Monday, November 8, 2010

Tropical Traditions Palm Shortening Giveaway!

Congratulations to #62, Eileen, who said - tweeted this! http://twitter.com/2sic2mooov/status/7104529292070912  thankyou!

 


I think Tropical Traditions is the best place to get Healthy Oils of any kind!  I've now got the chance to give away another Tropical Tradition Cooking Product.  It's Tropical Traditions Palm Shortening.  It is derived from Palm Oil, which is the most widely used oil in the world except the US.  Palm Shortening has had some of its unsaturated fats removed, which gives it a very firm texture and high melting point.  It has no trans fats and can be used for baking just like shortening!  It is colorless and odorless as well. 
I received the gallon container of the palm shortening and I absolutely love it for cooking and baking.  It is everything a shortening should be--doesn't take away from the flavors I'm using and I feel good about cooking with it because it has no trans fats!  A whole gallon will last me forever!  I've cooked eggs, meat and vegetables with it and add it to cookie mixes.  It's great!  Everything tastes so much better using it!  I'm not kidding, it takes my cooking to another level.  Right now through Sunday, November 21st  you can get it on sale for $19.85, that's 44%off!     And if you missed it this time, there will always be another opportunity.  Just sign up for their newsletter for notifications on all their great sales and promotions.  


One person is going to win a gallon container of Tropical Traditions Organic Palm Shortening!  I'm excited to let you in on the details here!  To enter, first do this mandatory entry and any other extra entries that you'd like:
MANDATORY:


  • Visit Tropical Traditions and let me know something that really floats your boat there!
Extra entries:
  • Grab my button on the right side bar and put it on your blog or site!  Let me know where! (+2) Leave two comments for two entries!
  • Tell me about your most tropical experience!  Would you want to make it a tradition? (+3) Leave three comments for three entries!
  • Subscribe to the Tropical Tradition Newsletter! (+2)
  • Make an order from Tropical Tradition and e-mail me the receipt at daisydoo200 at yahoo dot com  Must be done within the time of this giveaway.  $15 minimum.  First time orders use this code - 5954910. You will get a cool recipe book with 85 recipes and more! (+5)
  • Subscribe to my RSS Feed (+1)
  • Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter! (+1)
  • Tweet about this and get 1 entry every day you do!  Leave your tweet status! You can do that by clicking on the date you tweeted! (+1)  
A GAL NEEDS...Tropical Traditions Organic Palm Shortening! #Giveaway http://bit.ly/cWmhqB 11/29/10 #Win

This Giveaway is open to both US and Canada and will end on 11/29/10!  Winner will be selected by random number generator and will be notified by e-mail! Thank you so much to Tropical Traditions for keeping us healthy with your great products!  I was provided product for an honest review and winner will also be provided product by Tropical Traditions!


Thursday, November 4, 2010

A CSN Stores Giveaway!

Congratulations to #75, Domestic Diva, who said. ... . tea kettle: looks just like a fall leaf!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!  I loved your creative answers and it goes to show that CSN truly has variety and almost anything you could want, in whatever color you want!





I just ended a $70 CSN Giveaway and I'm back with another one!
I thought it would be fun to pick a color and see what I come up with at CSN in that specific color.  So without looking it up beforehand, I picked orange b/c it is such a great fall color and it matches my blog for sure!  Here are some things that are orange at CSN:
The P'kolino Silly Soft IggySeat!  It's bound to be a big favorite with your kids!

 The Tommy Bahama Orange Cay Comforter Set!  Who knew that orange could be so appealing in the bedroom?
The Lexington Studios Recipes Decorative Wall Clock!  This would make a great gift!


Please feel free to enter and enjoy the $70 gift code that you can win and enjoy!  Here is what you need to do to enter:


Mandatory:
Visit CSNStores.com and leave me a link to something that has orange in it, like the color of the leaves outside and the fall pumpkins!  I know I didn't list the only orange items at CSN.  CSN has so much that they must have thousands of items that have that color in them.  So go take a gander and come back here and enter to win!


Optional Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each extra entry):


  • Follow CSNStores on Twitter!  Leave your tweet name!
  • Follow me on Twitter!  Leave your tweet name!
  • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
  • Subscribe to my e-mails! (Right Sidebar)
  • Follow me on Networked Blogs!  (Right Sidebar)
  • Subscribe to my RSS Feed! (Right Sidebar)
  • Tweet about this leaving me a link! You can do this 1X daily!  Tweet this if you'd like~~A GAL NEEDS...A $70 CSN Gift Code #Giveaway! 11/23 http://bit.ly/da5T18 #Win
  • Like CSNStores on Facebook!
  • Friend me on Facebook!
  • (+3) Read my CSN Review and comment there then come back and comment here 3X that you did!
 This contest will end on Monday, November 23, 2010 at approx. 11:59 pm.  Winner will be chosen with random.org and notified with e-mail. Please make sure that all entries are valid with a legitimate e-mail.  Must be over 18 to participate.  Open to US and Canada.  CSN is not responsible for shipping to Canada. 

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

My Latest CSNStores Purchases!

