Senseo Review & A Giveaway!

There are so many coffee makers on the market today,choosing a coffee maker gets to be quite a difficult and daunting task. Ultimately, it comes down to which one has the features that suit the individual or family. For us, it needs to be ease of use. I am the primary coffee maker and at 4 a.m., I just do not want to have to think that early. 

Recently, I agreed to receive and review a Senseo. It couldn't have arrived at a better time. We have an expensive, prestigious brand coffee maker that just went out just before it arrived.  Lucky for us, the discovery of the Senseo proved to be a fuss-free coffee machine. Removing it from it;s packaging, I was immediately impressed by its sleek, modern design.

Through this review, I discovered that Senseo is designed by Sara Lee. I was highly surprised yet delighted. We have loved other Sara Lee products and have been pleased with them.The patented Senseo system uses the perfect balance of coffee and water. Senseo is powered by 1450 watts and features a special mild pressure spray head to brew the perfect cup of coffee every single time.

As most people would agree, the clean up of a machine is the worst. I hate trying to clean up the coffee grounds. They seem to stick to everything. With the Senseo, there will be no coffee ground cleanup because of the use of packaged coffee pods. Unlike some other pod pots, with the Senseo you have the option to choose between one or two cups of coffee. 

In the mornings, I need it to be a simple task. With Senseo, all I need to do is press the button to turn it on, fill the water reservoir and add the pod(s). 


Senseo offers a large variety of coffee. Another feature with the Senseo, similar to an espresso machine, the Senseo machine tops the cup of coffee with a froth called crema.


I really love my Senseo machine and cannot imagine a coffee filled life without it. We love the convenience from the easy clean up to the quick brew and the outstanding flavor. I really can not think of one reason to not try either the Senseo Original or any other Senseo Machines available.. With Christmas right around the corner, this could be a great gift.

Peppermint Creamed Coffee
Ingredients                                               Quantity                           Optional: Senseo Dark Roast Coffee                        1 cup                                  Whipping cream Cream                                                       1/4 cup                               Chocolate syrup Granulated white sugar                             2 teaspoons                        Crushed peppermint candies Peppermint extract                                    1/4 teaspoon                       Peppermint patty candy Method: Warm cream, sugar and extract in a small saucepan over medium heat. Using two coffee pods, brew cup of coffee. Combine cream with coffee and stir. Garnish with a peppermint patty candy or top with whipping cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup and peppermint candies.
Sugar and Winter Spice au Lait
Ingredients                                               Quantity                               Optional: Senseo Paris                                              1/2 pods                                Whipping cream Whole milk                                                 1/2 cup                                  Ground cinnamon Granulated white sugar                              2 teaspoons                           Cinnamon stick Ground cinnamon                                      1/8 teaspoon Ground allspice                                          1/8 teaspoons Ground clove                                             1/8 teaspoon Method: Warm milk, sugar and spices in a small saucepan over medium heat. Using two coffee pods, brew cup of coffee. Combine spiced milk with coffee and stir. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or top with whipping cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.

WIN YOUR VERY OWN SENSEO!

HOW TO WIN:

Only entries using this google doc entry form are allowed. 

DO NOT ENTER IN COMMENTS SECTION FOR THIS GIVEAWAY!

For complete contest rules, please see our Contest Statement and Blog Disclosure. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on October 11th,2010 when a winner will be drawn at random and announced the next day. When commenting, please include your email address. I will notify the winners and they will have 48 hours to respond! This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. US entrants over 18 only. A special thank you to Senseo and the PR company contact for providing a Senseo for testing.

Knock Out The Fat With A George Foreman Healthy Cooking Grill!

Who doesn't know George?  George Foreman has over 100 million grills sold worldwide.  I'd be surprised if anyone doesn't own a "George". That is how I affectionately speak of my grill. "My George". I absolutely love "my George". I am actually on my third. Not because there are any issues, either. I remember the first one I purchased was the original and I didn't want to spend too much. I bought it because I heard how quick and easy it was to cook with and that the fat drained off. Then I purchased the Power Grill: Grill & Griddle and passed the old one along to one of my friends. Now, I am the very proud owner of the new Evolve Grill. I am the lucky recipient of an  Evolve Grill from George Foreman Healthy Cooking to review!  Can you imagine how exciting for me? I have always loved each one of my George Foreman grills. 

This is the grill that lets you have an entire kitchen of versatility in just one compact appliance! The Evolve™ Grill • Bake • Muffin starts with 4 plates – 2 grill plates, 1 deep-dish bake pan and 1 cupcake & muffin pan insert – then lets you build your collection with up to 7 additional plates available. It’s the perfect grill for anyone looking to expand their healthy cooking menu without cluttering counters with a lot of extra appliances. For my review, I was given the traditional plate, a cross-hatch grill plate, a deep dish bake pan and a slider plate. 

You cannot get any easier than this grill!  There is a digital timer and temperature control, enabling you to cook at the temperature YOU want to cook at.  An additional feature my others did not come with, depending upon the insert being used, you can make the surface flat or sloped. Because we have had other grills by George and have cooked many of the standard items in the past, we conducted our initiation of our grill by cooking sliders. They were delish. 

