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The Unbound Series eBook Giveaway – 2 Winners – Worldwide – Ends 05/09

April 25th, 2012

Sun is Burning

Love romance novels? Enjoy fantasy fiction? Then let me introduce you to The Unbound Series by Jessica Bradshaw! Two lucky Contest Corner readers will win e-book copies of the first two books in the series, so read on!

The Unbound Series is a paranormal romance by Jessica Bradshaw. I just had to check these books out when I read this description on the author’s website: “It (liberally) blends cultures, various historical periods, Simon & Garfunkel, and Agnostic, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic beliefs (with a bit of mystic Judaism for good measure), all in the name of paranormal romance.” Mrs. Robinson meets theology? My curiosity was piqued!

In this series, we meet Samuel, an angel who has spent his existence attempting to find his soulmate, a person to whom he was bonded with but was forcibly separated from in a “Time before time” prior to gaining his current consciousness. He has been reincarnated in human form on earth over the course of hundreds of years but despite many marriages and lives, he has yet to re-locate the love that he knows is out there. Currently serving as a guardian angel to those in the earthly realm, his world is turned upside down by the revelation that the teenager whom he has been assigned to watch over since her birth, Jude, has been his soulmate all along. Worse still, Samuel is forbidden by his angelic supervisors to go down to Earth to finally join her, uncovering a much bigger destiny for Jude, whose ability to communicate with otherwordly beings has both angels and demons taking a vested interest in her. A paranormal romance that mixes teen angst with a brooding angel and mystical musings, the Unbound trilogy is a coming-of-age story that fantasy fans are likely to enjoy. I’m not always a big fan of this genre personally, but Bradshaw kept me interested and wanting to find out what would happen to the protagonists. The books are an interesting mix of the modern day woven in to historical flashbacks, with these old souls narrating their lives in casual 2012 slang. Although this style didn’t always quite fit for me, I did find it entertaining to read about angels comparing the trials of modern-day adolescence to the Crusades!

One of my favorite things about these books is the fact that it portrays the guardian angel realm to be much like a corporation, with the angels having to report to various supervisors and deal with paperwork. These angels have to go through the same red tape in heaven as we do on Earth! The only difference is that their “HR” stands for “Heavenly Realm” and not “Human Resources”. ;) Surprisingly, the most unrealistic parts of the book for me were the ones involving the Earthly realm – for example, I didn’t find it to be very believable when Jude’s counselor suggests she solves all her problems by simply jetting off as an exchange student to England, and I found it a little too tidy when all of her new friends happen to be gifted soothsayers and ghost whispers as well. Although the point of the book is that angels, ghosts, and demons have influence on daily life, so really these plot devices are just illustrating that and showing how the developments in Jude’s life might not be entirely of human volition.

These books were more engaging than I had expected, and they are every bit as good – and in some cases, better – than their contemporaries on the best seller list. The only difference is that not as many people have gotten a chance to read these yet. It was fun to read these books over a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning, and it really made me want to break out my Bridge Over Troubled Water album! Sadly, my record player is broken, but I was able to pull up a Simon & Garfunkel playlist on Spotify to play along with the book. If you’re a fan of otherwordly romance novels, I’d encourage you to check out this up and coming author and give these a read!


Giveaway Time!

Hazy Shade of WinterSun is Burning

TWO lucky Contest Corner readers will each win e-book copes of Hazy Shade of Winter and Sun is Burning. Prize will be delivered as coupon codes which can be used on Smashwords for the e-book format of your choice. Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, click here to visit TheUnboundSeries.com, then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me something you learned about the books, the author, or just found interesting! This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
5. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on May 9th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to worldwide entrants, 18+.

Godiva Coffee Mother’s Day Giveaway – Ends 05/02

April 25th, 2012

Godiva Coffee

This year, Mother’s Day lands on May 13th in the US. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for mom, or you’re a mother in need of pampering herself, what better way to celebrate the day then with a moment of zen? For many of us, the simple joy of coffee in the morning is one of life’s little pleasures – so give mom an “Aah” moment this year with some delicious flavored coffees from Godiva! One lucky Contest Corner reader will win two limited-edition bags of Godiva Coffee to enjoy, so read on!

