Disclosure: I received this item in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are 100% my own. #michiyoschoicespiralizer #amazon #tomoson
I love preparing fresh veggies, not only for dinner but also in a healthy salad for lunch. The reason why I chose to review the Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer was because I knew it was a product that would get a lot of use in my kitchen. As you can see from the following video, I had plans on using it to prepare dinner the same day that I had received it.Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer is great for making healthy meals even if you are not on a diet. Actually, the next time we have spaghetti I will probably use a squash instead of pasta to save on calories. This Vegetable Spiralizer also saves you time in the kitchen because you won’t have to slice, dice or julienne using a knife.
The Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer is packaged and shipped quickly from Amazon.com. It comes in anylon drawstring bag, is packaged with four, extra sharp blades with various cutting edges, please be careful when removing and inserting these blades.
The package also includes a small blade cleaning brush and a blade removal tool as well as an end cap to hold the veggies once they get too small to hold with your fingers. It is made of BPA-free ABS plastic, is dishwasher safe, compact, easy to store and would make a perfect addition to your or in a family/friend’s kitchen.
Before using the Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer for the first time, wash in warm soapy water and pat dry, also make sure to thoroughly wash vegetables and cut both ends. Use straight and firm veggies that are approximately 2.5” in diameter for better results. You can use carrots, squash, zucchini, or potatoes to make some great dishes, you will also receive a free eBook with recipe ideas like the one below.
ASIAN ZOODLE SALAD JAR
Serving 4 jars
Ingredients
1 medium zucchini
Kosher salt
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup sugar snap peas, halved
1 can (14 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup crunchy wonton strips
SESAME-GINGER DRESSING
4 tsp rice vinegar
4 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp sriracha
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp sesame oil
Directions
Make zucchini noodles: Using a spiralizer to spiralize zucchini into noodles (you can also thinly slice the zucchini into strips).
Lay zucchini noodles on clean kitchen towel. Lightly sprinkle with salt; let stand 15 minutes. Squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible.
Meanwhile, prepare Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette: In small bowl, whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, peanut butter, ginger and sriracha. While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil, then sesame oil, until all oil is incorporated.
Divide Sesame-Ginger Dressing equally among 4 pint-sized mason jars. Divide zucchini noodles over dressing. Layer with bell pepper, snap peas and oranges. If not serving right away, top with lids and refrigerate up to 2 days (storing wonton strips separately).
When ready to serve, remove lid and pour off any excess moisture that may have come out of zucchini noodles (the dressing will remain in bottom of jar).
Pour onto plate or bowl, top with wonton strips, stir and enjoy.
Disclosure Statement: I was provided with a Kia Optima LX Turbo for a week to review, however, all opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. #Kia #DriveKia #DriveShopUSA
Two weeks ago a 2016 Kia Optima LX Turbo was driven into my driveway and needless to say, I was over-the-top excited to have her a as loaner for the entire week.
Thank you @Kia #DriveShopUSA and you can plainly see, we definitely belonged together as she complimented my outfit quite nicely! #kuteinaKia
Later in the day hubby and I sat inside listening to jazz on the Sirius Satellite Radio while checking out the bells and whistles, some of which included:
Then together, we took a slow, leisurely drive around the neighborhood before the sun set for the evening.
Wednesday, I left her in the driveway as I also did on Thursday because of the drenching rains. Having driven a small compact car (Bloggy Buggy) for the past 2 years, I was a bit apprehensive about driving this larger, more luxurious vehicle to work. I work in West Chester, PA, which is a 100 mile, 3 hour daily round trip commute.
The 32 MPG highway gas mileage for the Kia Optima LX Turbo is awesome, therefore, I doubt that I would have needed to stop and get gas to fuel up had I driven it to work those two days.
32 MPG
Friday was a vacation day from work but not a day off without a purpose as I attended a Friday Fuel Up, sponsored by Troy Farmer, www.tfarmerforeva.com This wonderful Women in Business event was enlightening and definitely rewarding as a new business owner.
Oh, I forget to tell you that I had officially launched my own business, A.Blake Enterprises, Social Media Management on the 13th of November. I will bring you up to speed with all the details but in the meantime, check out the website www.ABlakeEnterprises.com for more information.
