GIVEAWAY - Pink & Green Organizational Goodness

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ~
thanks to all who entered!

as promised, i have a giveaway for you!

in celebration of my 600th blog post {which happened last monday}, i have a little pink & green organizational goodness for you. it will help you preppify your desk, if you will.

it's nothing too exciting or too fancy. trust me on this, folks. i'm on a bit of a tight budget due to this self-inflicted unemployment, so don't be disappointed when i say to you that these fun items came from target. from target's $1 section, to be more specific.

can you believe it??

the lucky winner will receive:

• 2 packs of pink & green file folders {3 folders in each pack}
• 1 pack of pink & green binder clips {various sizes}
• a magnetic list pad {embellished with a cute pink bow}
• a set of sticky notes
• a magnetic weekly planner

so there you have it. nothing fancy. but extra super special, in my opinion. if you're teetering on the verge of being unorganized {like i am} then these little gems should come in handy...especially if organizing your work space is one of your new year's resolutions!

to enter, all you gotta do is comment on this post. that's all. nothing crazy. no silly questions to answer or websites to check out. you can tweet about this if you want. feel free to blog about this or copy the picture to post on your blog's side bar. but remember...to enter, all you gotta do is comment.

i'll leave the giveaway open until 11:59pm EST on january 14th and i'll announce the winner on friday, january 15th. international bloggers are welcome to enter, too!

the fine print: i was not asked to giveaway these items nor was i endorsed by target in any way, shape or form. i purchased these items with money from my own pocket. they were not given to me. nor was i asked to review them or blah blah blah. so on and so forth...

spread some holiday cheer...

...by voting for logan.

remember logan? my sister & brother-in-law said good-bye to their beautiful golden retriever back in september after logan lost his brave battle against lymphoma.

monica & james have entered logan's photo in a pet holiday contest and he's currently in the #1 spot! there are six more days of voting left...please show logan some love & give him a 5 paw rating {and, to be fair to others in the contest, please vote for them, too}. you do have to register to vote, but it's free & if you uncheck the two boxes then you'll never receive any spam or emails.

click HERE to register & vote for logan.

I'm a WEEEEENER!

The muy fabuloso Mrs. Potts at Experiments in a Galley Kitchen had a little birthday giveaway last month. OK, maybe it wasn't little...to me, it was a BIG deal. Why? Because, I won!

What did I win?

{picture from Made by Stella}

Yep, I won those gems {pun intended!} - absolutely beautiful & stunning garnet cluster earrings from Made By Stella. Please go check out her etsy shop by clicking here.

I also won an item of my choice from the personalized stationery line at Molly Lou Gifts! I am having a hard time choosing just one item, but I've narrowed it down to these choices {all pictures are from Molly Lou Gifts, by the way}:

{the Style Your Stationery personalized set}

{the Dots Monogram note set}

{the Family Birdie folded notes}

I am thinking that I may have to get all three...stationery is always good to have. I even keep a set of note cards in my desk drawer at work because you just never know!

I'm so excited that I won this giveaway -- thank you, Mrs. Potts!! And, I owe a huge thanks to RNJenn, too! She told Mrs. Potts that I referred her which earned me my winning entry. Thanks, Jenn!

Please...go check out everyone {Mrs. Potts, Made by Stella, Molly Lou Gifts, RNJenn} mentioned in this post. You won't be disappointed.

Rock Bark the Vote!

"Logan and Moxie"

{the above takes you to the Facebook page for the photo contest, but you can also click on THIS link to take you directly to Logan & Moxie's page}

My sister, Monica, entered her two fur babies, Logan & Moxie, into a cover dog photo contest for Orvis. The contest is open until January 2010 and that is when the fine people at Orvis will announce the winner who will be featured on the Fall catalog cover; however, in the meantime, you can vote for your favorite dog or doggies {and I KNOW you will vote ONLY for Logan & Moxie}.

When you vote, you are asked to donate...I know it seems kind of an odd way of doing things, but when you think about those cute dogs & the fact that every donation is matched by Orvis & Eukanuba and all the proceeds are donated to the Canine Cancer Campaign, well, then it's worth it! The minimum donation is $5, but that's good for FIVE votes ($10 is good for 10 votes and so on & so forth...). And, your donation is tax-deductible!

