Shaklee's Basic H Cleaning Solution Review & Giveaway


Get Clean Basic H2O by Shaklee is an all natural, non toxic cleaning solution that I have fallen in love with. I was sent a couple of samples and my first impression was, "This couldn't possibly clean my entire house," because of how little the concentrated capsule was. I was dead wrong. 

First off, I can't believe how much cleaning solution this little capsule made for it being so small. You get  so much solution that will last just as long, if not more than an average bottle of a brand name cleaning solution, so yes it will definitely have you saving money.

 One of the main things I loved about Basic H is that there are no toxins, which is a bonus as I have young children at home. It's also all natural, doubly concentrated and biodegradable surfactants. You can use it indoor or outdoor and it also works great on Walls, Windows and Mirrors, Countertops, Floors, Appliances, Stoves, Sealed Woodwork, Pots and Pans and Furniture. I honestly found this to be better than some of the major brands of cleaning solutions that I've been using faithfully for years and Basic H has got me thinking of changing things up and switching. 

I am a clean-aholic and am always looking for something less expensive, but efficient to help keep my home clean and safe for my kids. I would love to try more of Shaklee's other products to use in my home since the Basic H helped get rid of dirt and keep my home clean.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received samples of Basic H at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. Thanks to the rep for the giveaway prize!

Even with Fall Here Summer is Still in Full Swing in Las Vegas




It may officially be Fall, but at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas the heat is still on. ARIA is one of the few Las Vegas Hotels with a year round pool and cabanas. Guests can enjoy water heated to a perfect 82 degrees whether it is 65 or 105 degrees outside. Cabanas with full food and beverage options as well as HD TVs, an iPod dock and even wifi are also available starting at $200 for up to 8 people.

Things to See
Take a walk through our pool area with a Virtual Tour
The three elliptical pools are all named after local plant life
The outdoor therapy pool at The Spa & Salon is heated in the winter and cooled in the summer
Liquid Pool & Lounge offers a day club complete with cabanas and celebrities seasonally
The three ARIA Hot Tubs are heated to 101 degrees year round
Not in the mood to lounge by the pool? ARIA Resort & Casino offers one of the best spa experiences in Las Vegas as well. From traditional treatments to our innovative signature series therapies, there is literally something for everyone.

Highlights
Before or after your treatment, save time for the Spa & Salon at ARIA’s signature spaces: Ganbanyoku Heated Stone Beds, Shio Salt Room and Outdoor Therapy Pool
Want to relax but not ready for a treatment? Buy a Facilities Pass for $30
Hitting the town tonight? Get a blow out or mani/pedi from the Salon at ARIA to look your best
Bridal services are also available including Spa Suites perfect for bachelorette parties



Disclosure: This post has been compensated. All opinions are my own.

Jeff Strand Guest Post: The Hunger Games vs. A Bad Day For Voodoo


I was super excited to have, Jeff Strand, the author of; A Bad Day For Voodoo join Just Us Girls with a guest post with an entertaining interview, so please enjoy!




An informative Q&A with author Jeff Strand.

Q: Is A Bad Day For Voodoo as good as The Hunger Games?

A: Well, I wouldn't say that. I guess it's up to the reader to decide.

Q: Did you really just compare your book to The Hunger Games?

A: No! All I said was that it’s up to the reader to decide.

Q: But apparently you think that A Bad Day For Voodoo is worthy to be in the same sentence as The Hunger Games.

A: Um, no, I’m not the one who put them in the same sentence. You did that,

Q: But did you stop me? Did you say “Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, let’s stop this Q&A right here!”? You most certainly did not. You were just going to let it happen. That disgusts me, sir. Your book is not worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence. In fact, the word “voodoo” is not worthy to be in the same sentence as “hunger.”

A: I’m sorry.

Q: The Hunger Games is 100% pure awesomeness and I resent you saying that your book reaches those heights. The Hunger Games is kind of violent, though. If they could get rid of the violence, it would be even better. I should write my own version that doesn’t have any kids killing each other. That would be sweet. Is A Bad Day For Voodoo a wholesome tale that contains no violence?

A: Yes.

Q: Are you lying?

A: Yes.

Q: For shame.

A: The book isn’t...I mean, there’s some violence...but it’s funny violence.

