Disneyland or Disney World? You decide!

So I read about this deal on Mintarrow.com and it's legit. I just bought it. It's not a scammy timeshare thing and there's no catch, except you have to pick one of the participating hotels, which you can see before you buy the deal. Really worth checking out. Here are the basics straight from the site:

What you need to know:

• For just $139, get 2 round-trip plane tickets plus 2 one-day passes to your choice of Disneyland (Anaheim, CA) or Disney World (Orlando, FL) after you book your hotel accommodations through the One Stop Travel Agency - a fully-accredited ARC travel agency (A+ rating with BBB) that has provided exceptionally-valued vacations to millions of customers
• Each voucher covers round-trip airfare for 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child after booking accommodations at one of the participating hotels/resorts for the minimum nights required (minimum varies per hotel/resort); calculate minimum nights here prior to purchasing); review all terms and conditions here
• Major airline carriers include American, Delta, and JetBlue
• Trusted hotels include 3-, 4-, and 5-star options like award-winning Crowne Plaza Universal, Sheraton, Hilton, or Marriott
• At Disney World, enjoy theme parks like Magic Kingdom®, Epcot®, and Disney's Animal Kingdom® 
• Near Disney World is LEGOLAND, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, golf courses, and beaches
• At Disneyland, visit Disneyland Park and the popular Disneyland California Adventure Park
• Near Disneyland is Knott's Berry Farm amusement park, Angels Baseball games, Anaheim Ducks Hockey games, and famous Los Angeles beaches
• Satisfaction guaranteed 

Also, use this link http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/df2c3cc822/click so I get the credit for sharing. Then share your own link so you get credit. Awe-some.

XX, A!

Personalize Your Life

I love personalized photo items. They make the best gifts and are the perfect way to show off those photos not everyone gets to see in your home or that you don't have space to display. Plus, every time you look at the item you can't help but smile! Over the years, I have purchased a Miir photo water bottle, Medge Kindle Fire cover, and countless Shutterfly items such as mugs, key chains, magnets, notepads, cards, and photo books. I can tell you, my mom and sister's favorite gifts I have ever given them are photo gifts with my niece and nephews on them. That's why the latest personalized iPhone cases from Shutterfly definitely piqued my interest! They are adorable and affordable. And the fact that you can pretty much make them look however you want is a great option if you're looking for a gift for someone... or for yourself. I just may have to get one! In the meantime, check them out here: http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/custom-iphone-cases

Also, here is some pretty interesting stuff on cell phone cases and what people want/expect from their phone cases. Pretty much magic, eh?

This infographic is provided to you by Shutterfly, a leader provider of photo books, custom iPhone cases & more!

X, A!

Castle - My New Viewing Pleasure

We don't have cable in our home. We are mainly movie watchers. And with the home theater we put in, we prefer movies on our big screen over the TV. Plus, there are no TV shows we are obssesed with or that we follow on a regular basis. Well recently, I caught the show Castle after a viewing of Dancing With The Stars last season and loved it. I do not follow it religiously, but I do enjoy it and try to remember it is on. What I like about it is that it's different from most of the other crime shows on TV. It is not overly gory, filled with sex, or profane language. It focuses on a good story line, some mystery, and peppers in a little humor every week thanks to the hilarious, Nathan Fillion. Plus, the whole cast is pretty easy on the eyes. If you're up late on a Monday, give it a watch.

 - Castle. ABC. 10pm PST. -

January Raves and Faves

 




















It's been a while since I've written a review on my blog, but now I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. Let me also remind you that I am in no way compensated or persuaded to write these reviews (although, I wouldn't mind a free product or two if ya get my drift). This month I have a few beauty products I have discovered to tell you about. Of all the similar products out there, these are brands and items I keep coming back to. I know what a disappointment it can be to try new items and dislike them so I hope to save you from that disaster and give you some great new products you'll love, too! If you have any recommendations to share, please do! I love recommendations myself!