So, what are you waiting for? Go...vote for Logan the Golden Retriever & Moxie the Bernese Mountain Dog. And, if you really need some extra motivation, then do it simply for the fact that your donation aids in canine cancer research. Winning this contest would mean the world to my sister & her husband, James, but what's more important is the fact that all donations are given to the Canine Cancer Campaign. This is near & dear to my sister & brother-in-law's heart because Logan is currently battling Lymphoma. He has chemo every week. He's such a sweet boy & such a fighter, too.

And, of course, you can enter your very own fur baby, too!! But, definitely check out this contest, make a donation and, pretty please, vote for Logan & Moxie!

If any of the above links don't work, then please click here and type in "Logan and Moxie" {just as it's written minus the quotes} and vote, vote, vote!

PRODUCT REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Barefoot & Bubbly!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTRIES!

I am not going to lie to you all...this product review has been - BY FAR - the most favorite one I've done thus far. Why? Because it involved wine...or, as I like to refer to it...Mommy juice. If I had to pick a poison, wine would be it {followed very closely by Seagrams 7, but that's a different post}.

I'm sure there are many of you out there who - like me - enjoy having a glass {or three} of wine. I mean, it's a serving of fruit, people! I was very excited when Barefoot Wine contacted me. I've had a couple of their wines before - Pinot Grigio & Chardonnay. I've even tried their Moscato wine. Can you tell where I'm going with this? Yes, I'm normally a white wine drinker only. However, Lauren at Barefoot Wine has forever changed me because she graciously sent me not one, but TWO, bottles of Barefoot Wine to sample...one of which was some bubbly! Yes, not only does Barefoot Wine produce some great & very affordable wines, but they also produce bubbly wines!

Imagine my surprise when I came home from a weekend away to find a big box on my front porch from Barefoot Wine. Forget about dirty laundry & unpacking...I HAD to get that box open! Inside - for me to sample - was a bottle of Zinfandel & a bottle of bubbly, Brut Cuvee. Like I said earlier, I'm more of a white wine girl. And, surprising to many of my friends, I do not like champagne or sparkling wines at all. Seriously.

Now, before I begin my review I would just like to say that I am in no way a sommelier by any stretch of the imagination. I am merely an over-worked, under-paid, heavily occasional drinking wife & mother of two. Got it?

I opened the Zinfandel first.

I'm not going to lie...I was very skeptical as to whether or not I would even enjoy it. I've had merlot here and there and, to me, red wines are bitter, dry & hard for me to enjoy. Well, all of you red wine lovers who are screeching in horror should be quite happy because I loved the Zinfandel! There's no more left. I mean, drinking two glasses upon opening the bottle?! Yeah, that says something right there. Barefoot's Zinfandel is not dry, not bitter and it's heavily laden with hints of cherry. It is a smooth drinking wine and, being the classy girl that I am, brought out some peppery notes when I paired the wine with some heavily salted & peppered popcorn!

I finally opened the bubbly last night. I stashed it in the fridge weeks ago with every intention on breaking it out last weekend during our cookout & I blame my forgetfulness on the sangria that a friend brought {we'll discuss that in yet another post}. I stated earlier that I don't like champagne or sparkling wines. I never have. Never, ever. I suppose that most of my experience has revolved around extra dry wanna be sparkling wines...but, in my defense, I've also had fancy champagne - Dom Perignon - and I didn't like that either {I guess that really does classify me as simple & cheap, then?}.

When the hubs popped the top off of this baby, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I had already drilled into my head that I would not like it. It's sparkling. It's going to be dry and too fizzy and too disappointing. I was wrong, wrong and WRONG! Barefoot's Brut Cuvee surprised me and my taste buds. It was perfectly chilled & the bubbles tickled my nose as I drank it {I'm ashamed to admit that I don't actually own a proper champagne flute or fluted type of glass}. The Brut Cuvee was tart - it reminded me of granny smith apples - and was not dry at all. It had a smooth finish and I'm seriously considering having a mimosa for breakfast {although that wouldn't be a good idea since I do have to go to work}.

