Hurry! Giveaways End at Midnight

Good morning! I just wanted to remind you that there are two giveaways ending tonight at midnight! Enter before it is too late:

• XO Baking Co Gluten Free Giveaway (3/1)

• Apparel Dynasty Gift Card Giveaway (3/1)

Have a great day! Only two more days until Friday.

Big Appliance Purchases

Our new house does not have any appliances in it so that means that we have to buy some. Even though this is costly, it is fun to be able to shop for new appliances.  I wanted to share the deals I got with all of you.

Here is what I bought:

Maytag Fridge

Frigidaire Stove

Frigidaire Dishwasher

Also, I found a coupon code for $25 extra off and used Ebates which gave my 4% back ($95!!!!). I think I got some really good deals and can't wait till they arrive.

Has anyone used any of these appliances before? 

 Please share your experiences!

Golden Peanut Flour Review

I've been wanting to try peanut flour for some time now.  I have seen it all over the blog world but never saw it in stores.  I read a very positive review on the Golden Peanut Company on another blog and wanted to try it myself.  For my review, I was sent some 12% fat medium roast peanut flour and some 28% fat light roast peanut flour. Besides peanut flour, this company also sells all things peanuts. They sell peanuts, peanut oil, peanut extract, etc.  To purchase their peanut flour, check out Byrd Mill which sells the peanut flour in smaller quantities.

To be honest, I wasn't really sure how to use peanut flour.  I had seen bloggers mix it with a little water to make a peanut butter sauce for their oatmeal.  Then, I looked on the Golden Peanut website and found many more uses for the peanut flour:

Confections Nutritional Bars Baked Goods Dry Flavor Systems Seasoning Blends

Frostings and Fillings Sauces & Dressings Frozen Dairy Desserts Baking Mixes Peanut Spread

So what is peanut flour anyway? It is roasted peanuts ground into a paste with some of the oil and fat extracted.  You get the peanut flavor and protein without all of the fat.  I decided to try it in the common way that I had seen on oatmeal. I mixed some with a little water and poured it on my oatmeal.  It was very good! You could definitely strongly taste the roasted flavor of the peanuts and it was a good substitute for traditional peanut butter.  I would definitely use it to make peanut butter cookies in the future. Also, I found this good blog post about what peanut flour is and what to do with it if you want more information.

Help! Microwave Suggestions

Hello all! Happy Sunday!

This week, I ordered appliances for my new house. The one thing that I did not order yet was an over the range microwave and this is where I need your help. I am looking for suggestions on a good one.

Here are my must haves:
-Stainless steel
-Less than $300 (less than $200 preferred)

Here are a couple that I am considering:

Fridigaire microwave from Best Buy $200

Whirlpool from Best Buy $195

Besides a light and a fan on the bottom, I am not sure what else to look for. Does anyone have any suggestions on a microwave that they have bought and liked or even one that they did not like? Thanks!

Ballreich's Snack Basket Giveaway

One of my favorite indulgent snacks would have to be chips and love to try all different kinds.  When I found Ballreich's, I knew that I had to try their chips.  I was sent the Special All Occasion Gift Basket to review.

The basket was nicely arranged with the chips and pretzels and would be great for a little gift.  I tried the flat chips first which were tasty.  They were very crunchy and salty. I also tried the Bar-B-Q chips which were sweet and flavorful.  The company sells a bunch of different kinds of snacks besides chips including pretzel, licorice, popcorn, torts, and meat snacks.

Also, something awesome that I found online about the company is that if you live anywhere near their factory in Tiffin, OH, you can buy their chips hot and fresh made. If I ever make it to that area, I would love to get these. For some tasty chips, check out Ballreich's!

Giveaway

The Worst 45 Minutes

Ava                                                         Jaxen

 These two dogs are pretty much my best friends. I love them very much and don't know what I would do without them.  Wednesday night, they both ran away.  I let them outside and they normally go potty right next to the house and come back to the door and I let them in.  This usually takes about 2 minutes.  This time, they were gone for about 4 minutes and I started to worry.

I put my coat and shoes on and ran outside. It was already pitch black out and hard to see. I called their names and they didn't come.  Then, I ran back inside and grabbed a flashlight for each hand.  I looked all around out trailer park and could not find them.  Then, after a long 10 minutes of searching, I found Jaxen.  I was very relieved but still could not find Ava.

