Given my love of cereal, I was pretty jazzed when I received the opportunity to receive a VIP coupon for a free box of gluten-free Chex and a pretty awesome prize pack from Chex cereal through MyBlogSpark. Yep, that’s right, Chex has an entire line of gluten-free cereals.

The Chex Gluten-Free line includes five different varieties of Chex cereal, including Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex and Cinnamon Chex. I tried the Chocolate Chex and it was delicious! I’ve had the non-gluten-free Chex several (hundred? thousand?) times and honestly, I could not spot a difference when it came to taste. That delighted me because the worst thing about healthy food, in my opinion, is that it tastes like health food. I am always very weary of trying food that has been reformulated or revamped in some way to be super healthy because usually, that means they took all the delicious flavor out. I was super happy to find that Chex still tastes great, even when gluten-free.

To help spread the word (and the love) about Chex Gluten-Free, we are giving away a Chex Gluten-Free prize pack.

The prize pack we are giving away includes one VIP coupon for a free box of Chex Gluten-Free, a huge and super useful microwavable bowl, measuring spoons and cup and a Chex gluten-free recipe card, which really highlights just how versatile Chex is when it comes to snacks and even desserts.

Mandatory Entry:

To win the Chex Gluten-Free prize pack all you have to do is leave a comment telling us what flavor of Chex Gluten-Free you would pick up with your VIP coupon.

Extra Entries:

Leave a comment for each additional entry.

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribuen on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
  

  Chex is now gluten-free! Win a Chex Gluten-Free prize pack and VIP coupon from @WomanTribune & #myblogspark http://t.co/jFX5Rcb ends 9/2

• Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on.
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and the Chex Gluten-Free website. [5 entries, so leave 5 comments.]

This giveaway ends Thursday, September 2nd at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be picked.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Chex cereal provided me with the Chex Gluten-Free prize pack, information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.

Related:

• Lawry’s Marinades Giveaway Winner
• Try Out Lawry’s Marinades the Next Time You Fire Up the Grill — Review and Giveaway
• Wanchai Ferry Prize Pack Winner
• Wanchai Ferry Beef & Broccoli Review and Giveaway

This family’s Stylefinder palette choice is bold jewel tones and their Stylefinder Style is mostly Traditional. Perfect for this bedroom with honey-toned hardwood floors.

They wanted a classic pink and lime green palette. While this palette may have originated in Palm Beach — we do it As, Always, Affordable…My Design Guide style selecting Candy Lime from True Value Hardware paints. Need help with a paint selection? Only $39.

This bed from Target made Megan (and Mom) giddy. Keep in mind that white furniture is also easy to create from thrift store finds. My Design Guide Must for this room: Keeping the furniture scale small to fit the rooms size and mostly Traditional in style.

The bedding (we always give you options) really sets the tone of the room. The quilting keeps it traditional, like the furniture and the bed, but the color keeps it kid-friendly and playful.

The important thing in a child’s bedroom, and in most rooms, is to not be afraid of adding personal touches, like these wall shelves and graphic area rug. Those items will make any space feel cozy and comfortable, as well as marking the space as uniquely yours.

Lovely Lighting. A chandelier and your choice of adorable, affordable bedside lamps makes this room complete. (Yes, youv’e seen our favorite chandelier from Target before — it works!) The Takayam table lamp (#2) is a little more modern, but the right size, scale and color — making the overall design look a bitch more rich. Anyone can go out and buy a room full of matchy-matchy furniture, our Custom Room Designs use the unique!

Drum Roll Please…

Do you love it? While a bed on an angle isn’t always successful, this one works because it helps to get some of that furniture off the walls and interacting with the negative space in the room. The other furniture also is set parallel to the bed, which creates square spaces int he room, adding a structured feel in a playful way.

This room’s playful nature is designed to be a room for a child that serves a function while still creating a place of whimsy and energy any child would love. It has feminine touches in both the decorative headboard and foot board, as well as the color palette. Green and pink are complimentary, and that always keeps a color concept strong. The white furniture allows the wall color and bedding to really stand on their own and minimizes some of the heaviness of the furniture, which helps to make the space feel child-friendly.

Want a room like this of your very own? Let us create it for your Style and Lifestyle with a My Design Guide Custom Room Design.

Have great furnishings but just need those finishing touches? Try our Art and Accessory Design.

Related:

• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?
• How to Make your Home Look Expensive
• Real Art
• Posh, Petite Family Room Before and After

This post is about things you need in your home that will make it look rich, even if we are not…

Stylish Drapes

That doesn’t mean expensive drapes. Stylish drapes have:

• The right pattern and texture needed to match your Stylefinder style
• The right length
• Preferably lined or combined with a shade like our MyDesignGuide hallmark bamboo shade

Depending on your style profile, these are some examples:

How do I know that drapes are the rich finish to any room?

I bought this gorgeous pair from Ballard design and hung them in our home office. My husband was amazed. According to him, “They make the room look so large and warm and finished.” More importantly, he insisted that we buy new drapes for the bedroom…and now our den!!! Can you believe it? Granted he’s kind of metrosexual — but I’m telling you he is now the Drape King. So what do you need to know to impress your Drape King/Queen?

MyD Rule of Thumb for Hanging Drapes:

Drapes typically come off the shelf in three standard sizes, 54″, 84″ and 96″ — yes, that’s 4.5′, 7′ and 8′ corresponding to 1 foot below most standard ceiling and window heights. Keep that in mind when shopping. The rod should be installed above the window frame unless there is an impediment like this problem I have in my bedroom.

Then, unfortunately, on the window frame it is. The drapes should reach to approximately one inch above the floor.

What about having my drapes puddle on the floor?

That’s fine, but it’s not really the hot trend it used to be and for those of us with kids and pets, those puddles are just dust bunny magnets. If you have a cleaning person or a butler…you go girl!

Want to feel rich every day?

A MyDesignGuide Window Treatment service provides you with 3 unique drapery selections that will meet your Style and your Lifestyle.

