Well, it's almost time for me to leave for work, and I really don't feel like going. I'm still sore from my surgery on Friday (my ribs are KILLING me, it hurts when I cough) and last night the cramping started. I guess I shouldn't complain though.... they sent me home with pain meds, and I've only taken them at night so I could sleep (although I haven't slept very well either).
They're calling for snow starting sometime today, lasting all day and ending in ice late tonight... lovely. So I'm hoping I can leave work early (at least by 2) so I can get home before traffic and the roads get too bad.
Also, I gained 3 pounds.... I'm hoping it's mostly fluid from my procedure on Friday, but I didn't eat well over the weekend. I didn't eat badly... but I didn't care about portion size, or getting all my fruits and veggies in, and I treated myself to a half-gallon of Turkey Hill Lemonade (YUM!) which has almost a whole day's worth of calories alone! I also didn't take any of my meds, in case I needed to take pain meds. So, I'm back on track today.
There are several good giveaways ending this week I'm hoping to win *crossing fingers and toes*
Momma Teri at
Mom to Bed by 8 is giving away a Lotus
LSR-100 Home Cleaning System (sponsored by
Tersano), which includes the following:
- Lotus® Base Unit
- Multi-Purpose Bowl, Retainer and Lid
- Multi-Purpose Spray Bottle
- Filter Cartridge
- 2-Pack lotus® Cleaning Cloths
Now that I'm eating healthier (or trying to), I'm consuming more raw fruits and veggies so making sure I get all the pesticides, etc. off them is a big concern to me. It also cleans household items - Momma Teri uses it to clean kids' toys (among other things), but I can see using it to clean toothbrushes, my son's clippers, coutertops, etc. You can also sanitize meat, seafood, mushrooms and eggs!
From the sponsor's website, "The lotus® patent technology infuses cold tap water with an extra oxygen atom, creating a natural sanitizer. By passing air through 4,500 volts of electricity, the lotus® system splits oxygen molecules into atoms and forces this extra atom to combine and form liquefied ozone. The third oxygen atom becomes the sanitizing agent, a natural oxidant -- which kills bacteria and viruses, and neutralizes pesticides."
As you can tell, I'm very excited about this product, so here's hoping I have good luck! This giveaway ends on the 10th.
Fun Saving Money has 2 giveaways ending today. The first is for a Jack's Link Beef Jerky prize pack, which (if it's like the one Mellisa received) includes several varieties of Jack's Link Beef Jerky. My son is ADDICTED to this stuff, so I'm hoping to win :) If I do, maybe he'll share the Baked Nuggets with me - they sound intriguing, and I'm always looking for tasty high-protein, low fat/calorie snacks that'll comply with my diet.
The second giveaway from Fun Saving Money is for a $100 Amazon gift card, sponsored by JoeShopping.com. JoeShopping.com is a shopping comparison site, but with a social media twist. Not only can you compare prices, you can review products, share finds with your friends and solicit their feedback, and so much more! I recently joined and I look forward to exploring the full functionality of the site. Not sure about the badges they have (they look a bit too Nickelodeon for my taste) but it's a nice idea.
Speaking of JoeShopping.com, head over to Eighty MPH Mom where you can win a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card from JoeShopping.com! This giveaway ends on the 10th, and there are lots of ways to earn extra entries to increase your odds of winning. Some of the extra entry methods involve using the site (uploading a photo, interacting with members, writing a shopping status) so you'll also get a feel for how the site works, as well as earn points that are used as entries for their monthly sweeps! How cool is that? There are 2 sweeps: the $1,000 Monthly JoePoints Sweepstakes and the $5,000 Refer-A-Friend contest. You can read more about each at the links provided.