I was calling her and searching and it was dead silent. No leaves rustling, no noises, nothing.  I got into my car and slowly drove around the park looking.  Nothing.  I contemplated calling my husband but knew that I would break down if I did.  Then, I took Jaxen out of the house, put him on a leash, and had him help me find Ava.

After 45 horrible, stressful minutes, I found Ava pretty far from our home.  She was cold, shaking, and had her ears back.  At that point, I decided not to even yell at her but picked her up and went home. That is when I finally broke down crying.  I always knew that I loved my dogs but when something like this happens, it makes you realize what life would be without them.  I sure learned my lesson and will not have them off the leash again. I thank god that I found them.

Also, I think that Ava thought that she was never going to see us again because although she was pretty freaked out, the second I put her down in the house, she started going crazy.  She was running around squeaking toys and having the time of her life.  So my friends, that was the night that I almost had a heart attack after thinking that I was going to lose my best friends.

2/23 Winners

Good morning! I have a couple of winners to announce.

• California Avocados Giveaway (2/23)

 gmarie242@

• Mason Jar Cookie Company Giveaway (2/23)

wilcarvic@

I am emailing the winners now and they will have 48 hours to respond.

Also, I got a comment from a reader wanting to know more about my dietetic internship. I will be typing up a post on that and posting hopefully tomorrow. If you guys want to know anything or have any specific post ideas, please let me know! I cannot read minds : ) 


Finally, I am sorry for all of the paid posts. It is a little hard to turn down now due to my 45 hour a week unpaid internship but I will cut down on the ones that don't really make sense for this blog.

Just Some Basic Curtains for my Guest Bedroom

Guest post written by Katy Burton

I don't think anyone expects a person's guest room to be spectacularly decorated. But I still like to try and decorate mine in a really neat way. It used to be where my old bedding would go to die. But I decided that given the number of guests that I have, that I should actually make it look much nicer. But I'm going with a minimal aesthetic this time that is classic and isn't too overwhelming.

I looked online to get some inspiration on how to do minimalist stuff right without looking too plain and void of any personality. When I was looking, I happened upon this site about Debt Counseling. I thought it was my lucky day because I'm in debt and could really use some counseling to give me some direction on what to do to get back in better financial standing.

I found some inspiration for some basic window treatments that let a lot of light into the room while still ensuring privacy. I don't want my guests to feel too exposed, but I'd also like them to keep from sleeping all day if they're visiting! So I think that these ideas will be perfect.

Fitness Alliance

Exercise is very important for your mind and body. Dietitians preach two things: the importance of good nutrition and exercise. Personally, I struggle with motivation to exercise often and try to think of ideas that sound fun and don't have you bored.  I do love to go on walk though and do fitness videos. 

Fitness Alliance is a company that sells some of the most popular workout DVDs. Some of these include Insanity and P90X which I know are some of the ones people love. They also have 90 Day Review, Beach Body, and Extreme Body Workout. Personally, my favorite workout DVD is Jackie Warner Total Body Workout.  I love the moves and it gets me sore for a couple of days after.

What is your favorite workout or workout DVD?

Disclosure: This is a guest post provided by Fitness Alliance. I was compensated for the above post. All opinions are my own.

Saving Money this Spring

As many of you may know, I love to save money. I clip coupons, look for sales/clearances, look for coupon codes, etc.  Anything to help save a couple of dollars is a huge help. Well, there is a site that many of you have probably heard of called Plastic Jungle.  They sell gift cards at a discounted rate. What gets better than that?

Now, you can shop and save with discounted gift cards at Plastic Jungle. They have all different cards for sale. The ones that I would personally get a great use out of would be anything that has to with home design as we are working on our new home.  I just checked it out and you can get Home Depot gift cards 7% off.  Remember, every little bit helps!  Some other great options include GAP options, Fandango, and Boston Market. If you are interested in fast delivery because you want to use your card soon, shop eCODES which get emailed to you and are great for online shopping.

Also, besides being able to buy discounted cards, you can also sell your old gift cards that you don’t have a use for.  I sold my Macy’s card that I never used for a great price. That way, I got cash to use on something I actually wanted and barely lost any money.  I got my money quickly and had no issues. To save money and make money on gift cards, check out Plastic Jungle.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. I really did use the Plastic Jungle Services before I was even contacted by the company and thought it was great.

Apparel Dynasty Review and Giveaway

When I saw these shoes on another blog from Apparel Dynasty, I knew that I had to have them.  They are a company that makes some very unique items.  The shoes seen above are called the Party Party Platform Pumps.  They typically retail for $50 but are on sale now for $37.49.

