Archives for February 2012

My Journey Begins- Join Me While I Lose Weight and Gain My Life Back- #NSNation

February 26, 2012 By 2 Comments
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I’ve had enough.  I can’t fit into my clothes and I feel like a slug.  I feel like I have checked out of my life lately.  I am putting my foot down and making a change.  Right now I am the heaviest I have ever been (not counting while pregnant).  I have gained around 75 pounds in the last 3 or 4 years.  I am ashamed and embarrassed.
But I was just given a new lease on life.  Honestly that’s how I feel about this opportunity.  I have become a Nutrisystem Blogger and I couldn’t be more grateful.  I will be starting Nutrisystem’s Success Select Women’s Program tomorrow and following it for the next 4 months.  Nutrisystem is providing me with all the meals and support in exchange for blogging about it and sharing my experiences with my readers.
So here we go.  I hope you will all follow me on my journey.  I will post again in the next few days with my starting photos so you can follow along as I lose the weight and gain my life back.  Wish me luck!

Filed Under: Health, Fitness, Weightloss, and Wellness
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Disney Presents- Phineas and Ferb Live!!!

February 19, 2012 By 1 Comment
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I am not sure who is more excited to be going to the Phineas and Ferb show in a few weeks, my husband or me.  Notice I didn’t say my children.  They don’t know about the show yet.  We are surprising them and taking them to the show.  I am sure we will all have a lot of fun.  Phineas and Ferb is always on in our house.  We all love it and I am not afraid to admit that sometimes my hubby and I will watch it even when the kids aren’t in the room.

Here is some more information on the show from the official press release-

Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!
Takes Audiences on a Wild Adventure as Phineas, Ferb and the Entire
Tri-State Area Gang Spend Their Final Day of Summer
Creating the Greatest Invention Ever!

All-New Live Stage Production by Feld Entertainment Inspired by
Disney Channel’s #1 Animated Hit Show “Phineas and Ferb”

BankAtlantic Center
Friday, March 2
4:00pm
7:00pm
$55.00, $40.00, $33.00, $26.00 and $16.00
(800) 745-3000
www.ticketmaster.com

Feld Entertainment’s latest live stage production, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best
LIVE Tour Ever! takes audiences on a wild adventure with Phineas, Ferb and the entire
Tri-State Area gang, as they spend the last day of summer creating the greatest invention
ever. Inspired by the hit Disney Channel series and TV’s #1 animated show among
tweens ages 9-14, Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! is packed with witty
humor, high-energy choreography, brilliant lighting effects, audience interaction and
14 hit songs from the animated series plus a never-before-heard original song written
by “Phineas and Ferb” creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh.

Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! brings these television characters
to life for the first time. Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford and the rest
of the Tri-State Area crew go from video to live action before the audiences’ eyes as
they slide from the screen onto the stage. The performance unfolds as the gang decides
to put on a show to make the last day of summer the “best day ever” but soon realize
that they have too many great ideas for the show. Phineas and Ferb build an idea mash-
up machine to combine their favorite ideas into fun and exciting musical numbers.
Meanwhile, the audience sees Agent P, the alter-ego of the boys’ pet platypus Perry, in
a way he’s never been seen before, doing stunts and tricks as he attempts to ward off Dr.
Doofenshmirtz’s most evil ploy yet.

“For the first time ever, we take characters that begin our show in animation and have
them transform into live action right in front of the audience’s eyes,” says Producer
Alana Feld. “While maintaining the integrity of the characters, we present them in a
whole new way that can only be done on stage.”

The story for Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! is woven around
the popular songs from the series. Throughout the performance, audiences
will rock out to “Gitchee Gitchee Goo,” “Squirrels in My Pants,” “Backyard
Beach,” “Busted,” “Today Is Gonna Be a Great Day,” “Summer Belongs to You,”
and more, plus the all-new song, “We’re Gonna Put on a Show,” which was created
exclusively for Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! by Povenmire and
Marsh.

“Seeing Phineas, Ferb and the gang interpreted in a live stage show is a bit surreal and
emotional,” Povenmire and Marsh declare. “After living with them as drawings and
animation for so long, it’s amazing to see them actually moving around and feeling very
human and real. We love it.”