It should be clear by now to anyone who reads this blog that I am a fan of Godiva’s coffee line, so it will come as no surprise that I’m be featuring their special Mother’s Day blends, Dark Chocolate Raspberry and Roasted Almond. These coffees were made with mom in mind, and their elegant flavors and cute packaging make them a great gift idea. What coffee lover wouldn’t enjoy a gift basket with a few bags of Godiva tucked in it?

I had a chance to sample both of these coffees, and I can tell you that if you are a fan of delicious flavored coffees, you are likely to enjoy these! The Dark Chocolate Raspberry blend was inspired by Godiva’s double chocolate raspberry truffle, and it is absolutely delicious. The first thing I noticed about it is the delicious smell that wafted through the kitchen after it finished brewing. It made my anticipation even greater to taste it! Enjoyed with cream and sugar, this coffee is a decadent as biting into a piece of chocolate with a raspberry center, really bringing out the sweet flavor. Enjoyed with just cream, the deep coffee taste is more evident, although you can still plainly taste the chocolate and raspberry notes. Meanwhile, the Roasted Almond, which was inspired by one of Godiva’s favorite nut truffles, has a deep nutty flavor. I thoroughly enjoyed sampling both of these coffees and I think they would be heavenly when paired with chocolate or biscotti – which is another great idea to tuck into a gift basket for mom! :)


Giveaway Time!


Godiva Mother's Day Coffee

One lucky Contest Corner winner will receive one (1) bag of Dark Chocolate Raspberry coffee and one (1) bag of Roasted Almond coffee! Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, click here to “Like” Godiva Coffee on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me what your Facebook username is. This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
5. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on May 2nd at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US residents, 18+. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, endorsed or otherwise associated with Facebook. By entering this giveaway, you are releasing Facebook and understand that you are providing information to Contest Corner and Godiva Coffee, not Facebook.

Celebrate Earth Day With BBC: DVD Giveaway – Ends 04/22 – US & Canada

April 16th, 2012

BBC

Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22nd. In celebration, the BBC is releasing its new series, Frozen Planet, on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as re-releasing some of its best-loved nature documentaries. To help you commemorate Earth Day, BBC Home Entertainment is giving one lucky Contest Corner reader a fantastic DVD prize package worth over $115, so read on!

Jai and I are big fans of nature documentaries, and there’s no question that the BBC has produced some of the most exceptional and ground-breaking of this type of programming. We recently had the pleasure of receiving a complimentary copy of The BBC Natural History Collection for review. This collection includes the DVDs Planet Earth, Blue Planet, The Life of Mammals and The Life of Birds – over 33 hours of amazing programming. We had a chance to watch some of this collection over the weekend and really enjoyed it.

The Life of Birds is a delightful glimpse into the life and behaviors of birds around the world. I’ve always loved birds so I really enjoyed this program, which features rare birds like the Kakapo and truly unique birds like the Hoatzin, an incredible bird whose chicks have claws on their wings. The Life of Mammals has a wealth of interesting footage, including the first platypus den ever caught on film.

The Blue Planet is an amazing look at the incredible world of underwater life. So much has yet to be learned about life in the deep oceans, and the DVD artwork has a quote from the series’ assistant producer, Hugh Pearson, saying that at the end of most of their shoots, scientists would ask them for copies of their footage. That’s another thing that makes these shows important – not only are they sharing this information in an entertaining format that anyone can watch, but they are also helping to document things that provide insights for the scientific community. What better way to use a TV budget than that?

We also watched the first episode of Planet Earth, “From Pole to Pole”, which chronicles the changing of the seasons around the world and how they affect natural habitats and the animals that live in them. At the end of the episode, they have a “Diaries” segment where they give you a behind-the-scenes look at how the camera crew got their incredible and groundbreaking aerial shots of African hunting dogs chasing Impala. Watching the hard work and careful methodology that goes into filming these types of documentaries is always fascinating to me – I often wonder when I watch nature shows, “How did they get this shot?”

This set is so extensive, with hours upon hours of footage, that we have barely scratched the surface of what’s on these disks. This collection is highly entertaining as well as being educational, and is a wonderful collection for families to watch together. (Bearing in mind age-appropriateness of course – being a collection of nature documentaries, it of course shows the food chain in action, so is probably best viewed by older children.) I can’t think of a better set to commemorate Earth day than this one, which shows the magnificence of our precious natural resources.


