I’ve got another great giveaway from Angela Moore, and it’s just in time for the holidays. Her hand blown – hand painted ornaments are just adorable! She sent me the Margarita Mambo one and I can’t wait to get my tree up and hang it! If you are looking to add a new ornament to your collection, or need a gift to give someone, these ornaments are just perfect, priced at only $10.00.

Angela Moore Hand Painted Ornament Giveaway – If you are the winner you get to choose which ornament you want from the ornament collection (subject to availability)
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. MANDATORY FOR CONTEST ENTRY Go to the Angela Moore website and tell me what your favorite ornament from her collection is in my comments.
2. Follow @ArtToWear on Twitter.
3. Become a fan of Angela Moore on Facebook
4. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
5. Become a fan of Julie’s Journal on Facebook
6. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
7. Add me as a friend on Facebook
8. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
9. Tweet: Enter to win the Angela Moore Hand Painted Ornament Giveaway from @JustJulie http://bit.ly/12fyFk

Contest ends Monday November 30, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 48 hours to respond. Special thanks to Angela Moore for sponsoring this giveaway.

Angela Moore Hand Painted Ornament Giveaway

I’ve been asked so many questions about moving to Boston that I thought it would be easier to just write a blog post about it. We need to go back a couple years to where this journey all started, and I need to be vague about it for reasons I will explain later.

I interviewed for a blogging job a couple years back (in which I didn’t get) with a guy who was starting up a new business. During the interview we talked a little about Michael and how he was a software developer at Zappos. He wanted to meet him as well, so they set up a time to meet. At the time, Michael wasn’t a good fit for his company, and they both went their separate ways.

A few weeks back at a BlogWorld Expo event we happened to run into him again. We talked for a little while, and I went my own way to hang out with my friends, that were at the party, while Michael sat back and talked with him for hours. Come to find out his company was very successful and he sold it for a big chunk of money. With this money he was planning on starting a new company, and Michael and him decided to talk more about it.

Several meetings took place over the next few weeks and Michael’s excitement grew like crazy. He was pulled into the project at a pretty high level and he’s been gung ho about it ever since. This guy (who I just can’t name names at this time) had been pitching his new company idea around Silicon Valley and Boston, and some big players in the venture capital world were starting to take notice.

So last week our current boss told us that he was running out of money, and that he would have to let go of two of us, with Michael staying on helping with the platform that he created. The very next day, things were finalized with the new company, and my old boss asked me to come back and work part time. So we went in the next day, explained that Michael was going to take on this new project, sealed a salary for the two of us to work at home part time, and Michael now has the extra time to focus on the new project.

Which brings us current to day. This last two months has been a whirlwind of emotions, that is one thing I can say! For obvious reasons I can’t say what the new project is, or who the players are that are involved, but I can say that it’s pretty big, exciting, and super crazy. Depending on which VC guy they decide to go with determines where we will be moving to, but at this time, all roads point to Boston.

Now to answer the questions that I’ve gotten:

• When will you be moving?: This is all up in the air, but most likely next year in the Spring.
• Where is Michael working?: Can’t say – disclosure agreements prohibit that during the alpha phase
• What will Michael be doing?: Programming of course! Again the need to be vague is important at this point.
• Will your boys move with you?: Okay, I have to admit this was quite possibly the oddest question of them all, and I’ve heard it over and over again! I just don’t understand why this would even be questionable. Abso-fucking-lutely my boys are moving with us. I realize my oldest son is 18 and does have the right to stay in Las Vegas, but why on earth would I leave my 15 year old MINOR child behind? I don’t know, maybe I’m reading into that question more than I should be, but I have 100% legal sole custody of my children, and they stay with their mother. ‘Nuff said.

So with that, Boston looks and feels almost like another planet to me. I’m super stoked to actually move where there are TREES and greenery, but I know nothing, and I mean NOTHING about the East Coast. In fact, I just learned yesterday that New York City was SOUTH of Boston. For some reason I thought it was north. Shrugs…like I said, I know nothing, but how flipping exciting is it to research and learn new things about it. I’m having a ball reading all about the city, things to do, where to live, etc…

It’s a new chapter in the book of life, and boy have I got enough material for a epic novel! More to come soon…

All Roads Point To Boston

Help build Dole Share the Goodness interactive mosaic poster by uploading your favorite photos of holiday memories. It’s quick and easy and with every photo you upload, you’ll be entered for a chance to win $5,000 for yourself and $5,000 for your local food bank.

