Defense Sport Mouthguard Rinse Review and Giveaway

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Do you or your child play contact sports? We all know how important it is to use protection during contact sports and this means protecting our teeth too. Wearing a mouth guard is the best way to protect the teeth. What happens when that mouth guard becomes contaminated? When I think about the football players at our local high school. I think about the tackles they take and the dirt and grime that gets on their hands, not to mention the sweat and blood from other players. Then they use those hands to pull out their mouth guards. All I can say to that is, gross and yuck.

One study in Sports Dentistry by Thomas Glass, D.D.S et al, found five different molds on one young athletes mouthguard. That's enough to make me not want to put any guard in my mouth.

The experts at Defense Sport have found an easy to use solution to this disgusting problem. Defense Sport Mouthguard Rinse was developed to kill the bacteria that can cause infection. The nice thing is that it doesn't just work on sports mouth guards. Both my husband and I have dental bite guards. I don't use mine every night, but when I do, I always wonder what has grown on it while it's been sitting on my nightstand. I've always rinsed it in water, but I've never been confident that it is enough.

Defense Sport Mouthguard Rinse works on dental bite guards.

I am thrilled to find a product that will work at keeping my bite guard free from the bacteria that can cause periodontal disease. Defense Sport Mouthguard Rinse is a fairly inexpensive product with a 16 oz. bottle only costing around $10.00. The price goes down for larger quantities. Not a lot to pay for peace of mind.  My experience using it was super easy. All I had to to was rinse, shake, and bite. It literally is a simple rinse. The rinse has a mint flavor, albeit very faint. However, the flavor doesn't last more than a few seconds which was fine by me since I wasn't thrilled about putting something in my mouth that might taste weird. Since the rinse is alcohol free, I didn't have to worry about alcohol breaking down my very expensive dental bite guard. I also didn't have to worry about my teeth rotting after wearing my device all night because the mouthguard rinse is sugar free as well. I didn't find any drawbacks with the product other than I didn't love the faint flavor, but since it didn't last long at all, it wasn't a big deal. My husband used it as well and didn't even notice any flavor. He was happy to find a product that was easy to use and kept his dental bite guard clean as well. Defense Sport Mouthguard Rinse is 100% made in the U.S.A.

Ref. article: "Possible disease transmission by contaminated mouthguards in two young football players." by R. Thomas Glass, DDS et al Sports Dentistry Sept./Oct. 2007 pg.436

**Disclosure: I received a bottle of product at no charge for review purposes only. This in no way influenced my opinion of the product.

Contest Details: Defense Sport has generously offered one of my readers a 16 oz. bottle of Defense Sport Mouthguard Wash as well as a Defense Sport t-shirt. Please use the Rafflecopter form for entry. By entering, you agree to the terms of the contest on the Rafflecopter form. Contest begins 2/27/2012 and ends 3/11/2012 at 12:01 AM EST.

Country Bobs All Purpose Sauce Review and Giveaway

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 I've never been much of a red meat eater, but my youngest son loves it and always asks me when we are having steak for dinner. He likes ribs too. To say he was pleased to find out we were having ribs for dinner to try out Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce would be an understatement.

We used Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce on beef ribs. I spread the sauce on both sides of the ribs and grilled them on a piece of tin foil. When the ribs were done, I drizzled more Country Bob's sauce on them.

Since dinner is a family affair at our house and we actually sit down together at the table, I let my boys help me with the review.  My hubby described the sauce as a nice tang with just the right amount of sweetness and promptly gave it a thumbs up.

My oldest son was too busy diving for the ribs and making sure he got more than his fair share to tell us what he thought. He did manage to give me the thumbs up sign while he was stuffing his face.

Our yummy ribs covered with Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce

My youngest son said the sauce and ribs were super good and asked why I didn't make them more often. He asked if we could have steak the next night to eat it again and was more than disappointed when I told him no. Definitely a thumbs up from him.

As for me, I liked the sauce as well. It was good for using as a marinade as well as dipping meat in. The boys even liked it for their tater tots in. It does have a nice hint of sweet without being too sweet. The only thing about the sauce we didn't like is that our ribs ran out before we were wanted them too and we didn't leave enough in the bottle to cook another set for the next week. I too gave Country Bob's a  thumbs up.

Country Bob's All Purpose sauce got not two, but four thumbs up from us.

