Fantastic Easy meal !

My family and I weren't up to the task of a meal. We all thought, well it must be a get it yourself night. Then I remembered  my bzzcampaign to try Kroger Fried Chicken Free! Off to the store I went. I went to the deli and grabbed some fresh and hot Kroger Fried Chicken. I was given the option of white and dark meat or just dark meat. We went for the dark meat! Thighs are a family favorite. I was in and out of the deli area in no time flat. I grabbed some delicious Hawaiian rolls to round off my meal. Then off to get some chips. I grabbed some BBQ kettle chips another awesome Kroger favorite. On my way out of the store I grabbed a bottle of coke. I was in and out of the store in about 10 minutes! You cant cook anything this yummy at home that quick. I ran home and got the family fed. It was delicious! My favorite part admittedly was the chicken. Kroger fried chicken was there waiting for me.  It was clearly hot and fresh. When I got home there was no prep work needed. It was really nice to get to grab it out of the box plate it up and sit down to spend time with my family instead of my stove. The flavor is phenomenal. If you like KFC you will love Kroger. This chicken was moist, tender and delicious. The chicken was far less greasy than other chicken restaurants. I felt good feeding this to my family knowing it was from a store instead of a fast food place. My whole family enjoyed it. They also liked the chips and coke! The chips were very flavorful and delightfully crunchy. The coke added a cool and refreshing treat to our meal Overall I will definitely be returning to our local King Soopers when we are all too tired to cook, or want a quick family meal.

Other Opportunities to Earn Money From Home

As many of you I have been searching for a work at home opportunity for a long time. In this post I will share the fruits of my labor. This blog will be full of mostly “untested” opportunities. I am lucky enough to have a consistent position already which I previously posted about. However, there are other viable opportunities out there. If there are others you know of, or some of these don’t work out please leave a message in the comments! Below are just some of the opportunities available.

 

Data Entry and Office Work

VirtualBee

VirtualBee is an online hiring company that works primarily with data entry from what I can tell. There is a relatively short application process and then some testing. I completed the application and testing and ranked in the 94 percentile for the testing. This was a few weeks ago and I have heard nothing. I am not sure if this is because they are full or they are looking for even better typists. I will keep you updated! In the meantime it never hurts to apply. Check out their offerings at

https://workers.virtualbee.com/

HEA-Employment

HEA-Employment is an online company that hires workers for home typists, data entry professionals, customer service representatives, sales representatives and recruiters. The following excerpt is taken directly from their website to explain their offerings.  

 All the positions can be performed entirely from home. There are no location requirements; you can work in any city, state or country. These work at home jobs are temporary and part-time (10 to 15 hours a week). If your work is satisfactory, the position will become permanent and full-time (30 hours or more a week). You can work any day of the week and any hour of the day. Experience is preferred, but not required. Training will be provided. All you will need is a home computer, text editing or spreadsheet software (Notepad, WordPad, etc.), reliable email address and an Internet connection with a DSL or high speed connection. Must also know how to read, write and talk in the English.

http://www.hea-employment.com/internal-jobs.php

Keep in mind this is a contractor position and you will have to take out your own taxes etc.

Freelancing

Freelancing are jobs where you are generally paid per assignment or task. There are many sites that hire for this. You can do anything form graphic design, personal assisting or even a data entry type of position. There are a ton of opportunities out there if you have the right skill set. There are dozens of websites to look for work. Start your search on these websites.

http://www.motiontemps.com/careers.html

https://www.elance.com/

http://www.freelancer.com/

http://www.guru.com/

Blogging

You can always start your own blog. Having a creative and fun blog provides not only entertainment but can also be lucrative. You can make money by adclicks or a pay per post site.  Blogs are generally free to start up. This is time consuming however and takes some time to gather a following. Some blogging options are listed below.

https://payperpost.com/

http://www.blogsvertise.com/

http://www.blogitive.com

Surveys

Everyone knows where this is going. There are several sites that pay you per survey you do or qualify for. While this is nice to be able to pick up extra money whenever you want without any real commitment you are getting the same back from the company. There is no guarantee of money or survey availability. Additionally the pay per time spent is rather minuscule. That being said here are some links to some sites to check out.

http://www.MindFieldOnline.com

http://www.GlobalTestMarket.com

http://www.ZoomPanel.com

http://www.tangotreasure.com/

http://www.harrispollonline.com/

https://www.opinionplace.com/main.adp

https://www.surveysavvy.com/?action=home

Affiliate Programs and Other

Affiliate programs are based on performance-based marketing and are rewarded for advertising and getting customers for a company. You might do this by advertising on your own website, pay per click, email marketing or other means. Check out Wikipedia for more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affiliate_marketing. While Wikipedia is not the most reliable source for all things it has a wealth of information regarding affiliate programs. Some of the options to get started are listed below.