But wait! There’s more! When you send an eCard to friends and family, inviting them to see your pic and share their own photos, and one of them is the grand prize winner, you will also win $2,000!

And just for sharing this with my readers, Dole is going to donate $25 in my name to my local food bank, which is ThreeSquare. So get to sharing and Share the Goodness with Dole!

Dole Share The Goodness

I got the chance to try [me]&Goji Cereal awhile back when they offered to send me a free sample to try, and we really love it! They are a custom cereal company where you can create a cereal or granola from 50+ all natural ingredients. They then mix your custom cereal, and ship it directly to your doorstep.

The idea behind [me] & goji is simple: We collect the healthiest foods from around the world and you fuse them in combinations that satisfy your unique tastes and nutritional needs right down to the last chia seed. Our library of ingredients is like the table of contents for a world’s healthiest foods list. want proof? Starting your day with [me] & goji means starting your day with the confidence of knowing you possess the essential building blocks for exceptional health: vitamins, minerals, fiber, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, phytonutrients…all for under $1 a bowl!

We’ve tried a couple other custom cereal making sites, and this one is the best tasting one so far. My custom cereal included, golden granola, choco goji, raspberry, almond and pine nuts. It was just the right mixture of crunchy and sweet, making it super delicious, and my kids LOVED it also. I urge you to give it a try, it’s a great bargain and so healthy for you!

The guys at [me]&Goji have been generous enough to offer my readers a discount code so you can try it yourself. Just login into [me]&Goji Cereal and use the coupon code JUSTJULIE for a 10% discount on your order. This offer is good until 11/16/2009.

Follow @meandgoji on Twitter.
Become a fan on Facebook

[me]&Goji Cereal Coupon Code

Make a difference in people’s lives this holiday season with a little help from some of your favorite celebrities. These stylish stars, including Alison Sweeney, Angie Harmon, Cindy Crawford, Marcia Cross and Molly Sims, have all partnered with Tiny Prints to create exclusive designs for their Celebrity Holiday Card Collection. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these Christmas cards will benefit their chosen charity.

Alison Sweeney Holiday Card Collection: Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families the opportunity to thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, the organization’s network of 205 member food banks supplies food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including nine million children and three million seniors. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit feedingamerica.org.

Angie Harmon Holiday Card Collection: Children’s Institute, Inc. helps children who have been affected by violence in their homes or communities. Since 1906, Children’s Institute has served at-risk children and families in some of Los Angeles’ most devastated neighborhoods. Children’s Institute provides healing and support to help traumatized children recover and lead healthy lives. The organization leads children away from tragic outcomes, putting them on a path toward opportunity and achievement. For more information, visit childrensinstitute.org.

Cindy Crawford Holiday Card Collection: Cindy Crawford, Bonnie Marcus and Tiny Prints are working together to raise funds in support of the fight against leukemia and lymphoma. Having lost my brother to Leukemia, My charity of choice is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, whose important mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. For more information, visit leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls.

Marcia Cross Holiday Card Collection: The mission of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative is to relieve human suffering in war and disaster by advancing the science and practice of humanitarian response worldwide. Through collaboration within the Harvard community, the organization seeks to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian strategies for relief, protection and prevention with help from experts in public health, medicine, social science, management and other disciplines. For more information, visit hhi.harvard.edu.

Molly Sims Holiday Card Collection: Friends of El Faro works to maintain and support the Sion/El Faro Orphanage of Tijuana and the 110 children who call it home. By helping to improve the lives of the children of Casa Hogar Sion, the organization works to ensure that each child has the chance to live happy and healthy life. Friends of El Faro is currently working toward a long-term goal of purchasing land and building these children a new home, but it also focuses on providing them with food, shelter, safety and education every day. For more information, visit friendsofelfaro.com.

Tiny Prints Celebrity Holiday Cards for Charity

Have you guys tried the High Fiber Soups from Progresso yet? I tried them for the first time when I went to the Betty Crocker Kitchens at General Mills, and they are really yummy! All the Progresso soups have 28% of the recommended Daily Value of fiber per serving (7 grams) and have no added MSG* or artificial flavors. The new varieties include Chicken Tuscany, Creamy Tomato Basil, Hearty Vegetable and Noodles and Homestyle Minestrone.