Q: So you’re basically saying that your book represents everything that’s wrong in today’s society?

A: No, I wasn’t basically saying that. Look, you asked if it was as good as The Hunger Games, and I just said that readers can decide for themselves.

Q: Everybody knows it’s not, though. I mean, duh.

A: Have you even read it?

Q: I skimmed the back cover. Do you have anywhere to be for the next few hours? I could read it right now and tell you what I think.

A: Could I maybe go get some lunch or something and come back?

Q: No.

A: Okay.

[A Few Hours Pass...]

Q: Well, shut my mouth. A Bad Day For Voodoo is way better than The Hunger Games. In fact, it makes The Hunger Games look like somebody just slobbered on some paper and called it a book! If I had a copy with me, I’d punch it!

A: Thank you.

Q: I should have said that I’d shoot it with an arrow. That would’ve been a better Hunger Games reference. Lots of arrows are shot in that book.

A: Oh well. Too late now.

Q: Yeah. Anyway, everybody should go read The Hunger Games, and then if they want to read something better, they should read A Bad Day For Voodoo. Don’t read A Bad Day For Voodoo first, because it will ruin The Hunger Games for you because you’ll spend the whole time thinking “This isn’t as good as A Bad Day For Voodoo.

A: No, it’s okay. They can read it first. I’m cool with that.

Q: Okay, so everybody should read The Hunger Games and A Bad Day For Voodoo in whatever order works best for their own personal schedule. Buy them both today!

Horrid Henry's Monster Movie Book Review & Halloween Giveaway




I love reading new books to my kids. We read every night before they go to bed and my daughter has picked up reading as well. She loves reading in her spare time and together. We had an opportunity to read a book from the Horrid Henry series and since Halloween was around the corner I found the book, Horrid Henry's Monster Movie quite fitting. 

While reading the book, Horrid Henry's Monster Movie to my kids the story itself was very entertaining. Not only were my kids intrigued and wanting to me to read more and more of the book, but I found myself curious and entertained from the main character, Henry. This book is perfect for kids of all ages and is just in time as the end of the spookiness for Halloween is coming to an end. Not only was there one story in this book, but there are four total that are filled with exciting new adventures and situations that Henry gets himself into. All that are exciting and worth the read. Your little ones will love it and you'll be entertained as well!

For a special treat just in time for Halloween is our Candy Craving Book Giveaway which includes four books for your kids to enjoy:

Horrid Henry’s Monster Movie by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Tony Ross
Horrid Henry & the Zombie Vampire by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Tony Ross
Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin
A Bad Day for Voodoo by Jeff Strand


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Horrid Henry's Monster Movie at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. Thanks to the PR company for the giveaway prize!



Saving Each Other Book Review & Giveaway



Title: Saving Each Other
By: Victoria Jackson & Ali Guthy
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
ISBN: 9781593157333
Pages: 288


On the surface, Victoria Jackson is the American Dream personified: from a troubled childhood and unfinished high school education she overcame immeasurable odds to create a cosmetics empire valued at more than half a billion dollars. Married to Bill Guthy—self-made principal of infomercial marketing giant Guthy-Renker—Victoria’s most treasured role was mother to three beautiful, beloved children, Evan, Ali, and Jackson.
Suddenly, Victoria’s dream life is broken as she begins to battle a mother’s greatest fear. In 2008, her daughter, Ali, began experiencing unusual symptoms of blurred vision and an ache in her eye. Her test results led to the diagnosis of a disease so rare, the chance that she had it was only 2%. Neuromyeltis Optica (NMO) is a little understood, incurable, and often fatal autoimmune disease that can cause blindness, paralysis, and life-threatening seizures, and afflicts as few as 20,000 people in the world. At the age of 14, Ali was given a terrifying prognosis of between four to six years to live.
Saving Each Other begins just as Victoria and Bill learn of Ali’s disease, starting them on a powerful journey to save Ali, their only daughter, including bringing together a team of more than fifty of the world’s leading experts in autoimmune and
NMO-related diseases to create the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation.


