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Delicious Recipes For Soup Swap Day

January 7, 2023 By Paula 2 Comments

Soup Swap Day!!!

Winter is the perfect time to warm up with a nice bowl of soup. Rich in nutrients and energy, it’s not surprising that soup is one of the most popular appetizers. Around since 20,000 B.C, soups are one of the best comfort foods of winter. But as the cold chill of winter stretches into the new year we often become tired of the same old soups in our recipe repertoire. To combat this and have some fun, have or attend a soup swap!

We celebrate Soup Swap Day on the third Saturday of January, which takes place on January 21 this year. Soup Swap Day is a national holiday in which people come together for a soup party. Everyone brings their favorite soup and shares it with others. Soup Swap Day is a perfect chilly middle-of-the-winter day to gather with family and friends and enjoy some tasty hot soup of every type.

–Practical Self Reliance

What is a Soup Swap Day Party?

A soup swap day party is a fun and easy party in which you invite your soup-loving friends to come together and bring several quarts of their favorite soup to share. Then, you take turns swapping soups and everyone goes home with different soups than what they brought.

–The Full Plate Blog

Before the Soup Swap
Give your prospective guests plenty of time to prepare for Soup Swap. This is a great party for mixing people who don’t know each other. How better than over soup?

Invite at least 6 guests: A bigger group is better, more soup, after all!

Explain Soup Swap to your invited guests: Make sure that everyone knows what a soup swap is and how it works. The invite is a great time to do this.

What Each Guest Should Bring:
Six quarts of soup in separate containers that they don’t mind giving away.
The soup should be frozen or refrigerated.
Swappers should also bring a separate container of soup for tasting.

Soup Swap Day Party Invite Idea: “I’m having a Soup Swap on (DATE) at (TIME)! Swap begins at (TIME). I have invited you because you are a great cook or (ahem) you could really use a freezer full of homemade soup to enjoy this winter. The beauty of a Soup Swap is that each person just has to make one big batch of one kind of soup, divide it into six one-quart containers, and everyone will go home from the party with six different types of soups to enjoy. Surely, you have one soup recipe that is a family favorite or crowd-pleaser. Chilis, stews, soups, healthy purees… it need not be fancy, just comforting and delicious.”

If you are hosting the Soup Swap Day Party, here’s what you need to set up.

Set up your party: You’ll need a place for everyone to set out their soups and tasters, and to mingle and talk. Make sure there is plenty of room for jars of soup.
Cover the table: There will be lots of soup drips, cover the table with a tablecloth or butcher paper for easy cleanup.
Put out small bowls, cups, or jars for the tasters: Make sure you have enough for all the soup swappers.
Decide how you’ll sample soups: You can buy or make a loaf of great bread. Or, you can also use crackers or tiny disposable spoons.
Plan some snacks: Offer a spread of bread, soup toppings, brunch bites, or little sweets.
Offer drinks: Tasting soups is thirsty work! Put out some water, coffee, sparkling wine, or a pitcher cocktail.
Have labels and tags ready: If it’s a crowd of people who don’t know each other, do name tags! In case, everyone doesn’t label their soups. Have blank labels to put on soup containers.

Make swap cards: These cards stay with each soup and let people note if they’re interested in that soup. If someone loves a soup, they should write their name on the swap card to indicate they want it.

When it’s time to Swap Soups: The Soup Swap site suggests everyone pick numbers, and then go in order: The first person chooses a soup, then the next person, then the next, and then it all starts back over with the first person, until all the soups are distributed. A variation of this method is after each pick to pass your number to the person behind you. With the last # going to the first # in the previous round. This gives everyone a chance to pick first.
Another more hectic option, that works best when everyone knows each other, is for everyone to stand around the table behind their soup. Everyone then starts calling out names on their swap card. The first person to respond immediately gets a jar. Soup passes back and forth over the table, some people swapping directly; others giving soup to one person and then receiving one from another.

If you want people to stay after the swap, recommend that they bring coolers or put their soup in your refrigerator.

That’s it! Everyone goes home with 6 homemade quarts of soup to enjoy during the cold winter days ahead!

Whether you’ve been invited to a Soup Swap or just looking for a delicious soup for your family, I’ve put together some great recipes for you to try. If you got a great recipe to share, please add it to the linky below!

Make soup for the homeless:
Not everyone has the privilege of being invited to a soup swap party or having a home to host one. Homeless people face the challenge of surviving the cold weather this time of year and sharing soup with less privileged people is a great way to make the most out of soup swap day.

EASY to Make RECIPE! No Churn Sundae Swirl Butter Pecan & Coffee Flavored ICE CREAM!

August 19, 2020 By Paula 7 Comments

Let me start by telling you about the coffee that inspired this recipe.

You can enjoy a delicious cup of this Sundae Butter Pecan Ice Cream Flavored Coffee anytime. Thanks to the creators of this coffee you can even have dessert for breakfast. No Guilt, No Shame!

About the product:

- Drink your dessert ice cream hot or cold, Just fill your cup (glass not recommended)
  with ice and brew your ice cream flavored coffee on low setting.
- Extra fresh and filter brewed, using only the highest quality 100 percent Arabica beans.
- Sundae coffee Ice cream flavored pods are 2.0 Keurig K-Cup Brewer Compatible.

We found that when we brew up one these pods there is just a hint of the butter pecan with no lingering after taste. With rich and robust coffee as the base, each of these single-serve pods is bursting with the flavor of great coffee. Since we both really love the taste of this coffee, we are pleased that the flavor was not overpowering. However, we know that some are really looking for a strong coffee with a lot of added flavor. If this is you, we suggest brewing these pods on one of the smaller settings.

Not only have they mastered the art of making great tasting flavored coffee, but they’ve created heaven in a cup with this Sundae Ice Cream Flavored Coffee. Each of their flavors; Butter Pecan, Pralines & Cream, Chocolate Caramel, Rocky Road, Dulce de Leche, Mint Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Cup, Vanilla Swirl, Maple Walnut, Mocha Chip, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Toffee Crunch flavors; all live up to the high standards set by this brand. Rich and full of flavor, they remind us of fun summers of yesteryear.

Speaking of Summer… Summer is a time when we look forward to being carefree and often get to enjoy a vacation. Whether you have plans to climb a mountain, do a bit of off-roading, play in the surf or just spend time lounging poolside; for most of us, summer also includes some yummy treats. It’s been proven, no time passes faster than the summer months and that which you have your favorite frozen dessert in your hand.

Have you been dreaming about having a cup of coffee with a big bowl of butter pecan coffee swirl ice cream? Yeah, now that I mentioned it, you want ice cream!

Sundae Swirl Butter Pecan Coffee Ice Cream

No need to dig out the ice cream churn. Because, this easy recipe doesn’t need one!

1 Tablespoon instant coffee granules
1/8 cup hot water
2 cups (480ml) heavy cream
1 can (14oz/397g) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup toasted pecans, chopped, chilled
1 1/2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
smidgen of sea salt

Instructions:

First in a small bowl or cup, dissolve the coffee granules in the hot water. Set aside.

Next, toast the pecans. You can do this on the stove or in the oven. To toast them in the oven, add chopped pecans to a baking sheet and toast them in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes. Turn them halfway to avoid browning on one side. When done, immediately remove from the sheet and place in a metal or glass container. You can also toast nuts by placing them in a dry nonstick skillet and cooking them over medium heat, shaking pan until nuts are lightly browned. To avoid over browning remove from pan immediately and place in a metal or glass container. Set aside.

For the next step you will need two medium bowls and two spoons/spatulas for stirring. I prefer to use spatulas since I’m going to need them to fold in the heavy cream in the next step.

For the butter pecan flavored ice cream:

In one of the medium bowls, stir together the melted butter, pecans, sea salt, and maple syrup, and the 1/2 the can of sweetened condensed milk, until fully combined. Set aside.

For the coffee flavored ice cream:

In the second medium bowl, stir together the other 1/2 of the can of sweetened condensed milk and the dissolved coffee, until fully combined. Set aside.

To make the ice cream base:

Pour the heavy cream into a large bowl. Using a handheld or stand mixer on medium-high speed, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Now, place 1/2 the cream into the bowl with the coffee mixture and the other half into the bowl with the pecan mixture.

Next, fold the heavy cream into each mixture.

To swirl the ice cream:

To do this you will spoon the mixtures into a 9×5-inch loaf pan or 2-quart container. Alternate spoonfuls of coffee and butter pecan ice cream into your pan. Once all the ice cream is in the pan, using one continuous motion, drag an offset spatula or butter knife through it from end to end and then side to side to create lines that are both horizontal and vertical.

Cover and place in freezer. Freeze for 6 hours or until firm.

TIPS:

Make sure you are swirling all of your ice cream by having your spatula/knife lightly touch the bottom of the pan.
For a super chunky ice cream you can fold in coarsely chopped dark chocolate into the coffee ice cream. For tips on how to prevent your chocolate from feeling gritty read this post.
A smidgen of something is half a pinch or 1/32 of a teaspoon.
Preparing your toasted pecans and/or chocolate pieces ahead of time and placing them in the freezer to chill before adding will help your ice cream set faster. (Ice creams full of chunks take longer to set, and pre-chilling the chunks makes for faster hardening times, which in turn means slightly smoother, creamier ice cream when it fully freezes.)
Instead of instant coffee and water you can use 1/8 cup of any strong brewed coffee. (However, you will not get as much coffee flavor this way)
I had some ceramic mini loaf pans that I used part of the ice cream to make two individual servings for dessert.

What’s even better than a delicious cup of coffee? Coffee that’s been infused with the flavor of ice cream. Yes, just like all the great tasting ice cream we know and love this coffee delivers the delicious flavor of our favorite ice creams but without the guilt! And, it’s a good thing because, like us, once you enjoy the taste of these incredible ice cream flavors in your favorite coffee mug you’ll be wanting more.

So pick your favorite, brew up a cup or two, and savor the sweetness with someone special.

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Make This Famous Jordan Marsh Recipe and Enjoy Boston’s Best Blueberry Muffins at Home!

July 4, 2020 By Paula 1 Comment

Crave Blueberry Vanilla Flavored Coffee

Guilt-free, decadent coffee bursting with flavor!

We recently had the pleasure of enjoying a box of Crave’s Blueberry Vanilla Coffee and just love the well-balanced flavor of this coffee. We have brewed it on several different settings, including the strong setting on our machine, and have found that it is never bitter. Plus, with the wonderful aroma of blueberries and vanilla, this coffee is a real treat for all our senses. We love all the flavors that are offered by the Crave Coffee brand, but their blueberry vanilla is one of the favorites in our house. Just one sip of their coffee and you’ll know why we say that their coffee pods aren’t going to be around for long! The flavor profiles of all their coffees match perfectly with Crave’s big flavors. This coffee from Crave has once again lived up to our high expectations.

Just like quality coffee, you need quality ingredients to make the best muffins. Both are dependent on the quality of the ingredients used to make them. All of Crave’s flavored coffee pods are made with quality coffee, that is smooth and mellow. That’s why we couldn’t resist the chance to bake up a batch of Jordan Marsh’s to enjoy with our coffee. Grab a box of this coffee and bake up a batch of these muffins to enjoy it with today!

For 45 years John Pupek made Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins. Thanks to their now-famous recipe we are enjoying Boston’s best blueberry muffins fresh from our Lowcountry kitchen! From the 1860s to the late 1900s these yummy muffins were sold at the now-closed Jordan Marsh department store. You ask, muffins from a department store? Well actually, that’s not so unusual. Like nearly all grand department stores of their time, the Jordan Marsh store in Boston, also housed an on-site cafe and bakery that served up refreshments to shoppers.

I say these big, tender bakery-style muffins that are studded with juicy blueberries are the winner of “The Battle of the Blueberry Muffins.” I don’t know what the nonsense about Ritz-Carlton muffins is all about anyway. Never heard of ’em. Tea at the Ritz. Muffins from Jordan Marsh. Everyone knows that!

Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins

Soft Interior, Crispy Top, and Loaded With Blueberries.

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons butter, softened
4 tablespoons lard
2 cups unbleached unsifted flour (for most authentic results use a 50/50 blend of bread and pastry flours)
1 cup sugar
2 fortified eggs (such as Eggland’s Best, which have more Omega-3 fatty acids than typical eggs)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups blueberries
sugar for topping
1 teaspoon pure vanilla

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 400° F.
In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. (You can use an electric mixer to combine the dry ingredients thoroughly so that you won’t need to over mix once the wet and dry ingredients are combined.)
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, lard, and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and sugar mixture alternating with milk and vanilla.
Mash 1/2 cup of the blueberries, and gently stir in by hand (this will turn the batter a light shade of blue and add a touch of blueberry flavor). Toss the remaining berries in the reserved flour before adding them to the mixture. Add the remaining whole berries and stir in gently by hand.
Grease large muffin tins well with butter; grease the top surface of the pans as well. With an ice cream scoop, fill each greased muffin cup with a heaping amount of batter. Makes 6 giant muffins.
Sprinkle a generous amount of sugar on top of each unbaked muffin.

For high domed muffins bake at 400° F for 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature and bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. Cool in pan for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each muffin to free it from the pan and finish cooling them on wire racks.

TIPS

Enjoy a glass of milk and some fresh fruit with these muffins for the perfect Red, White, and Blue Breakfast.
How long you cream the butter and sugar depends on many things, including weather conditions, such as humidity. However, in order to get butter and sugar “light,” you really need to beat it for at least 10 minutes.
You can substitute vegetable shortening for the lard.
Take the flour to toss the blueberries from the 2 cups so as not to add extra flour to the recipe and leaden the final product.
You may want to skip mashing the 1/2 cup of blueberries if you are using frozen ones. And, you will also want to rinse them several times in cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels before using; this will help prevent the muffins from baking up blue-green.
You can also use Baker’s Joy or other non-stick spray. Be sure to spray the top surface of the pans as well.
Foil lined or silicone muffin liners can also be used when making these muffins. These are helpful as the abundance of blueberries make them especially prone to sticking.
To create muffins that rival the originals, cover the tops with a full teaspoon or more of sugar before baking. After baking several batches of these muffins, we have found that using a soup spoon in a side-to-side motion to spread a generous layer of sugar evenly across the entire top of the muffin works best.
Don’t over mix the batter, otherwise, it will yield a tough muffin.
Once cooled muffins may be brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with sugar. However, this will not give the crispy top like the originals.
For extra flavor add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and a teaspoon of cinnamon.
Starting with a very hot oven (400° F), then reducing the temper to a lower temperature after baking for five minutes gives your muffins that wonderful domed top.
Reduce sugar to 1/2 or 3/4 cup for less sweet muffins.
If you’re using the classic normal sized muffin/cupcake pans they will take about 16 minutes to bake. Recipe makes 10 – 12 regular sized muffins.
If pastry flour is unavailable, to achieve the 8-10% protein content that is found in pastry flour, you can use 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 7/8 cup of all-purpose flour for each cup of pastry flour required in a recipe. Another alternative is to substitute equal parts all-purpose flour and cake flour.
For easy morning preparation. You can allow them to rest overnight, covered in the fridge. Then in the morning, you can just pop them in the oven. To bake in a convection oven, start them at 400° F for 9-11 minutes, until they’ve risen just above the top of the tin. Then reduce the temperature to 325°F until they are fully cooked (20-25 minutes). Increase the temperatures to 425° F and 350° F if you a baking them in a traditional oven. You may also need to adjust the baking times.

What Do You Crave?

Enjoy guilt-free decadent flavored coffees – No sweeteners & No calories.

Crave Coffee has the flavors that you’ll keep on Cravin’!


Vermont Maple Coffee that tastes like it is straight from the sugar house!	Southern Pecan Nutty, Buttery goodness all brewed into a fantastic cup of joe.	Hazelnut Classic, time-tested, and scrumptious.	French Vanilla Coffee with the delightful taste of creamy vanilla swirled in.


Cinnamon Spicy and Sweet, Cinnamon is a delicious compliment to a smooth cup of coffee.	Caramel Adding the ooey gooey flavor of sweet caramel to hot cup of coffee is pure perfection.	Butter Toffee A smooth, rich buttery flavored coffee, perfect for a morning or afternoon treat.	Blueberry Vanilla Bursting with sweet ripe blueberries and silky vanilla, this is a flavor combination that will leave you craving more.

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These Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipes Are The Perfect Treats!

August 30, 2019 By Paula 26 Comments

Frozen Hot Chocolate! We’re Enjoying Our Favorite Tootsie Roll Hot Cocoas Cold For The Ultimate Hot Chocolate Experience

To help you cool off we’ve come up with two fun and delicious recipes. First, you can skip the frozen hot chocolate drinks at Starbucks, Dunkin, and Dairy Queen. We’ve blended chocolate and strawberry for a drink that will have all the goblins asking for more. And for the mint lovers, we’ve hidden little nuggets of minty goodness inside mint chocolate cocoa pops. So much minty goodness in one place! No tricks here, these treats are perfect any time.

Chilled Strawberry Hot Cocoa Drink

If you like chocolate-dipped strawberries, you’ll love this strawberry hot chocolate recipe!

Strawberry and chocolate have always been a great pair. While Tootsie Roll’s Strawberry Nougat Charleston Chew hot chocolate is perfect for a cold day, you can also serve it cold for a decadent treat on a hot summer day.

Ingredients:

1 Tootsie Roll Charleston Chew Strawberry Nougat Hot Cocoa Single Serve Pod
½ cup of Frozen Strawberries + a few extra
Whipped Topping
Charleston Mini Chews for Garnish

Directions:

For this refreshing drink, simply brew one Strawberry Charleston Chew Hot Cocoa Single Serve Cup on the smallest setting for each person. Let cool. Then, blend ½ cup frozen strawberries for each serving in a blender until smooth. Add prepared cocoa and blend just until mixed. Transfer into a glass, add the extra frozen strawberries, and top with whipped topping. Garnish as desired. I found a movie theater-sized box of the cutest Charleston Mini Chews candies at my local store to garnish ours with.

This fruity and chocolatey drink will have you wanting more so be sure to make extra. Don’t forget about Cupid. This recipe also makes a great sweet treat for Valentine’s Day that everyone will love!

We’ve had the pleasure of trying all three Charleston Chew flavors! Check out our review Which Charleston Chew Hot Cocoa Flavor Will Be Your Favorite? and see what we thought of them.

Frozen Mint Hot Chocolate Popsicles

If you like America’s favorite chocolate-covered creamy mint, you’ll love these minty hot cocoa pops!

Paired in these popsicles are two classic combinations, mint and chocolate. While Tootsie Roll’s Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa is a delightful treat on a cold day, you can also serve it cold for a luscious dark chocolate treat. Don’t be scared of all this chocolatey goodness. Cool off and enjoy these rich and creamy frozen hot chocolate popsicles today.

Ingredients:

4 Tootsie Roll Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa Single Serve Pods*
Junior Mints Candies

Directions:

For these refreshing popsicles, simply brew hot cocoa pods on the smallest setting. Let cool slightly. Drop a few Junior Mint Candies into each popsicle mold. Then, add prepared cocoa and insert sticks. Place in the freezer for 6-8 hours or until completely frozen. Unmold and enjoy the delightful flavors of smooth peppermint and indulgent dark chocolate.

*Depending on the number and size of your molds you may need more or less cocoa to fill them.

We’ve had the pleasure of trying this cocoa! Check out our review Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa: Smooth Peppermint & Indulgent Dark Chocolate and see what we thought of them.

Strawberry and mint also pair well so there is no reason you can’t mix and match the cocoas, fruit, and candies in these recipes.

What are your favorite hot chocolate flavor combinations and mix-ins?

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich and Dipping Sauce Recipes

March 20, 2019 By Paula 28 Comments

At $3.79 each, taking a family out for one of these sandwiches can wreck your weekly budget. Not wanting to give up enjoying these delicious sandwiches I set out to find out how to make them at home. Thanks to the Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich recipe below and stocking up on boneless chicken breasts when they are on sale for $1.99 per pound, we can make eight sandwiches for less than $10!

It feels great to feed the entire family without emptying our pockets of all their cash. And, this chicken sandwich gets its flavor from a yummy pickle brine just like the one at our favorite fast-food restaurant.

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients

1 8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast
½ cup dill pickle juice
¾ cup milk
1 cup vegetable oil for frying
1 egg
¼ cup flour
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 hamburger buns, toasted
6 dill pickle slices
1 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce for a spicy sandwich

Directions

Place a chicken breast on a cutting board. With your hand flat on top of it, carefully slice the chicken in half horizontally to make 4 thin cutlets. So that the breasts cook more evenly, pound them out so that the breasts are of equal thicknesses. I do this by placing the cutlets between 2 pieces of heavy-duty plastic wrap and pounding with a mallet (or heavy skillet) until they are ¼-inch thick.
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine chicken, pickle juice, and ¼ cup milk (add a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce for a spicy sandwich). Chill for at least 30 minutes.
In a large skillet preheat oil to 350° F.
Meanwhile, in a shallow dish combine remaining ½ cup milk and egg. In another shallow dish combine flour, powdered sugar, salt, and pepper.
Drain chicken. Dip chicken in egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Dip in flour mixture to coat. For extra thick crispy crust REPEAT this step with each piece.
Add chicken to hot oil and fry 4 to 8 minutes or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165° F, turning once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Place chicken on a bun and top with pickles, and top bun. Serve with waffle fries, if desired.

You can even buy straight pickle juice by the gallon—absolutely no pesky pickles included.

For baked version: Substitute Panko bread crumbs for the flour and coat as directed. Bake at 375° F for 10-15 minutes until cooked through.

For air fryer version: Add 2 Tablespoons Potato Starch to the flour mixture and coat as directed. Grease basket/pan of air fryer well. Place the chicken in air fryer and spray the chicken with oil. Cook at 340° F for 6 minutes. Flip the chicken and spray with oil. Cook for 6 more minutes. Increase the temperature to 400° F and cook for two minutes on each side.

Nuggets: Cut breast into ¾-inch pieces and coat as directed. Cook at 365° F for 4 – 6 minutes turning once.

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Dipping Sauce

Did you know that Chick-fil-A Sauce is a magical blend of Honey Mustard, Barbecue and Ranch Sauces? Mixing up some to add to your sandwiches is easy!

1/2 C Mayonnaise
1/4 C Honey
3 TBSP Yellow Mustard
1 TBSP Dijon Mustard
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
1/4 C Smokey BBQ Sauce

Whisk all ingredients together and ENJOY.

Tips:

If you find that your dipping sauce isn’t as smokey as the real sauce, add a drop or two of liquid smoke.

You can also make with just 2 ingredients, Ken’s Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce and any brand of honey barbecue sauce. Our favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s honey bbq sauce.

This is the very best Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich recipe we've ever tried. Plus, baked, air fryer cooking, nugget, and dipping sauce recipes. #Recipe #Copycat #Chickfila

Make This 3 Ingredient Child Safe DIY Glitter Slime For Just a Few Dollars!

March 15, 2019 By Paula 15 Comments

Create some sparkly glitter slime using a few common household ingredients.
It’s super easy and kid-friendly!

It’s been a long winter and it’s time to have some FUN! Slime is one of the coolest chemistry experiments and is a great after-school or weekend activity. I have been wanting to make slime with my granddaughter, but the traditional recipes with cleaning chemicals made me nervous. Then, we discovered a simple glitter slime recipe that uses completely safe materials and doesn’t require any messy food coloring. Check out the ultimate three-ingredient glitter slime recipe and tips below. This recipe creates amazing slime.

It’s Science! It’s Sensory Play! It’s Great Fun All!

When purchasing your saline solution check the ingredients and make sure that it contains a mix of sodium borate and boric acid. Contact solution and saline solution are not the same product. Although contact solution has the ingredients to make slime, you may find that slime made with it will become watery overnight.

We purchased all our ingredients at Dollar General. The box of baking soda was only 50¢ and the leftovers can be used for cooking or other DIY projects like Bath Bombs, Kinetic Sand, or Play Dough. The saline solution was $3.25. However, there is enough saline solution to make this recipe at least 30 times. We wanted to make different colors so we bought the bonus pack which had three bottles Elmer’s glitter glue and a free bottle of clear glue for $9. At a cost of $3 to $4 per batch, this DIY Glitter Slime is less expensive than purchasing premade slime and you get the added bonus of having lots of fun making it.

Note: At first we tried the Dollar General Imagine brand of glitter glue and it does NOT work. It wasn’t a total waste. We had some of the Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue that we had on hand and added it to the “soup” to make glitter puff slime.

NO-MESS GLITTER SLIME

This no-mess slime recipe from Elmer’s is a great STEM-friendly chemistry experiment that you can enjoy making rain or shine.

Ingredients:
1/2 tbsp of baking soda
1 to 1¼ tbsp of contact lens solution
6 fl oz Elmer’s glitter glue

Instructions:
1. Pour out the entire contents of the glitter glue into a bowl.
2. Add 1/2 tablespoon baking soda. Using a spoon, mix thoroughly.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of the saline solution.
4. Mix with a spoon until the mixture gets harder to mix and slime begins to form.
5. Take the slime out and begin kneading with both of your hands.
6. If needed, add up to ¼ tbsp more of the solution to make the slime less sticky. Remember a little goes a long way. The more of the solution you add the thicker the slime becomes. We found that 1 tablespoon was sufficient for the white glue while the glitter glue needed 1 tablespoon plus a few more drops, as the one we did with 1 ¼ tablespoons was quite. thick.

Tips:

If the slime is too stringy, add baking soda
If the slime is too sticky, add contact solution
If the slime is too watery or too stiff, add glue

We made white slime with regular Elmer’s glue and green, pink, purple, and red glitter slime with a variety of glitter glues.

The science behind the craze. Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid. This means that it ignores Newton’s law of viscosity by flowing under certain conditions yet stiffening when compressed quickly. The amazing thing about non-newtonian fluids is that they are neither a solid or a liquid, you can pick slime up like a solid but it will slide through your fingers like a liquid. Slime is made from the chemical reaction between two main ingredients; polyvinyl alcohol and borate ion. Polyvinyl alcohol can be found in simple PVA glue. Borate ion is created when bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is mixed with the saline solution.

Thanks to a chemical reaction called an endothermic reaction when Polyvinyl alcohol comes in contact with the borate ion it begins to thicken and turns into a viscous, gooey mass. Endothermic reactions are those which absorb energy from the surroundings and result in a net decrease in temperature. Evidence of the endothermic reaction is when the slime goes cold.

“Slime also does not have its own shape so it can change to fit whatever container it is in. Yet, because of its elasticity, it can be bounced like a ball. Using these examples you can demonstrate how the viscosity of non-newtonian fluids change and teach the properties of liquids and solids.” – Curiscope

You can also try tugging sharply on the slime which will cause the slime to break, yet if you gently pull it the slime will stretch out. When this slime is pulled slowly, it becomes thin and flows easily. Pulling the slime quickly makes it thicker and it can snap because the chemical bonds in the slime break.

Slime: Is It a Solid, Liquid, or Both?
Would you say the slime is a liquid or is it more like a solid?
It can feel as hard as a solid when squeezed in your fist, but as soon as you release your grip, it will ooze out through your fingers like a thick liquid.

The fun doesn’t have to end. Make your own bouncy balls with this fun preschool craft!

Here’s two different ways you can make homemade bouncy balls.

For both you will need two cups or bowls for mixing in, stir sticks, and measuring spoons.

For the first one you will also need these items to make:

2 Tablespoons Hot Water
1/2 Teaspoon Borax
1 Tablespoon Elmer’s Glue
1 Teaspoon Cornstarch
Food Coloring (optional)

Pour the water and borax in the first cup and mix until dissolved.
Pour the glue, cornstarch, and food coloring into the second cup and mix.
Next, pour the borax mixture into the cup with the glue mixture. Let sit for 15 minutes and then stir.
When the mixture becomes difficult to stir, scoop it out and gently work it in your hands until it is no longer sticky.
Then, just roll between your hands to form a ball. The more you roll it the smoother it will become.

