Rave and Review

Entertain Beautifully with Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set {Giveaway $60 ARV}

Why does it seem that food tastes better when it’s displayed on beautiful serving pieces?  It can’t just be me that has noticed that the most gorgeous serving pieces are usually empty first or that the manner in which you serve food has a lot to do with how that food is perceived.  I’ve experimented with this firsthand these past few weeks and have confirmed that food is 100% more appealing when served on a Wendell August canvas.

While I was queen of plastic and paper serving pieces in the past, Wendell August has made a believer out of me, and I don’t think I could ever go back to disposable pieces ever again.  In fact, I love Wendell August so much that their amazing handmade Waterfall Chip and Dip Set has been used almost continuously since it arrived. 

Whether it was taken back and forth to holiday gatherings, used as a centerpiece for our parties, or simply as a functional and beautiful accent piece when filled with shelled nuts, everyone has been raving about the Chip & Dip Set from the Wendell August Waterfall Collection.  And, once you see it in person you will see what all the fuss is about. 

From its gorgeously hand-hammered aluminum base to its elliptical shaped bowl, everything about the Chip & Dip Set from Wendell August is simply stunning.  It has a higher shine to it than I had garnered from its pictures on the Wendell August site and in person it is even more gorgeous than I had anticipated it would be.  We’re talking party-stopping elegance that makes it a point of conversation as well as delicious food. 

But, as much as we love beautiful kitchen wares here at Rave Central, we wouldn’t be raving about it if it weren’t absolutely practical as well.  Since our family is big on veggies, chips, snacks, and dips, we’ve tried it with just about every appetizer you can imagine.  From hummus and pita to veggies and ranch, the Wendell August serving set has handled every food beautifully. 

We especially like the size of the 12” tray that doesn’t overwhelm a tabletop but still holds a good deal of food, the low lip of the tray that keeps round veggies from rolling off but isn’t a deep bowl that is hard to fill and serve out of, and the fact that the dip bowl nests wonderfully in the tray and stays in place even when jostled.  It’s this kind of quality that can only come from a company that still makes every product they sell individually by hand right here in the USA and with an attention to detail you just don’t see these days. 

I really couldn’t be happier with the Wendell August Chip & Dip Set and would highly recommend it for anyone that does even a small amount of entertaining each year or for those that are looking for an awesome looking centerpiece that is a beautiful as it is functional.  While you’re checking out the Chip & Dip Set, be sure to take a look at all of the other Wendell August creations.  I don’t know about you, but I have about a dozen new items on my wishlist from the Wendell August collection, starting with the Tracery Oval Tray or Luncheon Tray, their nursery series, and the Dogwood Keepsake Chest!

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set of their very own!

To Enter: Visit Wendell August and let me know what other gorgeous item of theirs you have your eye on.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/oRcoymFp} and tag and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Wendell August on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Gorgeous entertaining with Wendell August @HandMadeUSA metal pieces! Enter the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/oRcoymFp

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On February 14th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

The Wendell August Chip & Dip set for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Help Make Your Home Cozy with Blinds.com

A couple months ago I read a piece of home buying advice that I wished I had heard back before we bought our house in 2006.  The author of the article was talking about the hidden costs of buying a home and at the top of her list was “count the damn windows”.  Her point  being that lots of light may be awesome during the day, and may even be the reason you fell in love with the house, but at night and during early morning, window coverings are going to be essential. 

Obviously, I did not follow her advice before we bought, and it wasn’t two days into home ownership that I was kicking myself.  Thousands were spent on window treatments right when we were already strapped for cash after moving.  Once we had all the blinds, shades, and drapes we needed for the necessary rooms, we decided to wait on the rest.  But, then when the guest room became a nursery in 2007, and we realized we would eventually need a solution in there, too.  By 2011 I was still scarred from the window treatments shopping that I still hadn’t gotten around to getting a permanent solution for controlling the amount of light that was now waking my toddler far too early each day.

A few weeks ago Blinds.com came to my rescue, offering me a chance to finally complete my baby nursery – for my now 3 year old!  After spending some time on the site I thought I knew what I was going to order and was ready to buy some white faux wood blinds when I started debating about whether I wanted to go with a contrast cotton tape, cordless, or traditional corded blinds.  Because my daughter’s room has a very specific color scheme and already has white furniture in it, I decided to take the advice from Blinds.com and order a few free samples of the wood colors and cloth tape colors we were considering. 

I was so excited when the samples arrived promptly, and even more so that they came in a plastic portfolio case {great for taking shopping or when decorating} and with a coupon to use for your order.  Can I just say how awesome that is?  I’ve ordered blinds samples before from other window treatment companies in order to match the wood grain in our upstairs TV room and never have I been so impressed with a company’s delivery.