MY REVIEW
This story had me in tears. Saving Each Other is about a mother and daughter facing an illness that the daughter, Ali is very touching and I felt for this family every step of the way. This was a book that I couldn't put down, a page turner for sure. I can't imagine going through what they've overcome, but am so glad they shared their story with the world. This book is definitely worth reading and will be another one on my list that I'll be telling my friends and family about. I know a couple of women who have had to deal with illness with their child in some way and I know that if they were given the chance to read this book they can see that they're not alone, that there are others out there going through something similar. The story alone makes this a great read, but what I also loved about this book is that you got two sides to the story, not only were we reading what Ali was going through, but we also got a chance to read what Victoria went through and this is what makes this book stands out. I was also impressed to find out that 100% of the proceeds of this book is donated to the foundation Victoria started called, Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation  

Below is a clip of both ladies, Ali and Victoria making an appearance on the Ellen show. If you want to get a summary of what the book is about and hear it from the ladies, check out the clip below. If that interests you, please feel free to enter our giveaway to win your very own copy. 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Saving Each Other at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. Thanks to the PR company for the giveaway prize!



Spice Up The Romance This Halloween with Spicy Subscriptions


Over the past couple of years monthly subscription boxes have become one of the new hit things to come our way. We've reviewed a couple of them here on the blog that included fashion and beauty. Today I'm sharing with you a new type of adult subscription box called, Spicy Subscriptions. Spicy Subscriptions is a monthly subscription service for romance and intimacy products and accessories.

I think this concept and idea is absolutely perfect for those of us who want to spice up the romance with our spouse, but don't want to have to go to a store and carry out a bag filled with goodies. We all love our privacy and what goes on in the bedroom should stay there.

I had the opportunity to try one of their boxes which included a Dona Massage Candle that was goji berry scent and smelled heavenly. In the box was also a Naughty Secrets water proof pocket rocket and various samples of silicone lubricant along with disposable wipes called, Swipes. I have to say, we really enjoyed this box of goodies and this came in perfect timing as my husband was leaving for a week off to Mexico.


Spicy Subscriptions comes with two different memberships, their Premium membership at $19.99 a month or their Deluxe membership at $34.99. This also  includes the shipping as well, which I think is well worth it. Each box comes with one full size product and four to eight trial products. These include items that can spice up your romance and who wouldn't want that?

To find out more about Spicy Subscriptions you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter and be sure to use our special discount code: JUSTUSGIRLS if you're going to subscribe to their monthly boxes.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a Spicy Subscriptions box at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

The Watch DVD Review

Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade take male bonding to hilarious new heights in this outrageous, no-holds-barred comedy that gets funnier every time you watch! There’s trouble brewing in peaceful Glenview, Ohio. That’s why four civic-minded citizens, armed with flashlights, walkie-talkies and spiffy new jackets, have teamed up to safeguard their community. But the guys find more than they bargained for when they uncover an alien plot to destroy Earth, and now these bumbling heroes are Glenview’s only chance to save the neighborhood — and the world — from annihilation.

MY REVIEW
My husband and I absolutely love Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill. These three actors are hilarious in pretty much every role they play. The Watch was no different. This was the first time seeing Richard Ayoade in anything, but he was pretty funny as well. Although the story line wasn't anything like I thought it was going to be when I first saw the trailer for this, the movie still had its funny parts. I have to admit, this wasn't the best movie I've seen these guys in and I was hoping for something better and much funnier since you had a great cast. There were times where we could pretty much figure out what was going to happen, but then there were times when both my husband and I had no idea what was going to happen next, which shocked us. There were also times when we thought some of the parts in the movie were overdone, but overall this was an okay movie to watch.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received The Watch at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Perfect for #Halloween: Monster Cookies


I think by now you all know how much I love Halloween. Last weekend I was in the baking mood. We made rice krispies treats, muffins for breakfast and I managed to sneak in some Monster Cookies for my little ones.

What's amazing about this recipe for these cookies is that you need NO FLOUR in order for these to work. That's right, no flour. I was shocked and surprised too when I first read the recipe, but once they were all baked and done they turned out absolutely delicious, chewy and made my house smell wonderful.

They're are super easy to make and also kid friendly so the kids can help you bake these or you could be like me and surprise your little ones with these. I'll be making these again this weekend for our annual Halloween party. Have a spookylicious weekend!



MONSTER COOKIES
Makes 20-24 
Source Adapted from: Divas Can Cook
Ingredients

1¼ cups chunky peanut butter ( regular or creamy would do too!)


