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Holiday Gift Guide: Coole Swan

I was recently given the opportunity to review Coole Swan Super Premium Cream Liqueur. This decadent liqueur is now at the top of my Christmas list. Not only would it make a wonderful gift to give this holiday season, it is one I'd love to receive! I am so excited that Coole Swan is now available in Texas!

About Coole Swan:
Coole Swan™, Ireland’s first Super Premium Cream Liqueur, is now available throughout Texas. Created from the highest quality, all-natural ingredients, Coole Swan™ blends fresh double cream from Ireland’s richest dairylands with the softest, most rounded Single Malt Irish Whiskey for an exquisite taste that is seriously delicious.

Coole Swan™ Irish Cream Liqueur is wholly natural and does not contain any synthetic flavours or colours. Unlike any other Irish Cream Liqueur, real dark, bittersweet chocolate is gently melted into the cream for a smooth experience complimented by the finest Madagascan bourbon vanilla.

Coole Swan™ is perfect when served simply; chilled in a frozen glass to enjoy its wonderful complexity of flavour – the smoothness of the cream, the distinctive notes of chocolate, cocoa and vanilla, and the underlying depth of character of the Single Malt.

We tried this luscious treat over the Thanksgiving holiday. It is absolutely amazing. I served it simply, chilled in a small glass. My mother-in-law ended up licking the sides of the glass, she enjoyed it that much! It is wonderful served that way, a great addition to hot chocolate, would be sinful in a death by chocolate dessert, and would be great in countless other recipes. So, Coole Swan gets two thumbs up from this household. We loved the smooth, silky, amazing flavor of this liqueur. It would make an excellent gift. I really urge you to go try a bottle for yourself. I don't think you will be disappointed!

COOLE SWAN™ CANDY CANE

Ingredients:
2oz. Coole Swan
1 ½ oz. Cranberry Infused Vodka
½ oz. Pomegranate Syrup
2 shakes Cinnamon

Method:
Combine all of the ingredients together in a shaker with plenty of ice. Shake well.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with Pomegranate seeds and lamed cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.

To flame cinnamon: pinch and sprinkle ground cinnamon onto the top of the cocktail over an open flame to release the aroma.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Holiday Gift Guide: A Century of Flavor Review & Giveaway

One of my favorite holiday traditions is putting in a CD of Christmas tunes, donning an apron, and hitting the kitchen. I start whipping up all sorts of baked goodies as Christmas gifts for loved ones and neighbors. It doesn't take long for wonderful aromas to fill` the house, as I sing along, stirring, sifting, and mixing. I love cooking so much and especially enjoy it during the holidays.



Since this is my favorite time of year to hit the kitchen, I was thrilled when given the chance to review Nielsen-Massey Vanillas' A Century of Flavor. This is a fantastic cookbook! It is filled with beautiful photographs, easy to understand recipes, and oh my does it have some delectable food inside! There are recipes for everyone from the beginning cook to the experienced chef. Many can be made with minimal prep and fuss. I love low fuss! If you want to make something more adventurous, they have that too! I made the most marvelous scones I've ever eaten with a recipe from this book. A Century of Flavor is going to be treasured in my kitchen for years to come.

Check out these amazing recipes!

Creamy Vanilla Sweet Potatoes

4 medium sweet potatoes

~canola oil

2 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened

¼ cup real maple syrup

1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

5 strips bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Wash the sweet potatoes and lightly coast the skins with canola oil. Pierce each potato several times with a fork. Place the potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour or until fork tender.

Cut the hot potatoes into halves. Scoop the potato pulp into a mixing bowl, discarding the skins. Beat at medium speed for 1 minute using an electric mixer. Add the cream cheese, butter, syrup, vanilla extract, salt and pepper. Whip until creamy.

Spoon the whipped potatoes into six ramekins coated with nonstick cooking spray and top with the bacon. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheat 375-degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, they may be reheated in a microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.