After seeing the wood samples and cloth samples, I was incredibly happy I ordered them.  It’s hard to get the nuances of wood grain and color schemes when shopping online, especially since computer monitors can vary so greatly, hence why they recommend ordering samples before committing to purchasing. 

Once I had the samples in my daughter’s room, we realized that the color we had originally decided on was not the best match for the rest of her wood furniture and that going for a matching cloth tape instead of a contrasting color would probably be the best for her to “grow” with considering she might eventually grow out of her garden mural {sniff, sniff} and want a different color scheme entirely.  Having a more neutral palette would definitely be preferable to having to replace a perfectly good window treatment on color alone.

After we figured out the perfect color and measured {twice}, it was just a few minutes on the Blinds.com site to choose all the features we wanted on our new window treatments.  Once ordered, we got the blinds promptly and couldn’t wait to get them up to stop the early morning wake ups.  The blinds were easy to hang and it was minutes of prep before they were secured in place, the cord child-proofed, and valance installed. 

As soon as we got the blinds up in her room, I know we made the right choice in terms of color and type of treatment as the blinds blend seamlessly into her room décor – not distracting at all, but still very elegant and clean.  As beautiful as they looked once installed, I really wasn’t expecting my daughter to love them as much as she does.  She has a pretty adorable room, complete with custom mural and HearthSong Pink Wooden Kitchen, but once those blinds went up she was over the moon excited and was raving about her “special room”… had I known that new blinds would make her adore her room this much, we would have ordered from Blinds.com years earlier!

Thinking about getting some new window treatments for the New Year but not sure what to buy?  Check out their handy Blind-Finder, which can walk you through all of your choices and help you find the best fit for your house.  Bonus: you can get some great deals on Bali blinds and shades through the rest of this year.  Wouldn't 15% off look wonderful in your bedroom/bathroom/kitchen/livingroom?

A big thank you to Blinds.com for sending a blind to review as part of the Blinds MOB group.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Vizardz Personalized Lighted Gifts {Review & Giveaway + Discount Code}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 15

Every single holiday I am stuck thinking of the perfect personalized photo gift.  There’s only so many calendars and picture frames you can gift each year, which means I’m always searching for something new that can really wow.  Well, I can finally stop looking, because I have found the #1 coolest thing to do with a photograph.  Ever.

Vizardz are the makers of a full line of personalized lighted gifts for everyone on your list and they are unlike anything I have ever seen before.  Instead of printing an opaque image and then placing a light behind it as with other lighted photo gifts, Vizardz does something truly revolutionary.  It turns them into 2.5D sculptures that then appear to be 3D when you add light. 

By using a process that could only be magic, Vizardz is able to take the very same pictures I have stored in folders on my computer and turn them into something completely stunning.  The etched 2.5D designs are quite neat just on their own with the contours of the picture taking on a whole new dimension, but when you add light they are so beautiful that I was rendered speechless.  The result is not just another print – it is a beautiful and heirloom quality work of art that makes it feel like you’ve somehow frozen time in one single image for all eternity.

With how gorgeous the final result is, you would think that it took a lifetime to craft, but the process is actually quite simple.  You merely choose what you would like to create – be it a nightlight, a lightbox, an ornament – in the size, color and quantity you would like, and then you find your favorite digital photograph {this step took me the longest by far}, upload it to their site, and order.  In what seemed like no time at all, our creations were in our hands and we couldn’t wait to check them out. 

Yes, creations plural.  Because we have a zillion pictures and had such a hard time narrowing down which ones we wanted to use, we actually got to sample one of each of Vizardz amazing 2.5D products to see their entire product range and the difference between monochromatic and color. 

The Vizardz Christmas ornament was easy to decide on because we had the perfect shot taken of our family last year that has become so special to us.  Picturing it on an ornament already had me smiling, and I couldn’t wait to see it on the tree.  When it arrived we still didn’t have a tree up, so we ended up hanging it in the dining room so we could display it before we decorated.  I love showing people the ornament before it’s plugged in and they all exclaim “is that you guys?” and then seeing their shocked expression as the ornament seems to come to life when the light switch is flipped.  We love it so much that we have no plans to retire it after the holidays, we’re just going to use it as a beautiful light orb in our bedroom so we can enjoy it year-round.

The next project we created was the nightlight and I finally narrowed it down to a picture I took in San Diego for BlogHer when the family and I took a trip out to Coronado Island and happened upon Frank L. Baum’s house he was living in when he wrote “The Wizard of Oz”.  The house itself wasn’t anything special, but what was truly amazing was the swarms of butterflies that live in the bushes right outside the front door.  We spent so long in the yard of the house taking pictures of the little ones and I captured this perfect sun bleached image that to me shows the magic of the location.  Putting it on a colored night light right in our kitchen was the perfect display spot, a constant reminder of that one day spent rolling in the grass, musing about writing a novel as powerful as Oz, and playing with the butterflies.

