ss_blog_claim=1aad29784d22b656dd0fe759da065d26

Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, Part 3!!

Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival Button

It's time for Round 3 of the bloggy giveaways carnival here at Hullabaloo! I thought I'd mix things up a bit for this round and offer up a wonderful book, Made From Scratch, by Sandra Lee.

From Amazon.com:

Photobucket

Product Description
This powerful, emotional, and astonishing story will inspire anyone who has faced adversity to overcome challenges and persevere. Sandra’s candid account of her personal journey offers a rare glimpse into the life of the woman behind the phenomenal success of Semi-Homemade. Smart, witty, and moving, Made From Scratch is an uplifting tale of determination and survival. Sandra is stunningly open about her abusive childhood and the responsibility thrust upon her at an early age to be the caretaker of her family.

From the Inside Flap:
Through a series of tragedies and challenges, she painfully discovered that we are all responsible for the choices we make in life. With the guidance of her grandmother, Sandra learned to be a self-sufficient and independent woman. After moving to Wisconsin at 15 to live with her father, an unexpected tragedy and the fallout from his mistakes required her to get her own apartment while still in high school. At 21, Sandra moved to Los Angeles, where she found tremendous success, launching her first product line, Kurtain Kraft. Working with the gritty resolve and make-do skills she learned as a child, she became a millionaire by the time she was 25, only to lose her fortune before the age of 30 and have to start all over again. Sandra started Semi-Homemade, smarter and wiser from her past mistakes, and has never looked back.

Now dedicated to helping others through various charities and foundations, Sandra is committed to aiding and inspiring people to reach their dreams. Her unforgettable story will show that if she can do it, you can too. Made From Scratch will make you laugh, cry, think, and embrace the grace and glory in every day. Sometimes feisty but always sincere, Made From Scratch has all of the ingredients that make up the recipe of a courageous life and remarkable success.

Written by:

Sandra Lee is a lifestyle expert and a New York Times and Amazon.com best-selling author. With 13 books to her credit, she is the host of a top-rated TV show, Semi-Homemade Cooking, on the Food Network. Sandra resides in Los Angeles and New York City.

Laura Morton is the author of 30 books, eight of which are New York Times best sellers, including The Truth Is, Melissa Etheridge’s memoir; Bringing Elizabeth Home, the Elizabeth Smart story; and Healthy Living, Joan Lunden’s personal journey. Laura lives in New York.


To enter this Bloggy Giveaway, simply:
  • Leave a comment on THIS POST telling me either your favorite recipe OR who your favorite celebrity chef is.
  • Make sure as you enter, that I have a way to get in touch with you via a working email address.
  • Giveaway is open to those living in the USA only. I will pay the shipping & handling.
  • After I email you, you have three days to email me in return with the address I am to mail the card in order to get it to you. If you do not respond within three days, I will choose another winner.
  • Winner will be chosen by using random.org integer generator.
  • Have fun!
Contest ends Sunday night(April 27, 2008) at 11PM EST. I will announce the winner on Monday morning.



Technorati tags: , , , ,



Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, Part 2!

Welcome to Round Two of the Bloggy Giveaway here at Hullabaloo! The freebie for this round is a Pottery Barn gift card valued at $25.00! This card may be used with the following brands: Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBTeen, Williams-Sonoma, Williams-Sonoma Home, and west elm. Boy oh boy, do I love Pottery Barn Kids! Have you seen the absolutely adorable new art gallery items?
Check them out! How cute are they? I think the monkey one is my favorite.

PhotobucketPhotobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucket

To enter this Bloggy Giveaway, simply:

  • Leave a comment on THIS POST telling me what your favorite Pottery Barn item is or how you would use the gift card.
  • Make sure as you enter, that I have a way to get in touch with you via a working email address.
  • Giveaway is open to those living in the USA only.
  • After I email you, you have three days to email me in return with the address I am to mail the card in order to get it to you. If you do not respond within three days, I will choose another winner.
  • Winner will be chosen by using random.org integer generator.
  • Have fun!
Contest ends Sunday night(April 27, 2008) at 11PM EST. I will announce the winner on Monday morning.



