Photocredit: Jules McNubbin

My friend Jules has a new puppy! Thanks for sharing all the great photos of Zero! He’s too cute for words!

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We’re getting ready for Father’s Day here so keep your eyes open for some great suggestions, reviews and giveaways to help show the men in your life how much you appreciate them.

I love Dale and Thomas for so many different reasons. I love that when I receive a gift from them, it is just so thoughtfully packaged. I love that they create a beautiful label with a message and a coupon for your next order. I love how everything looks great when you open it and then you see the lovely packages inside just waiting to be ripped, er, carefully opened.

I really love that they use only the freshest and highest quality popcorn and have so many unique varieties. Some flavored popcorns overdo it, some don’t use enough flavor, but so far I’ve found all the flavors I’ve had at Dale and Thomas to have just the right balance.

This week I received the Father’s Day 6-Bag Sampler .This includes some of their most popular flavors. Each bag is a foot long and serves 2-3 people, depending on how much they are willing to share. All popcorn is gluten-free.

I received the Savory package which included: White Cheddar & Black Peppercorn, North Country Cheddar, Real Butter, Summertime BBQ, Bacon Ranch and Spicy Chipotle.

Now, how did they know that savory is my favorite type of popcorn?

You can also buy the Father’s Day 6 Bag-Sampler Chocolate Lovers Version which has 6 of the most popular sweet varieties.

I shared, notice I said shared, the savory flavors with the guys in my life to get their opinions and they loved them. The only complaint was that they wanted more. The Bacon Ranch was a huge hit! I’ve never had popcorn that tasted like bacon before but it was amazingly flavorful with a delicious smoky bacon goodness. It’s also all natural with whole grains and zero trans fat.

White Cheddar & Black Peppercorn has always been one of my favorites, but now I have to add North Country Cheddar to that list. The SummertimeBBQ or “summer in a bag” is unique -sweet and salty kettle corn with tangy BBQ. It’s quite good.

Real Butter, Spicy Chipotle?  Also fabulous.

The guys’ favorites: North Country Cheddar, White Cheddar & Black Peppercorn, Bacon Ranch  and Spicy Chipotle.

I love the kick of spice in the Chipotle and the Real Butter reminds me of going to the movies when they used to use fresh butter.

So, thanks Dale and Thomas for introducing me to some new flavors and reminding me why I love the others.

This is a great gift for Father’s Day for all the guys in your life.

Would you like to win your own Savory Sampler?  Just enter via Rafflecopter and best of luck!

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Disclosure: I received a sample from the sponsor for review purposes but the opinions herein are strictly my own.

One thing I fondly remember about walking home from school with friends was the Penny Candy Store that was on our route. I remember shiny glass cases filled with colorful candy buttons and individual packages of Sixlets. Tutti-frutti candy sticks. I remember that I really loved strawberry licorice laces and twizzlers too. I remember Pez and Pop Rocks that we used to drink Coca-Cola with while eating.

One of the descriptions of joy is to be “like a kid in a candy store”. But, who says, adults can’t have fun there too, even from the comfort of their own home?

Candy.com has been around since 2009 and their ever-growing candy catalog is the most comprehensive on the Internet. With nostalgic retro favorites and today’s most popular brands, as you peruse their bulk candy, hard candy and chocolates, you can feel like a kid in a candy store again. Literally.

My experience has been flawless. They were extremely helpful with great customer service and excellent treats. Candy is their passion and they are willing to try to help you find whatever you’re looking for, for yourself, for a gift, or for your business. They even have a cool candy blog.

I wanted to show you some fun things I found that are going in my next order:

Flamingo lollipops

Penguin Gummies

And, because I know my friend Dana would love this, the Hello Kitty Pez Dispensers in a cute Hello Kitty lunch box tin. 

But, my friends, I am here today to talk about Chocolate, one of my favorite things!