* The first item is the Yes To Blueberries cleansing facial towelettes. I am a fan of the Yes To brand and have tried several of the facial cleansing wipes and liked them. I plan to try their other products as well, so I will keep you posted on how I like them. These towelettes do a great job of taking off all the makeup and grime from the day and contain blueberry, coconut, lemon peel, and apple to nourish skin. They are also 99% natural and smell amazing. Just like Trix cereal. Yes, please!

* Next up, is the L'Oreal Elnett hairspray. Not only does this hairspray hold well without making my locks crispy or frizzy, but the can features a super sassy and timeless broad on the front who encourages you to go big or go home. I recommend getting the travel size from a store like Ulta and giving it a try! One thing to note: If you don't buy the unscented kind the smell is a little weird.

* Moisturising Shave Creme - I love that if I don't have time to moisturize this stuff does the trick. It also gives me a close nick free shave and reminds me of my favorite in shower Olay body lotion - reviewed here.

* The Body Shop Shower Creams/Gels are my favorite body washes. I tend to have drier skin and this stuff is soap free and doesn't dry out my skin. My favorite scent is Strawberry, but Ulta was out so I decided to try Coconut this time. It's a lot of product for not a bad price and lasts for a while.

* Clarisonic facial cleaning brushes are the best. I had been wanting one for a while and did quite the research to see which one was the best deal, as there are several models. I decided to go with the compact Mia 2 after reading several reviews stating that one speed is all you really need. This dude is definitely worth the money. It feels so good on your face and deep cleans like nothing else. It's like a spa facial at home! I bought mine during good ol' Cyber Monday and found a great deal online. Get yourself one. Oh, and they come in the cutest colors. You won't be disappointed.

IC Snack Attack

This post is just a little glimpse into some of the foods we ICers can enjoy. These are mainly pre-made and pre-packaged store bought foods that, for the most part, are "unhealthy" treats. I know, I know! But let's be real, sometimes a pear just doesn't curb the sugar cravings. I also know how hard it is when you are craving something sweet or salty and don't want to bake or cook anything. When I was first diagnosed, I had so many questions about pre-packaged foods. I  needed things I could take on the road, to work, vacations, etc. and it was hard to know what was safe. After countless hours of reading labels and brave trial and error, I came up with a list of things most ICers can tolerate. And if not, I plan on posting some recipes that might be better alternatives. One note: If you can't do peanut butter, try substituting almond butter. Costco sells the large sized Maranatha brand for a good deal and it's super yummy! Again, these aren't exactly health foods, but I think in moderation we all deserve a treat! So, without further adieu, here are some of my favorite foods to help curb those IC snack attacks:

Sweet Treats:

Jennie's Coconut Macaroons - I found these at Fred Meyer in the organic aisle
Just Fruit Pear Bars - I found these at Fred Meyer in the organic aisle
Golden Oreos
Nilla Wafers - I dip them in peanut butter or do a mixture of peanut butter and powdered sugar sandwiched between 2 cookies and it is amazing!
Lorna Doons
Talenti Gelato in Caribbean Coconut
Breyers Homestyle Vanilla or Extra Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream 
Rice Pudding  - Kozy Shack is my fave brand
Vanilla Pudding - I love the cook and serve!
Madagascar Vanilla Cookies - found at Walmart
Animal Cookies - you know those cute little cardboard packages with the string :)
Werther's Original Hard Candies
Plain White Chocolate
Toblerone White
Most Shortbread and Sugar Cookies - make sure they do not contain preservatives
Franz Plain Bagels - I top mine with cream cheese and fresh blueberries
Del Monte Pears in Lite Syrup - if you can't find fresh. Can even mix with cottage cheese (I prefer Kraft Simply Cottage Cheese since it has no acids in it)
Oregon Blueberries in Lite Syrup or Frozen Blueberries - if you can't find fresh


Salty Eats:

