2010

Happy New Year: I’m Back and Ready for Action

December 31, 2010 By Robin 2 Comments

You know we will all be scratching out the zero to put in the 1 for a few weeks.

After a week off from posting, I will be back on my regular posting schedule starting tomorrow. The last week was spent enjoying the holidays and prepping for Operation Battle Blogger Bulge, as many of you probably already noticed I did take a little time to change out the holiday look of the blog too.

Updates

Operation Battle Blogger Bulge

Today I rid the fridge of anything “unhealthy”, in preparation for Battle Blogger Bulge. I actually realized today, that a good part of my success or failure in this endeavor will probably be connected to the preparation time I have set aside. I was almost tempted to start early, but I think the preparations I am doing both in my food stocks and mentally, make me own this more than a whim will.

Upcoming Giveaways

I have some great giveaways that will be kicking off over the next couple weeks. Some are related to my new personal focus on healthy living & weight loss, but I also have a $100 Amazon Gift Card & a Safety 1st Car Seat coming up very soon, as well.

Filed Under: Misc. Tagged With: Blogging

Operation Battle Blogger Bulge is Coming Soon!

December 23, 2010 By Robin 6 Comments

I have made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight & get healthier. This weekend is my last hoorah of indulgence. Even though my plan doesn’t officially start until January 1st, the junk food purchases will be ending come Monday… so that extraneous temptation won’t be floating around during the first week of my diet.

I have a few review/giveaways lined up in conjunction with this endeavor, which I have entitled Operation Battle Blogger Bulge. While there will be quite a few health & weight loss related posts coming up, no fear to my regular readers: reviews, giveaways and other topics will still be covered.

Filed Under: Diet Tagged With: battle blogger bulge, Blogging, health, healthy recipes

Literati eReader Review | Sharper Image Literati Color eReader

December 21, 2010 By Robin

I was sent a Literati eReader, from Sharper Image, as a last minute review, for the holiday season. I have been dying to try an eReader & never have so this was an entirely new experience for me.

The Literati is one of the few wireless eReaders with color screens. The color screen is also an ample 7″ tall vs. the standard 6″ and measures just 1/2 an inch thick. This eReader is light weight and comes in the color options of black or white. If you are an avid reader and find yourself building up an extensive eLibrary, the memory can be expanded up to 8GB with an SD card.

What can I read on a Literati eReader?

The Literati eReader comes with a few free ebooks already installed, and at the time I am writing this post there are 300 more free books which can be downloaded off the Kobo bookstore. With the Literati you can download ebooks from the over 2 million options offered at Kobo, as well as, the newly added option of magazines and newspapers. You can also download files and images from your own computer, right into the Literati eReader if you like.

Using the Sharper Image Literati eReader, a noobie’s experience

As I have already mentioned this is the first time I ever used an eReader, and there was a bit of a learning curve for me… and perhaps I was a man in a former life, because I am not one to read the directions. Charging the reader and getting the pre-installed books to come up was very simple. After fiddling around for a few minutes I got the Wi-Fi ready to roll, it just took a few minutes to find the network password, since I didn’t have it readily available.

I started to browse the bookstore and found something that appealed to me. You need to create a free account at Kobo in order to download, so I started sign-up. This can be done either on the Literati itself, or on your computer. I ran into a small snag, when it asked for my email. There was no visible key for the @ symbol. I flipped through the instruction booklet, and found out that you click the symbol key, which pulls up a menu of symbols to select from, including the @ symbol. This may be a common place thing in similar devices, but I’m middle age, it takes me a few minutes to catch on.

Once the account was all set up, I downloaded a few books, the books loaded quickly, and were neatly arranged on a virtual bookshelf for me. The pages are flipped through by touch sensitive buttons on the sidebars of the reader. While other navigation is done with the small toggle buttons in the keypad area.

So, should I buy a Literati eReader?

If you frequently read books and magazines, for which color pictures add significantly to your reading experience, this is a good reader for you. The Literati color eReader is also a good choice for those preferring the larger 7″ screen size. I did find navigation of this device to be a little clumsy, and as I was quickly flipping through intro pages of one book, to get to the actual story, the unit froze up on me and had to be reset. Of course the majority of the time spent using the device will be for actual reading, so probably not much of an issue really.