Some talk about its possible health benefits:

I do recommend a piece of good-quality dark chocolate as a healthy snack . . . It is a source of polyphenols, the same type of antioxidants found in red wine, and the fat it contains is stearic acid, which doesn’t affect cholesterol levels. The latest good news for chocolate lovers comes from a study indicating that flavonoids in chocolate are good for your heart. These compounds reduce the stickiness of platelets, cells that play an important role in blood clotting. By eating a 1.5-ounce milk chocolate bar, you get the same amount of these protective compounds as in a 5-ounce glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. – Andrew Weil, M.D.

While others extol its rich fabulosity!:

There’s nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate. – Linda Grayson, The Pickwick Papers

So, now on to some adult candy for Father’s Day and to my wonderful giveaway sponsored by Candy.com :

They are offering one of my readers the Godiva Ultimate Chocolate Collection .

This is the ultimate gift for someone who loves Godiva chocolate!

This gorgeous 10.62″ x 8″ x 14″ faux leather gift basket comes tied with a bow and is filled with the following delicious Godiva chocolates:

• Godiva Dark Raspberry Bar 1.5oz
• Godiva Dark Almonds 2oz
• Godiva Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa 1.1oz
• Godiva Gems 12 Piece Dark Caramel
• Godiva White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Bar 3.5oz
• Godiva Milk Pretzel 2.5oz
• Godiva Gems 12 Piece Milk Truffle
• Godiva 72% Dark Chocolate Bar 3.5oz
• Godiva Milk Strawberries 2oz
• Godiva Solid Milk Bar 1.5oz
• Godiva 4 piece Truffle Gift Box

I love the presentation and the container has a masculine touch and is nice enough to use afterward for all sorts of things including mail and magazines.


And, then, of course, there is the chocolate! It’s a chocolate lover’s dream. I was especially fond of the Godiva Milk Strawberries (amazing!) and the dark raspberry bar with its tart fruit filling. I had never tried the Godiva White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Bar and it’s now one of my favorites. But, to be fair, everything really is delicious and there is plenty to go around – especially if your guy is the sharing type. If not, maybe you can remind him about other times when you’ve shared with him.

Everything was rich and creamy and just melted in your mouth. It’s really a cornucopia of chocolate decadence.


Candy.com is very generously offering my readers the chance to win this basket (a $99.99 value). 


Please follow the Rafflecopter and Happy upcoming Father’s Day! 

This giveaway is open to those in the U.S. 18+, no p.o. boxes for shipping please. 

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Disclosure: I was provided this basket by the sponsor in order to faciliate my review, however all opinions expressed herein are expressly my own.

Karin and Jeff, founders of Gumbies’ Goodies

Here’s a little bit about how Jeff and Karin started Gumbies’ and how it got its name:

 It all began when Jeff picked up ideas from his mother’s cooking skills and later decided to visit an abolita’s (gramma’s) kitchen. He admired her loving care for the ingredients used to make specialty family recipes. He watched and learned about the importance of time spent, quality produce, precise order of cooking of ingredients and, especially, the loving care taken to create flavorful appealing goodies to be enjoyed by all. Through this experience, he developed an inner sense of quality cooking.

Jeff then took his prior knowledge and attended a canning class in 1984 to perfect his joy of cooking. In a happy marriage of growing his own produce and selecting the best to be canned for family and friends’ gifts, he spent hours out in his garden and worked in conjunction with his brother Nelson who owns the StoryBook Farm in Washington. He acquired an adept ability to grow and select the tastiest fresh produce for use in his canned goodies.

Karin joined him in this pursuit in 1991 and enjoyed the intricacies of taking fresh grown produce and turning it into some of the best canned goodies she had ever tasted. She designed the original labels, learned to help with the canning and encouraged Jeff to develop this growing business.

June 2010 sent the Gumbies off to OS Kerr Institute, where, after intense study, Jeff & Karin were awarded Kerr Institute Food Processing Certificates.  They can now run aseptic food processing plants as big as Gerber’s!  The more tests they took the higher the scores; with Jeff acing his & Karin scoring in the high 90’s.
Many apps later, all required licenses were obtained and are being kept current.  The Gumbies had arrived!