Just like with the slime, if you use glitter glue be sure to use Elmer’s Glitter Glue, other brands just don’t work. There’s something about the Elmer’s glue that is different than the generic glues.

The second one for super bouncy balls comes from Life’s Carousel and uses just 3 ingredients.

1/2 Cup of Warm Water
1 Tablespoon of Borax
1 to 2 Tablespoon of Clear Elmer’s Glue (or Elmer’s Glitter Glue)

In cup one stir together the water and borax, until it is completely dissolved (add more water if it doesn’t all dissolve).
Next slowly add your desired amount of glue into the bowl of borax solution. The more glue you use, the bigger the ball!
As soon as the glue hits the borax solution it will start to harden. Gently squeeze and squish the glue ball until it is no longer sticky.
Remove from the borax solution and roll between your hands to make it ball shaped. Continue to roll it between your hands until it is as smooth as you like.

She gives a word of warning that these super bouncy balls are basically very very thick slime. So if you leave them for any length of time they will slowly go flat and make a disc. But it’s very simple to just roll them in your hand to make them ball shaped again. Be sure to check out her site, there’s cool stuff help you go from chaos to calm there.

2 Weight Watchers Smartpoints Healthy Berry Probiotic Kefir Popsicles Recipe

December 26, 2018 By Paula 48 Comments

Healthy Berry Probiotic Kefir Popsicles

Looking for a great dessert or special treat? These make-ahead popsicles will disappear quickly. Learn how to make these healthy Kefir popsicles today.

We all know eating ice cream all the time isn’t the smartest option when it comes to being conscious about our food choices. If you happen to have a weak spot for ice cream or popsicles but don’t want all the yucky stuff that is found in most of them, these popsicles are a great alternative to satisfy that craving. Plus, these healthy Kefir popsicles are a great way to incorporate kefir’s probiotic health benefits into our diet. And sweet or tart, you can adjust the honey to suit your taste.

These #Healthy Berry Probiotic #Kefir Popsicles are just 2 #WeightWatchers #Smartpoints Make this super easy #recipe today!

What you need for this recipe

3 C. Plain Unsweetened Kefir Cultured Milk Smoothie
1/2 – 3/4 C. Raw Honey
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)
1 C. Fruit

How to make this recipe

Place fruit into popsicle molds.
Blend kefir, vanilla, and honey in blender or ninja until smooth.
Pour into popsicle molds, insert sticks, and place in the freezer until frozen.
To unmold the popsicles, hold the mold under lukewarm water for a few seconds until the popsicles release.

These #Healthy Berry Probiotic #Kefir Popsicles are just 2 #WeightWatchers #Smartpoints Make this super easy #recipe today!

Recipe Tips

You’ll need to scale the ingredient amounts to the size of your popsicle molds. The basic formula you’ll want to follow is 2/3 base + 1/3 fruit to fill each mold.

Always taste your mixture before freezing to make sure it’s a little sweeter than what you like. Remember that things are not as sweet to your taste buds when frozen.

I had fresh blackberries, raspberries, and pomergranate so that is what I put in these pops. You can use any fresh or frozen fruit that you enjoy.

I used the smoothie cup that came with my Ninja to blend the kefir mixture. It makes just the right amount to fill my 6 molds.

If the pops aren’t completely frozen, they may break or may not come out of the molds completely.

Make Red, White, and Blue Popsicles: Place 1 pound strawberries, hulled and chopped, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons honey in blender and puree until smooth. Fill the into popsicle molds 1/3 full with the strawberry purée and freeze until it’s firm, about 2 hours. Next, whisk two tablespoons honey into 1 cup Plain Unsweetened Kefir Cultured Milk Smoothie until well-combined. Remove the popsicles from the freezer and create the middle layer by evenly spooning the sweetened kefir into each of the popsicles. Gently push blueberries into the middle layer leaving enough room in the mold for the final puree layer. Place back into the freezer and freeze until firm but still soft enough to be able to put the sticks in. For the final layer finish filling each mold with the remaining strawberry puree. Insert sticks and return to the freezer until all layers are set, preferably overnight.

Fun mix-ins: crushed peanut butter cup pieces, peanut butter poweder and chocolate chips, 2-3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder per cup of kefir, add a pureed banana to the kefir mixture, crushed oreos, replace 1/3 the kefir with chopped mango, strawberries, peaches, or your favorite fruit for a fruity popsicle base,

Make them fancy: Pour melted chocolate into a tall, narrow glass, or something that fits the popsicle with just a little room around and dip your pop into it. Place in freezer on a baking sheet lined with parchment and then dip the next one. Repeat until you have dipped all the pops 3 – 4 times and there is a solid coating of chocolate on your popsicles. On the final dipping, gently roll your popsicle in your topping of choice. Chopped nuts, coconut, tiny candies, sprinkles, or dried fruit bits all make great toppings.

We have been using YS Eco Bee Farms Raw Honey for the last several years because we have found that it offers the maximum level of antioxidants and healing agents. This company is a pioneer in organic bee farming so their honey does not contain any pesticides, herbicides or pollutants. Two places that I know you can find it are on Amazon and Kroger Ship.

What is Kefir? Pronounced like Kee-fer Sutherland or Keh-fer that rhymes with Heifer, it is an amazing yogurt-like drink that has tons of health benefits. One of them being that it is loaded with probiotics that can boost our immune system.

One Scoop Of Protein Powder

In addition to these great popsicles, I’ve also been doing protein shakes. Have you started using protein powder? Do you know how many scoops you should be using a day? If you’ve got questions about adding protein powder into your diet, you gotta check out this informative post: https://totalshape.com/supplements/how-many-scoops-of-protein-powder/

Hydration While Dieting. Understand how important it is to stay well hydrated and how much water it takes to stay that way.

July 2, 2018 By Paula 13 Comments

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey Week 22
The Importance of Hydration When Dieting

Yes, it’s MONDAY already and time to continue our journey into health and wellness. It’s also time once again to reflect on the past week! Hydration was a big issue this week. So this week I dive into the subject of staying hydrated. Learn how important it is to stay well hydrated and how much water it takes to stay that way.

If you’ve missed any of the posts in the recent weeks be sure to check them out. In addition to uncovering where sugar is hiding in your food (aka sugar bombs) and looking at the benefits of shopping at farmer’s markets, we’ve also covered the importance of milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, beginner exercises, and exercising in the summer heat. Since beginning my weight loss journey in January, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and now the fourth of July have come and gone.

Hydration for Weight Loss

You would think that after everything I’ve written and learned about being healthy that I would know how important it is to stay hydrated. However, like many people, I didn’t understand how important it was to stay well hydrated and how much water it took to stay that way. That became evident when after several days of severe pain, I went to the clinic to get it checked out. Even with drinking 64 ounces of water daily plus all the water I get from the cornucopia of fruits and vegetables that I eat, I was severely dehydrated.

Why Water Is So Important

Almost two-thirds of the human body is made up of water. It regulates our temperature, cushions and protects our vital organs, aids digestion, transport nutrients to working muscles and organs, helps dispel waste and can help prevent us from over-eating.

Sometimes We Can Mistake Mild Dehydration For Hunger.

When we don’t drink enough fluids, our body gives us signals which resemble hunger pains. When this happens, many of us start eating unnecessary calories because we have misunderstood what our body is trying to tell us. Drink water whenever you are feeling thirsty or hungry.

A lack of water consumption can be detrimental to your body. If your hydration levels drop by only 2 percent, you may experience fuzzy thoughts, lack of concentration and difficulty focusing visually. It has also been linked to increased risk of cancer, premature aging, irritability, anxiety and numerous other ailments. There also has been a correlation made between chronic dehydration and obesity.

While a diet rich in fiber is essential for weight loss, fiber cannot do it alone. Water consumption is the other team member to a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Drinking a lot of water keeps the food flowing through your digestive tract and prevents constipation and bloating.

According to Revive Your Life, a study conducted at the University of Washington found that drinking one 8-ounce glass of water eliminated midnight hunger pangs in 98 percent of the subjects. Thereby decreasing caloric intake from midnight snacks.

One of the most important ways your level of hydration affects your caloric burn is in relation to your ability to perform physical activity. When you start to become dehydrated your muscle tissue starts to lose water and it makes it harder for that muscle to contract effectively, reducing your strength and endurance.

While water is world’s most effective, least expensive, and virtually side-effect free weight loss supplement, there are other ways to stay hydrated.

Water is best, but fruit and vegetables can be great sources of hydration. These water-rich foods tend to be lower in calories. While fat-rich foods, which have less water, are generally higher in calories. Fruits and vegetables not only have a high water content, but they also contain key vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Celery, for example, is 95% water and has only 6 calories per stalk. It is also a source of folate and vitamins A, C, and K.

Clear soups and broths can also help you feel full for very few calories, thus contributing to weight loss. Skim milk and low-fat, no-added-sugar yogurts and puddings also help hydration and nutrition without excessive calories. Drink your water and eat it, too.

Are you drinking enough water each day?

You can quickly check for dehydration at home with the tent test. Here’s how to do it. Pinch the skin over the back of the hand, on the abdomen, or over the front of the chest under the collarbone between two fingers so that it is tented up. Hold for a few seconds and release. This will show skin turgor. Skin turgor is the skin’s elasticity. It is the ability of skin to change shape and return to normal. Skin with normal turgor snaps rapidly back to its normal position. Mild dehydration will cause the skin to be slightly slow in its return to normal. Lack of skin turgor occurs with moderate to severe fluid loss.

Each day we exhale about two cups of water as water vapor. Normal daily perspiration causes about two cups of water to be lost. The intestines and kidneys utilize about six cups of water each day for normal functioning. That totals ten cups. When you add exercise to that, you increase the minimum amount of water you need just for daily functions. And for weight loss benefits, tack on a couple more cups to that total.

The amount of water you need to drink will depend on several factors, including your age, gender, activity level, weight, climate, and more. Most experts agree that drinking eight glasses of water, or 64 fluid ounces, is a sufficient amount for the average person to be properly hydrated.

However, here’s a good general guideline when it comes to recommended daily water intake for both health and weight loss benefits. To calculate how much water you should drink a day multiple your weight by 2/3 (or 67%) to determine how much water to drink daily. For example, if you weigh 175 pounds you would multiply 175 by .67 and learn you should be drinking about 117 ounces of water every day.

Since you are expelling additional water when you sweat, you should add 12 ounces of water to your daily total for every 30 minutes that you work out. This number also does not include additional water loss from sweating from being in a climate. Ask your healthcare provider or nutritionist for your body’s exact needs.

Drinking water during weight loss provides hydration without unwanted calories.

You burn roughly one calorie for every fluid ounce of water you drink, but this only true if the water is extremely cold. For example, if you drink a liter of ice cold water that is an extra 32 calories burned without doing any extra physical activity!

? SELF LOVE ?
Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind. ~Dodinsky

All we have of freedom, all we use or know —
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

This week was a week of pain for me. Normally I’m driving other people to appointments and rarely have them for myself. However, this week I was in constant pain and every time I had the urge to urinate I was in extreme pain. To make matters worse on Tuesday we got stuck in traffic traveling less than a half mile in over an hour trying to get to Marcus’ appointment. The pain of holding it for so long had me thinking of climbing in the backseat and peeing in a bottle. After all, we weren’t moving. The problem was taller vehicles were all around us. So I held it and held it. Until we got to where I could pull in to a fast food restaurant. Not getting any better I went to the clinic Thursday morning. They checked for a UTI and did a few tests to rule out my appendix. When they did the tent test my skin just hung there. I was severely dehydrated! With orders to drink 128 ounces of water every day, I was on my way to do blood work. They only need two small tubes yet, I was so dehydrated that I left there with three new holes in me and they only got one and a tiny bit in the second.

After this the rest of week was spent drinking water, eating high water foods like watermelon and cucumbers, and drinking more water. I spent some time working on our blog and tending the garden. With temperatures in the 90s and heat indexes over 100, we are all losing more water than we are taking in. I picked some of my pickling cucumbers and will be making pickles today. I continue to do my new exercise routine. Even though I didn’t feel well most of the week, I pushed myself to do some and felt better for it. I’m not sure where the week went but before I knew it it was time to step on the scale once again. With all that water I drank this week and getting rehydrated, I gained a half pound. Hopefully, with continued hydration, I’ll be seeing better numbers in the weeks ahead. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

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This year, the Fourth falls on a Hump Day. Deciding when to celebrate can be a bit tricky.
Will you celebrate the weekend before and then again on Wednesday, on Wednesday then back to work until the weekend after for more celebrating, on the 4th only, or do you go for it and celebrate all 10 days?
Whatever you decided, I hope you have a safe holiday and stayed hydrated.

Share your thoughts on the importance of drinking water and how you celebrated the 4th below or on my Facebook fan page.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 21 – Eating Healthy On a Budget

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The Benefits of Shopping at a 👨‍🌾 Farmer’s Market ‎‍🌾

June 11, 2018 By Paula 43 Comments

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 19

Benefits of Shopping at a Farmer’s Market

Shopping at a Farmer’s Market

A huge benefit of eating fresh organic produce is your health. Thanks to composting and our neighbor’s animals, we are fortunate enough to have a small organic garden that produces many fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens that we need each year. However, we don’t grow anywhere near enough to meet our needs. As you know grocery stores charge an arm and a leg for organic fruits and vegetables. At a farmer’s market, however, they are typically not much more expensive than conventionally grown produce.

- Farm Fresh. Fruits and vegetables you find at the grocery store are often several days or even several weeks old before they even reach the produce aisle. Farmer’s market produce, on the other hand, is often picked it that morning. It’s as fresh as you can get it outside of growing and picking it yourself.
- Organic and non-GMO: Organic farming is better for the soil, the environment, and our bodies. Many farmers who participate in local farmer’s markets use organic methods to grow their produce. Most label it as such, so you can be certain you are purchasing chemical free products. They also are more likely to use non-GMO modified seeds.

Seasonal Needs: Some nutritionists and scientists suggest eating seasonally available foods is better for our bodies because humans ate seasonal produce for thousands of years before refrigerated shipping changed all that. Eating produce that is in season still makes sense. Lighter fruits and vegetables are available seasonally in the spring and summer, while heartier winter vegetables like squash and parsnips provide sustenance for the cooler autumn and winter months.
More nutritious: Vivid colors in fruits and vegetables are a reflection of the nutrients they contain. Look at the of produce found at the farmer’s market, and compare that to produce at the grocery store. You’ll see that the supermarket fruits and vegetables are pale in comparison.
Save on healthcare. The health benefits of organic food include ingesting fewer pesticides and heavy metals. You will also find more healthy fats and possibly more antioxidants in organically grown food. Organic produce is often fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives to make it last longer. With all the health benefits of eating fresh organic produce, you are likely to save you money on healthcare expenses over the long-term.

Ripeness: Eating produce when it is ripe not only tastes better, but it also provides the best nutrition possible. Produce at the farmer’s market is generally picked at the peak ripeness when its natural sugars are at their highest. Try This: Buy a tomato from the supermarket and one from the farmer’s market. Taste them side-by-side and see what you think. Produce from the farmer’s market almost always tastes better.
Shop Local. Just like everything else in this country, industrialized farming has become the norm. Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers, and farms — further strengthening the economic base of the whole community. Giant corporations run industrial farms, driving local family farms out of business.
Benefits the environment. For the sake of efficiency, industrial farming favors monocultures, where a single field only grows one type of fruits or vegetables. Monocultures sap the soil of essential nutrients, leaving it barren and unplantable for our future generations. In general, industrial farming (both conventional and organic) is hard on the land, depletes the soil of nutrients, uses industrial chemical fertilizers and/or pesticides, and utilizes environmentally unfriendly practices that are not sustainable over the long-term. While small-scale farmers are more diversified, simultaneously fueling the sustainability of the land and increasing biodiversity in our local ecosystem.
Value: At a farmer’s market the prices are not much more than commercially grown, mass-produced produce. For the sheer nutrition you get from farmer’s market produce compared to supermarket produce, it’s a really good value. Since more farmer’s markets are accepting nutrition assistance benefits such as SNAP and WIC, they are a great way for low-income households to get nutritious foods.
Variety: Farmer’s markets offer a large variety of fruits and vegetables. You can often find fruits and vegetables that won’t find in the produce section of your local supermarket. Visit different booths to pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain, herbs, and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.
Preparation Recipes and Tips: Farmers often have recommendations for preparing their products. Farmers eat what they produce and will often share real recipes they eat on the farm, from hearty breakfasts to homemade desserts.
Eating local is Green: Eating local reduces your carbon footprint. Famer’s market produce doesn’t have far to get from the farm to your table, significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels. While many supermarkets receive their produce from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. This involves the significant use of fossil fuels and the use of refrigerated trucks and rail cars. When your food doesn’t travel long distances, you’re promoting better air quality and reducing pollution.
Along with conserving fossil fuels, small family farms also produce less environmental waste in the form of carbon monoxide, pesticide use, and chemical fertilizers.
Farmers markets are easy to find. We have several located near our rural home that I love to shop at. If you don’t know where one is located near you, use USDA Farmers Markets Search to find one. I discovered that there are twenty-five located within 50 miles of us!

Meet your local farmers, learn about foods grown in your area, and catch up with friends and neighbors while stocking up with local goods. When you shop at the farmer’s market, you know where your food has been. Often, you can even visit the farms to see how they grow and handle the food that you are serving your family.

? SELF LOVE ?
Eat like you love yourself. Move like you love yourself. Speak like you love yourself. Act like you love yourself.

The Best Project You’ll Ever Work On Is You!

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

This week, we made our monthly shopping trip and Marcus got two procedures done that he had to fast for! It was a rough week for him but with two days of fasting and medication, he did get a good cleanse. I spent the week working in the garden, helping him prep, driving, and waiting. I would have loved to have spent more time tending my plants. All this rain has everything growing like crazy, including the weeds.

Last week, I continued with my new exercise routine and continue to work on adding to the time and reps I do. I spent a few hours helping my aunt clean her house again this Sunday. Before we got busy I stepped on the scale and was pleased that I had lost another pound for a 34.2 lbs total lost so far. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

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TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? Do you shop at a farmer’s market? What is your favorite thing to buy there?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

Benefits of Shopping at a Farmer's Market #Shopping #Healthy #WWFreestyle #Weight #WeightLoss #HealthyEating #Diet #Dieting #Food

Learn the Benefits of Shopping at a Farmer’s Market ?? Weight Watchers' Freestyle Post ? #WWFreestyle #WeightLoss #Weight #Diet #Dieting #Food #BuyLocal #Shopping #Healthy #HealthyLiving #Organic

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Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 18
Exercise In The Summer Heat

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Tips To Help You Safely Exercise In The Summer Heat ☀️

June 4, 2018 By Paula 15 Comments

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 18

Exercise In The Summer Heat

Can you believe it’s MONDAY already and time once again to reflect on the past week?! In the recent weeks we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, and beginner exercises. Mother’s Day and Memorial Day have also come and gone. Last week, I continued with my new exercise routine and am working on adding to the time and reps I do. Now that the heat of summer is really starting to kick in I wanted to take a look at what steps I needed to take to make sure that I stayed safe. This week I’d like to share what I learned with you.

How To Exercise In The Summer Heat

Summer is the perfect time to go outside and have fun. It’s one of my favorite times of year because there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy. Everything is more fun outside, whether you’re playing ball, swimming, walking, running, or cycling. When it comes to sweating it out in the summer heat, common missteps can lead to dangerous health risks. While you may not be running a marathon in the desert or playing beach volleyball for gold, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to exercising in the heat. Protect yourself by taking these steps:

1. 1. Don’t Protein-Load Before Your Workout. Some research has suggested that too much protein before a sweat session could elevate your basal temperature, making you feel even hotter. Save the protein bar for after your workout when it will help you rebuild muscle.
  2. The time of day is important. Generally, the early morning is the best time to workout. Unless, you are training for an event that takes place in the daytime heat, avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
1. Wear loose, light-colored clothing. Lighter colors help reflect heat and cotton material helps the with the evaporation of sweat. If you can afford them, specially designed “hi-tech” clothing items are often made from material meant to keep you cool.
2. Sunscreen is a must. Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. With a history of skin cancer in my family, I wear one that is higher just to be safe. You’ll want a broad-spectrum sunscreen for both UVB and UVA protection Ingredients to look for are benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789), and ecamsule (Mexoryl SX). No matter how long-lasting it’s supposed to be, reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, and more often if you’re sweating or getting wet.
3. Decrease the Intensity. When it’s hot outside, it’s harder to exercise at your normal level of intensity. Heat and humidity both raise your heart rate, and your body has a harder time dissipating extra heat. Because of this, you should plan on only working out at 60-70 percent of the intensity of your normal routine. You’ll get the same amount of exercise, and you’ll be safer.
  When the temperatures first start to climb, take your workouts down a notch: do fewer intervals, or save that long endurance ride for a cooler day.
4. Acclimate Yourself. When traveling or switching from exercising indoors to outside, remember that it takes your body 10-14 days to adjust to a new temperature. Start slow and easy, and increase your workouts over the course of two weeks.
5. Stay hydrated. Drink water all day, not just before or after your workout: Staying hydrated will help prevent some of the symptoms you may experience from exercising in heat such as dizziness, stomach cramps, and headaches. It can even result in kidney failure or in extreme cases, death. During your run, sip four to eight ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes.
  DO use the “lemonade test.” When you look in the toilet immediately after you urinate, you want to see liquid the color of pale lemonade; if it’s a vibrant yellow or looks like apple juice, you need more fluids.
6. Replenish your electrolyte and salt intake while exercising. When you sweat, your body loses not only water but electrolytes and salt, too. This delicate balance of water and electrolytes is crucial to keep your body functioning properly. If you drink too much water without replenishing your electrolytes, you can experience hyponatremia. You may experience confusion, nausea, muscle cramps, seizures or even death in extreme cases.
  The highest concentration of electrolytes lost from sweat is from sodium and chloride (i.e. table salt) followed by potassium. You can add a pinch of salt to a glass of water to replace sodium and chloride. Salty foods like broth or vegetable juice are also good for replenishing sodium levels. Fresh tomatoes and lettuce can help replenish chloride. Be sure to also eat foods that are high in potassium such as banana, dates, raisins, coconut, and avocado.
7. Listen to your body. Stop immediately if you’re feeling dizzy, faint, nauseous, or display any of the other signs of heat stroke. Any time you begin to feel dizzy or nauseous, immediately stop what you’re doing and drink something. These are early symptoms of dehydration, and ignoring your body’s need for liquids can lead to heat-related illness.
8. Know the symptoms of heat stroke. Heat stroke is a serious threat that can be fatal. Symptoms include:

High body temperature (104° F/40° C or higher)
ABSENCE OF SWEATING with hot, flushed, or red/dry skin
Throbbing headache
Rapid pulse
Difficulty breathing
Strange behavior
Hallucinations
Confusion
Agitation
Disorientation
Dizziness and light-headedness
Muscle weakness or cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures
Unconsciousness

As the great outdoors beckons with its warmer weather and longer days, we all like make the most of the season by turning your tired indoor routine into fun outdoor workouts. Whether you’re at the lake, in the mountains, on the beach, or at the pool just make sure that you do it safely!

? SELF LOVE ?
Strive for progress, not perfection!

Part of my workout inspiration is working off the summer treats like ice cream.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With fewer appointments this week, only three out of five days this week, I had more time to focus on my weight loss, exercise, and my blog this week. I’ve got a new favorite snack. Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich – PB Fit spread on a banana sliced in half length-wise as the bread!

Sunday was spent with my daughter cleaning my aunt’s place. She bought us both Chinese for our efforts. Good thing we were able to work off some of that chicken and broccoli made with General Tso’s sauce and white rice. Before we got busy I stepped on the scale and was pleased to see that I was back on track. I had lost two pounds! The biggest difference that I’ve noticed so far is more than the number on the scale. It’s how I feel and how my clothes don’t fit. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? What is your favorite activity to do when the weather gets warm? Do you have a summer workout tip?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 17 – MEMORIAL DAY

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Memorial Day 🎖️ Remembering Those Who Have Sacrificed For Us ✊ Read This Post To Learn How You Can Pay Tribute

May 28, 2018 By Paula 38 Comments

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 17

Memorial Day

Can you believe it’s MONDAY already and time once again to reflect on the past week?! In the recent weeks we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, and beginner exercises. Mother’s Day was the start of our grilling season and the first of a long list of summer grilling holidays. Last week, I continued with my new exercise routine and spent time with my sweetheart who is a Marine Vet. Since it is Memorial Day, I would like to say thank you to him, my father, who is retired Air Force, and all my readers who have or are serving in our armed forces for their service to our country. Thank you, for ensuring our safety and making the freedoms that we all enjoy in this great country possible. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Memorial Day

Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.

We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.

– James A. Garfield May 30, 1868, Arlington National Cemetery

In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States. In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May.

HONOR. REMEMBER. NEVER FORGET.

The online Poppy Memorial pays tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation. Anyone is welcome to dedicate a poppy to a fallen servicemember. If you don’t know one personally, you can dedicate the poppy to “The Fallen Heros.” Dedicate A Poppy HERE.

This Memorial Day as we enjoy the warm weather, cookouts, and all sorts of outdoor activities we need to remember that today isn’t about beer, brats, and an extra day off from work. The heart of a holiday is to honor the more than 1.3 million Americans who have died in our nation’s wars. These men and women took an oath to the Constitution and served our country and each other with honor, dignity and courage. Giving ALL for their country. Join me as I reflect on the sacrifice these members of our armed forces have given so that we can enjoy our freedom and prosperity.

? SELF LOVE ?
You can’t hate yourself happy. You can’t criticize yourself thin. You can’t shame yourself worthy. Real change begins with self-love and self-care. -Jessica Ortner

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With appointments four out of five days this week it was another week of appointments and waiting rooms. With only two days of doing any exercises, my new exercise routine took a back seat this week. I did get some walking in as it’s over a half mile from were we park to the check-in for physical therapy. The new kitten is also keeping me busy. She thinks we are her human teething rings. Who would have thought that such tiny teeth could hurt so much!

Saturday was spent taking my neighbor to dialysis and working on this blog. Sunday was spent at home hanging out with Marcus. The weekend always seems to go by so fast. I got on the scale for my weekly weigh-in early Sunday. When I stepped on, I saw that this week I had not lost nor gained any weight. Not surprising as I’ve been lax and not doing as I know I should. Time to make time for ME and get back on track. I know I can do this as I’ve done it before. It just seems so much harder to lose weight this time. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? What do you do to stay motivated? Did you dedicate a poppy?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 16 – Keep Moving

Check out the entire series of Weight Watchers Inspirational Posts.

🤱 How We’re Honoring Motherhood & Favorite Mother’s Day Quotes

May 14, 2018 By Paula 17 Comments

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 15

Mother’s Day

It’s time once again to reflect on the past week. Recently, we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, and last week beginner exercises. This week I will be visiting my Mom and celebrating Mother’s Day with her and my children on Sunday so I am writing about my WW Freestyle journey on Saturday night. I will still be venturing onto the scale for my weekly weigh in when I return home Sunday night. I haven’t mentioned it before but I really like the structure of having a set day to weigh. I find that I’m not obsessing all week about the scale by having a set day to do it.

OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

Origins of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. It’s origins go way back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services.

It can also be traced in the UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated long before Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914 designating Mother’s Day to be held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers. Some families also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores.

No matter how you celebrate the important woman in your life, whether she be Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Mentor, or someone special who is like a Mom to you remember what all us mom’s want is…

For You to be Happy and Healthy!