After the empowerment session, driving home on a bright and sunny mid-afternoon, I took my time, leaned to the side and cruised along listening to Jazz playing on the Watercolors station from the Sirius Station. All the while thinking “I could get used to driving a car like this!” I pulled into the driveway, picked up hubby then we headed to the Dutch Country Farmers Market to get a late lunch.
Not wanting to buy too much because it was the week before Thanksgiving, we just bought some wings and pasta salad for the weekend and a few pounds of Oxtails for next week’s Slow Cooked Oxtail Stew – stay tuned for that recipe.
The Smart and spacious trunk of the Kia Optima LX makes it easy to load packages when your hands are full.
The MSRP on this fully loaded Kia Optima LX is $27,415 and these are just a few of the many standard features:
USB/Auxiliary Input Jack and 12 Volt Outlet
Bluetooth Wireless Technology
60/40 split-folding rear seats which are perfect for travel back and forth to college or a quick trip to your local Home Improvement Store
Push Button Start / Smart Key / Smart Trunk
The additional LX Technology Package Features on this vehicle included:
Dual Zone Auto Climate Controls with Rear Vents
Navigation System with 8” Display
Memory Driver’s Seat and Mirror Position
Blind Spot Detection System
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Rear Parking Assist System
Auto-dimming Rear view mirror
There are many safety features in the LX Technology Package which are definitely of benefit to me because I spend a lot of time on the road. With so many distracted drivers and others who need a remedial Driver’s Ed course, having these options are a definite plus especially the “Blind Spot Detection System”.
Saturday, hubby was feeling well enough to take another “Road Trip to Retirement” which was a regular feature on my YouTube channel before he began his chemo treatments. Check out the latest video of this visit to the Village of Eastridge, a 55+ Community in Smyrna.
I had an evening appointment with a Venetia Thompson, a small business owner in New Castle, who is featured this year on my blog in honor of #ShopSmall Saturday. When I got home there was another surprise…our youngest son was home from college.
He had come home early for the Thanksgiving break with a big bag of laundry, fortunately he has been washing his own clothes since the age of 10 so it was not my responsibility to handle!
The Kia adventure continued into Sunday when my oldest son and I went shopping and then created this mini video, once again touting a few of the cool features of the Optima LX.
On Monday hubby had a chemo treatment, so the Kia spent the day parked at the Helen Graham Cancer Center, then Tuesday morning, I had to say, “See Ya” to the Kia.
It was definitely a fun filled, wonderful way to spend the week with a Kia. Now it’s your turn to tell me what you would do if you had a week with a Kia Optima LX Turbo…where would you go, leave a comment below.
Homemade AppleSauce with a Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer
Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Today I am excited to bring to you a product review and also a short video recipe using the Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer.
I remember growing up in New Rochelle, NY, and my grandmother had a potato ricer which I thought was the neatest gadget she had in the kitchen. Whenever she boiled baby potatoes I knew it meant that we were going to have the creamiest mashed potatoes for dinner topped with butter and made without any lumps.
I would stand next to her and watch then ask if I could try squeezing it myself; and I think she let me do it a few times, however, her mashed potatoes were always the best, with or without butter and gravy.
Now that I have an opportunity to own my own Potato Ricer I wanted to try making something different so I chose to make fresh, homemade applesauce also one of her favorites.
After coring, peeling and slicing 3 medium size Granny Smith apples, I placed them in a non-stick pan with a little water to boil for approximately 7 minutes, just until tender and not mushy. After allowing them to cool for about 10 minutes, I spooned them into the Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer. Using the fine ricing disc it was a perfect consistency.
I sprinkled mine with a little ground cinnamon and it made for a perfect mid-morning snack. Hubby chose to add a brown sugar and my son added some cinnamon sugar to his serving.
The Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer was easy to clean and I liked that it has comfortable, cushioned handles and a bowl rest which makes it easier to operate especially as a left-handed person, here take a look at the video.
The Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer would also be perfect to use for Sweet Potatoes when making a pie, tomatoes for making sauces, beets for pickling and of course apples and pears for homemade desserts for the entirefamily including babies, toddlers, and the elderly.
Although it wasn’t creamy mashed potatoes, the memories of using a Potato Ricer were just as sweet. If you want more information or to perhaps order your own Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer, click on the Amazon link below to be taken their website for a quick ship delivery.
