Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Product Review: New Jarritos Flavor



A few months ago, I got the opportunity to taste all the wonderful flavors of Jarritos. A few weeks ago, I got the chance to sample the newest flavor, Mexican Cola. Just like all of the other flavors, Jarritos Mexican Cola is made with 100% natural sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup.

The best I can describe the flavor is that it's like drinking cola with bubble gum in your mouth. We really liked it. And I haven't been drinking sodas since about March so for me to enjoy a soda was nice.


Jarritos have just updated their Facebook page with new applications and contests. It's also a great way to let the company know how much you love their products. 

While you're there, sign up for Jarritos Nation and Club Jarritos. They’ve unveiled a new Jarritos Nation contest: a daily scavenger hunt where users can follow clues to win sodas, t-shirts, gift cards, and more! Finally, they’ve integrated the Club Jarritos program with the Facebook page so that players can redeem bottle cap codes online instead of having to mail them in.


I received two bottles of the soda and a tee shirt for review purposes. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Weekend Coupon Preview

The coupons for this weekend, June 19th, are listed HERE.



Looks like one SmartSource and one Red Plum again this weekend. The $2 off Benadryl topical should make for really cheap (if not free) products.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Sunday Coupon Preview

The list of coupons for the week is available HERE. Looks like one SmartSource and one RedPlum.

Book Review: The Lady of Bolton Hill

Lady of Bolton Hill, The
The Lady of Bolton Hill
By Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House, 2011
English, 334 pgs


Description:
Female journalists are rare in 1879, but American-born Clara Endicott has finally made a name for herself with her provocative articles championing London's poor. When the backlash from her work forces a return home to Baltimore, Clara finds herself face-to-face with a childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished factory worker she once knew. In her absence, Daniel Tremain has become a powerful industry giant and Clara finds him as enigmatic as ever. However, Daniel's success is fueled by resentment from past wounds and Clara's deeply-held beliefs about God's grace force Daniel to confront his own motives. When Clara's very life is endangered by one of Daniel's adversaries, they must face a reckoning neither of them ever could have foreseen. 


Review:
I was somewhat reluctant to read this since I've been a little underwhelmed with historical Christian romance books lately. This one exceeded my expectations and has made me slightly more interested in the genre again.

The story is really sweet: adolescent friends who were separated when it seemed they were falling for each other are reunited many years later and discover that neither is what was expected. There was a wonderful redemption and forgiveness thread to the story that really warmed my heart. I cried at one part and I don't cry when I'm reading anymore, usually.

I really liked this book and am really glad I gave it a chance.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Betty Crocker Coupons

I totally spaced out about Betty Crocker having coupons! I found a bunch HERE. You have to sign up.

Earth's Best Coupons

Earth's Best has some coupons on their site HERE. These are for baby wipes, baby food and formula.

FREE P&G Coupons

The Home Made Simple coupon book is available again HERE. These have long expiration dates and usually good values for things like Cascade, Swiffer, Mr Clean and Febreze.

New Printable Coupons

With the new month, there are new printables on coupons.com HERE. Here's some of what I've seen on my zip code:

$1 off Kraft Deli Deluxe cheese
$1/2 V8 V-Fusion juice
$0.35 off Bob Evans Refrigerated Side (triples at Kroger!)
$0.55 off Bagel-fuls 4 ct.
$1/2 Big G Cereals (Cheerios, Chex)
$0.50 off ONE BOX Original Cheerios (doubles at Kroger)
$1 off Old El Paso Tortilla Stuffers
$5 off Tag Junior Book Pal
$1 off Flintstones vitamins (makes them REALLY cheap at Wal Mart)
$5 off Enfagrow Formula Powder
A whole bunch of DVD coupons

Make sure you try lots of different zips though. I use 90210 and 77511 and get different ones sometimes!

Kellogg's Coupons

There is a bunch of Kellogg's coupons HERE. Sign up is required and you'll receive emails with offers and news every so often.

Weekend Coupon Preview

The list of coupons for the weekend is HERE. Looks like a really great week for building a coupon stockpile!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Book Review: The Great Mogul Diamond

The Great Mogul Diamond (The Dopple Ganger Chronicles)
The Doppleganger Chronicles: The Great Mogul Diamond
By GP Taylor
SaltRiver, 2011
English, 304 pgs


Description:
Everything was going so well for a change. . . . Sadie and Saskia Dopple, those troublesome twins, have been adopted by their loyal friend, the writer Muzz Elliott. And their friend Erik Morrissey Ganger is finally on his way to becoming a full-fledged detective. But when an anonymous note threatening Muzz Elliott arrives, the twins suddenly find themselves on an express train to danger. Awhirl in a series of crimes stolen right off the pages of Muzz Elliott’s own mystery novels, the twins need to figure out who’s behind this twisted plot, or Muzz Elliott will be framed for her own greatest literary invention: the theft of the Great Mogul Diamond.

Meanwhile, Erik speeds through the countryside in a lightning-fast convertible with private eye Dorcas Potts, racing the clock to find the twins and outwit a gang of robbers. At the end of the road (if he ever gets there), he and the twins will have to get their hands on the diamond first . . . even though Erik, the former thief, has sworn never to steal again.

What do you do when you aren’t sure what’s right? Sadie, Saskia, and Erik face this question head-on in the third installment of The Dopple Ganger Chronicles, by New York Times bestselling author G. P. Taylor.

Review:
This book is intended for 9-12 year old readers. It is a really cool mix of novel and graphic novel. I think this would be a good way to get a kid interested in reading. I know a lot parents use comics to get kids reading and this would fit as a transition from comics to chapter books.

There were a few things that bugged me about the book. I don't understand why the adults were referred to by full name every time. Kinda got annoying after a few chapters.

I didn't understand Madame Raphael. I know it's a character from the first two books who is likely explained in one of them. it was hard to understand who she was and why she's there.

I don't know how I feel about Jesus as the "Man of Good-Bye Friday" and the way He was presented. I guess I don't have a problem with it.

I do have a small problem with the fact that the kids steal, snoop and lie. Not really great lessons to teach. I didn't like the potential violence in it either.

All that being said, I did like the story. I read it in one day and I hope that someday I can read it with/to my sons. It's super engaging and I think kids would like it.

I received a copy of the book from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review. No additional compensation was received and all opinions are my own.