Posts

Showing posts from 2015

Holiday Fun with Blue Diamond Almonds

Image
For our family holiday festivities I took one container of Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Almonds and a container of Blue Diamond Lightly Salted Almonds. We had a lot of fun taking pictures with Mom's nutcrackers and the Blue Diamond Almonds. Laughing, snacking and being together is what the holidays are all about! My snack hack for this post is to put slices of brownie on a pretty plate (or plates) and arrange or toss on some Blue Diamond Lightly Salted Almonds. This way you can control the nuts to brownie ratio and how much brownie you are actually eating. All about balancing :D I found myself reaching for more almonds after I took this picture! MOM ROBERT ABBY Actually my niece Abby - our family baker - tried using a silicone pan for the brownies and they stuck in the middle so it really is a snack hack. Have you ever used a silicone pan? "This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds" I am a Blue Diamond Tastemaker a

Make and Bake Cashewmilk French Toast ~ Almond Breeze Style

Image
All the baked French Toast recipes I kept seeing required letting the dish sit in the fridge overnight. I devised my own that you make, bake and then you can eat. One bowl, one dish and everybody gets to eat it while it is hot.  Also check out the link at the bottom for a great chance to win a Kitchen Prize Pack from Blue Diamond Almond Breeze! Imagine the Blendabilities ... 6 slices Texas Toast or other thick bread torn or sliced into bite sized pieces 5 eggs 2 cups Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk Cashewmilk Blend (I used unsweetened) 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup maple syrup or commercial syrup product *optional - sprinkle some brown sugar over the top before you bake for a nice sweet crusty top! Preparation: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Grease 9 x 13 glass baking dish.  Pour about 1/2 cup of syrup in the bottom of the casserole dish.  Layer torn bread on top of the syrup.  In a large bowl 

Tazo Chai #SweetMeetsSpicy Coupon and Review

Image
Tazo Chai is a great little tea bag for black tea lovers. It is a subtle blend of powerful flavors subtly combined to produce a refined finish. Generally I drink everything plain (black tea, ginger tea) however this is a nice blend to add to my cupboard. I am new to chai tea and this is making me a fan. There are lots of different flavors. Admittedly I am a caffeine fiend and I love having a whole new variety of products to explore with Tazo Chai . Especially the Tazo Chai cartons which give you the convenience of cafe style drinks you make at home! I think the Tazo Chai Organic Latte carton is my favorite mix although I have not been able to find all the flavors on my local store's shelves. That is why I am happy to share a coupon and store locator link TAZO  . They have decaffeinated flavors also :D I received a free sample to review. Thanks Smiley360!

Get Fueled For the Ultimate Football Party Pack; Game Changing Flavors by Blue Diamond Almond

Image
Feeding the huddled masses can be challenging -  Especially when they are huddled around the television waiting for kick-off. My bold solution is to spice up some chicken salad with Blue Diamond Wasabi & Soy Sauce Almonds. Of course there are those with a less aggressive palate so I teamed it up with some chicken salad featuring Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds. Pair them up with crackers or punt it on a pita. Both are winning combinations. You can win too by entering the Blue Diamond Game Changing Sweepstakes and get a coupon (while supplies last). Link below ~ must be 18. This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. Ditch the chips and grab some Game Changing Flavors this football season! Enter for a chance to win the Ultimate Football Party Prize Pack, get great savings and ideas for delicious snack hacks at  GameChangingFlavors .com.  Entry Period:  The “ Blue Diamond Game Changing Flavors Sweepstakes ” (“Sweepstakes”) commences

My First Selfie Stick iclever

Image
First Try :D FUN! This has to be one of the more fun things I have received to review! Gold Bug series Selfie Stick - a Bluetooth Mini Selfie Stick by iclever. Admittedly I am a Bluetooth novice and my phone has a voice command for selfies so I am going to focus more on other features. Like fun - it is very fun. I am still learning how not to get the stick in the pic. I am totally secure in how it holds my phone and trust me I am very careful with my phone. I used it in a mall parking lot on a rainy day and have the long shot of what is behind me.   I love being able to take selfies and not have a close up every time. It was fun at an arcade however one must be careful of other patrons when doing this. Oh - must share that the iclever Universal Selfie Stick is very light, but sturdy. Weighs less than 1/3 of a pound, 6.35 ounces. There have been some surprising uses for it. One of the reasons I chose my phone (HTC Desire 816) is because it has a larg

Surprise Kitchen Renovation Helper : Blue Diamond Almonds

Image
My landlord is a DIY kinda guy - meaning since he only owns a few rental properties when he decides something needs fixed he will do it himself. Since he has a full time job he will do it when he can. So for a few months now he renovated my kitchen cabinets. What this meant for me is half of my kitchen has been in boxes for a few months too - different halves in different parts of different months. So one of the first things I did was go to the local thrift store St. Vincent de Paul to donate a few items  and I took along some Blue Diamond Blueberry Almonds to fuel my hunt. I like how they fit in my purse without getting smashed, they are tasty and I have plenty to share. I was kind of hoping to find something to purchase for extra storage during construction and it was my lucky day. While I was browsing I heard a little commotion. They were trying to figure out how to get a book case through the back door and then where to put it. So I said I am interested in it and they b

