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Bella Viva Orchards – a review and a Sweet Giveaway!

January 30, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 129 Comments

  On my travels online, one of the best places I’ve found is Bella Viva Orchards.  And, for those who haven’t heard of them yet, I’d love to introduce them to you.

Located in Northern California, you can find the Martino family’s sustainable orchards. They produce amazingly delicious fresh and dried fruit, nuts and chocolate. From there, they are sold at local farmer’s markets, select restaurants and, luckily for us, online to customers across the country. Bella Viva takes extreme care to produce the highest quality and they supervise everything themselves, from growing to packaging and delivery.

Bella Viva means beautiful long life in Italian and the orchards were named for the Martino daughters, Vivian and Belle.

Martha Stewart featured Bella Viva as her “secret source” for holiday host gifts after discovering them at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market in San Francisco and it’s clear to me why. You can check out her video and see some of their delicious and beautiful dried fruit here .

Bella Viva is incredibly kind and generous and sent me some of their dried fruits to taste.

I received:

organic dried white nectarines
organic dried pears
organic dried persimmons
and fabulous dried orange slices

They were all gorgeously packaged and beautiful to look at, like little works of art, but the best part was looking at the ingredients and seeing simply: Persimmons, pears, or nectarines — no preservatives, no sugar added. And, let me just say that the taste was utterly amazing, so sweet, so delicious, better than any candy I’ve ever had. While some women may want jewelry or flowers for Valentine’s Day, I’d be thrilled with Bella Viva dried fruit or their chocolate covered fruit! It’s really that good and I love the fresh healthy taste. It’s like no other dried fruit I’ve ever found. They make an amazing snack at any time and can also be used in recipes. The orange slices are my favorite so far. I really love oranges and these bring all the flavor. I put them in my tea also. Fabulous!

And, now that Valentine’s Day is almost here, Bella Viva kindly sent me a special treat:

Simply irresistable Organic Dark Chocolate Cherries

Now, these are not those treacly sweet liquidy things from the drugstore.
These are premium Organic Dried Bing Cherries grown on the Bella Viva Orchards dipped in rich luscious organic dark chocolate. They are good sized cherries, moist with a bit of tartness. The sweet chocolate mixed with the tart cherries created an explosion of joy for my tastebuds. 


If you’re searching around for an interesting Valentine’s Day present, Bella Viva Organic Dark Chocolate Cherries make great gifts as they are beautifully packaged in 8 oz. gift bags. 

And, because they are so cool and so generous, Bella Viva has offered one of my readers the chance to win a bag of these delicious Organic Dark Chocolate Cherries as well.


Also, they are going to give my readers a 15% discount on anything at Bella Viva Orchards online. Just use the coupon code strangedaze which is good until March 10, 2012. How awesome is that? Check out these fruits – strawberries, apricots, mango, pineapple, apples, plums. I already have my next order in mind! 


You can also order wonderful gift baskets, chocolates, trail mix and nuts.

And check out the, just added, Valentine’s Day specials.


So, to enter, just follow the Rafflecopter and good luck to all!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: I was provided product from the sponsor in order to do this review but all opinions are strictly mine.

8th Continent Soymilk – Contest and Giveaway (6 winners)

January 27, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 43 Comments

As I’ve mentioned before, my family loves 8th Continent Soymilk. We use it in cereal, in coffee and tea and for cooking.  I think it is one of the best tasting soymilks out there and I’ve tried the original, the Vanilla and chocolate flavors. The chocolate is especially yummy.

8th Continent soymilk is low in saturated fat and an alternative for those wishing to avoid lactose and gluten. Also, you can maintain a healthy heart and have a good source of protein and calcium. 8th Continent soymilk also contains vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12. Very healthy and delicious too.

I also wanted to share that they have a new sweepstakes out that is all about “Lookin’ Good and Feelin’ Good”. They are hoping to promote the happiness and healthiness of  their consumers by offering tips and challenges on how to not only be physically healthy, but mentally as well. And, as far as I’m concerned the two go hand in hand.