For our third project, we chose a picture taken this past summer at a family event of my grandma {affectionately known as “Ellen the Great”} holding my youngest.  Even though the picture is amazing and I love seeing how my little blue-eyed beauty takes after my beloved grandmother, I debated a while about whether I should choose a picture without my daughter in such an obvious heirloom piece.  I ultimately decided the picture was too special not to use and made a deal with myself that if I ever regretted choosing a picture of one child and not the other, that I could simply order an extra Vizardz light box insert easily.  But, for now I can’t imagine choosing another image since the finished lightbox is so amazing.  Since I can’t see my grandma every day and miss her terribly throughout the year, I love that I can feel the bumpiness of her face in the insert and it makes her feel closer.

Instead of yet another calendar or collage frame, I’m so happy that I have a truly amazing way to display our photos just in time for the holidays.  By turning these photos into decorations we can enjoy around the house, it highlights them and makes them that much more special.  If you’re like me and have been struggling with what to do with all those favorite pictures, you should definitely check out Vizardz to see how they can make them even more amazing.

Want to design your own 2.5D photo gift?  Use coupon code "happy20" at checkout to get 20% off until the end of December!

Want to win a 4x6 Personalized Light Box valued at up to $68.95?  Of course you do!

To enter, simply visit the Vizardz site and comment on this post telling me something you learned about the company, the process, or their amazing products.

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Like Vizardz on Facebook and leave a comment letting them know what your favorite photo gift is that they make {BONUS: they announce all their sales on their page so you will always be the first to know!}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/15zZuR5y } and tag Vizardz on Facebook and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

I want to #WIN the @Vizardz3D Personalized Photo Light Box (ARV $69) #giveaway from @RaveAndReview! http://t.co/15zZuR5y

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 4th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #53 tina reynolds said... i subscribe 2/2

A big thank you to Vizardz for sending their awesome photo gifts for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Tea Collection Sleepwear for the Holidays

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 14

We have a tradition in our family of getting the kids new pajamas for the holidays.  Since this is the season of curling up by the fire with cocoa and tea, much of our evenings are spent in comfy PJs that are perfect for snuggling.  Besides being snuggly, it’s also adorable - Is there anything cuter than kiddos in pajamas?  The answer is yes, kiddos in matching pajamas from Tea Collection. 

We got to see this cuteness in person these past few weeks and let me tell you, it’s heart melting.  We’ve never really gotten the kids nice pajamas before, we typically buy them on the clearance rack or get them handed down, which is probably why our pajamas are rags by the time they go through the last child.  Feeling the softness and quality of the Tea Collection pajamas I already knew that these would not be the same way and would definitely last through multiple children. 

It seems a little silly when you think about how much time kids spend in their pajamas that we had taken them so much for granted, but not anymore we don’t.  After being spoiled with the super soft fabrics of the Tea Collection, I don’t think our kids will accept anything less.  And truthfully, after all this amazing snuggling we’ve been doing with the kids in their “cozy pajamas” from Tea, I don’t know if we can ever go back.

Beyond the high quality fabrics, the pajamas from Tea Collection also have the fun style that we love so much in all of their children’s clothing.  Inspired from and highlighting styles from around the world, Tea Collection is a great way to have clothing you won’t see everywhere while bringing different cultures into your kids’ world. 

As strange as that seems, it really does ring true.  We ordered boys pajamas in an Asian theme, with origami birds on one set and Koi fish on the other, both of which have started conversations with our very curious daughter.  It’s pretty crazy to end up spending half of our bedtime routine explaining what Koi are, then go into our experiences feeding them and how big and colorful they are, all from her curiosity of what the pretty fish on her clothes is.  Not to mention, now apparently we need to learn origami. 

If you are looking for adorable and quality made pajamas for your little one or perhaps a gift for someone else’s, look no further than Tea Collection.  With an unbeatable mix of style and culture and a bonus dose of super snuggly, they are the perfect pajamas for enjoying all that winter has to offer.  Tea Collection Pajamas come in sizes 6 month all the way to 12 years and the girls pajamas easily coordinate with the boys, which makes them perfect for matching PJs for siblings or cousins, even when there’s a large age gap.  From family movie night, decorating the tree, and even Christmas morning, wouldn’t your kids look cuter in matching pajamas from Tea Collection? 