Plain Potato Chips - I prefer Kettle Cooked Sea Salt or Lays Lightly Salted
Baked Lays (plain)
Organic Popcorn - found at Safeway or Albertson's
Tortilla Chips
Pretzels or Pretzel Chips
String Cheese
Saltines - topped with peanut butter and honey
Ritz - topped with peanut butter (can even do the pre-made ones sold in the store)
Wheat Thins - with melted mozerlla cheese
Triscuits - with melted mozerella cheese
Fritos
Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips (AMAZING!)
Plain rice cakes with almond or peanut butter - top with honey to make it a sweet treat 
Celery with peanut or almond butter
Almond Nut-Thins
Avocado mashed with garlic and salt for a sandwich spread or with tortilla chips - IF you can handle these things!


Another thing I do, is put mozerella cheese on top of pretty much anything salty and blueberries on top of almost anything sweet. I find it adds texture and flavor to various foods. Hope this list gives you an idea of some things to try. I figure, if people with food allergies can live this way their whole lives, surely we can survive on this crazy diet :)



* Some of these items can be found in the ICN Shop.

Try This!

Arnold Palmer 1/2 Tea 1/2 Lemonade is my favorite over-sized canned beverage. A co-worker had this drink at lunch about a year ago and raved about it so I tried it and have been buying it since. Refreshing, sweet, and what a fun name!

Strap Perfect - My grandma bought me these a few years ago and I wasn't sure if I would really use them. I had some of those fancy bras that the straps can go any which way you need. However, I was always fighting with them to stay in place and stay up! I don't have much to keep them where they need to be. Well, I decided to try one of these one day with a racerback top and a regular bra and was rather impressed. Not only did my bra stay up and the straps in place, my top half looked a little, um... well, let's just say happier ;) I always wear these now instead of messing with hooking, unhooking, and falling down bras. They're so easy to use and poor Jeremiah even knows how to use the things, thanks to me constantly asking him to fix my straps.                                                          

Darigold Refuel Milk - Jeremiah and I rode our bikes to Safeway the other night and were picking up some beverages for the ride home and spotted this chocolate milk beverage. We are chocolate milk connoisseurs and so we had to try it. It contains extra vitamins and protein. There is even a PB Chocolate flavor we have yet to try. Anyway, we both enjoyed this treat! It didn't taste weird and vitamin-y like I was worried it might with the extra protein in it. This is one of my new favorite chocolate milks. Creamy and tasty, but not super thick and sweet like some brands.

Talenti Gelato in Sea Salt Caramel. My sister bought it and told me how good it was and she was not lying!  Fred Meyer sells it.Get it! Enough said!

Must-Do Summer

It's officially Summer! My favorite season. It's also the longest day of the year! Maybe only by a second or so, but I still celebrate the extra daylight and the joy of sitting outside at 9:30 p.m. and still being able to see sunlight. Makes time seem to go a little slower. And can't we all appreciate that? For the first day of summer I have compiled a list of the best "Summer Must-Do's" that you shouldn't miss out on! What will you be up to this Summer?

Cool Desert Nights -
     http://www.cooldesertnights.com

Blueberry Daze Festival -
    http://www.billsberryfarm.com/events.html

Fourth of July Festivities-
    http://www.tcrchamber.com/tri-cities-events-and-programs/23rd-annual-river-of-fire-festival

Miss Tri-Cities Pageant -
    http://www.misstricities.org/ticketorder.htm


Waterfollies Talent Show -
    http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/06/13/1527681/water-follies-talent-show-begins.html


Free Fries Fryday - 
    http://www.freefriesfryday.com/

 The Art Show at Howard Amon -
    http://www.alliedartsrichland.org/HTML/aitp.html

Boat Races -
    http://www.waterfollies.com/

 The Farmer's Market -
    http://calendar.tri-cityherald.com/richland-wa/venues/show/1123783-market-at-the-parkway-richland-farmers-market#

