Lip Stuff Give-away

I love the C.O. Bigelow Lip Shines from Bath and Body Works! They are so great smelling and it is advertised that they even "give breath long lasting freshness." My favorite flavors (as shown below) are Cinnamint, Mentha Plum Lip Tint, and Ultra Mentha Lip Shine. I am very excited to try the Orange Mentha Lip Shine... that is my next Bath and Body Works purchase.


Also, their Mentha Medicated Lip Remedy Cold Sore and Fever Blister Treatment really works! I promise!


Leave a comment by Sunday, July 6, midnight and a winner will be randomly selected to win one tube of this great lip stuff! Flavor to be determined.

Gerbera Daisies

I love Gerbera Daisies!!! Love them!!

These are two bouquets that are currently available from www.proflowers.com. I've ordered flowers and received flowers from proflowers before and they are gorgeous and so fresh!!

Semi-Homemade

I've recently re-discovered a passion for trying new recipes. I've been getting some recipes and ideas from the Food Network and I am especially loving Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade. Here are a few of her books that I've put on my personal wish list. Click here for more information about these books and other products.

Not only does she have practical recipes that are so easy and yet so yummy, she has great entertaining ideas! I love her style.

Lucy Ann Jewelry

Years ago, I received a gift of a Lucy Ann charm. I love these charms! I have not ordered them directly from Lucy Ann because there are a couple of local stores that special order. Whenever I wear them I always receive compliments! In addition to necklace charms, they also carry keychains! They make perfect gifts!

Check out the Lucy Ann website.

Fabulous Photographs of the LDS Temples

http://www.looktothetemple.com/mp_includes/index.asp

I have a great friend whose father, Hank deLespinasse, is a fabulous photographer. I was the fortunate recipient of one of his beautiful pictures of the Newport Beach Temple. It is prominently displayed in my home and I get regular comments on it!

All of his prints are limited editions and are signed and numbered! Love THAT!

To see the Newport Beach Temple photograph, click here.

Book Fun!

Something that is guaranteed to make me laugh is watching my kids laugh!

Today I took them to the public library so they could each check out three books. It was so much fun to watch them scour the shelves looking for the perfect book! On our way out we selected some DVDs to watch in the evening before bed. I also checked out a novel, plus a couple of cookbooks.

So, this is a SHOUT OUT for your local public library! Go... take your kids... let them enjoy all that the library has to offer! And if you don't have kids... trust me, there is a lot for grown-ups as well!

Enjoy!

That's Good! That's Bad!

This is one our family's favorite books! The rhythm of the book is perfect as the reader is taken through a series of events that at first seem good... but you soon learn are bad (and vice-versa). For example, the story starts with a boy being lifted by a red balloon... "Oh, that's good. No, that's bad." It's bad because the balloon pops when it hits a tree deep in the jungle. "Oh, that's bad. No, that's good." Good events turn out to be negative... and vice-versa!

We love this book. It is so fun to read out-loud and when you read it often enough, you learn to help your child(ren) see both sides to a situation. So when someone loses their favorite stuffed animal, you can say..."Oh, that's bad! NO, that's good. Now your lonely little panda bear can be your favorite animal and he won't be so lonely anymore!"

This book is available on Amazon.com for $7.95.

Skinny Dippers

I recently discovered a great new treat! They are called Skinny Dippers, by The Skinny Cow! Oh, yummy!


Each bar has only 80 calories, 3 g fat and 11 g carbs. A perfect treat!!

Check out The Skinny Cow website for more information and product reviews!

Glass Bottom Boat

Paige, Kendall and I just watched this movie, The Glass Bottom Boat, together! So cute!! I love Doris Day movies and this is a very cute one!

The Netflix envelope offers this synopsis of the movie: Engineer Bruce Templeton (Rod Taylor) makes quite a catch when he reels in public-relations worker and part-time mermaid Jennifer Nelson (Doris Day). Smitten with the costumed cutie, Bruce commissions Jennifer to write his biography. But through a series of misunderstandings, he comes to believe she's a Russian spy intent on stealing scientific secrets. A comic pleasure cruise, this lighthearted romance also features some great musical numbers.

Paul Lynde has a great supporting role in this movie and was hysterical. Dick Martin and Dom DeLuise also have great supporting roles. The movie was released in 1966 and is 110 minutes. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. It made me laugh!!

Linkity

I have been blessed with a family that loves to play games. Here is one of our current favorites from SimplyFun.

It is called Linkity and the object of the game is to be the first player to play all of your cards through word association links. For example, if player 1 plays a letter "T" and starts the link with the word "table" the remaining players race to play one of their letter cards by coming up with a word that can be linked to "table." A "P" card could be played for "placemat" or a "C" for coffee, etc.

It is a fun, fast-paced game. I love it. Click here for more information.