Some Of My Favorite Mother’s Day Quotes:

The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. – Theodore Hesburgh

A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take. – Cardinal Meymillod

If at first, you don’t succeed, try doing it the way mom told you to in the beginning. – Unknown

Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. – Erich Fromm

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother’s secret hope outlives them all. – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. – Unknown

Mothers were meant to love us unconditionally, to understand our moments of stupidity, to reprimand us for lame excuses while yet acknowledging our point of view, to weep over our pain and failures as well as cry at our joy and successes, and to cheer us on despite countless start-overs. Heaven knows, no one else will. – Richelle E. Goodrich

? SELF LOVE ?
Give yourself the gift of your own joy and happiness for Mother’s Day. Make time for at least one thing you can do for yourself.

Cherish the moments you have with your Mom. Let her know how much you appreciate her.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With physical therapy, pain management specialist, lab work, and check-ups, this was another week of appointments and waiting rooms. However, Wednesday had been set aside for an oil change, my Mom and two aunts birthday lunch at the Golden Corral, and our monthly shopping trip. That was a busy and diet landmine filled day! Lunch at the restaurant was challenging. Not because of all the food but there was so little prepared in a healthy manner. Most of the items on the bar were either fried, smothered in cheese, loaded with carbs, or high fat. I know that they are catering to what the public wants and that the items offered are low cost to prepare but I was still shocked that the healthy choices were so few. I did fix myself a nice salad and manage to find some baked fish, veggies, and lima beans that didn’t have a whole lot of added fat on the bars. Of course, I had to have a piece of my favorite sweet. But only one and I cut it into six tiny squares to savor each small bite. After lunch, thank goodness, we had a full day of shopping to work off the square of fudge that I had for dessert.

I did accomplish my goal of three 10 minute walks in this week. Plus, I was able to do my new exercise routine a few times this week. Before beginning this journey I was to tired to do much more than this blog so I was proud that I was able to accomplish so much this week.

Sunday was spent at my parents’ house celebrating Mother’s Day. My youngest son cooked on the grill for everyone. All too soon it was Sunday evening and I got on the scale for my weekly weigh-in to see if the changes I’ve made would pay off. When I stepped on I saw that this week I had lost 2 pounds this week. Each week presents its own challenges, but isn’t that what makes life so exciting? Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? What is your favorite quote or saying about Mothers? What is one thing that you would like to do for yourself?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 14 – Beginner Exercises

Check out the entire series of Weight Watchers Inspirational Posts.

Homemade Shanklish Recipe – Add This Syrian Blue Cheese To Eggs For Just 3 SmartPoints!

January 30, 2018 By Paula 23 Comments

Shanklish

Shanklish, also known as shinklish, shankleesh, skunk leesh, sorke, or sürke, is a Lebanese and Syrian bleu cheese made from cow or sheep’s milk. Change up your morning eggs! This cheese adds a lot of flavor and is only 3 SmartPoints per ounce!

My great-grandparents immigrated from Syria to the United States and brought their recipe with them. Over the years it has been Americanized and modernized for the way we live today and the ingredients available. This Middle Eastern cheese is similar in texture to feta. It takes time to make but is so worth the effort and patience that you put into making it.

Ingredients:

3 pounds Farmer’s Cheese Oil
3 Tablespoons Salt Thyme

Directions:

• Open and drain the cheese in cheesecloth.

• When drained – In a large bowl mix cheese and salt very well.

• Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Then, with paper towels.

• Form cheese mixture into balls and place on paper towels. Traditionally they are about the size of oranges but I prefer them about half that size

• Next, cover with another layer of paper towels.

• Now place in a warm place (top of the refrigerator works well) for 3 – 4 days. Important: Each day turn the balls and replace the paper towels with new ones.

• Now place a paper towel in the bottom of a container ( I use a coffee can) and place the balls inside and another paper towel on top.

• Cover and Place in a warm place and check for mold in 3 – 4 days.

• When the balls are ready, In separate bowls place enough Oil and Thyme to coat the balls. If you want you can get Za’atar online to roll the balls in.

• Wash off the mold and roll the balls in the oil and then the thyme.

• Store in the refrigerator or wrap each ball in plastic wrap and freeze. Thaw at room temperature as needed.

Note: For 2 Weight Watchers SmartPoints use 1 Tablespoon.

I love this on eggs, salads, fresh tomato slices, and pizza.

WHAT I USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

High-Quality Jolly Chefs Natural Unbleached Cheesecloth

Grade 90 Best Quality Cheesecloth
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Made from 100% soft and absorbent lint free cotton
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Possible Uses
-> Nut Milk Bag Alternative
-> Spice/Herb and Natural Tea Bags
-> Basting Turkey/Chicken and other poultry
-> Canning, Cheese Making, Wine Making, Straining Jelly
-> Making Greek Yoghurt
-> Art and Craft
-> Polishing/Dusting Furniture
-> Cleaning Cars, Mirrors, etc…

Get Jolly Chefs Unbleached Grade 90 Cheesecloth on AmazonMy Thoughts:
When I received the opportunity to review the Jolly Chefs Cheesecloth in exchange for my honest opinion being of Syrian descent I knew that I wanted to make Shanklish from my family’s recipe. The cheesecloth was strong and the tightness of the weave made extracting the liquid simple and effective. This 90-grade cloth performed very well for this recipe. I will be using it for a long time because there’s such a large amount in the package I barely used any. I believe this a great value and would highly recommend this product.

Make Your Celebration Unforgettable With These Brisket, Sliders, BBQ Pickles, and Crispy Onion Straws Recipes

June 21, 2017 By Paula 56 Comments

Fireworks, flags, family, friends, and brisket – there isn’t anything more American than smoked meat to celebrate the Fourth of July. Whether it’s a holiday feast for just the family or the whole neighborhood, a big barbecued brisket is a perfect way to bring everyone together for a day of celebrating the red, white and blue.

Sometimes preparing such a large piece of meat can be scary but cooking a brisket doesn’t have to be intimidating! With a few easy steps and a little time and patience, everyone can make an incredible brisket. To help you here’s a great guide from Stubb’s BBQ Expert Rocky Stubblefield.

Rocky Stubblefield’s Tips for Preparing Brisket

“My grandfather Stubb was famous for all kinds of barbecue – ribs, chicken, you name it. But brisket – cooked low and slow – was his specialty. He made so many briskets that he used to joke that he didn’t have any fingerprints left because he’d burned them off pulling meat off the pit.”

Preparing Brisket: My granddad would have made brisket low and slow in his own hand-welded pit. You can do the same on your gas or charcoal grill using hickory wood chips. Just be prepared to man that grill for at least a half day, monitoring the temperature.

Selecting a Brisket: A brisket is usually about 12-15 pounds. If you need a smaller option, those are available as well. With this size of meat, you’ll need to plan ahead when cooking. It’s better right off the grill but if you don’t have time, you can make it the day before and rewarm it on the grill or in the oven.

Prepare the Brisket: Preparation with a rub is critical for a good flavor crust. Rub the entire brisket generously with Stubb’s Beef or Bar-B-Q rub. Only put the rub on 15-20 minutes before the meat goes on the grill. The longer the rub sits on the meat, the more the salt draws out the moisture of the meat

Cook the Brisket: Fat side up! Place the meat fat side up on your grill or smoker so that the fat drips down into the meat and it stays moist. Most people at home have a charcoal grill, and you can easily smoke a brisket on it.

Here’s how to do it:

First, soak your wood chips in water for 30 minutes.
Spread charcoal on one side of the grill, leaving the other side empty. Light your charcoal and allow to heat until a subtle coating of gray ash forms.
Sprinkle soaked wood chips directly onto the coals and allow them to start smoking.
Place brisket over the side of the grill without charcoal, and cover, so it cooks over indirect heat.
Cook at 225-250 degrees until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the brisket reaches 180-185 degrees. This can take 8-10 hours depending on your grill.
To maintain the temperature, check every hour to adjust vents and add more charcoal and soaked wood chips as needed.
I usually wrap my brisket after about 5 hours to keep the juices inside.

Slicing Brisket: Slice along the ribbon of fat that runs horizontally through the meat. Then, slice the meaty halves of the brisket against or across the grain. Not sure where the grain is? It’s easier to see on the raw meat before it’s rubbed, so cut notch when prepping to help guide once it’s cooked.

Add the sauce: As they say in Texas – it’s not done ‘til you add the sauce! We add it after so the sauce doesn’t burn on the grill. You can put in on the side and dip, or drizzle it over the top.

Now that you have the perfect brisket, it’s time to kick it up a notch and prepare the ultimate Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders for your family and guests.

Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders with Barbeque Pickles and Crispy Onion Straws

Loaded with flavor, these Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders are just how Stubb would have made ‘em himself. From his tangy-sweet brisket seasoned with Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Rub and Bar-B-Q Sauce, to the savory, spice-rubbed barbeque pickles, and crispy onion straws, these sliders have got it all.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Barbecue Pickles:

2 cups very thinly sliced small cucumbers (1/8-inch thick)
1 tablespoon Stubb’s® Bar-B-Q Rub
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons white vinegar

Crispy Onion Straws:

1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Black Pepper
1 medium onion, very thinly sliced and separated into rings
Vegetable oil, for frying

Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders:

2 pounds sliced Stubb’s BBQ Brisket (see above)
12 slider or small dinner rolls
3/4 cup Stubb’s® Original Bar-B-Q Sauce

Instructions:

For the Pickles, mix cucumbers, Bar-B-Q Rub, and sugar in small bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Strain cucumbers and place in glass bowl or jar. Stir in vinegar. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Onion Straws, mix flour, salt, and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Add onion rings; toss to coat well. Pour oil into deep fryer, large heavy skillet or saucepan, filling no more than 1/3 full. Heat oil on medium-high heat. Carefully add onion rings to hot oil. Fry 4 to 5 minutes, turning once to brown evenly, until onion rings are golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

For the Sliders, serve brisket slices on slider rolls topped with Barbecue Pickles, Crispy Onion Straws and Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauce. (Store any leftover pickles in a tightly covered glass container in the refrigerator for another use.)

Makes 12 sliders.

Still looking for more recipes for your celebration? Rocky Stubblefield, the grandson of Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q founder C.B. “Stubb” Stubblefield has more original recipes that are sure to please every partygoer:

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Brisket, smoked low and low, or one of these favorite takes:

Brisket Sliders with Crispy Onions and BBQ Pickles
Brisket Walking Nachos
Brisket Tacos with Roasted Corn Avocado Salsa

Delicious family-friendly BBQ sides:

Cowboy Beans
BBQ Cole Slaw

Now that you’ve got your brisket cooking it’s time for some fun and a giveaway! To help you make your 4th of July celebration extra delicious Stubb’s Bar-B-Q is sponsoring a Fourth of July giveaway with coupons, swag, and product valued at $50 for one lucky reader to win. All you have to do for a chance to win is enter on the widget below. Remember the more entries you do the better your chances are to win!

Look at all the great Stubb’s sauces and rubs that you can get to make your next get together extraordinary on AMAZON!

Welcome to the

Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q
Prize Package Giveaway

Dates: June 21, 2017, at 12:01 am EST to July 4, 2017, at 11:59 pm EST

Prize: ONE Lucky WINNER will receive Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q coupons, swag, and product valued at $50

Want to know what I thought of this giveaway prize?
See My Complete Review HERE

Hosted By Sweet Southern Savings

Co-Hosted By IMHO Views, Reviews, and Giveaways and Deliciously Savvy

I would like to give a big shout out to all the blogs
participating in this giveaway! I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for bringing this promotion to your readers.

By following us on our social networks and by email we are able to get the best giveaways together on the internet! Please take a minute to follow us! Thanks!

This giveaway is for Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q coupons, swag, and product valued at $50 and will run through 7/04/2017 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. It is open to residents of the US ages 18+. You are not eligible if you have won a prize from the sponsor in the last 90 days. Winners are subject to eligibility verification and will have 24 hours to confirm before a new winner will be drawn. For any questions or concerns please email paula_stewart (at) ymail (dot) com (please consider adding this email to your “Safe List” as the winning email notification will be sent from this email). Chances of winning depend on entries received. Remember the more entries you do the better your chances are to win! If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified. Winning entry will be verified.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Disclaimer: Sweet Southern Savings nor any blog promoting this giveaway, is not responsible for the awarding of the prize. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Any Questions about this giveaway? Email Paula At paula_stewart (at) ymail (dot) com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: PaulaMS has received the product mentioned above for free to facilitate the writing of a review. *Some of the links on this blog post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, she only recommends products or services that she uses personally and believes will add value to readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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As Always…. Thank You For Visiting Today ~ Please Leave Some Comment Love While You Are Here!

Origins of Mother’s Day

April 15, 2017 By Paula Leave a Comment

Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. It’s origins go way back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. It can also be traced in the UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated long before Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914 designating Mother’s Day to be held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers. Some families also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores. No matter how you celebrate the important woman in your life, whether she be Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Mentor, or someone special who is like a Mom to you we’ve got a giveaway to help you get her something really special.

Welcome to the
$1000 Mother’s Day Giveaway

Are you ready for a chance to WIN your share of the $1000 Paypal Cash prize? Giveaway will run April 15th @4PM EST and end on May 24th @11:59 PM EST, is open WW, and there will be 2 lucky winners of $500 each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: PaulaMS’ Giveaways, Reviews, and Freebies nor any blog promoting this giveaway, is not responsible for the awarding of the prize. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Paula Stewart please contact us HERE.

As Always…. Thank You For Visiting Today ~ Please Leave Some Comment Love While You Are Here!

Just in time for the holidays, A Christmas Story Christmas is available on DVD, Digital, or with Subscription.

November 28, 2023 By Paula Leave a Comment

A Christmas Story Christmas

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES

A Christmas Story Christmas

Available to own, rent, or view with subscription TODAY

This 2022 American Christmas comedy film follows Ralphie as he returns to the house on Cleveland Street. He wants to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child. This movie offers plenty of Christmas nostalgia as Ralphie deals with Christmas and all that comes with it.

While never replacing the magic of the classic A Chrismas Story film, this release offers solid entertainment, and lots of Christmas spirit.

Synopsis

Ralphie is all grown up in this sequel to the annual holiday favorite in which he must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it, this time as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.

About the Film:

Directed by Clay Kaytis
Screenplay by Nick Schenk and Clay Kaytis
Based on characters created by Jean Shepherd
Produced by Irwin Zwilling, Marc Toberoff, Cale Boyter, Jay Ashenfelter, Peter Billingsly, Vince Vaughn
Starring Peter Billingsly, Erinn Hayes, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, Zack Ward, Julie Hagerty
Film Run Time: 98 minutes
Rating: PG
Watch with a subscription on Max, rent on Vudu, buy on Amazon, Walmart, Apple TV, Vudu and more.

You can find A Christmas Story Christmas and all the Holiday movies that Warner Bros. offers here.

Movie Intro:
In December 1973, 33 years after the events of A Christmas Story, Ralph “Ralphie” Parker lives in Chicago with his wife, Sandy, and two children, Mark and Julie. Ralph has been taking the year off from his job to write his first novel, but its excessive length leads multiple publishers to reject it. Mrs. Parker calls to tell Ralph that his father, “the Old Man”, has died, and the grief-stricken family makes its way to Hohman, Indiana to be with her. She gives Ralph two tasks: write his father’s obituary, and take up his mantle of making Christmas special for the family.

Ralph’s children befriend one of the Bumpus kids next door, and have their snowman smashed by two bullies on a snowmobile. Ralph reunites with Flick, who now owns his father’s old tavern, and Schwartz, who still lives with his mother and has run up a large tab at Flick’s. While leaving the house to go ice skating, Sandy slips and sprains her ankle.

As Christmas Eve approaches, the family goes to Higbee’s, where Ralph miraculously buys everything Mark and Julie asked for while the children speak to the store’s Santa. On the way back, Ralph’s car overheats, and Ralph accidentally hits Julie in the eye during an impromptu snowball fight. After Julie receives a temporary eyepatch at the hospital, the family discovers their car was robbed in the hospital parking lot; the presents are gone, and there is little money left to replace them.

Continue reading the A Christmas Story Christmas plot on Wikipedia

More Must See Christmas Movies

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, A CHRISTMAS STORY, ELF, AND THE POLAR EXPRESS

ARE ALL AVAILABLE FOR YOU VIEWING PLEASURE!

About these classic holiday family films:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs.

The film is directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. The screenplay is by John Hughes and based on characters by Hughes. The film is produced by Hughes and Tom Jacobsen and stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and Randy Quaid.

A Christmas Story

Set in a 1940s-era Midwestern town and told from the viewpoints of a seven-year-old boy, who only wants one thing for Christmas — a Red Ryder BB gun — the episodic tale chronicles not only his schemes to convince his mother and father to buy him one, but also offers a warmly nostalgic look into 1940s middle-class American life. From the stories of, and narrated by, Jean Shepherd.

The film is directed by Bob Clark. The screenplay is by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark and is based on the novel “In God We Trust: All Other Pay Cash by Shepherd. The film is produced by Rene Dupont and Bob Clark and stars Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin and Peter Billingsley.

Additionally, A Christmas Story Christmas, from Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max, will debut on HBO Max on November 17. The long-awaited follow-up to the annual holiday favorite A Christmas Story, this time Ralphie is all grown up and must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it…as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.

Elf

This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.

The film is directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum. It is produced by Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki , and Shauna Robertson, and stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner and Bob Newhart.

The Polar Express

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Zemeckis and William Broyles Jr. It is based on the classic Caldecott award-winning children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is produced by Steve Starkey, Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman, and William Teitler, and features the voices of Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen.

THE CREDITS

About Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.

-wbhe-

You can find all the Holiday movies that Warner Bros. offers here.

Are You a Modern Craveman? Take the Quiz and Find Out! Plus, Get Your 15% Discount Code

May 23, 2023 By Paula Leave a Comment

Take the Modern Craveman Quiz:

Do you like your snacks with no added sugar?
Are you looking for foods with no refined carbs?
Do you want something to eat that is nutritionally dense?
Are you interested in eating organic or vegan foods?
Does Gluten-free and Grain-free foods interest you?
Are you not willing to compromise on taste?

The Modern Craveman LOVES
Organic, Kosher, Keto, Vegan, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free Natural Snacks with NO Added Sugar, NO Refined Carbs, that do NOT Compromise on Taste and Nutrition.

Plantraw Granola

Plantraw is an up-and-coming company that is focused on bringing you the highest-quality, most nutritious snacks gustatorily possible. We had the privilege of trying three of their unique snacks; the Cocoa-Date Truffles (Dark), Tomato Onion Chips, and Nutrionally Dense Granola.

Our Modern Craveman loves him some Cocoa-Date Truffles.

The Cocoa-Date Truffles (Dark) contain just a few high-quality ingredients: Raw organic dates, Raw unsweetened organic coconut, Raw organic cocoa paste (100% dark chocolate), and Raw organic coconut oil. That’s it!

They have no added sugar, sweeteners, fillers, thickeners, emulsifiers, or preservatives. The fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids, and other micronutrients in this product are intact and bioavailable.

Since these delectable bites are only sweetened with dates they are not overly sweet like many truffles. Unlike when you eat highly processed sweets, after eating these truffles your palate still feels clean.

Attention Modern Craveman loves Tomato Onion Chips!

Plantraw Tomato Onion chips are gluten-free, vegan, and natural. These chips lose 2/3 of their weight during dehydration. This leaves the remaining 1/3 rich in flavor and nutritionally dense.

It is amazing that with so much taste they are a good source of fiber. If you’ve ever eaten a high-fiber bar you know this is not always true. These chips are also a good source of Omega 3, the “healthy fats” that may support heart health. And, ever conscious of carbs since I help several family members with diabetes understand what is beneficial for them to eat; these chips are a great snack for them with 0g refined carbs.

Tomato-Onion Chips also have just a few simple ingredients. They contain tomatoes, onions, flaxseed, nutritional yeast, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, smoked paprika, and acerola cherry. That’s it!

Did You Know That The Modern Craveman Loves Nutritionally Dense Granola?

Plantraw’s original granola is grain-free and gluten-free. It is sweetened solely with whole organic dates so it has no added sugar or sweeteners.

With its ingredients of sprouted almonds, dates, pecans, sesame, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and acerola cherry it is a good source of dietary fiber, Omega 3, and plant-based protein.

We enjoyed this granola as a late afternoon pick-me-up while spending the day at the aquarium with our grandchildren. I was pleasantly surprised at how much the kids loved it. They kept reaching their tiny hands into the bag for more.

If you’re a modern craveman and are looking for healthy and minimally processed foods that taste amazing, you’ve got to check out the products that Plantraw offers. We’ve tried their truffles, chips, and granola so far. And, are loving them!!!!

PlantraW has graciously offered our readers a 15% discount. Just enter code Sweet15 at checkout or use this link to get your discount

My father’s, Ronald George Povero, Funeral 1PM 4/28/23

May 1, 2023 By Paula Leave a Comment

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have had to take time off from my online activities. My father was very proud of my writing and supported me in my pursuit of creating a successful blog. So, I will return to blogging in the future.My father passed away Friday, April 21, 2023. He was a wonderful dad, husband of 57 years, grandfather, and great-grandfather. We are thankful that, thanks to Hospice, we were able to get him home with his family around him before it happened. Please keep our family in your prayers.

Obituary of Ronald “Ronnie” George Povero

Ronald George “Ronnie” Povero, 79, of Summerville, South Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by close family in his home on April 21, 2023.

Born on March 4, 1944 in Seneca, New York, Ronnie was the only child of the late Dominic and Mary Povero.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Pauline Povero; two daughters, Paula Stewart-Sealund (husband, Marcus) and Connie Robertson (husband, Cleveland “CJ”); seven grandchildren and their spouses, Joey Povero, Christine Alexander (Paul), Jamie Campbell (Marissa), Robert Campbell (Anne), Bobby Stewart (Alicia), Felisha Thomas Tresler, and Berry Robertson; ten great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Ronnie joined the United States Air Force in 1962. After he completed boot camp and technical school in Texas he was assigned to the Charleston Air Force Base. In 1971 he joined the 315th Airlift Wing reserve unit in Charleston, SC where he served until he retired as a Master Sargent in 1990.

Through his church, Saint John the Beloved, and the Knights of Columbus, honorary 3rd and 4th degree life member, he served the community of Summerville for more than fifty years.

As an avid fisherman, Florida State, and NASCAR fan, he enjoyed spending time outdoors with his many family and friends.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 28, 2023 from 12:15 until 1pm at Saint John the Beloved Church, 28 Sumter Avenue, Summerville, SC 29483. The Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow the visitation.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, contributions be given to your charity of choice.

https://obits.postandcourier.com/us/obituaries/charleston/name/ronald-povero-obituary?id=51740112&fbclid=IwAR3_jt_GSwc2exBmTPwBcHBhlq1ha5b-0fCwMW7mo495j9YUk39IG0TMXiU

50th Wedding Anniversary

Marriage Is…

A commitment. Its success doesn’t depend on circumstances, feelings, or moods – but on two people who are loyal to each other and the vow’s they took on their wedding day…

Marriage Is…

A relationship where two people must listen, compromise, and respect. It’s an arrangement that requires a multitude of decisions to be made together. Listening, respecting, and compromising go a long way toward keeping peace and harmony.

A union in which two people learn from their mistakes, accept each other’s faults, and willingly adjust behaviors that need to be changed. It’s caring enough about each other to work through disappointing and hurtful times and believing in the love that brought you together in the first place.

Patience and forgiveness. It’s being open and honest, thoughtful and kind. Marriage means talking things out, making necessary changes, and forgiving each other. It’s unconditional love at its most understanding and vulnerable – love that supports, comforts, and is determined to triumph over every challenge and adversity.

Marriage is a partnership of two unique people who bring out the very best in each other and who know that even though they are wonderful as individuals… they are even better together.

How to Make and Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

December 27, 2022 By Paula Leave a Comment

A New Year’s Resolution is a promise that we make to ourselves.

As the year ends, many of us are thinking about how we can get 2023 off to a smashing start. The new year is the perfect time to get a fresh start. Seize the opportunity to change bad habits and establish new routines that will help you grow psychologically, emotionally, socially, physically, or intellectually.

The problem is, resolutions are much easier to make than to keep. With the best of intentions, we promise to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year. Too often by the end of March, many of us have lost our resolve and returned to our old patterns. If this is you, don’t worry, You’re not doomed to have unfinished resolutions forever. Picking a focused New Year’s resolution that’s both inspiring and manageable will have you more likely to check it off, come the end of the year.

Make only one resolution. You may be tempted with grandiose plans for self-improvement. But try to avoid creating a list crammed with lots of resolutions. It is better to focus on just one. That way, you can focus all your energy on achieving it. Plus, you won’t be disappointed when the end of the year comes and you haven’t checked off a bunch of resolutions on your list.

Focus on just one behavior. Your one resolution should address one behavior, not multiple behaviors. If you try to commit to eating healthy, exercising, and drinking plenty of water you’re more likely to get overwhelmed and quit. Instead, just focus on one of the three behaviors and you’re more likely to succeed.

Make your goal specific. The more vague goal is the more difficult it will be to achieve. Specific goals are more actionable and therefore more achievable.

Choose your resolution for the right reason. Make sure is something that you genuinely want to achieve. If it’s because you think it will benefit someone else or make someone envious you won’t be as likely to succeed as you will be if you pick a goal that means a lot to you. Before committing to a New Year’s resolution, ask yourself, “Why do I want to do this?”

Pick a meaningful resolution. Pick a resolution that makes you feel inspired, aligns with something that you are passionate about, or motivates you. And, you’ll be more motivated to do it. Some ideas are to join an art class, volunteer at a pet shelter, or take a class at a local school.

Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal says, “The best kind of resolution is one that has a “big why” – to create health, to reconnect with a personal passion, to strengthen an important relationship, to change your financial situation, to develop yourself in some way, or to contribute to others in some way. And then you pick a small action or change that reflects this big goal, to remind yourself of it and to help you take steps toward it.”

Choose a resolution that helps you grow as a person. A resolution that brings you closer to your ideal self will be easier for you to achieve. You don’t want to make to choose a resolution to make a huge transformation but one that focuses on a single action that will help you grow in some way and get you a little closer to who you want to be.

Choose a realistic resolution. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Make a list of potential obstacles. What day to day constraints might interfer with achieving your goal. Write them down. Then, assess if it’s still a realistic resolution. For example, if your resolution is to walk five miles everyday after work, consider your work schedule, the weather, other obligations that may interfer with doing it, and how likely you are to stay commited long term. A more realistic goal may be to commit to exercising for 15 or 30 minutes each day.

Break your resolution into smaller parts. Even if your resolution is specific and realistic, it might still be overwhelming. To make your resolution more manageable divide it into a series of smaller goals that are measurable. Say you want to finish something by the end of the year. Creating a subgoal to do one part of it each week and assess that progress every week. If you’ve done it, continue what you’re doing. If not, ask yourself why that happened. For example, if you want to lose weight, setting a goal of one pound per week is less daunting than losing 50 pounds. If you want to put your photos into albums, committing to doing a few pages a week is more likely to get done than being overwhelmed with hundreds or even thousands of pictures that you’ve stashed in a box for later.

Pick a resolution you haven’t attempted before. If you’ve tried a resolution in the past and failed, you may be setting yourself up for failure.

Stay Motivated. During the first few days of a resolution, you’ll probably feel confident and highly motivated. That’s because you haven’t really faced any real discomfort or temptation associated with changing your behavior. However, after the reality of dragging yourself out of bed at 6 a.m. to go for a run or suffering through the ill effects withdrawal sets in, your motivation may wane.

In these moments, remind yourself exactly why you are doing it. Write a list or think about why you are doing it, what do you have to gain by achieving your goal. Finding sources of inspiration can keep you going when times get tough. Don’t Give UP! Stay Focused On Your Goals With The Staying Motivated Tips In This Post.

Share your resolution with family and friends. They can be super helpful in making your resolution a real. They can hold you accountable, offer advice, and most importantly cheer you on!