Balance Your Brunch ~ Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Vanilla Coconut Almondmilk Blend and Muffin

Image
My idea of a perfect snack is all about the balance. You need healthy fats and you also need fruit and nuts and dairy and fiber. Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Vanilla Almond Coconut Unsweetened and a blueberry muffin satisfied my sweet tooth and my balanced snack plan. The coconut inspired a little island feeling too. One cup of Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend contains just 45 calories and 50% RDA of Vitamin E , 45% Calcium and notable amounts of Vitamin D (25%) , Vitamin A (10%) s well as a little phosphorus, iron and magnesium. I think I have my brunch plan for tomorrow. This post is sponsored by Almond Breeze Almondmilk. I am a Blue Diamond Tastemaker. carrottarts.blogspot.com

One2One Network Twitter Party #ByBrizo

Image
Hello, welcome, and please make yourself at home!  One2One has teamed up with luxury fittings brand,  Brizo , to host a  #ByBrizo Twitter Party  on  Tuesday, August 18  from  8-9pm ET. How fitting! You’re invited to chat about everyone’s favorite room in the house:  the kitchen! Hosting the conversation is designer and interior consultant,  Jonathan Legate . He’ll share kitchen inspiration ideas and design tips and tricks to answer your questions. Ten lucky design darlings will win a  $50 gift card , and one grand prize winner will receive a sleek Brizo® Solna Articulating kitchen faucet  (MRSP: $400)  Date : Tuesday, August 18 Party   Time : 8-9pm eastern time Where : #ByBrizo on Twitter Who :  @Brizo  and  @JonathanLegate Prizes : 10 $50 gift cards + 1 grand prize winner will receive a  Brizo® Solna Articulating Kitchen Faucet   (valued up to $400) . Must be a US resident to win. Swing by One2One Network and sign up !  http://one2onenetwork.com/everything-and-t

Smarter Snacking with Blue Diamond Artisan Nut-Thins

Image
Ever wonder how to get more of those fancy nutritious seeds like flax or chia into your diet? Here is a simple and delicious solution - Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins! Ever go on a health kick and buy something like chia seeds or flax seeds then get home and they end up just living in your cupboard ? This is smart snacking made easy. My quandary is which is my favorite - it is like choosing between grapes and pears. Right now it is the awesome Blue Diamond Artisan Nut-Thins with Flax seeds because those are the ones I have open. Also because they have 400 mg of ALA Omega-3. Since I do not eat enough fish and fish oil is not my friend I am happy to have an easy source of this important nutrient. I am easily swayed to Multi-Seed Blue Diamond Almond Artisan Nut-Thins because it has quinoa and I adore quinoa. It also has sesame seeds without having them fall all over the place like they do off buns. I like to pair them with fruit however you can get some awesome recipes at bl

"A Hand To Hold" - A Mother's Journey Through Life and Loss

Image
My amazing neighbor Paula Johnson has a story to tell  ~ one that has taken her a long time to put into words. So she wrote a blog post ~ "A Journey Through Loss and Grief"   It just was not enough and Paula continued to express herself through writing. What does a mother do when trying to express the grief that comes with the devastating loss of a child? This artistic mother wrote a book ... It explains Paula's journey and her quest to get this published. She baked Josh a birthday cake a few months ago. He would have been eighteen so she iced a big "18" on top. It is hard just to write this blog post . I hope you will consider a pledge. ~~ Link to Kickstarter ~ This project will only be funded if at least  $3,000  is pledged by  Sat, Aug 29 2015 12:37 PM EDT .  carrottarts.blogspot.com

Summer Fun Needs Fuel - Flavor Your Adventure with Blue Diamond Almonds

Image
My favorite summer fun activity is taking pictures so I like to take along something easy to snack on. I love Blue Diamond Almonds for a bunch of reasons! 1) Healthy 2) Never melt 3) Easy to grab 4) Easy to carry 5) Plenty to share ( If I think I may be sharing I just bring some cupcake liners ) 6) Never get smooshed 7) Tons of varieties - hot, sweet, spicy, fruity and right now I am noshing on the Low Sodium - delish ! 8) Easy to eat while on the computer - no worries if these somehow spill ( I think you are really talented if you manage to spill these) 9) Great to keep in the car What kind of summer activities do you want an easy snack for? Last year I took them along to an outdoor concert . I have  plans to go to a concert next weekend so I think I will bring some Blue Diamond Almonds - hmm what flavor would go with an Eagles Tribute band? Bet I won't eat my almonds all by myself so I better bring a couple cans! How do you Flavor Your Adventure? carrottar

