Gilad’s Lord of the Abs: Core ChallengeI love the way Gilad teaches this video. All instruction is clear and easy to follow. Great Ab workout. The way Gilad puts enfaces on not only the Abs but the corresponding back muscles as well is wonderful. It is so important to keep the core strong. I did the video without having to…more
I am in my early 40′s and have noticed the slightest sign of aging around my eyes. This, I do not like seeing, but what’s a girl to do? Find a product that really works. I found the Dermagist website and checked out their before and after pictures of…more
Mother’s Day is fast approaching. Have you found that extra special gift for your Mom? Novica sent me two $4o Gift Codes so I could check out their beautiful artisan crafted Mother’s Day gift ideas. I used one for myself and one of y’all will win the other one. If ya haven’t heard of Novica let me tell you a little about them. They are associated with National Geographic. This team finds…more
It gets kinda windy where I live. No, not like Chicago, but we get a lot of breezy days. I have to keep my hair pulled back just to be able to see walking across the parking lot. I like to get a bit creative with the hair ties I use. Plain black ones can get old fast. The nice folks at Maddyloo sent me one of their Mini Heart Boxes for review. This baby is filled with lots of beautiful no-crease hair ties. The cute heart shaped clear box contain seven hair-ties that are decorative and get this y’all some are even sparkly. Oooo Shiny Thing!. I love stuff that shines. Draws attention to you.
Maddyloo No-Crease Hair Ties Come in These Great Colors:
Black Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cosmic Blue Emerald City
Gum Drop Kiss &Tell Lady Bug Mermaid
Pink Ice Pirate Love Safari Silver Orchid
Sweet 16 Summer Lovin’
The Maddyloo no-crease hair ties are the cutest solution for pulling your hair back with enough elastic to keep a ponytail in place, but wide enough to not leave a dent. From camouflage and metallic to rhinestone and tie dyed, Maddyloo has found a way to marry function with beautiful eye (or wrist) candy. This Mother’s Day, Maddyloo has created the perfect gift for that someone special on your list with their Mini Heart Box. Available in fourteen different color themes, each adorable heart-shaped box contains seven hair ties guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat.
A heart-warming gift this Mother’s Day season, the Maddyloo Mini Heart Box is a great way to show how much you truly care; it’s a gift after her own heart.
Want to keep up with all things Maddyloo? You can like em on Facebook and follow em on Twitter as well as see em on Instagram: @maddyloos.
Ready to buy? Head on over to Maddyloo and get ya some of these great no-crease hair ties.
BEVERLY LEWIS’ THE CONFESSION’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday May 11 (9 p.m. ET/PT, 8C)
Starring: Sherry Stringfield, Katie Leclerc, Adrian Paul, Julia Whelan
Based on the Novel by New York Times Best-selling Author Beverly Lewis
First off, kudos to Hallmark Channel for showing this movie on Mother’s Day weekend. It is a fabulous flick showing how the bond between mother and daughter is so strong even if they are apart for years. I enjoy Beverly Lewis novels and Hallmark has outdone themselves with these film versions of those great books. “The Confession” is the second I have seen in the series and I must say they just keep getting better. Acting, filmography and directing are all superb. Wonderful movie to watch with Mom. Don’t want to give anything away, but I am pretty sure they left an open ending. Maybe we can hope for a third in the series. 
Three-time Emmy® and two-time Golden Globe® nominee Sherry Stringfield (“ER”) and Katie Leclerc (“Switched at Birth”) star in the World Premiere of “Beverly Lewis’ The Confession,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie on Saturday, May 11 (9p.m. ET/PT, 8C). The dramatic sequel to Hallmark Channel’s highly acclaimed original movie, “Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning,” which first premiered in 2011, is based on the second novel of The Heritage of Lancaster County Books from New York Times best-selling author Beverly Lewis. The series is based on some of the heartbreaking experiences of Lewis’ maternal grandmother, who was born into the Old Order Mennonite Church, which became the genesis of Lewis’ fascination with her Plain heritage.