I am forever grateful to Lauren & everyone at Barefoot Wine, not just for allowing me this opportunity, but for expanding my wine horizons and turning me onto TWO types of wine I would have never, ever thought I would enjoy.

---

Here's where the fun comes in for you all...

Barefoot Wine has graciously offered my LUCKY readers the chance to win a Barefoot Wine "Summer Essentials" pack:

Included is a Barefoot Wine tote, beach towel, stemless wine glass and bottle opener...all that's missing is a bottle of your favorite Barefoot wine!

Get yourself familiar with Barefoot Wine. The motto behind their wine is to "get barefoot & have a great time!" Barefoot Wine recently launched a new website & they also have a great online community called Barefoot Republic. Barefoot Wine is a strong community supporter & is actively involved with other organizations like the Surfrider Foundation. So, not only does Barefoot Wine produce some amazing varieties of "the good stuff," but they also share my love of the beach. Could the relationship be any more perfect??

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY, this is what you need to do:

• MANDATORY - Join Barefoot Republic and leave me your user name in a comment below {when you join, you can use me - maliasma - in the 'referrer username' space...at the end of the form} - and don't worry, Barefoot will not fill your email with spam!
• Tell me, in a comment below, how you plan on spending the rest of your summer.
• MANDATORY - Go to Barefoot Wine's website and tell me, in a comment, which wine is your favorite or which you would like to try
• Tell me, in a comment, what you like to pair your wine with...cheese, fruit, seafood, etc.
• You can also get additional entries by blogging about this & following my blog
• I'll give you THREE bonus entries for referring people to this giveaway...just make sure they mention in their comment who referred them!

This giveaway will be open until 11:59 est on Thursday, July 30th and a winner will be chosen on Friday, July 31st. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ONLY and, PLEASE, you MUST be 21 or older {I can't be contributing to the delinquency of minors!!}.

Good luck!

We Have A Winner!

I'm sad that my blog's birthday bash has come to an end...can you believe that today is the LAST day of June already?! Where does the time go??

Anyways, as promised, I have a winner for the last of the blog birthday bash giveaways - a few of my favorites from Kiehl's. I used random.org to choose the winner...

LovesPINKandPEARLS

Congratulations on your win and email me at shell {at} stutteringshell {dot} com with your mailing address and I'll get your goodies out to you soon!!

---

And a big, huge, special THANK YOU to all of you who participated all month long! Thank you for making my blog's birthday month special. I'm glad to have been fortunate enough to connect with you all!

I'm kind of sad...now it's back to my regular blog antics...but, like I keep telling ya, I have a few tricks up my sleeve!!

BLOG B'DAY BASH - Kiehl's for YOU!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR ENTERING & PARTICIPATING! WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.


Happy Hump Day and welcome to Week 4 of my blog's birthday bash giveaway extravaganza. I'm a little tardy on this one considering all the other giveaways have been posted on a Monday. Ah, well...the hubs has been hogging the computer I've been limiting my time on the computer, but...

Why not try & win some of my favorite products from Kiehl's??

Kiehl's has been around for a while. I first became acquainted with Kiehl's back in 2001 after reading a magazine article about different beauty products. I headed straight to Nordstrom and came home with a ridiculous amount of new things courtesy of Kiehl's. And, to this day, there are a few Kiehl's products that have become a regular part of my beauty regime and this giveaway gives YOU the chance to win some of my favorites! Yay!

(If you're skeptical about new beauty products or this line, I urge you to check out their website and read about the company and what they are all about...)

Here is a rundown of the products you have a chance to win and a reason why I love each one:

Creme de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Creme - so silky & creamy...this body wash will keep your skin soft and moisturized and will not dry you out nor will it overwhelm your senses with fragrance or perfume. If you're like me and have to be careful about what types of soap you're using, this is perfect for you! If you're not, well, it's still perfect for you!

Ultimate Strength Hand Salve - OK, confession, I have eczema...on my hands of all places. Basically, it means that 364 days out of the year, I have dry, cracked skin on my hands. It's gross and, ironically enough, it's the result of OCD hand washing thanks to many years in the restaurant industry. Go figure. Anyways, I am NEVER without this lotion. It's thick, gooey, not greasy and it moisturizes like a champ! I use it on my tootsies, too!