http://www.google.com/ads/affiliatenetwork/

https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

http://www.pepperjamnetwork.com/

http://www.cj.com/

Dragonpencil

Dragon Pencil is a site that hires artist for illustration of children’s books including covers and pages. http://www.dragonpencil.com/employment.htm

Mystery Shopping

Mystery shopping is a fun and exciting way to earn some extras. I have done these and it is real! There are definitely scams out there to be aware of. However, if you find the right company you can be a legitimate mystery shopper. Keep in mind, most mystery shopping gigs give you freebies or pay for your meal etc. There are a few that compensate you but it isn’t much. Most restaurant shops only give a free meal. There are often hotel stays or even checking out a new apartment that might snag you a few extra bucks. Check out the websites below to see if there are any jobs in your area.

http://www.dataquest.co/employment-opportunities/

http://www.secretshopper.com/info/shoppers/ShopperTest.asp

http://www.a-closer-look.com/BecomeAShopper.aspx

This is just a sampling of the many options and opportunities out there. There are also sites for educators, tutors, answering questions all which pay at home workers. A little research is needed to find the best opportunity for you but in the end it is worth it! Perhaps the best option is to explore and implement many of the opportunities here to create a cushion. Maybe you are only looking for a little extra shopping money? Whatever your need may be there is likely something out there for you. Good luck!

 

Green Giant Veggie Snack

I recently tried Green Giant Veggie Snacks. As a bzzagent I was lucky and got to try them for free. I got to try them for free and give out samples and coupons to my friends and family. The flavor of these chips is great. We loved both of the flavors we tried. They both had a similar flavor and consistency of SunChips. Overall the experience was great. However, in looking at the ingredients I was disappointed. It seems to me as though these are mostly just tortilla chips with little added nutritional value. Has anyone else tried them yet?

I Just Joined Smiley360

I Just Joined Smiley360: I just became a Smiley360 member! Discover and review exciting brands for free, too! Sign-up at http://bit.ly/lTDqVw #smileymember *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Buzz Kit

Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Day 1

 

 

 

I got my new buzzkit in the mail and I was way excited! I use a sulfate free shampoo currently and generally like it but it does have alot of fly aways going on. So when I got the opportunity to try this free I was excited. I tried it for the first time and so far I liked it . My hair feels soft and moisturized more so than my current shampoo. I know for  a fact that the Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge is more affordable. Also, I didn't have to wait for 5 minutes to leave in the conditioner! I haven't even tried the minute moisture treatment. Overall I liked the product so far. I almost forgot, my hair felt nice and clean! That is really important for me. I don't feel like there was a slimy residue to make it feel smooth. The only think I didn't care for was the scent. It smelled like what i remember other fructis products to smell like but there is another slightly off smell as well. Its not horrible just not my preference.

 

 

So far so good! Ill keep everyone updated!

 

Eggies - the good the bad and the ugly.

Hey all. I am having a party this weekend for Lia Sophia jewelery. I am pretty excited it should be a good time! One of the things I am serving is egg salad sandwiches. I thought to myself, what a perfect opportunity to try out those Eggies I bought a couple months ago and never used! For starters, I am not the best boiled egg peeler. Also, I HATE eggshell surprises in my egg salad. So I thought I'd give it a try. The Eggies are pretty straight forward, you coat them with oil, assemble them and then pour an egg. You then put the lid on and set them in the pan where they float and boil. So I followed the directions thoroughly coating the Eggies with oil and setting them into the water. So here it is, the good the bad and the ugly. 

The Good

The good thing about Eggies is you will never have a shell problem. Also, you do have a flat side of the egg if you are going for a certain presentation. Finally, the Eggies are dishwasher safe for clean up. This is really all I can think of as bonuses. 

The Bad

After experiencing the Eggies first hand I can think of several down sides. For starters, if you buy them at the store as I did you only get 6 in a box. So you can only do 6 eggs at a time. Also, the assembly is tedious. Each Eggie has four parts that need to be oiled and assembled. Probably the worst part of the Eggies themselves that I found was that they were poor quality. Lets be real, these are little plastic pieces that are cheaply made. Two of my Eggies came apart and would not screw together tightly.

The Ugly

My eggs did not turn out pretty at all as shown in the perfect deviled eggs pictures. First, two of the eggs never made it past 2 minutes because they popped apart in the pan and caused a mess . Below is what it looked like.

Eggies - The Ugly

When I did take the survivors out of the pan and let them cool the problems continued. The first thing I noticed was that there was water on the top of the egg. The eggs were watery in spots. When I went to removed the Eggs they didn't slide out easily as I expected. They had to be smacked out or taken out with a spoon. Then the eggs also weren't smooth and pretty. The eggs looked similar to eggs that obviously were hard to peel. 

TIPS

Needless to say, after one batch of the Eggies I decided to do my eggs the old fashion way. However, if you already bought some, or really want to try them out I have some tips from trial and error. First, screw the rings on as tight as you can to prevent them from popping open. Second, use a cooking spray and really coat the Eggies so they don't stick. Finally, add a little vinegar to your water. If the Eggies do come open you wont have egg everywhere and the eggs will stay a little tighter.

If you have other tips or a better experience please share it with us in the comments! As for me, I'm taking my broken Eggies back to the store!

Spa Water

 

So, for my first real post I decided to talk about spa water. Spa water is all the rage these days. People are trying to lose weight, cut back on soda, stay healthier and so on. The spa water trend is interesting as most of us have had it in some fashion before and not even known it. Ever had water with lemon at a restaurant? That is spa water at its simplest. Spa water is simply fruit and or herb infused water. That said, the best rule of thumb for spa water is to keep it simple! Below I will discuss some of the benefits of infused water or spa water, the fruit , the herbs, the needed/useful tools and  my personal favorite combination.

Benefits of Spa Water

The benefits of spa water vary with the ingredients used. Some of the benefits can include; digestion aid, detox/cleansing, urinary tract health, and many other vitamins and nutrients. Some of the overall benefits to spa water (when switching from soda) are weightloss, decrease in sugar intake, and better hydration.

 

Digestive Aids:

• Ginger
• Mint
• Apples (due to fiber)
• Lemon

Detox / Cleansing

• Berries ( most berries have antioxidants)
• Pomegranate
• Cranberries (urinary tract)

Other Vitamins and Nutrients

• Citrus is high in vitamin C
• Orange-fleshed are a source of beta carotene
• Watermelon is an  source of lycopene
• Pit fruits such as nectarines, plums and cherries contain potassium, vitamin C and sometimes beta carotene.

For addition information on benefits of fruits visit

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/fruit-nutrition.html

The Fruits:

When picking fruit think of any fruit you would like to drink in another format. Do you like orange juice ? Oranges would be great! Are your favorite fruits a peach? Throw some in your water. Most fruits work well in infused waters. Stay away from bananas they turn to mush and do not give your water much flavor. For sweeter water choose sweeter fruits as your water will have no added sugars. You may ask, fresh or frozen. When fresh fruit is in season I tend to stick with that. However, if you want some blackberries in your water while they are out of season, going with the frozen will give you a better end result. Frozen fruits are picked at an ideal time and frozen immediately so they are often in pique condition. In the end you can use either. Some fruit options to consider are; any and all citrus, any and all berries, melon, apples, kiwi, pineapple and many others.

The Herbs:

On the same line with herbs you can use anything you want. I will provide some examples of combinations below but most of what I have found is simple trial and error. Also, if you don't care for an herb in cooking don't use it in your water! Herbs can release a very strong flavor so also test out quantity. When using herbs in your water go for fresh herbs, dry doesn't so much and also is harder to strain out. You can either use full sprigs or pull the leaves off and only put in leaves that is up to your preference again. Some options you can try out are rosemary, mint, sage, and thyme.

The Tools:

There are several tools that will help in making your spa water. There are even more expensive and specialised tools if you get really into it. The bottom line is that you really only need a glass or pitcher, some fruit, a knife to cut it with and maybe a spoon to mash it. Beyond the basics are an infusing pitcher, muddle, blender or personalized infusion bottles. An infusing pitcher is a pitcher to put your water in with a specialized section for fruit and herbs that has a straining quality. A muddle is a long handled tool meant to crush and release the flavor of your fruits and herbs ( a spoon works too ). Some people prefer to blend their fruits down in order to consume the pulp so a blender would come in handy. Finally a personal infusion bottle is the same as a pitcher but is personalized and small enough for on the go use. I have pictured the muddle, the infusion pitcher and the personal infusion bottle below.



How to make spa water:

Choose your fruit and herb combinations, muddle or mash to desired consistancy with a spoon or muddler. You can add as much fruit and herbs as you like. I tend to go with about 2 cups of fruit and a sprig or so for a whole pitcher. When I am making a single glass I just visualize it. Remember the intensity of the fruits and herbs you are adding! Then add water and ice if desired. Ice on the top of your infused water can help strain your infusions when you poor. These waters look and taste great! Below are some of my favorite combinations.

Watermelon and mint - great for summer

Blackberry and sage - I love this for fall or summer its very earthy tasting.

Strawberry ginger - This is my go to for a sweet water.

Cucumber lime - It doesnt get any more clean and refreshing than this!

Please feel free to comment and let me know your favorite spa water creations! If you have any questions regarding spa water, the tools or specific combinations ill be sure to answer any comments!