Need a DIY Solution

Check out A Soft Place to Land‘s drop cloth drapes. They are drop dead gorgeous!

And Remember, the MyD Dont’s

High water drapes are horrifying!

And you really need to say sayonara to your swags…unless you are decorating an old folks home, banquet room or a super formal home, consider retiring these to the basement. Don’t get me wrong, I did it too, but now we must overcome.

Related:

• Win a $50 Gift Card from My Design Guide–5 Winners!
• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?
• Real Art
• Decorating with Tree-Themed Removable Vinyl Wall Decals

Check out UGallery.com for just such good stuff.    We love the way you can see the art on your walls and return it if you don’t like – shipping paid….This 8×8 real oil painting by Bart Dluhy is colorful, fun and festive. 

 When purchasing a small piece of art like this have a spot in mind that is small, a pit stop where someone will naturally be standing so that they will stop and enjoy it .  By a doorway, a mirror, window,  light switch, small section of wall in a kitchen.  Or, group it with a number of other pieces of art to make a larger composition.  In a larger composition, look for art that is of similar coloring, content or style – combining unique pieces of art into one display is the black diamond of interior design.    Have a grouping of art you’d like to share - tell us about it.  

Want your MyDesignGuide.com custom Art and Accessory service to include this perfect painting…or something even more like your Style?  It’s simple, affordable and totally you.

Related:

• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?
• Win a $50 Gift Card from My Design Guide–5 Winners!
• How to Make your Home Look Expensive
• Decorating with Tree-Themed Removable Vinyl Wall Decals

it’s the hip fabric in use in all the magazines like this recent picture from ElleDecor. 

It’s just showing up in our favorite online stores, our My Design Guide custom room designs and Art and Accessories plans.  We all need to introduce just a bit in our home – to keep it fresh.  But, we gotta do it so our house doesn’t look like crazyville.  Too much IKAT and your signifcant other will ask you to start wearing a belly dancing outfit and riding a camel.

First, What is IKAT?

 Fabricadabra.com  (what an awesome name) offers a great, detailed definition….I just use pictures:

The colors are fantastic, the patterns large and organic (organic? – see below). 

MyDesignGuide Rule of Thumb: 

IKAT is great if your Stylefinder Profile is Traditional, Coastal, Modern, Tuscan or even Rustic. Consider introducing this pattern in pillows covers like these from Fabricadabra.Com

 

MyDesignGuide  – As Always, Affordable. 

Target, Bed Bath and Beyond now offering products in this fabo, fabric.  Everything from breakfast trays to bedding.  Something for everyone.

Related:

• Win a $50 Gift Card from My Design Guide–5 Winners!
• How to Make your Home Look Expensive
• Real Art
• Great Little Girl’s Room Before and After

I could easily spend days at a time looking through the magnificent creations on Etsy and pretty much everyone I know has admitted to feeling the same way about it. Quite some time ago I was browsing through the website and came across these awesome removable wall decals by designedDESIGNER.

One of the decals I immediately fell in love with was the Birds in the Urban Forest tree decal (pictured above) that consists of six trees, birds and loose leaves. Perhaps it’s the hermit in me that loves this so much; making me think that if it were possible to bring the outdoors inside, well, I could enjoy the best of both worlds without ever having to leave my house. Another favorite is the Flock of Flying Birds decal (pictured to the right.) These decals really start making you think outside of the box when it comes to how to design your space, whether you put them on the walls of your living room, office or bedroom. They are classy, lend your room to a nice modern, minimalist feel and gives your whole space a great amount of unique character. I love these!

designedDESIGNER also makes great decals specifically for nurseries and when it comes to those decals, I can’t make up my mind on which I like the most. They are all so great and will definitely make any nursery fun, happy and inviting.

designedDESIGNER also does custom projects upon request and all of the decals are made of quality vinyl sticker which can last up to 5 years outdoors and a lifetime indoors–until you decide to take it down. A step-by-step guide is also included with your purchase with simple instructions on application and removal and you will also receive a test decal to get acquainted with before you go to apply the one that will be on your wall for some time to come. All of the decals come in a variety of sizes and you can choose your own colors. So go check out designedDESIGNER if you’re shopping around for removable vinyl wall decals.

Related:

• Make a Fabulous Chandelier Out of Paper Clips
• How to Make your Home Look Expensive
• Real Art
• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?

Instead of having to head out to the grocery store whenever you’re in the mood for some Magic Shell frozen treat topping, you can make your own at home with a lot less effort than it takes to get in your car and drive to the store.

scoochmaroo over at Instructables shares her recipe, which is completely vegan for all of your non-dairy frozen treats, using only two ingredients for a fool-proof topping. The two basic ingredients are coconut oil and chocolate, but you can also use a dash of sea salt. Once you make this recipe once, your mind will undoubtedly start racing with all of the flavors you can inject into your topping. scoochmaroo made several different flavor combinations, including dark chocolate and orange extract, white chocolate and vanilla and semisweet chocolate and mint extract.

This treat also makes an amazing gift; just put it in a decorative jar and you’re bound to impress the pants off anyone who receives it.

Get the entire recipe over at Instructables.

Related:

• Fabulous Frosty Summer Desserts [3 Recipes]
• Breakfast of the Painfully Unmotivated — Chocolate Chip Muffins [2 Recipes]
• Berry Tortes, Tarts and Bites [5 Recipes]
• Bacardi’s 60 Second Cocktails, 10 Minute Meals and $100,000 Donated to the USO

Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Nothing goes better together than brownies, fudge and ice cream and this brownie ice cream cake will cost you a fraction of what store-bought ice cream desserts sell for.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 55 minutes
Makes: 16 servings

You will need:

• 1 box Betty Crocker fidge brownie mix
• water, vegetable oil and eggs called from on brownie mix box
• 1/2 gallon (8 cups) ice cream, slightly softened
• 1 cup hot fudge topping, warmed if desired
• 2 tablespoons Betty Crocker Decorating Decors candy sprinkles
• 16 red maraschino cherries with stems, drained

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with foil; grease bottoms only with shortening or cooking spray.