Serves 6

Crisp Vanilla Butter Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup chocolate pieces of choice

Cream the butter, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla powder in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt on low speed until just blended. Place the dough on parchment paper and shape into a 12-inch long log. Chill for 3 to 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat an insulated cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Cut the dough log into ¼-inch-thick slices and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Place the cooled cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Place the chocolate pieces in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on High for 15 seconds. Repeat at 5-second intervals, stirring and checking the consistency. The chocolate is ready when it freely drips from the spoon in a fine line. Spoon the chocolate into a large plastic food storage bag. Twist the bag until the chocolate is in one corner and then trim the tip of the bag. Drizzle the chocolate over the cookies.

Variation: Add ½ teaspoon of any Nielsen-Massey Pure Flavor Extract, such as Chocolate, Almond, Lemon, Orange or Coffee, to the cookie dough to create a signature cookie.

They make your mouth water, don't they? I bet you'd love to read more of these wonderful recipes. You are in luck, as I have three of these fantastic cookbooks to share with my readers! All you have to do to enter is head over to Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, then come back here and leave me a comment with something you learned or a recipe you'd love to try.

For Bonus Entries:

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/14/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Savvy Holiday Shopping

This time of year many people are searching for ways to buy holiday gifts without breaking the bank. With so many families struggling financially, saving money while shopping is very important. There is all sorts of advice all over the internet on how to help accomplish this goal.

My advice is very simple. First, make a list of who you need to buy for and what you'd like to get them. Set a budget and stick to it. Try to shop early and keep track of what you buy. I've bought Christmas gifts in June, then made a notation in my planner telling me what I've bought, who it's for, and where I've hidden it. Take advantage of great sales like Cyber Monday; you can get quite a few gifts during this sale without spending much. Shopping online can save you a lot of money and I've found some great deals this way. I find that if I plan everything I buy, then hunt down the best deal on the items on my list, that I spend much less than if I just hit the stores hoping to find the perfect gift.

Twittermoms and Staples have teamed up to spread some holiday cheer and shopping know how. Be one of the first 50 bloggers to post your holiday shopping tips and you could win a $25 Staples gift card. Ten winners will be randomly selected to win a $100 gift card. Click on over here for all the information. Also, click over to Staples and see the great deals they are offering for the holidays.

Deals for Busy Moms This Holiday SeasonCheck out This Week's Deals!

About this TwitterMoms Blogging Program

Happy deal hunting!

Holiday Gift Guide: The Silver Spoon Book of Pasta Review & Giveaway

The Silver Spoon Book of Pasta is pretty much the only pasta cookbook you will ever need. If you are looking for delicious, authentic Italian pasta dishes, this is the book for you! It includes 350 mouth watering recipes. You can find very simple, basic recipes, along with more advanced, gourmet dishes. The book is filled with gorgeous color photos of the recipes, a feature I really enjoy in a cookbook. The recipes are easy to understand, so even a beginning cook could easily use this book. I've made three recipes from the book so far and all were meals I would be proud to serve to company. You can pick up your own copy of The Silver Spoon Book of Pasta online or at retailers nationwide.

Check out these great recipes!

Three-Color Ricotta Lasagna

Lasagne Tricolori alla Ricotta

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Serves 6

1 quantity Lasagna (see below recipe)

5 tablespoons butter, plus extra for greasing

Salt

For the filling

2 cups ricotta cheese

3 ounces cooked spinach, drained and pureed

1 cup bottled strained tomatoes

1 cup grated pecorino cheese

Salt and pepper

To make the filling, rub the ricotta through a strainer into a bowl and beat well with a pinch of salt and pepper. Put one-third of the ricotta into another bowl and beat in the spinach puree. Put half the remaining ricotta into another bowl and beat in the tomatoes. Leave the remaining ricotta plain. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an ovenproof dish with butter. Make a layer of lasagna in the base of the prepared dish, spread the spinach and ricotta mixture on top, and sprinkle with grated pecorino. Make another layer of lasagna, spread the white ricotta on top and sprinkle with pecorino. Make a final layer of lasagna, spread the ricotta and tomato mixture on top, and sprinkle with the remaining pecorino. Dot with butter and bake for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Lasagna