  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups quick cooking, 1-minute oats
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup M&M’s
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips

  • Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Cream together peanut butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and butter with a mixer.
  • Mix in eggs, vanilla extract, and oats.
  • Stir in chocolate chips, m&m’s and butterscotch chips.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Shape 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball. (Wet your hands with cold water to help as the dough tends to stick to hands)
  • Place onto a cookie sheet and gently press down to flatten slightly.
  • Bake for 12 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let cookies rest in the pan until slightly cooled and settled. For me that was about four minutes. Cookies will continue to bake while cooling in the pan so be careful not to over bake them in the oven.
  • Place cookies on a cooling rack to finish cooling.
  • Serve and enjoy!


  • SHARING ON:



  • Thirsty Thursday: @TabaneroHot Spicy Bloody Mary


    Although it's Fall, the weather we've been having this past week says otherwise. I mean, I don't want to be one to complain, but wearing shorts in the Fall here in Canada just shouldn't happen, lol.

    A couple of weeks ago I tweeted about receiving another package from the amazing company, Tabanero. You may remember I reviewed their hot sauce and absolutely loved it, my husband is and has been obsessed with it since then. So when I got my package of goodies, I text him a picture to let him know and he was so happy. Not only was he excited about having the hot sauce in our home again, but he was pretty thrilled to try the Bloody Mary mix. 



    I'm not much of a fan of tomato juice, I hardly ever drink Caesars, but I wanted to give this Bloody Mary mix a try because if this company can make a kick ass hot sauce (pardon my french) then I was more than happy to try the mix. So this week's Thirsty Thursday is Spicy Bloody Mary. I loved that I didn't have to add anything, no celery salt, Tabasco, salt or pepper. Everything was already premixed. The only thing I needed to add was vodka. 

    My review? This drink will kick you in the butt, lol, and that's saying it politely. I loved it. It had just the right amount of spice and heat and the vodka and mix worked perfectly with each other. This may be the only time anyone ever sees me consuming tomato juice. This is definitely a drink that's perfectly fitted for Halloween. So if you're looking for a little heat in your Caesars, this is worth a try!

    FYI: Tabanero is now available for purchase for us Canada folks, get it here!



    Tabanero Spicy Bloody Mary
    Serves 1

    Ingredients
    4 oz Tabanero Spicy Bloody Mary Mix
    1 oz vodka (tequila works too)

    Directions: Mix together, drink and enjoy!

    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a bottle of Tabanero's Spicy Bloody Mary Mix at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

    Looking For #Halloween Music? Check out Reader's Digest: Be Afraid Of The Dark Album!



    I've said it once and I'll say it over and over again, this is my favorite time of the year. I love Fall and everything that comes with it, especially, Halloween. For our family Halloween is a big deal. Not only do we all love the old and new Halloween movies to watch, but we also love the music as well. You know it's that time of the year when you hear the theme song, Halloween.

    Each year my family hosts four different parties, I know, we're crazy, but there are so many memories and good times and so worth it and three out of four are for the kids anyways, so that's okay, right?!

    We have a pumpkin carving party where all the cousins get together and we have dinner and then sit around listening to Halloween music as we all help our kids carve their pumpkins. This year we did so with Reader's Digest, Be Afraid of The Dark CD. Let me tell you, this album was a great addition to our festivities and will be played for the next three parties to come for the little kids, teenagers and the adult party!

    Not only does this album have the theme song to Halloween, but it also has Nightmare Before Christmas, "This Is Halloween," which is always a good song to play on Halloween. It also includes the theme song from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which the kids loved because they're all fans of Harry Potter!

    I'm very excited to have this album be a part of our collection and we will definitely be playing it throughout this weekend and next week on Halloween for our trick or treaters to hear as well. If you're looking for great music for your Halloween festivities, this album is definitely a great add!

    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Be Afraid of The Dark album at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

    The Shortest Way Home Book Review



    Title: The Shortest Way Home
    By: Juliette Fay
    Publisher: Penguin Books
    Publication Date: October 30, 2012
    ISBN: 9780143121916
    Pages: 416

    Sean has spent twenty years in Third World war zones and natural disaster areas, fully embracing what he’d always felt was his life’s mission. But when burnout sets in, Sean is reluctantly drawn home to Belham, Massachusetts, the setting of Fay’s much-loved Shelter Me. There, he discovers that his steely aunt, overly dramatic sister, and quirky nephew are having a little natural disaster of their own. When he reconnects with a woman from his past, Sean has to wonder if the bonds of love and loyalty might just rewrite his destiny. Completely relatable, The Shortest Way Home is another perfect serving of a slice of life from the irresistible Fay.