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 - I am a lip gloss/lip balm junkie and this gives me the shine of a gloss with all of the benefits of a balm including sun protection! This keeps my lips soft and kissable.

Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant - This is the ONLY deodorant I've used for the last, oh, nearly EIGHT years. I will never, ever buy deodorants from those other brands again. This is a cream that you rub on right from the tube. It keeps the stink away and moisturizes at the same time. And, an added bonus is that it softens your pit hair which results in smoother shaving!

So, there you have it...my four favorites from Kiehl's and they can be all yours -- all you have to do is enter!
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You know the drill, but we'll keep it simple this time:

• Leave a comment and you'll get TWO entries
• If you are a follower of my blog you will get an extra THREE entries

You have until 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, June 30th to enter and I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, July 1st!

This will be the last of my blog birthday bash giveaways - thanks for making my blog's birthday month a lot of fun & a big success! But, stay tuned for more fun things for you, the kids and this blog (you know, since I'm closing in on 100 followers and I'm working my way towards my 500th post).

BLOG B'DAY BASH - Bare Escentuals WINNER!

Hello friends! Sorry for the delay in this post...but I am pleased to announce the winner for week 3 of my blog's birthday bash...

BroncoMom!!

Congratulations!

I used random.org to choose the winner...and this is what BroncoMom said:

And finally my comment for your post on today's giveaway.My favorite Bare Escentuals product is the Foiled Eye kit. My makeup artist genes are telling me this kit would be tons of fun!

Enjoy your Bare Escentuals Siren of the Sea Collection - it's a really great gift set. Email me your mailing address and I'll get your gift out to you this week!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you to all who entered & participated! I have another giveaway up my sleeve...maybe two...as a way to wrap up my blog's birthday month.

Also, stay tuned...I know I keep promising some fun things for those of us with kids and those fun things will really happen this week! There is also another giveaway up my sleeve - it's all still in the works - but if you love mommy juice like I do, then you're going to love what I'm working on. *hint, hint*

BLOG B'DAY BASH - Bare Escentuals Siren of the Sea Collection

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR ENTERING & PARTICIPATING!

We're halfway through the month of June and it's time for WEEK 3 of my blog's birthday bash giveaway! I can't believe there's {technically} only one more week of June left - next week - and that summer officially starts this weekend - on Father's Day!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Anyways, you're going to look your absolute best if you are the winner of this giveaway. I love, love, LOVE mineral makeup by Bare Escentuals. I've been hooked on BE products for years - thank you, Mom, for my addiction to QVC. Leslie Blodgett is my hero and I cannot say enough about how wonderful Bare Escentuals is. I have visited BE boutique stores in San Francisco & in West Hartford, CT and I'm longing for the day that one of MY local malls gets a BE store (a girl can dream, right?).

The winner of this giveaway will win the Bare Escentuals Siren of the Sea collection that is exclusively sold at Sephora (love that store!). This LIMITED EDITION 7-piece collection will kick start your summer fun and have you looking fabulous!

Here are the deets from Sephora's website:

What it does:
Bare Escentuals Siren of the Sea Hydrating and Brightening Seven-Piece Collection reflects the powerful, breathtaking beauty of the mythical mermaid—the "siren of the sea." Create a high-shine, reflective effect that's layered with cool, velvety depth like the ocean. The hydrating blush and hydrating finishing powder—both with water-encapsulated technology—deliver a cooling softness and natural color. Treat your lips to hydration, too, with the natural lipgloss. Dive in and immerse yourself in the sexy, glistening opulence that is 100% pure bareMinerals, and bring the beautiful temptation of mythical mermaids to modern day.

This set contains:
- 0.02 oz bareMinerals High Shine Sand Dune (gilded sand, high shine)
- 0.02 oz bareMinerals Mermaid Eyecolor (dark blue-green velvet)
- 0.02 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Coral Blush (coral dusk)
- 0.07 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Mineral Veil (brightening finish)
- 0.14 oz bareMinerals 100% Natural LipGloss in Chiffon (nude sand)
- Double-Ended Hydrate & Brighten Duo Brush with Custom Bamboo Handle
- Straw Clutch

This collection is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens

- Sulfates

- Synthetic Fragrances

- Synthetic Dyes

- Petro-Chemicals

- Phthalates

This giveaway will be open until Sunday, June 21st at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be announced on Monday, June 22nd.