2. Make brownie batter directed on box. Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake 19 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pans, about 1 hour. Do not remove from pans.

3. Spread slightly softened ice cream evenly on brownies in pans. Freeze at least 2 hours or until ice cream is firm.

4. Remove desserts from pans; remove foil. Place on serving plates. Cut each dessert into 8 wedges. Drizzle each wedge with hot fudge topping. Decorate with candy sprinkles and cherries. Store covered in freezer.

Creamy Orange Ice Cream Pie

This creamy orange ice cream pie looks absolutely delicious. It includes sherbet, ice cream and sugar cookie crumbs.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours
Makes: 8 servings

You will need:

• 1 pouch (1lb 1.5oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 pints (4 cups) orange sherbet
• 1 pink (2 cups) vanilla ice cream

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix and butter until well mixed (mixture will be crumbly).

2. Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture; set aside. In ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate, press remaining mixture over bottom and up side of plate; prick with fork. Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

3. Meanwhile, on ungreased cookie sheet, sprinkle remaining crumb mixture. Bake 10 to 11 minutes or until edges of crumb mixture begin to brown. Cool on cookie sheet, about 30 minutes.

4. While crust and crumb mixture are cooling, place sherbet and ice cream in refrigerator to soften. Scoop half of softened sherbet over crust; spread to cover crust. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crumbs. Scoop all of softened ice cream over sherbet and crumbs; spread to cover. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crumbs. Scoop remaining half of sherbet over ice cream and crumbs. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup crumbs. Freeze until firm, 4 to 6 hours or overnight. Let stand 15 minutes to soften before cutting.

Frosty Latte Dessert

Ah, the dessert I am most excited about! When you say coffee liqueur and chocolate syrup and I am sold.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours, 5 minutes
Makes: 9 servings

You will need:

• 2 cups whipping (heavy cream)
• 1/4 cup coffee liqueur
• 1/2 cup chocolate-flavor syrup
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine (firm)
• 1 cup Gold Medal all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

Directions:
1. Place whipping cream, liqueur and syrup in large bowl; refrigerate.

2. Heat oven to 350ºF. Cut butter into flour in medium bowl, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until evenly mixed. Stir in nuts. Press evenly in bottom of ungreased square pan, 9x9x2 inches. Bake about 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

3. Beat whipping cream mixture with electric mixer on high speed until stiff; spread over crust. Cover and freeze at least 4 hours until firm. For serving pieces, cut into 3 rows by 3 rows; serve immediately. Store covered in freezer.

Related:

• Berry Tortes, Tarts and Bites [5 Recipes]
• Make a Super Easy Homemade Magic Shell Topping
• Breakfast of the Painfully Unmotivated — Chocolate Chip Muffins [2 Recipes]
• Bacardi’s 60 Second Cocktails, 10 Minute Meals and $100,000 Donated to the USO

Gorgeous flooring and fireplace

Their Stylefinder color palette is cool

Their Design Profile is Traditional, Asian and Modern

 Want to know your Design Style?  - Take the Stylefinder Quiz. 

During their personal consultation with our designer, they said they needed a stylish family room for watching TV, entertaining and relaxing.  They planned to install the TV above the fireplace and their big challenge was what sofa to buy and where to put it..   

They are SOooooooo smart.    How many of us have bought the mongo sized sofa we saw in the 10,000 foot show room and thought it was just perfect, only to get it home and go – Oh, no,…..it’s too big……  ugggghhhh….. (Me! did it with chairs!)?   So we created this gorgeous room for these cool, modern traditionalists…. 

And the Results!

 A 5 page custom design that shows Stephanie and Terrance their room in 3D from every angle,  every product, every price and how it works with their design style and lifestyle.   As, Always, Affordable – chairs from Home Decorators,  Paintings from Art.com – all so budget friendly.

I love  the drapes. This room is hip, its trendy, but classic at the same time…..aaaahhhhhh. What do you think?  We love patterned chairs.  They really demonstrate your style and make the room seem like it is professionally designed (which it is!!).   

We found the perfect neutral Transitional sofa for them. How gorgeous! And the designer created the most calming, comfortable and cozy family room anyone could imagine.  Purchasing a neutral color sofa is smart because it will work with your decor for years to come.  You can change out pillows for a song, but sofa….not so much. 

MyDesignGuide.com Rule of Thumb: 

Every room should have about three different pattern fabrics a solid (easy), a geometric (circles, stripes etc…) and an organic pattern (leaves, flowers, etc..) to give the space interest and a truly rich design.  We’ve got Stephanie and Terrence covered!   Introducing pattern in accessories or even drapes is inexpensive and safe.  

Coffee, cocktails or kids stuff, this room is perfect for it all.

Want your own custom room design - we can even use your existing furniture.

Related:

• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?
• Win a $50 Gift Card from My Design Guide–5 Winners!
• Great Little Girl’s Room Before and After
• How to Make your Home Look Expensive

There is nothing quite like firing up the grill on a summer afternoon, making fantastic food, mixing up some delicious cocktails and inviting your friends and family over. Everyone is always looking for new spins on foods we all love and can’t get enough of–especially during the summertime.

I recently had the opportunity to try out two new flavors of 30-minute marinades from Lawry’s. Thanks to MyBlogSpark, I was sent Lawry’s 30-minute marinades in Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato and Szechuan Sweet and Sour BBQ, in addition to Lawry’s seasoned salt, a glass marinading dish and a set of skewers. Everything anyone would need to prepare their grilled dishes and get some really incredible flavors.

And incredible flavors you will get with these marinades! Out of the two, I really enjoyed the Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato marinade. It contains a great blend of rosemary, oregano, sweet bell peppers and sun-dried tomatoes and while Lawry’s says it’s an ideal marinade for chicken, pork or vegetables, we used it on steak and couldn’t have enjoyed it more.