    MY REVIEW
    The Shortest Way Home was a really good read. This was my first time reading a book from Juliette Fay and I have to say I was really impressed. It's not too fast paced and it's not too slow. It's perfect. The description of the characters alone were written very well and I loved that they were very descriptive about the main character, Sean's, mother and the Huntington's disease that killed her. This is why Sean is the way he is throughout the story. Since the Huntington's disease killed his mother, it is a 50/50 percent chance that he will have it and will die from  the disease. This plays a lot with Sean and the things he goes through.

    While reading I felt like I could see this on the Hallmark channel as a movie. I loved that even though there is a romance in this book  and a couple of descriptive scenes, that it's not all about the romance and that the main character was a male, you don't see that a lot, especially with chick-lit reads.

    There's nothing more important to me than family and the fact that in this story Sean gets the chance to go home to help take care of his family was something that made me love the book even more. The bond that he forms with his nephew was a great add to the story as well. This is definitely a book I'd recommend to family members and friends.

    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received The Shortest Way Home at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

    Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness Book Review



    Title: Brain on Fire
    By: Susannah Cahalan
    Publisher: Free Press
    Publication Date: November 13, 2012
    ISBN:978-1451621372
    Pages: 288

    A gripping memoir and medical suspense story about a young New York Post reporter’s struggle with a rare and terrifying disease, opening a new window into the fascinating world of brain science.
    One day, Susannah Cahalan woke up in a strange hospital room, strapped to her bed, under guard, and unable to move or speak. Her medical records—from a month-long hospital stay of which she had no memory—showed psychosis, violence, and dangerous instability. Yet, only weeks earlier she had been a healthy, ambitious twenty-four year old, six months into her first serious relationship and a sparkling career as a cub reporter.

    Susannah’s astonishing memoir chronicles the swift path of her illness and the lucky, last-minute intervention led by one of the few doctors capable of saving her life. As weeks ticked by and Susannah moved inexplicably from violence to catatonia, $1 million worth of blood tests and brain scans revealed nothing. The exhausted doctors were ready to commit her to the psychiatric ward, in effect condemning her to a lifetime of institutions, or death, until Dr. Souhel Najjar—nicknamed Dr. House—joined her team. He asked Susannah to draw one simple sketch, which became key to diagnosing her with a newly discovered autoimmune disease in which her body was attacking her brain, an illness now thought to be the cause of “demonic possessions” throughout history.

    With sharp reporting drawn from hospital records, scientific research, and interviews with doctors and family, Brain on Fire is a crackling mystery and an unflinching, gripping personal story that marks the debut of an extraordinary writer.



    MY REVIEW
    I have to say I normally don't read memoirs, autobiographies or even biographies, I'm more of a YA book kind of girl, but when I was asked to read Brain On Fire and after looking up what it was about, I definitely was intrigued. 

    From the first page of the author's notes, I was hooked. I wanted to see how this happened and the journey this young girl went through to be where she is today. This book tells you the story of a young woman, Susannah Cahalan's point of view as well as her families, doctors and others in her life, since she still can't pin point everything that happened to her. One day she starts getting symptoms that are un-explainable, like,  hallucinations, being violent, OCD, insomnia, being lethargic and it doesn't stop there. This happens to her out of nowhere and when she wakes up one day, she's in the hospital, strapped down, with no memory of what happened to her.

     I seriously couldn't put this book down. This is one that is definitely going on my list of books to share with friends and family, especially with those in my life I know who suffers with any type of mental illness. What kept me turning the pages on this book was the raw honesty and how the author doesn't sugar coat anything, she tells you from the get go that even her sources aren't reliable since she doesn't remember much from that point in her life. This book will definitely open your eyes, make you think and seriously feel for what she goes through. This was one of the best reads I've had in a long time and I'm really glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Brain on Fire at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

    Get Dressed this Halloween as The Dark Knight

    It seems as the years are going by my son is going through different phases of favorite cartoons. First it was Thomas, then Disney's Cars and this year seems to be no different, he's loving Batman. Throughout the last month of Summer all he did was talk about Batman, play Batman with his dad on the Playstation 3, watch Batman cartoons and even got his grandparents to buy him a couple of Batman toys, lol.