And, I think by now you all know how to enter, right?? But, to spice things up a bit, I'm adding a little twist! *wink, wink*

Comment on this post - that's mandatory!

Go to the Bare Escentuals page at Sephora (click here) and look around - let me know which BE product you'd like to try or (if you're already a BE addict like I am) what your favorite BE product is - this is mandatory!

You get extra entries if you follow my blog, follow me on twitter (@maliasma), subscribe to my blog, have my button in your side bar, post about this giveaway...just let me know in your comment below!
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GOOD LUCK!

And the Amazing Grace WINNERS are...

Melanieshea

&

Jen and Rob

Congratulations to the both of you! You are both going to love philosophy's Amazing Grace...I know I do!

Email me your mailing address and I will get your goodies out to you this week!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this latest giveaway - you guys are all awesome and I wish I had a set for everyone! If you are seriously interested in trying philosophy, check out their website, QVC or Sephora. Those are the three places that I purchase my philosophy products from.

And, don't despair...I have another great giveaway lined up for this week & I will be featuring two giveaways next week. Oh, and those other giveaways - for the younger set - that I promised weeks ago will finally be posted this week (sometimes I wish there was more than one of me!).

BLOG B'DAY BASH - Amazing Grace, how sweet the SCENT!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED - THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING...THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!


It's the 2nd week of June and that means ANOTHER GIVEAWAY for Stuttering Shell's birthday bash!



I'm not going to lie - I'm a beauty product junkie. Seriously. Come over to my house and I'll show you my stash. It's sick, I tell ya. But, it's sick in a good way. Anyways, one of my favorite beauty product brands is philosophy. I have been a loyal philosophy girl for YEARS. And, one of my favorite things about philosophy is their fragrance line. I've worn many different perfume scents over the years, but the one I always go back to is philosophy's Amazing Grace.


From philosophy's website:
"amazing grace is philosophy's best-selling spray fragrance for women. it was created to make a woman smell amazingly clean and beautifully feminine. amazing grace spray fragrance allows a woman to embrace her beauty and express her femininity. finally people will say 'you smell so good' instead of 'what is that perfume you're wearing?'"




So, this week I have a real treat for you...I am giving away not just one, but TWO of philosophy's Amazing Grace gift sets. In this set, you will receive:

• amazing grace shower gel, 4 fl. oz./118.3 ml ~ perfumed shampoo, bath and shower gel with milk proteins
• amazing grace hair conditioner, 4 fl. oz./118.3 ml ~ perfumed deep moisturizing hair conditioner
• amazing grace firming body emulsion, 4 fl. oz./118.3 ml ~ perfumed firming body emulsion
• amazing grace hot salt scrub, 6 oz./170.1 g ~ perfumed hot salt, tub and shower scrub

This giveaway will be open until Sunday, June 14th at 11:59pm EST and the TWO WINNERS will be announced on Monday, June 15th!

As you know from last week, the rules to enter are simple - remember, each entry must be a separate comment, if you don't...that's OK, too...I can figure it all out:

• Leave me a comment on this blog post (you don't need to have a blog or be a blogger to do this!) - ONE ENTRY
• Grab my button & post in your side bar - ONE ENTRY
• Follow my blog - ONE ENTRY
• Subscribe to my blog (this is a new thing I'm trying out) - ONE ENTRY
• Write about this giveaway in YOUR blog (post or sidebar...link me, please) - ONE ENTRY
• Follow me on Twitter (@maliasma) - ONE ENTRY
• Tweet about this on Twitter (link me, please, or just include @maliasma in your tweet) - ONE ENTRY

Tell your friends & good luck!

Whitney Caroline Designs

Normally when there is a giveaway on another blog I just put up a little link in my sidebar (see right), but this giveaway requires more than that. Go check out Whitney Caroline Designs' blog and you'll see why. I'm excited because her creations are beautiful & this giveaway is HUGE. Trust me, you gotta go see. And, even better is that we share the same area code - the 757 - so I've got to support a fellow Virginian!