It’s pretty common knowledge around these parts that I should not be trusted in the kitchen. I make a mess, nothing comes out right and unless you want some burnt something with a side of soggy something, just keep me out of the kitchen. My partner however, is a fantastic cook and he had a great time with these marinades and he was particularly impressed with the quality of the marinading dish and everything he could use it for besides just marinating our meat. Lawry’s has definitely found a home in our kitchen.

Lawry’s Flavor Forecast Giveaway

MyBlogSpark didn’t just give me the opportunity to out these great new marinades from Lawry’s, they are also giving me the chance to share the love and give away a Lawry’s Flavor Forecast prize pack. The winner of this giveaway will receive everything in the picture above–both the Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato and Szechuan Sweet and Sour BBQ 30-minute marinades, Lawry’s seasoned salt, a glass marinading dish and a set of skewers.

To win the Lawry’s Flavor Forecast prize pack, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite grilling tip is. [REQUIRED]

Additional Entries: [Leave a comment for each additional entry.]

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
  

  Win 2 Lawry’s 30-minute marinades and grilling accessories from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/2dEMr

• Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Lawry’s. [5 entries, so leave 5 comments.]

This giveaway ends Friday, July 23rd at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond with their mailing address. If I don’t hear back from the winner within that time, another winner will be picked.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to try Lawry’s 30-minute marinades from MyBlogSpark. For this post, the factual information, products and giveaway have all been provided by Lawry’s through MyBlogSpark. All opinions throughout this post are 100% mine.

Related:

• Lawry’s Marinades Giveaway Winner
• Chex Cereal Goes Gluten-Free — Review and Giveaway
• Wanchai Ferry Prize Pack Winner
• Wanchai Ferry Beef & Broccoli Review and Giveaway

On the 4th of July Bacardi USA launched their “Salute to Summer’s Best 60 Second Cocktail Program” that will go on until Labor Day (September 6th). This program has brought together celebrity chef John Besh and celebrity mixologist Bryan Stowe, both who are also former US soldiers, who have created a phenomenal menu of cocktails and grilled dishes that are healthy and delicious. Both the dishes and cocktails feature and utilize the flavors found within Bacardi’s line of products.

The cocktail recipes on the menu take just 60 seconds to make and the grilled dishes take 10 minutes. With these recipes, you can put together an entire menu of exquisite recipes and accompanying cocktails that will look and taste fabulously. These recipes will also wow the pants off of your loved ones and will look like they were made in more than just a few minutes with incredibly easy-to-find ingredients.

The cocktail recipes use Bacardi’s unique and flavorful alcohol and some of the recipes include Grey Goose Fresh Berry Lemonade and Bacardi Limon Iced Tea. Among the grilled foods recipes you will find Grilled Chicken Breast with Tequila Cazadores Reposado Lime Glaze and Grilled Flank Steak with Louisiana Peach and Grey Goose Citron Glaze, among others.

Take a look at how easy it is to create the Bacardi hand shaken daiquiri in this video from Bryan Stowe.

You can find easy-to-locate recipes right on the cocktail recipes section of the 60 Second Cocktails Facebook page or you can download their entire recipe book! [PDF]

Bacardi USA hasn’t just put together some awesome menus for you to utilize throughout the rest of the summer using their products and flavors, although that is certainly pretty amazing. In addition to recipes and ideas for your own recipes, Bacardi USA has also committed to donate $75,000 to the USO and Bacardi consumers who are over 21 years of age can increase the total donation amount of $100,000 through their participation in the 60 Second Cocktails Facebook fan page. Every time someone becomes a fan of the page on Facebook, Bacardi USA will donate $1 to the USO until they reach $100,000.

So go become a fan of 60 Second Cocktails and get that donation amount increased!

• Cast Your Votes for the 2010 Do Something Awards and Watch Live Monday Night on VH1!
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• Bill Gates and Warren Buffet Approach Billionaires to Donate to Charity
• Are You a Young Person Who Wants to Give Back? Join the Do Something YAC

Buying and returning – buying and returning…keeping and regretting????  Sounds more like boyfriends not bedrooms.  Do you have lots of nice pieces, but just can’t get them to work together?  Or has your room just gone EXCESS-ory?

Successories:

The secrets to success when accessorizing your home

1.  Less is More – buy fewer and  larger art and accessories in your home and rooms will be calm, cool and cohesive.

2.  Use accessories to define and create an accent color for your room.   Like this fabo orange and carry it throughout the room, moving the eye from one point of interest to the next.  Elledecor.com

3.  Group accessories in odd numbers for display.

4.  Picture frames – are an inexpensive way to accessorize.  Keep frame finishes mostly of one type (i.e. black, gold, or silver, etc…).  Spray paint can make this happen for a song!

5.  Succulents (i.e. cactus etc..) are our favorite plants for  those of us who are busy, busy, busy and have brown thumbs.

6.  Consider a My Design Guide Art and Accessory service - we’ll make your room a success for only $79. 

7. Candles are a My Design Guide hallmark, elegant and inexpensive in any room .

Now get out there and Successorize!

Related:

• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?
• How to Make your Home Look Expensive
• Real Art
• Win a $50 Gift Card from My Design Guide–5 Winners!

We are a big fan of Asian cuisine, but it isn’t always the most frugal of choices to go out to your favorite Chinese restaurant as often as you would like to; especially when as often as you would like to is a few times a week. I can personally attest to the fact that a few bucks here and there at a restaurant can add up pretty quickly when you take a look at how much you’ve spent over the course of just a month because you gave in to some really strong Chinese food cravings again and again. So when you have some incredible cravings, there is a far more frugal and very convenient choice–Wanchai Ferry frozen entrees.

You may have turned your nose up at the thought of a frozen meal, what you are probably picturing as a standard TV dinner you pop into the microwave, and at first I thought essentially the same thing. I recently had the opportunity to try Wanchai Ferry’s newest flavor, Beef & Broccoli, which is tender beef strips and an assortment of Asian-style vegetables in a thick brown sauce over white rice. I received a package of Wenchai Ferry Beef & Broccoli as well as two modern and gorgeous tea sets from MyBlogSpark.

