Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Review and Giveaway: Lawry's Seasonings (CLOSED)

(CLOSED)

I'm not a good cook. I try though. I like to try new recipes and I like to change up our menus. I have to keep searching for things that fit into our dietary pickiness (allergies, dislikes...4 year old...). I jumped at the chance to test a bunch of Lawry's products, courtesy of My Blog Spark.

My package included 2 marinades, 4 seasoning packets, 1 bottle of seasoned salt, a Pyrex glass baking dish (with lid) and skewers. (I had a photo and I CANNOT find it...arg...).

The first dish I made was chicken marinated in the Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato marinade which includes extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, sweet red bell peppers and the perfect blend of herbs. I kinda burned it though. It still tasted good. I think this would be a great flavor to put on top of a salad!

The second attempt was with the Chimichurri Burrito Casserole seasoning packet – Lawry’s gives the familiar Burrito casserole a new twist with this traditional Latin American sauce. With a few simple fresh ingredients, mealtime just got a lot more exciting. It was SOOOO good! I used beef and black beans. I still can't place where the flavor of the sauce was taking me, but I will use this again!



Next up was the Asian Style Beef & Broccoli seasoning packet – This easy to prepare stir fry meal will remind your family of their favorite Asian restaurant. The dish combines beef, broccoli and seasonings with a hint of garlic. Serve it over rice and you have a complete, satisfying meal. It really was easy, but a bit too spicy for my taste. The rest of the family loved it. I added carrots to it and it was just really better than what we pick up from the Chinese restaurant.


The final attempt was with the Mediterranean Sundried Tomato & Garlic Chicken seasoning packet– Add a taste of the Mediterranean to your family’s casserole. This easy to bake casserole combines chicken, pasta, tomatoes and Feta cheese to easily make a flavorful meal any night of the week. Again, this was super simple to make. I was concerned about the penne getting cooked since it goes into the oven dry, but it came out perfect. The recipe calls for black olives, but since I dispise the little things, I left them out. I also changed the cheese from feta to mozzarella. (Sorry about the photo, I remembered to take it about two bites into the meal...)



Also included in my pack were:

Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ marinade which gives meat a delicious sweet and sour flavor with a touch of Szechuan heat (one main ingredient is pineapple...allergy for husband).

and

Tuscan Style Chicken Marsala with Garlic and Basil seasoning packet– Chicken Marsala is a restaurant favorite, but it might not make the menu at home. This effortless version comes together on your stovetop with just a few fresh ingredients. Flavorful garlic and basil gives this meal its own Tuscan flair, perfect for serving over pasta or rice. (Just haven't had a chance...it calls for mushrooms...ick...)



A recent Lawry’s survey found that your choice of flavor says more about you than you think. The nationwide poll looked at preferences for tart, spicy, sweet, and savory flavors and found that your choice can reveal some interesting aspects of your personality.

What’s your flavor?

Joyous Joiners - Tart Flavors
If you are one for tart flavors, you tend to be extremely happy overall, particularly with your family, finances, work/life balance and even your health. As a Joyous Joiners you are an extrovert who loves to entertain at home, find it very important to join in social events in your community and are active on the greatest number of social networking sites.

Self-Assured Adventurers - Spicy Flavors
If your preference is for spicy flavors, consider yourself a confident, adventurous individual with a passion for travel and cooking. You are the biggest risk taker and although impulsive, you are not reckless – as a Self-Assured Adventurer you also tend to be resourceful, analytical, and most able to “look at the big picture.”

The Sweet Lifers - Sweet Flavors
As a Sweet Lifer, home and family are close to your heart. You are the kindest and most loyal, although you probably wouldn’t admit that as you are also the most modest. As an individual that prefers sweeter flavors (honey and fruit-infused), you are influenced by your parents, enjoy family entertainment, and consider yourself spiritual.

The Conventionalists - Savory Flavors
Your passion for savory flavors shows you have an enthusiasm for politics, enjoy camping and hiking and love outdoor barbeques and American cuisine. Along with the other Conventionalists, you tend to be more introverted than the rest of the groups and often describe yourself as a homebody.

Lawry’s has something for you no matter what your flavor is!