So, what are you waiting for? Get thee to Whitney Caroline Designs to check out her giveaway and maybe you could be lucky enough to win this...

Or, this...

Or, this...

Giving credit where credit is due...all pictures are all from Whitney Caroline Designs.

And the WINNER of the Vera Bradley Morgan in Peacock is...

Lis from Lis Loves!


Congratulations!


Just so you all know, I made a spreadsheet of all the names in order of comment & then I used Random.Org to generate a number between 1 & 125 (there were 125 entries...wahoo!).














Lis - email me at shell {at} stutteringshell {dot} com and we can discuss how you would like to handle the delivery of your brand new & oh, so fabulous Vera Bradley Morgan in Peacock!

BLOG B'DAY BASH - Going Peacock with Vera Bradley!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE ENTERED. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW - MONDAY, JUNE 8TH!


It's June 1st and, not only does today mark the official beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, but it also means that Stuttering Shell's TWO year birthday is just 10 days away! And, like I promised last month, we are going to celebrate ALL MONTH LONG!


In honor of my blog's special day month, my first giveaway is something that I truly adore - the Morgan bag by Vera Bradley in the Peacock print! I own this very same handbag style, but in a different pattern...and I have this very same pattern, but in a different handbag style! Go figure.

Anyways, if you aren't familiar with Vera Bradley, you're in for a treat...and for those of you who are, well, you're in for a treat! This is a great handbag and the print is super fun! Vera's bags are washable and hold up quite well. There are all sorts of little pockets inside and outside of this purse...and it has a zip closure! OH, AND THERE WILL BE A LIL' SURPRISE INSIDE THE BAG, TOO!


Entering for this giveaway is simple - a winner will be chosen on Monday, June 8th - so spread the word and enter, enter, enter! Here's what you need to do (please make sure that you leave a separate comment for EACH entry...thanks!):

• Leave me a comment on this blog post (you don't need to have a blog or be a blogger to do this!) - ONE ENTRY
• Grab my button & post in your side bar - ONE ENTRY
• Follow my blog - ONE ENTRY
• Subscribe to my blog (this is a new thing I'm trying out) - ONE ENTRY
• Write about this giveaway in YOUR blog (post or sidebar...link me, please) - ONE ENTRY
• Follow me on Twitter (@maliasma) - ONE ENTRY
• Tweet about this on Twitter (link me, please) - ONE ENTRY

THE FINE PRINT:

• This giveaway will be open for entries until Sunday, June 7th at 11:59pm EST
• The winner will be announced on Monday, June 8th here at Stuttering Shell as well as by email (so please leave me a valid email address)

PLEASE TELL ANYONE & EVERYONE ABOUT MY FUN GIVEAWAYS FOR THIS MONTH! I will be featuring FOUR more giveaways of my favorite things (MAYBE more...you never know!), so keep posted! Also, be on the lookout for some fun giveaways for the kidlets...I've got a few things up my sleeve!

BRACE FACE - The cookbook winner is...

KAYLA!

Congratulations, Kayla! I hope you enjoy both of these cookbooks!

Please email to me your mailing address at shell {at} stutteringshell {dot} com and I'll have the books sent to you right away!

Your Participation Counts!

I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for participating in my "Brace Face" discussion series. I really enjoyed reading your comments and sharing in your memories about growing up with braces.

Remember, any & all comments made in any of the "Brace Face" posts (there are FIVE of them) will be entered to win The Braces Cookbook & The Braces Cookbook 2. I will leave the comment contest open until Thursday, June 4th at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be announced on Friday, June 5th!

Good luck!

BRACE FACE - Avoiding Injury

So, we've been talking about braces, what it's like to wear braces, how it feels to be in braces, what you can eat when you're in braces, but what about protecting your mouth - whether or not you are in braces?

Did you play sports as a child growing up? Do your children play sports? Did you ever wear a mouth guard? Do you make your own children wear a mouth guard?

I'll be honest, I didn't wear one whenever I was playing sports. Of course, my sport of choice was swimming and that's all I did for as long as I could remember. It seems silly to even think about facial injuries while in a pool, but if you've ever taken a foot to the face while swimming laps then you'll know where I'm coming from.