Until April 17, 2012, you can visit their Facebook Fan Page or website and enter to win the grand prize of a five star luxury resort and spa getaway! How awesome is that! You can also vote on responses in the forums, share feedback and tips and encourage one another. You’ll also receive a $1.00 off 8th Continent Soymilk coupon simply for entering!

In addition to the Grand Prize of an all-expenses paid trip, 10 first prize winners will receive a $2,500 physical education program donation to a school of their choice. Twenty second prize winners will receive a $1,000 physical education program donation and 50 third prize winners will receive a $500 physical education program donation to the school of their choice. Nearly 100 schools will benefit from the participation of Lookin’ Good Feelin’ Good entrants. I think that’s really incredible. My Mom is a teacher and I so respect 8th Continent for giving back to our schools.

Also, you can follow 8th Continent on Twitter and like them on Facebook to get great recipes, craft ideas, coupons, and to keep up to date with the contest! They’re extremely friendly!

And, because they’re so cool, they’ve offered 6 lucky readers of Strange Daze Indeed the chance to win 2 coupons each for free cartons in any flavor they would like.

So, just follow the Rafflecopter and best of luck! There will be 6 winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received free 8th Continent Soymilk Coupons from the sponsor. The opinions expressed are my own.

Progresso® Souper You® Contest and Blog Giveaway

January 26, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 63 Comments

Mark Twain once said: “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.”
Here I am in New England and though we have sun some days, others it has been downright chilly. But, one food that is both delicious and warming is Progresso soup! Though I do enjoy them throughout the year, they are also wonderful to help keep my New Year’s resolutions to stay in shape and eat healthy through the colder months.

With 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings, while helping you stick to your weight management calorie goals. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices. I’m a big fan of the Light Chicken Vegetable Rotini and the Homestyle Vegetable and Rice, and you’ll also find  Zesty! Southestern-Style Vegetable and New England Clam Chowder along with Beef Pot Roast – all at 100 calories or less per serving. Super easy to make for a meal, you can just heat it up in a pot or the microwave. Although I do love to cook, lately it’s harder and harder to fit in meals from scratch and Progresso is a great choice and one my family enjoys.

Are you ready for a new look this New Year?  Progresso is excited to announce the return of their Souper You Contest giving you the chance to win an incredible makeover! By telling Progresso why you deserve a makeover and what you love about their soup, you could have the chance to win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring!

  • This year, the Souper You Contest will provide three lucky winners with an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood; this includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season´s live finale of NBC´s The Biggest Loser.
  • Progresso is asking fans to visit www.SouperYou.com and submit their photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why they deserve a makeover, by no later than February 22nd
  • Fans can check back on March 12th for the announcement of the top ten finalists, and to vote for their favorite finalist until March 25th

Also, tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c!

For inspiration, check out this video of the 2011 winner’s experience:

And now for the blog giveaway. You will have a chance to win a Biggest Loser and Progresso Prize pack. One Strange Daze Indeed reader will win (2) VIP coupons for Progresso soup and a Biggest Loser exercise DVD so you can rock your New Year.

So, just follow the simple Rafflecopter form and best of luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The Progresso® Souper You® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark as well as soup and a dvd for my review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

CELTIC WOMAN/BELIEVE – RELEASE DAY GIVEAWAY – 1 SIGNED CD & 1 SIGNED DVD

January 24, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 27 Comments

 Celtic Woman is an all-female singing sensation featuring vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Lisa Lambe and Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.  They perform classic Irish songs (“The Water Is Wide,” “Green Grow the Rushes”), timeless pop anthems (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”), and inspirational songs (“You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Ave Maria”) with their signature Celtic Woman twist.  The live concert DVD was filmed for the first time in America in front of some of their most loyal fans during two sold-out nights at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA this past September. 

 To celebrate today’s release of the enchanting studio album and live concert DVD by Manhattan Records,  I have the pleasure to give away a signed copy of each – one cd and one dvd! I have to say that I am a great fan of Celtic music. It’s so full of life and joy! Very uplifting and moving. These women remind me of Earth angels when they sing. 
Here is an example of one of my favorites from the cd/dvd – Teir Abhaile Riu. I have a hard time not getting up to dance when listening to this one.