BBC Polar Bear sweepstakes

BBC Polar Bear Sweepstakes

The BBC is offering a fantastic “Ultimate Polar Bear Adventure” sweepstakes for US & Canadian residents. Winners will get the chance to travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba and experience a one-in-a-lifetime chance to observe polar bears up close. You can enter this sweepstakes by clicking here. Sweepstakes runs until July 31st, 2012. Note: You must click the link to enter on the Frozen Planet website – comments on this post will only enter you into Contest Corner’s DVD giveaway, NOT the Polar Bear Sweepstakes.


Giveaway Time!

Planet Earth Limited Edition Globe DVD

Blue Planet DVDFrozen Planet DVD

One lucky Contest Corner reader will win the following DVDs:

1 Planet Earth Limited Edition Globe DVD – check out the amazing packaging!!

1 Frozen Planet DVD

1 Blue Planet DVD

This prize is worth $115.47! Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, leave a comment on this post and tell me: How do you plan to observe Earth Day? Perhaps by watching a nature documentary with your family, finding items to recycle, or just spending a few moments outside? This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Click here to view the full catalog of DVDs available from BBC Home Entertainment. Then come back here and leave a comment on this post mentioning a DVD you’d like to watch!
3. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
4. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
5. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
6. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 22nd at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents, 18+.

nimble by Balance Bar Mother’s Day Gift Set Giveaway – Ends 04/25

April 13th, 2012

Nimble by Balance Bar

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching in the US, so many of you may already be shopping for the perfect gift. Would you like to find a unique gift set that is both practical and fun? nimble by Balance Bar are giving away a special Mother’s Day Gift Set to one lucky Contest Corner fan, so read on!

Balance Bar are well know for their nutritional energy bars. Their latest product is nimble, a bar designed just for women. Packed with protein, fiber, calcium, vitamins and more, nimble is a petite 120-calorie bar perfect for snacks. I received a complimentary sampler box containing both nimble bar flavors: Peanut Butter and Yogurt Orange Swirl. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the flavor – I’m not usually big on peanut butter energy bars, but I quite liked this one. It doesn’t feel “Heavy” or chewy, like some protein bars do. However, my utmost favorite was the Yogurt Orange Swirl – I really loved the creamy flavor!

In all, I thought the nimble bars were great, and they sure came in handy over the last week when I was in a rush and needed to grab a quick bite on the go. Since these are small, I think they would be best as a snack or a supplement to a meal – unless you prefer to eat something really light for breakfast. I really love having these kind of bars on hand, since they’re tasty and ideal for hectic days, tucking into sack lunches, or just enjoying as an easy meal addition!

Click here to learn more about nimble. nimble bars can be purchased on ShopBalance.com in both 12 and 24 packs; and you can also pick up their exclusive Mother’s Day Bundle for $33.98. You can also keep up with the latest nimble and Balance Bar news by becoming a fan on Facebook.


Giveaway Time!

Nimble Mother's Day Gift Set

One lucky Contest Corner reader will win a nimble by Balance Bar Mother’s Day Gift Set! This limited-edition gift set includes the following:

  • Twenty-four bars of nimble
  • An exclusive nimble mini pouch by glittersweet® with a whimsical wildflower appliqué on a chic, white glitter background
  • A soft, silky nimble headband
  • A special poem for mom printed on a nimble note card

Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, click here to visit ShopBalance.com, then come back here and leave a comment on this post mentioning another product that you’d like to try! This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
5. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 25th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US residents, 18+.

Lady Fortunes Personalized Oreo Cookies Giveaway – Ends 04/25

April 13th, 2012

Lady Fortunes

Are you looking for the perfect way to make your next birthday party or celebration really special? Or maybe you’re looking for a unique wedding favor that guests are sure to love? Personalization is the name of the game these days, with customization available for almost anything you can think of. Lady Fortunes is a company that specializes in just that, creating delectable cookie treats embellished with the photo of your choice. And one lucky Contest Corner reader will win a box of 12 custom picture Oreo cookies, so read on!

Last week, I received a complimentary box of Lady Fortunes cookies on my doorstop to taste test. This sampler pack included a variety of their delectable cookies and treats, customized just for me. So how did I decide to personalize them? By creating Contest Corner Cookies, of course!