I love that George Foreman Healthy Cooking grills cook your meat item on both sides at the same time, allowing not only for even cooking, but cooking time is cut way down. As I have said here many times, we work full time and have a 2 hour commute (total) a day. When we get home, we do not want to cook anything that keeps us in the kitchen all night. "My George" allows us to complete our dinner cooking a record time. And, in case your are thinking it always has to be hamburgers, you couldn't be more wrong! We have cooked all varieties of meats and have also cooked fish on ours!

With a large variety of meal options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack times in between, the George Foreman Evolve™ Grill paves a time-saving and healthy path to eating right without sacrificing good taste. What makes this grill different is the option to add plates and customize the grill based on individual preferences. Now it’s easier than ever to create healthy, delicious meals with one versatile appliance. Additional inserts are available.

• Cross-hatch grill plates (2) – Perfect for grilling chicken breasts, fresh fish and more.
• Mini-Burger plate – Serve up low-fat turkey sliders in minutes.
• Griddle plate – Cook up breakfast, lunch or dinner without adding extra oil or butter for healthier meals.
• Cupcake/muffin plate – Whipping up six muffins or cupcakes is a snap with this easy-to-use plate.
• Panini plates (2) – No need to butter bread when making panini in the George Foreman Evolve™ Grill.
• Deep-dish baking plate – From lasagna to veggie-packed casseroles, the deep-dish bake pan provides another versatile usage for the George Foreman Evolve™ Grill.
• Omelet plates (2) – Flipping omelets used to require lots of butter or oil to prevent sticking, however, with the George Tough™ nonstick coating, making omelets is simpler and healthier than ever.
• Waffle plate –The waffle plates makes preparing golden, delicious waffles on the grill easy and convenient.

  

FEATURES:

• 4-plate starter set includes 2 grill plates, 1 deep-dish bake pan and 1 cupcake & muffin pan insert
• Patented sloped design lets fat and unwanted grease drain away as you cook
• Adjustable angle hanges the cooking surface from flat for even cooking to our patented slope for healthier grilling
• George Tough™ nonstick coating allows you to cook oil-free, plus minimizes cleanup
• Digital time & temperature control lets you easily set and monitor cooking for precise results on a variety of foods
• Extra-high floating hinge adjusts automatically to the thickness of food to perfectly press thick cuts of meat and stuffed Panini
• Embedded heating elements provide even heat from the center to the sides of the plate and faster temperature recovery
• Custom drip tray catches fat and grease as you cook, then empties easily for fast cleanup
• Custom spatula offers easy serving without scratching the nonstick surface
• Dishwasher-safe removable plates & accessories make cleanup a breeze

The Evolve grill cooks EXTREMELY FAST! For our George Foreman Evolve Grill initiation, for the first time we cooked slider hamburgers (While there is a slider pan, our store sells sliders pre-made and I had grabbed them without thinking about making my own). We made 18 hamburgers cooked in less than 10 minutes! They were not only completely cooked through, it took the fat off the meat. I have always loved George Foreman grills because we can cook our meals quickly, a plus when you work full time and have an hour commute home. I do not want to be stuck in the kitchen.

The grilling plates come off easily. All you do is pull each handle on each side, when they have cooled. They clean up quite easily. I did scrub because of the lines but I had both clean in less than 5 minutes. 

Excited to try out the deep baking dish plate that I received, I mixed up a chocolate cake. I poured half the batter in the George Foreman Evolve Grill and set at 350 degrees for only 20 minutes. I always test my cakes, but this cooked so fast that I could not believe it was done! It was! Amazing! We made the other half of the batter for a layer cake. 

I’m thrilled with the George Foreman Evolve Grill. With all the advantages, this appliance is a keeper!

Buy This Grill!

You can purchase this grill by visiting the George Foreman website at http://www.georgeforemancooking.com/

Unique Store-My Embroidered Gifts.com

MyEmbroideredGifts.com is a mom owned and operated business offering a wide range of personalized embroidered gifts. They offer personalized embroidered gifts for baby, siblings, mom, dad and grandparents.

Some events in life require a personalized gift. Gifts that signify a special occasion and commemorate the event. Debra, from My Embroidered Gifts understands that. She is a wife and mom of two boys who started My Embroidered Gifts when she realized how much she enjoyed making personalized gifts and wanted to share that gift with others. The best part, she does custom orders! Just tell her what you think you need and the event and she will help!

Whatever the occasion, My Embroidered Gifts has the special item for the event. New baby arrival? How about one of the personalized blankets?

Monkey Magoo is a cute 18 inch plush monkey with Velcro grips on his hands and feet. He comes to you gripping a cute banana gift box. Inside the box is a creamy-soft 30” x 36” mellow-yellow fleece blanket embroidered with a cute image of Monkey Magoo! You can personalize the blanket with and embroidered name to make it extra-special. Embroidery of the name will be done in brown to match the monkey unless otherwise requested.

Or the "Welcome Home Baby" Layette Set. 