Directed and choreographed by two-time Emmy®-nominee Fred Tallaksen, Disney’s
Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! features nonstop musical productions
where Tallaksen combines slapstick comedy, classic and contemporary movement,
tumbling, and amazing stunts to draw families into a well-known yet never-before-seen
world.

Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! is playing in more than 80 cities
throughout North America and, with a high-powered storyline and award-winning
musical ensembles, will have audiences everywhere experiencing the fun of summer —
all year long!

To find out more about Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! and
to purchase tickets, visit www.phineasandferblive.com or visit us on Facebook and
YouTube.

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Disney Presents~ The Secret World of Arrietty~ Coming to Theaters 2/17 (Trailer, Pictures, and Summary)

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

 

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theaters Feb. 17, 2012.


Voice Cast:  Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias
‘Like’ THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on Facebook.
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY opens in theaters everywhere on February 17th!

Filed Under: Disney
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Make A Weeknight Meal Special With Bertolli Soup Meals ~ #BertolliMealSoup @Bertolli

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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As a busy mom of 2 I am always looking for ways to make weeknight meals special yet easy and fast to prepare.  Oh, and delicious and something my children will eat, too.  That’s usually the hard part.  Finding something my children will both eat.  Bertolli Frozen Meal Soups are just that kind of meal.  Easy, fast, family friendly, and delicious.  I told my girls we were having a “Souper” Meal and kept them in suspense about what we were going to be eating.  They had fun guessing.

Bertolli Frozen Meal Soups can be found in the frozen food section of your grocery store.  They come in 4 varieties- Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables.  I chose Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken for my family’s special weeknight meal.  It was very easy to prepare.  Add the frozen soup and a cup of water to a pot, bring to a boil, simmer, and serve.  It doesn’t get much easier than that.

To make our meal special I served the soup with cheesy garlic grilled cheese sandwiches and grated cheese on top. It really created a fancier version of the classic grilled cheese and tomato soup for my family.   The table was set with flowers in the middle and my girls decided to make special lemonade to serve with dinner.  Both of my daughters and my husband loved it.  The flavors are all fresh, robust, and flavorful.  It tastes like restaurant quality soup without a trip to a restaurant.

It’s always important to make special weeknight meals and keep our family connected.  Bertolli Meal Soups will be a part of our special weeknight meals from now on.  It doesn’t take much to make a weeknight meal special.  Try adding some fancy plates or play some of your family’s favorite music in the background.  You can also have each family member choose one part of the meal.  For example, one child can plan the salad, another child can plan  a side dish, and the parents can choose the main course.  Getting everyone in the family involved with meal planning helps keep families connected.  You can even have your children create special place mats and place settings to make the meal more special.  What does your family do to make weeknight meals special?

More about the Bertolli Meal Soups:
·      Bertolli® Frozen Meal Soups are hearty and fresh-tasting with vegetables, meats, pasta and herbs individually flash frozen at the  peak of freshness.
·      Bertolli® Frozen Meal Soups are available in the frozen aisle, and can be prepared on your stovetop in minutes.
·      With robust flavors and rich textures, new Bertolli® Frozen Meal Soups are available in four varieties: Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables.

Check out Bertolli-

Facebook: facebook.com/Bertolli
Twitter: twitter.com/Bertolli
Website: villabertolli.com

 I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge but the opinions are all my own.

Filed Under: Product Reviews
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YouNeverLose.com Review- UPDATED AGAIN!!! I WON TWICE SO FAR AND SO CAN YOU!!!!