Shop now at Tea Collection and find everything from sleepwear to activewear for your little one {and maybe even something for yourself, too... did you know they have women's clothing?  They do and it is awesome!}

A big thank you to Tea Collection for sending the matching pajamas for the little ones.  As you can see, they love them.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Get Cozy with Mohawk Rugs {Review & Giveaway}

When we were putting the finishing touches on our house back in 2006, we specified to the builder that we wanted to extend the wood floors across the entire main living spaces.  Not only did we both love the looks of wood, we wanted something that would be practical once we had children.  While wood was definitely the right choice for us in terms of practicality, the only problem is that it makes a space a little cold and stark. 

Not wanting to miss out on what we both think is a vital part of being a family – the rolling on the floor, snuggling, and the floor-time play, we knew we needed something to soften the space and make it more inviting.  The solution to having the versatility of wood but the coziness of carpet is, of course, area and accent rugs that help warm up a space and make it feel homey and welcoming.  Knowing this, we began our search at Mohawk Rugs and were blown away by the selection that was available at numerous local stores. 

We visited a few stores and decided pretty quickly that we wanted an abstract design and a darker color to cozy up our very neutral living area so we headed online to search out Mohawk’s extensive line.  When we were finished adding our favorites we had it narrowed down to a dozen or so and that’s when we really started debating.  The rug we liked the best for our space ended up not being in stock near us, but we decided to take a leap of faith and order sight unseen.

While sometimes it can be a bit scary to order online without seeing in person, I’m happy to report that it worked out really well.  The Wilkshire Mink/Lichen rug is just the right amount of color and “pop” for our room and it’s the perfect amount of cozy.  With its thicker pile and shag-like design, it makes it a soft and fun place to relax and play with the kiddos.  When paired with a nice carpet pad, it offers a nice little cushion that I appreciate, especially after laying on the floor to play the 5th game of Memory in a row.

Even though I knew that the room would really soften up with the addition of a nice rug, what I didn’t realize was how it would totally transform my living room.  Even just thinking about getting cozy with the kids in the living room makes me smile.  A renewed love of our living room means we’ve all been spending a whole lot more time in there as a family, which is the best bonus I could ask for!  

If you are looking to cozy up your living spaces this winter and add some personality, color, and comfort, you should definitely check out Mohawk’s vast selection of rugs for whatever your room size or budget.  While you can shop locally at numerous stores nationwide, you can also use Mohawk’s handy rug selection tool to help you make your choice from the comfort of your home like we did.  I think you will be surprised at how much a Mohawk rug can transform your space, and take your room from blah to wow in minutes.

Check out the newly launched www.mohawkhome.com to see some great ideas to inspire, their newest designs, and products for every room in your house.

Want to win a Mohawk rug up to size 5x8 valued at up to $150?  Of course you do!

To enter, simply visit the Mohawk Retailer site and comment on this post telling me what style rug you would choose.

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

3 Extra Entries - Like Mohawk Home on Facebook and leave a comment letting them know that Rave & Review sent you {@tag us if possible} and what rug you would like {BONUS: They are running a $1,000 sweepstakes on their Facebook page so be sure and enter that, too!}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/Jxo8ElAJ} and tag Mohawk Home on Facebook and  R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Cozy up with a new Mohawk Rug from @RaveAndReview! Enter to #win a 5x8 rug from @mohawk_home valued at up to $150! http://t.co/Jxo8ElAJ

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 2nd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to: #581

Nicole Larsen said... #1 I subscribe via email

A big thank you to Mohawk Home for sending the Mohawk Rug for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Our ActiFry Holiday Party {Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 8

Have you seen the ActiFry multicooker before?  We were introduced to this PTPA winner a few months back and have been simply amazed at all the entrees, appetizers and desserts you can create with little or no effort.  This amazing appliance is launching this week at Costco, so to celebrate we hosted an ActiFry Holiday Party at our house this past weekend to show friends, family, and neighbors what all you can cook in it. 

In the past few weeks that we’ve been busy planning, hosting, and recovering from our ActiFry Holiday Party, we have been more and more impressed with the ActiFry every day.  When people see the ActiFry box the first time, everyone thinks the same thing: French fries.  And, yes, the French fries and JoJo potatoes you can make in the ActiFry are simply delicious – the perfect amount of crispness, fluffiness, and just a tiny amount of oil – but that’s nowhere near the end of what you can make. 

While we, too, originally fell for the ActiFry just for the fact that it could take our homemade French fries and make them mouth-wateringly good and good for you, we continually are finding that the ActiFry can improve upon other recipes that we have loved for years, too.  From Asian inspired broccoli beef to hot wings to perfectly done veggies, every single recipe we have tried has become a new family favorite.  One look through the included ActiFry cookbook and I guarantee you that your mouth will be watering; they really do have everything from comfort food to gourmet entrees and even dessert. 