Lasagne

Preparation time: 40 minutes, plus 15 minutes resting

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 6

Makes about 12 lasagna sheets

2 ¾ cups all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting

3 eggs

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt

Sift the flour into a mound on a counter and make a well in the center. Break the eggs into the well and add a pinch of salt. Knead for about 10 minutes, adding a little flour if it is too soft or a little water if it is too firm. Shape into a ball, cover with a clean dish towel, and let rest for 15 minutes. Roll out into a fairly thick sheet on a lightly floured counter, then cut into 4 x 8-inch wide rectangles. Cook, a few at a time, in plenty of salted boiling water to which the oil has been added, until al dente, then remove, and spread out to dry on clean dish towels

The Silver Spoon Pasta p. 281 and p. 270

Orecchiette con Broccoli

Preparation time: 12 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Serves 4

1 ¾ pounds broccoli, cut into florets

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 fresh chile, seeded and chopped

10 ounces Orecchiette

grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese, to serve

salt

Cook the broccoli in salted boiling water for 8 minutes, then drain. Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the garlic and chile, and cook for 3 minutes, then add the broccoli, and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, cook the orecchiette in a large pan of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain, and toss with the broccoli. Serve with Parmesan or pecorino.

Tip: Alternatively, the broccoli may be cooked with the orecchiette. In this case, drain everything, then drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with the grated pecorino. This recipe works well with other types of short dried pasta, such as rigatoni.

You really want this book in your kitchen, right? Well, you are in luck! One lucky reader will win their own copy of The Silver Spoon Book of Pasta. All you have to do to win is leave me a comment telling me your favorite pasta dish. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/11/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Holiday Gift Guide: Rotato Express Review & Giveaway

It seems that every year there is a kitchen gadget of some sort near the top of my Christmas list. I love to cook and any device that is going to make things easier for me in the kitchen is a plus. This is why I was thrilled to be able to review the Rotato Express from Starfrit.


What is the Rotato Express? It is a one touch instant vegetable peeler. It instantly peels fruits and vegetables with no effort from you. Using this unit to peel your foods cuts down on waste that results from manual peeling, which is great for me as I generally peel about half the potato off when I do it myself. Using this hands free peeler will save you time in the kitchen, I can do prep work while it peels potatoes for me. It will peel all sorts of veggies and fruits like potatoes, turnips, apples, pears, peaches, and more. The unit comes with two replacement blades stored in the bottom and a hand thumb knife in the back, so you can easily deal with blemishes on your potatoes. The three blades included with the Rotato Express will allow you to peel about 100lbs. of potatoes! That is quite a deal. Plus, it comes from Starfrit a quality brand I know and trust.

I tell you, this handy gadget really does cut down on meal prep time. When making mashed potatoes for 18 people, I was sure glad to have it around. It is a great addition to my kitchen and I am very glad to have it. I really hate peeling things, so this is a great product for our home.

Now, would you like to have one of your own? I have a Rotato Express to give one lucky reader. All you have to do is head over to Starfrit and look around a bit. Then come back here and leave a comment telling me which one of their products you would love to have. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 12/06/09 at 11:59pm CST. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Holiday Gift Guide: Crazy Dog T-Shirts and Nacho Mama Tees

I am a big fan of t shirts. I wear them 95% of the time. I love all kinds of tees, but my favorites are the funny or snarky ones. That's why I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with Crazy Dog T-Shirts and Nacho Mama Tees. If you like humor, they have the shirt for you.