Technorati tags: , , ,

Works for me Wednesday-Bissell Steam Mop

Welcome to another exciting edition of Works for me Wednesday hosted by Rocks in My Dryer, where you can find links to lots of great WFMW posts!!


The Bissell Steam Mop in Green Tea 1867-7 is the newest version of the company's popular steam mop. Like its predecessor, the Green Tea Steam Mop uses the power of steam to clean and sanitize flooring, rather than harsh chemicals. This is one of the most compelling benefits of the steam mop. I found I could use ordinary tap water, which the Bissell converts to steam, to release and remove soil and sticky messes from floors.
PhotobucketPhotobucket

Unlike some of its competitors, which have an attachment to steam-clean carpets, the Bissell can be used on hard floors only; it is safe for use on marble, stone, ceramic, vinyl, laminate, linoleum and sealed hardwood floors. The Bissell Steam Mop comes with two microfiber pads. The pads are reusable and can be machine-washed and machine-dried. I did find that the pads shrink slightly after being washed and dried, which can make them more difficult to place on the mop head.

PhotobucketPhotobucket

The Bissell Steam Mop has a swiveling mop head. This feature makes it easier to clean under cabinets, and the Steam Mop is easy to push. It doesn't take long to steam-clean even a sizeable room, and the steam action softens and lifts dried spills and food messes. The button on the handle that releases steam has to be held down while mopping and this becomes uncomfortable after a few minutes. Our other gripe is that the Bissell Steam Mop has a water filter, which will need replacement and become a regular, extra expense.

PhotobucketPhotobucket

Still, the Bissell Steam Mop is quiet. I plugged it in, waited about a minute for steam production to start, and were able to start cleaning right away -- without the vacuum-like noise I expected. Like most steam mops, the Bissell works best when the floors are first swept of debris. Even with this predictable extra step, this Steam Mop sure beats the traditional mop-and-bucket system. It also wins over stick mops that use chemical-soaked disposable pads because it cleans floors faster without streaking and without leaving wetness behind. The verdict? I like the Bissell Steam Mop in Green Tea for its cleaning abilities and run-quiet operation. If the pads didn't shrink, there wasn't that pesky button on the handle and it didn't require filter replacement, I'd give the Bissell Steam Mop my highest marks.

Photobucket

Pros: Uses steam not chemicals
Cons: Can only be used on hard floors

Technorati tags:, , ,

Quick Weeknight Dinner Solutions

As a mom, I like the idea of cooking everything from scratch, but as a working mom, it's not always realistic. That's why on busy nights, I cook half from scratch and the other half… well let's just say, I get creative. Here are some of my tricks for getting a delicious, almost-from-scratch, meal on the table:

Keep pre-washed, packaged salad greens, pre-shredded cheese and pre-sliced veggies in your refrigerator.
Buy a cooked rotisserie chicken from your deli and use it to top salads, add to pasta or to serve with potatoes and a quick salad.
Start from frozen: breaded chicken cutlets, frozen corn and peas, and pre-cooked shrimp are great shortcut options.
Enjoy!


Tecnorati tags:, ,

Earth Day-Green Photography Tips

You know me, I'm not really the preachy type.

But hey, it’s
Earth Daytoday, right? So I’ve gathered a few useful pointers on how to keep your photographic habits from smacking the environment around too much. I'm firmly anti-smacking.
If you want some help
cleaning up your act, I got ya covered. If not, that’s cool too.

I like you either way.

1: Go Digital

If you haven’t gone digital yet, it might be time to make the switch. Digital photography is easier on the landfills: less packaging, no used film cans in the trash. The film development process also involves toxic chemicals, and uses a tremendous amount of water and electricity.

Digital equipment may be more expensive in the short run, but you’ll eventually save money on film and processing.

2: Reuse Your Film Containers

Still shooting film? Don’t throw out your plastic film containers. Ritz Cameras accepts them for recycling at their stores.