To enter, simply follow the Rafflecopter!  OPEN TO US and CANADA. There will be two winners. 1st place is the signed dvd. 2nd place is the signed cd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

USEFUL INFORMATION


BELIEVE: LIVE DVD PLAYLIST:

1. Awakening
2. Follow on
3. The Foxhunter
4. Nocturne
5. Sailing
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water
7. Black is The Colour
8. The World Falls Away
9. My Heart Was Home Again
10. A Tribute to Broadway. I Dreamed A Dream/ Circle of Life
11. Teir Abhaile Riu
12. A Woman’s Heart
13. The Water Is Wide
14. Green Grow The Rushes
15. You’ll Never Walk Alone
16. Smile
17. Walking The Night
18. A Spaceman Came Travelling
19. Ave Maria
20. Mna na hEireann
21. The Parting Glass
22. At The Ceili

Celtic Woman will also be on tour in the US this spring and in Europe this summer. Check out the dates and see if they are coming to an arena near you! 


You can buy both the cd and the dvd at Amazon beginining today, January 24, 2012.

CD Link
DVD Link

Connect!

Website
Twitter
Facebook

 Disclosure: I was provided review copies in order to do this giveaway. Any opinions I’ve expressed are my own.

Shape Up in 2012! Kristin McGee 4 DVD Review and Giveaway – Yoga and Pilates ($60 value)

January 20, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 77 Comments

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to find an exercise program I can stick with in Winter. Luckily, I met Kristin McGee online, where she is @thebendigirl on Twitter, and she was kind enough to send me four of her outstanding dvds to check out. I’ve been doing yoga for years and more recently got into Pilates, so these are perfect to warm up the New England chill and get me moving!

Since she sent me the dvds, I’ve been working out with them and it’s not hard at all to stick with the routines since I enjoy them. I do feel more limber and especially feel stronger in my core. They give me a great workout and I love Kristin’s friendly and encouraging manner.

Kristin has been a Yoga and Pilates instructor since 1996, and has provided special Yoga classes for athletes who participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Park City, Utah.  Kristin also choreographed and starred in MTV’s first Yoga video as well as MTV’s Power Yoga and MTV’s Pilates videos. Her warm and fresh approach has made her a favorite for celebrity clients and she has been featured as a fitness expert on the CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, NBC’s Today Show, CNN Headline News and Fox News. She is currently a Contributing Editor for Health Magazine and also Fila’s Yoga Ambassador.

So, let’s get to the DVD’s. First of all is BENDIGIRL YOGA. Kristin developed this method to help everyone feel stronger and more alive and it’s based on the belief that exercise can be fun and enjoyable when integrated into our lives.

 From the website: Bendigirl is a unique fusion approach to exercise, as well as a philosophy that embraces change, growth and positivity. Using several methods including yoga, pilates, and strength training, it offers greater benefits and a more efficient workout. It also acknowledges that your needs are different depending on your fitness level, phase in life, or even the day.

The Bendigirl Yoga dvd is yoga for kids done by kids with Kristin and is great if you want to get your children involved. It’s also a workout that anyone can do. Boys, girls, adults…

Frome the website: Bendigirl Yoga is designed not only to get girls in shape, but also to build their confidence and create positive habits that will last a lifetime. With a modern, pop soundtrack featuring all original music, Bendigirl Yoga brings energy and fun to an exercise form that kids (and their mothers) might otherwise consider too boring to take up. McGee’s ability to instruct without condescending helps make this a workout that young women can embrace as their own. 

My take: This is a fun and not too difficult yoga dvd that is very upbeat. It has routines that are easy to learn and there are fun partner poses. Get your kids involved or do it yourself!

The second dvd is POWER YOGA. This is more advanced and for those who perhaps already have been practicing yoga and want to take it to another level. I feel Kristin gives you an accessible workout that will strengthen and challenge you while uniting mind, breath and body. This one will hopefully help me get in bikini shape by next season ;). Kristin’s flexibility, positivity and uplifiting encouragement is inspiring. The dvd has a really nice floor routine as well.