From Crazy Dog T-Shirts, I received this awesome Meat Is Murder tee. It is now Dan's favorite shirt. It has that wonderful feel of your much worn, super soft tee. Imagine that feel without the wear and tear your current tee has. Dan now wears this shirt every time he is grilling up a juicy steak!
From Nacho Mama Tees we got this cute ADHD tee for Tristen. He loves it and tried to wear it for several days in a row. It too is incredibly soft and comfy. It has quickly become his favorite t shirt.
Both sites offer an incredible selection of tees. You can easily find the perfect gift for even the most difficult to buy for person on your list. They have novelty tshirts, vintage tshirts, pretty much any tee you can think of.

Now, I know at this point you are thinking that you just must have one of these great tees. You are in luck, as I have one tee from Crazy Dog T-Shirts and one from Nacho Mama Tees to giveaway to two lucky readers. All you have to do to enter is become a fan of Crazy Dog T-Shirts on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. This step is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:


* Subscribe to my blog.


* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.


* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.


* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.


* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.


* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/09/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Pass the Pace

Pace is a brand I know and trust. We always have a Pace product in our fridge. They taste wonderful, are high quality, and a great value. They sent me several varieties of their delicious sauces to try and my family enjoyed every one. Pace truly is a staple in our home.

This Thanksgiving, Pace has some wonderful recipes to share with you. Turn leftover turkey into something fantastic. Goodbye dull turkey sandwich, hello fresh new flavor! Just click Pace® National Leftovers Day Recipes to find these six tasty recipes over at What's Cookin'.

Don't believe me about the great taste? Pace has won several awards with their yummy products. Check it out!

PACE® SALSAS BRING HOME THE GOLD FROM FIERY FOOD CHALLENGE

Pace Foods Wins Six Awards, Including First-Place ‘Golden Chile’

PARIS, TEXAS, Oct. 7, 2009 - More than 60 years after pioneering the Mexican sauces category, Pace Picante sauce and salsas continue to be recognized for their outstanding flavor and taste. For the second year in a row Pace branded products won a total of six awards at Chile Pepper magazine’s 2010 Fiery Food Challenge, including a coveted first-place Golden Chile trophy, presented at ZestFest in Fort Worth, Texas, one of the leading spicy food events.

A new Pace specialty salsa, Pace Pineapple Mango Chipotle salsa, took home both the Golden Chile award in the “Salsa-Fruit” category and a third-place ribbon in the “Salsa-Chipotle” category. Pace Pineapple Mango Chipotle salsa combines the sweetness of fruit with the kick of smoked jalapeños for a full-flavored salsa that reviewers on the Pace website described as “amazing,” giving it “five stars."

Recognizing the enduring quality and craftsmanship behind longtime Mexican sauce category leader Pace Picante sauce, the Fiery Food Challenge judges awarded the hot variety a second-place ribbon in the highly competitive “Salsa-Hot” category. Judges awarded the medium variety of Pace Chunky salsa third-place honors in the “Salsa-Medium” category.

Also capturing two awards was Pace Mexican Four Cheese Salsa con Queso, which received second-place honors in the “Snack-Prepared Dip” category and also in the “Snack-Cheese” category.

Pace accepted the Fiery Food Challenge awards just two weeks after Pace Pico De Gallo, another Pace specialty salsa, took a third-place Judge’s Choice award among all commercially bottled red salsas at the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival in Austin, Texas.

“Receiving a long list of accolades for a second year in a row at the Fiery Food Challenge is an honor, and a testament to the care and craftsmanship Pace employees put into our Picante sauce and salsas,” said Pace Brand Manager Eric Shultz. “Our original, exclusive Pace Picante sauce recipe has endured as a consumer favorite for more than 60 years, and it’s exciting to see our new specialty salsas receiving the appreciation the Pace brand aims to capture with its dedication to using only the highest-quality ingredients.”