Wanchai Ferry frozen entrees take a whole 14 minutes to prepare, so it is going to be super quick to get on the table. The beef and vegetables are incredibly easy to cook in a skillet on the stove and the rice is just popped into the microwave for 2 minutes and comes out perfectly cooked with a great texture, which was very pleasantly surprising. The finished product is actually a lot tastier than I thought it was going to be and is definitely among the best frozen entree meals I have had the pleasure of trying out. I usually stay away from brands and types of frozen foods and this goes double for Asian entrees, since after trying out a few different brands, nothing was tasting as good as I thought it could. I’m glad to say that Wanchai Ferry was impressive and a brand I definitely plan on buying again, especially considering my limitations in the cooking department.

In addition to being able to try this new Wanchai Ferry entree I was also sent two fabulous, modern and very pretty green tea sets. Each tea set includes a modern tea cup, a tea sifter and some of the most gorgeous and vibrant green tea that tastes absolutely amazing.

Want to try out Wanchai Ferry entrees for yourself? Download their $1.60 off coupon and choose between the Beef & Broccoli flavor, the Kung Pao Chicken, Szechuan Style Chicken, Orange Chicken, Shrimp Lo Mein, Spicy Garlic Chicken or Sweet & Sour Chicken.

Wanchai Ferry Giveaway

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, we also have the chance to give away a VIP coupon for one free Wanchai Ferry entree so you can try Wanchai Ferry for yourself before you buy a thing. One lucky reader will also win two tea sets.

To win the Wanchai Ferry VIP coupon and two tea sets, all you have to is leave a comment on this post telling us what Wanchai Ferry flavor you would like to try if you won. [REQUIRED]

Additional Entries: [Leave a comment for each additional entry.]

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow Woman Tribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
  

  Win a VIP coupon to try Wanchai Ferry entries and 2 tea sets from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/275IA ends 7/9

• Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Wanchai Ferry. [5 entries, so leave 5 comments]

This giveaway ends Friday, July 9th at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond with their mailing address. If I don’t hear back from the winner within that time, another winner will be picked.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to try Wanchai Ferry Beef & Broccoli frozen entrees from MyBlogSpark. For this post, the factual information, products and giveaway have all been provided by Wanchai Ferry through MyBlogSpark. All opinions throughout this post are 100% mine.

Related:

• Wanchai Ferry Prize Pack Winner
• Chex Cereal Goes Gluten-Free — Review and Giveaway
• Lawry’s Marinades Giveaway Winner
• Try Out Lawry’s Marinades the Next Time You Fire Up the Grill — Review and Giveaway

Tacos can easily become a dinner staple in any household. They are made here quite often because they are so easy to put together, very quick, and everyone gets to make their own with the stuff they love to eat, which can be a lot of fun, especially for kids and immature adults alike, like myself, I’m proud to report.

When you typically think of tacos, it’s customary for hard taco shells to immediately come to mind. However, I don’t typically use them. Hard shells are pretty bad on my teeth and I’ve always hard some pretty bad dental problems, which severely limits what I can eat by what they can handle. It is for that reason that I will always opt for soft tortillas to substitute hard taco shells and it just so happens that the brand I am always looking for is Mission.

Mission flour tortillas are delicious and they can be used for a great deal of quick and easy dishes for dinner, lunch and even breakfast if you’re looking to make yourself (and your family) some delicious homestyle breakfast burritos. They are as versatile as they are a healthy and great choice for your meal preparation needs.

Yes, I did say healthy! Mission flour tortillas contain no trans fats and they are cholesterol-free. They are most definitely a brand to keep in mind when you’re doing your weekly grocery shopping and if you check out their website at MissionMenus.com, you will find a ton of quick and easy, budget-friendly meals that are all under $10. That is amazing when you’re on a budget and have a whole family to feed.

Mission Foods not only makes healthy, budget-friendly and delicious foods, they are also making a difference in the lives of hungry children in America. They support Share Our Strength, which is the leading national organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America.

Have a great recipe of your own that your family flips over every time you make it using Mission flour tortillas? Enter it in the Mission Menus Challenge where you could win some really awesome prizes. The Mission Menus Challenge is hosted by Chef Sara Moulton and those who submit their budget-friendly recipes will have the chance to compete in a cook-off in Los Angeles. There will also be weekly prizes, in addition to also getting a chance to win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover. The grand prize winner of the cook-off will win round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to the Mission Menus Challenge Cook-off, which takes place on September 10, 2010 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles.

The submission deadline for original, budget-friendly recipes using Mission flour tortillas is August 9th. Make sure your recipe includes Mission flour tortillas, is original, and is able to feed a family of five for $10 or less.

Related:

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Mine would look like this cute little cottage.

See how the My Design Guide designers and architects turned this faded farmhouse into a dazzling domain!

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• How to Make your Home Look Expensive
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• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?

I’m going to blame my unproductive day on the weather; it’s rainy and miserable out which in turn, has made me pretty miserable. That is, until I ventured out into the kitchen to find some chocolate chip muffins just hanging out, begging me to indulge in them and maybe, just maybe, the will power would come!

And it did! Case in point, you’re reading this and if I was still an unmotivated wreck of a person just sitting here wasting the day away, well, I wouldn’t have ever finished this. So, with that, I went on the hunt for some fabulous chocolate chip muffin recipes to share with you for a day when you find yourself in a very similar bind.

If you’re having your muffins for breakfast and don’t want to feel like you’re merely eating an individually-sized cake and would like some semblence of breakfast-like foods in there, try these chocolate chip banana muffins.

Prep Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Makes: 12 muffins

You will need:

• 1 egg
• 2 cups Original Bisquick mix
• 1 1/4 cups mashed very ripe bananas (2 to 3 medium)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups, or grease bottoms only of muffin cups.