Dust Devils Games -
   http://tricity.dustdevils.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t460


A Few More Summer Must-Do's:

Hit Up Country Mercantile For Lunch, Dessert, and More!
     http://countrymercantile.com/

Bike Rides or Walks Along The Columbia

Hiking Badger

Boating or Floating The River

Eating Outside At Any and All Restaurants You Can

Slurpees From The Slurpee Capitol Of The World In Our Very Own Kennewick

Slip n' Slides, BBQ's, Laying Out, Gardening, Milk Shakes and Ice Cream, Iced Tea and Lemonade... Go Summer!

A Few Favorites For Friday

Favorite new cereal! Pick it up at Fred Meyer. Now! It has so many marshmallows in it and is surely chocked full of so much sugar you could get an instant cavity. But at least it's fortified ;) Your kids will love it too! I mainly eat it as a snack so that's got to be better than for breakfast...

Reebok Runtones are my favorite tennis shoes to date. I bought them at the end of last summer and got to do a little running in them before it got too cold. They are comfortable and ventilated so your feet don't get hot. The first time I ran in them I felt like I could run longer and my calves could instantly feel the work out. Now that the weather is warmer, I brought them back out and even wore them to the 6 mile March of Dimes walk. I could definitely feel my legs working more... but I was not nearly as sore; nor were my feet in as much pain as previous walks. That was the test that convinced me this shoe is a winner and I must share! Bonus: They are not HALF as ugly as the Sketchers! You can even get the Reebok Easy Tone if you're not a runner. I recommend this shoe... stay away from Sketchers. For real. Don't listen to Kim Kardashian.

Chukar Cherries Honey Pecans! Bonus: Supporting a local company with its headquarters located in Prosser, WA! Love this! Tried these little gems about a year ago and am so addicted to them. Good thing they are not sold at grocery stores. I love all the Chukar Cherry treats, but these are my favs! Pecans sweet as honey, dipped in creamy milk chocolate, and dusted with powdered sugar! Oh my mouth! My niece loves them too and is only 1 1/2 years old. They are worth the $12! Order them online here http://www.chukar.com/ or find somewhere they are sold! You don't want to miss out on these sweet babies!

Great Jeans

After much deliberation (5 years worth), I have come to the conclusion that 7 For All Mankind jeans really are the best premium denim money can buy.

My journey into premium denim began about 5 years ago when I purchased my first ridiculously over priced pair of Paige jeans. They fit like a glove and were so cute with their little leather strip by the pocket that I had to splurge. The quality was great too! I only recently retired them last year, due to the frequency of wear tearing a hole in the butt (mostly due to my bad habit of pulling on the belt loops). I do have to admit I regretted the decision at first, as everyone thought I was crazy for paying the price I did, but I loved these jeans and definitely got my monies worth in wear.

Before my Paiges came along, I was a Buckle or Macy's jeans type girl (note: The Tri-Citie's Macy's does not sell 7s or other "premium" denim brands). While I do like the fit of the BKE Star denim, my Paige jeans made me feel so... grown up! I made the decision to buy the jeans at this price with my hard earned college graduate money and it was quite empowering and confidence boosting. Now the forbidden fruit had been tasted and I wanted more.

A couple years later I bought my first pair of 7s. The softest most crack concealing pair of jeans I have EVER owned! I still wear them all the time and everyone always compliments me on the look and softness of my 7 Dojos. Later on, I decided to purchase a pair of True Religions. Verdict: Cute, but no 7s or Paiges. So, I bought another pair of 7s. I tried on a pair of Hudsons this year and bought them, but they are still no 7s. I swear they weren't the same jeans after I bought and washed them. While I am always trying on other brands, I keep coming back to the 7s.  I haven't purchased another pair of Paiges though and think I am about due ;)

