Guy and Eva Jewelry Party and Giveaway

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up about an awesome review and giveaway starting on Tuesday. Stacy, from Guy and Eva, will be giving away a great piece of jewelry to one of my lucky readers.

In the meantime, I’m currently hosting a fabulous Guy and Eva party. Just visit their site at http://www.guyandeva.com/staycee  and search through all their stunning choices. When you are ready to make a purchase, just use my party number #280 (this will also earn you extra entries for Monday’s giveaway). Hope to see you all on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote came from?  Bonus if you guess the character!

"I will not rest until I have you holding a Coke, wearing your own shoe, playing a Sega game--featuring you--while singing your own song in a new commercial--starring you--broadcast during the Superbowl in a game that you are winning, and I will not sleep until that happens. I'll give you fifteen minutes to call me back."

Take a guess in the comments below!

SwagBucks Review (with bonus bucks!)

Just recently I discovered a great site called SwagBucks. Many of you have probably already heard of it, but for those who haven’t, I just had to share. Among many other things, SwagBucks is a search engine, powered by Google and Ask.com, that rewards you for doing your everyday searches. You can search through their main site at http://www.swagbucks.com/ or from one of their many other search and win partner sites. As you accumulate swag bucks, you can trade them in for cool prizes and gift cards. Or if you are the gambling sort, you can use your swag bucks to enter “Swagstakes” to win more swag bucks or other great prizes.

Want to earn swag bucks faster? Searching isn’t the only way to win. You can earn swag bucks by completing special offers, downloading and refreshing the swag bucks tool bar, discovering hidden codes in the blog, or even just purchasing an item from your favorite retailer. When you click on a retailer’s link through the Swag Buck’s website, you make 2 swag bucks for every $1 you spend. A few weeks back I purchased Avatar from Wal-mart and earned 40 swag bucks!

If you want your swag bucks to grow more quickly, refer your friends and family. For every swag buck they earn, you will earn too! So the more referrals you get, the more prizes you can redeem. If you haven’t already checked out SwagBucks, you should definitely visit today and see if you are interested (unless you don’t want free gift cards to Amazon, target, the Disney Store, etc..). 

If you decide you do want to join this free site, come back here and click on my referral link. The Swag Guy has graciously given a swag code for 50 swag bucks to any of my readers who sign up from Between the Lines. Simply click here, and then make sure to type BETWEENLINES50 into the SwagCode box. Remember swag codes are always case sensitive. Also, the SwagCode is only good through the end of May. So don’t wait too long! Once you sign up, make sure to follow their blog and/or Facebook page to keep up-to-date on hidden codes. Or make it even easier, and download the widget like I have at the bottom of this page to know exactly when a code is available. Good Luck and Have a Great Weekend!

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.

Chris Brogan Challenge : Somebody Has to Say It

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Ten – Topic Ten(still on track)!

This topic could go many different ways depending on who is writing it. Those of you who know me well, know that I’m not a very confrontational person. So when “Somebody Has to Say It”, it usually isn’t me. So, let’s do this post a little differently. I will start with some things that just have to be said and then you join in by commenting below. Maybe between all of us, we can say it all!

1. John Roethlisberger should not be getting preferential treatment.

2. Tiger Woods is a disgrace to the American Man.

3. Our Soldiers need to be remembered. Don’t let them think we forgot that they are still fighting hard.

4. Your next….

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

Fabulous Food Friday With Guilty of Gossip

Welcome to this week’s Fabulous Food Friday feature! While exploring the blogosphere, I realized that there were many great recipes to share. So every Friday, I am going to try to feature an awesome blogger with their great recipe!

Today’s feature blogger is Kelly from Guilty of Gossip. When you get a chance, swing by Kelly’s fun blog. She’s got a little of everything, so you will be sure to find something that suits you! Kelly writes about entertainment, sports, and everyday gossip while sprinkling in a few of her first hand experiences. She loves music, movies, and cooking! Her favorite dishes always involve pasta, and her pasta salad recipe was inspired when she wanted to enjoy a cold pasta salad on a warm Spring day. Her Springtime Pasta Salad is good for all seasons, but is a great dish to add to any summer cookout! Below is the yummy recipe that Kelly has invited us all to share. Enjoy!

"Kelly's Springtime Pasta Salad"
(can be enjoyed throughout the year.)

Ingredients
1 lb. tri-colored pasta (recommend Fusilli or Rotini, they tend to hold the dressing better)
1 1/2 cups of halved cherry tomatoes
1 can Black Olives
1 cup of Pepperoni (cut into squares)
1/2 cup of Mozzarella Cheese (from the block, cut in squares)
1/2 cup of Cheddar Cheese (from the block, cut in squares)
1/2 diced Green Bell Pepper
1/2 package of Italian Seasoning Packet
1 cup Ranch Dressing
1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar (or Red Wine Vinegar if you prefer)

Directions1. Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain. Set aside to cool.
2. While pasta is cooking, chop up tomatoes, pepperoni, cheeses, and pepper into a large bowl. Add whole black olives.
3. When pasta is cooled to at least room temp, add to bowl and mix with veggies/cheese/meat.
4. Mix Vinegar with 1/2 packet of Italian Seasoning packet (some may wish to add more depending on preference) and Pour over pasta.
5. Lastly, add Ranch Dressing (according to taste) up to 1 cup. The Ranch really helps bind all the ingredients together.
6. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serves 8-10.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote came from?  Bonus if you guess the character!

"It's not a trick. There was one shot at Mr. Boddy in the study, two for the chandelier, two at the lounge door, and one for the singing telegram."

Take a guess in the comments below!

Review and Giveaway: YOYO Lip Gloss

                                     

Lip Gloss is one of my must have beauty products. I have one in my purse, my diaper bag, my car, my bedside table drawer, and my makeup drawer. You may be thinking that this is a bit overkill, but since I’m always losing them, I need back-up. How excited was I when I discovered YOYO Lip Gloss? Not only did I discover a great lip gloss, but now I no longer have worry about it disappearing on me! YOYO Lip Gloss minis are not only small and fun, but they come attached to a mini clip with retractable string. Now I can clip it to the inside of my purse or to my diaper bag and never worry about is getting lost again! What an innovative design!

YOYO Minis come in a variety of flavors including Kissable Kiwi, Girly Green Apple, Cha-Cha Chocolate and Big Bounce Bubblegum. These yummy flavors have helped keep my lips soft and smooth. My lips never feel sticky like they do with some lip glosses. My girls love them too (especially the bubblegum, which I had to stop them from eating), so I know we will be getting more. And it gets even better! At only $2.99 per retractable mini gloss, you can afford to try them all (and even share)!  With YOYO Lip Gloss I'm "Never at a loss for my gloss"!

The generous folks at YOYO Lip Gloss have offered one of my lucky readers a chance to win a set of four minis and a YOYO Tank Top. Can’t wait to win it? Hop on over to YOYO Lip Gloss and purchase your own minis today!

Mandatory Entry: Take a moment to visit YOYO’s website. They have more than just lip gloss! Come back here and leave a comment on which product you would like to try.

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

~Follow Between the Lines (3)
~Subscribe by Email (3)
~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)
~Follow me on Twitter (2)
~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)
~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)
~Make a purchase from Yoyo Lip Gloss (10)

This giveaway will end on May 26 @ 10p.m Eastern

*This giveaway is open to US and Canada 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 set of 4 minis and a tee shirt 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.

Chris Brogan Challenge : How I Find Blogging Ideas

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Nine – Topic Nine(still on track)!

I believe finding things to blog about is a blogger’s hardest challenge. My first thought when I begin a post is, Who cares? Will my readers be interested? Will this topic discourage them from reading other posts? I eventually decided that if it is a topic that interests me, then there are probably a few people out there that care about the subject too. I write my blog to express who I am and the things I am interested in. So typically (before I started this challenge), I found blogging ideas from my everyday life. Most often, my posts stemmed from conversations that I had with my friends. We discuss so many diverse topics (usually with diverse opinions), that I was never low on topic ideas. I also would get topic ideas from news events and various observations throughout my day. Where do you find your blogging ideas? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Chili Dog Casserole

I know this recipe lacks a certain appeal, but it is something that I can get the entire family to eat. If you have a family of picky eaters, this recipe may make them happy. Enjoy! And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com )




Ingredients

• 8 hot dog buns
• 8 hot dogs
• 1 (15 ounce) can chili
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Tear up the hot dog buns and arrange the pieces in the bottom of the dish evenly. Slice the hot dogs into bite size pieces and layer the pieces over the buns.
3. Pour the chili over the hot dogs, sprinkle with the chopped onion, then spread some mustard over the chili and the onion. Top off with the cheese.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote came from?  Bonus if you know the character!

"This isn't flying. This is falling, with style!"

Take a guess in the comments below!

Chris Brogan Challenge : Ways to Save a Bad Time at a Conference

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Eight – Topic Eight(I need a familiar topic)!

I can honestly say that I have never been to a corporate conference before, but I have been to a few teaching conferences run by the county. When you think of going to a work conference, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? BORING! Well how can you prevent this boredom from setting in? My fellow teachers and I always tried to arrive early to a conference. This gave us time to chat amongst ourselves and also time to meet new people. Usually at teaching conferences, those from the same school get separated into different groups. So it is good to meet new people as a whole before going your separate ways. Having people to communicate with during a conference is so important. This saves you from getting so bored that you start to miss out on important information. So stop thinking of your work conferences as a boring mandatory event, but rather think of it as an opportunity to meet many nice and fascinating people. What do you do to keep yourself from having a bad time at a conference? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Rainbow Sherbet Cake

Today is my baby’s 6th birthday! She is not a big fan of cake, so we usually try to do some alternative. This recipe, from allrecipes.com, looks like the traditional cake, but she enjoys it so much better! I hope you like it! And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com )




Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) angel food cake
• 1 pint orange sherbet, softened
• 1 pint raspberry sherbet, softened
• 1 pint lime sherbet, softened
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed


Directions

1. Slice angel food cake crosswise to make four layers. Place the bottom layer on a serving plate, and spread orange sherbet evenly on top. Repeat with remaining cake layers and raspberry and lime sherbets. Finish with final layer of cake. Frost sides and top with whipped topping, and place in freezer for 1 hour, or until firm.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote is from? Bonus if you guess the character!


"Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while. "


Take a guess in the comments below!

Chris Brogan Challenge : How Best to Comment on a Corporate Blog

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Seven – Topic seven(keeping on)!

I believe the best way to comment on a Corporate Blog is to be professional, courteous, and honestly. We all know that there are millions of people out in the world who think differently than we do. We are individuals and therefore have opinions of our own. I do not feel that this gives us the right to bash, belittle, or act unkindly to others. After reading many comments on various corporate blogs, I saw a pattern of disrespectfulness. Perhaps the individuals don’t understand that there are actual people with feelings on the other end of these blogs. There are always way to voice your opinion without be disrespectful. I think this is also important in the personal blogging world. I have seen so many wonderful bloggers get hurt because of malicious comments. We need to remember that these blogs are written by actual people who are allowed their own voice. How do you think is the best way to comment on a corporate or personal blog? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Apple Enchiladas

Are you looking for a delicious new dessert? Look no farther. If you love apple pie, you’ll love this yummt recipe from allrecipes.com. Enjoy! And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com )




Ingredients

• 1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling
• 6 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Spoon fruit evenly onto all tortillas, sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down on lightly greased 8x8 baking pan.
3. Bring margarine, sugars and water to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly for 3 minutes.
4. Pour sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with extra cinnamon on top if desired. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.
5. Makes 6 large tortillas; may be cut in half to serve 12.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote is from?  Bonus if you guess the character!

"You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a villian."



Take a guess in the comments below!

Chris Brogan Challenge : How Flickr Did it Right

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Six – Topic six(Still at it)!

The first thing I had to ask when this topic came up was, what is Flickr? Again, I am embarrassed for not knowing something so basic, but at the same time I’m excited to be learning about so many new online resources. So it turns out that Flickr is a website like Photobucket or PicassaWeb. It allows its users to upload and share photos, videos, and images. Using Flickr is free if you keep your uploading to under 100MB. If you need more space, they charge $25 per year for unlimited storage. So what would I do with it? I think Flickr would be a great resource in creating online family albums. After you upload them, you can even edit or crop the individual pictures. When your album is complete you can easily send the link to everyone you know and they can view your pictures all around the world. Flickr can also be used by those of in the blogging world to host our photos. Although I’ve used Photobucket in the past, I’m sure Flickr would work just as well. So, I know I didn’t really answer Chris Brogan’s question, but I’ll need to have time to test it out before I can say what they did right. Which photo hosting website do you prefer? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Chicken Shawarma

On Friday, I featured a recipe from Mama Bird’s Nest that used Tzatziki sauce, so I thought why not throw out another great recipe. This recipe, provided by my wonderful mom, comes from one of Rachel Ray’s great cookbooks. I hope you enjoy! And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com )



Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon ground cardamom (I use turmeric)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon grill seasoning, recommended brand Montreal
• Juice of ½ lemon1 large cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 to 8 ounces each)
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 4 pitas
• Tzatziki sauce
Yields: 4 servings

Preparation

Preheat an indoor or outdoor grill to high.

In a bowl, combine the coriander, cumin, cardamom, chili powder, paprika and grill seasoning. And the juice of half a lemon, the garlic and about 3 tablespoons EVOO and stir until it is paste-like. Slather the mixture all over the chicken until it is well-coated.


Transfer to the grill and cook on each side for 6-7 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from the grill and let the chicken rest before thinly slicing. Once the chicken is working, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Once you see the oil ripple, add the onions and peppers, and season with some salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes until the veggies start to wilt.

Place the pitas on the grill to warm them and give them a light char, about 1 minute on each side. To assemble, place some of the sliced chicken on each pita, top with some of the pepper and onion mixture, and a good dollop of store bought tzatziki sauce.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote came from?  Bonus if you know the character!

"Last year I spent 322 days in the road which means I had to spent 43 miserable days at home."

Take a guess in the comments below!

Great Giveaway!

Don’t miss out on my first giveaway featuring Roslyn’s Closet. Click here to learn more.

Silent Sunday

Lite Brite...So simple...So fun!