Contest Corner Cookies!

What you see there is our blog logo emblazoned on the cookies. I was incredibly impressed with how awesome the logo looked on the cookies. See the tiny picture on the fortune cookie? This photo doesn’t do justice to the detail on it. This was printed from my standard 125×125 .PNG blog button, so it’s not like they needed an extremely high-quality file to get this result. I was really impressed!

As for the taste? The edible picture coating tastes really good, reminiscent of Mother’s Cookies. The sampler included the fortune cookie, a graham cracker, an Oreo, a Rice Krispie treat, shortbread, and a marshmallow. Each one of these was mouth-wateringly good, from the cookie itself to the sweet coating. These were devoured in no time flat! I almost hated to eat them because they were so cute…but I got over that as soon as I tasted them. ;)

Between the look and taste of these lovely cookies, I give them a wholehearted recommendation. These would be adorable as party favors, gifts, or to serve at a special occasion. To keep up with the latest product news from Lady Fortunes, click here to become a fan of them on Facebook!


Giveaway Time!

Oreo Picture Cookies


One lucky Contest Corner reader will win a box of 12 custom Oreo picture cookies! Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, click here to visit Lady Fortunes, then come back here and leave a comment on this post mentioning a product that you’d like to try! This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
5. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 25th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to residents of the 48 contiguous US states, 18+.

Kozy Shack Giveaway – Ends 04/25

April 12th, 2012

Kozy Shack

Kozy Shack is a brand that is synonymous with a tasty snack. Purveyors of puddings of the most delicious variety, Kozy Shack are well-loved as a sack lunch treat. The brand just introduced their newest product, a yummy line of bread puddings, and to celebrate, they are giving one lucky Contest Corner reader 3 free product coupons – read on for all the details!

Chocolate Bread Pudding

I recently got a special delivery of the new Kozy Shack Chocolate Bread Pudding for review. You know it’s going to be a good day when you get pudding in the mail! They looked absolutely delicious, so Jai and I were eager to set about thoroughly reviewing these. ;) When I looked at the package, I was surprised to see instructions for microwaving them – as it turns out, you can either eat these cold or heat them up for 20-30 seconds in the microwave, depending on your preference. I thought that was pretty cool!

We’ve had a chance to sample these – many times! ;) – and we tried them both ways. Bottom line, this rich chocolate pudding is addictive either way. I think it’s best appreciated warm, because it’s just so ooey gooey good! Jai, however, likes it cold and doesn’t bother to heat them up. These are a versatile – pack them cold into a lunch box, or heat them up as a dessert to serve at mealtime!


Giveaway Time!

Kozy Shack Bread Pudding

One lucky Contest Corner reader will win three (3) free product coupons, each good for any Kozy Shack product up to $4.99. Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, click here to view the full Kozy Shack product line, then come back here and leave a comment on this post mentioning which product you’d most like to try. This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
5. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 25th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US residents, 18+.

Veggie Patch Giveaway – 2 Winners – Ends 04/25

April 12th, 2012

Veggie Patch

Whether you’re a vegetarian or just like to have a “Meatless Monday” every now and again, there are a variety of meat-free frozen food items on the market these days. One of these brands is Veggie Patch, who carry everything from chick’n patties to veggie dogs. And Veggie Patch are giving two lucky Contest Corners readers the chance to win 3 free product coupons each, so read on!

Veggie Patch aren’t currently sold in my area – sniff, sniff! – so I haven’t had a chance to taste their products personally, but I always enjoy eating veggie burgers and other frozen meatless products, so it seems like something I would enjoy. Veggie Patch carry a very extensive line of products, including but not limited to:

*Spinach Nuggets
*Meatless Meatballs
*Meatless Mini Corn Dogs
*Falafel Chickpea Balls
*Meatless Buffalo Wings
*Mediterranean Chickpea Patty
*Veggie Lover’s Burger
*Chick’n Nuggets

And many more! Sounds yummy to me!


Giveaway Time!

Chick'n Cutlet
Falafel Chickpea Balls
Meatless Meatballs


TWO lucky Contest Corner readers will each win three (3) Veggie Patch coupons. Each coupon is good for one free Veggie Patch product! Click here to locate a store near you that sells Veggie Patch. Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, click here to check out the Veggie Patch product line, then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me which one you’d most like to try. This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
5. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 25th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US residents, 18+.