While I know it seems ridiculous to spend a high dollar amount on a pair of jeans, you have no idea what it's like to be short and have everything fit wrong and find a jean that finally feels right. I will add, I am still a Buckle jeans girl and love the quality for the price. They are probably my second fave pair of jeans I own. Furthermore, if you shop for jeans through 6pm, Zappos, or even through the designer websites you can get great deals on premium denim. The 7 website has some great sales! I also shop The Rack when I am out of town and purchased my Hudsons there. You can save over $100 shopping this way. While It may seem stupid, and I totally see how you may think that, it's the little things that make a difference. A good pair of jeans is a little thing that helps me feel excited to get dressed for the day and makes me feel worthwhile, in an odd way. Maybe it's my insecurities talking, but hey at least I'll admit it. One day I may retire from the premium denim, but I sure hope not. It's kind of like a hobby to me and rather exhilarating finding the right pair of jeans. I might just be the crazy person who puts my baby in them too. Ye be warned ;)

 

"Ooh Daddy Like" Part 2

When I get excited about things I love I like to share them! There are so many options of items to buy or use out there, it can be a headache deciding. Online reviews can be helpful, but sometimes it's hard to know if you can trust them. That's why I like giving my own reviews and hope you'll trust me, since I am not affiliated with any brand/company. Here are some things you should try if you're in the market:

 In shower body lotion! Olay is the best! I have tried Gillette Satin Care as well, but prefer the smell and moisturizing abilities of Olay better. During the work week, I rarely wake up early enough to lotion my body after showering and hate putting on cold lotion that I then have to let dry. This stuff saves me so much time and lets me get warm in my clothes sooner. I am also able to slather it on in the shower and wash my hands off right there. No greasy lotion hands to re-wash after getting out or cold lotion to apply. Every girl should have some of this in her shower.

Staying in the world of moisturizers and grease free hands... I tend to have dry skin and my hands can get pretty bad in winter. However, I do not like the greasy feeling most hand lotions leave behind or how long they take to dry. I used to love the anti-bacterial hand lotion sold at Bath and Body Works because the alcohol in it allowed it to dry quickly, it had light moisturizing abilities, and killed germs. Then it disappeared. When I asked an employee a couple years ago why, she said the alcohol is too drying and blah blah blah. She tried to get me to buy that thick shea butter lotion everyone is obsessed with, but no thank you. I do not like that feeling on my hands and it never dries. Then if I touch my face or rest my chin in my hands I get greasy lotion on my face. Well this Christmas, while perusing B&B, lo and behold I see the anti-bacterial hand lotion is back! Why I don't know, but I was so excited! While, I know it's not for everyone, I love all the benefits it offers - light weight, quick drying, germ killing, and in your favorite scent. This is probably my favorite scent - Coconut Lime Verbena. Sends my thoughts to warmer sunnier places :)

Laugh if you will, but you won't be laughing after you try this! Jack Daniel's Pulled Chicken. There are also pork varieties available. However, make sure you buy it from Costco. It's the best deal! Safeway sells it for nearly the same price, but you only get 1 package and at Costco you get 2. This is such an easy and quick meal to make. Each package makes quite a few servings, as well. You can microwave or cook it in the oven and both turn out equally tasty!






"Priceline Negotiator!" I remember the first time Jeremiah and I used Priceline to get a hotel room for a weekend trip to Seattle. It was exciting waiting to see what the Shat had negotiated and we were pleasantly surprised. A 4-star hotel for less than $100! Now we use it all the time for smaller trips. We just used it for a hotel in SoCal and are very happy with the hotel and location. If you have never Pricelined before, it's very simple. You pick your location, price, enter you payment information, and voila! A message saying something to likes of , "Congratulations your price was accepted. Your hotel is______." appears. Your price won't always be accepted, but I have been surprised by the low amounts I enter assuming to be rejected, only to be congratulated with my offer. While you don't know the hotel you're getting until after you are charged, the excitement and feeling of getting a good deal can't beat with any other method of booking travel :)

Bad Review-

Usually you only hear about things people enjoy, but sometimes wonder about other options you've seen and are not sure what reviews you can trust. It's nice to read reviews of things people don't like so you can then you can decide if you want to take the chance of purchasing it. Therefore, I have included one review that reflects a product I was disappointed with:

I bought Cargo Texas Lash from Sephora not long ago because well... everything is bigger in Texas! I was hoping it would give me super sized Texas lashes full of volume and drama. While it wasn't the worst mascara I have ever used, I won't be buying it again. It was very clumpy and hard to get off, despite not being waterproof. First off, I don't have time to endlessly comb through my lashes every morning to remove all the clumps and while I enjoy a mascara that stays put, I was worried it was damaging and causing my lashes to fall out just trying to get it off. It may work for you, but didn't for me. Just a heads up if you want to try this mascara.

March Recipe Of The Month

I made these cookies for Fat Tuesday (what better reason?) and they were super yummy, as suspected ;) I totally recommend you make them too! Please note, this is not my recipe and is from pickypalate.com. One of my favorite food bloggers! Check out her sight! She comes up with the most unique and mouth watering treats!

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks softened butter
3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar
1 Cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla
3 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
10 oz bag chocolate chips
1 bag Oreo Cookies, I used the double stuff

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.   In a stand or electric mixer cream butter and sugars until well combined.  Add in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
2.  In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda.  Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined.  Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie.  Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo Cookie.  Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo Cookie is enclosed with dough.  Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until cookies are baked to your liking.  Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.  Serve with a tall glass of milk, enjoy!

Makes about 2 dozen VERY LARGE Cookies

Carmine's Review

http://www.carmineskennewick.com/

Since the hubby was out of town for Valentine's Day, we celebrated this past weekend with Dinner at Carmine's. I had been wanting to try this place for quite some time, but just hadn't gotten around to it. I was sure we would need a reservation and usually when we eat out we pick where to go right before we go. Well, since Valentine's Day is a special occasion, I knew it was the right time to make the reservation and go. Carmine's is located on the corner of 1st & Fruitland in Kennewick in an old historic home and is the best thing that ever became of that place. They serve 1 -2 dishes per night, so check out the menu online before going. The parking lot is small, but there is plenty of on-street parking and we were able to park right across the street. It is a smaller restaurant, so be sure to make a reservation, as almost everyone who walked in to get a table was given an hour to an hour and a half  wait time or turned away. 

Upon walking in, we were greeted by Carmine himself, who thanked us for coming and told us to thank anyone who may have recommend the restaurant. Our table was set with glasses and a plate of olive oil for dipping bread and a reserved sign on the table held our spot. I very much appreciated this, as most restaurants still make you wait about 10-15 minutes while they finishing wiping and setting your table. At Carmine's we sat down right away. Soon after, our waiter showed up with delish Italian bread and the cutest authentic Italian accent. We sat in an enclosed porch area by the window where the walls were decorated in old pictures and Italian memorabilia.  It really felt like we were away at some authentic Italian eatery (even though I've never been to Italy). The atmosphere was fantastic!

We were then brought salad with homemade dressing, which was also delightful! It took a little while after our salad for the main course to show up, but the server was the ONLY one in the restaurant, so we cut him a break. The meal of the night was rigatoni with meat sauce and we ordered the 2 serving size. Boy, was that plenty! It could have fed up to 4 people.

Then the dining experience got rather unimpressive. The Rigatoni was not the best I ever had and the sauce was not super flavorful. It wasn't gross, I was just not impressed. After we were done eating, we sat for about 10 minute before our server took our plates and we told tell him we were too full for dessert. We then sat another 5 minutes before having to ask for the check. Who knows what happened, but our waiter then disappeared. After about 20 more minutes of waiting, Carmine came over and asked if were waiting for something and we told him the check. Well, then he left and never came back. Finally, we waived down a young girl, who appeared to be the bread delivery girl, and asked if she could find out what happened to our check. It had now been at least 30 minutes! As soon as she went through the kitchen doors, here came our waiter with the check. Our waiter told us thanks for waiting and we told him we understood he was busy. No one acknowledged or apologized for how long we waited and we didn't complain because we saw how busy this poor guy was. It seems they need to allow the hostess or Carmine himself  to bring the check or take money, at least on nights like this.