The Fiery Food Challenge, a competition sponsored by Chile Pepper magazine, is a blind taste-test judging of entries in more than 80 categories. Professional judges evaluate hundreds of sauces, salsas and other spicy treats and award first, second and third prizes in each category. Awards are presented during ZestFest, a spicy food event held the same week as the Fiery Food Challenge, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

About Pace Foods

Pace Foods, founded in 1947 when David Pace introduced his original Pace Picante sauce, today is a leading brand of salsas and Picante sauces. David Pace was passionate about using the freshest ingredients, harvested and hand-selected in peak season to achieve the best flavor and quality – a tradition that has been proudly carried on by the Pace brand since it was acquired by Campbell Soup Company in 1995. Pace salsas and Picante sauces are produced in Paris, Texas. http://www.pacefoods.com

So, go on over and check out Pace's suggestions on how to turn leftovers into something amazing! I'm sure you will enjoy these recipes as much as we did!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Holiday Gift Guide: Shred Sled

The Shred Sled is a product the whole family very much enjoyed reviewing. What is it? The Shred Sled is the first 4-wheel inline, dual-deck board that makes it smoother and easier to get going. Instead of pushing off the board like a regular skateboard, riders use different parts of their bodies to propel the board, much like the movements used in surfing and snowboarding.

The Shred Sled's flexible connector allows both decks to rotate around the vertical and horizontal axes so it's easy to maneuver the board. For better control, each deck has a grip surface to maximize traction and stability while the concave decks make for better foot control. The Shred Sled far surpasses the older 2 -wheel boards. It uses 4x80mm polyurethane wheels along with ABEC-5 bearings, which are smoother and stronger than standard hardware. These wheels rarely need to be replaced, unlike other boards.

"The Shred Sled combines the experience of snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing into one new experience," said Eric King, president of The Shred Sled.

So, what did we think? The Shred Sled was a hit with all of us! It's easy to use, so much easier than traditional 2-wheeled skateboards. It is easy to maneuver and stay on top of. We all really enjoyed that you can easily go from one direction to another. We give it two thumbs up! The Shred Sled would make a perfect holiday gift!

Check out the Shred Sled in action!

Holiday Gift Guide: Kajeet

Tristen has been asking for a cell phone for months now. We just didn't feel like he was responsible enough at the moment to give him what he was wanting. Then, I read about Kajeet. I was intrigued by the fact that the parents have so much control over the phone like what numbers it can make calls to and receive calls from, what hours it can be used during, etc. My curiosity was piqued.


I received a Samsung M300 to review. As for the phone, it is easy to operate, is sturdy enough to hold up to be used exclusively by a child, and has a camera that takes pretty good pictures. We called and activated the phone without a problem. I like the different plans Kajeet offers for service, as well as the different ways to pay for them. For example, you could easily have a grandparent add funds to your child's account "wallet" from the website. I did not like that to get on any of their good plans, you could not use the money in the "wallet" but had to add a credit card to the account. If you do not choose to go with a plan, you are charged a .32 per day service charge, which would add up monthly. Oh, I did notice they offer a $50 a month plan for unlimited texts and minutes, which is a amazing deal for a prepaid phone...I know adults that would love truly unlimited talk! All in all, it is a good deal for prepaid service and a great way to get your kid a cell phone.

Tristen has 150 minutes and unlimited texting monthly, on one of their recurring plans. He used the money in his "wallet" to add a 1000 minute nights & weekends pack. For some reason he cannot receive text messages from anyone other than Kajeet, an issue I have called about twice. I must give praise to Kajeet's customer service, as they are a dream to work with. Unfortunately, my calls to them have not resolved the texting problem. I am bothered by this because we are paying for him to have texting privileges that he cannot really use at the moment. I am hoping they will get this straightened out soon. I'll keep you posted on that.

As for the parental controls, I could not be happier. I can make sure his phone is not used during school hours or after bedtime. I can program in the numbers he may and may not call, as well as those he can receive calls from. You can also make exceptions, like Mom and Dad's number can always ring through, even during off hours, if you wish. Parents have a lot of control, which is great when you are talking about kids and cell phones. This aspect of the service gets two thumbs up from me.