I like that the wireless ability of the Literati allows me bring this along with me, while I have to wait for appointments or for my daughter to finish class. When I click on the book I have been reading the eReader takes me right were I left off. I also like that the screen can easily be read in a dark room, without creating enough light itself to disturb anyone else.

Where can I buy the Literati eReader?

The Literati wireless color eReader can be picked up in-store at Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and JCPenney, as well as several other retailer both in-store or online.

Disclosure: A product sample was provided for the purpose of this review. All opinions presented in this review are entirely my own.

Literati Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will will a Literati eReader of their very own, courtesy of The Sharper Image.

Giveaway is now closed, and winner has confirmed receipt of his Literati eReader.

Congratulations to Jeff L.

Filed Under: Electronics Tagged With: giveaway, holiday gifts, review, reviews

Gaggle of Chicks: Deep Discounts and Free $5 Credit when You Sign-up

December 21, 2010 By Robin Leave a Comment

Gaggle of Chicks is a special deals site focused on products moms want to buy. Presently, they offer nationwide deals and local deals for the New York area, there will be more local areas to come soon. The bargains offered on Gaggle of Chicks are not a few dollars off, rather they are rather significant, generally in the 30-60% off range.

How does Gaggle of Chicks work?

When you go on the site there will be a daily deal available, you may also have the option of getting in on the deal from the day before if it is still open. Some deals are available for several days, others are more limited. When you see a deal which appeals to you, purchase the deal on the Gaggle of Chicks website, and they will send you a special code, which will work like a gift certificate on the participating company’s website. Sometimes the deal is for a specific item, other times, you are basically purchasing a deeply discounted gift certificate and can buy whatever you like with it. The details are always clearly spelled out on the Gaggle of Chicks deal page. You will know just what you are buying.

How good are the deals on Gaggle of Chicks?

Most of the deals I have seen are roughly half off. I recently got in on a deal for a $30 credit to a vinyl wallart retailer, for just $14.99. I can get what I want with it & the code is good for a year. One of the recent deals I found appealing the was for Box Creations play structures. The $40 playhouses were offered for just $15, with free shipping! Considering Gaggle of Chicks puts $5 in your account when you sign up…it really would have been only $10 for a new member.

If you live in the New York area, there are big discounts offered on all kinds of fun things to do for moms, kids or the whole family, as well as, deals on actual goods. I hope they start running deals in my area soon.

Refer friends and get credits

Gaggle of Chicks will put a $10 credit in your account for each friend who signs up through you. That could add up really quick, and at the deep discounts this site offers you could get a lot.

Grab a Gaggle of Chicks Gift Card

If this site sounds like it would be a perfect fit for a friend or family member, but the current deal is not. Gaggle of Chicks offers gift cards, as well. With the high percentage off discounts they offer a gift card purchased through them is really worth roughly twice what you pay. what a great way to stretch that holiday budget.

Sign up for a FREE Gaggle of Chicks account now, and get a $5 credit in your account to start you off!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Gaggle of Chicks and received a $50 gift code for the website to facilitate this review.

Filed Under: Shopping Tagged With: discount, Shopping

Whiskey Spiked Recipes for your Holiday Meal

December 20, 2010 By Robin 2 Comments

Special Irish Whiskey spiked dishes to add extra festive flair to your holiday meal. Why not try out these recipes, for you next holiday dinner.

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Pork Loin, Sautéed Mushrooms and Butternut Squash Purée
4-6 ounces Pork Loin cut 1 inch thick
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup sweet onion, chopped
16 ounces Mushrooms, sliced
½ cup Michael Collins Irish Whiskey (Blend)
2 Lbs Butternut Squash, peeled and cut in cubes
1 tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Sage bouquet for garnish

· Season the pork loin pieces and baste with olive oil. On medium-high heat in a skillet sauté the pork loin for 5 minutes.
· Remove from the pan. Add olive oil, if it’s necessary, sauté the onion and the mushrooms until lightly golden. Add the pork loin pieces into the pan then carefully pour Michael Collins Irish Whiskey. Be careful with the flames. Turn the pork loin and stir mushrooms. Cook slowly until the liquid simmers; make sure you keep juice to pour over the meat. Set aside.

Butternut Squash purée
· In a large pan boil salted water. Add the butternut squash cubes and boil until tender. Strain the butternut squash and puree with a food mill. Season and add butter. Stir until the butter is mixed.