I love that the shoes have three straps which makes them even cuter. The straps can criss cross for a different look.  I will wear these shoes with skinny jeans and a plain top to make them really stand out.  They could be worn to a bar or a fun dinner.  I love the bright and funky colors.

 The company sells a few styles of shoes with fun and bright patterns on them. They also sell bags, flats, and scented shoelaces. Check out the bacon and eggs and hot dog scented shoelaces above. Too cute!

Giveaway

The giveaway will be for a $25 gift certificate from Apparel Dynasty to 1 lucky reader of 

The Nutritionist Reviews.

Giveaways Ending Soon

Hi Everyone,

I have 3 great giveaways ending soon that I wanted to remind you about. Enter them before they're over:

• California Avocados Giveaway (2/23)

 

 

•  Mason Jar Cookie Company Giveaway (2/23) 

• XO Baking Co Gluten Free Giveaway (3/1)

XO Baking Co Gluten Free Giveaway

As a soon to be dietitian (4 months!!!), I love trying gluten free products to see which ones are tasty so when I have patients with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, I can tell them which products to try.  When I found the XO Baking Co, I was interested in seeing if their products were similar to regular non-gluten free products.  For my review, I was sent the chocolate chip cookie mix, brownie mix, and the banana bread mix.

Saturday night my husband and I got a rare craving for cookies. I remembered that I had just been sent this mix and pulled it out. The only bad thing was that I did not have any eggs. Then, I remembered what some of the bloggers had talked about making a "flax egg".  Just combine 1 tablespoon ground flax and 3 tablespoons of water.  Stir and wait 10-15 minutes while it thickens up.  We tried doing this even though we were unsure of the results.

The result: they were amazing! The cookies cooked very quickly which satisfied out sweet tooth even sooner. The cookies tasted just like non-gluten free cookies and were very soft and tasty. We both were very impressed. My husband ate 4 cookies in a row! I would definitely recommend these cookies to anyone who cannot have gluten without a doubt.  My husband said "these cookies are right on par with regular cookies". They were amazing. I can't wait to try the banana bread and brownies too.

Giveaway

I am very proud to offer you a giveaway of three products of your choice from XO Baking Co.

Guest Post: Healthy Foods to Love

Who doesn’t like to cheat on their diet every now and then with a little dark chocolate and red wine? Well, don’t feel too guilty since dark chocolate and red wine have been shown to have significant benefits in fighting both heart disease and cancer.

Chocolate packs a real punch rich in flavonoids that provide protection against toxins and help the body to repair damaged cells. The main flavonoid found in chocolate is the antioxidant "flavanol," employed to keep the heart healthy by lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow and maintaining healthy platelets that are less likely to clot. These flavonoids are found in higher numbers in dark chocolate, as it has been less processed.

Dark chocolate has an additional health benefit protecting against cancers like mesothelioma, breast cancer, or even prostate cancer. The antioxidants found in the cacao bean are the highest in any natural source, and these provide resistance against cell damage that can lead to tumors. In a nutritional diet, the recommended daily amount is one ounce of chocolate containing at least 64 percent cacao, especially for cancer patients to prevent further growth of tumors.

Red grapes hold a super health secret as well. They are another food source containing high levels of antioxidants. The antioxidants in red wine are particularly valuable in combating breast cancer cell growth. The same is not true, however, for white wine, as the benefits are found in the skin of the red grapes.

Red wine has similar properties to dark chocolate in preventing heart disease. The antioxidant, resveratrol, reduces the risk of damage to blood vessels and prevents blood clots. In addition, a lack of antioxidants can result in cardiovascular damage, such as a built up cholesterol on the artery walls, so by including one or two servings of red wine a day in a healthy diet, the body receives the required amount of antioxidants.

So, go ahead and feel free to indulge a little and think of it as a toast to your health. Salute! 

Katrina Evans is a recent college graduate and major foodie aspiring to write with a purpose. In the name of health and wellness, she especially enjoys making a difference in the lives of others seeing how devastating cancer can be for people and their families. Katrina also reads all the time, works to stay fit, and listens to cool podcasts.

California Avocados Direct Giveaway

My family is the biggest avocado fans. For example, on Super Bowl Sunday, my brother made guacamole with 8 avocados and we ate it all in like an hour along with tons and tons of other food. Avocados are great sliced on a sandwich, used in place of mayo, and or course made into guacamole.