    So it came to no shock and surprise to me when I asked him what he wanted to be this year for Halloween that he said Batman. And to quote from my five year old, "Not just the regular Batman, mommy, The Dark Knight."

    I was excited to be able to work with Costume Super Center once again and pick something out for him. Not only are they affordable, but they ship super fast, even to Canada. I was very impressed yet again with the service I received from them and will definitely be thinking of them again when it comes to costumes for my family for any occasion.

    Not only was the service great, but the Dark Knight Costume itself was pretty awesome and the quality of the costume was very impressive. I misjudged the size because it was a little bit too big, but nothing I couldn't handle tying it up for my little guy. We were so impressed with how his costume turned out and his older sister loved it so much that she wanted to be Catwoman for Halloween, so we ordered a costume for her and again I was very pleased with their service.



    My kids are loving their costumes and I'm sure like every other costume they have, they'll wear these for a while even after Halloween comes and goes. 

    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received The Dark Knight kids costume at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

    Metro's Annual Harvest From Home Program & Giveaway


    So last week I was delivered a basket of dry goods, a recipe card and a $50 Metro Gift Card to check out Metro’s Harvest from Home program. It’s a program that proudly supports our local farmers (more than 100 farms) in Ontario, a sure-fire way to bring us our freshest produce!

    Truthfully, before I received this opportunity to check out Metro, I had no idea they had such a program in place. So once again I’m highly impressed that the store puts so much in to sponsoring our local growers and communities, in short, our economy.

    So the girls and I went to Metro, picked out a nice spaghetti squash, some other veggies and tofu, followed the recipe card and (the best part) got to spend some girl time making a wholesome healthy dinner to share together.



    The meal itself was pretty easy to make, a lot easier than I thought it would be. The last time I cooked with spaghetti squash, I didn't have too good of an experience, but I'm glad I tried it again, because it wasn't bad. The meal turned out great and the flavors of all the ingredients worked perfect together!


    Spaghetti Squash Tofu
    Serves 4
    Ingredients
    1 Ontario grown spaghetti squash, about 4½ lb. 
    4 Tbsp. tomato paste
    1/2 cup cold water
    6 Tbsp. Irresistibles Delicato olive oil
    1/2 Ontario grown onion, chopped
    10 oz.  silken tofu, cut in 1-in. cubes
    1 tsp. hot pepper paste
    4 Tbsp. oyster sauce
    2 Tbsp.  sugar
    2 Tbsp. white vinegar
    1 tsp.  salt
    4 fresh Ontario garlic cloves, chopped
    1/2 cup  fresh Ontario grown green onions, chopped

    Directions
    Split squash lengthways. 
    Remove seeds. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave at high for 8 minutes. Cool and set aside. 
    In a bowl, thin tomato paste in cold water. Set aside. 
    In a wok, heat oil over high heat and cook onion for 2 – 3 minutes. 
    Add tofu and brown over medium heat. 
    Add thinned tomato paste, hot pepper paste, oyster sauce, sugar, white vinegar, salt and garlic.
    Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 
    With a fork, scrape squash into strands and add to the wok. 
    Cook “spaghetti” for 1 – 2 minutes or until glassy, tossing strands with a fork or chopsticks. 
    Sprinkle with green onions and serve.


    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned products at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

    Be A Hero with Wholly Guacamole!

    One of the things I love about Wholly Guacamole is how generous they are. I've been a Wholly Guac blogger for about a year and these guys always seem to amaze me with just how generous they are and how much they are willing to help others. And now you can help them by becoming a HERO!

    Get a shirt and two FREE Wholly Guacamole coupons! Help send 100 military kids to summer camp. The Wholly Guacmaole company teamed up with Brad Meltzer, founder of Ordinary People Change the World and Operation Purple, a program of the National Military Family Association.

    Please help them reach their goal! 
    Each shirt is $10 and the ENTIRE $10 goes towards their goal in hopes of selling 5,000 shirts!