I think a Kajeet cell phone would make a fantastic holiday gift. Your kids will be thrilled to have a cell phone, the rates on the recurring plans are reasonable for prepaid, and the parent stays in control of their child's phone usage. Kajeet is a parent created company that offers a wonderful service for kids and adults as well.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Faith & Fangs Blog Tour & Giveaway

As New Moon mania hits in theaters nationwide today, I bring you reviews of two Christian books that are vampire related. These books were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

TOUCHED BY A VAMPIRE: EXAMINING TWILIGHT THROUGH A BIBLICAL LENS by Beth Felker Jones

People around the world are asking the same question, enraptured with Edward and Bella’s forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl’s relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his “good” side. But the Saga isn’t just another fantasy–it’s teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God’s plan for love?

Touched by a Vampire is the first book to investigate the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer’s Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story’s redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.

Cautionary, thoughtful, and challenging, Touched by a Vampire is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and pop culture enthusiasts. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

My Thoughts: This was a very interesting book. I agreed with some of the author's points, and others not so much. The book did give me quite a lot to think about. The questions it asked led to some great conversations between Ashley and I. All in all, I found it fascinating, even if I didn't agree with everything in it. Ashley has read the first three books in the series, so being able to ask her specific questions about the books was nice. The author did bring up things I'd not thought about. I am glad this book let me get a little more in touch with what Ashley was gleaning from the books. I've read them all and am a fan of the series, but I discovered that Ashley was interpreting some parts of the books in a way I never expected. Had it not been for Touched by a Vampire, I might never have known this. You can pick up your own copy of Touched by a Vampire here.

THIRSTY by Tracey Bateman

There's no place like home, they say.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

My Thoughts: Thirsty was absolutely nothing like I expected. Are there vampires in it? Yes. Would I call it a vampire novel? Um, no. I feel it is much more a story of a woman's struggle with alcoholism. It's a great story, but honestly, I could take or leave the vampires in this. That whole aspect of the story just never quite worked for me. It is a good book though, don't be tempted to pass it over just because of the vampires. They really are not a big deal in this novel, at least in my opinion. You can purchase your own copy of Thirsty here.

I have a copy of Thirsty to give to one lucky reader. All you have to do is tell me if you are a Twilight fan or not in the comment section. Please be sure to leave your email address so I can reach you if you win. Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST 11/27/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Holiday Gift Guide: PetHead

During the holiday season, don't forget about the furry babies that are part of your family. We have three big dogs, Dixie, Shelby, and Pebbles who are just like our children. We enjoy spoiling them along with our kids.

A great product I've discovered for the dogs in our family is PetHead products. Have you heard of BedHead hair care products? These are made by the same company and are just as high quality. If you want to spoil your dogs, and take really great care of their skin and coats, PetHead products are for you.

Pebbles has itchy, flaky, dry skin. None of the products we had been using on her worked very well. After using the Life's an Itch shampoo, we will never use another product on her again. It has done wonders for her!

Shelby, has sensitive skin and the PetHead Fears for Tears shampoo is great for her. Designed for puppies, it is tearless and very mild. Shelby tolerates bathing so much better when we use this shampoo.

Dixie is our stinky dog. For her, Dirty Talk shampoo was the answer. It takes away all her funky smell and leaves you with a sweet smelling doggie. I really like the way this shampoo smells and it produces a great lather.

PetHead also offers detangling spray, waterless spray shampoo, and deodorizing spray. Poof! Magical Deodorizing Spray is probably my favorite dog grooming product ever! Our groomer first introduced it to us and it is a must have around here.

You can view the full line of wonderful PetHead grooming products here. They offer a little something for every dog, including apparel and accessories. I am sure you will find just what your doggies needs. The entire PetHead line gets two thumbs up from me! Keep them in mind for your pets this holiday season.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Let's Talk Toys

Rebecca Gray, Divisional Merchandise Manager from Hayneedle.com talks toys for the holiday season. Remeber my post a couple of days ago about this great site? She offers some great suggestions for the hard to buy for kids in your life. I need all the advice I can get on this subject myself. Thanks Ms. Gray for sharing this information with us.