Momma Teri @ Mom to Bed by 8 has another giveaway ending this week - this one is for a $250 Visa gift card for one of her very lucky readers! She's doing the giveaway as a thank-you to her readers, and to kick off 2011 in style! Reading what she has planned for this year, it seems she and I have a similar weight-loss goal (she's trying to lose 80+ pounds by Christmas, I'm trying to lose 100 pounds this year). Maybe she'll share some good tips and tricks :) The giveaway ends Tuesday (note, the comments are full so entries need to go into the Google Doc embedded in the post).
Momma Teri has another giveaway ending this week - this one for a $100 ATG Stores gift certificate! At the moment I'm totally in love with these wall sconces - they'd be perfect for my living room where I have the 3 "windows". This giveaway ends Friday, and there's a ton of extra entries available!
Bridgette @ The Not-So-Blog is holding a giveaway, sponsored by Bialetti. One lucky reader will be getting a new saute pan (either 8" or 10") from their Aeternum line. From the Bialetti website: Our beautiful Aeternum line of cookware combines a beautiful design with modern eco friendly cooking technology for best results. The eco friendly Aeternum cookware line is free of PFOA, free of PTFE and free of Cadmium. The interior features a new “nano-ceramic” coating which is a water-based coating made of titanium and suspended silicate micro-particles (the main component of glass); one of the purest and most ecological materials in nature. This material resists scratches, abrasions and offers a smooth, compact and uniform surface that makes it easier to clean. The white color provides a unique and extraordinary cooking experience. The base provides excellent thermal conductivity and guarantees optimum heat distribution resulting in less energy required to maintain desired cooking temperature. The also scratch resistant hi-temp silicone exterior makes this cookware easy to clean.
Since I've been on my diet (sorry, eating plan) I've been cooking with a lot less fats and oils, and using a lot more lean proteins like chicken, fish and seafood, even eggs. This pan would be great for that! Not to mention, I love the red color :) Although the giveaway ends Tuesday, tweets are unlimited and there are lots of other entry methods so there's still plenty of time to maximize your chances to win this one!
Another great kitchen item giveaway ending today is from A Nut in a Nutshell. This one is for a Pampered Chef Pie in the Sky Holiday Gift Set, which contains the following:
- Deep Dish Pie Plate
- Caramel Sauce
- Sweet Apple Sprinkle
- Beaded Cake/Pie Server
I'd love to have this for the Deep Dish Pie Plate alone - the rest is bonus! I know what you're thinking - there's no pie on my diet (ahem... eating plan). I know, I know... but I can have apple pie if I watch the crust (and the portions). Also, I use pie plates for baking chicken, even roasting vegetables. Sometimes I don't feel like dragging the cookie sheets out, or I want to bake and serve in the same vessel, so this would definitely get a lot of use.
There's another JoeShopping.com giveaway ending on Tuesday - this one is from Simply Being Mommy, and the prize is a $100 Amazon gift card. I know I've talked about them already in this post, but to give you an idea - they posted a deal at Walmart for 1600 MS Point cards for $14.96 (free shipping if you do site-to-store). This is over 25% off their regular price of $20! Needless to say, we stocked up - since my son got a new Xbox and games over the holidays, he wanted some DLC and I can't remember the last time I saw a price this good on point cards.
Thanks, Mail Carrier is also hosting a $100 Amazon JoeShopping.com giveaway that ends on Friday. Just remember that JoeShopping.com is relatively new site, as it becomes more widely known there will be a lot more deals posted... but if you get in now, you'll earn points not only for your referrals, but for their activity. Don't forget those points convert to sweeps entries for their monthly sweeps: the $1,000 Monthly JoePoints Sweepstakes and the $5,000 Refer-A-Friend contest. You can read more about each at the links provided.
One Frugal Lady is hosting a Gorton's giveaway - 1 lucky reader will receive 4 free product coupons! My son is now addicted to their Grilled Shrimp (in addition to their Beer-Battered Fish Filets) and I've been using their Grilled Tilapia quite a bit lately for a quick and easy dinner; paired with a salad and some steamed veggies, I've got a great dinner in less than 10 minutes. This giveaway ends on Tuesday, and the odds are just as good today as they were when it posted since there's no daily entries, so it's an even playing field! You can also check out the blog post for several recipe ideas.