Hello friends, I hope all is well is your world. Which room in the house is your most favorite? For me it’s the kitchen because it’s the place where I enjoy preparing meals, creating, reading and relaxing.
I can’t help but smile when I walk into the kitchen early in the morning and the sunshine that is streaming through the window is bouncing off the colorful items surrounding me. That is just one reason why these Francois et Mimi Stacking Mugs makes me smile.
The Francois et Mimi Stacking Mugs are a new product recently launched and they are so cute with the bottoms, base and handles of all different colors. They are a perfect size to hold 12 ounces of coffee, tea, hot chocolate or even soup. The set of 4 mugs are stacked neatly inside a metal rack, they are dish washer and microwave safe, and made of lead-free stoneware ceramic.
The Francois et Mimi Stacking Mugs would make a perfect Mother’s Day or Housewarming gift and can be purchased for a quick ship from Amazon.com. I can’t wait for Spring to arrive so that I can sip some herbal tea on the back deck in one of these colorful Francois et Mimi Stacking Mugs.
Oh and don’t forget to check back in on Sunday to watch “Brunch with Blake” on my YouTube channel…you’ll want to see what I’m cooking!
If your house is like ours, there is at least one area that is totally dark with no light switch or a lamp, perhaps it’s a hallway or the stairs. We keep the vacuum in a small cubbie in the basement and when the boys were younger they hated going in there to get it because it was too dark.
If we had these Mr. Beams Stick Anywhere Task Lights there would have been no excuse because these high illumination lights really brightens up the area.
Mr. Beams lights are bright, battery operated LEDs that provide safety and security at an affordable price. They can be installed anywhere with heavy duty double sided tape, velcro or two screws (not included). They are also great for kitchen cabinets, inside toy boxes, closets and shelves.
These motion sensors lights have a range of 10-15 ft. and can be set to stay on from 20 to 60 seconds. Mr. Beams Stick Anywhere Task Lights need 4 – AA batteries and only illuminate in the dark so they would be good for a hallway, stairway or as a nightlight in the bathroom. Mr. Beams also has a variety of other energy efficient wireless LED lights which can be ordered today to arrive quickly in time for the holidays.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Disclosure: I am participating in a Vibrant Influencer Network campaign for L’Oreal Age Perfect. I am receiving a fee for posting; however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I am in no way affiliated with L’Oreal Age Perfect and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.
Mirror Mirror on the wall…what do you see when you look inside? I see me at age 53, with a few ‘wisdom wrinkles’ and ‘worry lines’ but I also see a smile, which lets me know I like what I see.
Ladies, as we age, skin cell renewal decreases and sometimes this will cause the skin on our faces to start looking dull and dry.
Fortunately, I don’t see any of these noticeable conditions however, that doesn’t mean I can neglect my skin especially when it comes to using a good moisturizer on my face.
My daily regiment begins in the morning after rinsing my face with warm water and towel drying. I put a little of the Day Cream on my finger tips and in an upward motion apply it to my neck and face.
The Age Perfect Cell Renewal Day Cream contains a Broad Spectrum SPF15 Sunscreen which we need even after the harsh summer sun rays have diminished.
The Day Cream moisturizer stimulates the surface skin, replump, refreshes and renews the cells.
Next I pump a small dot of the Golden Serum Treatment onto the back of my hand, also using my finger tips to rub it in an upward motion onto my face. This serum is so silky smooth and it makes my face feel the same. The Golden Serum is non greasy so I can put on my makeup immediately after using.
In the evening before going to bed, I remove all of my makeup with a towelette, rinse my face with warm water and towel dry. The Age Perfect Cell Renewal Night Cream is a rich, creamy moisturizer which is great for cell renewal because our skin absorbs it while we sleep.
There has been no irritation or redness from using these products and I love the way my face looks and feels. I will come back in two weeks with a video so you can see some actual results.
Last Friday when Malik came home from college for the weekend he also brought a friend. I really didn’t mind having an extra mouth to feed but having just the right amount of snacks was definitely important.
Earlier in the week he sent me a text message stating that he was bringing home 3 friends so I stopped at the grocery store after work. I wanted to pick up some chicken wings, cheese and crackers which are all his favorites, but I also needed to include some healthy items so I also bought fruits and veggies.
Whether entertaining friends for the holiday or my son and his buddies for the weekend, having just the right kitchen tools is always essential.
