't really see the point in most of it. At the end it felt like very little had actually changed for the characters who survived. The ending definitely has the feel of the first book in the series, as there are so many unanswered questions, but I'm not going to struggle through another book in the series to try to actually understand what is going on. If I had not received Archon: The Books of Raziel through the Amazon Vine program, I would not have read all the way to the end.

Archon has an official release date of December 27, 2011 and is currently available for pre-order.

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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Mega Swagbucks Friday

The first Friday of each month, I post about Swagbucks.  That is because every Friday means Mega Swagbucks for searching (but I don't want to overwhelm people with reminders every Friday)!  Haven't tried Swagbucks yet?  It is super easy - simply use the Swagbucks search engine to do your normal Internet searching and sometimes you will be rewarded with Swagbucks which can then be redeemed for some great prizes. My theory is that if I'm going to be searching the Internet anyway, I may as well get rewarded for doing it.

My favorite prize is the Amazon.com gift card.  I earned almost $200 in Amazon.com gift cards through Swagbucks last year which is how we paid for Christmas gifts.  There are also tons of other gift cards available or you can redeem for various merchandise as well.

On Fridays, Swagbucks gives out more Mega Swagbucks (anything over 10) than usual which means you can earn your desired prizes even faster.  The most I've gotten from one search so far is 59 Swagbucks.  I'd love to hear if one of my readers finds a high value one today or any other day!

Swagbucks has added a lot of options for getting bucks on a daily basis even without searching.  There are Special Offers, Daily Polls, Surveys, Tasks, Swagbucks TV, and games to play.

With all of these great ways to earn Swagbucks and get gift cards or other items that you really want, what are you waiting for?!  Sign up and start searching :-)

Swagbucks links contained within this post are referral links and I will earn some Swagbucks if you sign up using those links.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Tropical Traditions Shredded Coconut

1-Gallon Pail - Shredded Coconut Tropical Traditions is a company that I have ordered from in the past so I was very excited to receive their shredded coconut for review. I thought they would send the one or two pound bag but I received a entire gallon size pail! That is a lot of shredded coconut.

The first thing that I noticed when my husband opened the pail was how incredibly fine the coconut is.  I had decided to try the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter No Bakes recipe listed on the Tropical Traditions site and the shredded coconut was perfect for this.  The recipe is essentially the traditional no bake cookie recipe but uses coconut instead of oatmeal and coconut oil instead of butter.  To be honest, I wasn't so sure about these cookies when I first tasted them.  I like the oatmeal no bake cookies when they are still warm and gooey before they go in the fridge and set up but I didn't like the coconut version at this stage.  Once I put them in the fridge and let them get hard, the coconut cookies were very tasty.  The coconut is unsweetened and I have a feeling that this recipe uses a bit less sugar than I am used to so these cookies are less sweet overall.  I'm sure they are a bit healthier than the traditional version though!  My three year old was less than impressed with my first use of shredded coconut but I have a feeling it was probably a texture issue.  My husband, his coworkers, and my mother all enjoyed having a special treat.

The cookies used 3 cups of the shredded coconut but I still have a lot left.  Some other recipes I'm looking forward to trying are Pumpkin Coconut Muffins, Flourless Coconut Pancakes, and Banana Coconut Cake.  I will need to make all of these when my husband is home though because I can't get the lid off the gallon pail by myself.  It seals very tightly, which is great since the coconut has no preservatives or whiteners, but this makes the pail difficult to open and close tightly.

Some other Tropical Traditions products that I have use and love are:

• Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil - great for baking instead of butter or other oils
• Organic Raw Honey - this is the best honey I have ever tasted hands down!