· In a plate arrange the butternut squash puree, place the pork loin piece on top then add the mushrooms over the meat, and drizzle Michael Collins Irish Whiskey reduction. Season and garnish with a sage bouquet.
· Serves 4

Michael Collins Gorgonzola Stuffed Figs

½ cup crumbled Gorgonzola
6 figs ripe cut into quarters
2 tbsp syrupy balsamic vinegar
1 tsp Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Blend
6 ounces Prosciutto, thinly sliced cut in small strips
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Salt and pepper to taste

·         Mix balsamic vinegar, Michael Collins Blend, salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Brush each fig with mixture. Press ½ teaspoon of the Gorgonzola into one end of each fig.
·         Arrange basil leaves on a serving platter. Place figs on top of leaves and drizzle remaining Michael Collins balsamic vinegar mixture over figs.
·         Makes 24 pieces.

Recipes provided courtesy of Sidney Frank Importing.

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: cooking, entertaining, recipes

Special Holiday Pricing on the TiVo Premiere

December 20, 2010 By SS Leave a Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TiVo. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tivo Premiere

Stumped on what to get that special person on your list? If they don’t already have a TiVo, consider getting them a TiVo Premiere, as a gift. It is far more than just a DVR.

The TiVo Premiere not only records all your favorite programs, through your cable or satellite subscription, but it also connects to your internet service, giving you even more entertainment options. With Tivo Premiere you can access such online features as, Netflix, and download videos from YouTube, Amazon Video on Demand. Music fans can download from Pandora. All this and much more can be accessed via Tivo and streamed right on to your HDTV.

I personally didn’t realize you could do so much with a TiVo player these days. It seems like a great last minute holiday gift. I wouldn’t mind if Santa brought me one.

The folks at TiVo are running a special holiday offer, right now. For a limited time you can buy the TiVo Premiere for just $99, when you sign up for a one year service plan. The service itself is just $19.99 per month. If you would like to take advantage of this money saving offer, visit your local Best Buy store.

Filed Under: Misc.

Tassimo T20 “Brewbot” Review | Bosch Tassimo Brewbot T20 Make Cappucinno at Home

December 18, 2010 By Robin

The T20 “BrewBot” is Tassimo’s newest brewer, like it’s predecessors it is actually a hot beverage system more than a coffee maker, since it makes a wide array of hot drinks beyond a simple cup of coffee. It has all the features of Tassimo’s earlier T65 model but the Tassimo T20 from Bosch, is more compact, thus great for those like myself with limited counter-space. It is actually slightly smaller than my regular coffee maker, so I was very happy to do a review of this little Brewbot.

How does the Tassimo T20 compare with expensive espresso machines?

I am someone who prides myself in making a mean cappuccino, so I looked on this little machine with a skeptical eye. As luck would have it, the Tassimo T20 I was sent for review, came packaged with not only coffee, but a Starbucks Cappuccino kit. My old brass boiler espresso machine, was demoted from the counter, and Brewbot grabbed it’s spot… a trial commenced.

The T20 uses little pre-measured cups of coffee, and in this case milk as well, which are called T-discs. To make a cappuccino, the milk disc goes in first, inserted foil side down, with the tab sticking out at you. Lock the top down & press the brew button. Steamed frothy milk pours into your cup. Once the milk step is complete, exchange the disc for an espresso one and repeat. Less than 2 minutes later you have a hot ready to drink cappuccino.

Making a cappuccino on my old machine would have taken considerably longer. Granted the Tassimo Brewbot results did not have the carefully crafted near whipped cream dollops of milk froth that I like to top my cappuccinos with, but the fact of the matter is I had rarely been using my old machine. The time consumed to make one cappuccino, and the ensuing clean-up, often lead me to just grab a regular coffee. Clean up with the T20 Brewbot pretty much equals, opening the top and tossing out the T-disc, and while the aesthetic of the frothed milk, may not be quite as pretty, the flavor of the cappucino was great.

In addition to making coffee and espresso based beverages, this little brewer makes over 40 hot beverages, including chai lattes, tea and hot chocolate. All brewed for you in less than 60 seconds. You’ve got to love that.

The Tassimo T20 Brewbot is available in black as shown in this review, or white. Tassimo also makes color inserts, if you want to add a little punch to the look of your machine.

Where to buy Tassimo T20 Brewbot?

The T20 can be ordered direct from Tassimo, and is also available at most major housewares retailers. Reg. retail price is $129, but I have seen it selling for $99.99.

If you want to shop around here are a few direct links to the Tassimo T20 Brewbot:

Tassimo T20 Brewbot at Walmart

Tassimo T20 Brewbot at Target

Disclosure: Product sample was provided for the purpose of this review. All opinions presented here are entirely my own.

Tassimo T20 Brewbot Giveaway (closed)

One lucky Blommi reader will win a T20 Brewbot, courtesy of Tassimo.

The drawing has closed. Winner of the Tassimo Brewbot is listed below.

Confirmed winner jeannine m

Filed Under: Household Tagged With: giveaway, kitchen equipment, review, reviews

High End Taste for your Holiday Cocktails, without the High End Price

December 17, 2010 By Robin 1 Comment

Many of you will be hosting Holiday parties over the next week. Here are a few great cocktail ideas courtesy of Vodca Exclusiv, an affordably priced Vodka which is comparable in taste to it’s far more expensive counterparts. It retails for just $20 / 1.75 liters.

Exclusiv Hot Holiday Cider
1 1/2 oz Exclusiv Vodca
4 oz Hot Apple Cider or Apple Juice
1/2 oz Buttershots Liqueur or Monin Caramel Syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Garnish with whipped cream and caramel sauce
Serve in a glass coffee mug

Spiced Pear
2 oz Exclusiv Vodca
1 oz Bailey’s
1/2 oz pear puree
1/4 oz cinnamon schnapps
Dash of honey
Shake and pour in a martini glass with a sugar/cinnamon rim

Exclusiv Southern Shore Iced Tea
3 oz Exclusiv Vodka (classic or citrus)
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz 5 hour energy berry (half bottle)
Splash Sour
Splash cranberry juice
Lemon wedge
Serve in a pint glass

To see a full review of this product, along with tasting notes: Vodca Exclusiv: This Budget Priced Vodka can Play with the Big Boys

Disclosure: Product sample was provided.

Filed Under: Shopping Tagged With: entertaining, recipes, review

Enter to Win $1,000 & Fruit Snacks for a Year

December 16, 2010 By Robin 1 Comment

Welch’s is running an easy to enter contest, asking parents to share the loving notes they send in or on their kid’s packed school lunches, by submitting a photo. The grand prize is a check for $1,000 and a years supply of their fruit snacks. There will also be ten runner-up winners. see below for more in depth information about the contest.

Choosing the right snacks to put into our children’s lunchboxes is important, so the inclusion of products like Welch’s® Fruit Snacks—the delicious snacks made with real fruit—is a smart choice that also makes kids happy.
Another way parents can make their children’s lunch experience happy and special is by sending notes inside their kids’ lunchbox. Now the makers of Welch’s® Fruit Snacks are asking parents and caregivers to share their own lunchbox notes for a chance to win prizes!
Tell us! Do you include inspirational, funny or heart-warming notes in your child’s lunchbox? Maybe you write a note right on the outside of his or her lunch bag. If so, enter the Welch’s® Fruit Snacks “Lunchbox Notes” contest and you could win big! Entering is easy. Go to www.welchsfruitsnacks.com and click on the “Lunchbox Notes” banner. Follow instructions and submit a photo of a recent lunchbox packed with a note and your child’s favorite variety of Welch’s® Fruit Snacks. Submissions can also be sent via regular mail to BHGPR, c/o Welch’s® Fruit Snacks, 546 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, NJ, 07043. Entries must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2010. Entries will be judged based on creativity and inspiration of the message. Be sure to read the official contest rules!
Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? One Grand Prize winner will receive free lunches for a year for their child (valued at $1,000 cash). The Free Lunch Grand Prize will be awarded in the form of a check for $1,000 USD and a one year-supply of Welch’s® Fruit Snacks consisting of 52 boxes (ARV $200). Ten runners – up will each receive a gift certificate to a fun, family restaurant of their choice (ARV $200 each) and a one-month supply of Welch’s Fruit Snacks (ARV $12.00).

Filed Under: Misc. Tagged With: contest, Family