This cute "Welcome Home Baby!" Layette Set includes a long-sleeve, blue night gown, night cap and a pair of booties—all with white trim accented with tiny, black polka dots. Each item is made of soft, machine-washable, 100% cotton. To make this gift extra-special it comes packages in a charming, blue "house" gift box has a door with a "Welcome Home Baby!" sign hung on the window with a satin bow, a mailbox that says "Special Delivery," colorful flowers, grass and green shrubs, a bumblebee, two side windows—one with a flower-filled window box—and a black-and-white-striped roof with a round window on each end. Available in size 0-6 months, the gown may be embroidered with a first name.

There are many useful daily items, as well. How about this fabulous diaper clutch:

Whatever the occasion, she is sure to have something appropriate!

With a new baby on the way, I am always looking for items to help me through my day. However, attempting to stay within budget makes it even harder. When I found the Snuggle Me Cushion, I knew instantly it would be perfect for my new baby!
When I saw it on the site I thought it was a great idea but when it arrived in the mail, I was extremely surprised by the quality! The Snuggle Me Cushion is designed to give your baby a gentle hug, keeping them more content when not in mommy's arms. This amazing pillow features a non-padded center sling area and when baby is placed on it the sides pull up to snuggle baby. The Snuggle Me Cushion comes with a polyester fleece cover that is so soft, in ivory, pink or blue. The cushion is 100% washable! I was pleasantly surprised! Since my new little one has not arrived yet, I tested my pillow when my friend brought her 1 month old over. Baby Victoria loved the Snuggle Me Cushion. It was like a gentle hug around her! If you do not have one, I highly recommend it! 

WIN:

One extremely lucky Extreme Personal Measures reader will win a $30 gift code to My Embroidered Gifts!    

HOW TO WIN:

Only entries using this google doc entry form are allowed.

For complete contest rules, please see our Contest Statement and Blog Disclosure. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on September 11th,2010 when a winner will be drawn at random and announced the next day. When commenting, please include your email address. I will notify the winners and they will have 48 hours to respond! This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. A HUGE thank you to the people at My Embroidered Gifts, who supplied the products for review and giveaway. 

The Frog Pod Makes Bathtime Fun! {Review & Giveaway}

Winner:
diapermommy

The Frog Pod® helps with children’s bath time clean-up, providing a drainable scoop for collecting and rinsing toys and a wall-mounted base for storing bath products. The Frog Pod® attaches semi-permanently to virtually any bathtub wall with adhesive strips that can be removed without harming tile or wall surfaces. Alternatively, the Frog Pod® can be screw-mounted to any wall.

Boon Frog Pod - By The Numbers

Dimensions: 19" x 16 1/2" x 7"Recommended ages: All ages

Boon Frog Pod - Features

• Makes bath time clean-up fun & easy
• Stores & organizes bath accessories
• Reduces mold & mildew

The Frog Pod and the Bug Pod both attach to the bathtub wall with either super-strong adhesive strips (holds 10 pounds)  or screws (holds 20 pounds). You may choose which option to use. They also offer a suction cup option as well as a silicone adhesive option, both sold separately.

The Boon Frog Pod has some useful and practical features. First, the Frog Pod has a shelf that holds your child's body soap and

shampoo.

The feet hold your bath scrubbers and bath toys with strings. 

The handy scoop easily removes and allows you to scoop the toys into the scoop, while draining the water. You can also rinse the toys under the faucet to be sure none of the dirt from the bath remains on the toys.

My Thoughts

With a full time job, a 2 hour a day commute and a family, I always looking for ways to get better organized and items that can help make the house run smoother. I have seen Boon products in Target and love how colorful their products are and have seen wonderful reviews within the blogger community, but had yet to give any of their products a try. I was extremely excited for the opportunity to work with such a highly regarded company and get to test one of their wonderful products, especially the Frog Pod! 

Having reviewed the Frog Pod, I understand the love for their creative products. Their product designs show their love for modern design and color.

With children, we are all more concerned with the products we allow into our home and to come in contact with our children. You can  feel secure with Boon. Boon products are bpa, phthalate and pvc free.  

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… I was quite pleased with the ingenious idea behind the Boon Frog Pod! It attaches easily, remains on the wall, and has so many practical uses, all while being adorable and colorful! 

Or Not to Buy… I like the sleek, modern, colorful look of the Frog Pod, and it’s roomy scoop, however, you may like the ugly netted bags with hooks and the various other not so attractive bath toy corrals. 

Shop! The Boon Frog Pod  is available at one of these fine retailers:

They also have a convenient lookup to find a store near you that carries Boon.

Connect with Boon:

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WIN IT!
Win a Boon Frog Pod!!!

HOW TO WIN:

Only entries using this google doc entry form are allowed.

For complete contest rules, please see our Contest Statement and Blog Disclosure. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on September 11th,2010 when a winner will be drawn at random and announced the next day. When commenting, please include your email address. I will notify the winners and they will have 48 hours to respond! This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. A HUGE thank you to the people at Boon, who supplied the products for review and giveaway.