Next up is one of my favorites – YOGATONE presented by Kristin McGee and FILA. I find the direction, photography, and production values somewhat more interesting in this one and really like the background music by Tom Rossi. Kristin uses 5 lb weights in this workout, but what you decide to use is really up to you and the level you are at. The combination of yoga postures and strength training seems to work really well for me. It keeps me intrigued: calming my mind, working my core, challenging my balance, providing cardio and helping my body to become stronger and leaner. Yoga classes wouldn’t work out for me right now and I love that I can do these at home and even increase the challenge over time.

And, my favorite of all is WEIGHT LOSS PILATES. I think it’s because Pilates is my latest passion. It’s funny how so many of the Pilates moves seem completely natural to me and some I’ve even done before I ever knew they were Pilates exercises.

I love this video for the great routines which provide amazing core work, cardio and strengthening. I’m not doing it for the weight loss, but if that is a side benefit, that’s fine too! Kristin has some wonderful warm-ups and cool-downs as well to ease you in and out of the workouts. There are exercises you can do on the go and I often find myself doing some of them when waiting for something to cook on the stove, or waiting in line at the grocery store. I can feel my abs and my core getting stronger and it feels really good. Also, as a bonus with this DVD, you will get a booklet from Cooking Light with tips and recipes for a healthy lifestyle. 

So, my New Year is off to a great start because when I work out and do exercise I enjoy,  I find I feel much better in mind, body and spirit. As I do the Pilates, Yoga and tone, somehow it’s easier to rebound from life’s little curve balls and stay flexible. And Kristin is the epitome of flexible. I’m so glad to have met her.

Kristin is also very generous and has offered a reader of Strange Daze Indeed the same set of videos I received. You will get a set of 4 dvds:

1) Bendigirl Yoga
2) Power Yoga
3) Yoga Tone and
4) Weight Loss Pilates

so that you also can stay fit no matter what the season! The videos are also all available at Kristin’s online shop and at Amazon.com.

Just use the friendly Rafflecopter to enter.

Some helpful links to connect with Kristin:

Her website
Her blog
Kristin’s Facebook
Kristin’s Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent product to review from the sponsor but all opinions herein are my own.

Pom Poms Wonderful Fresh Arils – Ruby Red Seeds of Joy

January 14, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 3 Comments

And, just like that, I’ve discovered a new favorite! POM Wonderful was kind enough to send me their new product, POM POMS, delicious ruby red arils from California-grown Wonderful variety pomegranates. I didn’t even know that the correct term was arils, but I had been eating pomegranate seeds for years. To be exact, each seed has a surrounding water-laden pulp— the edible aril— ranging in color from white to deep red or purple.

Now, with POM POMS, it’s super-convenient and easy to get the delicious treasures inside the pomegranate.

You just remove the cover, which has a spoon attached, and you’re ready to go.

They are, to me, natural bliss in a cup. Super refreshing, mildly tart and sweet, they remind me of eating fresh picked berries just after a rainfall.

The other night, I was up late, as I so often am, and needed something to perk me up to keep working. I didn’t want coffee or caffeine, so I reached for the POM POMS. It was a healthy pick me up with no crash whatsoever.

I think these are great for a snack. I like to eat them right out of the cup, or mix them in yogurt or oatmeal. My favorite is to make a salad with mixed greens, chevre, walnuts and pomegranate arils. I then add a very light citrus vinaigrette. Really nice flavor and color.

Pomegranate seeds are very healthy – low in calories and carbohydrates with almost no fat and a good content of dietary fiber. They are a great source of vitamins and potassium, and they’re known for their powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols which can help prevent cell damage by free radicals.

POM POMS come in two sizes 4.3 oz and 8 oz cups and they are available now through February.

*Available from October through January.
*Look for them in the refrigerated section of the produce department.

Here is a $1.00 off coupon for anyone who would like to try them!

Enjoy!