As many of you know, CSN is an online mall of stores with great selections and prices.  For instance, they have an incredible selection of  kitchen bar stools!  CSN is a favorite site of mine to go shopping for a variety of things!  Here are the latest examples!
__________________________________
After much deliberation, I decided to purchase a Chef's Knife.  I have some OK knives in my kitchen, but after attending a great cooking class in September, I knew I needed a better knife for the kitchen.  Thus my decision. This will be my special go-to knife.  After looking awhile, I decided to get this one:

It's the Calphalon 8" Chef's Knife and it's a beauty!  I will now be able to slice and dice like Rachael Ray in the kitchen!  So yes, I'm very excited.  But that's not all!


I have long been eying cowboy boots.  They look so comfortable and stylish at the same time.  And with winter coming up, I need something I can throw on and still look OK at work.  So, yes, I got these gorgeous things:
Laredo Women's Basic Cowboy Boots in Black
And because I was still thinking about the kitchen, I really fell in love with this spice rack.  Did you know that you should never store your spices above the stove?  The rising heat will cause the spice oils to dry out and go rancid!  Well, guess where all mine are?  Until now...I got the Spectrum Euro Wall-Mounted Spice Rack In Black!

These purchases are definitely some things this gal needed!  I'm going to be enjoying these for a very long time!  Oh, did I mention CSNStores also has a great selection of kitchen bar stools?    And please stay tuned right here for another great giveaway sponsored by CSNStores.com!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

A Fun Halloween Ride!

 Today was a gorgeous day...until 3 pm.  Then it opened up and poured buckets the rest of the day and evening! Greg and I went on a bike ride to celebrate the next to last day in October before the rain came pouring down!  We set off at around noon and I became a bit enthralled with some of the scenery we saw.  I meant to take nature pictures of our beautiful ride and I did take one,


          but ended up mostly taking pictures of people's Halloween fun!                                                                   Here is what I saw:   

                                    Some cool-looking cornstalks and pumpkins!

                                   Cute Pumpkins near some scary gargoyles!
                                    

                          A beautiful front porch with an awesome pumpkin display
                                                      
                                             Some very creative jack-o-lanterns



                             A porch that needed sweeping and cleaning very badly!

              And this strange fellow, running straight toward me.  It gave me quite a scare...

                                Until he wished me a very Happy Halloween!
                                                    I hope you have one too!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Easy Stir-Fry Venison


Prepare all your favorite rice, vegetables and Asian inspired dishes on this versatile Calphalon stir fry pan. The traditional round-bottom Calphalon pan is easy use on Western ranges, and has a long handle for easy lifting, tossing, and turning, and a flat bottom for stability.

A Great Way To Stir Fry!
By Helena from Sandy, UIT on 10/26/2010
5out of 5
Pros: Non-Stick, Easy To Clean, Handle Stays Cool, Retains Heat, Distributes Heat Evenly
Best Uses: Simple Meals, Small Kitchens, Gifts
Describe Yourself: Casual Cook
I was impressed with this pan! The first meal I prepared was a real test. My son brought home a deer and after it was processed, I cooked venison stir fry in this pan. It turned out great! The meat was evenly cooked and tender. The flavor was delicious! I love it!
 Recipe for Easy Venison Stir-Fry! 
 To remove any gamey taste, marinate venison in 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup water for 3 hours.  Next, rinse meat and soak in 2 cups milk for another several hours. Rinse meat.
Slice 1 onion,1 green or red pepper and 1 tomato.  Set aside.
Brown venison in oil.  It works best if you use higher heat b/c meat will be less dry. 
When steaks are nearing desired wellness, add pepper, onion and  tomato. Continue cooking until vegetables are thoroughly heated and stir continuously.  Serve over white or
wild rice. Enjoy!








Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Some New Hair Ideas!

Do you ever get that ho hum feeling about your hair?  It's just same old, same old all the time?  Yes, I do too!  And seriously, I've done the lightening, highlighting, the perming, the cutting, teasing, the curling the straightening.  I've done pony tails, buns, pig tails, bangs, spikes and ringlets.  I get all that!  But I'm looking for some new ideas! Well, I found a great new resource in the Alternative Hair Show!  This year it was held at London's Royal Albert Hall on October 14th!  This was their silver anniversary and they really did it up...I now have a whole new vision of what my hair could look like!  There were 25 teams representing 25 years from all over the world.  Angus Mitchell represented the US.  I don't have any more excuses for boring hair--take a look at what I mean!  My top five:






No more excuses, ladies!  Just do it!!!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Great Cookware Giveaways!

Here are some great cookware giveaways I found around the net:

  • Win a grater that grates and measures all at once at Mr. Food!  It's the Good Grips Container Grater!  Ends 10/31/10!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Very Glassy Indeed!