What do you see as this years "hottest" toys?

We carry traditional, timeless toys such as rocking horses and dollhouses. These are the items parents and grandparents buy because they had one too. Playkitchens and petal cars are great for imaginations and are offer years of play.

What do you recommend to parents for those hard-to-buy for kids?

Personalized items are always great…we have toy boxes, table and chair sets and dollhouses that can all have a child’s name added for a unique, special gift.

Where do you look for/get the toys you recommend?

We work with several toy manufacturers and have an in-house product development team.

Hayneedle deals with uniqueness...Do you think kids want to stand out from the crowd or have something truly one-of-a-kind?

Both, it’s important to have the latest game for the Wi/dsl that all your friends have but I think they really enjoy a special, unique gift too.

In your opinion do kids appreciate the one-of-a-kind item?

Yes, Hayneedle has great selection of items kids won’t see in the stores.

Anything else you'd like to add?

We offer great gifts for kids that they can have for along time and can grow with them. Our activity table offers 2 table heights so that the furniture can be adjusted as the child grows. (LFY065 and LFY019)

Holiday Gift Guide: TeeWit.com Review and Giveaway

Motherhood is full of humorous moments. Lots of them. I like celebrating these moments by wearing witty t-shirts. Yes, I've mentioned before my deep love for tees. So, I was thrilled to find TeeWit.com, a site that offers witty tees and more for the whole family. You can find a great tee for pretty much any member of your family there.

I received this awesome "I used to rock. Now I'm too tired." tee.

I think many moms feel this way. The shirt is great quality, very soft and comfortable, and washes well. I must tell you, this shirt has gotten more comments by people than any other I own. The neighbors love it, the post office folks like it, people have stopped me in the grocery store to comment on it. I'd say it's a hit! This shirt has quickly become my favorite. I highly recommend TeeWit.com products this holiday season.

Guess what? TeeWit.com is givng a $30 gift certificate code to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter is head over there and look around. Then leave me a comment here telling me what you'd get if you won. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:

* Subscribe to my blog.

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* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 12/10/09 at 11:59pm CST. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Holiday Gift Guide: Kiss My Thistle Shortbread Review & Giveaway

Scottish shortbread is something I adore, but have never had much luck making on my own. Store bought shortbread does not even come close to the homemade shortbread a neighbor made for me when I was a girl. Since I have not mastered the art of making it myself, I am always on the look out for homemade shortbread to buy. Kiss My Thistle makes the most delicious shortbread I've ever put in my mouth!


Owner Julie Heveran, was taught this wonderful recipe by her Scottish grandmother. She has been baking it since she was a child and let me tell you folks, I believe her recipe is absolutely perfect!


I was sent the traditional shortbread, apricot & cranberry shortbread, and thistle melts to sample. All these products came beautiful boxed and tied with cute ribbon. I really liked that extra special touch in the packaging. The original shortbread is rich, buttery, and simply divine. The apricot & cranberry shortbread may honestly be the most amazing thing I've ever put in my mouth. After tasting it, I hid it from the rest of the family and refused to share! The thistle melts are know in Scotland as tablet. They are rich, buttery, caramel tasting squares of sugary bliss. They are incredibly rich and creamy. I advise taking them in tiny portions as they are so sweet and rich. Everything Julie sent me to sample was fantastic.


I truly cannot praise Kiss My Thistle highly enough. Julie's creations would make great gifts this holiday season. Or if you want to wow the guests at your holiday events, buy some and serve them while entertaining. Your friends will thank you, I promise. You absolutely cannot go wrong when you order from Kiss My Thistle!

Julie has kindly offered one lucky reader a pound of shortbread to devour, er, I mean savor and enjoy. You really want to win this one! Simply head over to Kiss My Thistle, then come back here telling me which variety of shortbread you'd most like to try. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:


* Subscribe to my blog.


* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.


* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.


* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.


* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.


* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST Saturday, 12/5/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.