 I was sent product to sample for this review, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Treat Your Tastebuds – Country Bob’s Review and Giveaway (with t-shirts)

January 12, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 4 Comments

 I love food with a punch and Country Bob’s Original All Purpose Sauce is exactly that. Somehow the tomato, onion, garlic and tamarind combine just right to give you just enough tang without being overpowering. If you want spicier though, they have that too.

Al at Country Bob’s sent me two bottles to sample and I gave one to my sister and her family. They grilled up some burgers and immediately asked me where they could get more. I tried it with chicken which I grilled inside since it’s getting to be Winter in New England. Although, to be honest, if I could grill outside in the Winter, I would. I used it as a marinade for the chicken and also as a sauce. The chicken was incredibly moist and really flavorful. The reception here was outstanding. Country Bob’s tastes much better to me than the usual sauce that I can buy at the grocery store. I also had french fries which I dipped in it and they were heavenly. I highly recommend Country Bob’s for steak tips, for nachos, for burgers and steaks, for veggies, chicken, veggie burgers and fish. I think the only limit really is your imagination and your tastebuds. I also love that the sauce is gluten-free and has no MSG.

Country Bob perfected the sauce in 1968, then shared it with friends and family and began to sell it in 1977. In 1982, Bob Edson, Terry Edson, Al Malekovic and Reed Malekovic formed their corporation with their main office in Centralia, illinois.

You can check out their website  to find some inspired recipes and more information. For example, their delicious gift pack includes:

1 Bottle of Original All Purpose Sauce
1 Bottle of Apple Chipotle All Purpose Sauce
1 Bottle of Honey Habanero All Purpose Sauce
1 Bottle of Barbecue Sauce and
1 Container of Seasoning Salt

and they also have a cookbook, hats, t-shirts and grilling tools.

You can purchase Country Bob’s at select locations, see the store locator here or online at Country Bob’s

I know I’ll be buying more.

Al was very generous and offered 2 of my readers a bottle of Country Bob’s as well as a cool t-shirt, so there will be two winners.

You will each get one bottle of Country Bob’s Original All Purpose Sauce

and one t-shirt in whatever size you desire (they also have kids’ sizes) 

Also check out Country Bob’s on Facebook and Twitter for more fun, info and giveaways!

Enter via Rafflecopter and please include all info, since it will be verified. Thanks and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received product from the Sponsor in order to do this review, however the opinions expressed are my own.

Rafflecopter Rocks!

January 8, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 3 Comments

I am in love with Rafflecopter. Yes, I truly am. It has changed the way I look at holding and entering blog giveaways. And now, the innovative folks at R-copter are holding an amazing giveawaay – with an iPad2 or a Kindle Fire. How cool are they? Check it out!

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Power Your New Year – Fit Frappe™ Gourmet Protein Drink Mix Review and Giveaway

January 5, 2012 By Debra Pearlstein 50 Comments

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to eat healthier and Fit Frappe™made by Big Train® is a delicious discovery that definitely satisfies my desires.

 Rich in 20 grams of protein, with less than 1 gram of sugar and only 130 calories in a great tasting 16-oz beverage, Fit Frappe™couldn’t be easier to make or to take with you on the go.

And, now, for the best part, it tastes fantastic! Not like other protein drinks I’ve tried.  Fit Frappe™ is made with Calcium Caseinate for a creamy taste versus Whey Protein that often  has a chalky protein aftertaste. I found it delicious and very smooth. In fact, I would substitute this for my favorite coffeehouse drink. First of all, it’s more convenient to make, healthier, cheaper, and I can tailor it to my own specs and add whatever I like. Also, I often find coffeehouse versions too sweet.

Check out these flavors! Me, being the coffee-lover I am, adored the Vanilla Latte, Mocha and Espresso, but for those of you not as into java or who want both types, it also comes in Chocolate and Vanilla which are delicious hot, iced, or frappe. Here is a video from Big Train which shows the different methods:

As you can see, you have quite a lot of variations. I love the espresso hot with a touch of soymilk (very creamy!) and also two of my favorite smoothies which I mixed up while experimenting: Chocolate with banana blended over ice (so good!) and Vanilla Latte with blueberries (delicious!). Let’s not forget the delicious Mocha and the non-coffee Vanilla. I honestly would drink this every day.