There are lots of other Tropical Traditions products that I would like to try as well.  Do you have any favorite recipes using shredded coconut or coconut oil?  Have you ever ordered from Tropical Traditions?  I'd love to hear your experiences with coconut :-)

For more information about Tropical Traditions and how they produce their Gold Label Coconut Oil, check out this video:



Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. Links to specific Tropical Traditions products within this post are affiliate links.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Title: Song of the Nile
Author: Stephanie Dray
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Books
Website: www.stephaniedray.com

Song of the Nile is the second Novel of Cleopatra's Daughter written by Stephanie Dray. The first book, Lily of the Nile, was wonderful and reminded me how much I enjoy historical fiction.  When reading a series, I always wonder if the current book will hold up to the story told in the previous book (or books).  I am thrilled to say that Song of the Nile retained the strengths of Lily of the Nile while allowing the characters to grow with their circumstances.

Cleopatra Selene is no longer the frightened, young girl who was dragged into Rome as a captive.  She has enchanted Octavian and convinced him to make her a queen.  Although her ultimate goal is to return to Egypt as queen, she is determined to take part in ruling the country given to her husband, Juba II.  Their marriage stands on ceremony alone and for much of the book, the two are apart.  When Juba travels, Cleopatra Selene reigns and when she is absent the country's leadership falls to the council.

Each time Octavian summons her Selene's hopes for being named Queen of Egypt rise and she positions herself for power.  While her womanly innocence was stripped from her, she now uses her feminine appeal to manipulate circumstances to her advantage.  All the while she longs to see her twin, Helios, again.

Song of the Nile is much more adult in content than the first book of the series but this fits the story as Cleopatra Selene grows into her role as female leader and mother.  Dray again gives readers a compelling story with strong characters and fantastic writing.  While she also provides a very realistic historic setting, readers must remember that this is a novel, a work of fiction, and as such Dray has taken significant liberties with the factual story of Cleopatra Selene as recorded by historians.  In her Author's Note at the end of the novel, Dray acknowledges these changes and also where she has filled information into periods of time in Selene's life which have been lost to us.

I was excited to hear that the final novel of the trilogy has been picked up by Berkley Books although I am unsure if a release date has been announced.  Here is a link to my review of Lily of the Nile.

I received a copy of Song of the Nile from the author in exchange for my honest review.


 Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Shutterfly Holiday Cards

When it comes to designing our holiday cards each year, I’m not sure which is more difficult – choosing the family photo or the card design. It seems like we never have a picture where all three of us look good. Last year I ended up choosing a card from Shutterfly that allowed me to put pictures into holiday ornaments so I could crop each one of us out of the best picture from the year. This year I was really hoping to get a great family picture when we were at Disney World but Elizabeth was just not in the mood to get her picture taken so that didn’t even come close to happening.

Shutterfly doesn’t make choosing the card design any easier since they have so many different designs to choose from. I love that they offer holiday cards that work for various winter holidays as well specific Christmas cards. While the main assortment may be overwhelming, Shutterfly allows you to narrow down your options by selecting the card size, number of photos, and style of card that you are looking for.

The process of creating a photo card on Shutterfly is easy as well. You can upload various pictures into your account and then play with the photos, layout, and text on your card until you get it just the way you want it. The cards will come looking just as they are pictured on the website.

Shutterfly offers more than just holiday cards though. They also have various invitations, thank you cards, and photo gifts that can be customized for your special occasions. We used Shutterfly for Elizabeth’s birth announcements three years ago and my mother in law commented that she had never seen a card with multiple pictures like the one we chose. With such a variety of options, I think it would be hard for someone to not find at least one card they like on Shutterfly!

I wrote this post while participating in Shutterfly’s 2011 Holiday promotion and did receive a code for 25 free photo cards. Links within this post are not affiliate links and I will not receive any additional compensation. All opinions expressed and experiences related in this post are entirely my own.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Avery Mini Binder

The Avery Mini Durable View Comfort Touch Binder helps make organization easy. I love the 5.5 x 8.5 size which is perfect for carrying everywhere and isn't too bulky. The binder is very durable as the name suggests and will hold up to a lot of use. There are pockets on the inside of the front and back covers which are nice for storing any extra papers that do not work with the ring binder system. The front cover also has a see through plastic pocket for adding a cover to the binder. The one inch ring lets the binder hold plenty of material without being too thick.