I would love to try some of Country Bob's other products, like the seasoning salt or the barbeque sauce. The gift pack would be a big hit in our house any time of year. Country Bob's has proudly been making sauce in the U.S.A. since 1982.

Want to try Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce? Country Bob's sent me an extra bottle to give to one of my lucky readers. Contest Details: Please use the Rafflecopter form. By entering the contest, you agree to the terms of the contest. Winner will receive one bottle of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce ($2.69 ARV). Contest starts 2/25/2012 and ends 3/8/2012 10:01 MST.


**Disclosure: I received a free bottle of sauce for review purposes only. No other compensated was received.

Lucky Clover St. Patricks Event Blog Hop Giveaway Sign Ups

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                 Lucky Clover St Patty's Event - Blogger Sign-Ups

I'm excited to be participating in my first blog hop giveaway event hosted by Anderson's Angels and Joy of Momma Joyner.We would love to have you join us.

Rules to Participate: 

• You must get at least a $25 prize/package together to be given away during the event. It can be ANYTHING!  (Ideas: All Green Things, "Green" Living, St Patrick's Day, Lucky Items, Spring Fun, etc.)
• You must display the event button in your sidebar from now until the event ends
• Participation is completely FREE! All you have to do is make sure the button is on your blog side bar, and write a post encouraging other bloggers to join in the fun! Put the link to the blog post in the form.
• If you would like to participate in a GRAND PRIZE CASH GIVEAWAY, you can send $5 (gift) to tristaeanderson05@gmail.com via PayPal. This will get you TWO social media entry options! (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Email, GFC, Pinterest, Klout, etc.) The GRAND PRIZE CASH value will be determined when we know how many people are going to participate in that part of the giveaway. The GRAND PRIZE CASH GIVEAWAY will be hosted on Anderson's Angels and Joy Of Momma Joyner. We ask that you refer your readers to either of those two sites to enter the CASH GIVEAWAY!

If you have any questions feel free to email Trista at andersonsangels2010@gmail.com or Courtney at joyofmommajoyner@gmail.com


You will definitely want to join us in this FUN Event! But you've got to HURRY! Sign-ups will end as soon as there are 75 blogs participating OR by March 10, 2012! Your spot on the Linky will be determined by how soon you fill out the form. We are so excited to spread the LUCK together! Don't forget, once you have your blog post up, fill out THIS FORM and put the link to your post in that form. 

Nissan Dealerships in Ontario and Fontana, California

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                                                              Metro Nissan Montclair

I always assumed foreign car companies made all of their cars overseas and shipped them to the United States. Imagine my surprise when I found out Nissan has three manufacturing plants in the USA, in Smryna and Decherd, TN and one in Canton, MS. That means that at least some of the assembly and manufacturing of the Nissan's sold in the United States are made here, thus providing much needed jobs in this country. Since I am in the market for a new car, I was happy to hear the Nissan Alitma that I've had my eye on is something I could buy and feel good about supporting U.S. jobs.

Shopping for cars is never easy. That's why I welcome the experience of others to help me. That is why I am happy to offer this guest post:

There are plenty of Nissan dealerships available in the California area. I had recently moved from Oregon to California (I know, a big change!) and did not have the slightest clue as to what dealerships were good and which ones were not. I had to get a new car, because I had a used Corona that just could not stand to run anymore apparently. It was to the point where I was going out on an errand and I was scared if I was going to make it back to my house without my car completely breaking down, or like it sounded, about to blow up. So I decided to check out two dealerships in particular, Fontana Nissan and Puente Hills Nissan. Both were very professional upon first glance and I felt completely comfortable strolling inside even though I was not a California native. I know that it would not have mattered much where I was from, considering all they were really interested in was my money. But that is besides the point, and I would have to say that I spent my money very wisely at the Fontana dealership. Although Ontario Nissan did offer a pretty expansive inventory, I noticed that some of their cars seemed to be over-priced for what they really were. At Fontana, I felt like everything was affordable, and I really loved the fact that they had so many different types of specials to offer us customers. I bought a brand new Nissan Altima from the dealership in Fontana and have never regretted it. My car still looks just as gorgeous as the first day that I purchased it. The Nissan Altima runs absolutely wonderful and, in my opinion, is one of the best looking cars available on the market today. I still visit Fontana dealership now and again depending on what specials they are offering and what is on sale.

