Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop

It's Spotlight Saturday Hosted By

Between the Lines, Survey Junkie, and Little Yaya's

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Welcome to our fun blog hop with a twist!  Every week swing by to link up your blog and one you want to spotlight!  Did you find a new blog you liked this week?  Is there one you visit on a daily basis?  Well, simply link up your Spotlighted blog right under yours.  We will Spotlight our favorite blogs of the week in spots 4, 5, and 6.  

This week is Spotlight a favorite Book Blogger!  I'm Spotlighting Andye from Reading Teen!  Next week we will be spotlighting one of our favorite Review Blogs!

How it Works

1) Link up your own blog.
2)Link up a blog you want to spotlight for the week.(ex. Spotlight: Roslyn's Closet)
3) Follow your three hosts.
4) Grab our button and post it on your sidebar or in a Spotlight Saturday Post.
5) Follow as many blogs from the list as you like and leave a comment so they know you stopped by.
6) Return the favor by following blogs that followed you.
(Be aware that URL's cannot be duplicated so please have a second spotlight choice in mind. If your blog's URL has already been spotlighted, just add one you'd like to spotlight. And don't forget to leave a comment with the blog you spotlighted so they can come and join the blog hopping fun! )

Featured Blogger: The Organic Blonde

 I would like to welcome The Organic Blonde to Between the Lines.  The Organic Blonde explores the hidden dangers in our food, cosmetics products, and households and giving natural, healthier and sometimes even cheaper alternatives to improve our health and the health of those we love.I explore alternative health treatment, holistic therapies and remedies, and even give tips and tricks to maintain beauty in a natural but effective way.   This is not your ordinary health and beauty blog.  This is a lifestyle with the aim of making you, those you love healthier and happier and doing our part to make Mother Earth greener.  After reading this wonderful post written by Jacqueline, please show her some love by visiting her blog and reading more of her wonderful articles.

Sugar...the Sweet Poison

I realize these days we ALL have heard about the dangers of processed foods. I know we have all gotten tired of hearing that we have to give up white sugar. The fact is, people, the average American eats 158 POUNDS of sugar a year. Now before you go saying. "I don't eat that much sugar" bear in mind that though only roughly 30 pounds of that is actually from the sugar bowl, think of all the "hidden" sugars in your food.

For every regular soda you drink, that is 8 ounces of simple sugar. There is, more than likely, sugar in the cereal you have for breakfast, in the crackers you snack on at a party, in the ketchup you have with your fries, in the reduced fat cookies you with which you innocently stuff your face thinking they are the virtuous choice, instead actually being loaded with up to four times more sugar to make up for the fat they don't contain. In fact, I picked up a can of Swanson's Chicken broth the other day to find that the third ingredient was sugar. In chicken broth people!!!

Now forget for awhile the obesity epidemic. We all know now that sugar makes you fat. But it can also do the following:
1) Interferes with calcium and magnesium absorption, which weakens bones
2) Raises bad cholesterol and triglycerides and lowers good cholesterol
3) Causes loss of connective tissue elasticity
4) Feeds cancer cells and has been connected with breast, prostate, stomach, and ovarian cancer
5) Makes children anxious, hyperactive, cranky, and causes difficulty concentrating
6) Causes premature aging
7) Causes alcoholism (it's already addictive so if you add alcohol, also a sugar, it can make THAT addictive!)
Causes varicose veins
9) Can contribute to osteoporosis
10) Interferes with absorption of protein
11) Causes food allergies
12) Can cause nearsightedness and cataracts
13) Can cause emphysema
14) Causes fluid retention
15) Can cause kidney stones
16) Can cause problems with bowel movements
17) Can cause headaches, including migraines
18) Can cause gum disease
19) Can promote emotional instability

If the above reasons aren't enough there are plenty more to make you want to throw out the sugar bowl or anything with the suffixes "-ose or -ase", ie. dextrose, sucrose, maltose, glucose, fructose, and let's not forget corn syrup and it's evil offspring high fructose corn syrup which deserves a post all its own and is one of the most prevalent ingredients in foods today. But I hope you saw the biggest reason for dramatically reducing your refined sugar intake...

Don't Miss Spotlight Saturday!

