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    Cherry Tomato Galette

    July 26th, 2013


    I found out this week or more rather that my husband has been craving something like this dish and he had not told me until tonight. There is nothing better than eating in-season produce. The body naturally wants it because the summer calls for luscious fruits and vegetables.

    I recently started following  and pinning all and every recipe from PBS Food. One of the food bloggers, Aube Giroux that posts on their blog regularly writes on her video blog, called Kitchen Vignette, that focuses on farm-to-table cuisine. Pick me!


    I picked this recipe earlier this week and had pinned it because I was not quite sure I would make it, but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to make it. The recipe is super easy and quick even though the dough has to refrigerate beforehand.

    This galette or fancy French pizza reminds me of France so much. It made me nostalgic for all things Paris. On every corner there was some pastry shop or cafe that one could sit and sip some hot coffee. So delicious!


    Have I convinced you yet? The galette could be prepared with any veggies. I am already thinking about making it with zucchini or perhaps I would make a sweet galette with plums or peaches.

    The pastry is adapted from Smitten Kitchen so immediately you should know that this is a no fail. 


    Check out the original recipe and video on the PBS Food page. The only thing I slightly adapted was adding Italian seasonings to the filling. Make this NOW!

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    The “Cleanest” Frozen Burrito —- Red’s All Natural {Review + Giveaway}

    July 25th, 2013
    Disclosure: I received product for review with no compensation. All are my own.

     Red’s All Natural is one of the “cleanest” frozen product on the market, which is very unusual in the frozen food aisle. All Red’s products are 100% all-natural, non-GMO, preservative-free and made with antibiotic and hormone-free meat and rBGH-free cheese. Red’s also only uses authentic, handmade tortillas made from the simplest ingredients. 


    While I do not always buy prepared frozen foods, I was very curious to try these products seeing that sometimes I do not have time to make my own lunch with 2 little ones in the house.

    How did Red’s All Natural’s start? Founder and CEO, Mike Adair was enjoying a homemade burrito created by his wife, Paige, when he realized it was a meal so perfect and delicious it just had to be shared with the world. With the approval of their trusty dog, Red, Mike and Paige launched Red’s All Natural using Paige’s original recipes.

    My husband asks me all the time what foods are authentic when it comes to Mexican food, so I will continue with that question and tell you that these products are definitely more Tex-Mex, hearty, and flavorful with their special twist. You’ll see why.
    The burritos and quesadillas can all be heated in the microwave or cooked in the oven for those who prefer not to use the microwave.

    How many types of burritos and quesadillas does this company offer?


    Burritos:

    • Beans and Rice
    • Turkey 
    • Chicken 
    • Steak 
    • Chicken Teriyaki
    • Chicken Parm
    • BBQ Chicken
    Quesadillas:
    • Bean and Cheese
    • Pulled Pork
    • Buffalo-style Chicken
    • Steak
    You can go to the site to check all the ingredients for each product but they really all taste all-natural like one would make at home. I did not taste anything out of the ordinary. I mean they were somewhat boring but I am a fresh foods type of gal. I always think about how I can make something better. The outside picture on each box did not look exactly like the actual product. I felt like there could be more steak or more chicken. In general, I would stick to the beans and rice burrito.

    I do have to say, though, that the quesadillas were my favorite over the burritos. I felt like the burritos all tasted alike. How do I mean? They all had more of a beans and rice taste to them than anything. Actually, they gave me indigestion because of the combination of ingredients but I know someone out there would be willing to give them a try. 

    Want to try them? The company has graciously provided me with 10 coupons to try these products. TWO people will get a chance to win 5 coupons each.

    The “Cleanest” Frozen Burrito – Red’s All Natural Giveaway

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    Taking a Stand #GiveACup

    July 24th, 2013
    Image and value provided by our partner, Peet’s
    Do you give a cup about anything in particular? I know that the phrase sounds amusing but it is the phrase used in a new campaign by Peet’s Coffee. They are launching their new single cups that has taken around 5 years to perfect. To celebrate this journey, they are launching Give A Cup, the Internet’s very first social sampling experiment.  Each week, you and I can go to doyougiveacup.com and vote on a topic. The topics are fun, current and sometimes a bit quirky. Your votes determine where Peet’s Coffee hosts their sampling events each week.

    So what do I give a cup about? My kids! I can talk about them all the time because they have changed my life in such a great and wonderful way. They make me smile and laugh. There is never a dull moment.

    I learned recently that I am a lioness when it comes to my kids and people getting in the way. Maybe some people would call it getting defensive but I call it mothering. I am a mother hen and I love protecting them. I do not think I have ever felt so strongly about anything until now that I have babies.

    Anyone ever felt like this? I give a cup about everything and all about my little ones and I want everyone to know about it.

    What do you give a cup about?

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    Best Buy Mobile Specialty Stores

    July 22nd, 2013
    Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free
    Need to get a new mobile phone but dreading the experience of shopping for one? 
    I had no idea that Best Buy had Mobile Specialty Stores and that they had a trade-in program. These shops are found locally in malls or in your neighborhood shopping centers, and are focused on mobile devices and accessories. 


    I have had my Verizon Motorola Droid 3 in a drawer in case my LG Intuition died. It was time to see what I could get for my old phone especially since I have been wanting to get some accessories, like a bluetooth.

    Could I be eligible for a Best Buy Gift card ? I learned more when I visited my local specialty store. I thought my phone was in good shape so I was happy that perhaps I would be getting around $60. Was that true? No, my phone a few more scratches on the screen than I noticed so I found out I was only getting $27. Boo.



    Well, not so. I found that that amount could go towards any yellow sticker in the store. What was next? Was I eligible for an upgrade? YES! We walked over to the Verizon phones and found out I could either choose the Droid HTC or the Samsung 3 which are older models but still very popular. I would get either phone for $1 if I added a hotspot to my plan. The hotspot would also be $1 too! Hmm could I add this to our family plan? It sounded very tempting especially since we travel.

    I was super impressed with all the information my salesperson knew. I found out that they are highly trained, yet non-commissioned, so they can help determine the right phone for you, as well as compare plans across the carriers. They can set up and activate your new phone, transfer your contacts and data and set you up with the complimentary Walk Out Working™ program. To find a Best Buy Mobile specialty store, go to www.BestBuyMobile.com

    I plan on making the trade-in as soon as I can decide what phone i want. My husband and I will be going to the store to clarify the deals but another thing I found out is that the special phone deal was only happening in OUR mall store. It was unique to them so you never know what your specialty store could be offering.



    Find a participating Best Buy Mobile specialty store and see if you can trade in your old phone and you may get up to $200* back :  http://bestbuymobile.com/promotion/tradein/

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    Surf Sweets Review

    July 21st, 2013



    Thanks to Naturally Savvy I was able to taste this delicious line of all-natural candies that are made with organic fruit juice and sweeteners and boasts 100% vitamin C per serving.

    Surf Sweets products are free of trans fats, GMOs, corn syrup, gluten, artificial colors and flavors. Most of their products are vegetarian and some are vegan. 


    These are produced in a nut-free facility that is free of other common allergens (wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts, shell fish, and fish).


    Even though these were all-natural candies they were WAY to sweet for my liking. I enjoyed the gummy worms and bears the most but after I realized by 20-month old had grabbed the fruity bears, torn the bag and eaten several of them, I decided these were not suited for her or me.

    They might be a great decision for your family because the ingredient list sounds and looks clean. 

    Check out the product online and see their various candy options.



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