Brought to you by www.metronissanmontclair.com


**Disclosure: In compliance with FTC regulations, this is a sponsored post.

Woolite® COMPLETE Product Review

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I have used Woolite in the past for my gentle fabrics and have had good experiences with it. I was happy to learn that Woolite now has a detergent I can use on all of my clothes called Woolite Complete.

It is always scary for me to try new laundry detergents. So many of them make my skin itch. When I find one that doesn't bother my sensitive skin, it's hard to stop using it to try something new. Lucky for me, I branched out to try the Woolite Complete. It has a light scent that left my clothes smelling fresh without the heavy scents that usually make my skin itch. None of the clothes I washed with Woolite were heavily soiled so I can't say how it worked for tough stains. However, for the everyday was I used it for, the detergent left my clothes clean. I was especially happy with the way Woolite left my workout clothes smelling clean. It's a tough job for any detergent to lwork on sweaty sports bras. I sometimes have to wash my workout tops twice just to get the smell out, but this was not the case with Woolite. I only had to put my workout clothes through one wash cycle and I was happy with the results.

I didn't find anything about Woolite I didn't like. The one thing I noticed is that Woolite Complete can be used in HE washing machines or regular machines. That way I don't have to worry that I might grab the wrong bottle at the store and have to return later to get the right one. As always with the products I review, Woolite is made in the U.S.A. This gives me confidence that certain standards are met in the manufacturing process which ensures the product is safe.

Woolite® COMPLETE: Thanks Woolite COMPLETE for my free sample! Receive a $2 off coupon when you visit Woolite's Facebook page HERE.

Disclosure: I received a free product sample from Woolite via Smiley360.com for review purposes. This in no way influenced my opinion about the product. I was free to give an honest review in exchange for the product sample.

$100 Paypal Giveaway

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Sponsored by CC team members and CC social network for bloggers.  Remember the more entries you make the more chances of winning. Entries are super easy, no need to worry. We believe in sincerity so be sincere and don't intend to cheat.
It takes a minute for the Rafflecopter to load!  We wish you all Goodluck....

 Ends 12:01am on: 03/05/2012

Progresso Souper You Contest

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I love eating soup this time of year. Nothing is better than a warm bowl of soup on a snowy, winter day. What I really like about soup is that it is filling without having a lot of calories. I've tried several varieties of Progresso Soups and there is not one that I didn't like. I have even had some of the chicken varieties that taste homemade. The best part is that it doesn't take very long to open a can and heat it up. The ultimate healthy fast food meal without even leaving the house.

Progresso Soups is giving away an ultimate makeover. You have to hurry because the contest ends in a few short days on February 22, 2012. How would you like to win a trip to Los Angeles for a makeover, $1000 to buy new clothes and an additional $1000 cash card. That is not all. You will also win tickets to see the final episode of the Biggest Loser.

To enter this great contest go to Progresso's Souper You Contest and click the enter to win button. I'm trying to get my photo in on time too and I hope to see you in Los Angeles, California.

**I was not compensated in any way for this post. This information was provided to you by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

Maxima Rejuvenation SYN-AKE Anti-Ageing Wrinkle Cream Review & Giveaway

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I was excited at the prospect of trying the SYN-AKE anti-wrinkle cream by Maxima Rejuvenation. The active ingredient, SYN-AKE is supposed to work like Botox, by inhibiting the release of the neurotransmitters which can cause fine lines and wrinkles. At my age, I'm always looking for products that will give me any boost I can get. Maxima Rejuventation states that the product is proven to reduce wrinkles by up to 52% in the first few weeks of application.

I received a very small sample size of the SYN-AKE anti-wrinkle cream which only lasted five days. I applied the product twice a day as directed. The product is a lightweight cream which absorbs easily and does not leave a greasy feel on the skin. I had no skin reactions to the cream. I did like the way my skin felt after using the cream. However, I was more concerned about how the product worked. Since the company claims it takes up to two weeks to see a visible difference, I feel that five days using the product was not enough time to give it a fair review. I did take before and after photos of the crows feet area which is the most concern to me and the area which I tested the product. I also tested the product on my forehead lines

While I didn't notice much difference in the my crow's feet after five days, my eyes seemed less puffy underneath at day 5. I've included before and after photos. It is hard to get them exactly at the same angle with the same lighting. The facial expressions at different times can change the facial lines around the eyes, but I did try to get it close. I would have loved to give the product 10 days instead of 5 to see if it would have made a more visible difference. I noticed a very slight change under my eyes at day five, but not so much around the crow's feet or side of my eyes.