Over the years, Jeff has canned 1000’s of gift goodies. Also, he has catered for Weld School’s Administrative Functions, weddings, Valic/AIG Holiday Parties, graduations and many celebration get-togethers. Jeff’s canned goodies were in such a demand that it was a natural progression that they decided to become a commercial business. But what name would ultimately suit this passion for cooking?

Jeff and Karin are both long time educators. Jeff was a track coach for over 25 years and during that time he’d call his kids, “Gumbies” for silly mistakes on the track. In turn, the kids started to call him, “Coach Gumby” and the name stuck so well that “Gumbies” was an inevitable name for his canned goodies that are now ready to share with you. Enjoy!

— from Jeff and Karin

Please check out the giveaway on my blog to win 4 jars of delicious Gumbies’ Goodies here!

Gumbies’ Goodies on Facebook
Gumbies’ Goodies on Twitter 
Buy Gumbies’ Goodies
Website 

 

GUMBIES Colorado Natural Salsas and Sauces

Summer always makes me think of delicious barbeques with friends and family. My giveaway is for 4 jars of absolutely delicious, scrumptious Gumbies’ Goodies salsas and sauces. It’s the locally grown produce that makes it taste like homemade. I got a chance to sample all the flavors due to the kindness of the founders, Jeffrey and Karin Lawrence, and have been using them as a side dish and with various other meals. So so good!

Gumbies’ Goodies are Colorado Proud,  All Natural, No Additives, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Lower Sodium, Lower Sugar Salsa & Sauces. Jeff, the original Gumbie, has been perfecting his fresh produce recipes for over 20 years. They began giving their gourmet foods  as gifts and it has developed into so much more.

Read about how they got started and how they got their name here!

The set Jeffrey and Karin are generously offering to one of my readers contains 4 of my favorites:

First off, Gumbies’ El Niño Medium Salsa . 

It’s filled with the freshest tomatoes, green chiles, white and yellow onions, jalapenos, lime juice, garlic and cilantro. It has a nice full robust taste with a hit of jalapenos for that extra zing.

There is also a milder and a hotter version to accomodate all palates!

Local Chimayo Chile Farmers

And on to my favorite, the Gumbies Cherry Bomb Salsa !

Adding delicious fresh cherries to the mix makes for a unique and slightly tart explosion of flavors. It’s a big hit at my house! This one is mild and you can really taste the dark sweet cherries.

Lastly, for the intrepid hot sauce lovers, is Hot Hank’s Jalapenos!

If you love hot sauces and you love Jalapenos, you will love this sauce! It’s a nice thick sauce blended with fresh delicious jalapenos; it clears your sinuses and wakes you up. I love it!

Here are some suggestions for Spring & Summer Ideas :


*  Cherry Bomb Salsa:

Delicious on grilled hamburgers, fish or steak, baked on roast pork,
glazed on baked ham or chicken,
topping for brats, as a side with roast turkey or on a turkey sandwich,
on brie cheese w/sliced almonds & crackers

*  Hank’s Jalapenos Sauce:

Delicious on grilled steak, salmon or burgers
use to spice up your veggies
fabulous with breakfast burritos or eggs
   
*  Corn in Your Shorts Salsa:

Delicious slow cooked w/ sauteed onions, garlic & chicken
great with breakfast burritos or eggs, declicious in omelets
tasty as a topping on tacos

For fast and easy ordering, call 970-635-0795 : Gumbies’ Goodies website

Please follow the Rafflecopter and enjoy! And please hop to all the other blogs to see what wonderful prizes they are offering!

Don’t forget to enter the grand prize giveaway sponsored by TruKid, Imperial Toy, and an amazing group of bloggers who want to make your summer a blast! You have the opportunity to win a wagon, water table, kid-friendly skincare package from TruKid, and a variety of bubble and water toys from Imperial Toy! Please note that the Grand Prize Giveaway is only open to US residents.