I recently received these KitchenwarePlus Bamboo Cutting Boards from Digital Awol and can honestly say that they are by far the best I’ve ever owned. These top quality boards are sturdy, and extra thick made from Bamboo and the large one measures 18” x 13”, the medium board is 13” x 8.5”.
As you can see, they were the perfect size for “cutting the cheese” and serving snacks to my son. The boards are available via Amazon.com, so if you order a set today you will receive them before your holiday entertaining begins.
What are your kid’s favorite snacks?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
When my sons were toddlers they would cry like crazy every time their father would cut their hair. Thankfully, those days are gone forever, and now they are more than eager to either have him cut it or they’ll do it themselves. Despite the tears, it did help us save a lot of money because we never had to take them to a Barbershop.
Now that they are older and can cut their own hair, they do know that grooming involves more than just cutting, washing and drying it. To maintain a healthy head of hair and keep it looking good, they need to use a a good moisturizer. InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Mask is a product they both have used several times a week.
The InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Mask is a deep conditioning treatment that helps to keep their hair moisturized and healthy. InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Mask has a pleasant smell because it contains Argan Oil, Coconut Oil, Amino Acid Complex, Shea Butter and Vitamin B5, all ingredients that work together to nourish and moisturize the hair.
Tayair likes to put just a little of the InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Mask on his hair before showering. First he rubs it through his hair, massaging it into his scalp, then waits 10 minutes before showering to rinse it out. However, it can also be used as a daily conditioner and as you can see, it gives his hair a nice shine without any heavy residue.
If InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Mask is a hair care product that you or someone in the family might like, it can be ordered and quick shipped directly from Amazon.com.
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Let me ask you this question, “can doing laundry change your mood?” My answer is “YES IT CAN”, and it can be changed for the better. In our house, Saturday is laundry day which is also my favorite weekend chore. No, it’s not that I love washing, drying and folding clothes, it’s because of the fresh scent of the new Purex Crystals Aromatheraphy. These new Purex Crystals Aromatherapy in-wash scent boosters are blended with essential oils that turn a bore chore into so much more!
The Purex Crystals Aromatherapy come in three long lasting fragrant scents, Energy, Well Being and Serenity, all mood enhancing aromas. The citrus scent of Energy is so fragrant that I’ve decided to use them in other rooms as a deodorizer and in sachets for my dresser drawers, check out this YouTube Video review to find out where else I’ll be using them.
As much as I would love to give you all a FREE full size container of Purex Crystals Aromatherapy so that you can experience the bliss and spirit of these soothing aromas, only two will be chosen to receive a coupon for a FREE full size container.
*Hurry and enter today for a chance to win a coupon in this Rafflecopter Giveaway, just leave your answer to this question:
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to exercise I have to admit that I don’t get enough of it. I don’t run or jog but I do like to walk both outdoors, weather permitting and in the evenings on my elliptical, energy permitting – lol.
However, my favorite exercise of all times is working outside in the yard. During this time of the year hubby and I spend our Sunday afternoons outside doing yard work. He mows the lawn, trims and edges the walkway, while I cut back the Spring and Summer foliage and pull those weeds which never seem to stop growing!
Autumn is the best time of the year to work outside because it’s not too hot nor too cold, and listening to music makes it even more enjoyable. While hubby rides the lawnmower, he is listening to music from an iPhone in his pocket and headphones on his ears.
While I trim trees and hedges I’m listening to music with an iPhone nestled securely in a Limm iPhone Armband with buds in my ears. The Limm iPhone Armband keeps the iPhone safe and secure with an adjustable and stretchable strap that doesn’t interfere with my arm movements.
The Limm iPhone Armband is made of a material that keeps the phone protected from sweat and has a built in pocket to hold a single key, so if you are out for a run or walk, just tuck your house, desk or car key inside. If your exercise regiment also includes working outdoors and you want to listen to music while you work, try this Limm iPhone Armband, which would also make for a great stocking stuffer, you can order one today from Amazon.com
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer is great for making healthy meals even if you are not on a diet. Actually, the next time we have spaghetti I will probably use a squash instead of pasta to save on calories. This Vegetable Spiralizer also saves you time in the kitchen because you won’t have to slice, dice or julienne using a knife.