February 1, 2012 By 35 Comments
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I was recently introduced to a new website that I have quickly become addicted to.  It’s called YouNeverLose.com.  YouNeverLose.com is an amazing new website where you can buy gift cards at up to 95% off of retail prices.  Yes, I said 95% off!!!  The beauty of this site is just like the name says – YOU NEVER LOSE.
Here’s how-  Once you sign up for a FREE account on YouNeverLose.com you can purchase gift cards to many retailers you would normally shop at anyway such as Sears, Gap, Old Navy, Kmart, Costco, LandsEnd, and more.  You pay face value for these gift cards and they are shipped to you for FREE.  I purchased a $25 Bath and Body Works gift card for $25.   So I spent $25 but got a $25 gift card.  I ordered my gift card on late in the day on 1/26 and was very surprised when I received it on 1/30.  Not bad considering there was a weekend in between!  (You receive the same dollar value gift card that you paid for, so you never lose any money.  The reward points are a nice bonus that you can potentially win more cards with.)
Now you are probably wondering how you can get gift cards for up to 95% off.  When you purchase your gift cards you are given reward points- 1 point per dollar you spend.  So for my $25 Bath and Body Works gift card I received 25 reward points in my YouNeverLose.com account.  I was then able to use those 25 points to bid in auctions on YouNeverLose.com.  Each reward point raises the bid by $.01.
The real action comes in the last minute or so of the auction.  When there is 20 seconds or less left and someone places a bid it adds 20 more seconds to the clock.  The way to win is to have no one else place a bid after your bid and let the clock run down.  Some of the auctions can really get into a bidding war but they all end pretty low.  See the picture below.  Someone won a $50 Amazon gift card for only $.03 (plus a $5 service fee)!!!  Someone else won a $25 Target gift card for only $.09! (plus a $5 service fee)!! *NOTE* They have now lowered the service fee to only $2 on items you win!

No I didn’t win anything yet but I’ll plan on buying more gift cards to get more points.  I figure I’ll use the gift cards anyway so I really have nothing to lose.  That really is the beauty of this website.  I don’t mind that I didn’t win anything yet because I had fun bidding and I didn’t lose anything since I still have my $25 gift card that I paid $25 for.
UPDATE!!!!  I WON!!!!  I bought a $25 Old Navy Gift Card and used those points to bid on a $25 Mastercard Gift Card.  I ended up winning the Mastercard Gift Card for $1.44!!!!

UPDATE #2- I won ANOTHER AUCTION!!!  This time I won a $25 Amazon gift card for $.11!!!

Click here to sign up for a FREE  YouNeverLose.com account.
Use code LAUNCH10 to get 10 bonus points when register and buy your first gift card.
Here are my tips for winning-
1. Follow a few auctions first and get a feel for how the action goes.  Some people like to bid with 1 second left.  Some people like to bid at the 20 second mark and always be the highest bidder.  Figure out your best strategy.
2. Learn who the regulars are and don’t bid against them.  There are some regulars to seem to have a huge amount of reward points and bid more aggressively.  Don’t chase after them as it’s hard to beat them.  There are plenty of other auctions to bid on so take your time, have fun!
3. If you need to buy any big ticket items at Sears or Kmart, but Sears or Kmart gift cards from YouNeverLose.com.  It will give you lots of reward points to bid with and your odds of winning other gift cards will be better.  For example, imagine if you were buying a $400 dishwasher at Sears anyway.  Why not buy FOUR $100 Gift Cards from YouNeverLose.com to pay for your dishwasher?  That would give you the $400 in Sears gift cards you need to buy the dishwasher BUT you would ALSO get 400 points to bid with.  Imagine all the gift cards you could win with 400 points?!?!
4. Don’t buy gift cards you won’t use, give as a gift, or need.  If you do, you’ll regret it.  The beauty of  YouNeverLose.com is that you are buying something you would use anyway and getting reward points as a bonus.  If you buy a gift card for a store you don’t shop at or have near you then you will never use it.  I LOVE to shop at Bath and Body Works plus it always makes a great gift so that is one of the cards I bought.  I also buy the kids’ clothes at Old Navy so I bought a card there, too.  Plus the Old Navy card can be used at GAP, too. 🙂
I have received every card I have purchased and won very fast.  I have used all of the cards and they all are legit, valid gift cards with no problems.  This is a 100% legit company and I love bidding on their auctions.  This started out as just a website review but now that I have spent the initial points they gave me to try the website and bid with, I am now a huge fan.  I now purchase gift cards to all the stores I shop in because I know I will use them anyway.  Check it out for yourself!  Good luck!

Filed Under: Giveaways and Contests, Product Reviews
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