Katie Lapp (Leclerc) is an innocent young Amish woman who has ventured out of her small Lancaster community for the first time after a painful incident led to her “shunning” from the very township that raised her. As she takes on the unfamiliar outside world, she is desperate to track down her birth mother, a wealthy and generous woman named Laura Mayfield-Bennett (Stringfield) who is sadly dying of cancer. With only a few months to live, Laura and her husband Dylan (Adrian Paul, “Highlander”) prepare Laura’s estate and will. When Dylan, a greedy gambling addict, finds out he will inherit close to nothing from his wife, he hires an out-of-work actress, Alyson (Julia Whelan, “Once and Again”), to feign as Laura’s long-lost Amish daughter—hoping Laura will take the bait and leave her entire estate to her only child.
Believing her daughter has finally returned to comfort her in her last days, Laura welcomes Alyson into her home at the same time the real Katie finally arrives at her door. Soon, a case of mistaken identity—and the unexpected return of Katie’s mysteriously missing Amish boyfriend—leads Laura to the cruel conclusion of betrayal in this heartening Amish story of long-kept secrets and a family’s true faith in love.
“Beverly Lewis’ The Confession” is a Believe Pictures and Lightworks Pictures Production in association with Mission Pictures International. Brian Bird, Maura Dunbar and Michael Landon, Jr. are the executive producers. Cindy Bond and Chevonne O’Shaughnessy are co-executive producers. David R. Kappes is the producer. Michael Landon, Jr. directed from a script he co-wrote with Brian Bird. Based on the book by Beverly Lewis.
Beverly Lewis is America’s foremost author of “plain heritage” literature and is the author of more than 70 books. Ms. Lewis’ father was a pastor in Lancaster County, heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch community and part of the sub-
grouping of Mennonite churches who believe in simple living, plain dress and reluctance for modern conveniences.
I received a screeners copy of the movie for review
Want to keep up with all things Hallmark Channel? You can like em on Facebook and follow em on Twitter.
I love, love, love Mexican food. I just can’t get enough. So when I found 200 Easy Mexican Recipes by Kelley Cleary Coffeen at Robert Rose Publishers my taste buds went wild. This cookbook has it all. There are recipes for Appetizers, Salsas, Tortillas, Soups, Traditional Recipes, Veggies, Beverages, and Deserts. Enough variety to make any day a fiesta. Beautiful full color photos show off these mouth watering creations. Want a sneak peek? I know ya’ll do.
Check out this great recipe. (It is actually the pic from the cover. There are plenty more in the book)
Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Butter, page 161
Makes 4 servings
Lightly marinated shrimp are simple but amazingly flavorful. Rich avocado butter adds a balance in texture and taste.
Tip: I like using a blend of spices to shorten my ingredient list. Creole seasoning has a combination of onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt and pepper. There are many good blends on the market, so you can find a favorite.
Barbecue grill
Food processor
Four 10- to 12-inch (25 to 30 cm) flat metal skewers
Avocado Butter
3 avocados, cut in quarters or into chunks 3
2 clove garlic, minced 2
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice 30 mL
2 tbsp olive oil 30 mL
Kosher or sea salt
Juice of 2 limes (about 1⁄4 cup/60 mL)
1 clove garlic, minced 1
1 tbsp Creole seasoning (see Tip, left) 15 mL
1⁄2 tsp cayenne pepper 2 mL
2 tbsp olive oil 30 mL
16 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined 16
1. Avocado Butter: In a food processor, combine avocados, garlic, lime juice and olive oil and process until smooth. Add salt to taste. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk lime juice, garlic, Creole seasoning, cayenne and oil until well blended. Add shrimp and toss gently. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours.
3. Meanwhile, preheat barbecue grill to medium-high.
4. Remove shrimp from marinade and discard marinade. Thread 4 shrimp on each skewer.
5. Grill shrimp, turning once, until shrimp are pink and opaque, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter. Gently remove from skewers and serve with Avocado Butter.
Excerpted from 200 Easy Mexican Recipes by Kelley Cleary Coffeen © 2013 Robert Rose Inc. http://www.robertrose.ca May not be reprinted without publisher permission.
Kelley Cleary Coffeen
Mexican food is one of the most popular and influential cuisines enjoyed today.
With its alluring blend of flavors and aromas, combined with a relatively simple and colorful presentation style, it’s no wonder Mexican food is enjoying ever increasing popularity.
Inspired by authentic dishes, these foolproof recipes bring the flavors of Mexico into your home kitchen, made with ingredients that can be found at your local grocery store. They’re quick to make, easy to serve and affordable, yet are quite simply some of the best Mexican dishes you’re ever going to savor.
From beverages to desserts, the recipes are sure to delight, including:
• Pomegranate Margarita • Shrimp Ceviche • Corn & Chile Guacamole • Green Chile & Chicken Tacos • Machaca Burrito • Red Chile Enchiladas • Chicken Mole • Tres Leches Cake In addition to all the fabulous and exciting dishes she has created, Kelley offers a wonderfullyinteresting account of the traditions and culture surrounding Mexican cuisine, alongwith a comprehensive glossary depicting the flavors of Mexico, an ingredient list and a list of handy tools and equipment.
Kelley Cleary Coffeen is a cookbook author, food consultant, media personality and restaurateur who enjoys the flavors of the American Southwest and Mexico. Her creativity in the kitchen has resulted in a flourishing culinary career
Want to keep up with all things Robert Rose? You can like em on Facebook and follow em on Twitter. Sign-up for their newsletter and get tasty recipes and valuable cooking tips delivered to your inbox!
Ready to buy? Head on over to Robert Rose and get a copy of 200 Easy Mexican Recipes or some of their other great books.
Polarioid Fotobar gave me a $50 code so I could check out there new site. I looked around their site and decided I wanted a photo done in Lucite. The pic I wanted to use was taken with an iPhone. It did not meet the quality needed to make a good piece. I then chose a photo from Facebook that was taken of a good friend of mine by a professional photographer with a digital camera. I like that Polaroid Fotobar has star ratings that tell you whether or not your photo will turn out well. Ya know the whole pixel thing. If ya blow a low quality pic up to much it might be grainy. The star system solves this problem. I had the option of doing all sorts of customization on my photo including adding words. All of this is super easy to do on the website. My piece of custom Lucite Art arrived super quick and looks great. Hubby loves it too. Strong, Sturdy, Beautiful, Classy in any decor
Lucite Art – Add dynamic dimension and display your favorite photos as desktop mementos in this optically clear photo acrylic.
Unmatched quality you can see…
1-Inch Thick Premium Hand Polished Photo Acrylic
8 Color High-Definition Laser- Precision Printing
Handcrafted by us, just for you…
Using a state-of-the-art 8 color printing process to produce vibrant prints on the back of thick, optically clear acrylic blocks, the acrylic display bounces light and reflects your photo through its sides giving dynamic dimension to this photo momento, stand it up or lay it flat on any desk or shelf.
All This and More Available:
Lucite Art
Framed Art
Mounted Art
Framed Canvas Art
Metal Art
Lucite Art
Poster Art
Award Art
Acrylic Art
Bamboo Art
Metal Art
· Great Gift for Mother’s Day – turn one of your favorite photos into a cherished memory for Mom.
· It’s so easy to take your photo from your phone, computer, facebook, etc and make a gift mom will appreciate for years to come.
Want to keep up with all things Polaroid Fotobar? You can like em on Facebook and follow em on Twitter.
Ready to buy? Head on over to Polaroid Fotobar and make your favorite digital photo a work of art. They even sent me a code for the 20% off discount to Texas Kitchen readers:
BBLTEXAS
Hubby and I l really enjoy cooking on the grill. We will grill almost anything. I personally think Hubby’s chicken and ribs could win a competition. It never hurts to take advice from the experts though. Ya know, learn a new trick or two to really make your BBQ perfect. Championship BBQ Secrets for Real Smoked Food, Second Edition shows ya lots of great ways to improve the flavor of your smoked meats, shellfish, veggies, fruits cheeses and even nuts. Add that genuine smoky taste to your next BBQ. This cookbook is fantastic includes info ya need to know to enter competitive contests and maybe even win. Learn about regional BBQ from all over the country. Great pics of techniques and several of these amazing recipes. Check out this example:
Buffalo-Style Hot Wings, page 239
These are HOT! As with true Buffalo chicken wings, serve these with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks to help cut the heat. The combination can be addictive. It’s great party food, especially when you’re watching the big game.
Recommended wood: oak, apple or pecan
Serves 8
Tips
If desired, remove wing tips before placing wings in the plastic bag(s).
Depending on the size of the plastic bags you use, 5 lbs (2.5 kg) of wings might not fit in one bag (keep in mind that the bag has to be able to seal when you are judging whether you will need a second bag). If that’s the case, use two bags and pour half of the marinade into each bag.
Marinade
4 cups hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot® 1 L
11⁄2 cups amber liquid honey 375 mL
1⁄4 cup butter, melted 60 mL
5 lbs chicken wings 2.5 kg
1. Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, combine hot pepper sauce, honey and butter.
2. Rinse wings under cold running water and pat dry. Place in a large sealable plastic bag (or bags) and pour in marinade. Seal bag, toss to coat and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or for up to 6 hours.
3. Remove wings from marinade, but do not pat dry. Discard marinade. Place wings in a single layer in disposable aluminum pans and set aside.
4. Prepare a fire in your smoker. (For instructions, see pages 13–16.)
5. Place pans on the smoker rack, add wood to the coals and close the lid. Smoke at 225ºF to 250ºF
(110ºC to 120ºC) for 2 hours, or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced
Excerpted from Championship BBQ Secrets for Real Smoked Food by Karen Putman & Judith Fertig © 2013 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca May not be reprinted without publisher permission.
Judith Fertig and Karen Putman
Barbecue fans everywhere can discover the art of slow-smoking.
Slow-smoked foods, or real North American barbecue, are foods cooked next to a fire, low and slow, flavored with wood smoke. The results are sublime — succulent, finger-lickin’ ribs, brisket, salmon and more.
Learn all about the art of slow-smoking in this comprehensive cookbook, which will appeal to novice and experienced outdoor chefs alike. It’s been updated with 16 new photographs — which includes 12 pages of step-by-step photos — all-new secret tips from championship barbecuers across North America and even more information on creating the perfect balance of flavors.
Over 300 carefully selected recipes are organized by ingredient to offer inspiration for the ultimate in smoked foods. The mouth-watering recipes make this an absolutely superb guide to an increasingly popular method of backyard cooking.
Karen Putman was a prize-winning chef who won many contests on the competition barbecue circuit, including a grand championship in the American Royal and several world championships.
Judith Fertig is a food/lifestyle writer and cookbook author who, with co-author Karen Adler, has written eight barbecue books, including 300 Big & Bold BBQ & Grilling Recipes
Want to keep up with all things Robert Rose? You can like em on Facebook and follow em on Twitter. Sign-up for their newsletter and get tasty recipes and valuable cooking tips delivered to your inbox!
Ready to buy? Head on over to Robert Rose and get a copy of Championship BBQ Secrets for Real Smoked Food, Second Edition or some of their other great books.
One of the things I love about being a review blogger is I get to try out some really amazing products before others even know they exist. Annmarie Gianni Skin Care sent me over a bottle of their new Repair Serum so let me introduce y’all to this great new product from Annmarie Gianni Skin Care.
Love the scent. It’s sultry and exotic. Also love that ya don’t need a whole lot to get the job done. Just a few drops and you are on your way to more beautiful skin. Now you do have to apply the Repair Serum for about a month to see a real change in the appearance of your face. Let’s face it ladies if you want to see results you are going to have to use it. Daily at first, then when your skin begins to be repaired you can use it less often to keep up your new beautiful look. Why not add Repair Serum to your daily skin care regime?
Great for:
Sun-Exposed or Mature Skin
Benefits:
– Regenerates, repairs, and brightens skin
– Plumps dull or sluggish skin
– Helps fade discolorations and evens skin tones over time with continuous use
For Best Results:
Apply liberally to clean skin. Use especially on sun spots and age spots to lighten and brighten. Best used after our Aloe-Herb Cleanser. We recommend using the serum every day for a month or more to allow time for the skin cells to begin the regeneration process. After you can use everyday or 3-4 times a week depending on your needs.
Made With:
Love, Aloe vera juice; Uva Ursi (and) Licorice root (and) Amla berry extract; Citrus-derived Stem Cells; Jojoba oil; Castor oil; Vegetable glycerin; Helichrysum extract; Aspen bark extract; Rosehip seed oil extract; Rosehip oil extract; Seabuckthorn berry oil extract; Essential oils of Lavender, Sandalwood; Superoxide dismutase; Hyaluronic acid; Xanthan gum; Rosemary oleoresin.*
*organic or wildcrafted
Want to keep up with all things Annmarie Gianni Skin Care Repair Serum? You can like em on Facebook and follow em on Twitter.
Ready to buy? Head on over to Annmarie Gianni Skin Care and get ya some of these great products.