Before

After 5 days

At $52.00 for 1 fl. oz. of product I would hope after 30 days, I would see an even better result. It may be worth it if it reduces fine lines even a little bit. I am happy that SYN-AKE is made in the U.S.A. That means the company is subject to random visits by the FDA. That gives me the ease of mind that the product is safe.

Contest Giveaway: Maxima Rejuvenation is giving away one of my readers a travel set of their products as pictured. ($35.00 ARV). These are all small sample sizes, not full size products in kit that would be perfect for a weekend trip. Contest ends 2/29/2012 at 10:01 MST.

**Disclaimer: I received a small sample size of Maxima Rejuvenation from the company via Cyber Connect . This in no way influenced my opinion.

Venus Body Butter by Eden Fantasys

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By now, many of my readers may be familiar with Eden Fantasys. For those of you who aren't, Eden Fantasys is an adult toy store that sells more than sexy lingerie and toys. They also carry several lines of Made in U.S.A. bath, beauty and make up products. I love bath and beauty products and this is what I shop for at Eden.

I was so excited when I received my first package from Eden. Everything was packed well and I especially appreciated the discreet presentation. Nothing screams adult products on the package. I don't need the mailman or my neighbors wondering what goes on in my house.

 I had my eye on the Venus Mandarin Mango Body Butter for a while before I actually ordered it. I was thrilled to finally get to try it. Made with shea butter and Dead Sea minerals, I was immediately drawn to it. My favorite part about the body butter is that it is creamy. It takes a bit of rubbing to get it to absorb, but once absorbed, it leaves the skin hydrated most of the day. It has a nice, pleasant scent. However, I like citrus scents and the citrus scent was too subtle and not as strong as I would have hoped. There are other scents available and I would like to try one of them to see if I like it better. I can't wait to try the pomegranate or peach. I would consider this a four out of five star product, even if the scent wasn't what I hoped for.

As always, I only review Eden products that are Made in the U.S.A. I hope my readers will try some of the awesome bath and beauty products that are.

Lucky for my readers. Eden Fantasys is offering free shipping on orders over $59.00. Click the banner to take advantage of this offer.

**Dislosure: I received a gift card to Eden Fantasys to try some of their products in exchange for this post. My product reviews are my own opinion.


Please note: Eden Fantasys is an adult toy store for ages 18 and up. Please do visit if you are under 18.

February Extreme Cash Giveaway!

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                                Welcome to the FEBRUARY EXTREME CASH GIVEAWAY! 

Our last giveaway was a huge success with over 600,000 entries. This time we’re bringing you MORE PRIZES which means MORE CHANCES for YOU to win!  

                                                        We are giving away:

                                                   (1) $300 Paypal Cash prize

                                                   (1) $200 Paypal Cash prize

                                                   (1) $100 Paypal Cash prize

                                                   (1) $50 Paypal Cash prize

                                                   (1) Kodak Easyshare Sport Camera

There are lots of entries available and this giveaway will go on for a whole month, so take your time! Be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back every day and claim your daily entries too. 

This giveaway ends 3/15 at 11:59 pm EST and is open worldwide. There are over 100 participating blogs, but you only need to enter the giveaway on one of our blogs. Good luck!

Whale Tails Tortilla Chips: Review & Giveaway

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I have to begin by saying if there were a prize for best product packaging, WhaleTails Tortilla Chips would deserve to be at or near the top. WhaleTails has partnered with the Wyland Foundation to bring one of three famous Wyland seascapes to each of the three flavors of WhaleTails chips. The artwork alone makes the purchase of WhaleTail chips worth it. If that weren't enough, opening a bag of chips will bring the nice surprise of  whale tail shaped chips. I couldn't resist taking a photo of the cute whale tails from my blue corn chips.

Adorable Whale Tails

I know, looks aren't everything and you definitely can't judge a book by its cover. At least most of the time. However, let me assure you, what's inside a bag of WhaleTails really is as good as what's outside. The tortilla chips are made from organic, gluten- free and non-GMO ingredients which is important to me. I have family members with dietary restrictions and I am happy when I find products, like WhaleTails, my entire family can enjoy together.

The first flavor, "Alaea" Hawaiian Sea Salt original corn tortillas, have a nice corn flavor with just the right amount of salt. I like the low sodium content in the sea salt. For those of you who don't know, sea salt also contains essential trace minerals. This flavor is perfect with salsa and/or guacamole and would be a hit at any ocean themed party.

I have to admit, I'm not usually a fan of any kind of barbeque chips. I was leery to try the Hawaiian Barbeque corn chips. I'm glad I forced myself to eat them with an open mind or I would have missed out on one of the best barbeque chips I have ever tasted. The chips have a trace of mango and a splash of lime. The hint of sweetness gave the barbeque a very pleasant flavor. These are definitely worth trying even if you're like me and not a barbeque chip lover. My husband liked these the best of the three flavors.

The last flavor, the Blue Tor "Chia" Chips, were my favorite and not because I thought the bag was the prettiest either,  although it really was. The organic blue corn is infused with a Mayan super seed, Chia. This gives the chip a nutty flavor, perfect for the nut lover like me. Chia contains essential amino acids, omega-3 and calcium so it is nice to know I am getting a little bit of nutrition in my tortilla chip. 

I loved the deep blue corn chip and told my kids that this flavor is off limits to them. Unfortunately, they didn't listen and I they liked the blue corn tortilla the best as well.

The only problem with the chips is what to do with the packages when you're done. They are too pretty to throw away. If you must throw the package away, WhaleTails has made the packaging 69% degradable so the company can stay committed to their mission of keeping plastics out of the oceans.


Sadly, WhaleTails are not available in retail stores everywhere, unless you are lucky enough to live in Southern California. Luckily, they are available to purchase online by the case HERE or by going to their products page at http://www.whaletailschips.com/products-page. For a conversation piece at your next party, especially an ocean themed party, WhaleTails are definitely worth the money. I haven't found anything locally that tastes so good and looks nice too.

**Disclosure: I received a product package from the company at no charge for review purposes only. No other compensation was received. My opinions are my own.

Contest details: Prize package of WhaleTails chips in 3 flavors is provided by the sponsor. Contest begins 2/16/2012 and ends 2/27/2012 at 10:01 PM MST. Please use the Rafflecopter form for entries and read additional details there. By entering the contest, you agree to all terms and conditions.

 

Ski Snowbird, Utah: Playing in the U.S.A.

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Okay, I'll admit it. Sometimes, I hate divulging where the locals like to alpine ski in Utah. It's self serving. Let the tourists go to the well known ski resorts and keep the lift lines down at the place I love, Snowbird Ski Resort.Great skiing and other outdoor activities are the reason I have made my home in Utah. I can always travel to other great U.S. cities for beaches with an ocean view, but I love my mountain view out my back window. I've lost track of how many years I've been skiing. All I know, is I was very young the first time I got on skis. One thing I do know. Utah's slogan of having the greatest snow on earth is pretty accurate. There's something about the "lake effect" snow that makes a powder day, or any Utah ski day, almost paradise.                                                 
                                      

Gad Valley: What Saturday lift lines?

Everyday can't be a powder day which is okay with me. I'm not as young as I once was and I like blue skies, sunshine and packed snow too. The nice thing about Snowbird Ski Resort is even when I feel like taking it a little easier, there are still lots of challenging runs for the die hard skiers in the family, all on the same hill. That way we can ride up the lifts together, but find the terrain that makes us all happy. Our family motto has always been: A family that plays together, stays together. That's why we introduced our children early to the winter sports we love. My daughter will take on any of the guys at skiing and probably beat them.

Snow Bunny? NOT! This girl can rip it like one of the guys.

A pole in the face for new recruit.

Living in the Salt Lake Valley, we are literally less than 30 minutes from four ski resorts. Where else can you ski all day and still be home by dark? While we love all four of the Cottonwood Canyons ski resorts, we especially love Snowbird. There is the challenging terrain of the black diamonds, what we like to refer to as "steep and deep" and also the green and blue diamond runs we need to teach new family recruits. We didn't want to scare the new son-in-law away and now that he's a true Utah skier, we hope he's staying a while. If you're not patient enough to teach a new recruit, there's always Snowbird Ski School. I've watched the Snowbird ski instructors and all I can say is they are way more patient than I would be. You or you're children will be in good hands with them, I promise.

Besides great terrain, Snowbird has more to offer. Though we live close, we have stayed at the Cliff Lodge, on the mountain. Don't let the name fool you. It isn't a little lodge, but a full service hotel with restaurants from pizza and Mexican to fine dining at the Aerie Restaurant. My favorite part of staying at the Cliff Lodge is using the outside rooftop swimming pool and hot tub. I know what you're thinking. Why would you want an outside swimming pool in the freezing cold? The pool is heated comfortably. It's great fun swimming while it's snowing outside. No, I'm really not out of my mind. It's even better when you run in your bare feet from the pool to the hot tub. Well, maybe the bare feet isn't fun, but it's the whole idea and atmosphere. You've got to try everything once.

 Follow the arrows to Snowbird Ski Resort where things might be a bit Bassackwards.

As for me, don't look too hard. I'll be hiding from the crowds on the solitary slopes I don't want to tell you about.

Ghiradelli Milk & Truffle Valentine's Day Chocolate Review

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I've always been a chocolate lover. I'm sure it's generational. My grandma loves it too and so does my daughter. Even when I'm dieting, I allow myself one piece of chocolate a day so I don't feel cheated.

For Valentine's Day, I love chocolate and I always tell my hubby not to buy it so I don't gain weight. Secretly, I hope I get some. She Speaks and Ghiradelli stole my heart (sorry honey) when I opened my package from them today. I couldn't even wait a minute to tear into the bag and try the chocolate. I love Ghiradelli Chocolate, but I've never tried the Milk & Truffle flavor. All I can say is, WOW! These are absolutely decadent. They literally melt in your mouth. I felt like a big cheater after having one. I had to stop myself from getting out of control and having another and another. I did want to save one to share with my sweetheart of over 20 years. I would highly recommend getting a bag for Valentine's Day. I know I've seen these at Target, where they have a whole section of decadent chocolate. Yes, I have the row number of the chocolate aisle memorized at my local Target, in case you were wondering.

The most awesome thing about Ghiradelli is that their chocolate is made in their factory in San Francisco, CA. I know, it tastes like creamy European chocolate. Anyone who thinks American's can't make good chocolate, has never tried Ghiradelli. The only thing I can think of that would be better than eating the Ghiradelli Milk & Truffle chocolate, is visiting the Ghiradelli factory to watch all of that scrumptious chocolate being made and taking my readers on an online tour as part of my Manufacturing in the U.S.A. series. I think I'll save my money so I can do just that. After all, San Francisco would be a great city for my Travel in the U.S.A. series.

Thanks She Speaks and Ghiradelli for making my Valentine's Day so sweet.

Giving in the U.S.A.: Atlanta Diaper Relief

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So much of my time is spent promoting great companies and products. As much as I love Made in the U.S.A., I truly believe the greatest asset of our country are our citizens who generously donate time and money to help each other. For this reason, I became a member of Mom Bloggers for Social Good. The nice thing about the organization is that we don't limit our support for U.S. charities only, but to worldwide charities that promote social change. 

This week we are highlighting our partner, Atlanta Diaper Relief. This great organization is dedicated to making sure that mothers do not have to put soiled, reused diapers on their babies and that mothers don’t have to make the choice between food and diapers. Recently Atlanta Diaper Relief received a shipment of 40,000 diapers. Despite that, they still have little funds for daily operational costs like buying gas to deliver diapers and to buy larger size diapers for special needs children. 

Let's help them raise money for those in need who desperately need diapers. Click HERE to donate to this wonderful U.S. charity.

Knox Homestyle Stock Chicken Flavor: Review

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I cook dinner for my family almost every night. That way, I know they are eating healthy. However, I don't always have time to make something elaborate. That's where my handy dandy crock pot comes into play. With a crock pot, I can put the ingredients together, sometimes even the night before, turn it on the morning before I leave, and voila, the crock pot does the cooking for me. I come home to a hot, cooked meal.

Quality ingredients are key to cooking in the crock pot. I recently received a package of Knorr Homestyle Stock in the chicken flavor. My family loves chicken noodle soup and chicken stock is always the base ingredient. However, I wanted to venture out and try something new. With my package, I received a small booklet with recipes, all of which I have never tried before. I settled on the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork and have included the recipe from the Knorr website. For more great recipes, make sure to visit the Knorr website HERE. The website has nutritional information as well.

SERVES 10

PREP TIME: 10 Minute(s)

COOK TIME: 4 Hour(s)

INGREDIENTS

3- lb. boneless pork shoulder 1 tub Knorr® Homestyle Stock - Chicken 1/2 cup ketchup 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 10 Kaiser rolls or hamburger buns

PREPARATION

1. Arrange pork in slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients except rolls and pour over pork; turn to coat.
2. Cook covered on LOW 8 to 10 hours or HIGH 4 to 6 hours or until pork is tender.
3. Remove pork; reserve juices. Shred pork with fork, then stir into reserved juices. Serve on rolls. 

The recipe was easy to make. The preparation time is accurate. 

As for the Knorr Homestyle Stock, it has a really good chicken flavor without being too salty. The containers are easy to open which is important to me. I liked the easy to use containers. Each tub makes 3 1/2 cups of chicken stock. I usually use chicken flavor cubes, but I liked the flavor of Knorr Chicken Stock better and I only had to open one container as opposed to unwrapping 4 cubes. The recipe was a hit. My husband and both of my teenagers liked it and it is something I'll make again. In the meantime, I still have enough stock left to make my chicken noodle soup. I definitely recommend this product based on taste and ease of use. 

Want to learn more about Smiley360 and how you can try great products like Knorr Homestyle Stock. Click HERE to learn more.

  

**Disclosure:  I received this product at no charge as a member of Smiley360.com for review purposes only. I did not receive compensation of any kind for this post and was not required to write a review in exchange for product. 

Game Gear Performance Shirt Review and Giveaway (CLOSED)

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                             There's nothing better than getting your Game Gear on and getting ready to run.

I know, I don't look like a runner, but I do like to take a break from the gym or from cycling and run at least twice a week. Cross training works best for me. That way, I don't get bored easily. I got the chance to try the Game Gear Women's Performance Tech Slash Short Sleeve Shirt from Game Gear and I absolutely loved it.

The performance athletic shirt is made with high tech moisture wicking fabric that not only keeps moisture away from your skin, it has antimicrobial qualities too which helps keep odors away. Yeah, lucky me. I didn't have to smell myself sweat during my run. Even when it's cold outside, I sweat and I really didn't smell myself. The shirt was amazing for keeping me feeling dry and warm. I love the form fit. The fit around my arms was perfect. Not too tight and not too loose. I have a tendency to chafe under my arms when I run. This shirt kept my arms from rubbing and chafing. Though I tried the shirt on a cooler day, I look forward to wearing it when it when it's hot as well. The lightweight fabric will be perfect for warmer weather.

I've always been a fan of moisture wicking shirts when I exercise, but I like the Game Gear shirt better than usual. It is well made and I especially liked the fit. At $19.99 with free shipping in the U.S.A., you can't beat the price. I often hear U.S.A. made apparel is too expensive. This is not true with Game Gear. In case you missed my online factory tour at the Game Gear manufacturing facility, you may not know that Game Gear makes athletic clothing in the U.S. in the state of Utah. They strive to keep their prices competitive, while at the same time provide great customer service. I purchase athletic clothing on a regular basis and I am thrilled to find such great prices on well made clothing.

My husband had to opportunity to try the Game Gear Men's Performance Tech Slash Short Sleeve Shirt. Like me, he also loved the moisture wicking fabric and the comfort of the shirt.

We're giving Game Gear's shirt two BIG thumbs up.

We'll be running off now, but not before I tell you that Game Gear has generously offered to give not one, but 5 of my lucky readers a Performance Tech Slash Short Sleeve Shirt in the size and color of your choice. All I can say, is who wouldn't want this shirt? You don't have to be a runner. It is a great, every day shirt that looks good as well.

Game Gear sells everything from individual athletic apparel for a variety of sports to athletic team uniforms. They outfit high schools across the country. Their items can be screen printed with your team and/or logo. You can visit them on Twitter, Facebook or on You Tube as well as their internet site. Game Gear retail sports apparel has offered 20% off  the entire month of February 2012 to my readers. Use promotion code "usamade" at checkout. http://www.gamegear.com/shop



Contest Details:
I've teamed up with Run Like A Girl Blog for the drawing.  Please use the Rafflecopter form and read the additional details there as well. Contest starts February 10, 2012 and ends February 23, 2012 at 10:01 MST. Contest is open to U.S. residents 16 and older only. By entering the contest, you certify you are 16 or older. 

Game Gear Athletic Wear: Manufacturing in the U.S.A

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Are you ready to get your Game Gear on? Get dressed for the action! I've got a play by play look at how quality athletic wear is made in the U.S.A.


Meet our host, Clayton Osborn. Yes, he's part of the infamous Osborn family known in Utah as being the oldest manufacturers of apparel in the state. The family has been working together since 1946 to bring quality clothing to the athletic market. Whether it be team uniforms for high school basketball or the lone runner looking for quality performance wear, Game Gear has it all.

My readers tell me one of the things they most want to see made in the U.S.A is apparel. I am happy to report I didn't have to look far to find it. As part of my Travel in the USA series spotlighting Salt Lake City, Utah, I only had to look south west of the city to find this great apparel company. Clayton, our host, graciously offered to take me on a backstage tour of Game Gear's performance wear so I could share how a clothing factory works. With 150 worker bees, the factory is always buzzing.

From the front desk, I was taken to the cutting area. Manufacturing equipment is fascinating and not because of the six figure price tag, but because of what it can do. Fabric for the clothing is laid out on a large table for cutting. The patterns are placed over the top and a vacuum system keeps the fabric in place while the machine cuts. This is perfect for making a large order of the same color and style of apparel. If a small quantity is needed, the fabric is cut by hand. One of the biggest challenge for manufacturers in the United States is finding the equipment. Very little manufacturing equipment is made in the U.S.A. and it often has to be ordered outside of the country which is more expensive than having made close to home.

The computer automated cutting machine at work.

After the fabric is cut, the pieces are put in bundles and shelved. A seamstress will take a bundle and start the assembly line process. Each seamstress will sew one part of the item which is always the same area. For example, a side seam on a shirt will be sewn by the seamstress who does the same seam for every piece, thus called piece work. It is passed off to the another seamstress who will work on the next area. Efficiency is key in making apparel.

Assembly line

When the sewing process is done, the finished pieces are passed on to an employee who cuts the threads with a vacuum cutter and checks for quality assurance to make sure the piece is constructed properly. It is then inventoried and taken upstairs where the clothing is shelved by item numbers.

Finished items ready to ship

Retail items are pulled and packed for shipping immediately. Custom items are sent to a local screen printer and returned the same week. Game Gear prides themselves as being one of the fastest custom made apparel companies in the business. Within 8-10 days, they can have uniforms ready for an entire team. No more getting uniforms halfway through the season.




So many amazing things go into the manufacturing of athletic clothing. I was completely in awe of the sheer amount of fabric used by the company. Huge rolls of moisture wicking fabric, stacked almost to the ceiling, sit in the factory waiting to be made into shirts, shorts, sports bras, compression wear, and more.

Rolls and rolls of moisture wicking fabic

Team shirt after screen printing

Besides the fact Game Gear is made in the U.S.A., the best part is their prices are competitive and affordable. I hear so often that made in U.S.A. apparel items are too expensive. When it comes to Game Gear, this is simply not true. A quick look at their online catalog will show prices that are not only fair, but can beat their overseas producing competitors. Custom work is available at reasonable prices. Game Gear makes team uniforms for thousands of high schools across the country. Race directors from small to big races use them for race shirts. The possibilities are endless. Whether you just want to order a few retail items for yourself, or your looking for team gear, you can find what you need right here.

Want to keep abreast of what is happening at Game Gear? You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook.

A big thank you to Game Gear for the tour of their facility. And don't forget to get your Game Gear on.

**Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. I did receive an apparel item to review in a separate post at no charge from Game Gear.

$10 Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway CLOSED

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 Now available at StarbucksStore.com! Hot cocoa with salted caramel, toasted marshmallows, sweet peppermint or rich chocolate.

My family loves hot chocolate. When I saw Starbucks had a seasonal salted caramel flavor, I wanted to try it.
I didn't waste anytime and I discovered it is yummy. Too bad my diet won't allow me to have one every day. I have to reserve it for a special treat. I want to give one of my readers a chance to try the heavenly hot cocoa too. I am giving away a $10.00 gift card to Starbucks. Contest starts Feb. 8, 2012 and ends Feb. 21, 2012 at 10:01 MST. See Rafflecopter form for contest details and to enter to win.

Did you know you can also by Starbucks products online? Use the link to shop now.

**Disclosure: I did not receive compensation of any kind to write this post. The contest is sponsored by the blog owner and not Starbucks. This post may contain affiliate links.