Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop

It's Spotlight Saturday Hosted By

Between the Lines and Survey Junkie with Guest Host Mommy Time Out!

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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 I'm Spotlighting Maria from Personalized Sketches and Sentiments! 

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! )

Crunchy and Yummy Review and Giveaway

Crunchy N Yummy™ is a healthy natural snack, made from ripe fresh fruit at the peak of sweet juicy taste. Crunchy N Yummy™ freeze-dried fruits taste great, contain many natural vitamins, and are the perfect daily serving of flavor and nutrition.

Summer is almost here and that means trips to the pool, the beach, and the playgrounds.  As a mom of two, I am always searching for healthy snack ideas.  When at home, my girls always reach for the fresh fruit, but fresh fruit doesn't always travel well.  With Crunchy N Yummy, my little ones can now take their fruit wherever we go.    There are five varieties of Crunchy N Yummy currently available for sale.  My family was more than happy to try them all out.   While they were all delicious, my girls and I each picked our favorite to share with you all. 

My oldest daughter fell in love with the strawberries.  She said it was her favorite of the five.  She was hesitant at first because, "They look different".  However, once she tried them she was so excited that they tasted sweet like strawberries.  Go figure.  The Strawberries tasted like Strawberries.  She ate some for snack right out the bag and also added it to her cereal and oatmeal.  My youngest also like the strawberries and added some to her yogurt.

Although my youngest liked the strawberries, her favorite was actually the pineapples.  She loves anything pineapple and this was no exception.  While she stuck the strawberries and bananas into her cereal, she ate the pineapples as is.   She said they were too good to mix with other food.

My favorite were the bananas.   This actually really surprised me because I don't really care for banana chips I thought they would taste similar, but they were lighter and had more of their natural banana flavor.   I would definitely not mind have this light sweet treat as my daily snack.  We also loved the Papaya and Mango too.  They were great additions to our yogurt and cereal.

Do you want to try these Crunchy N Yummy Snacks?  You can buy them online at Amazon.com.  And thanks to the generous people from Crunchy N Yummy, one reader will also have an opportunity to win a package of each to try at home with their families. 

Mandatory Entry:  Follow Crunchy N Yummy on Facebook.  Come back here and leave me a comment saying you do so.  The winner will have to provide their First name and last initial.  Please include your email address so that 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 Crunchy N Yummy on Twitter (2)
~ Comment on Crunchy N Yummy's Facebook page and tell them I sent you(2)
~ Follow Between the Lines on Facebook (5)
~Follow Between the Lines (3)
~ Subscribe to my email (5)
~ Grab any of my buttons 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)
~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)
~ Enter any of my other current giveaways (1 each)
~ Grab my Twitter Hop or Blog Hop button and leave a link (3 each)
~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)

This giveaway will end on May 27th @10p.m Eastern

*This giveaway is open to  US only. No PO Boxes or APO addresses.  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 sample fruit packages 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.

Don't Miss Spotlight Saturday!

Don't forget tomorrow is Spotlight Saturday!  Hope you all come back in the morning to join us, along with Survey Junkie and Guest Host Mommy Time Out, for our fun little Blog Hop with a twist!!!  Link up your own blog and another that you would love to share with the rest of us!  Linky opens at midnight!

Relay For Life Sponsor: Flat Iron Experts

I would just like to start my review with…WOW! Who knew that a professional flat iron would make such a difference for my hair? For years I’ve been using a cheap metal flat iron with only so-so results. Every time I did my hair, it was a gamble. Would it end up straight or frizzy? With my new KQC X-Heat Ceramic Styling Iron from Flat Iron Experts, I no longer have to take that gamble. Each and every time I’ve use it, my hair has looked straight and smooth (not even any fly-aways)!

Before

After

I love that the KQC X-Heat Ceramic Styling Iron has adjustable heat and an on/off switch. Depending on your hair type, you can adjust the heat from 140 degrees to 410 degrees. And it heats up in seconds! I have found setting the dial right in the center works best for my hair. For my daughter’s thin hair, I set is on the lowest setting and was still able to curl it. I wonder how great our hair would look if we had one of Flat Iron Expert's great professional hairdryers??? 

Besides flat irons and hair dryers,Flat Iron Experts has many other great products. They have various brands of Curling Irons, Hot Rollers, Wax Warmers, and professional combs and brushes.  This brush would make a perfect addition to my new flat iron!

When you get the chance, I would definitely encourage you to stop by and explore their great website. They guarantee the lowest prices and provide free shipping on any order over $50.  However, please be aware that the prices shown are in Canadian Dollars.  However, if paying with US dollars, your payment will automatically be converted.  

Join Flat Iron Experts and Our Other Fabulous sponsors in supporting Relay For Life!  Let's help the world Celebrate More Birthdays!  The Online Silent Auction will run from May 20th - May 26th.  All proceeds will go directly to the Relay For Life site and products will be shipped from our sponsors.  I HOPE to see you there!

Disclosure:  I was sent a free Flat Iron in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to provide a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

Relay For Life Sponsor: Fantasy Jewelry Box

 For those of you who have never heard of Fantasy Jewelry Box, you will be pleasantly surprised when you visit their website or YouTube Channel.  Not only does Fantasy Jewelry Box have a HUGE selection of men's and women's jewelry, but all their pieces are also reasonably priced and well made. Amongst their great selection are pieces that have been inspired by some of the top celebrities and designers in the industry.  According to their website, their "sterling silver jewelry collections primarily consists of high end genuine .925 Sterling Silver with high-quality cubic zirconia stones. [They] also proudly carry gold jewelry collections as well as fashion jewelry and costume jewelry for [their] more budget-friendly shoppers. [Their] cubic zirconia jewelry prices generally range from $10.00 to $500.00 so it is easy to see why [their] affordable diamond replica jewelry collections are so popular!"

 For my review, I allowed my sister-in-law to choose herself a birthday present.   Between the two of us, we probably spent over an hour searching through all the beautiful choices.  In the end she decided on the Sandra's 26" Wood, Glass, & Natural Stone Necklace Set.  This set came with a Multi-layered necklace and matching earrings.   "Multi-layered necklaces are such a fun addition to every jewelry collection. We love the bohemian inspired feel that this matching jewelry set gives off. Rich browns seem to melt into each other and wood, glass and stones complement each other perfectly. Wear with the matching earrings or alone"  She hasn't seen it yet since her birthday is still a few weeks away, but I've tried it on and it looks amazing.  I was a little worried that she may have picked something to long and bulky, but the layered look really works.   Hopefully she will be as happy with her selection as I am when she sees it!

The generous people from Fantasy Jewelry Box have graciously donated a two lovely pairs of earrings for our auction.  They are gorgeous and I'd love to keep them for myself! :)  Unfortunately, it was very difficult to get a good picture of them because my camera isn't very good.  But below you will see a pair of simple cubic zirconium studs and a beautiful pair of CZ dangled earrings with an Olive green stone at the bottom.

Join Fantasy Jewelry Box and Our Other Fabulous sponsors in supporting Relay For Life!  Let's help the world Celebrate More Birthdays!  The Online Silent Auction will run from May 20th - May 26th.  All proceeds will go directly to the Relay For Life site and products will be shipped from our sponsors.  I HOPE to see you there!

Dangerous Teen Fads

Teenagers are not known for making smart choices. They hang out with the wrong crowd, skip a few classes, and maybe even have a few drinks. But did you know these may be the safest bad choices they make?  Parents should take the time to educate themselves on the dangerous activities that their kids may be participating in.   Although some may seem harmless, they may be scarier than you think.

Using Acronyms for texting and online messaging is pretty common place these days.  Most of us moms are well aware of  these simple acronyms and probably most of you use them in your own texting. 
LOL ~ Laugh Out Loud 
BFF ~ Best Friends Forever
TTYL ~ Talk To You Later

But were you aware that the common teenager is using these acronyms to get other ideas across? 
POS ~ Parent Over Shoulder
RUH ~ Are You Horny
GYPO ~ Get Your Pants Off

The Acronyms can even get more disturbing.  Clayton Paul Thomas has a great list if you are interested in learning some more.

Another fad that is becoming more popular among the tween and teen crowd is ChatRoulette.com. This website randomly selects a person for your child to have a video chat with. What is shown and talked about on this website is not monitored and cannot be filtered. As a result, your child is vulnerable to adult content and sexual predators. Sexting is another act that opens the door to predators. Teens believe that sending explicit or pornographic images will be kept private, but this is not always the case. What happens when the person on the receiving in decides to be vindictive and spread it around? Not only can it land up in the wrong hands, it can lead to permanent emotional damage. I have heard about at least two cases where this exact thing happened and the girls ended up committing suicide.

Although the above fads are more talked about, there are others that are more hidden from us parents.  Smoking and inhaling Smarties is also very amongst the tweens and teens. After crushing up the candy, they roll it up in paper to smoke or just inhale it as if they were using drugs. Unless the candy clogs the nasal passage, this new fad is physically harmless. But the act itself should make parents aware of their child’s interest in drug use. Our children can actually learn how to do this on YouTube.

The Choking Game has been around for years, but is still popular with the young crowd. Teens enjoy being choked or choking themselves to achieve a momentary high. This game can lead to black outs, brain damage, or even death. Another frightening game that has been around for many years is car surfing. Just like it sounds, kids pretend they are surfing on the top of a moving vehicle. This game has led to many injuries and deaths over the years. And if that wasn’t enough, kids have now progressed to train surfing.

As parents, we have a responsibility to our kids to be aware of what they encounter on a daily basis.  We need to remind our children of the consequences their actions may bring.  Make them aware of how many other teens have suffered as a result of those same choices.  It may be scary for them to read a news article of another teen falling to his death after car surfing, but it may just save their life.  

What other teen fads are you aware of?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Relay For Life Sponsor: Country Bob's

For those of you who follow my blog, you know how much I love cooking and trying out new recipes. When Country Bob’s generously mailed me two bottles of their All-Purpose sauce I couldn’t wait to try it out! Just opening the bottle and smelling the tangy sauce made my mouth water.  Country Bob’s All purpose sauce was created by Country Bob Edsen in 1968. His goal was to create the perfect steak sauce, but his perfected recipe is definitely for more than just steak. The first night I used my Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce, I made hamburgers. Now all of you lovely readers know that my children do not like to eat hamburgers. They usually split one, and getting them to finish it is a long and painful process. When I gave them the Country Bob hamburger, dinner started just like always….crying and whining that they don’t like hamburgers. What was different though, was after their first bite, I didn’t have to coerce them anymore. They ate the entire thing and even asked for more! Here is the recipe I used:

Ingredients

1.5 lbs ground beef
¼ cup Old Fashion Rolled Oats (or breadcrumbs)
¼ cup Country Bob’s All Purpose sauce
Extra sauce for the top
Cheese

Directions

- Preheat Oven or grill (Oven 400 degrees)
- Mix the ground beef, Oatmeal, and Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce in a large bowl.
- Form meat mixture into 6 patties
- Bake patties on cookies sheet with raised sides (to catch grease) for 20-25 minutes.
- Place patties on bun, cover top with sauce, place cheese on sauce to allow it to melt together

The second time I used my Country Bob’s sauce, the recipe was even easier. But it was just as delicious! Our second meal was shredded chicken smothered with Country Bob’s All Purpose sauce (I can’t wait to try this again with their BBQ sauce!). Here is the simple recipe I used:

Ingredient

1.5 lbs of chicken breasts
1 bottle of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce

Directions
- Put chicken into a crock pot and pour an entire bottle of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce over it.
- Cook on high heat for 5 hours
- Using two forks, shred meat and stir in sauce
- Cook on low heat for 1-2 more hours
- Serve over a baked potato, as a sandwich, or on a salad.


Don’t worry if my recipes don’t interest you. If you go to Country Bob’s website they have many more to choose from. You can find recipes that not only use their All Purpose Sauce (regular and spicy), but also their BBQ Sauce and Seasoning Salt.  My family, and most of my friends, are now addicted to Country Bob's delicious All Purpose sauce.  We have been using it for a year and won't ever go back to another brand.

Now that you are drooling and can’t wait to try Country Bob’s, I have some good news for you. The generous folks from Country Bob’s have donated TWO Gift Packs (contents shown above) to our Relay For Life Silent Auction.   If you just can’t wait to try it, you can purchase your own bottles from their website or from many local stores (including Wal-Mart supercenter).

Join Country Bob's and Our Other Fabulous sponsors in supporting Relay For Life!  Let's help the world Celebrate More Birthdays!  The Online Silent Auction will run from May 20th - May 26th.  All proceeds will go directly to the Relay For Life site and products will be shipped from our sponsors.  I HOPE to see you there!

To My Mom

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mom!  Thank you for all you've done and all you still do for me and my girls!  I love you!!

Pink Dandy Blog Hop

Welcome to the Pink Dandy Sunday Blog Hop!

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This blog hop will be up for 3 days! From Sunday the 24th-Wednesday the 27th.

I will start a new blog hop every Sunday.

*****

How does this blog hop work?


1. Make sure to follow Pink Dandy Chatter and Between The Lines so that we can follow you back!!

2. To ensure that Pink Dandy Chatter will follow you back, you need to make sure and leave a comment (below on this post) saying that you are a new follower and also leave a link to your blog.

3. Add your blog name and the URL to one of your favorite posts on the Linky below.

4. Please follow at-least 2 blogs on the list that appeal to you

5. Your blog must be family friendly ONLY. Explicit sites will be removed from the list.

 HAPPY EASTER...From my family to yours!