It actually took a long time to decide on the final menu for the party because everything looked so good and we wanted to try it all, but we finally made our choice of 7 recipes and gathered all the ingredients so we could try them out with our party guests.  By the time guests started arriving, we had most of the dishes for the night prepped, had roasted the pumpkin seeds and had the French fries cooking so we could start snacking right away.  And, as guests arrived at the party they were immediately hungry after smelling all the great smells coming from the kitchen.  The first response was always the same: what is that that smells so delicious?  The answer: everything! 

Since we wanted everyone to help cook in the ActiFry over the evening, we had recipes set out at each station and bowls full of the ingredients to make them all.  Our first recipe was an appetizer to start things off, the Sweet and Saucy Meatballs.  http://tfalactifry.com/recipes/view/sweet-and-saucy-meatballs-2  We improvised a little with the recipe by adding different fruit juices and varying the amount of pineapple and peppers in our three batches we made, but each finished dish was gone in minutes after coming out of the cooker and everyone was raving about how delicious they were. 

The next recipe we started was the Tuscan White Bean with Sausage, which was one of the more gourmet recipes we tried out.  With ingredients such as escarole, which is something I had never heard about before the party, I was a bit worried that it was going to be a little fancy for our cooking party, but my worries were unfounded.  We made two batches of this recipe because everyone loved it so much, and many guests said it was their favorite recipe for the night.  

Next we did an all-vegetarian recipe, the Rainbow Vegetable Medley, and even though it was competing with French fries, meatballs, and sausage and beans, everyone was still raving about the medley.  I especially liked the lemon juice in the recipe as it added a light and healthy flavor to the veggies and made them amazingly flavorful.  I expect that this will be one of our regular week night dinner recipes as it was so great and so easy to make as well.

Even though we probably had enough food at this point, I really wanted to try out the “fried” chicken wings in the ActiFry, so I had the guys make up the Asian Style Chicken Wings for all of us.  The recipe really couldn’t be easier – you just put them in the ActiFry for 20 minutes and then add sauce and cook for 2 minutes.  While it’s simple {and ambiguous, since you could pretty much add any sauce you would like}, it really was the rave food of the party.  I can’t even tell you how many of the guys came up and said they had never had better wings before, and this is from a group who knows their wings.  I would call that a ringing endorsement

The last dinner recipe we tried was the Green Beans with Almonds and Parsley, which was one of my very favorite dishes.  The green beans were just perfect in their doneness and their flavor was simply amazing.  As with the vegetable medley, the recipe also called for lemon and zest, and it really added that extra kick to the dish, as was the addition of the almonds.  This is the perfect side dish for the upcoming holidays and I plan on making this recipe for a few gatherings. 

Yes, at this point we had plenty of food and really could have stopped cooking, but that would have left our party without dessert, and we can’t have that, right?  And, this dessert was simply amazing, we really wouldn’t have wanted to miss it.  If you like apple pie or apple crisp, you will adore the Chef Ming Tsai’s 5 Spice Crumble.   

While it is nearly impossible to describe just what this machine can do using only text and pictures, once you see it in action you will be simply amazed.  I know our friends were once they saw all that we were cooking for our party.  Even though we had been using the ActiFry for a few weeks before the party, even we were impressed after we tried all the amazing recipes.  In fact, we loved using it so much that we have made a spot for the ActiFry on the counter so we can use it for quick week night dinners and desserts, which is a very big thing for us!

Price: $250 ARV.  Find out more about the ActiFry, its many features and recipes, and where to buy at tfalactifry.com.

Want to win an awesome ActiFry for yourself?  Of course you do!

To enter, simply visit the ActiFry recipe site and comment on this post telling me what you would make in yours if you win!

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Like ActiFry's Facebook page and comment with what you would make in the ActiFry if you win and @ tag PTPA and Rave & Review

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us all:

Make healthy "fried" foods easily with the super cool @ActiFry #giveaway from @RaveAndReview & @PTPA! http://tinyurl.com/7xqb8a2 ARV $250!

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

For more entries, please visit my PTPA ActiFry Party blog post for more ways to enter to win this awesome prize!

On December 6th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: Teressa Bignell, you are the lucky winner!

A big thank you to ActiFry for providing the information and giveaway for one lucky winner.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Sound Asleep Room Darkening Curtains {$1,500 Sweepstakes}

Cozy At Home Event - Day 5

Is there anything more elusive than good sleep for parents of young kids?  While I vaguely remember my pre-parenthood nights in which I slept 7-8 hours and woke feeling rested and ready to take on the day, it’s been 3 ½ years since I’ve slept like that.  Since then, I’ve gotten up every day at the first light thanks to my son, regardless of how early that is or how little sleep we’ve all gotten {darn you, Daylight Savings!}. 