    The program ends, October 31, 2012, so get your shirt and Wholly coupons before it's too late.
    PURCHASE SHIRT HERE


    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I am a Wholly Guac Blogger and receive products to test out and share from time to time. No post was required.  No compensation was received.


    Sound of My Voice Blu-ray Review


    Brit Marling is “intoxicating” (The Huffington Post) and “stirring” (PEOPLE) in the year’s most talked-about psychological thriller. A filmmaker (Christopher Denham) and his girlfriend (Nicole Vicius) set out to expose the beautiful leader of a cult (Marling), who claims to be from the future. But the more they explore, the more danger they face in this “intricate and taut thriller” (Claudia Puig, USA Today) from writer-actress Marling and writer-director Zal Batmanglij.

    MY REVIEW
    I have to say I had a hard time getting into this movie. Sound of My Voice is about a couple trying to expose and uncover the truth about Maggie, the leader of a cult who says she's from the future. It's one of those movies with the story line that you either love it or hate it and I surprisingly, I found myself in between. I'm usually okay with indie/short budget films and enjoy them for the most part, this was one that didn't make my list of favs like I hoped it would, but it wasn't horrible, just something you'd have to prefer. 

    There are so many different things about this movie that had me headed in the middle instead of one direction of loving it or hating it. What brought me to not disliking it entirely was how they wrapped up the ending. If you have a movie that can make you think and make you doubt  what you thought from the beginning then I think the writer got his point across. 
    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Sound of My Voice at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

    Big Fish Games: Nancy Drew Secrets Can Kill Review & Giveaway



    I've mentioned before that I'm a huge game lover. I play in my spare time and usually on the weekends in between cleaning the house. One of the places I like to go to get my games has always been Big Fish. I've been a member with them for years. So when I was contacted to review another game of choice I happily said yes. 

    What I like about Big Fish Games is that one, you get to test out your games for an hour before you decide on whether or not you'd like to buy it. This works out great because you can get a lot of playing time in one hour and within that time you can definitely know if you want to keep going or just uninstall the game and call it quits. 

    What I also love about Big Fish is that when you purchase a game it's there forever no matter if something happens to your computer or if you want to remove the game after playing it to free up some space. I've done this a couple of times. And no matter what computer or laptop I'm on if I uninstall a game after finishing it, if I want to come back to it a couple of months later it will be in under "My Games," when I log back in to Big Fish. 

    The game I chose to play was Nancy Drew's Secrets Can Kill, which was a perfect choice since Halloween is right around the corner. 



    Jake Rogers was murdered and his killer is on the loose. A secret died with him that night, and you, as Nancy Drew, must read between the lines to expose the culprit! Help Nancy go undercover at a high school to solve the mysterious killing and keep the murderer from claiming his next victim in Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill. Immerse yourself in this Adventure game and solve the case!

    This game sure did give me the chills at times and was an awesome game. I'm a huge fan of Nancy Drew. I've played a couple of her games before and every time I'm hooked on them. This game was filled with mystery, adventure, lots of puzzles to solve and always had me on my toes until the very end. It's definitely a great game for this time of year and the story line was so detailed and on point. It took me about a week to play this game and it was definitely worth it. Trying to solve a murder isn't easy and I found myself stuck at times, but then would just retract my steps. I love that with the Nancy Drew games you don't have to follow any specific order as far as goals, I mean they're there, but you can decide what you do first. I also like how you can rely on the other characters in the game for help if you need any. 

    If you like mystery and adventure, this is definitely the game for you. You can also check out all the other Nancy Drew games as Big Fish Games has them all!

    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill at no cost for the purpose of this review. No compensation was received. Big thanks to the people over at Big fish Games for the giveaway prize!

    Halloween Spookylicious #Kelloggs Rice Krispies Treats

    I absolutely love being apart of the Kelloggers Network. Not only do I get to try some of their new and latest products, but I also get surprises in the mail to create some oldies, but goodies, Rice Krispies Treats. 

    And this time we were to make them as spooky as possible, which was something the kids were super excited about doing. Rice Krispies treats are hands down my son's favorite snack to have and when he found out that we would be making these when him and his sister got home from school on Friday, he was super excited. 