2. Beat egg slightly in medium bowl; stir in remaining ingredients just until moistened. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

3. Bake about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

And if what you’re really craving is cake for breakfast, try these chocolate delight muffins.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Makes: 12 muffins

You will need:

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Gold Medal all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups. In medium bowl, mix buttermilk, butter and egg with spoon until blended. Stir in flours, brown sugar, cocoa, baking soda, vanilla and salt just until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips.

2. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm or cool.

Related:

• Make a Super Easy Homemade Magic Shell Topping
• Fabulous Frosty Summer Desserts [3 Recipes]
• Berry Tortes, Tarts and Bites [5 Recipes]
• Bacardi’s 60 Second Cocktails, 10 Minute Meals and $100,000 Donated to the USO

But I can’t do it. So instead, I move things around in my home CONSTANTLY until I find just the right spot. But it makes my husband crazy. He’s afraid to go to the bathroom in the night because he might trip over something I moved after he went to bed

The answer is blah, blah, blah–hard work, education and experience… boooooo hissssss. Ok, so I’m not ever going to be an interior designer because I ain’t going back to school for that; instead I’ll just drool over the amazing designs at  My Design Guide.
 
Take this room for example, great cute city living room.  Note the paint swatches on the wall – don’t we all do that? Click to see the magic process our designers use. It’s amazing and inspiring.

Related:

• How to Make your Home Look Expensive
• Real Art
• Want Your Home to Look Terrific, But Not Too Trendy?
• Posh, Petite Family Room Before and After

I’m pretty sure I’ve tried most brands of frozen pizza on the market. That’s what happens when you are a complete and total disaster in the kitchen. Luckily, my partner knows what he is doing in the kitchen and makes some really delicious meals; but when he isn’t available, starving really isn’t an option so I usually rummage through the cupboards and open the freezer to see what we have that’s low-maintenance and easy to put together. That is when the frozen pizzas come in.

But just because I don’t have many skills in the kitchen doesn’t mean that I’m willing to compromise delicious taste for something that’s easy to prepare for myself. When I saw the new Freschetta FlatBread pizzas, they really sparked my interest because just look at them–they look delicious. Freschetta FlatBread comes in various different flavors, including the standard pepperoni and 5-cheese, but also the not-so-standard roasted garlic and spinach and zesty Italian, which is definitely the one I need to try.

If you also find yourself needing to try these amazing-looking pizzas, you can get a coupon for $1 off from their website, which is awesome! Freschetta FlatBread pizzas are a great thing to have hanging out in the freezer whether you need something easy to put together for yourself, or if you’re at a loss for what to make for dinner when you’re running low on time. They’re also a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids’ slumber parties. Whatever situation you find yourself in when you need something delicious and easy to put together, remember Freschetta FlatBread pizzas and don’t forget to download your coupon.

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Berry Cream Torte

This berry cream torte looks amazing. Not only would I like to eat it, I would just like to stare at it. It looks like it belongs at a high tea or a really important brunch or a small get-together or party and I love it.

Prep Time: 25 min
Total Time: 2 hours 10 min
Makes: 16 servings

You will need:

• 1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist white cake mix
• Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box
• 2 containers (12oz each) Betty Crocker Whipped fluffy white frosting
• 1 container (8oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup seedless strawberry jam
• 1 tablespoon orange juice

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans, using water, oil and eggs. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

2. In large bowl, mix frosting and whipped topping untl well blended. To assemble cake, cut each layer in half horizontally. Place 1 layer half on serving plate; spread with 1 cup of the frosting mixture. Repeat 3 more times. Arrange berries on top of cake.

3. In small microwavable bowl, microwave jam uncovered on High about 20 seconds or until warm. Stir in orange juice; mix well with fork. Brush over berries. Store in refrigerator.

Cherry-Berries Meringue Torte

This is the most time-consuming recipe I have ever seen, but to its credit, there is a lot of waiting involved. The question is–is it worth it? I think the picture of this torte exclaims a resounding yes.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 18 hours
Makes: 8 servings

You will need:
Meringue Shell:

• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

Cream Filling:

• 1 package (3oz) cream cheese
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows

Cherry-Berry Topping:

• 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries
• 1 can (21oz) cherry pie filling
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. About 30 minutes before making the meringue shell, place an egg seperator over a small bowl. Crack open each egg over the egg seperator to separate the white from the yolk. (Save egg yolks for another recipe.)

2. Place the egg whites in a clean medium bowl, and let stand at room temperature up to 30 minutes*

3. Heat the oven to 275°F. Line a cookie sheet with a piece of foil or cooking parchment paper.

4. Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites; beat with an electric mixer on high speed until mixture looks foamy. Beat in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating about 5 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape mixture from side and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula, until mixture is glossy and forms stiff peaks when beaters are lifted. (Do not underbeat because the meringue shell won’t hold its shape.) On the cookie sheet, shape the meringue into a 9-inch round with the back of a spoon, building up about a 1-inch side.

5. Bake 1 hour 30 minutes. Turn off oven; leave meringue in oven with door closed 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack 2 hours longer.

6. Place a medium bowl and the beaters of electric mixer in refrigerator to chill. These will be used to beat the whipping cream, which beats better in a cold bowl.

7. Place block of cream cheese on a plate, and let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes to soften slightly. Or to soften cream cheese in the microwave, remove foil wrapper and place in microwavable bowl; microwave on Medium (50%) 45 to 60 seconds.

8. In a large bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and the vanilla until mixed; set aside.

9. Pour the whipping cream into the chilled bowl. Insert the chilled beaters in the electric mixer. Beat on high speed until whipped cream forms soft peaks when beaters are lifted. Gently fold the whipped cream and marshmallows into the cream cheese mixture.

10. Place the meringue on a serving plate, and spoon the filling onto the meringue. Cover; refrigerator at least 12 hours to blend the flavors but no longer than 24 hours.

11. Rinse the strawberries with cool water, and dry on paper towels. Cut out the hull, or “cap,” from each strawberry with the point of a paring knife. Cut the strawberries lengthwise into slices to measure 1 cup. In a medium bowl, stir together the pie filling, strawberries and lemon juice.

12. To serve, spoon the berry mixture onto the filling. Or cut the meringue shells into serving pieces, and top each serving with the berry mixture.

*Egg whites will have better volume when beaten at room temperature in a bowl that is clean and dry.

Mixed-Berry Cream Tart

This is a super easy recipe, despite the hours of its total time needed to make it. With the use of Nature Valley roasted almond crunchy granola bars and a plethora of delicious, fresh berries, you won’t be able to resist making this delicious tart.

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 3 hours 30 min
Makes: 8 servings

You will need:

• 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 box (4-serving size) sugar-free strawberry-flavored gelatin
• 3 pouches (1.5oz each) Nature Valley roasted almond crunchy granola bars (from 8.9oz box)
• 1 package (8oz) fat-free cream cheese
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• Fat-free whipped topping, if desired

Directions:

1. In small bowl, crush 1 cup of the strawberries with pastry blender or fork. Reserve remaining 1 cup strawberries.

2. In medium bowl, pour boiling water over gelatin; stir about 2 minutes or until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir crushed strawberries into gelatin. Refrigerate 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, leaving granola bars in pouches, crush granola bars with rolling pin. Sprinkle crushed granola in bottom of 9-inch ungreased glass pie plate, pushing crumbs up side of plate to make crust.

4. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and almond extract with electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Drop by spoonfuls over crushed granola; gently spread to cover bottom of crust.

5. Gently fold blueberries, raspberries and remaining 1 cup strawberries into gelatin mixture. Spoon over cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until firm. Serve topped with whipped topping.

Cherry Berry Tart

The cherry berry tart is another must-have, easy recipe that will leave your mouth watering.

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 1 hour 50 min
Makes: 8 servings

You will need:

• 1 box Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

Filling:

• 1 can (21oz) cherry fruit pie filling
• 1 cup halved strawberries
• 1 cup blueberries
• whipped cream, if desired

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 450°F. Prepare pie crust according to package directions for unfilled one-crust pie using 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Place crust in pan; press in bottom and up sides of pan. Trim edges if necessary. Generously prick crust with fork. Bake at 450°F for 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.

2. In large bowl, gently combine all filling ingredients except whipped cream. Spoon into cooled, baked crust. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with whipped cream.

Fresh Berry Dessert Bites

These little dessert bites look amazing, yet incredibly simple to work for just about any and every event you can imagine.

Prep Time: 45 min
Total Time: 2 hours 40 min
Makes: 40 bars

You will need:
Crust:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter or margarine, cut into tablespoon-size pieces

Topping:

• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1 container (6oz) Yoplait Original 99% Fat Free lemon burst yogurt
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 40 fresh raspberries (about 6 1/2oz)
• 40 fresh blackberries (8oz)
• 40 fresh blueberries (about 3oz)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray 15x10x1-inch pan. In large bowl, mix all crust ingredients except butter. Using pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture looks like fine crumbs; press evenly in pan.

2. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until edges are light golden. Cool completely, about 40 minutes.

3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Add yogurt and 1 teaspoon lemon peel; beat until blended. Spread mixture over crust. Refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.

4. Cut into 10 rows by 4 rows. Arrange 1 of each kind of berry on each bar. Store in refrigerator.

Related:

• In Season: How to Buy, Store, Freeze and Prep Berries
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I cannot believe that these chandeliers are made of just paper clips, but they are and they are amazing! Want to know how to make them for that special sanctuary in your home? The supplies can be bought at the Dollar Store and all you need is 3 picture hanging kits ($3) and 6 boxes of paper clips ($6).

I often find myself going to get all of the things I’ll need to get my crafty goodness going, but once I get everything home and out in front of me, I seem to freeze and not know what to do first or have this very deep fear of messing something up horribly. So if you’re like me in that respect, check out the ReDesign Technologies Etsy shop, where you can pick up instructions in PDF form for your choice of chandelier for $6.50.

Or, if you have no intention of making your own chandelier but still want one for your home, you can purchase an already-assembled chandelier from ReDesign Technologies for $227.50.

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Woman Tribune has an awesome new contributor, Champe Granger from My Design Guide, but you may already know this. You may have heard the rumblings through Twitter or on Facebook, or you may have seen the two great articles she has already published here–one on choosing and putting together window treatments on the cheap and a selection of modern, backless barstools.

If you didn’t know about Champe Granger’s contributions to Woman Tribune, you do now and you can consider this her official Woman Tribune welcoming party–and we’re officially kicking it all off with a pretty awesome giveaway I know you’ll be excited about.

My Design Guide was created by Champe Granger and Roger Bouchard, who are serial renovators, entrepreneurs and who LOVE a bargain. They created My Design Guide for those of us who want real, professional, custom interior design, but don’t want to pay a lot for it. The designers who work with My Design Guide are degreed and accredited interior designers who have attended four year design or masters degrees programs from top design universities throughout the country. When you work with My Design Guide, you can guarantee you are working with the real professionals and you are getting an amazing deal!

A consultation with My Design Guide will include 3D pictures of your revamped space, along with why a specific type of addition was suggested and why it will work for you room. You will also receive a shopping list of all the suggested items that are seen in the images from stores that everyone knows and has access to, and that also won’t break the bank, including Target, Walmart, Pottery Barn and Pier 1 Imports, among others.

My Design Guide has been generous enough to sponsor this giveaway where five winners will receive a $50 gift card to My Design Guide.

Remember, My Design Guide prides themselves on being able to sniff out awesome bargains and being able to give you a quality and professional custom interior design, so $50 will actually go quite a long way with them. Maybe there is a space in your home that is driving you nuts. It doesn’t feel quite right and you know it needs something, but aren’t sure what that is. Or maybe you don’t know which sofa or accessories would look best in your space. Get a My Design Guide Quick Room Fix. Just by emailing your room pictures and telling them the problem you’re having, you will receive specific, affordable action items, products, paints and other recommendations that will save your space and your sanity.