We may have gone on a super busy short staffed night, but we will give this place another try, and do recommend others try it too! The best part of Carmine's really is the atmosphere. If you're looking to eat somewhere that makes you feel like you're out of the Tri-Cities, try Carmine's and let me know what you think!

Ooh Daddy Like

I have made some recent discoveries, over the last several months, that I want to share with anyone who reads my blog. I cannot express how much I love these items and recommend them to all my readers! Enjoy :)

Secret Wonderland from Bath and Body Works. I discovered this scent on Black Friday and bought the body wash, lotion, shimmering body spray, and perfume. A sweet, yet not over powering scent. Definitely good all winter long! And the bottles are so pretty and sparkly too!

 

Umberto Beverly Hills Dry Shampoo Spray. Want healthy hair? Do NOT wash your hair every day. A dry shampoo can be very helpful with this, but I find many of them don't last long and can be rather spendy. I also haven't found a  brand that "wows" me yet. Then while strolling amongst the aisles of Target one evening, I noticed a new hair care line. Okay, maybe not new (wasn't this brand around years ago?), but new to me. I saw a coupon to buy one product and get the dry shampoo free, and with all of the products priced around $8-$10, I couldn't go wrong. I love this dry shampoo! It works great and is only $8 AND I am still finding the buy 1 get 1 coupons! It does go on a little white and powdery at first, but I find it easily blends in and brushes out nicely with my hair type and color.

Okay, I feel so 90's loving this chip, but they are so good I cannot deny them. I love Pringles, but rarely buy them. That carton is so small and I definitely do not need to be scarfing down a whole carton of chips. No matter how ungreasy Pringles convinces me they are. Also, some of the Pringles flavors seem to taste alike.Well, me and the hubs love trying new food items and flavors (and I may be a bit of a sucker for advertising), so when we saw these chips we had to try them. I have a wimpy palate so these chips are just spicy enough for me, but still have a lot of flavor. The Cajun taste isn't overpowering and the flavor is different than any other Pringles flavor. So yummy and gone in a day at my house :)

I have a horrible confession to make. I dislike most fruit. I have a sweet tooth to some extent, but I am a salty girl. I would probably choose veggies and ranch dip over fruit and chocolate fondue. My hubby loves fruit. In all forms. Leather, snacks, cups, dried, raw... you name it. So, when we saw these at Costco... into the cart they went. Turns out, I LOVE them. I know it isn't the exact same thing as eating raw fruit, but hey, it's a start. They kind of remind me of the fruit puffs for babies my niece used to eat (and yes, I tried those and they were yummy too). I may have the palate of a toddler, but these are dang good!

I love my Dooney and Bourke wallet. Only problem is, once I take something out of it, it never goes back in. This leaves me constantly digging for the various cards I might need whenever we go out. This also puts me at risk of losing valuable cards and information, as they easily spill out of my purse. This drives Jeremiah nuts! Well, problem solved. Jeremiah bought me this bad daddy as a Christmas gift and it is amazing! I know it looks a little odd for a wallet, but it is so space saving and easy to use that I have actually been keeping all of my cards in it! You can change the labels on the front to match the various cards you have and even color code them. The ACM wallet come in various colors and sizes and holds  6-12 cards. Check them out: http://www.acmwallet.com/?gclid=CLPwqM7v0aYCFRNSgwodSjUWIA

Clothing discovery (thanks to http://uberchicforcheap.blogspot.com/): Checkout  http://shopruche.com/ Vintage inspired and oh so pretty! I haven't ordered yet myself, but can't wait!