Welcome to all my new Fun Follow Blog Hoppers!  I am so glad to have you here on Between the Lines!  Hope you all come back tomorrow to join us, along with Survey Junkie and Little Yaya's, for our Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop!!!  Link up your own blog and another that you would love to share with the rest of us!  Linky opens at midnight!

Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipe Giveaway

With two little ones running around the house, our TV and computer screens are always cover in smudges and pint size fingerprints.  It really doesn't matter how many times we tell them to point without touching, their little fingers are just drawn to that screen.

Brilliant Screen Cleaning Wipes are the perfect solution for everyday smudges on all your electronic screens, glasses, and even your mirrors.  They provide a gentle, yet superior cleaning and removes dust, fingerprints, and makeup while providing a protective layer (SR-8) that protects the screens from scratching.  Each box comes with 5 packs of wet and dry cleaning wipes.  One pack of the screen cleaner cleaned our entire 50" television screen!

Do you want to try it out on your dirty screens?  Brilliant is offering one reader of Between the Lines that chance!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Brilliant's Website and tell me something that you learned. Please remember to include your email.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~ Follow Black Diamond Cleaners on Facebook

~ Follow Black Diamond Cleaners on Twitter

~ Follow me on Facebook (5)

~Follow Between the Lines (3)         

~ Subscribe to my email (5)

~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)

~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)

~Follow me on Twitter (2)

~ Add my Spotlight Saturday button and leave a link (5)

~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)

~ Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 each)

This giveaway will end on February 25th @10p.m Eastern

Giveaway open to US only.  Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary box of wipes in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.

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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

NOVICA Giveaway Ends Tonight!

Don't miss your last chance to win a $35 Gift Code from NOVICA!  The giveaway ends tonight at 10 pm est.  Enter HERE!

I'm Broken...Fix Me, Pretty Please!

Most of you know that I have been training to run a marathon with my father-in-law for the past 5 months. He is a hard-core Ultra-marathon runner and it would be awesome to have the chance to run with him.  So even though I wasn't 100% sure my body would be able to take the training, I went forth and gave it my all.  

Big Mistake on my part!  Although most of you wouldn't consider me old yet (32), my body has a different idea.  In my younger days, I spend countless hours training as a gymnast.  These hours didn't come without a price.  Throughout the years I sustained injury to nearly every part of my body.  Broken bones, ripped muscles, torn this, destroyed that, fingers pointing in the wrong direction....you get the picture.  Well, now that I'm at the ripe old age of 32, my body thinks its about 62.  So here is what my knee looked like after running on Monday.

Now it may not look like much to you, but it hurts a whole lot!   On top of that, the arm that I had surgery on a few years back it starting to act up again.   (sniff sniff)   So as of right now, the marathon plans have been put on a hold for a bit.  I know the smart thing to do would to just let it be.  Do I really need to run 26 miles?  But sitting back really isn't my style.  What would you do in this situation?  Would you rest and keep training or just let it go?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Unique Gifts For Women Winner

Congratulations to fdigsby!  You are the winner of the Unique Gifts for Women giveaway!  Out of 134 entries, fdigsby won with comment #52, "email subscriber".  Fdigsby has 48 hours to claim her prize or another winner will be randomly selected.  Thanks to everyone who entered and a HUGE thanks to Unique Gifts for Women for sponsoring such a fun giveaway!

Need Glasses? Let's Talk about Your Vision

When you made your new years resolutions, you probably included your health as one of your main priorities for 2011, right? You probably thought that loosing a few pounds and getting a regular check up was sufficient, right? Wrong. You probably forgot about your vision and that your old pair of eyeglass frames would still work just as well as they did three years ago. It’s time to walk into one of your local eyeglass stores to get a new eyeglass prescription - then you need to head online.

People often forget about their vision health because the cost of eyeglass frames at a retail store is probably more than your monthly mortgage payment. Now is the best time to go shopping for eyeglasses online. You’ll save a lot of time and money in the long run. Shopping online might seems a little crazy or radical - and you might be skeptical. You might also think that buying online means you’re not going to get your glasses. Well, GlassesUSA.com has you covered. They’re an online eyeglasses store that has already serviced thousands of happy customers! Don’t take their word for it, look on their site for eyeglasses online reviews.

This is the perfect time to search for discount eyeglasses online. With Valentines Day only a few days away, there are plenty of sales to take advantage of. If you’re looking for designer eyeglasses online, GlassesUSA’s Valentines Day sale will help make those frames even MORE affordable! You can take $30 off any order of $200 or more when you use the code: BeMyValentine and you can get FREE shipping to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada with that code.

Still not convinced to go online? GlassesUSA has their Try-It! virtual mirror - allowing you to try before you buy! If you’ve had your eye on a pair of retro eyeglasses online, try ‘em on and send your picture to your friends for advice - but don’t wait too long, their Valentines Day sale expires on February 14, 2011!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post provided by GlassesUSA. I was provided compensation for posting this article.

Open Discussion: Affiliate Programs

Every week I am offered an opportunity to sign up for various Affiliate programs.  Some offers come from sponsors I've worked with in the past and some come from random companies that I've never heard of before.  I know many bloggers take advantage of these programs and make a little extra cash on the side.  I, on the other hand, have never joined any of these programs.  The main reason I've avoided them in the past is because I don't feel comfortable sharing my social security number with these companies.  For some of the legit companies, I understand that they might need it for tax purposes, but it still just doesn't feel right.  Plus, how do you know if they are legit or not.  Are they actually going to pay you or just use your blog for free advertising?  Since I've never signed up for any affiliate programs I'd love to hear feedback from you all.  It is worth it?  Is it safe?  Do you know of any companies that don't require your Social Security number?  

Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Review and Giveaway from Unique Gifts For Women: Ends Tonight

Don't miss your last chance to win a beautiful Photo Necklace and Photo Bracelet from Unique Gifts for Women!  The giveaway ends tonight at 10 pm est.  Enter HERE!

Crane Cool Mist Humidifier Review & Giveaway

During the months of November - March, you can usually find a stuffy nose in our house.  More often than not, it belongs to my youngest daughter.  Unfortunately, she has never been a big fan of having a humidifier in her room.  Perhaps having a big, noisy contraption so close to her is a bit intimidating.  Thanks to Crane, she now has an adorable new Cool Mist Humidifier shaped like a Dog. This cute humidifier is a welcome appliance in her room and provides her relief from from cough, cold, and flu symptoms.  With the quiet 2.1 Gallon output of moisture, she is able to breather easier and sleep throughout the night.  And when she sleeps through the night, so do I!  I also love that it automatically shuts off when the tank is empty.

Pediatricians recommend cool mist humidifiers because it helps moisten nasal passages and soothes dry coughs.  But if dogs aren't your thing, no worries.  At Crane, they have been producing fun, yet highly functional, appliances since 2005.    Besides their wide variety of adorable animals, they also have traditional humidifiers, sport humidifiers, and Licensed Styles (Spongebob and Hello Kittty).

Right now Crane is giving away a $75 Bed, Bath, and Beyond gift certificate on their Facebok page.  You could use it to buy your own Crane Humidifier or something else that you need for your home.  The contest run from February 1-13 and the winner will be announced on their Facebook Page on Valentines Day.  To enter, simply "Like" them on Facebook and leave a comment with your favorite humidifier design.  The winner will be notified via Facebook message and has 48 hours to accept their prize.

The generous people at Crane are also going to give one lucky reader of Between the Lines their choice of humidifiers!

Mandatory:  "Like" Crane on Facebook and tell them your favorite humidifier design.  Come back here and tell me you did it and include your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~ Follow me on Facebook (5)

~Follow Between the Lines (3)         

~ Subscribe to my email (5)

~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)

~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)

~Follow me on Twitter (2)

~ Add my Spotlight Saturday button and leave a link (5)

~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)

~ Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 each)

~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)

This giveaway will end on February 22nd @10p.m Eastern

Giveaway open to US only.  Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received complimentary a humidifier in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.

Recipe Corner: Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

This is a tasty treat that an old friends introduced me to a while back.  It is super easy to make and fun eat!  Enjoy it as an appetizer or snack.

Ingredients
• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
• 8 ounces raspberries
• 1 pound strawberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor 
• 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• butter flavored cooking spray
• 2 cups cinnamon sugar


Directions
1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

Boost Your Buzz $1000 Giveaway!

<center><a href="<a href="http://sjunkie.com/" target="_blank">http://sjunkie.com/</a>" target="_blank"><img src="<a href="http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx62/sjunkie/boostyourbuzz125.gif" target="_blank">http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx62/sjunkie/boostyourbuzz125.gif</a>" alt="Survey Junkie" border="0" /></a><br /></center>

Increase your Social Media presence and online exposure with Boost Your Buzz!! Are you looking for more Facebook fans, Twitter followers, Email subscribers, Google Friend Connect follower's and want to get your name out there and seen by thousands of people? We can help you do just that!

From April 1st through the 15th Simply Stacie, Little Yaya's and Survey Junkie will be hosting the Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Giveaway where one lucky person will win $1,000 cash. The giveaway will be similar to our highly successful Follower Giveaway Tours where participants will follow various social media accounts of different companies/blogs ( ie. Google Friend Connect,Facebook and Twitter ) to gain entry into the giveaway. They will be given one entry for each blog/business they follow/like/subscribe, etc..

We would love to include your blog or business in our giveaway and have the entrants follow, like or subscribe to YOU! Join the Build Your Buzz Giveaway and we will send our readers to your sites and ask them to follow or subscribe to you in exchange for their entry.

Visit Survey Junkie to view packages and get signed up

Make sure you let us know that Kelly from Between the Lines sent you :)

Handmade With Love Winter Giveaway: Winner!

Congratulations to Newmama2010!  You are the lucky winner of the Handmade With Love Winter Giveaway Hop! With 185 entries and 63 bonus entries, Newmama2010 won with comment #104, "GFC follower".  Newmama2010 has 48 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be randomly selected.  Thanks to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to all our wonderful and talented sponsors!

Rumba Time Watch Review and Giveaway

What Time is it?  Rumba Time!  Rumba Time is a wonderful company that make time weightless with their unique silicone watches that feel like a second skin.  With 17 different designs and numerous color choices, finding the perfect Rumba Time watch will be fun and easy. If you are interested in buying a great watch and giving back, Rumba Time also has a special line dedicated to raising money for Breast Cancer research. 

While visiting their website, I found the perfect watch for me.  The Lafayette, Lights Out, watch is a silicone Unisex Watch with analog movement.  It is ultra lightweight at only 15 Grams and water resistant (which is perfect for those long runs).  It comes in 3 different sizes so that it  sits comfortable on your wrist.  I love that this watch can be worn with just about any outfit, causal or dressy.

Looking to support your local college team?  Rumba Time has you covered there too. I know many of my  local friends would love to wear the watch shown above during the next big game.  

Whether you are searching for a solid color, tie dye color, or a watch that glows in the dark, Rumba Time has one or more that you will love.  Rumba Time watches sell for between $14 - $175.  And when you order 2 or more, the shipping is free!  Just use the promo ~ free.  Thanks to generous folks from Rumba Time, one lucky reader from Between the Lines is going to when their choice of watches.  The winner will have the opportunity to choose from any of their amazing lines, excluding the Mercer line.

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Rumba Time and leave me a comment telling me your favorite style and color.   Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~ Follow me on Facebook (5)
~ Follow Rumba Time on Facebook (5)

~Follow Between the Lines (2)         

~ Subscribe to my email (2)

~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)

~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)

~ Follow Rumba Time on Twitter (2)

~Follow me on Twitter (2)

~ Add my Spotlight Saturday button and leave a link (5)

~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)

~ Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 each)

~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)

~ Make a purchase from Rumba Time (must be purchases no earlier than February 7) (10 entries)

This giveaway will end on February 21st @10p.m Eastern

Giveaway open to US only.  Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary watch in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent

I Spot You Tees

I Spot You Tees is featuring birthday tees for those little cuties in your life.  Swing on over to their blog and check it out!

Handmade With Love Winter Giveaway Hop

 Are you ready for another fun giveaway hop?  If so, join us along with hosts Simply Stacie, Survey Junkie, Little Yaya's, and Kelly's Lucky You for some great giveaways!  The Hop starts today February 2nd and will continue through February 6th.  With over 140 blogs participating it is sure to be a great time!  The Handmade With Love Winter Giveaway will run for 5 days and all blogs will be giving away prizes that have been made by hand especially for you. Between the Lines is lucky to be featuring some wonderful companies including: Orglamix, Pink Dandy, Wacky Jacqui's Designs, and Art by Stephanie Gleichsner.  Click on the above links to read my full reviews. And don't forget you can still sign up for bonus entries HERE.  After the hop is over I will combine the two list when choosing the winner using Random.Org. 

**Please note that if a US winner is chosen first, they will receive all the prizes.  If a non-US resident is selected first the prize pack will be split.**

U.S. and Canada Giveaway

Orglamix ~ Smokin Haute Must Have Collection $25

Orglamix is an Etsy shop that sells makeup made from 100% pure mineral. Cheri, the artisan behind Orglamix, never uses synthetic materials in her products. So you can be sure they are safe, especially for those of us with sensitive skin. Cheri says, “All Orglamix products are proudly formulated without: nano particles, bismuth oxychloride, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals or parabens. Orglamix is a proud member of PETA.” Orglamix offers over 200 exclusive colors at affordable prices.   Orglamix offers weekly specials and combo packs (like the starter kit) that you won’t want to miss.   If you still are hesitant, wait until you hear the best part. Orglamix offers a money back guarantee. If you don’t like it, they will simply refund your money.  Want to keep up with the latest promotions from Orglamix?  Sign up for the Monthly Newsletter today!

U.S. Only Giveaway

Pink Dandy ~ Hair Care Gift Set $27

Pink Dandy carries a great variety of lotions, candles, roll on perfumes, bath products, and much more. All of her products are phthalate free and animal friendly (vegan products). “Pink Dandy is a spin off company of Raw Beauty that was created by Janae Chang in 2004. What really sets Pink Dandy apart from other bath and beauty products is that we maintain consistent quality in each and every product, ensure that our products are made with rich, natural ingredients and are knowledgeable about our customers wants and needs in skincare and candle products.”  I've tried many other Pink Dandy products in the past and I've never been disappointed.  My favorites so far are the Strawberry Smoothie and Dreamsicle lotion and the watermelon lip balm.

Included: 8 oz Organic Hair Conditioner, 8 oz Shampoo, 8 oz Organic Leave In Conditioner and 4 oz Deep Conditioning Hair Mask in Pink Sugar Cubes Scent

Stephanie Gleichsner ~ One Word Canvas Painting $45
  Stephanie Gleichsner is a wonderful high school friend that I found again through Facebook.  I was excited to discover that she had followed her dream of creating art and jewelry. When I first introduced you all to Stephanie's art, I featured her wonderful bracelets.  However, Stephanie creates more than just jewelry, she also draws, paints, and designs cards.  Stephanie offers a great variety of watercolor cards.  Some are created with a picture design and others with a simple, yet meaningful one word design.Stephanie took this one word concept and created a painting for my kitchen.  In order to create a piece that was sure to match, I sent her a photo of the colors in my house.  The winner of the giveaway will be able to choose their own word and colors for their unique painting.

International Giveaway

Wacky Jacqui's Design ~ Classic Medium Package  $40.00

Wacky Jacqui’s Designs is a wonderful design business. Jacqui offers complete blog makeovers, as well as smaller packages and a la carte items. Need a tweak here or there, Jacqui’s your girl. Need an overhaul, she can do that too. Jacqui was real easy to work with and didn’t mind my constant questions. She made sure that I was happy every step of the way. I think she may have adjusted my sidebar titles about 5 or 6 times until I was sure it was right. I liked feeling that I was completely in charge of my blog. It is after all my third baby.  

Here is what the package includes:

• 2 or 3 column design
• Custom background
• Custom header
• Matching font color
• 6 sidebar titles
• Custom signature
• Custom post divider
• Blog Button
• Social network icons
• Installation

Only for blogger sites.

Mandatory Entry: Like Between the Lines on Facebook and leave a comment on the wall so I know your there.  Make sure to leave a comment here too with your email address so that I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries:  (not required)

     ~ Follow Between the Lines

    ~ Subscribe to our Email

    ~ Follow us on Twitter

This giveaway will end on February 6th @10p.m Eastern

  Package will be split if an international winner is chosen first.  Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer:  The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no  compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.