You don’t have to start your resolution on New Year’s Day. You can start anytime. If you aren’t ready on the first you can start when you are, you don’t have to wait until the following New Year.

Some of the most common resolutions are:

Losing weight
Sticking to a healthier diet
Exercising regularly
Making better financial choices
Quitting smoking
Spending more time with family
To de-stress
To declutter

What is your New Year’s Resolution? Tell me in the comments below.

4 Must See Classic Holiday Family Films: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Elf, and The Polar Express

November 13, 2022 By Paula Leave a Comment

Four Warner Bros Classic Holiday Family Films, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, “A Christmas Story”, “Elf”, and “The Polar Express” are now available in individual Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs.

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
FOUR CLASSIC HOLIDAY FAMILY FILMS

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, A CHRISTMAS STORY, ELF, AND THE POLAR EXPRESS

ARE ALL AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)!

Burbank, Calif., November 1, 2022 – Four classic and beloved holiday family films – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Elf, and The Polar Express – will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on 11/1/22, it was announced today by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs will include an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with each feature film in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc with the feature films and pre-existing special features, and a Digital version of the feature films.

Ultra HD Blu-ray showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.

For the complete 4K Ultra HD experience with HDR, a 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR, an Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a high-speed HDMI (category 2) cable are required.

Although we have watched all four of these movies many times, I still look forward to watching them each year. Our children were raised on these classics so they bring back fond memories of evenings curled up on the couch with a room full of excited kids spread out on the floor at my feet. I feel that the images and sound on these DVDs are better than I remember them being years ago. Although we enjoyed all four classic holiday movies, thanks to Chevy Chase’s brilliant acting — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was my husband’s favorite of the four. While I preferred A Christmas Story — for its nostalgic look at the innocence of childhood stole my heart.

Keep reading to learn about all four of these wonderful movies. Christmas will be here before we know it and these classic holiday films will get you in the spirit for all the holiday cheer that’s soon to come!

About these classic holiday family films:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

A Christmas Story

Elf

The Polar Express

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

On 11/1/22, these four classic holiday family films — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Elf, and The Polar Express — in 4K UHD will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers and will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

BASICS

PRODUCT ERP

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Ultra HD Blu-ray $24.99

A Christmas Story Ultra HD Blu-ray $24.99

Elf Ultra HD Blu-ray $24.99

The Polar Express Ultra HD Blu-ray $24.99

Get All Four Movies in the Essential Holiday Collection for one low price on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and more.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

Run Time: 97 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Standard Street Date: 11/122

EST Street Date: 11/1/22

A Christmas Story

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

Run Time: 94 minutes

Rating: PG

EST Street Date: 11/1/22

Elf

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

Run Time: 97 minutes

Rating: PG

Standard Street Date: 11/122

EST Street Date: 11/1/22

The Polar Express

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

Run Time: 100 minutes

Rating: G

Standard Street Date: 11/122

EST Street Date: 11/1/22

THE CREDITS

About Warner Bros. Discovery

-wbhe-

* For the complete 4K Ultra HD experience with HDR, a 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR, an Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a high-speed HDMI (category 2) cable are required.

You can find these four Classic Holiday Films along with all the Holiday movies that Warner Bros. offers here.

13 Tips to Save Money on Halloween

October 9, 2022 By Paula Leave a Comment

With consumers returning to their pre-pandemic behaviors, we could see pre-pandemic numbers of revelers and spending this year. It’s a spooktacular time of year! A survey of more than 8,200 people by Prosper Insights & Analytics and the National Retail Federation found that nearly seven in 10 consumers are planning to celebrate Halloween this year. The NRF predicts that consumers will spend $10.6 billion on Halloween candy, outdoor decorations, costumes, pumpkin carving, attending or hosting a party this year, and other Halloween items.

Halloween expenses like candy, costumes, and decorations can quickly add up but you can save big on Halloween without sacrificing the spooky fun for kids of all ages with these tips.

13 Ways You Can Save On Halloween

1. Buy arts and craft supplies at the dollar store.

Visit dollar or other discount stores for great savings on some basic supplies for making your own decorations. Ready-made treat bags, party favors, and Halloween decorations can be used to make wreaths, centerpieces, yard decor, and other festive decorations.

2. Buy your Halloween candy from a warehouse club.

Getting your Halloween candy in bulk from a warehouse club can help you save money. Get a few bags of mixed candy to give your trick-or-treaters lots of options.

3. Shop at online party stores for Halloween decorations.

Whether you’re decorating for the season, a Halloween party, or your home for trick-or-treaters, check out the Halloween décor at online party stores for some great deals before spending your money at the big-box stores. Keep an eye out for coupons and online-only offers. Often party stores will offer discounts on bulk buys and run specials on Halloween items throughout the season.

4. Shop at bargain stores.

Stores, like Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, that carry overstock, surplus, and slightly damaged or irregular merchandise can be a bargain hunter’s paradise as they often have a large selection of holiday-themed merchandise. Many carry discounted Halloween costumes and accessories.

Don’t forget the thrift and charity stores. Thrift stores are the perfect place to find Halloween decor — from creepy old dolls and beautifully aged jars for lanterns to dusty baskets and so much more — that you can repurpose to make your very own Haunted House.

Save On Halloween With DIY

5. Make your own Halloween costumes.

There are all kinds of tutorials and tips for making Halloween costumes with inexpensive materials online. Visit Pinterest boards and posts from crafty bloggers to get inspiration. Buy items you can reuse in your everyday life, for next year’s Halloween, or that you can repurpose. My daughter’s favorite costume was Pippi Longstocking. And it was so affordable! I just braided her hair into two pigtails, ran a wire coat hanger through them, painted some freckles on with my eyeliner, and dressed her in some fun stripes.

Bonus Tip: Swap costumes Most of us wear our Halloween costumes once, maybe twice. So consider swapping with some of your closest friends and family members.

6. Dress up the foods you have on hand.

Check your fridge, freezer, pantry, and cupboards to see what creative Halloween recipes you can come up with. Wrap some dough strips around a hot dog to make mummy dogs, use pumpkins as bowls, turn deviled eggs into eyeballs with an olive slice and by making blood streaks with red food coloring. For more ideas check out 13 Fun & Easy Halloween Food Ideas – Eat, Drink, and Be Scary.

7. Find free activities near you.

Many of us don’t have room in our budget to host a Halloween party or hand out holiday candy this year. There are events that you can attend for some free Halloween fun. Check with your local churches, community centers, schools, museums, parks, and local businesses for offerings. You can also find events in your local newspaper and on the Facebook pages of local organizations. Often there will be several low-cost ways to celebrate Halloween.

8. Shop on November 1st for next year.

Once Halloween is over, many stores will be clearing out anything that didn’t sell. Now is the time to stock up on all the clearance items for next year. You can get discounts of up to 90%!!

9. Ask for price adjustments & save receipts.

Keep your receipts and if the price drops within a month+- of your purchase, many stores will give you the lower price. Since some stores have special rules on holiday items, they may not offer this on some items. But, it never hurts to ask! Sometimes stores won’t do price adjustments but will have you return and repurchase the item at the lower price. You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to shop! Starting on Oct. 6 if you purchase an item in-store or online on or before Dec. 24 and the price drops any lower at Target, you can request a price adjustment on your purchase. For a list of stores with price match or price adjustment policies visit Real Sophisticated Consumer.

10. Check local deal sites.

Ghost tours, haunted houses, and corn mazes can be expensive so check your local deal websites such as Groupon for discounted tickets to local events.

11. Decorate with items you have on hand.

Just like making spooky food from items that you already have, you can many Halloween decorations quickly and cheaply with items that are lying around your home. Make a giant yard spider out of black garbage bags, cobwebs from cotton balls, and tombstones from cardboard. Simply lighting a candle can add a perfect eerie glow and pouring your seasonal orange and yellow packaged candies (or M&Ms, candy corn, or jelly beans) into glass containers will add a pop of Halloween color to your home.

12. Wait to purchase your pumpkin.

Many stores sell pumpkins at deep discounts right before Halloween to clear out excess inventory before the big post-Halloween demand drop. By holding off until Halloween or a few days before to buy pumpkins your pumpkins, you could save some money. By carving the pumpkins on Halloween instead of earlier in the season when the pumpkins are more prone to rot, your jack-o-lantern will look its best for partygoers and trick-or-treaters. You could also use uncarved pumpkins for Thanksgiving decorations.

13. Avoid Halloween Pop-Up Shops

Pop-up shops and Halloween-themed stores are only open a few months each year and tend to be pretty expensive. After all, these places need to make a year’s revenue in just a few short months.

I hope these simple, but effective tips help you keep your budget intact. You don’t have to sacrifice a lot to have a budget-friendly Halloween. You just need to be resourceful and creative. By making a few simple changes you can save on your fun-filled Halloween!

Dog starring Channing Tatum is a hit. Don’t miss out, watch it today.

April 4, 2022 By Paula Leave a Comment

Sometimes it’s not us that saves the dog, it’s the dog that saves us. – @DogTheFilm

DOG

Starring Channing Tatum

ARRIVES ON DIGITAL, BLU-RAY AND DVD

FROM MGM AND WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Own it Early on Digital on April 19

Own it on Blu-ray™ & DVD on May 10

Burbank, CA, March 31 – Dog is a buddy comedy that follows the misadventures of two former Army Rangers paired against their will on the road trip of a lifetime. Army Ranger Briggs (Channing Tatum) and Lulu (a Belgian Malinois dog) buckle into a 1984 Ford Bronco and race down the Pacific Coast in hopes of making it to a fellow soldier’s funeral on time. Along the way, they’ll drive each other completely crazy, break a small handful of laws, narrowly evade death, and learn to let down their guards in order to have a fighting chance of finding happiness.

My Thoughts about Dog:

From the previews, I thought this was going to be a feel-good comedy – but no. Instead, it explored the darkness and struggles of PTSD and the fact that dogs experience trauma, too. A drama with a few laughs thrown in. Although it is rated PG-13, with its threesome scene, opioid seizure, and dog abuse this is not a movie for kids. Channing Tatum does deliver a great performance and sends you on an emotional journey. The wounds of combat run deep for both man and animal.

The film, arrives on Digital on April 19 from MGM and onto Blu-ray and DVD on May 10 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

From MGM in association with FilmNation Entertainment, Dog is directed by Reid Carolin & Channing Tatum in their directorial debut, from a screenplay by Carolin and story by Carolin and Brett Rodriguez. In addition to Tatum, the film stars Jane Adams (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”), Kevin Nash (“Magic Mike”), Q’orianka Kilcher (TV’s “Yellowstone”), Ethan Suplee (“Remember the Titans”), Emmy Raver-Lampman (TV’s “The Umbrella Academy”), and Nicole LaLiberte (TV’s “Dexter”). Gregory Jacobs, Peter Kiernan, and Brett Rodriguez are producers, with Betsy Danbury and Ken Meyer serving as executive producers.

Dog will be available on Digital on April 19 from MGM and on Blu-ray and DVD on May 10 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray disc features the film in hi-definition and the DVD features the film in standard definition.

BASICS

PRODUCT SRP

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital $34.98

DVD $29.98

DVD Languages: English: 5.1 Surround

BD Languages: English: 5.1 Surround

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish

Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for language, thematic elements, drug content, and some suggestive material

DVD: 5.1 Surround

Blu-ray: 5.1 Surround

THE CREDITS

About Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network EPIX, which is available throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco and digital distributors. In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms and interactive ventures and is producing premium short-form content for distribution. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video and digital distribution businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

-wbhe-

#DogMovie

KING RICHARD, based on the true story that will inspire the world!

January 3, 2022 By Paula Leave a Comment

King Richard, based on the true story of Venus and Serena Williams, is sure to inspire!

“A sterling reminder of Will Smith’s singular charge”

Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

King Richard

COMES HOME FROM

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Premium Digital Ownership

debuts early on January 4

4K, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on February 8

Burbank, CA, January 3 – Experience the true, inspiring story of two of the world’s greatest sports legends when “King Richard” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on January 4. The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green from a screenplay by Zach Baylin, and stars two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” the “Bad Boys” films), Aunjanue Ellis (“If Beale Street Could Talk,” TV’s “Quantico”), Saniyya Sidney (“Hidden Figures,” “Fences”), Demi Singleton (TV’s “Godfather of Harlem”), Tony Goldwyn (the “Divergent” series, TV’s “Scandal”) and Jon Bernthal (“The Many Saints of Newark,” “Ford v Ferrari”). The film will also be available on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD beginning on February 8.

The film was produced by Tim White, Trevor White, Smith, Isha Price, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Adam Merims, Lynn Harris, and Allan Mandelbaum, with Jon Mone and Peter Dodd executive producing. The film also stars Andy Bean (“IT Chapter Two”), Kevin Dunn (the “Transformers” films, TV’s “Veep”), and Craig Tate (“Greyhound”).

On January 4, “King Richard” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies.
On February 8, “King Richard” will be available on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD. “King Richard” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

“King Richard” will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

SYNOPSIS

Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams (Will Smith) is determined to write his daughters, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton), into history. Training on Compton, California’s abandoned tennis courts – rain or shine – the girls are shaped by their father’s unyielding commitment and their mother’s (Aunjanue Ellis) balanced perspective and keen intuition, defying the seemingly insurmountable odds and prevailing expectations laid before them.

Based on the true story that will inspire the world, “King Richard” follows the uplifting journey of a family whose unwavering resolve and unconditional belief ultimately delivers two of the world’s greatest sports legends.

REVIEW

What a grand story of a parent going above and beyond to see that their children succeed. This is so much more than a movie about sports. King Richard tells the story of tennis superstars, Venus and Serena Williams, by focusing on their father and trainer Richard. Serena and Venus’ dad is a man with a plan, who will not allow his daughters to fail. We found that all the characters in “King Richard” were well-rounded and beautifully executed by each actor/actress. Will Smith sure delivered an exceptional performance in this inspirational movie!

4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

“King Richard” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

Following the Plan – The Making of King Richard
Becoming Richard
Champions on Screen
Deleted Scenes

“King Richard” DVD contains the following special feature:

Following the Plan – The Making of King Richard

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE

Movies Anywhere is a digital movie platform that enables movie fans to discover, access, and watch their favorite digital movies in one place. Movies Anywhere brings together a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros., and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. By connecting participating digital retailers that include Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu, movie fans can now bring together their digital movie collections (whether purchased or redeemed) in one place and enjoy them from the comfort of their living rooms, and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Movie fans can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere. Movies Anywhere – your movies, together at last.

ABOUT DIGITAL

*Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets, and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.

BASICS

PRODUCT MSRP

4K UHD Combo Pack $44.98

Blu-ray $34.98

DVD $29.98

Digital Ownership: January 4, 2022

PVOD: January 4, 2022

4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: February 8, 2022

DVD Languages: English, English-ADS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese

BD Languages: English, English-ADS, English ATMOS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese

4K Languages: English, English-ADS, English ATMOS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Parisian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese, Korean, Complex Chinese

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Parisian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish

4K Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Parisian French, Cantonese, Complex Chinese, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish

Running Time: 138 minutes

Rating: Rated PG-13 for some violence, strong language, a sexual reference, and brief drug references

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD

4K: ATMOS TrueHD

THE CREDITS

About “King Richard”

The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green from a screenplay by Zach Baylin, produced by Tim White, Trevor White, Smith, Isha Price, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Adam Merims, Lynn Harris, and Allan Mandelbaum, with Jon Mone and Peter Dodd executive producing.

The ensemble stars two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” the “Bad Boys” films), Aunjanue Ellis (“If Beale Street Could Talk,” TV’s “Quantico”), Saniyya Sidney (“Hidden Figures,” “Fences”), Demi Singleton (TV’s “Godfather of Harlem”), Tony Goldwyn (the “Divergent” series, TV’s “Scandal”) and Jon Bernthal (“The Many Saints of Newark,” “Ford v Ferrari”), alongside Andy Bean (“IT Chapter Two”), Kevin Dunn (the “Transformers” films, TV’s “Veep”) and Craig Tate (“Greyhound”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, A Star Thrower Entertainment Production, A Westbrook Production, A Keepin’ It Reel Production, “King Richard.”

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.

-wbhe-

#KingRichard

Tootsie Roll Premium Hot Cocoa Giveaway ~ Closed

December 12, 2021 By Paula 19 Comments

Welcome to the Tootsie Roll Premium Hot Cocoa Giveaway!

One Winner Will Receive A Box Of Tootsie Premium Roll Hot Cocoa

This giveaway is part of our Holiday Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

YOUR GIVEAWAY HOST IS SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS

A Rain of Thought, Eclectic Evelyn, Golden Goose Giveaways, The Stuff of Success, Versatileer

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This giveaway’s sponsor is:

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Tootsie Roll Hot Cocoa

1 Winner will receive a 40-count box of Tootsie Roll Premium Hot Cocoa

As America’s favorite chewy chocolate candy, the Tootsie Roll has remained unchanged since it was first introduced in New York City in 1896. Now, you can enjoy the perfectly balanced cocoa taste, lined with subtle fruit-flavored undertones, as steaming hot cups of delicious hot cocoa.

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THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway/sweepstake is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/25/21. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to paula_stewart at ymail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase is necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for the shipping of the above prize. No blog associated with this contest is responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Paula Stewart at paula_stewart (at) ymail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

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More great giveaways located on my right sidebar!

So be sure to enter TODAY if you would like lots of chances to WIN!

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Sweet Southern Savings please contact us HERE.

Thank You For Visiting Today!
~ Please Leave Us A Comment Below or on our Facebook Page ~

Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa Giveaway ~ Closed

December 12, 2021 By Paula 8 Comments

Welcome to the Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa Giveaway!

One Winner Will Receive A Box Of Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa

This giveaway is part of our Holiday Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

YOUR GIVEAWAY HOST IS SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS

A Rain of Thought, Eclectic Evelyn, Golden Goose Giveaways, The Stuff of Success, Versatileer

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This giveaway’s sponsor is:

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Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa

1 Winner will receive a 40-count box of Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa

Craving the flavors of smooth peppermint and indulgent dark chocolate in one warm and comforting cup? Now, your taste buds don’t have to choose. Cool, refreshing mint meets rich, luscious dark chocolate in the hot cocoa take on America’s favorite chocolate covered creamy mint.

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THE GIVEAWAY

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More great giveaways located on my right sidebar!

So be sure to enter TODAY if you would like lots of chances to WIN!

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Sweet Southern Savings please contact us HERE.

Thank You For Visiting Today!
~ Please Leave Us A Comment Below or on our Facebook Page ~

Cella’s Chocolate Cherry Flavored Coffee Giveaway ~ Closed

December 12, 2021 By Paula 19 Comments

Welcome to the Cella’s Chocolate Cherry Flavored Coffee Giveaway!

One Winner Will Receive A Bag Of Cella’s Chocolate Cherry Flavored Coffee

This giveaway is part of our Holiday Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

YOUR GIVEAWAY HOST IS SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS

A Rain of Thought, Eclectic Evelyn, Golden Goose Giveaways, The Stuff of Success, Versatileer

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This giveaway’s sponsor is:

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Cella’s Chocolate Cherry Flavored Coffee

1 Winner will receive a 12-ounce bag of Cella’s Chocolate Cherry Flavored Ground Coffee

Mix a juicy, ripe cherry wrapped in a silky layer of premium chocolate with smooth coffee made from 100% premium arabica coffee beans and you’ve got one supremely satisfying cup of coffee, sip after delicious sip.

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THE GIVEAWAY

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More great giveaways located on my right sidebar!

So be sure to enter TODAY if you would like lots of chances to WIN!

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Sweet Southern Savings please contact us HERE.

Thank You For Visiting Today!
~ Please Leave Us A Comment Below or on our Facebook Page ~

Andes Mint Chocolate Flavored Coffee Giveaway ~ Closed

December 12, 2021 By Paula 16 Comments

Welcome to the Andes Mint Chocolate Holiday Coffee Giveaway!

One Winner Will Receive A Bag Of Andes Mint Chocolate Flavored Coffee

This giveaway is part of our Holiday Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

YOUR GIVEAWAY HOST IS SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS

A Rain of Thought, Eclectic Evelyn, Golden Goose Giveaways, The Stuff of Success, Versatileer

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This giveaway’s sponsor is:

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Andes Mint Chocolate Flavored Coffee

1 Winner will receive a 12-ounce bag of Andes Mint Chocolate Flavored Ground Coffee

Two Rivers Coffee brings you two classic after-dinner treats blended together in one delicious minty-chocolate beverage. With the fresh, cool flavor of Andes Mints combined with the rich bold taste of coffee, your taste buds are sure to feel the holiday spirit.

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THE GIVEAWAY

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More great giveaways located on my right sidebar!

So be sure to enter TODAY if you would like lots of chances to WIN!

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Sweet Southern Savings please contact us HERE.

Thank You For Visiting Today!
~ Please Leave Us A Comment Below or on our Facebook Page ~

Holiday Coffee Time! Cella’s Chocolate Covered Cherries and Andes Mint Chocolate Coffee

December 1, 2021 By Paula 12 Comments

Just In Time For Your Holiday Coffee
Two Holiday Favorites Now Comes In Ground Bag Coffee!

The same delicious coffee that coffee pod users have been in love with for years is now available in a bag! Each 12-ounce bag is crafted with pride in the USA. These limited edition candy-flavored coffees are great to give as gifts or keep them all to yourself.

Cella’s Chocolate Covered Cherry Coffee

Giving and receiving a box of chocolate-covered cherries has been a Christmas tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. Juicy cherries, sweet liquefied sugar, and creamy chocolate; combined to make this beloved sweet treat. An indulgence, that we treat ourselves to once a year. Once that box was gone we had to wait until next year for their fruity, chocolatey goodness to cross our lips again. Then, Cella’s Chocolate Covered Cherry Coffee came into my life! This smooth rich coffee is infused with a hint of the chocolate and cherry goodness that we all love so much. Forget the doughnuts, this coffee tastes like you’ve dunked a chocolate-covered cherry into your cup!

Andes Mint Chocolate Coffee

No need to muddle mint leaves to get the crisp cool taste of a great cup of iced mint coffee! Just brew up some of this rich Andes Mint Chocolate Coffee that is flavored with a hint of chocolate and minty goodness. Then, pour it over ice. Nine out of ten snowmen agree. And, they used the tenth one to make their iced coffee! If you love a good quality flavored coffee leaves you refreshed and satisfied! REJOICE and can grab a bag today!

As always, Two Rivers Coffee uses only premium Arabica coffee beans for these coffees. We enjoy the great taste that comes from their small-batch roasted coffee beans. And, they have blended each with just the right amount of flavor to give you a perfect cup of coffee.

This Holiday coffee time post was brought to you by:

Want these in single-serve pods? Check out these Andes Chocolate Mint and Cella’s Chocolate Cherry Flavored Coffee posts.

The wines we tried at our Tipxy Wine Tasting Party

November 27, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

We brought together our favorite people for an amazing wine tasting party, complete with food, fun, and, of course, great wine!

Tipxy Wine Tasting Party #Tipxy #TipxyParty

Quatre C 2018 by Domaine de Papolle

The first of the six wines at our wine tasting that I would like to introduce you to is a Domaine de Papolle white wine. This French wine was one of my favorites. At first, you taste a hint of sweetness followed by a punch of citrus at the end. Although flavorful, it was the least aromatic of all the wines we tasted.

TASTING NOTES: Clear and bright, with a light pale yellow color on grey golden reflections. The 1st nose is intense with a hint of citrus fruits such as orange, Chinese grapefruit, slightly floral. It is clear and round, almost sweet. Agitation reveals mango and yellow kiwi aromas. Bright, tonic, and clear foretaste. The tasting is then really aromatic with a hint of lemon sorbet and mango. Fresh and festive, this wine can be served as well as an aperitif or as a complement to shellfish, fish, white meats, and cheeses (hard cheeses with character or goat cheese).

ABV 11.50%
Country: France
Region: Cotês de Gascogne

Finca Las Cabras Crianza Red Wine by Cuna de Reyes

This was the second of the two red wines at our wine tasting. This red wine by Cuna de Reyes is from 30+ year-old vineyards in the Rioja Alta region of Spain. This is one of the smoothest red wines I’ve ever tasted. Your nose is tempted with a hint of the barrels in which the wine was stored. And, then as you take your first sip, your palate is pleased with the sweet and smooth taste of this light-bodied wine.

TASTING NOTES: Ruby red with garnet hues and medium depth of color. Intense aromas of dark cherry with tobacco and wood notes. A fresh profile with hints of balsamic, incense, cinnamon, and liquorice. Elegant mouthfeel with fresh acidity, great structure, and fruit expression. Persistent length and saline finish reflecting the soil of the vineyard. This wine pairs well with lamb. And, all kinds of red and white meats, poultry, stews, cheeses, and vegetables.

ABV 13.50%
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja Alta

Tinto Garnacha/Tempranillo 2017 by Conde de Artoiz

This bold red wine from Spain has notes of exotic flowers and ripe fruits like red berries and cherry. I found that this wine by Conde de Artoiz has the soft tannins of a mature wine giving a pleasurable mouthfeel. It is a treat for both the nose and palate.

TASTING NOTES: Clean and bright with an intense ruby red color. Well balanced, alive, ample, and fresh aromas. Potent notes of red fruit and soft tannins. As with many red wines, this one also pairs well with lamb.

ABV 13.50%
Country: Spain
Region: Navarra

Verdejo Selección Especial 2018 by Bodegas Mocén

This Bodegas Mocén white wine has an intense earthy smell followed by those of tree fruits like citrus and stone fruits. I found it to be slightly astringent making it just a bit more dry than sweet.

TASTING NOTES: A crisp and vibrant wine with hints of peach, baked apple, cut grass, and fennel. Perfect matching for fish, seafood, or white meats.

ABV: 13.00%
Country: Spain
Region: Rueda

Bestie Bubbly Rose’ by Andrea Maria Wines

This fruity wine from Andrea Maria Wines is made right here in the USA. This sparkling wine has a nice balance of sweetness and acidity with neither one being overpowering. It was the first bottle that was emptied as it was a favorite of three of the people at the wine tasting.

TASTING NOTES: Light and fruity with a refreshing dry champagne finish. It’s appealing to both sweet and dry wine drinkers making it the perfect bottle to share. Pairs well with meaty and oily fish.

ABV: 11.50%
Country: United States
Region: Lodi, CA

Bestie Bubbly Moscato by Andrea Maria Wines

I found this naturally fermented sparkling Moscato by Andrea Maria Wines to be a light and refreshing wine. Made from Muscat grapes this white wine is more sweet than dry and has a mixture of fruit and floral notes.

TASTING NOTES: A full grape Moscato flavor with floral aromas, and sweet light flavors of peach, apricot, and melon. It’s an exceptionally light and refreshing Moscato. It pairs well with spicy food, white fish, cheese, fruit, and desserts.

ABV: 11.50%
Country: United States
Region: Lodi, CA

What are the 5 S’s of wine tasting? (see, swirl, sniff, sip, and savor)

What is your favorite wine?

What are the ideal temperatures to serve wine? Sparkling 40 – 55° White 45 – 60° Red 50 – 64°
What are wine legs? They are the tear-shaped drops and streaks that appear on the sides of a glass when you swirl the wine around or after you’ve taken a sip.

Peter Jackson’s Middle-Earth 6 Film Ultimate Collector’s Edition

November 26, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

If you have a Tolkien fan on your gift list, this 6-Film Ultimate Collector’s Edition Middle-Earth set is a sure winner!

Released just in time for the holidays, this Middle-Earth Ultimate Collector’s Edition comes in a “puzzle box” so that you can display it in several different configurations. In this set, you’ll find the theatrical and extended versions of all six films on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs, a disc of bonus content, and some nice swag in the form of seven two-sided travel poster cards (one for each movie, plus exclusive “Rivendell” card) and a 64-page booklet with stunning graphics. Also, included are codes for digital copies of all six middle-earth films.