I also discovered that the binder is very easy to clean. I let my daughter draw on some of my note pages while I was going over some paperwork at the school and she managed to get ink on the back cover as well. It wiped off easily with a damp cloth.

The only feature that I feel the binder is missing is a place to store a pen. There is simply no easy way to keep a pen in the binder at all times.

The Avery Mini Durable View Comfort Touch Binder works very well with the other products in the Avery line designed for the 5.5 x 8.5 inch size including filler paper, write on dividers, and binder pockets.

I received the Avery Mini Durable View Comfort Touch Binder with 1 inch Round Ring, 5.5 x 8.5 Inches, Dusty Blue (17347) from the Amazon.com Vine program for the purpose of providing an honest review.  Avery also sent Avery Filler Paper, 5.5 x 8.5 Inches, 100 Sheets (14230) and Avery Mini Studio Collection Write-On Tab Dividers with Retro Flower Design on Divider, 5.5 x 8.5-Inches, 5 Tabs (16187) to use with the binder for review purposes.  These products are not included with the purchase of the binder.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

OTL: Swagbucks

The first Friday of each month, I post about Swagbucks.  That is because every Friday means Mega Swagbucks for searching (but I don't want to overwhelm people with reminders every Friday)!  Haven't tried Swagbucks yet?  It is super easy - simply use the Swagbucks search engine to do your normal Internet searching and sometimes you will be rewarded with Swagbucks which can then be redeemed for some great prizes. My theory is that if I'm going to be searching the Internet anyway, I may as well get rewarded for doing it.

My favorite prize is the Amazon.com gift card.  I earned almost $200 in Amazon.com gift cards through Swagbucks last year which is how we paid for Christmas gifts.  There are also tons of other gift cards available or you can redeem for various merchandise as well.

On Fridays, Swagbucks gives out more Mega Swagbucks (anything over 10) than usual which means you can earn your desired prizes even faster.  The most I've gotten from one search so far is 59 Swagbucks.  I'd love to hear if one of my readers finds a high value one today or any other day!

Swagbucks has added a lot of options for getting bucks on a daily basis even without searching.  There are Special Offers, Daily Polls, Surveys, Tasks, Swagbucks TV, and games to play.

With all of these great ways to earn Swagbucks and get gift cards or other items that you really want, what are you waiting for?!  Sign up and start searching :-)

Swagbucks links contained within this post are referral links and I will earn some Swagbucks if you sign up using those links.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende

Sometimes I don't think I am meant to read memoirs.  Once in a while one really resonates with me but the majority of the time I read knowing I am supposed to be gaining some kind of understanding of a universal truth but not quite grasping it within the stories.  I think a good part of my difficulty with memoirs is that they often do not run in a linear fashion with the story moving in chronological order.  This is certainly true of Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende.

This is Lende's second book with the first being If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska.  Both books revolve around the citizens of Haines, Alaska and the impact that living there has on the author.  Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs begins as Lende prepares to go on a book tour for her first book but is literally hit by a truck instead.  Her months of recuperation, the illness and death of her mother, and writing obituaries for the town residents lead her to reflect on her community and her faith.  The book is deeply spiritual without being preachy and Lende is able to add some humor to what might otherwise be a very somber story.

Lende moves fluidly throughout time tying together the past, the present, and even hopes for the future.  One memory or story gives birth to the next as she tells the stories of those she knows and has known.  While the book was interesting in parts, there was much that simply failed to capture my attention.  I am not sure if it is because the wilderness setting of such a remote Alaskan town has no connection to my life or if it was because I was unable to relate to the various characters and events portrayed in the book.  It is also very possible that I was simply not in the right frame of mind when I was reading it due to my own personal circumstances.

I think Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs will appeal and resonate with a great many people.  I just don't happen to be one of them.

Find our more about Heather Lende and her books at www.heatherlende.com

I received a copy of Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs from FSB Associates (although I don't remember requesting it) in exchange for my honest review.

  

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.