Better yet, make stuff out of them! You can store tiny things in them: craft supplies, tiny screws, or your very own portable ant farm. Or go really green and use them to grow pocket plants!

3: Switch Batteries

batteriesTry using rechargeable batteries in your camera instead of ordinary ones. If you have a choice, pick lithium over nickel since it’s a bit less toxic. When your regular batteries die, don’t throw them out. There are lots of places that recycle them. Earth911 has loads of battery usage tips and a recycling location finder.

If your camera came with a custom rechargeable battery, charging it often may extend its life. Switching back and forth between 2 batteries can also keep them going longer. If you want more info, take a look at this article on extending your battery’s life.

4: Carry a Charge

solar camera bagUse a solar charger camera bag. It’s a regular camera bag, except for the solar panel on the top that charges your camera for you. It’s just so cool. Amazon has them for about $150.

5: Donate

Upgrading to a new camera? Donate your old one. The New Orleans Kid Camera Project and Picture Tomorrow both accept used cameras. Your local schools or after-school programs might also be able to use them.

6: Recycle

If you’ve completely busted your old camera, recycle that puppy. Staples stores accept used electronics for recycling, including cameras, cell phones and computers. They also take empty inkjet cartridges, so you don’t have to add those to the landfill either. Andrew Darlow’s article on Photojojo Uncut has buckets of good info.

7: Make Some Money

coinsIf you have a lot of stuff to donate or recycle, use it to make some money! Ecophones sponsors recycling fundraisers. They take cameras, cell phones, video games; you name it. Send in your boxes of junk electronics and they’ll send you a check.

It’s a great way to handle large recycling projects, say at your office or school. If you wanna get super-eco-hardcore, you can donate the check to an environmental charity. Whoa. Gnarly.

8: Switch Paper

GreenPix makes 100% post-consumer recycled inkjet paper. It’s available in matte finish, and comes in sizes from 4×6 all the way up to 24×36! Check out a review at Leafygreen.info, or buy it at Red River.

9: Reuse Unwanted Photos

If you’re using digital, only print the photos you really want. If you’re shooting film, don’t automatically get doubles. You can always print more of the ones you like.

If you have photos you don’t like, don’t throw them out. Write to-do lists on the back. Or write an address on the back, slap a stamp on them and send them as postcards. Cut them into fancy shapes and use them as gift tags. If you want to get exceptionally post-modern about it you can make them into a frame for another photo.

10: Use Your Camera For Good

If there’s a local environmental issue that really matters to you, take pictures of what’s going on. Call up whatever organization is fighting the problem and volunteer to take photos. They may need help getting the word out, and great pictures can make a big difference in raising awareness.

More Resources

  • Recycling meets fashion: bracelets made out of discarded camera components. Yeah, they’re pricey, but we totally want one. (via Boing Boing)
  • I heard Grist’s book Wake Up & Smell the Planet was funny, so I checked it out. And you know what? It is. Lots of tips on living green, plus some yukkity-yuk-yuk. I approve.


Technorati tags: , , ,

Tips provided by Photojojo.

Bloggy Giveaways Carnival!!

It's finally here! My very first bloggy giveaway. I am joining a long list of other bloggers who are participating in the quarterly Bloggy Giveaways Carnival.

To celebrate this occasion, I am offering up a Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us gift card valued at $20.00!!

To enter this Bloggy Giveaway, simply:

  • Leave a comment on THIS POST telling me what your child's favorite toy is, or your favorite baby gift.
  • Make sure as you enter, that I have a way to get in touch with you via a working email address.
  • Giveaway is open to those living in the USA only.
  • After I email you, you have three days to email me in return with the address I am to mail the card in order to get it to you. If you do not respond within three days, I will choose another winner.
  • Winner will be chosen by using random.org integer generator.
  • Have fun!
Contest ends Sunday night(April 27, 2008) at 11PM EST. I will announce the winner on Monday morning.

Technorati tags: , ,