This little amount of sleep means that some days we’re all on edge, exhausted, and badly needing a nap.  As if that’s not bad enough, the problem really comes when naptime doesn’t happen because the sun’s streaming in through their windows and the kids spend hours playing during naptime instead of sleeping.  Then everyone is irritable, including me, because we’re all running on such little sleep.  The solution?  Room darkening curtains that make any room sleep-ready no matter what it looks like outside and keep the little ones sleeping until they have had enough sleep. 

When I heard that the National Sleep Foundation recommended sleeping in a darkened room and using room darkening curtains for better quality sleep, I was intrigued.  When I found out that Sound Asleep Curtains were the official curtain of the National Sleep Foundation because of their amazing light blocking and noise dampening abilities, I was 100% sure that we needed to try them out for our family to see if they could solve our sleep dilemmas. 

We decided to order some for my son in a color that could grow with him so we chose a 63” length dark brown curtain that fits with his “world traveler” theme.  Of course, we were incredibly excited to try them, so we were really happy they arrived quickly at our front door.  When we opened the curtains and valance, the textured chenille fabric was kind of stiff and wrinkled, but after reading that they were machine washable {yay!}, we just tossed them into the washer and dryer and the wrinkles came right out and were ready to hang. 

And, now that we’ve had them up I can say that our new curtains from Sound Asleep are pretty much amazing – they have given me back my morning AND our beloved naptime!  Now, instead of hoping for grey, overcast days so my son sleeps in and take good naps, I can simply slide the curtains shut and the nursery looks like nighttime any time of day.  And, as if sleeping longer wasn’t awesome enough, the really cool thing is that he seems to be getting good quality sleep that means everyone wakes rested and ready for fun!

Seeing at how well my son sleeps now, I’m really excited about getting a set of Sound Asleep curtains for all of our bedrooms.  Really, who doesn’t want a good night’s {or afternoon’s} sleep for their entire family?  It’s amazing how much more fun everyone has once they’ve slept well, and if curtains can help make that happen, I’m all for it! 

So, I’m betting you think these curtains cost a fortune and you will have to trade a few weeks’ pay in order to get yourself {and your children} a set, so would you be surprised that they are completely affordable at $19 - $34 per 42” wide panel, depending on length?  They are available in 10 colors and 4 lengths, with 2 valance style options, so you can custom fit every window in your house.

You can find out more information about the Sound Asleep Room Darkening Curtains by visiting their website, soundasleepcurtains.com and you can find them for purchase at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Amazon.com.  You can also find out more about National Sleep Foundation (NSF), an educational and scientific not-for-profit organization all about improving sleep health and safety, at their website SleepFoundation.org.

AND - SoundAsleep Curtains wants to help you get the sleep you need with a $1500 grand prize Amazon gift card giveaway in The Sleep Better and Win Sweepstakes!  Just “Like” SoundAsleep Curtains on Facebook to receive one entry, and an optional entry for sharing the page with your friends.  One $500 Amazon gift card winner will be announced on 11/23 and the grand prize winner will be announced on 12/9.  Now, who couldn’t use $1500 in time for the holidays?

A big thank you to SoundAsleep Curtains for sending a set to give us all a more relaxed morning and a better naptime! All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Baking with White Whole Wheat Flour {Gold Medal Prize Pack Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event – Day 3

We’re all trying to eat better these days, making things from scratch whenever we can and substituting healthier ingredients when possible.  This is where Gold Medal white whole wheat flour comes in, as it’s a fabulous way to get your family to eat whole wheat products… without them having any idea. 

Traditional whole wheat flour is brown in color and has a different texture than all-purpose flour, thus leaving your baked goods looking and tasting a bit different than you might be used to.  While this doesn’t bother me or my family a bit since we’ve been eating whole wheat for quite some time and substituting Gold Medal whole wheat flour whenever possible, there are certain foods that are hard to make with whole wheat flour because of the different texture.  Gold Medal white whole wheat flour is 100% whole grain but with a lighter taste and color, which makes it a great substitute because it not only looks more like traditional white flour, it also produces great baked goods that are moist and flaky like all-purpose white flour.

I was thrilled when I received a Gold Medal white whole wheat flour pack a few weeks back in the mail and got to try it out in my own kitchen.  After using traditional whole wheat flour for so long, it was really fun to try a white flour to compare in some of our favorite dishes.  It’s been a long time since we have had white bread around the house and I think I actually forgot how delicious it can be for sandwiches and more. 

The Gold Medal white whole wheat prize pack we received not only included a coupon for free flour, a canister to store it in, and some great recipe cards, it also had a conversion guide for you to follow.  The white to whole wheat conversion guide from Gold Medal walks you through substituting it in your family’s recipes, gradually introducing it in place of your traditional white flour for more delicate items.  This is something I love since it’s hard to know how to best use a new pantry ingredient and it’s always nice to have a guide. 