Organic Thick Rolled Oats Giveaway – Ends 04/25 – US & Canada

April 12th, 2012

Tropical Traditions

Whether you love to cook, have a big family to feed, or just want an easy breakfast, this giveaway is for you! Tropical Traditions is giving one lucky reader a 5-lb bag of Organic Thick Rolled Oats, so read on for your chance to win!

I love making oatmeal for breakfast. It’s a tasty way to start the day, easy to prepare, and fills you up until lunch. Oats are a great item to add to your pantry, and you can use them in a wide variety of recipes in addition to making your morning bowl of oatmeal. So when Tropical Traditions offered to send me a complimentary bag of their Organic Thick Rolled Oats, it was a no-brainer to say yes!

Once the oats arrived, I set about preparing some oatmeal. These are oats are sold as a bulk item, so there are no directions written on the bag – if you’re used to making prepackaged instant oatmeal and aren’t sure how to prepare these, a good general ratio is 2 cups water to 1 cup oatmeal. I stirred in both raisins and craisins, along with a handful of Tropical Traditions’ Shredded Coconut, and cooked over a medium heat until done – maybe 10-15 minutes.

Yummy oatmeal!

Add a little milk, and breakfast is served! Yum yum!

I received a hefty 5-lb bag, and one cup of oats made more than enough oatmeal for both Jai and I to eat for brunch, so this should go a long way. Great addition to my pantry!

If you’d like to learn more about Tropical Traditions and check out their extensive list of recipes, including ways to use their famous coconut oil, click here!


Giveaway Time!

Organic Thick Rolled Oats

One lucky Contest Corner reader will win a 5-lb bag of Organic Thick Rolled Oats! Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, click here to subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Sales Newsletter. Then come back here and leave a comment on this post with the email address you used to subscribe! This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment on this post for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your post!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this page to tweet with one click!
4. Click here to follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter. Then come back here and leave a comment with your Twitter username!
5. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment with the the email you subscribed with!
6. Post Contest Corner’s button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 25th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada, 18+. Canadian residents: Tropical Traditions is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge should you win this prize. Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. This post contains affiliate links. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or medical condition.

Eight ‘O Clock Coffee Vintage Glass Jar Giveaway – Ends 04/16

March 30th, 2012

Eight 'O Clock Coffee

If you’re a coffee fanatic like me, you probably have a lot of coffee accessories: Grinders, espresso machines, or perhaps a favorite mug. But how do you store your coffee? If you’re just sticking your coffee in the cupboard, then I have a giveaway that will not only help to keep your coffee fresh, but add a great decor touch as well! One lucky Contest Corner reader will win a vintage glass coffee jar from Eight O’Clock Coffee, so read on!

Eight O’Clock Coffee recently uncovered a great surprise in their Maryland roasting facility. The coffee company found a stash of vintage glass coffee jars bearing the the brand’s old logo, and according to their press release, “Eight O’Clock Coffee has been in the business of selecting, roasting and packaging coffee for over 150 years. The treasure trove of jars are both a piece of history AND a great way to store your ground or whole bean coffee.” So what to do with all of these jars? Eight O’Clock Coffee decided that they would give them away to their fans! How cool is that?

I was a recipient of one of these lovely jars, and I think it’s so cool. I love vintage items anyway, and this is a nice solid jar that is perfect for storing coffee. I currently keep my coffee in some plastic Tupperware-style containers that I got free with a coffee purchase at the grocery store a few years ago, and they’ve been so useful. This is a welcome addition to my coffee cupboard, since I usually have a few coffee bags hanging around at a time. ;) Plus, this jar has a rubberized seal around the lid and looks like it will do a great job of storing my precious coffee bags.

Along with my jar, I also received a bag of Eight O’Clock Coffee’s original blend. I’ve bought Eight O’Clock Coffee on Amazon before and enjoyed both the taste and the price; but I’ve only tried their flavored blends, so I was eager to see what the original would taste like. I am drinking a cup now, and I can tell you that I am not disappointed! Eight O’Clock Coffee’s original blend has a bold, strong flavor while still being smooth and drinkable. I have a feeling I won’t be storing this bag in my new jar for very long, because I think I’ll be drinking it all pretty quickly! ;)

Eight ‘O Clock Coffee also sent along a few tips for optimal coffee storage:

  • Keep your unused coffee beans or grounds fresh by storing in an air-tight container.
  • Store your coffee in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight.
  • Avoid freezing—this can break down the flavorful oils in the beans and cause condensation, which makes the coffee go stale faster.