Posh on a Budget is hosting a giveaway for a GORGEOUS pair of Diamond Filigree Engraved Heart Earrings in .925 Sterling Silver, sponsored by SZUL Jewelry. The design is an open filagree that reminds me of the diamond ring that I have from my gramma :) I also like the lever back closures, so I won't worry about these coming off unexpectedly. At $129 retail, they're definitely posh on a budget price! This giveaway ends on the 12th.
Rave & Review is giving away a
Pure Dark Chocolates Signature Cutting Board and Chipper {ARV $95}! I know it seems counter-intuitive to be talking about chocolate when I'm dieting, but the 1 thing my nutritionist has said over and over is if you've going to splurge, make it count. Don't waste your calories on junk. I can have chocolate (in moderation) but I should go for the good stuff, and Pure Dark Chocolates fit that bill! Besides, dark chocolate is better (diet-wise) than milk or sweetened chocolate, since it has less sugar and more antioxidants. This giveaway also ends on the 12th.
Rave & Review has another giveaway ending this week - this one for a
Mauviel M'héritage Copper & Stainless Steel Round Frying Pan! Although it's almost too beautiful to use, I know that I can because copper cookware has been the gold standard for chefs for years, and Mauviel is world famous for their quality cookware. Their M'héritage line blends copper with stainless steel. From the sponsor's website:
This blend of materials energizes the pleasure of cooking. The copper allows for unsurpassed heat conductivity and control, and the stainless steel interior is ideal for all daily cooking needs. The various handle options, cast iron, bronze or cast stainless steel, gives each range an aesthetic difference that meets the style for each cook. Having a quality pan like this means I can get the benefits of cooking in stainless (great searing/browning) with the great heat conductivity of copper. I have a non-stick pan that I love, but there are times when I want that great sear that only a stainless pan can provide - and a quality pan like this means I won't be using extra fat/oils to achieve that browning! This would be perfect for searing off some shrimp, or chicken and veggies, or even the occasional burger I treat myself too :) This giveaway ends on the 15th.
So, now you have the perfect pan... where's the beef? I can't help you with that but I can do you one better. Head over to
Eighty MPH Mom where you can win a Pork’s Perfect Pairing Prize Pack (spices,cookbook,$25 meat & more) $125 ARV! The Prize Pack contains the following:
- $25 worth of pork from the store of your choice
- Large assortment of spices
- Holiday serving platter
- A signed copy of Michael Symon’s new cookbook, Michael Symon's Live to Cook
- Two aprons
- A digital meat thermometer
Since we're on the subject of food... A Nut in a Nutshell has a giveaway ending Wednesday for a Kraft Cool Whip holiday gift basket FILLED with all kinds of yumminess! From the photo posted on the giveaway, there's Oero pie crusts, Nilla wafers, Jello pudding, kitchen towels, shredded coconut and more! If I win this one, I'll send it to my mom :) She's always cooking something for her church groups, shut-ins, etc. so I know she can put this to good use.
A Nut in a Nutshell has another giveaway ending on Thursday, this one is for a $100 Novica gift certificate! From Novica's website: We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe. We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it. In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together. NOVICA. The World is Your Market.
I found out about Novica a couple of years ago and have fallen in love with many things on their site. My most recent purchase from their site was for this 'Sword of Justice' Wood djembe drum for my son as a birthday gift, and he loves it! He was amazed that it was handcrafted, packed and shipped by an artisan in West Africa and was blown away by the quality and tone of the drum. In fact, he's already asked me for 2 more of her drums, so if I win I'll surprise him for graduation :)
MyBlogSpark is sponsoring a giveaway on IceFairy's Treasure Chest. One lucky reader will win a Yoplait Frozen Smoothie Prize Pack, which contains the following: