GE - Strong as Steel - Giveaway

Ok so summer is coming up fast, and we know what that means. Shorts and swim wear and if you're anything like me, I'm just not ready for that.

Besides, as a parent, I don't have the time to go to the gym and we all know that gyms can also be quite pricey.

So, of course, the easiest way to get in shape is to work out at home. Which is what I do and I have tried a bunch of different exercise videos but somehow I always end up forgetting about them.

But now, imagine if you could work out at home using the appliances in your kitchen?

To celebrate their now very affordable line of durable Stainless Steel Appliances, GE has created a humorous take on workout routines entitled “Strong As Steel.” This exercise routine uses nothing but GE kitchen appliances as workout equipment! The video features The Biggest Loser’s very own Alison Sweeney.

Strong As Steel from Strong As Steel on Vimeo.

In addition, you can buy select GE Stainless Steel Appliance for the same price of their regular appliances until July 6, 2009 at participating retailers.

So if you're looking for a new stainless Steel Appliance you will be able to get it for much cheaper than it usually is....now isn't that awesome?

Now to help you get started with your exercise, I'm going to give away a Yoga Mat and Carrier. Here's all you have to do:


- The contest will run until Sunday, June 7th . I will then select a winner through random.org.
- The contest is open to participants in the USA only.
- Leave a comment and a way to contact you, if you don't have a blog please leave an email, if I can't get a hold of you within two days, I will pick a different winner.
- And don't forget to tell me if you could go out and buy a GE appliance today, which one would it be.

Slow Cooking Thursday

EDIT: I've tried to visit some of you this morning but blogger is just not cooperating, I'm not able to leave comments, is anyone else having this problem?

Mr Linky's usual linkies are not working, so we have to use Image Linkies, all you do is click on the green "Mr Linky" and it will open up the list for you to add your name to.



Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.

Asian Spiced Chicken Wings

3 lbs chicken wings
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/2 hoisin sauce
1 Tbs fresh lime juice
3 Tbs sesame seeds, toasted
1/4 cup green onions, thinly sliced

Broil the chicken wings 10 minutes on each side, or until browned. Transfer the chicken wings to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients, except the hoisin sauce, lime juice, sesame seeds, and green onions and stir thoroughly. Cover; cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours or on High for 2 to 3 hours. Stir once in the middle of cooking to baste the wings with sauce. Remove the wings from the stoneware and reserve 1/4 cup of the juice in the slow cooker. Combine this juice with the hoisin sauce and lime juice. Drizzle over the chicken wings. Before serving, sprinkle wings with toasted sesame seeds and green onions, and mix to coat evenly.

Hello everyone.....

I guess it's been a few days at least, since I sat down and got a chance to chat with everyone, so I guess today is the day, because I miss you guys. I really do!

So come on in and sit with me, it's nice and cool in here, though it's a scorcher outside, it's already way too hot to be out there for longer than 5 minutes.

Not much has been going on with me, the kids and I have been enjoying the summer which means being free of schedules and just doing whatever pleases us. For me, it also means a ton of amazing products heading my way for reviews and of course, I get to share a lot of them with you too.

Speaking of which, the next couple of days you may see a few reviews here on the blog and I hope you don't abandon me because I do plan on mixing it up with recipes and posts and all sorts of cool stuff.

I can tell you already that I will have a couple of books and a yoga mat and carrier to giveaway the next week or so.

But now getting back to other things.

I love my children you all know that right? Right? So you won't think me mean if I say that as much as I enjoy having them home for the summer, there are days that I want to pull my hair out, or have a drink or run far far away to a magical secluded land where no one will find me?

What is it with kids and bickering, I know it's normal, I have 3 brothers and we all did our share of fighting but it wasn't like this. That I remember, I'm sure my parents will probably disagree there.

But the constant picking on each other, fighting over who gets to watch tv or who gets to play what on the computer, who is first out the door, who gets served their dinner first, who's cup got the most drink. I mean really? Do we really not have more important things to worry about in life? *snicker*

I have found my patience slowly dissolving on some days, but I have to force myself to stay strong and not give in. I tell you, kids can smell your fear. LOL

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We're also getting ready for a trip to Texas in about two weeks, we won't be gone for long, just two weeks but I'll have my laptop with me and I'll be updating from there and sharing all the fun we're having, pictures and all.

You know what is funny though? For me the thrill of going somewhere is always on "I wonder how many cool photographs I can get, wonder if there are awesome landscapes around". Am I the only one who does that?

So yeah, we're planning that and a few other short trips around here when we return, plus there's swimming lessons for the kids and all sorts of cool things too.

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I've also been using this summer break to catch up on my reading, like the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, I'm not sure if any of you watched the Legend of the Seeker Series on the CW network? They are made from the book series and I just loved it.

Oh and let me tell you all about the tons of different shows I've been watching and loving. Like True Blood, Merlin, The Tudors, Robin Hood, the BBC series North and South and I have my first Little House on the Prairie discs from Netflix at home too. It's been great.

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There's also been loads of cooking and new recipes tries here at home, like these Cream Cheese Carrot Muffins which you absolutely HAVE to try, I bet you have all the ingredients you need just sitting there waiting.

I made these last week and within two hours they were completely gone, usually there's always some left at least until the next day, but nope, these disappeared as fast as I made them.

I'll have more recipes on the food blog the next few days, starting with tonight's dinner Zippy Dogs. Yum!

So there you go, as you can see, we have just been taking it easy and enjoying the summer break.

Tell me have you been doing anything fun? Watching any good shows or reading any good books?

Chiquita Smoothies

Come here, I have something to tell you.

I know a lot of you reading my blog are moms and I know that one of kid's favorite summer treats are smoothies, but for me it's kinda hard to find that ONE product that I actually love.

I'll admit I'm not a smoothie fan, I guess for the most part it's due to the fact that I hadn't yet found one that I really enjoyed. Yes I tried making my own from scratch, didn't like them....then I tried the other frozen bags that you buy, didn't like those either......and then, one day, I got a package in the mail from Chiquita Smoothies, they sent me all their flavors and asked me to try them out, see what I thought.

Now if I told you that I wasn't a little skeptical at first, I would be lying, but not only did I get all the cool flavors, they even sent me a new Blender. YAY!

So the kids and I made our first smoothies and Oh.my.goodness, they are delicious. I think their flavors are amazing too, we tried the Strawberry Banana, but there's also Banana Colada, Mixed Berry and Peach Mango. YUM!

Anyway, I thought you may want to give them a try, as a mom, like I said I'm always on the lookout for products that my children will enjoy and I like sharing my finds with everyone else :)

Here's a $1 off coupon for you. Enjoy!

Happy Homemaker Monday!

EDIT: Mr Linky's usual linkies are still unavailable. Please click on the green Mr Link text at the bottom of this post, it will open up a window where you can add your name and link.






On my bedside table:
Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. Still loving the first book of the Sword of Truth series.


On my TV:
The Tudors Season 3
Robin Hood Season 3
North and South from BBC


On the menu for tonight:
We'll be out running errands all day so we'll grab something on the way.


On my To Do List:
Walmart
BX
Usual house cleaning


New Recipe I tried last week:
Paul Bunyan Burgers, Easy Bread. If you want to make them yourselves, hop on over to my food blog "Full Bellies, Happy Kids".


In the craft basket:
Dish cloths
Ripple bag
Summer tops and dresses


Looking forward to:
The results of Curt's promotion test coming out around June 18th. Please keep him in your prayers, it would help so much if he could make this promotion.


Homemaking Tip for this week:
My kids are constantly drawing me pictures and as much as I love them, they do tend to become a bit much. What I like to do is go to the Dollar Store and buy the cheap frames, then I dedicate a place in the hallway to all the kids artwork. I put up a few at a time, and change them out every week or two.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I haven't had a chance to do much blog reading.


Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
Sometimes the bills become overwhelming and you have to decide whether to get groceries or pay the cable. It's not a bad thing, it's a part of life and just because one month you are late on the bill, does NOT make you a bad person. I've had to learn this lesson because when it happens to me I get the worst feeling of guilt.


On my Prayer List:
My brother Bruno who had surgery on Saturday
My grandmother who has had some issues and is home recovering
Soldiers overseas


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. —Mark 9:23