Some of the older extras from previous releases are missing, but with 31 discs of content in this set, there is plenty to keep Tolkien fans busy. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released in theaters. From rolling hillsides to a stunning gold ring these newly remastered films take full advantage of HDR.

This special presentation of LOTR and Hobbit content is perfect for those who have not already purchased the prior 4k versions on Blu-Ray or DVD. If you haven’t seen Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit in 4K, you’re missing out. The stunning detail of all the images on all six films have great contrast and are very crisp and clean.

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

ANNOUNCES PETER JACKSON’S

MIDDLE-EARTH

ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION

31-Disc Set features the theatrical and extended versions of the six Middle-earth films in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and on remastered Bu-ray.

The Middle-Earth Ultimate Collectors’ Edition also includes Bonus Content never before released for Home Entertainment, collectible packaging, art cards, and more!

BURBANK, CA, September 9, 2021 – Celebrate 20 years of adventure and friendship as Warner Bros. releases the Middle-Earth Ultimate Collector’s Edition, timed to the 20^th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The 31-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition of Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth saga contains new special features along with the theatrical and extended versions of all six films in 4K Ultra HD and on Blu-ray discs remastered from the 4K master. This Ultimate Collector’s Edition was be released on October 26.

The Ultimate Collector’s Edition includes the theatrical and extended versions of the six films from New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures in 4K UHD with HDR – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Ultimate Collector’s Edition comes in unique “Puzzle Box” collectible packaging and includes a 64-page booklet featuring costumes, photography and production notes from the film, and art cards featuring travel posters and images from iconic locations throughout Middle-earth including The Shire, Lake-Town, Erebor, Anduin, Rohan, Minas Trith, and Rivendell.

Also included are the original Cannes Film Festival presentation reel, and footage from the recent Alamo Drafthouse cast reunion featuring director Peter Jackson along with cast members Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Ian McKellan, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortenson, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, and Elijah Wood.

The Hobbit Trilogy An Unexpected Journey The Desolation of Smaug The Battle of the Five Armies

The Hobbit Trilogy

An Unexpected Journey

The Desolation of Smaug

The Battle of the Five Armies

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Two Towers

The Return of the King

4K Ultra HD** showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, and more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before. The remastering process was overseen by Peter Jackson.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King will feature Dolby Vision^TM HDR that dramatically expands the color palette and contrast range and uses dynamic metadata to automatically optimize the picture for every screen, frame by frame.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs will also feature a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar. Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.

Middle-Earth Ultimate Collector’s Edition contains the following special features:

Cannes Film Festival Presentation Reel
Alamo Drafthouse Cast Reunion
“The Fellowship of the Ring” – RT: 39:38

(with Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin and Elijah Wood)

“The Two Towers” – RT: 32:24

(with Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler and Viggo Mortenson)

“The Return of the King” – RT: 29:48

(with Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, and Peter Jackson)

This 31-disk Ultimate Collector’s Edition which was released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc. on October 26, 2021, has a SRP of $249.99.

— Check out our archives for more WBHE movies.

Kiki & Anna Muslin Swaddle Blankets

November 26, 2021 By Paula 1 Comment

Perfect Gift For Moms-to-Be and New Babies, this adorable Kiki & Anna Muslin Swaddle Blankets Set includes 3 swaddle blankets + 1 security blanket.

About this swaddle blankets set:

[3 swaddle blankets + 1 security blanket]–3 baby swaddle blankets, with a security blanket, providing babies with comfort and security of mother’s arms, helping babies fall asleep quickly.
[Breathable, Soft, and Skin-Friendly]–These blankets are made of 100% cotton, so the fabric is as light and soft as clouds.
[Large in Size and Multi-Purpose]– The size of “47X47” is large enough to easily wrap babies ranging from newborns to toddlers. When the weather turns cooler, it can be folded and be thicker to keep warm.
[High-Quality Crafts]–Using crude and high-quality raw materials–bamboo fiber which improves flexibility, and cotton fiber which maintains durability. The use of exquisite double-layer weaving technology on the sides achieves a high-quality baby swaddle blanket.

I am excited to use these are high-quality blankets for our new grandson who will be here on December 23rd. Unlike many of the blankets found in our local stores, these do not have any chemical smell. They are similar to the ones I used to use to keep my children warm and secure feeling many years ago. I appreciate that they are made from 100% cotton. Like all cotton items, they will shrink when they are dried. But, since they are larger than many swaddle blankets even with shrinking they will be large enough to wrap him up snug as a bug until he is walking and beyond.

The small security blanket that came with this set is adorable and I believe that he may have to fight his two older sisters for it. Like the three swaddle blankets, it is soft and well-made. I am pleased with the overall value of this set and would recommend it with confidence to friends and family.

Tootsie Roll Hot Cocoa – Put This Iconic Candy In Your Cup!

November 15, 2021 By Paula 21 Comments

Tootsie Roll Hot Cocoa

Creamy Hot Chocolate That’ll Make Fall In Love With This Delicious Candy All Over Again!

Who would like to have a bit of candy in their cup? I have a few favorites when it comes to hot cocoa and the chocolaty goodness that these Tootsie Roll Premium Hot Cocoas deliver are among them. This velvety hot chocolate is made with real cocoa giving you a perfectly smooth and decadent hot cocoa. For a special surprise grab a bag of these candies and drop one in your cup for an extra treat when you get to the bottom.

The Ultimate Single Serve Hot Cocoa Experience!

While cocoa is a wintertime staple in many homes, around my house it’s a must all year. Yes, even when it’s a hundred degrees outside! We love to turn it into popsicles for a cold summer treat and sometimes we even turn the AC way down, pretend it’s cold outside, and enjoy having a cup with a few miniature marshmallows on top. Be sure to check out this fun hot chocolate craft for your kids! And, you’d never forgive me if I didn’t mention the amazing Impossible Hot Chocolate Pie Recipe. YUMMM!

Sugar Babies, Tootsie Roll, Junior Mint, and Charleston Chew Hot Cocoa

Candy Flavored Cocoas – This line of creamy hot cocoas, based on iconic candy flavors, come in single-serve cups so you can enjoy each of them, one hot and delicious cup at a time.

Made with premium cocoa
Taste based on iconic candy
Creamy hot chocolate flavor
Made for use in single-serve brewer

Cup Of Creamy Hot Chocolate With Snowman Marshmallow

Go ahead! Grab a good book, a cozy blanket, your favorite mug filled with this yummy Hot Cocoa, and ENJOY!

Beef Jerky Flowers Manly Man Bouquet Giveaway ~ Closed

October 1, 2021 By Paula 32 Comments

Broquets Are The Perfect Manly Gift! Made from beef jerky, beef sticks, and yes even bacon, these masculine arrangements arrive fully assembled in a custom-branded box, ready to be given to that special man in your life. #FathersDay #Christmas #Birthday #GiftIdea

Manly Man bouquets are the perfect flowers for men.

Made from beef jerky, beef sticks, and yes even bacon, these masculine arrangements arrive fully assembled in a custom-branded box and sealed with oxygen absorbers to remain fresh unopened.

Learn more about this prize.

How would you like a chance to win a broquet from the Manly Man Company for FREE? If you said YES! You’re in luck! Thanks to this awesome sponsor, ONE lucky reader will win a Beef Jerky Flower Bouquet valued at $89 retail. Just enter the giveaway on the widget below for your chance to win. Remember the more entries you do the better your chances are to win!

Who’s ready to win some yummy goodness?

Welcome to the
Beef Jerky Flowers Manly Man Bouquet Giveaway

Dates: October 1, 2021, at 9 am EST through November 1, 2021, at 11:59 pm EST

Prize: One lucky reader will win a bouquet in a pint glass “vase” that contains a full dozen flowers made from beef jerky and beef sticks. The retail value of this prize is $89!

Hosted By Sweet Southern Savings

Loving great creative and delicious gift ideas, we are thrilled to have partnered with Manly Man Co. to bring you this giveaway. Be sure to stop by our review to see what we thought of the broquet we received.

THE SUICIDE SQUAD – Violent, Gory, Funny ALL IN ONE

September 26, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

The most degenerate delinquents in the DC lineup have
come home to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment!

The Suicide Squad

is on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD!

SYNOPSIS

Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin, and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.

REVIEW

The plot of this release is that worst of the worst, a team of dangerous, incarcerated supervillains are assembled for a top-secret mission. Arm them and let them loose on the enemy. With lots of action and over-the-top graphics, this movie was a nice change of pace from the docudramas that we normally watch. Marcus and both found its perverse sense of humor funny. If you’re easily offended, this isn’t for you. But if you are looking for a comic book come to life movie that is extremely graphic, with over-the-top comic book-style violence, blood, gore, death, explosions, brutal killings, etc. you’ll enjoy The Suicide Squad. While we enjoyed this gory action-comedy it is too mature for our teenage grandson who had been asking to watch it.

Witness the collection of the most degenerate delinquents in the DC lineup when “The Suicide Squad” comes home to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. #TheSuicideSquad #WBHE #DVD #PressRelease #DCFanDome

“Warner Bros. has revealed some new character posters for The Suicide Squad. The set of posters came along with the movie’s first trailer. This time around, Task Force X is much larger. And, as the posters promise, viewers shouldn’t get too attached to anyone member of the team. People are going to die. Blood will be spilled. Have a look.” – Daily Superheros

BASICS

PRODUCT SRP

4K UHD Combo Pack $49.98

Blu-ray $39.98

DVD $34.98

Running Time: 132 minutes

Rating: Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use, and brief graphic nudity.

4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

“The Suicide Squad” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

Gag Reel
Gotta Love the Squad
The Way of The Gunn
It’s a Suicide Mission Scene Breakdown
My Guns Bigger Than Yours Scene Breakdown
Harley’s Great Escape Scene Breakdown
The Fall of Jotunheim Scene Breakdown
Starro: It’s a Freakin Kaiju!
Bringing King Shark To Life
War Movie Retro Trailer
Horror Movie Retro Trailer
Buddy-Cop Retro Trailer
Directors Commentary by Director/Writer James Gunn
Deleted & Extended Scenes

“The Suicide Squad” DVD contains the following special feature:

The Way of The Gunn

THE CREDITS

About “The Suicide Squad”

The film is directed by James Gunn (the “Guardian of Galaxy” films) from his own screenplay and produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, Nikolas Korda, and Richard Suckle executive producing.

The ensemble stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” “Bumblebee”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise), Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” BBC’s “Doctor Who” ), David Dastmalchian (upcoming “Dune,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Joaquín Cosio (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” TV’s “Narcos: Mexico”), Juan Diego Botto (“The Europeans”), Storm Reid (“The Invisible Man,” “A Wrinkle in Time”, “Euphoria”), Nathan Fillion (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” TV’s “The Rookie”), Steve Agee (“Brightburn,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), Sean Gunn (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, the “Avengers” films), Mayling Ng (“Wonder Woman”), Flula Borg (“Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Jennifer Holland (“Brightburn,” upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker”) and Tinashe Kajese (TV’s “Valor,” “The Inspectors”), with Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky,” “Rambo” and “Expendables” franchises), and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Suicide Squad”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents an Atlas Entertainment/Peter Safran Production, a James Gunn Film, “The Suicide Squad.”

CHECK OUT MORE FROM DC COMICS LINEUP ON SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS

Toddler T-Ball Set

September 23, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

This Toddler T-Ball Set is perfect for your budding all-star!

Ball toys like this Toddler T-Ball Set are a great way to build confidence and get your kids excited as they learn sports. Whether they will be playing softball or baseball, T-ball usually comes first. Getting them ready by teaching them how to hit it off the tee has been a long tradition for many families.

Why Choose The EagleStone Toddler T-Ball Set?

This T-ball set is made up of top-quality non-toxic material.
The oversized bat in this lightweight set is easy for little ones to hold and swing.
EagleStone’s beginning Tee-ball set includes an adjustable height “T” that adapts to a child’s developing skills and height.
They provide you with SIX oversized balls so that you can have more fun before you have to collect your baseballs!
Designed for quick taking apart and storing. It is storage-friendly and takes up very limited space in your kid’s room! In fact, this T-Ball Game Set features a special “hang-on-the-wall” design!
Simply store all the toy set contents in the provided case and take it with you everywhere you go.
Not only will this baseball toy set improve your boy or girl’s batting skills, but it will also help them master their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination!

A Great T-Ball Set for Toddlers

This is a basic T-ball set that has two height adjustments so it can grow with your child. I would have liked to see the threads extend further up each piece so that we could have a little more flexibility in the height. One of the things that we love is that this set came with six balls for them to play with. With six balls my grandchildren can keep batting longer, before having to run collect their balls. As an added benefit of getting them outside running and playing, they will burn off some of that extra energy they have stored up. Wearing themselves out while having fun and learning to hit a ball is a WIN-WIN in my book.

The bat is a good size for little hands. The quality is as expected and it is lightweight so that relieves some of the worries about the two of them getting hurt while fighting over who’s turn it is. I mean playing and sharing; like we know all toddlers do so well. 🙂

Ball toys like this Toddler T-Ball Set are a great way to build confidence and get your kids excited as they learn sports. #sports #getoutside #toddler

Everything is convenient.

With so many toys in their toybox, this set having a “hang-on-the-wall” design for easy storage is awesome! When it’s time to play we just have to grab the bag of balls, take the rest of the set off the wall, and we’re playing in a matter of minutes.

Although many sellers of t-ball sets mention using these sets indoors, I would caution against it. You’d be surprised at how much damage a toddler with a plastic ball and bat can do to your television set and windows.

Overall, we are very pleased with this toddler t-ball set and would recommend it for anyone who would like to introduce their toddler to sports.

Sponsor Information for our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

September 20, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

We would like to welcome you to the
2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Sponsor Information Page

December is a Month of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations.

It’s a time that we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day, or maybe even celebrate St. Lucia Day. Long ago, many in the world decreed that the end of the calendar year should be a time to give people gifts. Some partake in this tradition with Christmas gifts, or gifts for Hannukah, Festivus, or even St. Stephen’s Day (December 26th aka Boxing Day, a day dedicated to filling boxes to give as gifts to others).

When our readers are looking for the perfect gift this holiday season we want them to find your product on our Holiday Gift Guide!

The 2021 Holiday Gift Guide Starts November 1st

LET US PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS TODAY!

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU?

We have a network of bloggers that you can choose from to work with.
The gift guide is featured on all of the blogs involved.
You can feature your products or have us run a giveaway to get your product more attention.
Giveaways are promoted by up to 20 bloggers.
We share reviews on our social media and we share other bloggers’ reviews from the guide, not all bloggers involved.
We promote your product at least 3 times per week until the end of the guide – Chosen Blogger only

BELOW ARE THE PACKAGES OFFERED WITH EACH GIFT GUIDE.

All Bloggers will be posting and promoting the Gift Guide.

Feature Package – A review or write-up about your product/service with the blogger of your choice. The review will be shared a minimum of 3 times per week by the chosen blogger on various social media. This is posted in the correct section of the gift guide. ($100 for first product, $50 for additional products)
Giveaway Package – Includes Feature Package and a 3-week giveaway. This will be posted and shared by up to 40 blogs. You can have more than 1 winner of the same item. This is your product only. ($200 for first product, $100 for each additional with separate giveaway, $50 for additional items added to original giveaway)
Add on only – Multi-sponsors giveaway with packages of products given away to 3 – 4 winners depending on the total package value. Product picture, company name, and social media are all linked on giveaway post and on the entry form. Product name linked to where to purchase and a link to review also on the giveaway post. No Charge must choose either 1 or 2 to do this one.

11/1 – 12/25 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Our sponsors get amazing coverage for their products and services when they partner with us. We would love to invite you to be a part of our event. Ready to get started? Email us HERE to reserve your spot.

Take a look at the blogs you can work with! This will be getting longer as we get Bloggers signing up!

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR 2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK.

OUR 2021 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS ALSO UP AND READY FOR US TO ADD YOUR PRODUCT.

Feel free to email me at paula_stewart@ymail.com to get started or with any questions or comments you may have! We are looking forward to working with you.

The Heat Is On! Seven Tips To Cool Your Home

September 16, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

Hottest Summer On Record

In just one day last month, the US had more than 170 million people under heat advisories; 50 million of them under excessive heat warnings. This summer much of the US endured sweltering temperatures as the temperature around the continental US rose. Many faced maximum heat indexes (“feels like” temperature) of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. There wasn’t any relief at night, as temperatures in many places didn’t drop below 75. NOAA says that this summer was hotter than the Dust Bowl summer of 1936. Making the period from June through August this year, the hottest on record in the United States. Heatwaves are going to keep coming and, according to CNN, they’re getting hotter because of the climate crisis.

To find the Heat Index temperature, use the NWS Heat Index Chart above. An example, is the air temperature is 96°F and the relative humidity is 65%, the heat index–how hot it feels–is 121°F.

The Heat Is On!

If you were one of the unfortunate people who found yourself running your cooling system constantly and still not able to keep the house comfortable, the fact that temperatures won’t be as high as they were in the previous few months doesn’t mean that you don’t need to find ways to reduce your energy costs. If you found parts of your house unbearably hot or nearly had a stroke when you opened your light bill, you need to find a solution.

Seven Tips To Cool Your Home:

Often the problem largely lies with your windows allowing the sun’s harsh rays to heat up your house. A cost-effective and easy fix is to use a solar screen on your windows. Custom Textilene® 80% Solar Screens have a uniform weave design which provide superior outward visibility and ventilation, allowing you to effectively block out the sun’s heat. Plus, they’re attractive. For rooms that need some daylight but a serious decrease in heat, these solar screens are a great option.

A more labor-intensive solution is to paint your roof white. Allowing your entire roof to reflect heat can be a very efficient way to keep your home cooler. An experiment found that buildings with white roofs were an average of 25℉ cooler inside than other buildings with darker roofs. White roofs can even help reduce the temperature of a whole city!

An inexpensive solution is to seal all air leaks. Sealing up any cracks and crevices around windows and doors can be very effective at reducing air loss. Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment. A low-expansion spray foam sealant may be needed on larger gaps.

Just like sealing air leaks works to prevent both warm and cool air from escaping from your home, so will installing new insulation in your walls, ceilings, and attic space.

Remember to use your dishwasher, oven, washer, dryer, and other large appliances at night to reduce the strain on the energy grid and help keep your place cooler.

Plant trees and shrubs to add shade to your ac unit and the sunniest side of your home. For most, the south side of the house receives the most sun.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with newer more energy-efficient CFL or LED ones. Not only do they use less energy they also produce less heat, keeping your home cooler at night.

Taking the steps listed above, most of which can be done without professional installation, can help you stay cool when the heat is on!

The Heat Is On! Seven Tips To Cool Your Home: Taking these 7 steps, most of which can be done without professional installation, can help you stay cool when the heat is on! #SolarScreen #HeatAdvisory #Home

Broquet?! Jerky Bouquets Are The Perfect Manly Gift!

September 15, 2021 By Paula 57 Comments

What is a Broquet?

Man bouquets that are the perfect flowers for men.

In this case, we are referring to a combination of the words bouquet + bro (broquet, pronounced “bro-kay”), not the word for nozzle in the Catalan language. Made from beef jerky, beef sticks, and yes even bacon, these masculine arrangements arrive fully assembled in a custom-branded box and sealed with oxygen absorbers to remain fresh unopened.

A full dozen!! This bouquet’s “vase” is a Manly Man pint glass. The petals of the flowers are made with 100% beef. And, the flower stems are made from their beef sticks which are a mouthwatering blend of beef, pork, and spices.

I’ve been lucky in the gift department and have been able to select several amazing gifts for my man that he loved. Over the years he’s received a guitar, artwork, all kinds of electronics, fishing gear, a K-Bar, and other USMC memorabilia but with each new occasion, I struggle to come up with something that I know he’ll love and appreciate. I don’t know why, but men are so much harder to buy for than women. It seems either don’t want or need anything or what they do want is so expensive that it’s nearly impossible for most of us to afford it.

Well, they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And, recently I put that to the test when I gave this Manly Man broquet so my sweetheart of a man. This carnivore of great taste was shocked to find meat flowers staring back at him in the box! I think he was expecting tools so that he could do more work around the house. LOL

Thanks to the custom box, shrink wrap, and support disk Marcus’ meat bouquet arrived in perfect condition. He was kind enough to share one of the flowers with me. And, after some begging, I was able to talk him out of a second one. He happily ate the other ten himself. He loved them all, but the spicy ones were his favorite. One bite and I knew why it was so hard for him to give up the man goodies. Made with some of the highest quality meats you can find on the market, they are delicious!

These broquets are perfect for any occasion… Not just Holidays. Think of the possibilities, in addition to Father’s Day, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day these make great gifts for groomsmen, grooms, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations… Teachers and coaches would love to receive these as gifts, too!

Visit Manly Man to find the perfect gift for the Manly Man in your life TODAY!

“The Manliest, Meatiest, Bouquet Ever“ – The Food Network

They’re on a mission to save you the time and frustration when searching for a unique and intriguing gift men will love!

The Manly Man Company, a Veteran-Owned Business, boasts an ever-growing line of unique, custom, and curated gifts that include Meathearts™, Beef Jerky Flowers, Bacon Roses, Meat Cards™, Single Malt Scotch Caramel Heart Tin, Manly Scented Gift Wrapping Paper, Manly Gift Sets, MAN CARD bottle openers, and Tactical Christmas Stocking Kits.

The Manly Man Company is giving us one of their amazing Broquets to give away to one of our readers!!
Please check out the giveaway (you’ll find it in our right sidebar starting October 1, 2021) and be sure to show them some love on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, too.

Press Release: THE SUICIDE SQUAD on Digital, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray

September 8, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

The Suicide Squad

COMES HOME TO

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Premium Digital Ownership
debut early on September 17

4K, Blu-ray, and DVD arrive on October 26

Burbank, CA, September 8 – Witness the collection of the most degenerate delinquents in the DC lineup when “The Suicide Squad” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on September 17. The film is directed by James Gunn (the “Guardian of Galaxy” films) from his own screenplay and stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (“Bumblebee”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), and Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise). The film will also be available on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD beginning on October 26.

The film was produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, Nikolas Korda, and Richard Suckle executive producing. The film also stars Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” TV’s “Doctor Who”), David Dastmalchian (“Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”).

On September 17, “The Suicide Squad” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies.
On October 26 “The Suicide Squad” will be available on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD. “The Suicide Squad” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

“The Suicide Squad” will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

SYNOPSIS

4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

“The Suicide Squad” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

Gag Reel
Gotta Love the Squad
The Way of The Gunn
It’s a Suicide Mission Scene Breakdown
My Guns Bigger Than Yours Scene Breakdown
Harley’s Great Escape Scene Breakdown
The Fall of Jotunheim Scene Breakdown
Starro: It’s a Freakin Kaiju!
Bringing King Shark To Life
War Movie Retro Trailer
Horror Movie Retro Trailer
Buddy-Cop Retro Trailer
Directors Commentary by Director/Writer James Gunn
Deleted & Extended Scenes

“The Suicide Squad” DVD contains the following special feature:

The Way of The Gunn

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE

Movies Anywhere is a digital movie platform that enables movie fans to discover, access, and watch their favorite digital movies in one place. Movies Anywhere brings together a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros., and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. By connecting participating digital retailers that include Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu, movie fans can now bring together their digital movie collections (whether purchased or redeemed) in one place and enjoy them from the comfort of their living rooms, and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Movie fans can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere. Movies Anywhere – your movies, together at last.

ABOUT DIGITAL

*Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.

“Warner Bros. has revealed some new character posters for The Suicide Squad. The set of posters came along with the movie’s first trailer. This time around, Task Force X is much larger. And, as the posters promise, viewers shouldn’t get too attached to any one member of the team. People are going to die. Blood will be spilled. Have a look.” – Daily Superheros

BASICS

PRODUCT SRP

4K UHD Combo Pack $49.98

Blu-ray $39.98

DVD $34.98

Digital Ownership: September 17, 2021

PVOD: September 17, 2021

4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 26, 2021

DVD Languages: English, English-ADS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Parisian French

BD Languages: English, English-ADS, English ATMOS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian

4K Languages: English, English-ADS, English ATMOS, Latin Spanish, Hungarian, Hindi, Tamil, Teleugu, Castilian Spanish, Parisian French, Italian, Polish, Canadian French

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French, Canadian French

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, Italian

4K Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French, Castilian Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, Teleugu, Hungarian, Tamil, Hindi, Italian, Greek, Romanian, Polish, Finnish, Danish, Canadian French

Running Time: 132 minutes

Rating: Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use, and brief graphic nudity

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD, DLBY/DGTL

4K: ATMOS TrueHD, DLBY/DGTL

THE CREDITS

About “The Suicide Squad”

Warner Bros. Pictures presents an Atlas Entertainment/Peter Safran Production, a James Gunn Film, “The Suicide Squad.”

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video and digital distribution businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online, and mobile channels. WBHE distributes its product through third-party retail partners and licensees.

CHECK OUT MORE FROM DC COMICS LINEUP ON SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS

The Difference Between Residental and Commercial Carpet

September 6, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

RESIDENTIAL VS. COMMERCIAL CARPET

The Difference Between Residential and Commercial Carpeting

The most noticeable difference between the two is that commercial carpet favors durability, while residential carpets are typically designed to offer more comfort. Commercial-grade carpeting will last much longer than residential carpet when subjected to the same heavy use.

Residential carpets favoring comfort have greater pile height and often have a thick underpad, thus increasing the carpet’s lush feeling and sound absorption. Since comfort isn’t a priority in commercial spaces, these carpets are constructed with durability in mind. The main focus is for the flooring to last. They need to be able to stand up to heavy and regular foot traffic. Even homes with pets and small children won’t track in nearly the same amount of dirt and debris as the hundreds of people who walk through a busy commercial space.

Carpet fabric can be made from a variety of materials like nylon, polyester, olefin, wool, cotton, or sisal. Acrylic carpeting used to be the standard but it isn’t anymore because it wore out too easily. Now, most commercial carpet is nylon, which makes it easy to clean. In some cases, it is also treated for stain resistance. Many homeowners consider wool to be the ultimate fiber for residential carpets as it’s durable and stain-resistant. It is also considered an eco-friendly floor covering.

According to the DIY Network, there are two main types of carpet construction, loop, and cut pile. Which, are defined by the way the carpet fibers are attached to their backing. Loop pile means the fibers are bent into little loops. And, as the name suggests cut pile carpets cut the yarn tips so there aren’t any loops. You need to be aware of the density and weight of a carpet as this significantly affects its feel and durability. Fabrics that weigh more often have more strands of yarn per square yard, indicating higher quality.

Commercial carpets are often made for very large spaces where there’s a greater demand for darker carpet colors and thus a wider variety of darker colors and patterns will be available. Carpeting made your home will be smaller means there’ll be a wider range of lighter colored carpets. This is because lighter colors reflect light better and make a space feel more open.

While there is still a wider variety of styles and color options for residential carpets than commercial ones, there are more of a selection becoming available as the trend to mimic the comfort of home in business spaces grows.

With the new choices in color and pattern that are available some homeowners are finding that commercial carpets are a better fit for them. Since commercial carpeting can take more wear and tear, at a fraction of the cost, they can be an excellent choice for a room like a basement that leads out to your backyard. In a situation like this commercial carpet can be a cost-effective option. An excellent commercial carpet for the home is a nylon frieze, also known as twist pile.

Both commercial and residential carpets require regular vacuuming and cleaning. The more dirt your carpet accumulates before being cleaned, the quicker the carpet will show signs of wear and tear. Residential carpets should be deep cleaned once a year while commercial ones should be done each quarter.

Tips for Beginners Looking To Fix and Flip

The Difference Between Residential and Commercial Carpeting

Cricut Labor Day Sale

September 2, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

Through 9/7, Cricut is running their Labor Day Sale featuring the Maker for $299, Explore Air 2 for $199, and the Joy for $159! Iron-ons, machine mats, and Joy materials are also 30% off! Cricut is also offering Free Economy Shipping on orders $99+ with code SHIPSEP or SEPSHIP through 9/30.