The included recipes are also great because they certainly don’t look or taste like foods made with healthy whole wheat flour, they are just like what you might find in a bakery case or restaurant.  Seriously… gingerbread cupcakes and double-chocolate lava cake?  Don’t mind if I do!

As much as I love the Gold Medal white whole wheat flour, my favorite thing in the prize pack would have to be the Gold Medal ceramic canister with its retro charm.  Since we have Tupperware overload in our cabinets, we decided to use the canister as a “cookie jar” of sorts for goodies in the house that we could keep on top of the fridge.  Not only is it completely adorable, the kids now know not to even try digging through the pantry because the foods they are looking for are up too tall for them to possibly get at unassisted by us. 

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Gold Medal white whole wheat flour, I would highly recommend trying it.  Not only is it a healthy substitution you can make easily for your family, it’s also really great tasting – in baked goods and everything else you use flour for.  Check out the Gold Medal site to see tips and tricks for mastering the use of the new Gold Medal white whole wheat and for recipes, nutritional information and more!

Tips for Baking with White Whole Wheat Flour
•    Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour looks more like all-purpose white flour because it’s made from a different kind of wheat—hard white spring wheat. Most whole wheat flours are made from hard red spring wheat.
•    Substituting some white whole wheat into recipes will enable you to sneak some whole grain into baked goods while maintaining a similar taste and texture of those made with all-purpose flour.
•    For recipes that depend on the flour for most of the flavor, such as bread and pizza dough, or baked goods that call for sugar and fat—such as cookies, muffins and brownies start by substituting white whole wheat for 25 to 50 percent of the recipe’s flour content.
•    White whole wheat flour absorbs more moisture than all-purpose flour, which can make for deliciously moist and flaky recipes, but also means that baked goods won’t stay as fresh as long as those made with all-purpose flour. If your family won’t be eating what you baked in a day or two, consider freezing the freshly-baked goods until you need them. Place cooled baked goods in a resealable plastic freezer bag.  Freeze quick breads (like scones and muffins) up to 3 months, or unfrosted cookies up to 12 months.
•    Chocolate Chip Cookies are a great recipe to freeze to keep on hand, whenever you want homemade cookies. For a “fresh-baked” cookie anytime, simply microwave a frozen cookie on a paper towel on Medium-Low (30%) about 1 minute 45 seconds or until the edge of the cookie is heated; then move the cookie and paper towel to the counter to stand about 30 seconds or until the chips are cool enough to eat. (Time may range slightly, depending on the wattage of your microwave.)

Want to win a Gold Medal Prize Pack filled with goodies to get you in the baking mood?  Of course you do! 

To enter, simply tell me what you would make with the new Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour {click for inspiration}!

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar {2 extra entries, must be verified to count}

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both {daily Tweet, just post link here}

Have you tried White Whole Wheat Flour? Enter the prize pack #giveaway from @raveandreview! http://twrt.me/bjimi9

3) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {2 extra entries}

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage {2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup}

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  {1 extra entry, must have an active link to R&R}

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On November 21st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #62 Amber said... I "like" r and r on facebook #2

The Gold Medal White Whole Wheat flour product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Gold Medal through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

GreenPan Cookware and Ovenware {Review & Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event – Day 2

We’ve talked about GreenPan before and how much we love them for stir frying, sautéing, and searing, but something most people don’t realize is that they also make awesome ovenware as well.  Like their cookware, GreenPan bakeware has Thermolon non-stick technology, and offers a PTFE-free and PFOA-free alternative to traditional non-stick coatings to give you worry-free healthy cooking as well as easy cleanup. 

So, what is PTFE and why should you avoid it?  PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) is a waxy, synthetic substance that is used in most non-stick cookware.  PTFE is known to decompose above 260° C/500°F, releasing toxic fumes into your home while you cook, which your family then breathes in.  Then, as if that wasn’t bad enough, over time the PTFE coating begins to peel and flake and eventually ends up in your food.  Yuck!

Thermolon, the non-stick coating used by GreenPan, is heat resistant up to high temperatures, even up to 450°C/850°F and will not release toxins or peel from the cookware.  Of course, Thermolon is completely PTFE and PFOA free, but another cool fact is that it also consumes less energy during the application process.  Thermolon cannot be overheated {something I love because I love to cook on HIGH, much to the dismay of my husband} and is a better heat conductor than traditional coatings {which just might make it easier for me to cook on MEDIUM from now on, saving energy}. 

If you haven’t had a chance to check out GreenPan before, the first thing that will strike you is how glossy smooth the cooking non-stick surface is.  Unlike other non-stick surfaces that are matte black and have ridges and crevices, the GreenPan has this great light grey glossy surface that foods just slide off of.  As well as making it easier to cook without extra oil and grease, this coating also makes for the easiest cleanup ever – which means you conserve your energy as well as water when cleaning. 