The good people at My Blog Spark are going to give one of my readers the same goodie box that I received!
Entry Methods:
All entries MUST have your email in them.
First, and mandatory, entry: Tell me what your flavor is! (1 Entry)


Other entries (leave a separate comment for each), please notice that some entries have changed:
1 entry - Become a public follower of my blog. The link is on the right hand side of the page. If you're already a follower, leave a comment letting me know.
5 entries - Blog about this giveaway, with a link back to the giveaway (leave a link in your comment so I can verify)
1 entry - Subscribe to my blog by email (link is just under the followers) or let me know if you already subscribe.
1 entry - Become a Facebook fan of Faithful Finances or let me know if you're already a fan.
2 entries -  Place my button on your site (You must leave a link so I can verify) 


Giveaway Rules: Please be sure you read these before 
you start posting comments. 
Giveaway open to residents of the US and Canada only. You will have to provide a physical address, not a PO Box. Winner will be chosen, with the True Random Number Generator (Random.org), Friday, October 22 at 10 PM CST. Winner will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. All entries MUST have your email in them. To keep Spam Bots from snagging you, put your address like this: name(at)server(dot)com
I received product in exchange for this review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. Product was supplied by Lawry's, through My Blog Spark.

Book Review: In Every Heartbeat

In Every Heartbeat
In Every Heartbeat
By Kim Vogel Sawyer
Bethany House, 2010
English, 352 pgs


Book Description:
Three best friends, three cherished dreams, three searching hearts... As three friends who grew up in the same orphanage head off to college together, they each harbor a special plan for the future. Libby Conley hopes to become a famous journalist. Pete Leidig believes God has called him to study to become a minister. And Bennett Martin plans to pledge a fraternity, find a place to belong, and have as much fun as possible. But as tensions rise around the world on the brink of World War I, the friends' differing aspirations and opinions begin to divide them, as well. When Libby makes a shocking discovery about Pete's family, will it drive a final wedge between the friends or bond them in ways they never anticipated?

My Review:
I did have a hard time getting into the story, but once I did, I really enjoyed this book. The story isn't too far-fetched and the characters are lovably flawed. I love that the main characters are to woven together as a family and that they come to realize their places. I really can't find anything to fault in the story-telling. It's a good read.

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

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Vista Print Freebies!


Here's your chance to snag a bunch of fun gifts and stocking stuffers for free from VistaPrint. With VistaPrint's Everything for $0 deal, you can get one of each item for free and just pay shipping for each item. If you spend $20 on additional items or add-ons, you get free shipping on the entire order.

So the best deal is to add all the free items you want, plus an additional photo calendar ($15.99) and an additional photo mouse pad ($8) for a total of around $24 and you'll end up saving almost as much on shipping as you spend to get all the free items + the 2 extra items. Here's the list of free items:

That's a bunch of stocking stuffers and little gifts for free, and if you spend the $20 to get free shipping, you'll end up with a couple more gifts for what you would have paid for shipping anyway! What an awesome deal!

Also popular is FREE address labels! I did these last year and used them on my Christmas card envelopes! They have super cute cartoon people and you can customize them how you want. We put Christmas things (reindeer antlers, Santa hat) on ours!


Monday, October 4, 2010

Book Review: International Children's Bible

The International Children's Bible
International Children's Bible
Thomas Nelson, 2010
English, 1142 pgs.


Product Review:

The first and the best version translated just for kids!.
A Bible your children can read and understand! Most children don't understand adult words like atonement, redeem, or oracle. Yet, children are commonly given modern versions of the Bible that use dozens of such difficult words.
Now, children can more easily understand the Bible. Twenty-one trusted Bible scholars carefully selected words at a third-grade reading level for this translation of the complete Bible. Ideal for Sunday school promotions and other gift-giving occasions.
"Jesus asked the little ones to come to Him, and the International Children's Bible makes it a little easier for them to hear His call." - Max Lucado

My Review:
I have found this version very easy to read to my son. He's just turned 4 and while he has a large vocabulary, sometimes we have to explain a lot to him as we're reading. I liked the pictures and the maps at the back. There is a handy dictionary at the back, as well as a "where to find it" section and God's promises and memory verses sections. This is perfect for my son and our family and I can't wait to make it part of our nightly bedtime routine.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: What Good is God?

What Good Is God?: In Search of a Faith That Matters
What Good is God?: In Search of a Faith that Matters
By Philip Yancey
FaithWords, 2010
English, 304 pgs.


Book Description:
Journalist and spiritual seeker Philip Yancey has always struggled with the most basic questions of the Christian faith. The question he tackles in WHAT GOOD IS GOD? concerns the practical value of belief in God. His search for the answer to this question took him to some amazing settings around the world: Mumbai, India when the firing started during the terrorist attacks; at the motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated; on the Virginia Tech campus soon after the massacre; an AA convention; and even to a conference for women in prostitution. At each of the 10 places he visited, his preparation for the visit and exactly what he said to the people he met each provided evidence that faith really does work when what we believe is severely tested. WHAT GOOD IS GOD? tells the story of Philips journey--the background, the preparation, the presentations themselves. Here is a story of grace for armchair travelers, spiritual seekers, and those in desperate need of assurance that their faith really matters.

My Review:
I'm not sure about this book. It's a compilation of speeches, with a chapter to introduce each one. It kinda feels like a "greatest hits" album: "Here's all these places I've gone and here's what I told them, and Oh! I need a title..."

I'm aware that each story tells of the wonderful, saving grace of Jesus. I just found it hard to muddle through. I read each chapter watching for the answer to the title. I found that there were ample descriptions of where God has been working and what is going on in each place.


I received an advance reading copy of the book from Hachette Book Group in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Mailbox Round Up

Here's what came in the mail last week (all free):


Magazines:
Surfer
Business Week
People
Wine Spectator
eWeek
Kiwi
Islands
Better Homes and Gardens
Sherman's Travel
Entertainment Weekly
Southern Living
Caribbean Travel
Forbes

Books:
The Church Awakening - review for Hachette
Transforming Church in Rural America - review for Thomas Nelson
The Strategically Small Church - review for Bethany House
Get Positively Beautiful - giveaway win from Happy Mom of 5
Within My Heart - review for Bethany House
Matt Bell's Money Strategies for Tough Times - gift from NavPress
Becoming a Woman of Faith - review for NavPress

Samples/Coupons:
 Post-Its Labels and Tabs - with coupons
Gas-X Prevention - with coupon
Oxy Clinical set with coupons - giveaway win from Mom Central
Organize in Style coupon book
Mambo Sprouts Messenger with coupons

Cash:
$9 from Pine Cone Surveys

Promo Items for Blog:
Spice packets and marinades from Lawry's through MyBlogSpark (review and giveaway coming soon)
Cooler with Wholly Guacamole products


Proud to be part of Mailbox Mondays on A Frugal Friend!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

We have winners!

The winners of the Tracy Anderson 30 Day Method are:



Comment #12 and #21

Heather said... Button is on my sidebar!
#2
http://vintagefabulous.blogspot.com/

Marjorie said... I follow by google reader.

Winners have been emailed.

Synovate Opinion Panel

I just found out that Synovate is still accepting members. I use this site and have made $25 cash in the past year, not bad for surveys! I'm almost ready to cash out again! I don't get a lot of surveys from them, but they're high paying when I do get them!


Synovate is a leading global provider of market research information and analysis with over 60 years of experience. Synovate provides its panelists with a voice to be heard by some of the largest companies in the world.

Earn points for cash. Yes, it really is that simple.

Every survey invitation you receive will indicate how many points you are eligible to earn for completing that survey. After you earn your points, redeem them for cash at the click of a button! Remember, the more surveys you complete, the more points you can earn!
What’s Involved?
Being a panel member is simple and provides rewards for your opinions. Once you join, you will be contacted by e-mail when a survey is available. This e-mail will contain instructions on how to access the survey and details about the rewards you will be eligible to earn. Participation for all surveys is voluntary, with no penalty if you choose not to participate.

Most surveys take 5-10 minutes to complete. You can even stop in the middle of a survey and return at a later time, picking up right where you left off.

Printable Coupons!

A new month always means new printable coupons! Here's a list of what's new on Coupons.com

$5.00 off On Any Evenflo Car Seat

Friday, October 1, 2010

Book Review: Daily Guideposts 2011

Daily Guideposts 2011
Daily Guideposts 2011
Guideposts, 2010
English, 432 pgs.


Book Description:
America's favorite devotional, now in its 35th year with more than 20 million copies sold, Daily Guideposts is a trusted companion, helping readers to live and grow their faith every day. Every year since 1977, Guideposts has published Daily Guideposts, a devotional guide containing short inspirational pieces to be read each day of the year. They are designed to bring readers closer to God and their faith by helping them to live fuller, richer lives. Each piece offers a personal perspective on faith, love, inspiration, and understanding. With this year's theme of 'Growing in Love,' Daily Guideposts is tapping into a subject that is a key to spiritual growth. Each Daily Guideposts devotional includes: a short Scripture verse for reflection; a true, first-person anecdote that shares the ways God speaks through ordinary life events; a brief prayer to put the day's message to work in each reader's life. By taking a few minutes each day for reflection, Daily Guideposts readers will become more aware of the spiritual richness in their lives.

My Review:
I have the Guideposts daily calendar which I read every day and I was really excited to get to review and promote the 2011 book.  I started out reading one or two for each month, then I thought "I'll read the ones for all our birthdays" then I started randomly picking pages...at which point I realized that I needed to stop or I'd have the whole thing read before this year was even over! I'm looking forward to this as a daily morning devotion in the next year.

I received a promotional copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you to Shelby at Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists for allowing me to be part of this review campaign.