Easy As Breeze Chocolate Banana Shake made with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Chocolate Almondmilk

Image
The Challenge : Create a summer treat using five ingredients or less with Almond Breeze Chocolate Almondmilk  After enlisting my lovely little neighbor Courtney we made deliciously easy Chocolate Almondmilk and Banana Milkshakes. Since the chocolate is already perfectly blended into Almond Breeze Chocolate Almondmilk it really was a breeze!  Ingredients: Vanilla ice Cream  Banana (we used a half a banana sliced per serving)  Blue Diamond Chocolate Almond Breeze Almondmilk Optional Garnish Whipped Cream  Directions: I used a single serve blending device however my method can be used with any blender. I like my milkshakes thick but drinkable with a straw. Fill container about 2/3 with ice cream and pour Almond Breeze Chocolate Almondmilk slowly until the ice cream rises. Add sliced banana. Blend 10 seconds and check to see if it is to your desired consistency. Over blending results in thinner milkshakes. Top with whipped cream if desired and enjoy! The bene

Get Your Sleep On with Emergen-C Free Sample

Image
EmergenZzzz has been one of the most popular items I have ever reviewed . Everyone I gave samples to was very pleased and asked questions and/or shared about their positive experiences with the EmergenC brand. I had to hide the last of my samples from my hubby because he was using them all and I needed to finish my review! I am putting EmergenZzzz at the top of the shopping list! I also really like how the product helps replenish you while you sleep with antioxidants since I like to use it after my late night workouts. It really helps since working out makes me tired but a little wired! I have tried peach and berry flavored and I am #TeamBerry. I am very happy to be able to share a link to a free sample click me Happy Sleeping - You are welcome :D *I received free samples and coupons. All opinions are my own.* Would you like to review products for Smiley360 where I got these little gems? At the bottom of the c

Balance Your Snacking With Blue Diamond Original AlmondMilk

Image
My sweet tooth solution is to balance out my treats with an ice cold glass of Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk.  The hint of almonds is an added treat however the real bonus is there is zero saturated fat in any size serving of Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk. Even though 2% dairy milk is the staple at our house I just read it contains 3 grams of saturated fat per 1 one cup serving! A cup of 2% dairy milk also has 12 grams of carbohydrates while a one cup serving of Blue Diamond almond milk has only 2 grams of carbohydrates. My husband has decided he wants to cut down on carbohydrates and he chugs milk so this is a great option. Now I need to figure out how to cut carbs and saturated fat and carbs out of Danish :D This post is sponsored by Almond Breeze Almondmilk

Smart Snacking With Blue Diamond Almond Nut -Thins

Image
http://carrottarts.blogspot.com    Lots of goodness in this gluten free snack and it is now my favorite for hummus. It does not crumble easily like most crackers and I made little hummus cracker sandwiches. It is pretty low in calories -130 for 16 crackers. It also has 3 grams of protein. Tasty all by itself too. There are a lot of delicious things you can pair with Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins Nut & Rice Cracker Snacks. They seem to make me reach for the healthier alternatives in the fridge like fruit and cheese.  I also had a grand time taking them over to Mom's to see how she liked them and surprised her at her computer with a treat. She has decided she will now purchase them too. Mom is a serious junk food junkie who now has to be a little more careful with her choices so this is great news! I also love my snacks and Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins satisfy that crunchy urge! I received complimentary products for testing purposes. This post is sp

Cocaine Energy Drink Challenge

Image
carrottarts.blogspot.com This is just for fun and because we are fans of the product :D Cocaine Energy Drink definitely works and has a strong cinnamon flavor. For a while they were not allowed to market it as "Cocaine Energy Drink" due to public outcry from somewhere and they called it No Name Energy Drink. This stuff is STRONG and one is plenty so just drink it wisely! This product does not contain any drugs or anything from the Coca plant. It does contain Taurine (750mg) and Caffeine (280mg) as well as Vitamin C, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6 among the other usual proprietary blend ingredients and I believe it is fun in moderation.

Gourmet Easy Style with Private Selection Brand from Kroger

Image
carrottarts.blogspot.com When I want something a little fancy for dinner without a lot of fuss Kroger Private Selection Brand makes it easy.  Fine dining can be fun but sometimes I just want fine food . Lots easier to just head to Kroger and look for the distinctive brown and gold label than make a reservation and get dressed up. There are lots of items to choose from to make a complete gourmet experience from appetizer through dessert . This time we opted for Private Selection Steakhouse Angus Beef Patties and they were seasoned perfectly right out of the box. A quick dash over to the deli and produce sections for Kroger pretzel rolls , prepared in house coleslaw , Roma tomatoes and radicchio and we were all set. Easy. Private Selection is just one of the many in house labels the Kroger family of stores has launched in recent years. There is also the Simple Truth Natural and Simple Truth Organic line, the PSST bargain product line as well as HemisFares which features regional