    We were sent a box that included Kelloggs Rice Krispies, Marshmellows, two cookie cutters shaped as a pumpkin and a bat and candy to decorate our creations. I have to say the kids and I had so much fun making these treats this last Friday. We got to make Halloween treats that were kid friendly and easy for the kids to help with while listening to Halloween music and after our creations were done we sat down in our family room watching The Adams Family eating our treats and popcorn. It was a fun time for all. To get ideas on how to make your  Rice Krispies Treats spooky this Halloween, check out their website for tons of recipes!

    (Mommy's creation)



    Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I am a Kellogger and receive products to test out and share. No post was required.  No compensation was received.

    Family Night Cooking with @vhsauces & Giveaway #VHExcite

    I had the opportunity and pleasure to be apart of the VH Excite Your Dinner Blog Tour Round Two. I was pretty excited  to be one of the bloggers chosen. I love cooking with VH Sauces and have been doing so for a few years now from time to time. 

    Dinner around here usually means cooking up some of my usual meals, which I can admit at times may get a bit boring. By the time the kids are out of school we have a pretty fast schedule, which don't leave time for me to cook up many new meals. So when I received the Kid Friendly Themed pack from VH to create two fun meals with my family that my kids cold help me with, I knew it would be a good time because we were shaking things up.

    Boy was I right. To start off, the theme pack I received was kid friendly and came with not only one, but two board games we could play together as a family while I was making dinner. We received Kids Charades along with Animal Memory Game and the kids also got a few activity books which they enjoyed. We had a pretty fun time playing the games for family night. 



    Also with the package I received VH Soya Sauce, VH Korean BBQ Sauce and VH Butter Chicken Sauce, Pam cooking spray, plus two recipe cards with suggestions on meals I could make with and for my family. What screamed out to me first was the Butter Chicken Pizza. So after going to the store to get all the other ingredients I needed to make this meal I came home, the kids, hubby and I played a couple of rounds of games before I went ahead and started dinner. 




    VH Butter Chicken Pizza
    Serves 5
    Ingredients
    1/2 cup VH Butter Chicken Sauce
    1/3 cup plain yogurt
    1/2 tsp minced garlic
    1/4 tsp salt
    1 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
    PAM Cooking Spray
    1 prepared thin crust pizza crust
    1 cup pizza cheese, shredded, divided
    1/2 cup spinach
    1/4 cup sliced red onion
    24 cherry tomatoes, cut in half

    Directions 
    Pre-heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Stir together VH Butter Chicken Sauce, yogurt, garlic and salt. 
    Mix 3 tbsp of the yogurt sauce with chicken pieces; set aside remaining yogurt sauce. Cover and marinate chicken for 15 minutes.

    Spray a small skillet with PAM Original Cooking Spray; heat over medium heat. Add marinated chicken pieces; stir-fry until no longer pink inside; about 5 minutes. 

    Spread reserved yogurt sauce over pizza crust. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese. Layer the spinach, onion, cherry tomatoes (cut side up), and cooked chicken. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. 

    Bake directly on the oven rack for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling. Remove from the oven and let sit for 2 to 3 minutes before cutting into 10 slices.

    Let me just say that it takes a lot for me to try anything new, this was absolutely fantastic. One of the best pizza's I'd ever made and my husband thought so as well. His response was, "Could you make another one so I could bring some to work with me?" We both loved it that much. It was gone by the end of the night and since the already made pizza crust came with two in a pack, I sure did make another one for him to take to work and his co-workers loved it too. 

    From now on I'm definitely going to be making this pizza often. It was new, exciting and it was very easy to make. The directions were clear and not difficult at all and best of all, you get a gourmet pizza to enjoy that took you little to know time to make while still enjoying your evening with your family. 

    For more delicious and easy recipes to enjoy with your family, head on over to VH Sauces Facebook page, they have tons of family friendly recipes listed!

    Along with the opportunity to make a delicious meal with my family came the opportunity to share this with not only our readers, but with another blogger. I decided to choose the lovely lady behind the blog, Addicted to Recipes! I adore your blog and the recipes you post, so I hope you enjoy the gift to come for round three!

    And for our Canadian readers, take a look at what's up for grabs for our giveaway:

    Disclosure – I am participating in the VH Excite Your Dinner blog tour by enCompass Media on behalf of Con Agra Foods. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion.