Reviews — A Southern Fairytale

Boots That Burn

12:49 PM ByRachelFiled UnderGiveaways, Reviews

(calories that is)

So, if you know me, even a bit — you know that THESE are my boots

They’re comfortable, super seriously comfortable and they’re cute.

You also know that if I’m not wearing those boots, I’m wearing these (or the brown ones)

My feet must be comfortable and cute is a nice bonus.

I remember meeting Leah at Blissdom last year and three things about her really stood out, her personality, her smile and her hawt. red. boots.

Leah praised these boots, raved about them and their special incline that puts the toes above the heels thus causing you to burn more calories and tone your muscles while you wear them.

You better believe she had my attention. Muscle toning shoes that don’t make you look as if you’re walking on bubbles — yes, please.

When Leah asked me later, if I would like to review a pair and give a pair away, it was an easy yes.

When the box with my boots arrived last week, I must admit, it wasn’t love at first sight.

Remember my boots and flip flops from above — I like cute and girly

These were a bit more bad-ass motorcycle chick looking.

They are nothing I would have ever picked out for myself, however — I kinda dug feeling like a kick-butt chick with them on.

Nathan gave them two thumbs up.

I put them on and wore them around the house while cleaning (we have hard floors — if I’m not wearing shoes in the house at all times, my feet hurt).

After about 5 minutes, my legs felt weird — yep, there’s that incline thing working.

Saturday was cold and drizzly and I had to coach two soccer games. Usually, after 5 minutes on the soccer fields my toes are soaking wet and freezing and my feet are miserable.

I decided to put my new Earth Boots on and I wore them – from 7:45 AM to 1:00 PM– my feet stayed dry, the soft inner lining kept my calves warm and I had no problem keeping up with my team of 6, 7 and 8 year old kids. The boots flexed and moved really easily with me.

I’ve only worn them a few times but, I can tell you this: I can feel it when I wear them and I’m walking a lot, they look really good with my jeans and I totally feel kick butt when I wear them

The generous people at Earth Footwear and Mamavation have given one of my readers the opportunity to win the same pair of Acclaim boots that I received!!! That’s a $189 value!

Y’all know I like to keep things simple — so, here’s the lowdown:

Mandatory First Entry – Go visit Earth’s website and tell me what your favorite pair of boots are (Men’s or Women’s)
Bonus: Tweet this giveaway and leave the Tweet URL in a separate entry
Go “like” Earth Footwear on Facebook and tell them on their wall that A Southern Fairytale sent ya, then come tell me that you did it in the comments

Remember — each entry must be in a separate comment.

This giveaway is open from today, November 17th, 2010 to Friday, November 19th, 2010 at 10:00 CST at which time I’ll use Comment Contest to choose a winner.

Thank you so much to Earth Footwear and Leah for the great pair of boots and giveaway for my readers! MWAH

* This Contest is Now Closed*

Thank you to everyone who entered!!! 192 entries!

Congratulations to the winner! Linda

193 Comments

Pyrex, Pyrex, Pyrex.

10:20 AM ByRachelFiled UnderGiveaways, Reviews, Tools

contest closed

Can you tell from the title that this is going to be a post about Pyrex?

I have a very serious relationship with my Pyrex.

Honestly y’all, my Pyrex dishes are one of my favorite (and most used) wedding gifts.

It’s not that I don’t love the gold rimmed crystal goblets and gold and silver sterling silverware sets… but, we aren’t fancy people

Y’all have seen pictures of my favoritest-favoritest-favoritest Pyrex thing before

Remember those? I even wrote a post on Blissfully Domestic about my 5 Must Have Kitchen Gadgets (non-electric) and they were at the top of the list.

I haven’t gotten into once a month cooking yet, however, I am a huge proponent of easy cooking and especially since we’re so busy with PTA and Soccer and Birthdays and School and… you know, life! I’m always ready for anything that makes cooking and life easier I love one dish meals, preparing veggies ahead of time and keeping them in the fridge for easy snacking and grabbing for adding to meals. I love when I can prep, cook, serve, refrigerate/freeze something all in the same dish.

It really is the little things that make me the happiest, y’all.

Nathan works looooooong hours and unfortunately he can’t come home for lunch; so I tryto send healthy, filling, delicious meals with him that he can keep in the work refrigerator and easily re-heat. Home cooking, there’s just nothing like it and just because he can’t be at home, doesn’t mean he should suffer , right?!

Pyrex makes that easy for me and when I was contacted by Pyrex about reviewing their nifty new line of No Leak Lids Glass Storage Products… YES PLEASE!

I did a little happy dance when the box arrived at my house and I saw all the goodies inside; I also giggled when I saw my measuring spoons

These rockin’ dishes and lids– I love! L-O-V-E, y’all. LOVE!!

I especially love the nifty little steam release on the lids so that the food can be microwaved with the lid on, allowing for the steam to release and NO MESSY MICROWAVE! YAY!!! (Now, if I can only get Nathan to remember to bring the dishes HOME from work!)

I got the goodies right before we left for our cruise and I started using them as soon as we returned, I have ALWAYS used Pyrex, I looove Pyrex and the addition of a few new goodies, like the flat whisk (awesome for sauces and soups), the grater with attached measuring cup (perfect for grating parm for my pasta sauces and salads) makes my kitchen a happier and more efficient place for me .

Guess what – One of y’all gets the same Pyrex goodies that I got!!!!!!
Here’s what you’ll get:

Pyrex Supper Saver Package

* Grocery list pads – For meal planning before you head to the store.
* Reusable grocery bags – Plastic is so 90’s.
* Three (3) Pyrex No Leak Lids Glass Storage products – You can bake in them, store in them…what’s not to love?!?
* Mezzaluna – Good chopper tool for easy prep, plus, let’s face it, I think it looks cool.
* Pinch bowls – Perfect to prep and measure.
* Small spatula – Good for mixing and cooking.
* Grater with container – Everything tastes better with a little cheese on top!
* Basting brush –If all else fails, brush some BBQ sauce on previously prepared meats for a tasty re-heat dish!

Are you as excited as I am?

Okay, here’s how to enter:

Remember each entry should be left as a separate comment:

(mandatory) Leave a comment telling me about your favorite Pyrex product: (is it your baking dish? a whisk? Magnetic Measuring Spoons? Storage?)
(bonus) Tell me what you do to make suppertime easier
(bonus) Tweet this and link your Tweet in the comment section: Tweet

I will use comment contest plug-in to choose the winner of the Pyrex Supper Saver package and THEN I’ll use comment contest plug-in to choose a second winner who’ll receive the set of Magnetic Measuring Spoons that was included in MY package. Since I already own them, I figure I’ll pay these forward

Contest Open from Thursday, October 28th through Sunday, October 31st at 10:00 PM CST.

** I received these products to review from Pyrex, however, the opinions and enthusiasm are 100% mine and not compensated in any way.

congratulations to Krissa for winning the Pyrex kitchen goodies package and to Not a Mean Girl for winning the Pyrex measuring spoons!

212 Comments

Creative Memories Storybook 3.0 Plus

10:03 AM ByRachelFiled UnderReviews

I am not a natural scrap-booker, I tried it briefly after both kids were born and each time, I lasted about a month. I love the end result and I can spend hours looking at other people’s scrapbooks. Sadly, I’m one of those people who can see what’s wrong with something after it’s finished… not before. I can’t visualize all the itty bitty stickers and pictures and papers and themes and so on and on and on and on.

My brain, just doesn’t work that way.

However, if you give me 10 random ingredients… I’ll come up with a killer recipe.

10 random stickers or pieces of paper… not so much.

So, when I was contacted about Creative Memories I was somewhat apprehensive. I am very familiar with the Creative Memories name and brand of scrap-booking, memory book materials, they are from what I know, the leader in quality and designs for scrapbookers, card makers and other crafty types.

Once they told me it was a digital scrap-booking, photo book software download. I was more than intrigued, I was sold.

I downloaded the software (full disclosure: They provided me with a full copy of their Storybook Creator 3.0. I had to do it on hubby’s PC because they don’t have it Mac compatible YET. I have been informed that 2010 will be the year of the Creative Memories/Mac collaboration. I can’t wait!!!)

Once the software was downloaded I decided to look into the photo book options, I love the way photo books look and they make fantastic gifts, especially for out of town, state, country family.

I chose an 8X8 book with a black cover, I loved the sleek look of the black cover (bonus, little fingerprints don’t show on black like they do on the white)

I liked the option of having the software automatically put the pictures in for me but, I chose to arrange them myself.

It was kind of ridiculously easy, adding the text, playing with the text sizes and all the different fonts. As a bonus to the easiness, it was fun. I could have spent hours, and probably will designing photo books around family events, I’m even thinking about doing one with my favorite recipes and pictures! I love that I could choose to write 4 words or 47 words about a picture or a page, I wasn’t locked into a specific format.

There are tons of page arrangement options, free downloadable themes and more.

Once the book was finished, the software took me to the Creative Memories website and walked me through registering and the uploading and ordering process.

I was really impressed by the number of back-up/fail-safes that were included in the program. I skipped a page on accident and the software stopped and asked me if I wanted that page left blank! This is perfect for those momnesia moments when I think I’ve completed something, but didn’t.

My book was only 17.95 and is saved in my account so that I could go and order another one whenever I wanted. The quality of the book is fantastic, the software was easy to use and lots of fun, too.

There are free versions of the software too.

If you’re looking for something for that photographer in your life who would love to be craftier, the mom who always has her camera up to her eye or even something for yourself. I think this is a perfect gift.

This post is a part of Blissful Mediat

*all images from Creative Memories site. I couldn’t do screen caps of my adorable book on my hubby’s PC

1 Comment

Boots That Burn