Fit Frappe™ is wonderful before or after working out. It’s also great for a pick-me-up to keep your energy from flagging during the day or anytime you want a delicious drink, snack, or meal replacement. It helped give me the energy which I need to keep up with my currently very busy life and I didn’t experience that afternoon slump.

Here is the nutritional information per 16 oz serving:

20 g protein
Gluten Free
Only 130 calories 
5 g fiber
less than 1 g sugar
19 vitamins and minerals
Fat – 3.5 g                                          

    Big Train has generously offered one of my readers an awesome prize package so they can try Fit Frappe™ for themselves. It has 5 sample (16 oz) packages – 1 each of Vanilla Latte, Mocha, Espresso, and the non-coffee flavors Chocolate and Vanilla.

    You’re also going to get this cool workout towel

                                    

     

    and this totally fun apron!

    Slip on the Big Train Fit Frappe™ apron and you’ll be instantly ripped 🙂 . Great motivation!


    Do you know what else I love about Big Train? A portion of all sales from Fit Frappe™ will help support disadvantaged youth receive the equipment they need to participate in athletic programs and help them live a healthy lifestyle. We’ve only got one planet and I love a company that gives back. To find out more, you can visit Good Sports.

    If you’d like to purchase Fit Frappe™ through Big Train, please check out: FitFrappe.com and their Facebook shop. 

    You can also follow Big Train on Facebook and Twitter to hear more feedback about Fit Frappe™ and other products!

    Helpful Social Media Links:

    Twitter
    Facebook
    Empire Avenue
    You Tube
    FoodBuzz
    Blog

    To enter the giveaway for a Healthy New Year package with 5 flavors of Fit Frappe™, the workout towel and the muscle-apron, please follow the Rafflecopter:


    JUST A QUICK NOTE: ALL ENTRIES CLAIMED WILL BE VERIFIED BEFORE A WINNER IS CHOSEN, i.e. IF IT SAYS FOLLOW VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT OR WRITE A BLOG COMMENT, PLEASE DO because THOSE ARE MANDATORY. All others submitted will be verified as well.  GOOD LUCK and HAVE A GREAT 2012!!!

    Disclosure: I was sent product to review from the sponsor but all opinions herein are my own.  

    a Rafflecopter giveaway


    SOFT DRINK NIRVANA – SodaStream Review and Giveaway

    December 21, 2011 By Debra Pearlstein 295 Comments

    Ah, nostalgia. Sweet memories that bring the happiness you felt to the present moment. When I was very young, my Dad had a pharmacy that he built from the ground up. He had always wanted to go to medical school to become a doctor, so being a pharmacist and being able to advise and help the local customers, was a dream come true for him. He loved it. I loved the soda fountain he had! He actually made his own ice cream and I made ice cream sodas, lime rickeys and cherry cokes for the customers. I could barely see over the counter but this was so much fun. And you got to mix up whatever you wanted. Which brings me to my review and giveaway today:

    I’ve been wanting to try the Sodastream for quite some time and I have to say it surpassed my expectations. Not only is it simple and fun, but the soda is really good! In under 30 seconds, tap water becomes carbonated and you can enjoy it as is or add a myriad of flavors. Save money and also help protect the environment. Before, we would go to the store and I’d end up lugging home cases of soda and then wonder where to store it. No more. I’m saving money now, my back and storage space and having a great time. Everyone here loves it! And, I’m certain I’ll never again have one of those days when I really wish I had a soda and someone took the last one.

    Also, SodaStream is an “Active Green” product, meaning that by using it, you are actively reducing your CO2 footprint every time you make soda or sparkling water at home instead of buying it from the store.  I love that.

    Because SodaStream uses water straight from the tap, the system makes traditional store-bought beverage bottles obsolete. That means less plastic manufactured, less plastic waste created, and fewer bottled beverages transported from manufacturers to distributors to stores to homes.

    So, in a nutshell, using your own home carbonation system means:

    * Less packaging waste from cans and bottles.
    * Less pollution caused by transport of bottled beverages.