I found the company California Avocados Direct that ships fresh picked avocados right to your door.  I contact the company and they kindly sent me a case of their avocados to try.  I shared some with the other dietitians at the hospital since I had so many and they were excited to try them.  I was sent a different variety that what is normally sold in most grocery stores.  They are called fuerte avocados.

Here is some information on this variety: The fuerte avocado used to be the "go-to" avocados until the Hass variety took over the market.  Fuertes have a delicious, nutty flavor....we can get them in California, but it's hard to find them in other states.  The Hass avocados have a thicker skin and ship much better in quantities for grocery stores.....so  if you order a subscription from us (or a gift box) you are getting a premium, gourmet avocado that has not spent time in coolers, hasn't tumbled through a sorting machine,  hasn't been poked and prodded in a store....just as though you have a tree of your own! Also, this kind of avocado does not turn black!

Avocados sometimes get a bad reputation because of their fat content. People think that fat is bad for you but the kind of fat that is in avocados (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are actually very heart healthy.  I love the versatility in avocados and that they can be made to taste like many different flavors.  For example, I cut open one of my avocados last night and chopped it up and used it as a topping to my falafel and hummus wrap. It added some creaminess and a great fresh flavor. 

Giveaway
The giveaway will be for a dozen fuerte avocados from California Avocados Direct ($28 value).

Buy-a-Rolex Company

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Buy-a-Rolex.net for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Interested in buying a Rolex? I'm sure that many of us are! The Buy-a-Rolex company is a company that sells Rolex watches, a very luxury watch and this site sells pre owned Rolex watches. They have quite an extensive selection of watches that you can buy.

Rolex is easily the most famous high end watch line out there. I think that most men would love to have one. My husband has been asking me for a watch for a few months now and would LOVE one of these.  They are known to last a long time and are easy to recognize on someone's wrist.

They have a large selection of Rolex watches including watches from the Rolex Daytona line and Submariner Rolex watches. The company is located in the United Kingdom and is run by people who are serious collectors and lifetime lovers of this kind of jewelry.  They ship worldwide and now are offering free shipping on their products. At this time, Rolex watches are not even close to in my price range but if you are looking for a very high end watch, this may be something that you may want to check out.

Green Valley Organics Lactose Free Review

Green Valley Organics is a company that makes lactose free dairy products. Many people cannot handle lactose but still want to be able to eat dairy products and that is where Green Valley comes in.  They make different yogurts, sour creams, and kefir.

When I received this package on Friday, I opened up the kefir right away to try.    I was sent the blueberry pom acai flavor.  It is the best kefir that I have ever tried! It is slightly tart and full of flavor.  Two days later, I already have half of the container drank.  The best way that I can describe the texture of kefir to people is a mix between yogurt and milk. It is full of probiotics and live cultures and is very good for you. I would highly recommend this kind to people.

Next, my husband and I tried the sour cream on a couple of different meals. We made venison chili and topped it with a dollop of this sour cream.  It was amazing! It was super rich and melted right into the chili.  You cannot tell the difference between products with or without lactose.  Also, I made falafel pitas with onion, cucumbers, spinach, hummus, and a dollop of sour cream.  The sour cream gave an excellent creamy flavor. Something to note about this sour cream is that it is higher in calories than many sour creams (100 calories/serving).

I am extremely impressed with these products and hope to find them in my local grocery stores soon.

NMEDA

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NMEDA for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

What is NMEDA? It is a non-profit trade association that educates people on buying products from a NMEDA qualified dealer.

They do not sell anything. What they do is promote safe driving and equipment for people who are disabled.  The members have to follow the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NMEDA members sell the handicap vands and vehicle modifications for the disabled.

Since people with a disability are so different from one another, this company is very aware of that. They warn you to watch out for equipment being sold over the internet or in catalogs because they may not work for each and every person. With NMEDA, you get an in-person evaluation so make sure that you are getting the proper driving equipment based on your lifestyle and needs.

NMEDA has both dealers and Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers which are separate from one another. The QAP is the only nationally recognized accreditation program from the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry.  Being a caregiver is a very tough job. I've done it before for my grandpa and it's a difficult job.  Feel free to call NMEDA for some help.

To check where there is a NMEDA dealer near you, go to the nmeda.org website and hit the dealers locator, type in your zipcode, and find your nearest dealer.

HBL Thermal Styling Review

It is always fun to try out new hair products and see what they do for your hair. I was sent some products from the HBL thermal styling system to try and review. HBL stands for Health. Beauty. Life. and also sells other lines of hair products for different styles straightening, volumizing, shine, etc.