I’ve got a neat prize pack for one lucky reader that includes two branded soup mugs, two branded spoons, and a can of Progresso Chicken Tuscany soup. MyBlogSpark sent me a prize pack also for hosting the giveaway on my blog and it’s really nice!

How To Enter the High Fiber Soups from Progresso Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Leave me a comment on how you try to incorporate more fiber into your diet
2. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
3. Become a fan of Julie’s Journal on Facebook
4. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
5. Add me as a friend on Facebook
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: Enter to win the High Fiber Soups from Progresso Giveaway from @JustJulie http://bit.ly/25nSvx

Contest ends Friday November 3, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 36 hours to respond.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark for sponsoring my giveaway.

High Fiber Soups from Progresso Giveaway

After 15 years, GeoCities closed their doors today. There are a lot of mixed feelings about this closure. Some happy, some sad.

1. I was a Community Leader for the Enchanted Forest, a place for 18 and under to create a web presence
2. My job was to help the 13-17 yr old kids leave their mark on the web
3. I kept them safe from creepy internet preditors
4. I learned HTML from this job
5. I kept pr0n off the web before it was coined pr0n
6. No longer is the famed animated mail box .gif used on every website…well except this one. Yeah, I hotlinked it! LMAO!



7. Whenever I wanted attention I used the BLINK tag

MAD LOVE FOR JUST JULIE
MAD LOVE FOR JUST JULIE
MAD LOVE FOR JUST JULIE
MAD LOVE FOR JUST JULIE
MAD LOVE FOR JUST JULIE

8. Or, that super effective MARQUEE tag!
MAD LOVE FOR JUSTJULIE…MAD LOVE FOR JUSTJULIE
9. Or I changed it up to be magical and colorful – SEXY!

Okay despite all the joking, I’m kind of sad. My first website ever was on GeoCitites, and I met a lot of really cool moms on the site. Some embraced the technology and have super cool websites or development jobs now, and some just remained really cool moms with super kick ass sexy websites.

Which ever path your chose for your life, I am so happy and grateful to have you in my online world. GeoCities…you changed lives forever! Thanks for the 15!

My Tribute To GeoCities – RIP

What’s that saying, “Ask and you shall receive?” Well that’s exactly what I did when I saw @ TrackPackCooler on Twitter. I thought their cooler was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, so I asked them to send me one in exchange for a review, and they said yes, w00t! Watch this video, they are pretty sweet!

Here’s the thing! I know if you do any type of hiking, camping, picnicking, or tailgating, you’ve had to deal with a big bulky and damn heavy cooler, right? Imagine if you could comfortably carry ice-cold drinks on your back…And you could just reach back and grab one whenever YOU wanted? – Without having to STOP and UNLOAD!

The TrackPack Cooler is probably the most excited camping/hiking accessory that we’ve added to our equipment collection in a long time. I honestly don’t know how we’ve lived without it for so long. So long heavy bulky cooler days, I will never have to haul you around again, yippee!

$39.00! How can you not buy one at that price!?

TrackPack Coolers – It’s So Much Cooler!

I am the worst when it comes to taking my makeup off at night. I get so tired and lazy, and just say, forget it. Well that was me before I found Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes. They are in a nice little package that I have sitting on my nightstand. They have an exclusive cleansing system, with oil- and dirt-trapping fibers, that works like a magnet to remove up to 40 percent more make-up than other leading towelettes to keep you looking your best. And the best thing about them is they don’t require water to use. A lazy woman’s dream, HA! I love them!

I have a fun little giveaway to offer you too! If you notice at the top of my sidebar ——> you’ll see the Unilever Beauty Tip of the Day widget. Everyday there is a new beauty tip which includes Vaseline, Pond’s, Dove and Q-tips brands. I’m not 100% sure if you will receive the exact items that are featured on the widget, but I can guarantee that you will receive four beauty items from the Vaseline, Pond’s, Dove and Q-tips brands. FUN! I love trying out new products, and I hope you do too! Here’s how to enter.

How To Enter the Unilever Beauty Tip of the Day Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Click on the widget and tell me in my comments what your favorite beauty tip is.
2. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
3. Become a fan of Unilever on Facebook
4. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
5. Add me as a friend on Facebook
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: Enter to win a Unilever Beauty Tip of the Day Giveaway from @JustJulie http://tinyurl.com/yg88m5s

Contest ends Friday November 6, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 36 hours to respond.

Unilever Beauty Tip of the Day Giveaway

As October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to introduce you to an online community on MySpace where those touched by breast cancer can connect and provide support, comfort, and encouragement to one another. On PinkTogether.com everyone can share hope by posting and reading inspiring stories of breast cancer survivors and supporters within the community.

The site is part of Pink Together®, a national campaign to support those impacted by breast cancer and to help raise awareness of the disease. To support Pink Together, General Mills is donating $2 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and is turning the packaging pink on an assortment of its most beloved brands. General Mills will also donate $1, up to $20,000, each time you post a comment of encouragement, send a virtual flower bouquet or share a story on PinkTogether.com in October.

So please visit PinkTogether.com and read some of the inspiring stories. You can also watch these videos from the 2009 Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors talking about their journeys with breast cancer.

To help spread the word about PinkTogether.com, My Blog Spark sent me a Inspiring Hope gift pack that includes a sleeved travel mug, a running ribbon charm bracelet, a pink leather strap keychain, a pink cinch bag, and a set of inspirational note cards. All of the gift pack items are from ShopKomen.com, where 25 percent of the merchandise purchase price benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the fight against breast cancer. They’ve also given me the opportunity to giveaway an Inspiring Hope gift pack to one of my lucky readers!

How To Enter the Pink Together Inspiring Hope Gift Pack Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Visit PinkTogether.com and leave a comment on my blog about the most inspiring story you read there.
2. Visit PinkTogether.com and send a virtual flower bouquet.
3. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
4. Follow @PinkTogether on Twitter.
5. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: Enter to win a Pink Together Inspiring Hope Gift Pack from @JustJulie http://tinyurl.com/yfo2×95

Contest ends Saturday October 31, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 36 hours to respond.

Pink Together Inspiring Hope Gift Pack Giveaway

A couple weeks ago I got the chance to review a new book, thanks to One2One Network. They sent me a copy of Eileen Goudge’s new book Once In A Blue Moon, and I also have a copy of the book to giveaway to one of my readers!

Lindsay and Kerrie Ann are sisters who have known hardship from an early age. Without guidance from their neglectful mother, their only aid came from an unlikely source, a retired exotic dancer by the name of Miss Honi Love. When the girls’ mother was sent to prison, Miss Honi tried unsuccessfully to save them from being separated and sent into foster care.

Thirty years later, Lindsay is still trying to reconnect with her sister. The owner of a bookstore in the sleepy California seaside town of Blue Moon Bay, she was lucky enough to have been adopted by a loving couple. Unbeknownst to her, Kerrie Ann has suffered a very different life. Bounced from one foster home to the next, she ran away as a teenager before becoming a drug-addicted single mother. Now, newly sober, Kerrie Ann is fighting to regain custody of the little girl who was taken from her.

Neither sister’s expectations are met when they’re finally reunited. But as the two sisters engage in the fiercest battles of their lives, they are at last drawn together despite their differences, restoring belief in the unshakable bond of family.

Once In A Blue Moon isn’t normally the type of books I read, but I found myself really enjoying it and getting attached to the characters. It’s very well written and easy to read. If it sounds like the type of book that you enjoy then enter my contest to win a copy!

How To Enter the Once In A Blue Moon Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Leave a comment on my blog about this book. Why you’d like to read it, or if you’ve read any other Eileen Goudge’s before.
2. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
3. Follow @EileenGoudge on Twitter.
4. Become a fan of Eileen Goudge on Facebook
5. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: Enter to win the book Once In a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge from @JustJulie http://tinyurl.com/yho9eda

Contest ends Wednesday November 4, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 36 hours to respond.

Once In a Blue Moon Review and Giveaway

I’ve got another giveaway for you guys, and this one is sponsored by UPrinting. They are giving me a coupon code for 100 free postcards for one of my lucky readers. They also gave me 100 free postcards to host this giveaway, so we both win! If you own your own business, postcards are a inexpensive way to get the word out to potential clients. You can also use them for birthdays, holiday greetings, etc. Get creative!

Postcard Giveaway from UPrinting.com

• 100 Postcards for One Lucky Winner (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)
• Sizes: 4″x6″
• Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss
• Printing: Full color both sides
• Specifications: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US (Canadian residents pay shipping and taxes. Offer not available to residents outside of the US and Canada)

How To Enter the Postcard Giveaway from UPrinting.com
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Leave a comment on my blog about how you will use the 100 Free Postcards if you are the winner.
2. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post and to UPrinting.com
3. Follow @UPrinting on Twitter.
4. Become a fan of UPrinting on Facebook
5. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: Enter to win the 100 Free Postcards Giveaway from @JustJulie and @UPrinting http://tinyurl.com/yf8o97o #giveaway

Contest ends Thursday October 29, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email with your coupon code on November 6, 2009.

Restriction: Free UPS Ground Shipping in the USA. Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes. Residents of other countries are not eligible.

100 Free Postcards Giveaway

We are taking a day off today from Blog World Expo today to make room for our new bed! Last month I won a Labor Day Twitter contest (Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite) which included a TempurPedic Celebrity Bed from Mattress Firm, a Premium Mattress Protector, Allerzip Mattress and box spring encasement, and four Allerzip pillow protectors from Protect A Bed.

They are delivering it next Friday morning, and I’m so excited! The thing is our bedroom is really small, and we currently have a queen size bed, so we need to clean up and rearrange a little to make the king size bed fit. My side of the bed is always neat and tidy, but I can’t say the same thing for my husbands side. He’s such a pack rat, and has more books stacked up over there than your local library has in their whole building.

So I’ve got him cleaning up his mess, while I am sitting on the bed supervising the project. Maybe I’ll let him take a break and make me breakfast too? LOL!

My TempurPedic Bed Is On It’s Way!

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. I have a weird hang-up about Hamburger Helper, but this was pretty tasty. I was surprised.

Latricia (1stopmom), Lisa (Growing Up Mo), Jennifer (J. Leigh Designz) and Jeri (Pink and Posh)

Garden-Fresh Lasagna
Prep Time: 35 Min
Start to Finish: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
• 2 1/2 cups hot water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 box Hamburger Helper® lasagna
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 small tomato, coarsely chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 small bell pepper, coarsely chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced (1 cup)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)

1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.
2. Stir in hot water, milk, uncooked pasta and sauce mix (from Hamburger Helper box), oregano and garlic powder. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
3. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato, bell pepper, zucchini and cheese. Cover; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; uncover (sauce will thicken as it stands). Stir before serving.

Nutrition Information:
5 servings
1 Serving: Calories 370 (Calories from Fat 140)
Total Fat 16g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 1g)
Cholesterol 70mg
Sodium 1020mg
Total Carbohydrate 31g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 8g)
Protein 26g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 10%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 20%; Iron 15%
Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 3 Medium-Fat Meat
Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Garden-Fresh Lasagna in the Betty Crocker Kitchen

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. This was really tasty, and I don’t normally like skillet dinners.

Kate (Mom Trends), Amanda (Gourmet Mom on the Go), and Jill (Musings from Me)

Amanda from Gourmet Mom on the Go made her’s extra special so the kids would like it. Great presentation Amanda! You are safe from elimination this week

Spicy Skillet Chicken
Prep Time: 25 Min
Start to Finish: 25 Min

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 can (15 oz) Progresso® black beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 can (11 oz) Green Giant® Mexicorn® whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, undrained. Or 2 cans (11 oz) Green Giant® Southwestern style corn, undrained.
• 1/3 cup Old El Paso® Thick ‘n Chunky salsa
• 2 cups hot cooked rice

1. In small bowl, mix chili powder, salt and pepper; sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken breasts.
2. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).
3. Stir in beans, corn and salsa. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are hot. Serve with rice.

Nutrition Information:
4 servings
1 Serving: Calories 510 (Calories from Fat 80)
Total Fat 9g (Saturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0g)
Cholesterol 85mg
Sodium 1070mg
Total Carbohydrate 63g (Dietary Fiber 11g, Sugars 5g)
Protein 43g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 8%; Iron 25%
Exchanges: 3 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 4 1/2 Very Lean Meat, 1 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 4

Spicy Skillet Chicken in the Betty Crocker Kitchen

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. These were so yummy with the cole slaw, and really close to the authentic ones we get in the Mexican restaurants.

Maria (SavingQueen), Elizabeth (Busy Mom), Lindsay (Suburban Turmoil), and Gina (The Clan McLeod)

Easy Fish Tacos
Prep Time: 10 Min
Start to Finish: 50 Min

Ingredients

• 1 package (10 to 12 oz) breaded or battered fish fillets (6 fillets)
• 1 box (4.6 oz) Old El Paso® taco shells (12 shells)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix (any variety)
• 6 cups coleslaw mix (from 16-oz bag)
• Old El Paso® taco sauce, if desired

1. Bake fish fillets as directed on package. Cut each fillet into bite-size pieces.
2. Heat taco shells in oven as directed on box.
3. In medium bowl, mix mayonnaise and seasoning mix; stir in coleslaw mix. Let stand 5 minutes. Fill shells with fish pieces and coleslaw mixture; top with taco sauce.

Nutrition Information:
6 servings (2 tacos each)
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.
1 Serving (2 Tacos): Calories 300 (Calories from Fat 160)
Total Fat 17g (Saturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 3g)
Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 1000mg
Total Carbohydrate 30g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 6g)
Protein 7g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 20%; Vitamin C 45%; Calcium 8%; Iron 4%
Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Easy Fish Tacos in the Betty Crocker Kitchen

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. These were so yummy dipped in ranch dressing!

Toni (A Daily Dose of Toni), Amanda (Mommy Mandy), Melanie (Little Patch of Sunshine), Jennifer (J. Leigh Designz), and Nicole (Being Frugal Is Fabulous)

Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders
Prep Time: 10 Min
Start to Finish: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup Progresso® plain or Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 package (about 1 1/4 lb) chicken breast tenders
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Favorite dipping sauce, if desired

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray.
2. In shallow dish, place flour. In another shallow dish, beat egg and water. In third shallow dish, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Coat chicken with flour; dip into egg mixture, then coat with bread crumb mixture. Place on cookie sheet. Drizzle with melted butter.
3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center and coating is golden brown. Serve with dipping sauce.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 330 (Calories from Fat 160)
Total Fat 18g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 0g)
Cholesterol 105mg
Sodium 670mg
Total Carbohydrate 23g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g)
Protein 18g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 15%; Iron 8%
Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 2 Lean Meat, 2 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 1 1/2

Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders in the Betty Crocker Kitchen

Since I live in Las Vegas I know it’s hard to believe that I have never been to a Cirque du Soleil show. It’s not that I don’t want to go, I just haven’t made the time to go, if that makes any sense. I’ve seen tons of their videos and stuff on the television though, and they look absolutely amazing! I really need to make an effort to go one day, and if Banana Shpeel ever comes to Las Vegas, I would definitely make the time to see it!

Banana Shpeel is a roller-coaster mix of styles that blends comedy with tap, hip hop, eccentric dance and slapstick, all linked by a hilarious narrative that ignites a succession of wacky adventures. This is not circus, or a musical or a variety show, or even vaudeville. It is Banana Shpeel! Emmett and the Banana Man seem to be almost like Abbot and Costello, which will make for a hilarious show I’m sure.

Propelled by crazy humor and intense choreography, Banana Shpeel plunges us into the world of Shmelky, a cruel and irritable producer who dangles fame and fortune in front of Emmett, an innocent and romantic actor who has come to audition for him. Emmett soon finds himself trapped in a flamboyant, anarchic world where Shmelky sows terror and reigns supreme. Emmett falls in love with the beautiful Katie and meets a bunch of absurd characters, including the strange Banana Man. But who is this mysterious Banana Man and how can Emmett escape the clutches of Shmelky and his henchmen?

If you’re lucky enough to live in Chicago you can catch this show which opens on November 19, 2009, and New York City on February 04, 2010. Buy Banana Shpeel tickets.

Cirque du Soleil Banana Shpeel Show

One of the highlights of my trip to the General Mills Table Talk event was having the opportunity to cook in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. We were divided into 6 groups with each group making a different recipe. This is the group that made the Double-Layer Tacos. They were so yummy, and the girls said they were really quick and easy to make.