TruKid aims to encourage a healthy, well rounded lifestyle. By combining all natural skincare with fun and education, TruKid cultivates a relationship between healthy habits and being a kid.
Imperial Toy is the worldwide leader in the sale and manufacture of Bubbles and Novelty Toys. At Imperial, the Mission is to be First in Fun!

ENTER THE GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY HERE!

Disclosure: Formula Mom, Tales From the Nursery, The Maven of Social Media, and the Summer Backyard Blast bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that fail to fulfill their prizes.

Disclosure: I was provided samples by the sponsor in order to facilitate my review, however, all opinions herein are my own.

Please note: The grand prize giveaway is currently only open to the US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Canister Vacuum

Delivering 220 airwatts of suction power, this canister vacuum cleaner features advanced Level 3 Root Cyclone technology to ensure thorough, efficient cleaning with no clogging or loss of suction. It also offers a TurbineHead brush bar that’s ideal for cleaning medium and short pile carpets and which can be turned off for hard floors. Certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the unit expels air that contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than common breathing air thanks to the vacuum’s money-saving, lifetime washable HEPA filter. Plus, Dyson’s Bactisafe screen traps and kills bacteria, mold and allergens on contact, preventing them from re-entering the air.

The Telescopic Wrap System allows the hose and wand to be compressed, and ensures that the Dyson DC23 can be stored away neatly and compactly, with no loose components or wires to get tangled. It comes with a stair tool for focusing on dust and dirt from stairs and stair carpets, a brush tool with long bristles to dislodge cobwebs and for delicate cleaning, and a high-velocity airflow crevice tool that’s ideal for cleaning base boards, picture frames and in-between furniture. Other features include a clear bin with 0.44-gallon capacity, 21.6-foot cord length, and easy-to-maneuver fixed wheels. The vacuum measures 13.9 x 19.3 x 11.9 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 19.5 pounds. The Dyson DC23 TurbineHead is backed by a 5-year warranty.

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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Strange Daze Indeed is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Welcome to the cool Keurig giveaway!

Freebies 4 Real, Kat’s Cafe, Powered By Mom, Mom Does Reviews, have teamed up with a large group of additional bloggers for this occasion. It is our absolute pleasure to host this giveaway.

One lucky reader will win a Keurig B40 Brewer.

A big thank you to all of our fans who we are always delighted to interact with each day.

Here are some additional details about the Keurig Brewing System:

• Unique design brews coffee in under one minute.
• K-Cup® Portion Pack allows you to enjoy a single-serving of your favorite blend.
• Two cup sizes let you customize the intensity of the coffee flavor.
• Removable drip tray and water reservoir offer total convenience.
• Sleek chrome accents add a modern touch to your countertop.
• Details:
• 1500 watts
• 48-ounce water reservoir
• Includes 12 K-cup coffee & tea variety pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From the blue oceans of Antigua to the bustling streets of Vietnam, the racing adrenaline at the Green Hell to the devastating natural disaster in Japan and the stunning architecture in Germany, Cathy Dixon finds herself in a whirlwind of fine dining, plush clothes and sheer extravagance.

But is perfection a mask for untold disaster? What exactly is Cathy’s secret and how will her world change when the world knows? Will her secrets ever catch up with her or will Cathy continue to sail alongside perfection in the world she has created for herself as a Frequent Traveller?

In conjunction with the launch of MoonStar Luxury’s new website (http://moonstarluxury.com/), we invite you to step into Cathy Dixon’s world where more goodies, surprises and a little mystery awaits.

Frequent Traveller, the first book in the Cathy Dixon series will be free from 31 May to 4 June 2012. (Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Frequent-Traveller-Cathy-Dixon-ebook/dp/B0067BKK6K)

Giveaway Details – 11 winners

Grand prize 1 x $50 Amazon.com voucher

10 x $5 Amazon.com vouchers

Terms and conditions

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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