Keep up with the latest news from Eight ‘O Clock Coffee by becoming a fan of them on Facebook.


Giveaway Time!

Vintage Glass Coffee Jar

One lucky Contest Corner reader will win a vintage glass coffee jar from Eight O’Clock Coffee! (Please note, this jar does not come with coffee – the photo above is just an example to show you what they look like.) Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, leave a comment on this post and tell me: How do you store your coffee? This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link!
3. Click here to follow @8OClockCoffee on Twitter, then come back here and leave a comment on this post with your Twitter username!
4. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave a comment on this post with the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
5. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
6. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 16th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US residents, 18+.

Simply Potatoes Giveaway – Ends 04/11 #simplypotatoes

March 29th, 2012

Simply Potatoes

Now that Spring is officially here, plants are starting to bloom, temperatures are beginning to warm up, and sights are set on fresh beginnings as winter ends and we look forward to summer. It can also be a hectic time: Spring cleaning and taxes, anyone?? Luckily, our friends at Simply Potatoes offer quick mealtime solutions to make your days a little simpler. And one lucky Contest Corner reader will win one coupon good for a free Simply Potatoes product to help them streamline their mealtime, so read on!

As you may recall, I reviewed Simply Potatoes hash browns a few months back. I enjoyed them so much, that when I received two more free product coupons for the purposes of this article, we decided to snag two more delicious bags of hash browns. This time, we got one bag of their traditional Shredded Hash Browns and one bag of a new-to-us variety, Southwest Style Hash Browns. The Southwest Style includes onions, peppers and jalapeños in addition to the potatoes, and I think this might just be my new favorite Simply Potatoes product. The combination of flavors really jazzes the hash browns up – it’s delicious!

Hash browns are quite versatile – you can use them in everything from casseroles to breakfast fry-ups. I’ve been known to cook big breakfasts for company with hash browns, eggs, bread/muffins, fruit, and whatever else I might have on hand. I like pre-packaged hash browns because they’re reliable – I don’t know why, but the last time I tried to make them from scratch, it turned into a time-consuming, gray, soggy mess; I think I didn’t squeeze out enough of the water. Thankfully, it’s not as easy to mess up ready-made hash browns. ;) I have my own “Recipe” that I made up using Simply Potatoes hash browns:

Dinner For The Busy & Exhausted

1. Open a bag of Simply Potatoes hash browns.

2. Cook it in a pan.

3. Put it on a plate.

4. Sprinkle with garlic salt and add a dollop of sweet chili sauce.

5. Eat. ;)

All kidding aside, I’d be lying if I said I’d never eaten breakfast for dinner. Some days, simple is king!

Southwest Style Hash Browns

The hallmark of a busy night: Eating food at my desk. I’m dining on Southwest Style Hash Browns, reading my email and listening for messages on my cellphone, with ambiance provided by the Duran Duran CD you see in the background. The hash browns are a bit burnt because I was trying to cook them and work simultaneously – well, I guess I CAN mess up pre-packaged hash browns after all! ;)

If you’re a little more ambitious than me, be sure to check out the Simply-fied Recipes on the Simply Potatoes website with ideas on how to create a meal using hash browns and more.


Giveaway Time!

Simply Potatoes

One lucky Contest Corner reader will win a coupon good for one free Simply Potatoes product! Click here to locate a retailer near you. Here’s how to enter:

1. For your first entry, just leave a comment on this post telling me how Simply Potatoes could help make your springtime meals easier! This step is required to qualify for the drawing.

Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:

2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway. Then come back here and leave a comment with the link!
3. Click here to follow Simply Potatoes on Twitter, then come back here and leave a comment on this post with your Twitter username!
4. Write about this on Twitter using hashtag #simplypotatoes, then come back and leave me the link to your tweet! One Twitter entry per person. You can use the button at the bottom of this post to tweet with one click!
5. Subscribe to my blog updates by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment on this post with the email you subscribed with!
6. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on April 11th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US residents, 18+.