Want to know more about GreenPan and their line of kitchen gadgets, ovenware, and cookware?  You can check it out here www.green-pan.us be sure to follow GreenPan on Facebook to keep up on all their promotions and giveaways!  Bonus - they actually respond on Facebook, so be sure and head over and start a conversation!

Want to win an awesome GreenPan set that includes a 9.5 inch GreenPan Copenhagen fry pan, a GreenPan Dubai Ovenware lasagna pan, and an apron, oven mitt and scrubber {all of the items pictured in this review}? 

To enter simply visit GreenPan and tell me something you learned about their line or something you would love to own.

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

I'm so hoping I win the awesome GreenPan #giveaway from @realGreenPanUSA and @raveandreview http://t.co/CnqpLteQ

3) "Like" GreenPan on Facebook (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  (1 extra entry, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On November 16th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#85 Shannon said... I really want the Wok!!

Thank you to GreenPan for offering this review to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Crane Adorable Animal Cool Mist Humidifier - New Adorable Owl

Cozy At Home Event - Day 1

With school back in session and cold weather moving in, there’s no denying that cold and flu season is also on the horizon.  That means sick days spent sneezing, coughing, and feeling helpless as my family fends off the illness.  Although there are times when medication is a must, I’m not big on unnecessary medication for my family, especially for babies, so I’m always searching for natural remedies that I can employ to comfort and soothe without resorting to medicine. 

Top of my list of tools for cold and flu season is a humidifier, which is a great way to add moisture to your environment and provide comfort for stuffed up babies {and those that care for them}.  I first started shopping for a humidifier back in 2008 when I was pregnant and came down with a cold that I couldn’t medicate.  I had read about all the benefits of humidifiers for a variety of different ailments and knew I wanted one in the nursery I was creating, so we started shopping for one that could eventually make its home in the baby’s nursery.

Thankfully, I quickly found the most adorable children’s humidifiers ever, the Crane Adorable Animal Cool Mist Humidifiers.  Luckily for us, these adorable animal-shaped humidifiers are easy to find in retailers everywhere and it was just a quick trip to Target to locate them.  After that, the hardest decision was what Adorable Animal Cool Mist Humidifier to choose.  After discussing it a bit, we were on our way home with the adorable frog humidifier.

Once we got it home, we realized that in addition to being adorable, animal-shaped, and kid-friendly, the Adorable Animal Humidifiers also have some really cool features that we love.  First in our list of raves is how incredibly quiet the unit is when it’s running.  If it’s on its lowest - medium setting it is almost imperceptible, living up to its “whisper quiet” claim and then some.  On high it is also incredibly quiet, but you will hear more bubbles in the water tank periodically, which might bother some but I personally found rather soothing. 

We also love that the Crane Adorable Animal Humidifiers don’t require an expensive filter {although you can buy one if you have hard water}.  They are also easy to fill, clean, care for, and use, which I appreciate because the last thing you want is a big project when you’ve got a sick family.  Add in the fact that it’s a safe for kids with its cool mist that won’t burn or scald {which is great because kids love them – just check on YouTube and you will see what I’m talking about}, and I would say it’s the perfect nursery humidifier. 

In fact, it wasn’t long after the birth of my second child that I realized that one humidifier in the house may sound like enough, but not when we all get sick at once {which is always the case}.  When colds and flus do descend on our house this year, we will all be incredibly happy now that we have added the newest Crane Adorable Animal Cool Mist Humidifier to our family – the adorable owl.  This means that we don’t have to  draw straws for who gets the cold and flu relief and both kids can have their own humidifier.

The Adorable Owl lives up to its name in a very big way and has become a beloved piece of room décor even though we are all fine and healthy {knock on wood}.  Although my daughter has fully claimed the Adorable Owl for her owl-themed room, she has agreed to share the owl should either hubby or I fall ill on our own.  Not saying I’m looking forward to being sick, but I certainly wouldn’t mind making a little space for the Adorable Owl on the nightstand for a few nights. 

If you’ve been thinking about trying a humidifier for your family and want one that is not only kid-safe but also very much kid-approved, I would highly recommend the PTPA Award-Winning Crane Adorable Animal Cool Mist Humidifiers.  We’ve been using one for four years now and love them more than we had even hoped.  They have helped us fend off illness, provided comfort when illness struck, and even with all their hard work, still looked completely adorable while doing it. 

See the full line of Crane Humidifiers, Purifiers and more at http://crane-usa.com/

A big thank you to Crane Humidifiers for sending the Adorable Owl Humidifer to be adored.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.