    But, what about the taste? What about the varieties? Check this out. You can have:

    * Regular Flavors such as Cola, cherry cola, cran-raspberry, ginger ale, root beer, grape, orange mango and many more. 

    The regular sodamix flavors contain less sugar, calories, carbohydrates and sodium than national drink brands, and they contain no high-fructose corn syrup. Each bottle of concentrated sodamix makes the equivalent of 12 liters (33 cans) of soda.

    * Diet Flavors – diet caffeine-free cola, diet cola, diet cream soda, diet cran-raspberry to name only a few

    I love that the diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda® and not aspartame.

    * Energy Drinks

    Why pay up to $2 for an energy drink from the store when you can easily make it yourself, starting at just 25 cents per serving? One bottle of concentrated Energy Drink sodamix makes 50 8-oz.servings. And you control the fizz and flavor intensity. Contains Vitamins B6 and B12, Niacin, Folate, Riboflavin, Vitamin C, Caffeine and Biotin and tastes really good.

    * MyWater Flavor Essences – lemon-lime, orange, raspberry and mint.  Unsweetened, all-natural flavor essences for making lightly flavored seltzer or sparkling water. Adjust the intensity of the flavor by adding more or less flavoring. Each 40 ml bottle will make approx. 20 liters of flavored seltzer.

     * Sparkling Naturals such as apple mango, black currant and pear, cola, green tea, pink graperuit, ginger ale. Made from all-natural ingredients, new SodaStream Sparkling Naturals make great-tasting “better for you” sodas. Sparkling Naturals contain no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no artificial sweeteners, and do not contain any preservatives, making them a perfect, sparkling, natural soda alternative for the entire family. Each 750ml bottle of Sparkling Natural concentrate will make 6 liters (approximately 25 8-oz servings) of all-natural soda.

    * Sparkling Tea such as mixed berry, lemon or peach iced tea, strawberry kiwi and more

    * And of course, your basic Sparkling Water – Fresh, Fizzy Sparkling Water for 25 cents per liter!

    I seriously was amazed at how easy the SodaStream was to set up. Simple! And, it’s also simple to make your desired beverages:

    Just fill the reusable carbonating bottle with tap water and secure it into the soda maker. Press the cbutton down a few times to fizz it up. You can adjust this to the level of carbonation you want. You can then drink this regular sparkling water as is or add the flavoring syrup.

    To do this, just measure one cap of your favorite flavor and pour it into the bottle and shake it gently. Voila!

    You can find Soda Stream at Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, jcpenney, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears, Target and many other fine stores. You can also shop onlline at SodaStream USA. At the site you’ll find lots of ideas, videos and all their products.

    I think this is a unique and wonderful gift for your family or friends and definitely for yourself!
    I highly recommend it!

    And, as if that wasn’t enough to buzz about, here’s something even more exciting! SodaStream has very generously offered one of my readers their very own SodaStream kit (pictured at the top of this post).

    You will get a  Fountain Jet Soda Lover’s Start-Up Kit  (ARV $99.95) which includes:

    –       A Fountain Jet – in your choice of color –
                 (black/silver, red/silver or white)
    –       A carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years
    –       A reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda
    –       A variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors
    –       and 3 full-sized flavors of your choice

    Helpful Links:

    SodaStream.com
    SodaStream on Twitter
    SodaStream on Facebook
    SodaStream on YouTube
    Ms Fizz Blog

    May your soda be fizzy; may your days be merry and bright!

     So just follow the Rafflecopter and it will lead the way.   The first two entries are mandatory and the rest are extra entries.  Best of luck everyone!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Disclosure: I was sent a SodaStream and product to review from the sponsor but all opinions herein are my own.  

    JUST A QUICK NOTE: ALL ENTRIES CLAIMED WILL BE VERIFIED BEFORE A WINNER IS CHOSEN, i.e. IF IT SAYS FOLLOW VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT OR WRITE A BLOG COMMENT, PLEASE DO because THOSE ARE MANDATORY.  GOOD LUCK!

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