Stephanie (Katy Couponers), Brandie (Free Sample Freak), Liz (Lizzy Dears Life)

Double-Layer Tacos
Prep Time: 40 Min
Start to Finish: 40 Min

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 package (4.6 oz) Old El Paso® taco shells
• 10 Old El Paso® flour tortillas for soft tacos & fajitas (6 inch; from two 8.2-oz packages)
• 1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso® refried beans, heated
• 3/4 cup Old El Paso® salsa (any variety)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)

1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Cook over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Heat taco shells and flour tortillas as directed on packages.
3. Spread 2 tablespoons heated refried beans on each flour tortilla. Place hard taco shell on center of flour tortilla and gently fold tortilla sides up to match taco shell sides.
4. Spoon 2 tablespoons beef mixture into each double-layer taco shell. Top with salsa, lettuce and cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:
1 Taco: Calories 270 (Calories from Fat 110); Total Fat 12g (Saturated Fat 4.5g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 30mg; Sodium 870mg; Total Carbohydrate 29g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 1g); Protein 13g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 15%; Iron 15%
Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 1 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Double-Layer Tacos in the Betty Crocker Kitchen

I’ve got another great giveaway for you guys from the Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes restaurants. Here in Nevada, we have Sweet Tomatoes and it’s a really good place to get all-you-care-to-eat/fixed-price fresh soups and salads, and of course the bread (my favorite part)! I took my mom there last time she was in town and she enjoyed it. When I lived in Southern California we ate at Souplantation all the time when the boys were little. At the time they didn’t charge the little guys, so I just fed them off my plate.

Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes gave me 8 dinner passes, 2 in which I am keeping for myself (a gift for hosting this giveaway), and 6 that I am giving away here on my blog. They come in pairs, so there will be 3 winners for this giveaway! But first check out these two big events coming up from Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes restaurants.

crEATe Recipe Contest

On October 1, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants announced the crEATe Recipe Contest. Throughout the month of October, guests can submit their recipes for mouth-watering combination’s made entirely from Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes menu items through the Souplantation web site, Facebook page, or by e-mail. Ten finalists will be chosen in November and all guests will be invited to vote for their favorite finalist in December. The winning recipe and chef will be announced in January and will win a year’s worth of free passes and the chance to be featured in an upcoming ad.

Pajama-Rama Event

On October 18th in celebration of National Pajama Month! Children are invited to roll out of bed and head straight to a restaurant location for the 3rd Annual Pajama-Rama and have a free breakfast from 9am to noon with the purchase of an adult meal. Breakfast items include Belgian waffles, French toast, egg scramble foccacia, cinnamon chip biscuits, potatoes O’Brien, make-your-own breakfast burritos and much more!

How To Enter the Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Dinner Passes Giveaway – 3 WINNERS – 2 PASSES EACH
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Visit the Souplantation web site and tell me in my comments what your favorite item is from the menu.
3. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
4. Follow @Souplantation on Twitter.
5. Become a fan of Souplantation on Facebook.
6. Sign up for the Souplantation’s Club Veg newsletter.
7. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
8. Tweet: Enter to win Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Dinner Passes from @JustJulie http://tinyurl.com/y9ybfay #giveaway

Contest ends Friday October 16, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose three random winners from all the entries and notify you by email. You will have 48 hours to respond. Thank you to Family Review Network and Souplantation for hosting this giveaway.

Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Dinner Passes Giveaway

I’ve got another giveaway for you guys, and this one is sponsored by UPrinting. They are giving me a coupon code for 250 free business cards for one of my lucky readers. They also gave me 250 business cards to host this giveaway, so it’s a WIN WIN! I am in desperate need of new business cards, since I changed my phone number, and I’m sure one of you could use some new ones also, so let’s get down to business!

Business Card Giveaway from UPrinting.com

• 250 business cards for One Lucky Winner (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)
• Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
• Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
• Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

How To Enter the Business Card Giveaway from UPrinting.com
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Leave a comment on my blog about how you will use the 250 Free Business cards if you are the winner.
2. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post and to UPrinting.com
3. Follow @UPrinting on Twitter.
4. Become a fan of UPrinting on Facebook
5. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
6. Tweet: Enter to win the 250 Free Business Card Giveaway from @JustJulie and @UPrinting http://tinyurl.com/yc2koe7 #giveaway

Contest ends Thursday October 22, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email with your coupon code on October 23, 2009.

Restriction: Free UPS Ground Shipping in the USA. Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes. Residents of other countries are not eligible.

250 Free Business Cards Giveaway

Go check out BooJee Beads. They have a lot of neat stuff. You can also follow them on Twitter @BooJeeBeads, where they tweet more giveaways and promo codes.

Thanks Nicolle for hosting the giveaway!

I Won @BabeeLove BooJee Beads Giveaway!

All the employees are there for one purpose; to make sure you have fun. But my favorite employee has to be Taco. Yes, that’s his name, Taco. See for yourself.

One of the “stunts” he does is called the Taco Water Show. I knew there was no way to ever put this show into words, so I did a video instead. Who said the Bellagio Water Fountain Show was the best one in Las Vegas? They obviously have never been to Dick’s Last Resort to see Taco’s Water Fountain Show!

The employees also make hats for people to wear. You don’t know what they wrote on them when they put it on your head, so you’re just the joke of the party for a few minutes until you rip it off and read it. Great fun, and not for people who lack a sense of humor, or easily get butt hurt.

Dick’s Last Resort – Taco’s Water Fountain Show

Want to know about our book, Trust Agents? My co-author, Julien Smith, and I want to know if you are a trust agent. What defines a trust agent? Here are the six main secrets of being a trust agent. Do any of these sound like you?

Make Your Own Game

You can do what’s come before or you can take a unique swing at the world. If you’re Hugh McGuire, you’re working on Book Oven, a whole new way to look at books and reading. You’re someone like Perez Hilton, who took on People magazine and won, as far as we’re concerned.

Are you making your own game?

One of Us

Maybe you’re the person in your industry who’s come to the larger online conversation, like Leslie Carothers is to the home industry. Perhaps you’re the next Matt Cutts, who represents Google to lots of us. He’s more Google than Sergey or Larry, because he’s here. He’s one of us.

Are you one of us?

The Archimedes Effect

Understanding leverage is what separates the hobbyists from the professionals. Do you understand how to take what you’re doing in one instance and extend it out into something bigger or better elsewhere? This is what brought Madonna from just another singer into being a worldwide brand. Leverage is behind all the most powerful people in the world, but it all starts somewhere. Gary Vaynerchuk leveraged his wine store into his video project and took that into his media project and his book deal. Gary bleeds leverage.

Do you understand the Archimedes Effect?

Agent Zero

Connecting and networking and building relationships is what moves you from an individual contributor to an interdependent kingmaker. Learning how to be a core element of several networks is where we think a trust agent works best. Take Robert Scoble. He went from being a guy talking about Microsoft to a guy on a mission to be moved by what he saw around him. Robert connects with people all over, and finds himself at the core of many important networks.

Are you Agent Zero to several networks?

Human Artist

There’s a world of difference between knowing how to build relationships with people and coming off as “that guy.” You know who we mean: that person who shows up with a bullhorn to promote her projects, to blurt about her interests, and then to leave before you get a chance to say anything about you. A human artist is what we call the people who interact well in this new world, and who know how to build nurturing relationships. People like Liz Strauss and Terry Starbucker are human artists.

How do you relate to others?

Build Armies

Working solo is easy. Do you share what you know to promote larger interactions? Can you create resources to help you and then thread your efforts into theirs? Building an army, especially a loosely-joined and flexible group of people from many disciplines, is the key to being an advanced trust agent. People like Danny Brown, who started a social good movement know the value of armies. Ze Frank turned entertainment into a massively multiplayer online experience, one that has yet to be replicated successfully. The implications to business are obvious.

Are you ready to build armies?

If You Answered Yes to Any of the Above

You are definitely in the mindset of trust agents. Your examples might be different. You might not do as much of one of the six secrets as others (I’m still not very good with leverage, for instance). But at your core, you’ve caught on that these new online tools require a different type of person, and that not just anyone can get the most from the experience. You, however, are in the perfect position to be a trust agent.

If you are a trust agent, Julien and I want to meet you over the coming months. We’re traveling the US (and sometimes abroad), and we look forward to connecting with as many of you as we can. Why? Because that’s what we do.

I’m excited you’re part of the experience. We’ll appreciate your help, your input, your support, and your own experiences as part of the project. It’s how we do things. Thanks in advance. You’ve already made this all very much worth it.

If you haven’t joined the Trust Agents Community, swing by. And if you want to buy a copy of Trust Agents, you can get it here.

Are You a Trust Agent

6 weeks old, and HE still has no name. Any suggestions?

Oh Hai Another Kitten Post