Here is some information on the products that I was sent: Nourish, shine and protect from start to finish when styling your hair with the HBL Thermal Styling System. Leave-In Conditioner provides weightless moisture for thirsty tresses while Shine & Seal provides a smooth, high-gloss finish. Thermal Spray protects hair during all thermal applications including blow drying, flat ironing and curling with hot rollers or a curling iron.

I decided to try out these products when I was getting ready for my Valentine's Day celebrating with my husband.  My hair turned out very silky and smelled good! I really like the leave in conditioner especially now in the winter where my hair is very dry. The shine and seal made my hair very shiny which was great. I am a big fan of these products!

***Right now, if you buy the shine & seal and the leave-in conditioner, you receive the thermal spray for free.

Mason Jar Cookie Company Giveaway

 I love cookies and think that there is not too much better than a warm cookie right out of the oven.  When I found the Mason Jar Cookie Company, I became very interested.  They are a company that lets you create your own cookie mix with many different options. This would be perfect for any gift, it would especially be cute for Valentine's day. Check out the company's Valentine's Day cookie creations.

First, you choose the mix that you want, chocolate, peanut butter, oatmeal, or traditional. I went with the traditional. Then, you choose your "Sweets, treats, and crunchies" which includes options such as toffee, jelly beans, chocolate, etc. Then you choose your nuts and then dried fruit.  For my mix, I chose oreo pieces, dried cherries, and apricots and placed my order.

The order shipped very quickly and I was excited to open the cute tube packaging seen in the first picture above.  The ingredients look very nice in the jar as you can see above.  I love that they gave me tons of dried cherries because I just love those : ).  All of the dry ingredients are already in the jar and you just have to add egg, vanilla, milk, and butter.  The mix was easy to use and turned out delicious! My favorite part was definitely the apricots which were so tasty and tasted like fresh apricots.

Giveaway

The giveaway will be for one Mason Jar Cookie Company creation.

Fruit&Fruit Bars Review

As a huge fruit fan, I was excited to try these Fruit&Fruit bars made with only fruit.  I was sent the three varieties including the coconut & raisins, mango & pineapple, and apple & berries.  Each bar has 2 servings of fruit in them.  I look for products like this to eat when working at the hospital when my blood sugar gets low. It provides some quick nutrition to get it back up. 

My favorite of the bars is the coconut & raisins one.  It is full of flavorful coconut and tastes great.  I like that the bars are nice and soft and chewy.  Also, the mango & pineapple one is sweet and fruity.  These bars make a perfect snack for on the go. They are not too overly sweet like you might imagine with dried fruit which is good.

Here is some information about them:  Fruit&Fruit bars are 100% natural with a unique texture and taste. Made of real fruit pieces (not mashed fruit), these bars are chewy and deliciously fruity. The ingredients list is simple – it’s just fruit! The bars contain no sulphites, no preservatives, and no artificial ingredients. 100% of all sugars come from fruits! Fruit & Fruit bars are peanut free, gluten free and are produced in a nut-free facility. 

For some tasty fruit bars, check out Fruit&Fruit!

V8/Vera Bradley Giveaway Winner

Sorry it has taken me so long to post the winner for this giveaway.

V8 Smoothie and Vera Bradley Giveaway (2/2)

And the winner is....Aileen Robison- arobimom

I have emailed the winner and she has 48 hours to respond.

Also, just wanted to let you know that I have FOUR giveaways starting later this week. Stay tuned!

Clipix

What is clipix? It is a free, new tool on the internet that will help organize our lives online. I personally signed up for an account because I look at so many different things on the internet each day and it is hard to keep track of everything. For example, I look at blog stuff, stuff for my internship, dietitian jobs, Facebook, Twitter, and many other sites. This site helps you take all of the things that you look at and save and organize them.  You can share it with the people you want to and keep out everyone else.

Here is a picture of my first board, a bunch of bloggers recipes:

How it works is that you drag a bookmark called the "Clip" button to the bookmarks bar and click it whenever you see anything online that you want to come back to.  So simple!

What I will personally be using clipix for is to clip delicious healthy recipes, decorating ideas for my new home, cute pregnancy stories, dietitian jobs/sites, etc.

Finally, another part of clipix is their Syncboards where you can clip along with your friends and family. If one person adds a clip, then everyone in that group can see it!

Check out clipix to help organize your online life!

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