Has anyone tried any of these things? Let me know what you thought! Now, I leave you with a link to a new fave song of mine. I'm sure you'll recognize it, but I prefer this version SO much more! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocL-o8GY02k

Best Of Tri-Cities Eats

So often I hear people complain that there are not enough places to eat in the Tri-Cities. In response, I would like to say, "Maybe you should venture out past Columbia Center Blvd or off  G-Way," but I don't and usually just politely nod or recommend a place they should try. No, we are not New York City here, but there are so many places to eat in the TC's that people don't even know about or think to give a try. Ever go off the beaten path and try a little local eatery? Not all food must come from a major chain. Most of the best stuff comes from small local restaurants. Even big city people know that! So, before you complain that there is no where to eat in the TC's, do some investigating and get the boring chain restaurants out of your head. You may notice something you never did before!

Below is a list of some of my favorite places to eat and some that I still need to try. So, go somewhere new, get brave with your taste buds,  and look around to see what the Tri-Cities really has to offer. It may surprise you!

Avalanche
Carmine's
Fat Olive's
Magill's
O'Henry's Go Go
Ice Harbor Brewing Company
Sage Port Grill
Venezia
Stone Soup
Some Bagels
Chico's Tacos
Cousin's
Chinese Gardens
Mandarin House
Atomic Ale
Florentyna's
Monterosso's
Subs N Jean Sushi
Wing Stop
Sandstone Cafe
Hubby's
Brick House Pizza
Zips
Rosy's
Bombers
Burger Ranch

*For a complete list of restaurants and their locations check out:

http://www.tastetricities.com/index.php

Best Of The Tri-Cities

Aerial View Of The  Columbia River

As promised weeks ago, I am now starting my, "Best Of The Tri-Cities" posts. I originally was going to call it, "Tri-Cities Top 10s," but found I could easily come up with more than 10 items for each category I planned to cover. So, to start it all off I am going to give a shout out to all that makes the Tri-Cities great, in my eyes, and hope you agree with some part of it. Then we're off to explore some more fun categories of to-do's, eats, places, and, TC pleasures! Hope you enjoy!

Best of The Tri-Cities:

- 300+ days of sunshine a year
- 4 distinct seasons
- 4th largest city in the state (combining all 3); yet small enough to feel somewhat safe and keep traffic light
- It is flat and therefore, has less clouds and rain
- Our summer heat is dry, which helps keep it from feeling "Southern" hot
- We are on the map thanks to Hanford
- Close enough drive to the Pacific Ocean, Canada, and Idaho and Oregon (practically minutes away)
- The Columbia River provides for great boating and water sports
- Wine Country anyone?
- Beautiful green trees , brown hillsides, and blue waters surround us
- 2 people: K-Fed & Sara Palin... Okay, not so much to those last 2? Fine ;)

What do you love about the Tri-Cities? I know you can come up with something.

Tri-Cities Top 10

Soon I will be starting a weekly post, starring your favorite city and mine, the Tri-Cities! I plan to spotlight the best places to eat, seasonal to-do's, and some of my favorite things about the good ol' TC's! I hear so many people complain about the Tri-Cities and sometimes wonder if they have ever even tried anything new here or are just boring or negative people. To me, you will never be happy with where you live if you are not happy inside. So, check back to see if any of your favorites are listed or if your business is featured!

My Fav Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

So, I found this recipe not long ago on AllRecipes.com and DisneyFamily.com while searching for a yummy chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe. I went ahead made them and they were delicious! They taste similar to a Mrs. Fields cookie, with a caramel like flavor. So good! I continued to try other chocolate chip cookie recipes, just to find a favorite, and after a few different recipes I came back to this one last night and decided it really is the best! The melted butter and brown sugar make all the difference! Sunset also has a good recipe, but I prefer this one! You should try it too!
 
Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I like to use milk chocolate chips)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.