Cricut Maker® – The original ultimate smart cutting machine for creating virtually any project on your wish list.

Maker machine only $299! Valid through 9/7.

Cricut Explore Air® 2 – Their classic cutting machine, designed with simplicity and value in mind.
Explore Air 2 only $199! Valid through 9/7.

Make a little happiness in minutes. This smart little cutting and writing machine makes it easy to personalize almost anything.
Joy machine only $159! Valid through 9/7.

Spark your creativity with hundreds of premium possibilities, all designed especially for your Cricut cutting machine.
Save 30% on Joy materials! Valid through 9/7.

Cricut EasyPress Mini’s compact size is ideal for unusually small or challenging heat transfer projects. Customize unusual projects like hats, shoes, or stuffed animals.
EasyPress Mini only $49. Valid through 9/7.

The 9″ x 9″ Cricut EasyPress is the ideal size for basic T-shirts, tote bags, pillows, aprons, and more.
EasyPress 9×9 only $149. Valid through 9/7.

This 12″ x 10″ Cricut EasyPress’s size is ideal for heat-transfer projects on larger T-shirts, sweatshirts, banners, blankets, and more.
EasyPress 12×10 only $199. Valid through 9/7.

Make pro mugs in minutes with easy, one-touch settings of the Cricut Mug Press for 11 – 16 oz (350 – 470 ml) Infusible Ink compatible mugs,
Mug Press only $199.99!

Cricut Iron-On is compatible with many types of base materials, including wood! Shop their huge assortment of Iron-On Vinyl colors and styles to create the perfect home décor, wall decals, labels, and more!
Save 30% on iron-ons! Valid through 9/7.

As the interface between your material and your Cricut machine, Cricut’s reusable mats hold your material in place as it’s cut, and make it easy to cleanly remove finished pieces.
Save 30% on machine mats! Valid through 9/7.

Cricut vinyl makes it easy to decorate for the holidays, personalize your home with quotes, make window decals and removable labels, and customize your personal belongings.
Cricut Access members save 40% on vinyl! Valid through 9/7.

Be sure to take advantage of these great savings and get stocked up for all your holiday projects!

Press Release: INJUSTICE on Digital, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray 10/19/21

September 1, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

INJUSTICE

JUSTIN HARTLEY, ANSON MOUNT TOP ALL-STAR CAST

IN NEW DC ANIMATED MOVIE INSPIRED BY POPULAR GAME

AND GRAPHIC NOVEL;

COMING TO 4K Ultra HD™ combo pack, BLU-RAY™

AND DIGITAL ON OCTOBER 19, 2021

BURBANK, CA (September 1, 2021) – An unthinkable tragedy propels Superman into a dangerous new mindset, ultimately pitting Justice League members against each other in Injustice, an all-new DC Animated Movie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the feature-length animated film is set for release on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack (USA $39.99 SRP; Canada $44.98 SRP), Blu-ray (US $29.98 SRP; Canada $39.99 SRP) and Digital on October 19, 2021.

Inspired by Injustice: Gods Among Us, NetherRealm Studios’ popular video game, and the best-selling DC graphic novel based on the video game, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year One by Tom Taylor, the animated film Injustice finds an alternate world gone mad – where The Joker has duped Superman into killing Lois Lane, sending the Man of Steel on a deadly rampage. Unhinged, Superman decides to take control of the Earth for humanity’s own good. Determined to stop him, Batman creates a team of like-minded, freedom-fighting heroes. But when Super Heroes go to war, can the world survive?

Justin Hartley (This is Us, Smallville) and Anson Mount (Star Trek Discovery, Hell on Wheels) lead the Injustice all-star cast as Superman and Batman, respectively. The massive cast also includes Janet Varney (The Legend of Korra, You’re The Worst) as Wonder Woman, Brandon Micheal Hall (God Friended Me) as Cyborg, Kevin Pollak (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Joker & Jonathan Kent, Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog, The Good Wife, Dreamgirls) as Catwoman, Reid Scott (Veep, Venom) as Green Arrow & Victor Zsasz, Edwin Hodge (The Tomorrow War, Mayans M.C.) as Mr. Terrific & Killer Croc, Gillian Jacobs (Community, Invincible) as Harley Quinn, Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement, Nashville) as Plastic Man, Laura Bailey (Critical Role, Avengers Assemble) as Lois Lane & Rama Kushna, Faran Tahir (Iron Man, Star Trek) as Ra’s al Ghul, Derek Phillips (Friday Night Lights, 42) as Nightwing & Aquaman, Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10 franchise, Young Justice, RWBY) as Mirror Master, Flash & Shazam, Zach Callison (Steven Universe, The Goldbergs) as Damian & Jimmy Olsen, Brian T. Delaney (Fortnite, Batman Unlimited) as Green Lantern, Fred Tatasciore (Family Guy, American Dad!) as Captain Atom, and Andrew Morgado (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) as Mirror Master Soldier.

Matt Peters (Justice League Dark: Apokolips War) directs Injustice from a screenplay by Ernie Altbacker (Batman: Hush). Jim Krieg (Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) is Producer and Alyessa Ornelas (Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge) is Associate Producer. Producer is Rick Morales (Mortal Kombat Legends franchise). Sam Register is Executive Producer.

The Injustice 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc featuring the film in hi-definition, and a digital version of the movie. The Blu-ray features a Blu-ray disc with the film in hi-definition and a digital version of the movie.

Catch a sneak peek at Injustice when DC FanDome, the ultimate global fan experience, returns on Saturday, October 16 at 10 a.m. PDT, with an all-new, epic streaming event. The free virtual event will once again welcome fans from around the world to immerse themselves in the DC Multiverse at DCFanDome.com and celebrate the stars and creators of their favorite feature films, live-action and animated television series, games, comics, home entertainment releases and more. DC FanDome 2021 will also be available on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, giving fans more ways to watch the events unfolding in DC FanDome’s Hall of Heroes.

Based on the 2013 video game Injustice: Gods Among Us and taking inspiration from the best selling comic series, the DC animated movie INJUSTICE is set to be released on 4K Ultra HD, BLU-RAY, AND DIGITAL by Warner Brothers Entertainment on October 19, 2021.

Injustice – Special Features

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray and Digital

Adventures in Storytelling – Injustice: Crisis and Conflict (New Featurette) – The storytellers behind the new Injustice animated film discuss how all the intense drama and unabashed action was brought to life.

DC Universe Movies Flashback
- The Death of Superman
- Reign of the Supermen

From the DC Vault
- Justice League – Injustice For All, Part I
- Justice League – Injustice For All, Part II

Looking for a refresher course on animated Super Hero entertainment before seeing Injustice? HBO Max has a rich catalog of DC Universe Movies and DC-centric films and series.

Injustice will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE

Movies Anywhere is a digital movie platform that enables movie fans to discover, access, and watch their favorite digital movies in one place. Movies Anywhere brings together a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros. and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. By connecting participating digital retailers that include Amazon Prime Video, the Apple TV app, FandangoNOW, Google Play, and Vudu, movie fans can now bring together their digital movie collections (whether purchased or redeemed) in one place and enjoy them from the comfort of their living rooms, and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch; Chromecast; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Movie fans can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere. Movies Anywhere – your movies, together at last.

ABOUT DIGITAL

Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets, and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.

BASICS

PRODUCT SRP

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack $39.99 USA, $44.98 Canada

Blu-ray $29.98 USA, $39.99 Canada

Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian

Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish

Running Time: 78 minutes

R for bloody violence

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.:

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s physical and digital distribution businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

ABOUT DC

DC, a WarnerMedia Company, creates iconic characters, enduring stories, and immersive experiences that inspire and entertain audiences of every generation around the world and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. As a creative division, DC is charged with strategically integrating its stories and characters across film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, interactive games, DC UNIVERSE INFINITE digital subscription service and community engagement portal. For more information visit dccomics.com and dcuniverseinfinite.com.

About Warner Bros. Animation

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, producing and developing projects for multiple platforms, both domestically and internationally. WBA’s current series include Animaniacs for Hulu, Green Eggs and Ham and Wings of Fire for Netflix, Aquaman: King of Atlantis, Batman: Caped Crusader, Batwheels, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Harley Quinn, Jellystone!, Little Ellen, Looney Tunes Cartoons, My Adventures with Superman, Tiny Toons Looniversity, Tom and Jerry in New York, Velma and Young Justice for HBO Max, DC Super Hero Girls, Teen Titans Go!, ThunderCats Roar for Cartoon Network, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, Scooby-Doo! and Guess Who?, The Tom and Jerry Show and Yabba-Dabba Dinosaurs! for Boomerang. The studio is currently in production with New Line Cinema on the upcoming original anime feature film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. WBA’s full-length theatrical film, Teen Titans GO! to the Movies, was released in summer 2018. As home to the iconic animated characters from the DC, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries, WBA also produces highly successful animated films — including the DC Universe Movies — for DVD, Blu-ray^®and digital media. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has won six Academy Awards®, 40 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, a BAFTA Children’s Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 21 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

CHECK OUT MORE ANIMATED SHOWS ON SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS

Check out these matching Christmas PJs!!

August 5, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

All the Christmas in July posts that we’ve been seeing the last month had us feeling a bit nostalgic for the cozy winter nights of December. So one evening, when we had our two toddler granddaughters, we turned the AC down, got out of favorite cocoa mugs, put the girls in their holiday jammies, and put in one of their favorite holiday DVDs. We all had a blast!!!

I realized that with a bit of imagination we can have the fun and spirit of Christmas anytime we want. But, I also realized that these two little girls are growing like weeds and I would need to get them some new matching Christmas PJs to wear this winter. One site that we found some of the coolest sets, free 1st Class USPS shipping on all orders over $50, and discount codes listed right on their website was LazyOne.

This site offers a nice selection of PJs for the whole family. You can get onesies, pajama sets, robes, socks, slippers, nightshirts, and more in prints from sweet and cozy to adorable and hilarious. And, they haven’t forgotten your four-legged family members! There are some cute bandanas and flapjacks that match your pajamas for them, too.

These fun Christmas pajamas and matching family sets by LazyOne not only make awesome gifts but these Xmas PJs can help you create unique holiday photos to share with your family and friends. Don’t forget, whether it’s time to curl up with a good book, relax in front of a fire, or drift off to sleep for a long winter’s nap the right PJs are essential for snuggling up with your favorite snuggle buddy.

A Complete Guide To The Different Types Of Mortgages

July 2, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

A Complete Guide To The Different Types Of Mortgages #home #finance #mortgage

4 Types of Mortgages: A Complete Guide

What Is a Mortgage? The term mortgage refers to a loan used to purchase or maintain a home, land, or other types of real estate. The borrower agrees to pay the lender over time, typically in a series of regular payments that are divided into principal and interest. The property serves as collateral to secure the loan.

Did you know there are several different types of mortgages? You’ll want to start to review the types of mortgage loans if you’re considering buying a home. Your mortgage selection is going to determine your finances for a long time to come!

First, let’s clear up any confusion about the basics of a mortgage. Simply put, a mortgage is any type of loan that is used to purchase or refinance a house!

If you can pay cash outright for the house, then you can avoid a mortgage. If not, most people use a mortgage to buy a home. There are 4 types of mortgages that we want you to know about!

A Complete Guide To The Different Types Of Mortgages #home #finance #mortgage

Reverse Mortgages

A reverse mortgage is when your home’s equity is converted into cash. This is only allowed for people who are 62. Reverse mortgage rates vary depending on your situation, so be sure to consult an expert to decide which route is best for you.

Conventional Mortgages

A conventional loan is exactly what it sounds like — the classic approach to obtaining a housing loan.

The conventional loan is designed for homebuyers that have good credit scores (minimum 620), a low debt-to-income ratio (45-50%), and a stable income. This type of mortgage loan is not backed by the government.

Your down payment can be as low as 3% with a conventional loan. However, the standard down payment with a conventional loan is 20% of the housing cost. Opt for the 20% down payment to make the most of the conventional loan.

There are two different types of conventional loans you should be familiar with.

Conforming Loan

A conforming loan means that a certain amount of money is under the maximum limit set by the FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency). The amount is determined based on the county where your new home will be located. This can impact the process you need to follow, so be sure to do your homework!

Nonconforming

A nonconforming mortgage loan is a large mortgage amount that is above the FHFA limits. The most common nonconforming loan is known as a jumbo loan!

A jumbo loan is likely to be used in higher-cost areas. Affluent buyers with high incomes should explore the jumbo loan option. Be ready to provide documentation to qualify.

A Complete Guide To The Different Types Of Mortgages #home #finance #mortgage

2. Government-Backed Mortgages

U.S. government agencies back certain types of mortgage loans. These options help out if you are ineligible for a conventional loan.

Government-backed mortgages require lower down payments and have lower minimum credit score requirements. On the flip side, there are more regulations and eligibility criteria for each type of mortgage.

FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Loans

FHA mortgage loans are great for first time homeowners! The down payment associated with this type of mortgage is only 3.5% down. Review the maximum borrow limit – the FHA sets a value each year based on your area.

VA (Veterans Affairs) Loans

For all active and former U.S. military members, there is no required down payment and low-interest mortgage payments with a VA loan.

The minimum credit score for a VA loan is 580. Beware of closing fees and a one-time funding fee, but know there are ways to negotiate to have this paid for by the seller.

USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Loans

The USDA loan is an attractive option that depends on the location of your new home. You must be moving to an eligible area to qualify.

USDA loans are usually intended for rural areas, and will be available to moderate- to- low-income homebuyers. In certain cases, you may not need a down payment!

3. Fixed-Rate Mortgage

A fixed-rate mortgage will result in a predictable, monthly payment. Fixed-rate mortgages tend to be an agreement over 15, 20, or 30 years.

For this reason, you should plan to be in your house for at least 7 to 10 years when selecting a fixed-rate loan. Look closely at interest rates for your fixed-rate mortgage. You are likely to pay higher interest with this option.

4. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARMs)

The adjustable-rate mortgage is for future homeowners comfortable with uncertainty. ARMs are subject to market conditions and are volatile in comparison to fixed-rate mortgages. If you select an ARM, you should understand the current state of the industry.

Some ARMs will start off with a low, fixed-interest rate. This allows for early savings. If you don’t think you will live in your new home for a long time, this could be the best type of mortgage loan for you!

Home Loan Types

The type of mortgage you choose will vary based on the your needs as the borrower.

A home is one of the best and also most expensive assets one can own. Choosing the right mortgage loan is very important. A home owner is more likely to be able to stay with their repayment if they choose a home and a mortgage that they can afford. Being realistic about what one can and can’t afford is important. You can always sell and buy a bigger or better home in the future.

A Complete Guide To The Different Types Of Mortgages: If you’re buying a home, your mortgage selection is going to determine your finances for a long time — so you'll need to understand the different types of mortgages. #home #finance #mortgage

Check Out The Two Top Reasons Why SEO is a Must Have

June 26, 2021 By Paula 1 Comment

Top Reasons Why SEO is a Must Have

The digital marketplace has expanded and changed so much over the last few years that virtually every business is in a race to keep up with the changing SEO landscape. However, when your business is local and not always eCommerce-focused, figuring out SEO can be an even more significant challenge.

With search engines constantly updating their criteria on when and how, and why websites rank, many business owners, more significant or small, may feel overwhelmed in attempting to keep up. Writing your content, managing your PPC campaigns, keeping up with changing criteria, ensuring your website’s HTML is clean, researching keywords, updating meta-data, analyzing everything on your site? It can become too much, too confusing, far too quickly. That’s when you need one of the top Charleston SEO companies to step in and give your business the competitive, adaptive edge for your business to flourish.

Reasons Why SEO is a Must-Have

Optimized Website

Whether you don’t have a website yet, have one but looking to have it updated, or want your website completely optimized for SEO, qualified and knowledgeable SEO companies can do that for you. Timely layouts with user-friendly, responsive themes and an already SEO solid foundation will ensure your business, large or small, hits the SEO ground running, whether you use Shopify, Magento Commerce, WooCommerce, Volusion, or BigCommerce.

Effective SEO Campaigns that Work

- Harness the power of social media, social media advertising, influencer marketing, and a reliable social media curator that understands effectual strategies, constantly adapting to the changing aspects of social media and consumer behaviors.
- Careful, in-depth analysis of existing website(s) by the industries top expert Analysts, creating a long-term fruitful SEO strategy, including potent website design, organization, essential keyword implementation, SEO product and website content written professionally with powerful researched keyword usage, featuring resource pages, insightful and engaging blogs, product descriptions and more.
- PPC (Pay Per Click) Ad campaigns handled with innovative and adept know-how to constantly engage the right consumers for your product, evolving and changing based on user behavior.

Charleston SEO professionals can improve your current rankings and search phrases, increase and add higher rankings, advance and maintain trends, elevate potential customer exposure and help you focus on what’s essential for your business. All this while making navigating the world of SEO easier with visible, tangible results? What are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on SEO must-have services that will change your business for the better.

It’s Time For Your Business To Thrive!

Search engine optimization, the set of rules for optimizing your website so that it can achieve higher rankings in search engines’ organic results, and everything else that goes into creating a profitable business can be confusing. Understanding how it all works and everything getting it right entails can mean the difference between failing and being successful. For more business-related posts to help you maximize your business’ potential check out our business category. We’ve done a lot of research and had some wonderful contributors share a wealth of information with our readers since we started blogging.

Thank You For Visiting Today!
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More Summer Fun with these Musical LED Shark Bubble Shooter Toys

June 19, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

Shark Bubble Shooter – Lights, Sound, and Bubbles!

Musical LED Bubble Shark Guns - Blue Shark Gun

Musical LED Bubble Shark Guns - Orange Shark Gun

Bubble Shooter Makes Blowing Bubbles with Your Kids and Pets Great Summer Fun!

Unlike other toys or games, bubble games will never be out of fashion. People of all ages have always enjoyed playing with bubbles. Thinking about the colorful soapy bubbles brings back happy memories of my sister and me running around the yard with our dogs. All of us laughing and chasing the bubbles trying to catch them. Oh, how much more fun could we have had with an automatic bubble shooter!?

My 2 1/2-year-old granddaughter loves bubbles and Baby Shark. So when I saw these shark bubble shooters I had to order them. After ordering the package from arrived very quickly and contained two bubble guns and four 54mm bottles of bubble solution. Each bubble shooter requires three AA batteries which are not included. When it was time to play we put in the batteries and installed the bottles onto the guns.

These bubble-blowing toys are great! They blow lots of bubbles and are easy for kids to operate. They simply press the trigger and the bubble shooter produces an awesome LED light show with sound effects. Add the colorful bubbles that this bubble gun sends out and it adds up to the perfect toy.

These amazing bubble shooter toys are not only fun to use on hot summer days in the backyard, but they are also great for entertainment at parties and during bath time. They can also add beauty to celebrations, like weddings.

Batteries, Bubbles, Action!

These bubble shooters did come with a few warnings:

If you get the soap into your eye, please simply rinse your eyes with water.
Do not stick your fingers in the machine while it is working.
Not suitable for children under 36 months.

🦈SUPER VALUE PACK: Bubble Shooter Kit Includes Blue Shark and Orange Shark Bubble Guns, 4 Bottles of 54ml Bubble Solutions, and fires 800+ Bubbles Per Minute.
🦈LED LIGHT & MUSIC DESIGN: With every press of the trigger, each bubble gun toy produces a mesmerizing LED light show complemented by exciting sound effects.
🦈AMAZING PERFORMANCE & EASY TO USE: This bubble maker is lightweight, easy to hold so kids can take it anywhere they want. Perfect for kids ages 3 and up.
🦈MULTIPLE OCCASIONS: This Shark shaped automatic bubble gun is perfect for any Shark Themed Party, Ceremony, Carnival, Birthday Parties, Baby Showers, Easter Basket Stuffers, Party Favors, Camping Trips, Halloween, Weddings, School Classroom, Outdoor Water Toy Game Activities, Beach, Pack, Backyard Bubble Party, and More! Create memories by adding colorful bubbles to your family pictures.
🦈KID-FRIENDLY MATERIAL: Safe Bubble Toys for Kids & Pets-Kids’ Safety is always a priority for Eagle Stone. With this bubble gun, they used an odor-free, harmless, and high-quality ABS plastic to enable efficiency and durability.


High Premium and Safe Material This Eagle Stone shark bubble gun is made from high-quality ABS plastic with smooth edges and totally non-toxic elements of solution. 100% kid-friendly, safe bubble toys for your kids and pets!	Easy to Make Bubbles in the Air Unlike the traditional bubble blower, you just need to press the trigger and this battery-powered bubble blower will bring you a rainbow stream of bubbles.	LED Light & Music Design With every press of the trigger, the bubble gun toys produce a mesmerizing LED light show complemented by exciting sound effects. The visual and sonic feast of Eagle Stone’s LED bubble blower set will have the kids preoccupied for hours.	Perfect Shark Bubble Toys Gift Super cute shark shape, this bubble machine will be your kids’ best friend as well. Perfect bubble toy gift for kids’ birthday, performance, show, picnic, Christmas, etc. You can also use it as a prop in the bedroom.

For more summer fun check out this awesome drone!

We Tested This Electric Callus Remover On A WATERMELON!

June 18, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

Rough, dry calluses on feet? Ewwww!

Looking for a safe and powerful tool that you can use at home to get rid of rough, dry calluses in seconds without the messy cleanup of nasty skin shavings?

Get An Electric Callus Remover With Vacuum!!

This home-use electronic vacuum foot callus remover’s powerfully exfoliating grinding head rotates at over 3000 rpm so you can easily remove calluses and rough skin in seconds. And, its built-in vacuum means you can use it anywhere without skin falling everywhere.

👣 Powerful fool file grinder buffs at 3000 RPMs. Three grinding heads are Fine (for slight callus), Medium (for medium callus), Coarse (for coarse/hard callus). Easily remove dead skin gently and quickly. High-density quartz sand material is durable.
👣 Mess-free automatic vacuuming, 95% adsorption rate, solves the trouble of powder shavings and dust.
👣 360 ℃ horizontal rotation, safe without hurting, gets skin evenly polished. Perfect pedicure at home. Safer and more effective than metal scrapers, which use blades to cut the skin.
👣 Rechargeable and portable, long-lasting battery life, fast charging in 3 hours, 50 minutes usage.
👣 The grinding head is replaceable and washable.
👣 The package includes a device, brush, user manual, USB wire, and three grinding heads.

Why get this electric callus remover?

❤ Removes calluses in seconds
❤ Built-in vacuum absorb the skin shavings
❤ Nano quartz sand head buffs at 3,000 RPMs
❤ 3 heads included: fine, medium, and coarse
❤ Convenient, touch up your feet anytime, anywhere!
❤ Salon-perfect pedicure at home
❤ Rechargeable to save money on batteries

This Electric Callus Remover Will Make Your Feet Feel Luxurious!

There are a few warnings that I must mention:

☞Do not use this device while bathing or showering, and do not use it near bathtubs or washbasins filled with water.
☞This Electric foot file has a motor rotation function. When not in use, it must be placed out of the reach of children. During use, avoid contact with children and do not play with them.
☞The callous remover does not have a waterproof function, please do not use it in a bathroom or other environment that is humid or prone to water ingress.
☞The foot file callus remover contains a lithium-ion battery. Do not place this product close to fire or high-temperature environments, otherwise, it may cause a fire, explosion, or other accidents.
☞When the Electric Callus Remover For Feet is connected to a power source, do not leave it unattended and be sure to unplug the charger after it is fully charged.

For a limited time, you can get 30% OFF with this Amazon coupon.

We discovered the secret to smooth feet!

Looking for a safe and powerful tool that you can use at home to get rid of rough, dry calluses in seconds without the messy cleanup of nasty skin shavings? Check out this Electric Callus Remover With Vacuum!!

Press Release: MORTAL KOMBAT Premium Digital Ownership on June 11 AND 4K, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD arrive on July 13

June 4, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

“Fights are imaginatively conceived and presented with gratifying punch.”

Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle

Mortal Kombat

COMES HOME TO

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Premium Digital Ownership

debuts early on June 11

4K, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD arrive on July 13

Burbank, CA, June 3 – Experience every bone-crunching, sword-clashing, blood-spattering moment when “Mortal Kombat” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on June 11. The film is directed by award-winning Australian commercial filmmaker Simon McQuoid, marking his feature directorial debut. The film will also be available on 4K, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD beginning on July 13.

The ensemble includes Lewis Tan (TV’s “Into The Badlands”) as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee (“The Meg”) as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson (“The Little Death”) as Kano, Tadanobu Asano (“Battleship”) as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks (TV’s “True Blood”) as Jax, Ludi Lin (“Power Rangers”) as Liu Kang, with Chin Han (“The Dark Knight”) as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim (“The Raid: Redemption”) as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, and Hiroyuki Sanada (“The Wolverine”) as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion. Also featured are Max Huang as Kung Lao and Sisi Stringer (“Bloody Hell”) as Mileena.

On June 11, “Mortal Kombat” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies.
On July 13, “Mortal Kombat” will be available on 4K, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD. “Mortal Kombat” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

“Mortal Kombat” will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

SYNOPSIS

MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan), accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld’s Sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han) has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt him down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) at the direction of Jax (Mehcad Brooks), a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Kung Lao (Max Huang) and rogue mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson), as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies from Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana—the immense power from within his soul—in time to save not only his family, but to stop Outworld once and for all?

4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

“Mortal Kombat” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

Deleted Scenes From Game to Screen: The Making of Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat: Fan Favorite Characters
Fight Koreography
Into the Krypt: Easter Eggs of Mortal Kombat
Anatomy of a Scene

“Mortal Kombat” DVD contains the following special feature:

Deleted Scenes

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE

Movies Anywhere is a digital movie platform that enables movie fans to discover, access, and watch their favorite digital movies in one place. Movies Anywhere brings together a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros., and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. By connecting participating digital retailers that include Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu, movie fans can now bring together their digital movie collections (whether purchased or redeemed) in one place and enjoy them from the comfort of their living rooms, and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Movie fans can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere. Movies Anywhere – your movies, together at last.

ABOUT DIGITAL

*Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.

BASICS

PRODUCT SRP

4K UHB Combo Pack $44.95

Blu-ray $35.99

DVD $28.98

Digital Ownership: June 11, 2021

PVOD: June 11, 2021

4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: July 13, 2021

DVD Languages: English, English-ADS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese

BD Languages: English, English-ADS, English ATMOS, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Italian

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Complex Chinese, Cantonese

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Greek, Finnish, Dutch, Danish

Running Time: 110 minutes

Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, and some crude references.

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD, DLBY/DGTL

THE CREDITS

About “Mortal Kombat”

The film is helmed by award-winning Australian commercial filmmaker Simon McQuoid, marking his feature directorial debut, and produced by James Wan, Todd Garner, McQuoid and E. Bennett Walsh.

McQuoid directed from a screenplay by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham, from a story by Oren Uziel and Russo, based on the video game created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Michael Clear, Jeremy Stein and Larry Kasanoff served as executive producers.

New Line Cinema Presents an Atomic Monster/Broken Road Production, “Mortal Kombat.”

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.

No Need For a Java IV When You Got Da Bomb Double Caffeine Coffee

June 1, 2021 By Paula 31 Comments

This Da Bomb Double Caffeine Coffee Delivers On Taste and Buzz!

For many, sipping on a cup of joe every morning isn’t just part of the daily routine it’s their motivation for getting out of bed. The new trend when it comes to brewed coffee is to make the smoothest, most caffeinated cup imaginable! Most double-strength coffees get their vigor from the types of beans used and the roasting method. Just remember: the FDA recommends no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. That’s 2 cups of Da Bomb or 4-5 cups of a regular blend. If you’re one of those who are chugging multiple cups of java every day, wishing you had a continuous IV of the stuff, you may want to try a stronger brew like Java Factory’s Da Bomb double caffeinated coffee.

Yes, this coffee comes with a warning label.
Exploding with flavor and with double the caffeine of a regular 8 oz. single-serve cup of coffee, this extra-bold brew will leave you buzzing. Liquid Caffeine is added to this well-balanced dark roast. It beats all the other supercharged single-serve coffees on the market in both taste AND value. It’s the bomb diggity.

Java Factory Da Bomb is a Double Caffeinated, Extra Bold, Dark Roast Coffee.

If you’re looking for really strong coffee, Da Bomb is the coffee for you!

Yes, this Java Factory Da Bomb coffee comes with a warning label. Exploding with flavor and with double the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee, this extra-bold brew will leave you buzzing. Unless you plan on pulling an all-nighter, this brew is best for your morning rush.

About the Product:

100% Fresh Roasted Arabica coffee
Their new filter system delivers more taste per cup
Their roasting process ensures a smooth, full-bodied taste that’s never bitter or acidic.
Compatible with most single-serve brewers, including 2.0 brewers.
Da Bomb is a dark roast coffee with 10 grams of coffee and double-caffeinated.
This extra-bold, dark roast coffee contains double the amount of caffeine found in a regular 8 oz single-serve cup of coffee.

We’re so stoked, we recently received another box of this double caffeinated coffee from Java Factory! This high octane coffee is unlike many of the supercharged coffees that use the highly caffeinated robusta coffee beans, which have a low acidity and high bitterness profile. This Java Factory double caffeinated coffee gets its higher levels of caffeine from Arabica coffee beans, which have a better taste, cleaner mouthfeel, and a less bitter profile. The combination of strength and smoothness that this coffee offers makes it perfect for making a great glass of iced coffee! Now that summer has arrived and it has gotten warmer, we are indulging in this iced deliciousness more often.

If you’re wishing you had a continuous IV of #java, you may want to try a stronger brew like Java Factory's Da Bomb Double Caffeinated #Coffee. #JavaFactory #Review #DoubleCaffeinated

So if you’re like Marcus, an old-school gym rat who incorporated double espresso in his pre-workout cocktail for higher performance, or simply seeking a scalp-tingling morning brew to help you slay the dragons of the day we both recommend “Da Bomb.” BOOM! Warning, not even MacGyver can diffuse this explosive double caffeinated brew.

This post is sponsored by

Please Show Them Some Love
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HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A BOX OF THIS COFFEE?

They are also sponsoring a giveaway!
Check out our right sidebar and ENTER for your chance to enjoy some of this awesome coffee for FREE.

Products that are shown in the video:
DRONE – Force1 F100 Ghost GoPro Drone
COFFEE – Java Factory Da Bomb Extra Bold Double Caffeinated Coffee
LANDING PAD is a DIY PROJECT – Leave a comment if you would like Marcus to do a video on how to make one.

Top Ten Home Improvements That Are Worth Doing NOW!

May 28, 2021 By Paula 1 Comment

Home Improvements With The Highest Return

When it comes to home improvements, there are two important things to consider when deciding where to put your money. Whether the home improvement will increase the value and enjoyment of your home while you live in it and whether it will increase the value of your house to buyers when you sell it. While it is hard to ascertain a dollar amount for the value the first adds, the second is backed by market research and sales. The most economical home improvements are those that allow you to recoup a large portion of the cost thus increasing your home’s value in fair relation to the amount you spent.

So, where should you spend your home improvement dollars? Here are the home improvements that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

Upgrade the Garage Door

Replace your garage door with an upgraded model. Consider upgrades that will improve its looks, operation, safety, and durability. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2021 Cost vs Value report, doing this will yield you 98.3 percent of your investment with even higher returns in some markets. Today’s best garage doors offer springs that are safer, R-values are as high as 18, and they need less maintenance. High-end hardware gives your garage door a more sophisticated look increasing the home’s overall curb appeal.

Garage doors play a critical role in protecting your home, especially if you live in a hurricane-prone or high wind region. Prior to 2006, there were no requirements for wind-rated doors for homes built outside of Florida. and even today, some areas have not yet adopted a modern building code. An IBHS survey found that 80%–90% of garage doors away from coastlines are not labeled properly for their wind resistance, or at all.

The second most common entry point for home burglars is the garage door, so upgrading the door’s security with an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt lock and an automatic opener that uses rolling code technology are great selling points.
Install Manufactured Stone Veneer on the Exterior

Curb appeal matters when you’re selling your home. The more appealing your home’s outside, the greater the chance it makes a good first impression with your buyers. Enhancing the exterior of your home with manufactured stone veneer offers a 92.1% return on your investment. Also known as faux stone, manufactured stone veneer is a manmade material designed to replicate the look of natural stone. It’s a great way to boost curb appeal and update an old or boring exterior. Even doing just a portion of your home (such as the area around your front door) is enough to see an increase in property value.

Stone veneer offers all the beauty and color of real stone but at a fraction of the cost and environmental damage involved. This decorative yet durable exterior is pre-engineered for easy installation. Usually cut 1″ thick, it weighs just a few pounds per panel and doesn’t need an additional support structure to be affixed to a wall.
Do a Minor Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen is a major selling point and often can make or break a sale. Since many people want an upgraded kitchen without having to pay for it after purchasing a home it is a big consideration when determining if a home is worth its asking price. A minor kitchen remodel is the third most cost-effective renovation. You will recoup about 72.2% percent of its cost, while a major upscale kitchen remodel will recoup only about 57.4 percent of its cost. If you plan on selling your home within the next five years, keep potential buyers in mind before you start on any major remodel; many people won’t pay for a fancy, deluxe kitchen.

There are several valuable home improvements you can do that will bring you the biggest rewards for your expenditures, from putting in energy-efficient, stainless steel appliances and installing new countertops to painting and replacing cabinet fronts. Also, install a midpriced sink and faucet, new resilient flooring, and finish by painting the walls, trim, and ceiling.
Remodel The Bathroom

The bathroom is another key selling point when buyers look at your home. A mid-range bathroom remodel will bring a return of 60.1 percent nationally. And just like the kitchen, doing more doesn’t equal getting more. An upscale bathroom remodel is only going to get you a 54.8 percent return. A new bathroom addition just 53 percent.

Updating the space to be wheelchair-accessible with flat-panel electrical switches at sitting level, putting support bars, and installing a walk-in shower will turn your standard bathroom into a universally accessible bathroom. While this won’t bring you as much return (57.9% vs 60.1%) it may help you make that sale. Thanks to the aging of Baby Boomers, the 65-and-older population has grown by over a third (34.2% or 13,787,044) during the past decade. If you’re not sure want to DIY something like this do a search for bathroom remodel near me and you’ll can a reputable contractor that will know how to best make these changes.

Even a modest renovation, can add new life to your bathroom and generate a higher return for a smaller investment.
Add a Wood Deck

Another home improvement for the exterior of your home. They seem to give you the biggest bang for your buck. When adding a backyard deck or patio, wood is best. A composite deck or backyard patio won’t give you as much return as wood (65.8%).

Remodeling recommends adding a “16×20-foot deck using pressure-treated joists supported by 4×4-inch posts anchored to concrete piers. Install pressure-treated deck boards in a simple linear pattern. Include built-in bench and planter of the same decking material. Include stairs, assuming three steps to grade. Provide a complete railing system using pressure-treated wood posts, railings, and balusters.” Depending on the size of your house and yard you may need to adjust the size to best suit your site.
Replace Siding and Windows

You want your home’s exterior surfaces to look clean and inviting. Old, damaged, or deteriorating siding and windows don’t do that. On average you will recoup 67 to 69 percent of your investment.

Replace your home’s old aluminum siding with new vinyl or fiber-cement siding. At 69.4% fiber cement siding, a resilient mix of wood pulp and portland cement, gives you good looks, durability, easy maintenance, and affordability with the highest return on your investment.

New windows can dramatically lower your home’s energy bill. Low-energy vinyl window replacements provide a pretty similar return to vinyl siding, 68.6%. Regardless of whether you install vinyl, wood, or aluminum windows, you’ll want Low-E glass. It will help with heat loss, protect fabrics and carpet from fading, provide glare control, and of course reduce heating and cooling energy costs. These windows typically cost about 10% to 15% more than regular windows, but they reduce energy loss by as much as 30% to 50%. And, buyers know this!
Make Green Upgrades

Spending a little bit of money to have a professional energy use assessment done will help you prioritize what needs to be done to make your home more energy-efficient. Updating your home to save energy doesn’t have to cost a lot of money and can make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Add extra insulation to your attic, seal cracks, install CFL light bulbs in all light fixtures, The U.S. Department of Energy (USDE) estimates that the average house has enough leaks to equal a 3×3 foot hole in the wall.

If you don’t have one, install a programmable thermostat. If your hot water heater is old, consider spending a bit extra to purchase a high-efficiency water heater. Homebuyers know these water heaters can really trim energy bills.
Paint

Fresh paint, in neutral colors, can go a long way towards updating the look of your home. Plus, paint is relatively cheap. Using low-VOC paint will make your home more eco-friendly. Plus, you and your family will avoid breathing in dangerous chemicals, like benzene, that off-gas from regular fresh paint.
Maintenance

Basic updates add the most value to your home. Keep up with the maintenance. It keeps your home from deteriorating over time. Buyers want a healthy, solid, safe home, and they look carefully for signs of routine maintenance.

If you decide to hire a contractor, shop around before you choose someone to work with. Get at least three quotes, with specifics, from the contractors you interview. Thoroughly check references before you agree to a contract or work order.

Whether your thinking of adding a bathroom, updating your old kitchen, or want to build a new master suite, you’re not alone. With the huge increase in the cost of lumber, it’s evident that plenty of homeowners have been taking on home improvement projects this year. We’ve been looking at national data, specific upgrades may have more or less value depending on where you live. Do your research to find out what will give you the biggest return on your investment where you live.

The right home improvement projects can not only boost your enjoyment of your home but also its value. The more money you make on your home’s sale, the more you have toward your new home.

Looking to Get Your Home Short-Term Rental Ready while you’re waiting for that sale? Check out our post for some awesome tips to do it.

What We Got In Our Home Chef Meal Delivery This Week + how to SAVE $35 on yours

May 25, 2021 By Paula 1 Comment

Home Chef is bringing people together around the dinner table.

With simplicity as their mantra, Home Chef meal delivery is designed to help you save time while still being able to enjoy real home cooking and the joy that comes with it. From online to doorstep…to your kitchen table, they make planning and preparing a home-cooked meal simple, intuitive, and inspirational every step of the way.

Each meal kit we received from Home Chef came with all the needed ingredients (except olive oil, salt, and pepper) and an easy-to-follow recipe so it was super easy to prepare a delicious meal. At the beginning of each recipe, it tells you what you will need to prepare it. For example: In the case of the pizza we needed olive oil, salt, cooking spray, a baking sheet, a medium non-stick pan, and a mixing bowl. The chili required olive oil, salt, pepper, a mixing bowl, and a large non-stick pan. But, when it was time to fix the easy prep & pan included penne bake nothing was needed to complete it.

Home Chef publishes the ingredients and full nutritional content of each meal online. So you know what you’re getting when you order. I love that Home Chef makes an effort to be eco-friendly. The box that everything arrived in is lined with recycled fiber insulation and when possible they used meal packaging that we can reuse.

With many meal delivery services to choose from, Home Chef stood out. With lots of options to customize your package, meals that are easy to prepare in under 30 minutes, and the perfect amount of ingredients they’re a great option for singles, small and large families, as well as cooks of all experience levels.

Want to join us in our culinary adventure and get $35 off your first order? You can when you use our referral link. It’ll take you to the Home Chef website where you’ll see a green “Get Started” button at the top of the page. Click it and answer a few questions to help them personalize your menu selections. Your $35 discount will be taken off at checkout.

Here’s a sample of some of the great meals you can prepare using their meal delivery service.

Home Chef Three Cheese Chicken Penne Bake

This oven-ready offering gives you great flavor at a fraction of the time and with barely any work.

After mixing the pasta, chicken, marinara sauce, seasoning blend, Parmesan, and a small amount of water in the provided tray and spreading it into an even layer I just had to top it with butter, then Asiago, mozzarella, and panko. Each of which was included and came individually packaged. I then covered the tray with foil and baked covered, 15 minutes. After that, I baked it uncovered until the cheese was bubbly. All that was left to do was eat!!! No clean-up — as this yummy dish was mixed and baked in the pan that arrived with my kit!

Home Chef Cheesy Mexican-Style Street Corn Pizza
with lime crema

Mexican street corn is a special treat south of the border. In this recipe, you take the sweet corn, cheese, and lime and placed it on the best vehicle for flavor, a pizza!

After prebaking our flatbreads and preparing our ingredients, to assemble and bake the pizzas we simply placed the flatbreads, flat-side down, on our prepared baking sheet and spread a thin layer of the sour cream-lime mixture on each. Next, we topped each evenly with our corn and chicken mixture. After baking, we divided the cheese and remaining seasoning between the two pizzas. In the future, I will put the Oaxacan cheese on before baking. I don’t like cilantro as it tastes like dishsoap to me so I omitted it from my pizza. l appreciated that the ingredients weren’t mixed together so I could do this. We will be having this pizza again as it was very tasty and easy to make.

Home Chef BBQ-Cheddar Bacon and Beef Chili with Crema

BBQ, cheddar, bacon, and beef; and it gets made in less than 15 minutes. Need I say more?!

I made this selection as it was a unique type of chili that we had never had the pleasure of trying. Given that neither of us eats bell peppers we would not have ordered something like this out. I know two of the three meals I choose had an ingredient that I don’t like. This is surprising given the fact that I can count on one hand the foods that I don’t like or would never try. However, the way that your ingredients come there is a lot of flexibility in how you prepare each dish. For this chili, I simply omitted the peppers and added some mushrooms that we had in the fridge. After cooking the ground beef, mushrooms, and white portions of green onions in a large skillet until there was no more pink in the ground beef it was time to finish the chili. To do this was easy, as all I had to do was add the premeasured ingredients, a small amount of water, and salt to the beef mixture. While it was cooking I made the Crema using the sour cream they sent and half of the green portion of the onions. It wasn’t long before it was done and it was time to eat. Garnishing the chili with the cheese, crema, bacon bits, and remaining onion I served us up each a nice sized bowl to enjoy. This is a very subtly flavored chili, nothing like the bold in your face flavor that we are used to. The hint of BBQ sauce in each bite was perfect!

Overall, we were delighted with each meal and are looking forward to our next Home Chef delivery this Friday!

Choose Your Plan

		On the Home Chef Plan! Every week they’ll recommend delicious meal kits that are a mix of fresh flavors and familiar favorites they think will please your palate.
		On the Fresh and Easy Plan! Every week they’ll recommend yummy meals that require little to no prep, simple cooking, and easy clean-up for fantastic dishes!

View Your Upcoming Menus
View all available menus for that week and upcoming weeks. Just use the calendar button to navigate through your upcoming orders, and click “Edit Meals” to update your selections for that week.

Select Your Meals
See a meal you want to try? Simply click Add to Order. Expecting company? The servings drop-down allows you to add servings. Many of the meals allow you to customize them. You can swap or upgrade ingredients to better suit your tastes. There are meals for the calorie-conscious, vegetarians, and those who are gluten, soy, dairy, or nut-free.

Manage your Deliveries
You can easily edit your delivery day and servings, skip weeks, or even pause your subscription on their website.

Share Home Chef and earn credit!
Earn free food by inviting your friends to sign up. They get $35 off their first order and when they receive their first order, you’ll get a $35 Home Chef credit to use on your next order, too! Bonus: The amount of credit you can earn through invitations is unlimited! And, the promotional discount recipient can freely choose to skip or cancel future deliveries free of charge once they redeem their referral credit.

I wanted to share our experience with this service and was not compensated in any way for this post. If you sign up I will earn a credit that I can use on my next order just like any other customer who refers a new user.

Each meal kit we received from Home Chef came with all the needed ingredients (except olive oil, salt, and pepper) and an easy-to-follow recipe so it was super easy to prepare a delicious meal. #mealdelivery #subscription #easymeals #cooking

What We Got In Our Home Chef Meal Delivery This Week + how to SAVE $35 on yours #mealdelivery #subscription #easymeals #cooking

Smart Tips for Online Shopping

Bring The Bakery Home With Brooklyn Bean Roastery’s Cherry Cheesecake Flavored Coffee

May 23, 2021 By Paula 3 Comments

Indulge and Enjoy This Richly Decadent Cherry Cheesecake Coffee

Have you been missing your favorite dessert from New York, Brooklyn’s famous Cherry Cheesecake? I know I have missed the dessert that is the perfect pairing of sweet and tart in my life! The hint of sweet cherries and tart cheesecake add the perfect touch of decadence to the quality coffee beans that Brooklyn Bean Roastery uses.

Meet Brooklyn Beans:

Modern and gritty meets high-end gourmet coffee for a result that is distinctly New York and has built a loyal following nationwide. Brooklyn Bean is the flagship brand for Two Rivers Coffee.

The people of Brooklyn have a style that is unique and diverse and we have adopted that style in our approach to coffee making. We understand that people have different tastes and preferences, which is why we offer a variety of roasts and flavors to suit every palate. From crisp, flavorful, light blends to full flavor, extra bold roasts to decadent flavored coffees, and all with one-of-a-kind names and packaging that captures the Brooklyn flair.

Product Description:

Limited Edition Spring Seasonal Flavor

Cheesecake may have originated 4,000 years ago in Greece, but New Yorkers perfected it in the 1900s, baby. Rich, smooth, creamy cheesecake. Add juicy cherries and badda bing, now you got some cheesecake. Want the mind-melting experience without the 310 calories and 7 grams of fat? Yeah you do. Brew a cup of Brooklyn cheesecake cherry for some sweet satisfaction.

Breakout your favorite mug or a coffee cup, insert your coffee pod into your coffee maker and enjoy your freshly brewed Brooklyn Beans Cherry Cheesecake Flavored Coffee. Extra fresh and filter brewed, using only the highest quality 100 percent Arabica beans.

All of Brooklyn Bean Roastery’s delicious individual blends include:

Highest quality of coffee beans; 100% Arabica coffee beans available in 12 specialty blends.
Revolutionary “Roast2Cup” processing for extra freshness and premium flavor. You are guaranteed a fresh-brewed cup every time.
Crafted with pride in the USA.
Compatible with many popular single-serve coffee machines.

At Brooklyn Beans Roastery, they’re not happy unless your last cup of coffee is as good as the first one of the day.

Indulge and Enjoy This Richly Decadent Cherry Cheesecake Coffee

Thoughts About This Coffee

In our house, coffee is on the menu every morning. I rarely drank coffee until I discovered Two Rivers Coffee. Now, I can’t start my day without it. We have tried many of their coffees, teas, and cocoas since discovering them. And are always pleased with the taste and the performance of their pods. Theirs is a coffee that we look forward to having each day.

Rich, smooth, creamy cheesecake, juicy cherries, and none of the calories!!! This blend delivered a lot of flavor without any bitterness. Join us. We’ll brew you up a cup of Brooklyn cheesecake cherry for some sweet satisfaction.

More about coffee.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check my right sidebar for some great coffee giveaways.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: This blog receives products or services for free to facilitate the writing of reviews. Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may at no cost to you receive a small affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

This post is sponsored by

Get Baby Milk The Perfect Temperature

May 22, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

Warming Baby Milk

As the mom of 4 and grandma to many more, I have spent a lot of late nights and early mornings, waiting for water to heat so I could warm up a bottle of milk. Not much is more stressful than a crying baby while you stare at the pot of water. That’s why a bottle warmer like this one from EVLAs is such a blessing for new parents and grandparents!

This baby bottle warmer allows you to speed things up. Warm baby milk in just 3 – 7 minutes! And, it can do more than just warm baby bottles! One feature that I really love is that it gives you the ability to schedule in advance when you would like the heating process to start. Since we still use powdered soy milk for our youngest granddaughter this warmer is a convenient way to have warm water ready. When we need it we just remove a bottle from the unit add the powder and mix. This baby bottle warmer also has a defrosting mode that’ll slowly thaw your baby’s milk or food. This allows you to defrost/heat milk or formula without losing nutrition.

The Perfect Temperature For Baby Milk

While the ideal milk temperature is at or just below body temperature, 98.6° F (37° C). That’s more of a guideline. Some babies prefer a temperature that is a little colder while others prefer their milk warmer. Milk that is over 104° F (40° C) is considered hot and may scald your baby. When milk reaches 125° F (51.7° C), the properties of the breast milk begin to deteriorate. I always used the wrist method to test the temperature of every bottle I gave my children and grandchildren. To do it: Shake the bottle and then just drop a couple of drops from the bottle onto the inside of your wrist. If it feels cold, warm it up a little more; if it feels hot, let it cool.

EVLAs Baby Bottle Warmer is a device with multiple functions, it is economical, easy, and fast to use! To operate it you simply press the mode button until the desired function is lit up. You can adjust the delay start time by using +/- buttons. Turning on the unit’s light is as simple as pressing the lamp button. Each function has its own default temperature settings, but you can press the +/- buttons to adjust the temperature. If you’re in a hurry and turn the unit way up, don’t forget to take out the bottle before it gets too hot!

Warm Baby Milk and So Much More!

This device is also a sanitizer! To sanitize the water tank, add 2/3 of a cup (150ml) of water to the tank and select the sanitize function. And, in 10 minutes you’ve got a clean, sterile unit to place your baby’s bottles in! Plus, you can safely sanitize pacifiers, bottles, and baby spoons in it.

2021 Top Baby Bottles

At 8.58 x 7.4 x 7.2 inches this unit is small enough to sit on your counter, nightstand, or any shelf. Yet with its inside basket having dimensions of 6 X 3 ½ inches this warmer is designed to fit bottles of various sizes up to 8.45 ounces (250ml). EVLAs Double Bottle Warmer is compatible with all major baby bottle brands.

Best Baby Bottles for 2020

No more screaming babies! Get your bottles ready to be warmed before going to bed and they will be ready to feed to your baby when needed! It is a perfect gift for new parents. Oh, how I wish we had been given one when our children were babies.

Planning a baby shower?
We’ve got some great tips and a checklist to help you do it like a pro.

Weight Loss For Women Over 40

May 19, 2021 By Paula Leave a Comment

Why is it so hard for women over 40 to lose weight?

Women typically have more body fat and less muscle than men. As we age, around age 40-50, we all lose lean muscle mass which in turn slows down our metabolism. Many of us also tend to decrease our activity thus burning fewer calories. This leads to weight gain. The gain is gradual, creeping up on us like a tiger in the night. Once we notice the extra pounds, the desire and need to lose weight begins. You start or increase your exercise. But, suddenly you realize that you no longer have the strength, flexibility, or endurance you once had. Nor does simply cutting out a snack or eliminating soda make the scale move anymore. Why is weight loss so elusive?

According to OB/GYN Stacy Weiss, M.D., at age 50, you need 200 fewer calories a day than you did when you were 20. This is assuming you are equally active at 50 as you were at 20. And after age 60, you need 400-500 calories less. Women often find that their spouses make the same changes as them and lose weight. You then wonder, aren’t we both going through these changes of muscle loss and a slowing metabolism as we age? Yes, you are. But as men age, they don’t have the same hormonal changes that women undergo. If you’re a guy, you can thank the testosterone you have — and the extra estrogen you don’t — for your weight loss edge. Women often gain weight in their abdomen during menopause due to a loss of hormones and a slower metabolism. Some women even have a name for their new potbelly — meno-pot.

In one study out of England, men and women were each put on commercial weight-loss programs such as Atkins, Slim-Fast, and Weight Watchers. Two months in, the men had lost twice as much weight as the women — and three times as much body fat. But by six months, the rate of weight loss had evened out between the genders. “Over the long-term, the playing field is more equal,” says dietician David Grotto, RDN, self-proclaimed “guyatician” and author of The Best Things You Can Eat. “It’s not a race to see who can lose weight the fastest. The important thing is that you’re both going in the same direction.”

Always consult your physician before starting any weight loss or exercise program.

A study by the National Weight Control Registry found that the study participants who had lost at least 30 pounds and had maintained that loss for one year or longer, used diet and exercise to not only lose the weight but also to maintain the weight loss. The NWCR is currently tracking over 10,000 individuals who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept it off for long periods of time.

According to Katherine Tallmadge, RD, the author of Diet Simple one big difference between the sexes lies in food preferences, “Men love their meat, and women are attached to carbohydrates.” A study that explores gender differences in reasons for losing weight, weight loss methods, and weight loss behaviors prior to and during a weight loss maintenance trial found that men and women also exhibit different attitudes and behaviors surrounding weight and weight management. While both men (74.0%) and women (68.2%) reported wanting to improve their health as a major motivator for losing weight. Women were more likely to list losing weight to enhance their feelings of personal esteem more frequently than men. Women are also much more likely than men to use an organized weight loss program to lose weight.

Top 23 Weight Loss Tips for Women

Add a healthy breakfast, work toward losing no more than one or two pounds per week, and incorporate long-term lifestyle changes if you want to increase the chance of successful long-term weight loss. Keeping weight off requires as much effort and commitment as it took to lose the weight. You can do it on your own. Or, if you are struggling to lose weight you can join a weight loss program or seek the guidance of someone like Andrew Hanoun, a Metabolism & Weight Expert. There are as many programs and diets out as there are reasons to lose weight. Finding one that works for you can take several attempts. Don’t give up. Your health and future are depending on it!

Check out more healthy weight-related posts here on our blog.

Teens Will Enjoy Flying This Beginner RC Helicopter From DEERC

April 22, 2021 By Paula 1 Comment

Are you ready for some fun? This RC Helicopter is a blast to fly!

You'll Enjoy Flying This Beginner Remote Control Helicopter From DEERC

This metal-bodied RC helicopter came with 2 different helicopter shells, one red and one blue. It is equipped with the latest Gyroscope technology, altitude hold, and automatic pair. Two modular batteries are included so that you can have double the flying time, about twenty minutes. It is equipped with a 2.4GHz remote control system that offers a stable signal and a non-jamming function. This prevents signal interference when flying multiple helicopters. A great feature to have with our twin grandchildren.

To get started flying this tiny guy, you simply turn on the helicopter and then turn on the remote. Next, you move the left joystick up and then down. When you hear one beep and the lights stop flashing you have pairing success and it’s time to FLY. If you have trouble pairing, confirm that the batteries in the remote are good. I say this from experience as I accidentally had an old battery in my supply of new batteries.

It is best suited as an indoor flying toy if you have a large room without any breakables. Since we did not have this we went outside on a day without any wind to test it out. This is an ideal RC helicopter for beginners and young teens. They are sure to have a lot of fun with it.

Want one of these remote control toys? Check out DEERC on the Walmart website.

Soap In Seconds! Quickly Clean Hands ~ No Rinsing & Alcohol Free!

April 15, 2021 By Paula 8 Comments

Soap In Seconds!

Gives You Clean Hands
That’s Convenient, Fast, & Alcohol-Free!

Germs are all around us, lurking on our clothes, our food, the items we touch, and especially on our hands and bodies. Health experts agree that soap and water works, just as well if not better than hand sanitizers, to prevent the spread of germs and viruses. Soap and water has been effective for hundreds of years because soap dissolves the membrane of a germ or virus — dissipating it and rendering it inactive. Hand sanitizers can be harsh leaving your hands dry and irritated after constant use. In some cases, such as situations where hands are dirty or sweaty, it has been found to be less effective than soap and water.

Soap in Seconds’ advanced foaming action leaves your hands feeling soft with a refreshing scent. You get up to 250 cleanings with each can. That’s a whole lot of clean hands! You can use it anywhere that washing hands with regular soap and water is difficult. And since it doesn’t have alcohol to dry your skin out, it is gentle on your hands.

Great ideas on where you can use Soap in Seconds!

at home	camping and hiking	at games or tailgating
at the park	after pumping gas	while boating or swimming
at work	when shopping	to clean high contact surfaces
at school	while traveling	and so much more

SOAP IN SECONDS! KEEPS HANDS CLEAN!

Soap is Seconds is simple soap and water…real fast.
Simply apply a golf ball-sized amount of soap in the palm of your hand and massage it in until no foam is visible. No rinsing needed. Washing hands has never been easier!

Remember these key times to wash your hands:

Before, during, and after preparing food
After using the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Ingredients

Aqua, Hydrogenated Jojoba oil, citric acid, carnonyl diamine, potassium hydroxide, sodium benzoate, propanediol, cocos nucifera (coconut oil), fragrance, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, propane, and butane (as a propellant), aqua

You’ll need to get more than one can because after trying it you’ll want to keep a can in your car, garage, boat, backpack, shed, hurricane kit, bugout bag, emergency kit, golf bag, desk, RV, and anywhere else you go that access to water is limited. Visit the Rock Doctor Website to learn more. Ready to get some of this great product for yourself? Visit Home Depot or Amazon to purchase Soap and in Seconds.

Now that you’re headed out, get ready to take on the great outdoors with some Realtree Blaze Coffee!

#WashYourHands with Soap in Seconds - Real Soap and Water Alternative to Hand Sanitizer When You're On The Go #staysafe #protectyourself #covid_19

Feel Like a Star with Your Very Own Hollywood Lighted Make-Up Mirror

March 31, 2021 By Paula 1 Comment

This lighted make-up mirror is perfect for creating flawless makeup.

This classic Hollywood-style lighted make-up mirror from ELLA BELLA is the beginning of a stunning look. Its adjustable lights allow you to try out and experiment with new looks. This vanity mirror comes with twenty built-in LED vanity lights that offer three light tones, bright white, warm white, and warm yellow. It also offers just the right illumination. With an easy press of a button, you can adjust the brightness up or down. You can apply your makeup under the right tone and brightness so that you will be a vision of loveliness where your day or evening will take you. The vanity mirror lights are powered by the standard AC adapter which is included.

Feel Like a Star with Your Very Own Classic Hollywood Lighted Make Up Mirror

Every effort was made to ensure the safe delivery of our mirror. It arrived in perfect condition thanks to being packed in a fitted styrofoam form and the extra care that was taken in securing it with column-shaped air pillows. Thank goodness they went the extra mile because Amazon placed this box, which was prominently marked FRAGILE, inside a much larger box without any warnings. Even after bouncing around inside this box all the way to our home it still arrived safely.

We found this mirror easy to start using and the base very sturdy right out the box. After setting it on a flat surface and plugging it in, all we have to do is press a few buttons to get the lighting set to the perfect brightness and warmth. This mirror is the perfect size for most dressing tables and vanities. But if your space is limited, thanks to the detachable base, this mirror is easy to install on the wall.

The two magnification modes, 10X and 5X, are actually two small round mirrors. They each have suction cups on the back so you can position and reposition them anywhere you want on the mirror. We love that this Ella Bella Vanity Mirror has a USB charge port on the side which allows the charging of a smartphone or other USB device. We didn’t need to charge our phone so we plugged a Bluetooth speaker into it to listen to music while getting ready.

Quality we can depend on, as all of ELLA BELLA’s products come with a 2-year warranty. If you are unhappy for ANY reason, they will MAKE IT RIGHT or REFUND YOUR MONEY anytime, NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

Make sure you’re the best diva you can be. Don’t forget to check your makeup as well as your outfit under the different lighting conditions that this mirror offers.

This Activity Tracker Smart Watch is a Great Gift to get the Techie on your list Moving!

December 3, 2020 By Paula Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a special gift for the active techie on your list?

Whether they be young, old, and somewhere in between this cool activity tracker smart watch is sure to please them!

UMIDIGI Urun Activity Tracker
for iPhone, Samsung, and Android System

About The Activity Tracker:

Fashionable Smart Watch for Women and Men UMIDIGI Urun is a round smartwatch, 44mm in diameter, constructed with a light-weight Aluminum frame. Displayed by a 1.1 inch round full-color screen. Two Buttons on the right side together with the touch screen provides a smooth operating experience.
Private Consultant for Your Health This smart watch offers health monitors for you, high precision heart rate monitor and blood oxygen measuring, sleep tracking, sedentary reminder, after measuring, it will create graphs to provide visible health data for you to know your physical condition easier.
Coach for Achieving Fitness Goals Unlike normal smartwatches, Urun has an individual built-in high precision GPS receiver, 17 Sport modes for your choice. It will also record heart rate monitoring data which is comparable to the heart rate belt. You could find more accurate and more detailed fitness data in the Paiactive App, like GPS tracking, calorie consumption, average pace, stride, etc.
Assistant for Your Daily Life After connected to your smartphone in Paiactive via Bluetooth, you can switch on notifications for most communicating apps like Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Besides, you can also check the weather forecast, control a music player, and camera shutter in the watch.
Reliable and Stable Quality, Wide Compatibility Urun passed 5ATM waterproof test, which allows you to swim in the pool without worries. A high-intensity lithium battery allows you to use the watch longer, 40 days in standby time, or 7 to 10 days for daily use. And it is compatible with most smartphones like Apple Xiaomi Samsung Huawei etc.

This Activity Tracker Smart Watch is a Great Gift to get the Techie on Your List Moving! #ad #SMGN #giftideas #holiday #giftguide

My Thoughts About This Activity Tracker:

This affordable watch will keep you up to date with the latest in fitness and activity tracking. This watch works with iPhone (11/11 pro/11 max/11 pro max/XS/X/8/8 plus/7/7 plus/6/6s/6 plus/6s plus/5/se) ios phones; Samsung (Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S9, S9 Plus, S8, S8 Plus, S7, S7)(Edge, S6, S6 Edge, S5)(Note 8, 5, 4); HUAWEI (P30/P10/P9/MATE30/MATE30 Pro/MATE9/MATE 8/MATE 7); HTC; SONY; LG; OnePlus; Nexus; Google (pixel/pixel xl) BlackBerry, and other smartphones with iOS 8.0/Android 4.4 or above and Bluetooth 4.0 or above without losing any of the available features.

After syncing the device with your smartphone you can track your heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, and more. You can also get notifications for most communicating apps like Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc right on the watch. As if that wasn’t enough to love this watch you can also set medication and sedentary reminders as well as check the weather forecast in Celcius, control a paired music player, and remotely click your phone’s camera shutter with the activity tracking app. This watch adds some interesting flexibility to your phone’s uses.

This techie gift is sure to get them plugged in and moving!

This UMIDIGI Urun Activity Tracker Smart Watch is a Great Gift to get the Techie on Your List Moving!

Get Your UMIDIGI Urun Activity Tracker Smart Watch On AMAZON TODAY!

Be sure to check out the other great gift ideas on our holiday gift guide!

Super easy to fly, this little drone is a newbie’s dream!

November 30, 2020 By Paula 3 Comments

DEERC D10 Foldable Drone

The D10 is an extremely user-friendly drone.

We recently received this little foldable drone to test. Built to be easy to fly by even the newest of newbies, this Deerc D10 Foldable Drone is intended for anyone over the age of 14. Although, I believe that with its simple controls and features such as one key start/landing, altitude hold, headless mode, and speed adjustment, pre-teens could successfully fly this drone.

Having a drone that is so compact is convenient and the carry bag that DEERC has included is a huge bonus, As soon as we uploaded the app to our phone it was clear that they had taken previous user suggestions to heart. And, tried to provide users with a great experience. The first thing I checked out was the video tutorial and found it very informative. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can always have some fun using the included controller.

This drone comes with a camera integrated into the body. With just 720 pixels it doesn’t provide the sharp images that we get with our higher resolution drone cameras. However, at this price point, we believe that it meets the needs and expectations of most flyers.

The D20 is very lightweight and so is the controller. Without any substantial weight, this drone is not designed to be flown on windy days or taken up to higher altitudes where there can be strong winds. If you do it could easily be blown off course so keep a close eye on it. Coming in around 6 inches by 7 inches this little guy can easily fit into almost any pocket and go where ever the mood takes you. For such a small drone it sure is a scrappy little guy. With this drone, you can take the fun with you!

DEERC D10 Foldable Drone With Camera

Specification

Video/Photo Resolution HD 1280*720P

Folding Size 180*142*65mm

Unfolding Size 340*340*65mm

Flight Time 12-15mins/per battery

Control Distance 100meter

Package Contents

1x D10 Drone

1x Transmitter

2x 3.7V Drone Battery

1x USB Charging Cable

4x Spare Propellers

4x Propeller Guards

1x Manual

1x Screwdriver

1x carrying bag

Foldable Drone Description:

User-Friendly: D10 is extremely user-friendly that comes with one key start/landing, Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, Speed Adjustment functions, adapts to all experience levels even for kids and beginners; 3D Flips function makes flight attractive even for the drone newbies.
Farther and Clearer: This drone provides smooth FPV transmission within a range of up to 80m. You can capture and record 720P HD aerial footage, and share it instantly on Social Media through the DEERC app.
Considerate Design: D10 drone can be folded up into a compact and portable shape, fit easily into a backpack, perfect to take it traveling. Comes with 2 modular batteries that support up to 24 to 30 minutes of play. 4 Propeller Guards that fully protect the propellers and improves flight safety.
Advance Features: Waypoints flying is the newest technology that by drawing a flight course on your smartphone, the drone will fly accordingly; Show your palm or V sign to the front camera, D10 will automatically take a photo or video.
Intelligent Control: You can control the drone through the built-in G-sensor, adjusting the vertical and horizontal of on smartphone without a remote controller; Or control your drone with simple voice commands like“take off”, “landing”, “left”, “right”, “forward”, “backward”.

We really loved the ease of flying this drone. It performed the way we expected it to.

Looking for a mini folding drone? Check out the DEERC D20. This foldable mini drone is a handful!

Crave Southern Pecan is… Nutty, Buttery goodness all brewed into a fantastic cup of joe.

November 28, 2020 By Paula Leave a Comment

Crave Southern Pecan is…

Nutty, Buttery goodness all brewed into a fantastic cup of joe.

Southern Pecan Coffee, with the buttery nutty taste of sweet pecan and a hint of maple, is a morning treat!

Thanks to a variety of boxes, over the last several years we’ve had to opportunity to enjoy the flavors that are offered by the Crave Coffee brand. Once we took our first sip of this flavorful southern pecan coffee, we knew that their single-serve pods weren’t going to be around our house for very long! And so it was true with our newest box of Crave Coffee, their Southern Pecan. This 100% fresh roasted Arabica coffee offers the buttery nutty taste of sweet pecan with a hint of maple. It really is a morning treat!

We found each of the pods in our newest box from Crave to be made with quality coffee. Coffee that is as smooth and mellow as it is bold and flavorful. The flavor profiles of all their coffees match perfectly with Crave’s big flavors. And, as the morning sun shines through the darkness of dawn so does the flavor of warm pecan shine through in this coffee.

Of course, Southern Pecan is one of our favorite flavors offered by Crave because it’s like having a slice of warm Southern PIE in our cup!

Crave Coffee offers eight flavors in their single-serve pods and come in 40 and 100 count boxes. We love that their prices are affordable and that they offer great savings over many other brands. Plus, all their pods contain no sweeteners, making them a guilt-free, calorie-free flavored coffee option.

Want more things PECAN? Check out…

No Churn Sundae Swirl Butter Pecan Coffee Flavored ICE CREAM!

and

Meemaw’s Famous Pecan Pie Recipe

What Do You Crave?

Enjoy guilt-free decadent flavored coffees – No sweeteners & No calories.

Crave Coffee has the flavors that you’ll keep on Cravin’!


Vermont Maple Coffee that tastes like it is straight from the sugar house!	Southern Pecan Nutty, Buttery goodness all brewed into a fantastic cup of joe.	Hazelnut Classic, time-tested, and scrumptious.	French Vanilla Coffee with the delightful taste of creamy vanilla swirled in.


Cinnamon Spicy and Sweet, Cinnamon is a delicious compliment to a smooth cup of coffee.	Caramel Adding the ooey gooey flavor of sweet caramel to hot cup of coffee is pure perfection.	Butter Toffee A smooth, rich buttery flavored coffee, perfect for a morning or afternoon treat.	Blueberry Vanilla Bursting with sweet ripe blueberries and silky vanilla, this is a flavor combination that will leave you craving more.

Crave Southern Pecan is... Nutty, Buttery goodness all brewed into a fantastic cup of joe.

Crave Southern Pecan Coffee

two rivers coffee

This Post Is Sponsored By Two Rivers Coffee
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We often hold giveaways for this great sponsor so be sure to watch my right sidebar for your chance to WIN FREE COFFEE!

$25 Fire Dept Coffee egift Card Giveaway ~ Closed

November 16, 2020 By Paula Leave a Comment

$25 Fire Dept Coffee egift Card Giveaway

Welcome to the
$25 Fire Dept Coffee egift Card Giveaway!

1 Winner $25 Fire Dept Coffee egift Card

This giveaway is part of our Holiday Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

HOST IS SWEET SOUTHERN SAVINGS and

MICHIGAN SAVING AND MORE

Here We Go Again Ready, Seeking Serenity and Harmony, The Mommies Reviews,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This giveaway’s Sponsor is:

~~~

1 Winner receives the $25 Fire Dept Coffee egift Card

$25 Fire Dept Coffee egift Card

Inspired by the vital role that coffee plays in helping firefighters stay alert and energized through long shifts, Fire Dept Coffee up and coming veteran-owned business is dedicated to providing great-tasting coffee to people everywhere.

$25

See review HERE.

~~~~~~

THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway/sweepstake is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/25/20. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at Gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contest is responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Paula Stewart at paula_stewart (at)ymail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

Entry -Form

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More great giveaways located on my right sidebar!

So be sure to enter TODAY if you would like lots of chances to WIN!

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Sweet Southern Savings please contact us HERE.

Thank You For Visiting Today!
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Veteran Owned Fire Department Coffee Is Helping Us Stay Alert and Energized!

November 10, 2020 By Paula 5 Comments

Veteran Owned Fire Department Coffee

Inspired by the vital role that coffee plays in helping firefighters stay alert and energized through long shifts, this up and coming veteran-owned business is dedicated to providing great-tasting coffee to people everywhere. Fire Department Coffee was founded in 2016 by full-time firefighters/paramedics Jason Patton and Luke Schneider, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran. Fire Department Coffee is run by active and retired firefighters, including their operations officer and chief coffee roaster.

At Fire Department Coffee, every order is freshly roasted in Rockford, Illinois, by a dedicated team of firefighters, first responders, and coffee connoisseurs. Choose your favorite flavor, roast, or source of freshly roasted coffee…

To celebrate Fall and the holiday season there are two unique flavors available, Harvest Blend (their take on pumpkin spice!) and Christmas Blend, with its sweet spices and berry notes.

Have a favorite coffee source? With FDC’s single-sourced coffee you can tempt senses and satisfy your palate with the best Honduras, Colombia, Brazil, and Nicaragua have to offer.

For ages, people have been adding spirits to their cup of Joe and this has not been overlooked by these coffee veterans. Their signature spirit-infusion process expertly combines the flavors of bourbon, whiskey, rum, or tequila with their best coffee beans for a unique cup of java. After infusing a premium spirit into the best coffee beans, the alcohol is cooked out, leaving the subtle and sweet flavor of real spirits. Now you can drink whenever you want because all of their spirit infused coffees are non-alcoholic.

Get the roast you love! FDC comes in espresso, extra caffeinated, decaf, light, medium, or dark roasts. In addition to one and six-pound bags that you can get in your choice of ground or whole bean, three of the Fire Department Coffee favorite roasts plus their signature bourbon spirit infused coffee are also available in Keurig-compatible single-serve cups.

Here are the three great Fire Department Coffee brand coffees that we got to enjoy:

HARVEST BLEND COFFEE

The leaves are changing, there’s a chill in the air, and fall festivities are right around the corner. What better way to kick start flannel weather season than by drinking our Harvest Blend? Coffee beans from Honduras and Nicaragua, this medium-dark roasted blend combines a Dark chocolate flavor with Baker’s Spice.

SKULL-CRUSHING ESPRESSO

The explosively bold taste of the Skull-Crushing Espresso will not only keep you alert, it’ll wake the dead. This Honduran coffee blend delivers a full-bodied and mind-blowing flavor. It’s dark and smooth, with hints of citrus & dark chocolate. Brew it in an espresso machine or a standard drip coffee maker. No matter your choice, you’ll get the same amazing flavor in every cup.

IRISH WHISKEY INFUSED COFFEE

When you drink this Egan’s® Irish whiskey-infused coffee you’ll experience coffee in ways that you never have before. Thanks to their signature spirit-infused process, you can enjoy the flavors of toffee, butterscotch, and vanilla with every sip. Whether you’re on the job or at home, a well-timed cup of coffee makes all the difference.

As soon as you open a bag of this fire department coffee the beautiful aroma of fresh coffee lets you know that your journey of a great coffee experience is about to begin.

I chose this one for myself! Made with top quality coffee beans, this medium roast coffee is masterfully infused with the flavor of rich dark chocolate and an aromatic blend of spices; cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and star anise. This coffee is luxurious and rivals any pumpkin spice coffee! With dark chocolate and Baker’s Spice, this Harvest Blend is the Fall flavor combination we’ve been missing.

Mom is the Irish Whiskey fan in our family so this coffee was selected especially for her. I showed up with bag in hand and a big smile hidden under my facemask. After months of not being able to visit with my parents, it was nice to be able to stop by and have a cup of coffee with mom on the porch. My visits for the last six months have been focused on taking care of things that needed to be done around the house. However, once we sat down with our freshly brewed coffee and began to chat I quickly realized that we were sharing more than a cup of great coffee. They have been so isolated since this craziness began that one thing that we all needed was the company and companionship that came from sitting on the porch watching the birds visit the feeders. Of course, Dad was sitting on the swing fussing about the squirrels raiding them while Mom and I talked up a storm. What great memories, what great coffee!

For Marcus, the tough Marine Veteran in our house, I knew we needed to get serious when it came to selecting his brew. So Skull-Crushing Espresso it had to be! They were right when they said this Honduran blend would not only keep you alert, it would wake the dead. Thanks to great care in the selection and roasting of the coffee beans this brews up bold and full of flavor yet is not overly acidic. If you like your coffee to slap you awake with an explosion of flavor this brew is a must-have.

During their Veterans Day Sale, everyone can get 15% Off Storewide!!!! This not only includes their awesome coffee but also their gear, like this beautifully crafted ceramic coffee mug complete with the Fire Department Coffee Maltese Cross logo that we got to gift to one of our local volunteer firefighters. This handmade pottery mug, proudly made right here in the USA, holds a whopping 14 ounces of coffee. Plus, spend 25+ and get a free Pike Pole Keychain. Just use code PIKEPOLE when you checkout.

In addition to offering a growing selection of gear and incredible coffee — including their signature spirit-infused roasts — Fire Dept. Coffee also supports heroes in need through the Fire Department Coffee Foundation. Ten percent of net proceeds are donated to help provide resources and assistance to first responders who have been injured on the job, mentally or physically, or who are facing other serious health challenges.

Active military, veterans, first responders, and emergency dispatchers get a 15% discount for life. Active Military and Veterans enter discount code MIL15 at checkout. And, for Active and Retired First Responders the discount code is 15FR.

Holiday Recipes: Homemade Eggnog Recipe

October 22, 2020 By Paula Leave a Comment

The combining of raw eggs and alcohol is a long-standing winter tradition. Nogs go back to merry old England. The idea of mixing eggs with alcohol and spices is a very old world thing and the original varieties were hot drinks involving beer and raw eggs. The chilled eggnog that we enjoy today didn’t become popular until the mid-19th century.

When it comes to eggnog you have several choices — most follow a basic formula: eggs are mixed with sugar, milk or cream, and liquor. You also have the choice between brandy, whiskey, or rum, no liquor at all. And there are even egg-free and dairy-free options. No matter which one you choose, take one sip of one of the homemade eggnogs below and you’ll never go back to the store-bought version! With these recipes, you’ll make the best eggnog at home for Christmas and holiday parties. They’re all rich, creamy, and oh so egg-y.

Homemade Eggnog

INGREDIENTS

12 eggs
1 1/2 cups Bourbon (3/4 pint)
1/2 cup Cognac (1/4 pint)
1/3 cup Dark Rum (1/6 pint)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
6 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
Freshly grated nutmeg, for serving

DIRECTIONS

Separate the eggs. Place the yolks in your mixing bowl. Check out this 3-Bowl Method for an easy way to do this step. Cover the whites and refrigerate or freeze until needed.
Add the sugar to the yolks and whisk by hand or with a mixer until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and lightened to a lemon-yellow color.
Add the salt, milk, cream, and liquor (if using, be sure to stir while adding). Whisk until combined.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. If you are adding the liquor, this mixture will last for several weeks in the fridge. If aging for longer than a few days, transfer the eggnog to a sealed glass container or a mason jar.
Just before serving, whisk the reserved egg whites in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer at high speed until they form stiff peaks. For best results, place your bowl and whisk/beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Transfer the beaten egg whites to the bowl with the eggnog and gently fold or stir the whites into the base. Some of the egg whites will also float to the top, like cappuccino foam.

Raw eggs: This recipe contains raw eggs. Use very fresh, organic eggs if at all possible. Be aware that consuming raw or undercooked eggs can increase your risk for certain food-borne illnesses, especially if you have a medical condition.

TIPS:
The more liquor you add, the longer the eggnog will keep — non-alcoholic eggnog will save you 100 calories per serving but it should be consumed within 1 day. Eggnog with liquor will keep for several days to several weeks, depending on the amount added. The mixture must be at least 20-percent alcohol and aged at least 3 weeks to benefit from the pathogen-killing properties of the booze. There are several tales online of delicious eggnogs that have been aged for a year!

Even richer eggnog: Feel free to play with the proportions of whole milk to cream, keeping the total dairy the same. Using more heavy cream will make your eggnog thicker and creamier. Boozy eggnog will also continue to thicken in the fridge as it ages.

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe: 16
Per Serving: 262 calories; protein 7.3g; carbohydrates 23.4g, 8% DV; fat 9g, 12% DV; cholesterol 142mg, 47% DV; sodium 121mg, 5% DV.

DIRECTIONS FOR EGGNOG WITHOUT RAW EGGS:

Use the same ingredients listed above.
Whisk eggs, sugar, and salt together in a large saucepan. Slowly whisk in milk until well combined. Using a candy thermometer, cook mixture over low heat while stirring constantly, until it becomes thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and registers 165°F (this can take up to 15 minutes).
Stir in 2 tsp vanilla and nutmeg. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least three hours and up to 2 days.
Just before serving, whip cream with powdered sweetener and remaining vanilla into soft peaks and gently fold into the egg mixture. Add 1 oz liquor or liqueur to each glass and pour eggnog over. Stir gently and sprinkle with grated nutmeg

The use of a good thermometer is important. You need to know the exact temperature of your mixture while you are whisking it as raw eggs are cooked at 160°F (71°C), your mixture must reach at least that temperature. But don’t go over 170°F to 175°F or your eggs while start to curdle and your eggnog will be much too thick.

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe: 16
Per Serving: 262 calories; protein 7.3g; carbohydrates 23.4g, 8% DV; fat 9g, 12% DV; cholesterol 142mg, 47% DV; sodium 121mg, 5% DV.

Save on Calories and Carbs:

Swap out the dairy milk for unsweetened nut milk or hemp milk.
Swap out the sugar for a good low carb natural sweetener. Swerve is a good one that measures just like sugar, but you can use whatever your favorite sweetener is as this homemade eggnog doesn’t require a certain sweetener for consistency.
Switch out the whole milk and use coconut whipped cream in place of the whipping cream for a dairy-free version.

Nutrition Facts
Switching out the milk and sugar will save you almost 100 calories and over 20g of carbohydrates while only adding about 30mg of sodium and dropping the protein to 4.7g.

Rockefeller Eggnog

At Rockefeller University, the Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology has been making a raw-eggs-and-alcohol eggnog for at least 60 years. It calls for leaving the egg, sugar, cream, spices, and alcohol mixture in the fridge for about six weeks. They usually make it about a week or so before Thanksgiving, sip it to cheer Thanksgiving, and then finish it at the Christmas party. The recipe they use comes from Dr. Rebecca Lancefield, a microbiologist who joined Rockefeller University in 1918 and was associated with that institute throughout her long and outstanding career. Here is the original Dr. Rebecca Lancefield’s recipe that they use. I was surprised to see there is no whole milk in it.

INGREDIENTS

12 eggs
1-quart heavy cream
1-quart light cream
1-quart bourbon
1-pint rum
sugar to taste (1/2 to 3/4 Lb) (1 1/8 cups to 1 2/3 cups)
nutmeg to taste

DIRECTIONS

Beat eggs, add bourbon and rum slowly with stirring to prevent precipitation of egg proteins.
Add the light cream with mixing using a large spoon.
Add the sugar to taste with mixing, then nutmeg last.
In a separate bowl beat heavy cream ’till peaks
Add to the egg/bourbon/rum – mix into rest.
Leave standing at least overnight with the lid slightly ajar in the refrigerator. Serve after 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator.

Depending on your preference you may want to use 1-quart rum and 1-pint bourbon.

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe: 16
Per Serving: 700 calories; protein 6.7g; carbohydrates 24.5g, 9% DV; fat 44g, 56% DV; cholesterol 272mg, 91% DV; sodium 90mg, 4% DV. This recipe is not for the faint of heart. Give it a try if you dare! With 43mcg, it does give you 214% of your daily Vitamin D needs.

When it comes to eggnog you have several choices — most follow a basic formula: eggs are mixed with sugar, milk or cream, and liquor. And there's even egg-free and dairy-free options. No matter which one you choose, take one sip of one of the homemade eggnogs here and you'll never go back to the store-bought version! Be sure to whip up an extra batch to make an eggnog pie and some eggnog whipped topping, too! #ThirstyThursday #Recipe #Holiday #Homemade #Eggnog #HolidayRecipe

Check out more recipes on Sweet Southern Savings.

Hello Brooklyn Bean Hazelnut Coffee, My Old Friend!

October 15, 2020 By Paula Leave a Comment

The sweetness and flavor of Hazelnut add just a touch of decadence to the quality coffee beans that Brooklyn Bean Roastery uses. Hit the pause button on your busy life and join me, I've got your cup waiting for you!

Brooklyn Bean Roastery’s Hazelnut Flavored Coffee is perfect from the first sip to the last!

Hazelnut is right up there with vanilla when it comes to popular flavored coffees in our house. With its natural hazelnut flavor added to a smooth and mellow coffee, Brooklyn Beans Roastery Hazelnut Coffee balances an inviting aroma with a rich, nutty flavor for the perfect cup of coffee.

Made from 100% fresh roasted Arabica coffee, each cup is filled with quality coffee, that is smooth and mellow. While brewing, this coffee offers an inviting aroma with a rich, nutty flavor. Having consumed more than 300 cups of this coffee over the years, I always look forward to the enticing aroma of this coffee as my dear friend says “Good Morning” to my nose and taste buds.

Rest, Relax, and Have Some Hazelnut Flavored Coffee

As we go through the hustle and bustle of everyday life it’s good to take a moment to relax and enjoy the finer things in life. So when I feel like I’m in the middle of chaos and need a timeout, I like to give myself a break with a cup of this delicious Hazelnut flavored coffee. The sweetness and flavor of Hazelnut add just a touch of decadence to the quality coffee beans that Brooklyn Bean Roastery uses. Hit the pause button on your busy life and join me. I’ve got a cup waiting for you!