If you saw the after pictures of when I tackled my not-so glamorous bathroom and felt the same way about yours, My Design Guide’s bathroom decoration can help you out by showing you how to decorate with fixtures, art, accessories, paint and window treatments.

To win one of five $50 My Design Guide gift cards, just go through their Style Finder and tell us what your style is in the comments. [REQUIRED]

Additional Entries: [Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.]

• Tell us what room in your home could use a little makeover.
• Visit My Design Guide’s Design Gallery and tell us what redesign is your favorite.
• “Like” My Design Guide on Facebook
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
  

  Win 1 of 5 $50 gift cards from My Design Guide at @WomanTribune: http://tinyurl.com/2g2y456 ends 6/17

• Blog about this giveaway with a link to this giveaway post and to My Design Guide and their Style Finder. [Worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.]

This giveaway ends Thursday, June 17th at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all those over the age of 18. The winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours (2 days) to respond with their mailing address. If I don’t hear back from the winners within that time, another winner will be picked.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Related:

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Berries are now in season; strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and all the other types of berries out there are finally ready to be picked and taken home. Berries have great nutritional content and contain beneficial vitamins, fiber and antioxidants. Berries are great to snack on alone, or you can use them as an ingredient in recipes, salads, desserts or breakfast rolls.

So now that you know why berries are so great for you–not to mention they taste delicious–here are some tips on how to buy berries, how to store berries or freeze them for later use and of course, how to prep them to use in recipes.

Buying Berries:

• Visit a berry farm to pick them during the peak of the season.
• In the store, look for berries that are plump, firm and colorful, turning berry cartons over to check for moldy or mushy berries before you buy.
• Berries perish quickly; purchase them when you plan to use them.

Storing Berries:

• Wait until you use the berries to wash them. Unwashed berries stay fresh longer.
• Store berries loosely covered in the refrigerator for no more than two days.
• If you can’t use the berries right away, freeze them or make a puree or sauce that will keep longer.

Freezing Berries to Use Later:

• Wash and dry berries, removing stems and leaves.
• Arrange berries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze overnight.
• Transfer frozen berries to an airtight freezer bag or container; freeze for up to a year.

Preparing Berries to Use in Recipes:

• Wash berries with cold water in a colander; drain well.
• Allow to air dry, or pat dry with a paper towel.
• Remove stems and leaves with a hulling tool or paring knife.

Related:

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First, let me say that no unfortunately, I do not get a kickback on this recommendation – I’m just the My Design Guide value vixen. Gotta get great style for a great price. I found these barstools after seriously searching and thought I’d share them with you.

I needed something without a back because I have a view issue and I wanted something a little more modern because I usually am more traditional–time to find something fresh. And most importantly… The price–crazy.  You get 2 for $140 and FREE shipping (I hate paying for shipping.) It swivels, it adjusts…it’s awesome. 

I’m guessing there is some putting this together to do, so dust off your screwdrivers. But, I have bought stuff from this company before and things were very doable. Use code YF-9659, and you get an extra 10% off – woohooo!!! Mine are on their way and I’ll let you know how they work. 

They have fantastic choice of others that look similar, but much higher price, like this little hottie:

Read more about it!

Related:

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Dunkin Donuts is celebrating the annual holiday for donut lovers everywhere by giving away a free donut with the purchase of your favorite coffee, tea, latte or Coolatta. Considering the heat wave we’ve had here in the Northeast, if you’re looking for a recommendation, blueberry coffee Coolattas (with whipped cream, don’t forget the whipped cream) are amazing and also slightly addictive, so watch out.

June 4th also marks the day where you can stop waiting for the winner of the Create Dunkin’s Next Donut Contest to be announced because it will be on National Donut Day and we will see who won $12,000 and the privilege of having their winning donut sold in participating Dunkin Donuts stores nationwide.

Also, be sure to check out the video below of the 12 finalists of the Create Dunkin’s Next Donut contest dueling it out in a bake-off that took place in early May.

Related:

• None yet, check back soon!

We’ve said it several times before, but taking time for yourself is really incredibly important. In our world of taking care of our families, running errands and meeting deadlines, it’s easy to find yourself doing dishes at 10pm and just realizing you haven’t yet showered that day. Yes, I’ve been there.

Giving yourself just a few moments each day to clear your mind of everything you feel you should be doing right that moment and just relaxing on your own can do wonders with how you tackle your to-do list. Taking a few minutes each day to simply focus on you, whether it’s taking your morning coffee outside on your patio in the morning before anyone else wakes up or soaking in the tub after a long day, can leave you refreshed and re-energized.

We all have our favorite little things we do for ourselves to relax and reward ourselves. According to a recent survey conducted by Dove Ice Cream Minitatures, 70% of 400 mothers are taking time for themselves each day. My favorite thing to do for myself is to get a delicious and decadent drink from Dunkin Donuts. Whenever I’m out and about or on my way somewhere and drive by it, I pick one up and it’s amazing. I also love making milkshakes or indulging a little with some yummy ice cream.

If your sweet tooth is also the key to your relaxation, you should check out Dove Ice Cream Miniatures. At just 70 calories each, there is no guilt in indulging in the ice cream treats covered in real Dove chocolate. To make them even more enticing, Dove has recently come out with their new Café Collection miniatures. That gets me super excited, being a huge coffee fan and I can’t wait to pick up some of the new Java Chip and Cappuccino flavors.

Because Dove Ice Cream knows how important “me time” is, they have just recently announced their “My Mini Moment” contest.

By simply submitting a photo of yourself and a short essay at DoveIceCream.com/myminimoment sharing your favorite mini moment of escape, you can win one of three incredible prizes from Dove Ice Cream. Up for grabs is a mini-getaway to Napa Valley, spa services for an entire year, or a mini-home makeover. Any of these prizes would be coveted by any woman out there and are most definitely lust-worthy.

Dove Ice Cream’s “My Mini Moment” contest is open until June 7th, so be sure to submit your photo and essay soon to win one of the three fabulous prizes!

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