Chino Bandido

One of my favorite local restaurants is Chino Bandido. (Note: it is IMPOSSIBLE to eat here on a low-carb diet!)

Located at 19th Avenue and Greenway, in Phoenix, Chino Bandido is a typical looking hole-in-the-wall restaurant. The food is a mix of Chinese Mexican. I know, I know... weird! But oh so yummy!

I usually order the Jade Red Chicken bowl (which is similar to orange chicken... but way better). Sometimes I will order a side of refried beans, just because I love their beans! My girls love the Teriyaki Chicken. The bowls are served with white rice, and I understand you can substitute fried rice for a nominal fee... but WHY? Phil loves the Pollo Diablo... it is VERY HOT and SPICY!!! As Chino's will tell you... Pollo Diablo is NOT for the tenderfoot!

Ok, the best part about Chino's is their SNICKERDOODLES! Oh man... they are so yummy! Each entree comes with a cookie, but I always end up buying a dozen to take home! I went this weekend with a couple of my little girls and we ordered a dozen to bring home to my husband as an early Father's Day gift. He was thrilled!

If you go, tell them you are new to Chino's. They will let you sample some of their most popular menu items!

This is a nothing fancy kind-of-place and it is in a weird out-of-the-way location... but well worth the trip! And they offer take-out! A couple of years ago they opened a location in Gilbert... never been there, but I'm sure the food is just as yummy!

For more information... click here.

Brighton

I LOVE Brighton jewelry! Love it!

Interesting note... my friend Susan (the queen of all things in good taste!) is the reason that I am such a Brighton junkie. She gave me my very first Brighton piece... it is a great bracelet that I wear often!!! I love buying Brighton! It is fun to own new pieces, but it is also a fun gift to give!

Here are three necklaces that I am quite fond of. For more information, click here!

Ken's Lite Raspberry Walnut Vinagrette

Love this salad dressing. It is sooooo good! I've been trying all sorts of low-carb dressings lately and have found them to be so bland. I have previously loved Ken's dressings, and saw this and decided to give it a try. I think this dressing is a perfect blend between nutty and fruity!

Each tablespoon is 4.5 g carbs and 45 calories. I am able to use just one tablespoon for a personal salad.

This would also make a wonderful marinade for chicken!!! Yummy!

I need a black skirt!

I'm on what seems to be an eternal quest for a plain black skirt! I can't find one, but my quest usually ends in me finding other things that I discover I really need! Check out these two super cute outfits from Coldwater Creek... one of my favorite stores!

Lulu's Cupcakes

Lulu's Cupcakes, located in Scottsdale is a favorite cupcake haunt of mine! I first met the owner, Danielle Lowe, at a fundraiser for the West Valley Child Crisis Center. She had donated cupcakes to be used on cupcake stands for the centerpieces at each table. They were darling to look at and even more delicious to eat! I spoke with Danielle for a bit about a fundraiser I was working on for The Phoenix Girls Chorus. She offered to discount the 250 cupcakes that I needed for my event. The colors for the event that I was working on were pink and brown and we used vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with a selection of white buttercream frosting, pink buttercream frosting and chocolate frosting. They looked INCREDIBLE!


Located at the corner of Miller and McDowell, Lulu's is open Mon-Fri from 8:30 to 5:30. My favorite cupcake is the Blonde Bombshell. It is a vanilla cake, with vanilla buttercream frosting. They are YUMMY!! Each cupcake is $2.95, and there is price break when you order four or more.


All cupcakes are made from 100% natural ingredients! For more information, click here!

Corbin's Bar and Grill

If you live here in the Phoenix area, or have plans to visit anytime soon, I have a fun restaurant suggestion for you...

Corbin's Bar & Grill has two valley locations. One is at Dunlap and Central and their brand new one is now open at 59th Ave and Beardsley!

I've been to the Dunlap location twice and today I went to the Beardsley location. My review below is based on my experience at the Beardsley location; however, the service and food have been consistent at both locations.

The physical restaurant is very comfortable and relaxing. There is a bar with high-top tables and then the dining room. The facility can easily accommodate groups of up to 10-12 by putting tables together.

It was a fun occasion that got me to Corbin's today. I was having lunch with a great friend. We knew we would want to linger and visit! Our server was fantastic and did a great job of balancing anticipating our needs and giving us space and time to visit!

We both ordered hamburgers; I had Swiss cheese on mine! Both were prepared to perfection!! And the seasoned fries were INCREDIBLE!!! We also both ordered the lemonade and I consider myself to be a picky lemonade evaluator! I love GOOD lemonade. And this did not disappoint me! It was super yummy!!

Overall, I give Corbin's a 4 out of 5 stars. My only disappointment was that a side salad is $5. Maybe I'm just cheap... And maybe I'm not really a restaurant reviewer... :-)

Check out their website here.