 From jewelry to stained glass windows, glass artwork is some of the most visually appealing art on the planet!  Yet, all that is required to make glass is a little sand, a little soda, a little lime and a lot of heat.  But not anyone can turn glass into art.  The glass artisan has to have a great eye for detail, color and line.
 Enter Nancy Giere founder of  NGlassworks! She is such a talented lady who has always had an eye for color.  As a toddler, instead of carrying a baby blanket, she carried around a tangled and colorful array of  yarn from her mother's knitting basket.  Nancy started creating for herself, family and friends in a variety of mediums until she found what she loves best and established NGlassworks because of the many requests for her work.  She combines dichroic, iridescent and sheet glass to make unique works of art!  Here are a few examples of what she does!
 Based out of  Williamsburg, VA, Nancy's art is sure to please even the most discerning of tastes. You can be sure that every piece will be original and lovingly made by Nancy.  The main color schemes are in jewel tone or red/bronze. 
"Each piece is inspired by colors, shapes and patterns I've observed in my back yard and in my travels throughout the world.  Different sizes and shapes of glass are stacked in unique designs and fired in a kiln.  During the fusing process the glass comes alive and takes on a whole new character.  After the first firing each piece is cold worked and fire polished in the kiln until I'm satisfied with the overall design and quality." --Nancy Giere
 I received a jewel toned Sassy Slide pendant and I think it is absolutely gorgeous!  It has pink, turquoise, dark blue, gold and green in it and I can wear it with many things.  It makes a feminine yet fun statement where I work at a local high school!

You can find Nancy's jewelry in selected shops across the country and at Art Shows and Exhibits.  Her pendants retail for about $35.00, her handbags run about $1000.00 and her bracelets are $50.00.  Personally, now that I own one of Nancy Giere's unique fused glass pieces, I think that a gal needs....at least one beautiful NGlassworks piece.  They are beeeeautiful! 

Disclaimer:  I was provided product for an honest review.  The opinions here are mine and mine only!

Monday, October 4, 2010

A CSN Stores Giveaway!

The winner of the $70 CSN Gift Certificate is #343, The Crave To Save who said https://twitter.com/#!/TheCraveToSave/status/28599000592
October 24, 2010 8:19 AM !  Thanks so much everyone for entering.  I will be putting another one up shortly so stay tuned!

Today we just had our first rain of the autumn season and yesterday, our probable last day of 80 degree weather. Alas, summer is about done and fall is upon us!  That's all well and good, you might say, but what has that got to do with CSN?  Well, that's easy!  A Gal Needs...to prepare for fall by getting a few necessary items like:  A chef's knife to cut up all the great fall produce that is coming our way,  binoculars for viewing all the fall sports games that we love,  a cover for the BBQ that we still want to use but shortly will put away,  a sweater for the doggie and a tool rack for the hubbie who will be doing oh, so much yardwork when the leaves fly!  (I know, we're so thoughtful that way!)   




 All of these things have at least one thing in common...they can be purchased at CSNStores.com and they can all be purchased with the $70 Gift Code that I am giving one of my great readers!  These are just a few of the things I feel the need to get with a $70 Gift Code but I'll just bet there are a few things that you might be able to envision yourself having this fall! 

You're welcome to enter to win this $70 Gift Code from the great people at CSN!  Just complete the mandatory entry and any or all extra entries that you'd like!

MANDY:  Be an e-mail subscriber to A GAL NEEDS...(right sidebar) and tell of one thing that autumn is a good time for!  This counts as your entry for the $70 Gift Code!  

EXTRAS: (Leave one comment per entry!)

+8 Purchase something from CSN!  ($10 minimum) Forward the e-mail confirmation that CSN sent you to daisydoo200 at yahoo dot com  Subject: CSN Purchase (You may delete any personal info!)  Must be done during the time of this giveaway!
 
+1 Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
+1 Follow @CSNStores on Twitter!  Leave your tweet name!
+2 Be a fan of CSN on Facebook!

+1 Follow me on Twitter and tweet 1x daily for an entry/day!  You may copy and paste this.....Visit A GAL NEEDS...for a $70 @CSNStores #Giveaway! Everything you need for fall! http://bit.ly/dkWkAX 10/28 #Win


+2 Blog, Stumble or Facebook this giveaway, linking back to here!  Leave me the link where you did this!  (2 entries per method!)

+2 Add me to your blog list!  Leave me the link so I can check it out!
 +2 Add my A GAL NEEDS...button to your home page!  Leave me the link!

This giveaway is open to both US and Canada and will close on 10/28/10 sometime at approximately 11:00 pm MST!  I will choose the winner with Random.org and post the winner here!  The winner will also be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond.  I was not compensated in any way to provide this giveaway.  Thanks to the CSN team and all of those who have partiicipated!

Friday, October 1, 2010

No Shortages At CSN (Review)!





I have been visiting the CSNStores.com site quite frequently recently because I am in need of some Christmas items, as well as a few personal items for myself.  I always go away with more items in mind that I definitely NEED!  I realize that I have a need for a functional coffee table and so came up with a few really nice examples at CSN.  Believe me, it was easy 'cause there are no shortages there!  They have some great console tables that are both beautiful and useful! Plus, all of the tables shown here are highly customer rated and come with free shipping! Please stay tuned for another great giveaway right here!  Trust me, if you like CSN, you'll want to stop on by!