With that said, this is the last post for the "Brace Face" discussion series. Again, I'm featuring a guest post from Catherine Manabat and she stresses the importance of wearing mouth guards. Let me know what you think...


Help Your Kids Avoid Sports Injuries
Catherine Manabat is a guest blogger, writing on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists. The American Association of Orthodontists is a resource for parents to learn more about orthodontic treatments and provides general tips on how to achieve healthy, beautiful smiles, get braces-friendly recipes, and find an orthodontist near you by using the Find an Orthodontist Locator service. Why should you choose an orthodontist? Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Catherine is also a proud former “braceface” and smiles every day to prove it!


We all know sports are fun, but getting an injury—especially to the face or mouth—isn’t fun at all. According to the Centers for Disease Control, sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in 12 to 17 year olds. A typical emergency room visit or a child can cost anywhere from $425 to $550, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield. The good news is that many of these injuries can be avoided, just by wearing the right protective gear.

April is National Facial Protection Month, and orthodontists are encouraging athletes to wear mouth guards while participating in sports and other activities. A study was conducted among parents to figure out why face and mouth injuries are still common among young athletes, despite being preventable. Lack of knowledge, particularly about which sports and skill levels benefit from protective gear, was at the top of the list.

Another interesting finding shows that 67 percent of parents surveyed that their child did not wear a mouth guard. Of those parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard during organized sports, 84 percent said it is because the league of coach does not require it. This is unfortunate because mouth guards are one the least expensive pieces of sports equipment. Over-the-counter versions cost as little as $5.00, although custom-fit mouth guards offer greater protection. An orthodontist can recommend the best mouth guard for an athlete who wears braces.

52 percent of the parents who said their kids did not wear mouth guards reasoned that their child “doesn’t need that level of protection.”

However, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children wear mouth guards for all contact sports. This includes baseball, soccer, basketball and football, which account for about 80 percent of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between the ages of 5 to 14, according to the Centers for disease control. Orthodontists say mouth guards should be worn when participating in any activity where the mouth might come into contact with a hard object or the ground, to prevent facial injuries. Facial protective gear is less expensive than repairing an injury—not to mention less painful.

Perhaps your child already sees his dentist regularly, so you may think why add an extra appointment on top of their (and your) busy schedule? The answer is because orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Choosing an orthodontist for your child is an important decision, and the American Association of Orthodontists is here to help your growing athlete stay safe. Make an appointment to meet with an orthodontist today!

BRACE FACE - Dances and Boys and Braces, Oh My!

I'm sure you heard me say it before...I had braces in junior high school. Me and just about every other adolescent girl in my school. Not only did I have braces, but I had a perm, too. But, that's fodder for a completely different blog post. If I had my junior high school yearbooks, I would gladly post - for all to see - me in my 7th grade glory. But, thank goodness, my junior high school yearbooks are 2.5 hours away in my parents house...whew!

Anyways, this is part four of the "Brace Face" discussion series and I'm featuring another post by Catherine Manabat. She so elegantly & humorously captures to awkwardness of being a preteen in braces. Let me know your thoughts - share your stories with me - and you could be entered to win The Braces Cookbook & The Braces Cookbook 2!


Dances and Boys and Braces, Oh My!

Catherine Manabat is a guest blogger, writing on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists. The American Association of Orthodontists is a resource for parents to learn more about orthodontic treatments and provides general tips on how to achieve healthy, beautiful smiles, get braces-friendly recipes, and find an orthodontist near you by using the Find an Orthodontist Locator service. Why should you choose an orthodontist? Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Catherine is also a proud former “braceface” and smiles every day to prove it!
When I look back on my junior high days, I won’t lie and say I have only fond memories. Let’s face it—junior high, with all the issues that come with transitioning into adulthood, is and always will be a tricky time in a person’s life.


The 8th grade was quite possibly the most life-altering time for me—at least, that’s what I thought back then. I had to deal with three major differences from my pre-middle school days. First, I had to find a date to the end-of-the-year dance. Secondly, one of my best guy friends had inexplicably turned on me and became a crush. (The nerve of that boy!) And finally, that was the year I was going to get my braces. Naturally, it seemed like all three of these situations were tied together somehow.

My parents and I had known for a long time that I needed my tremendous overbite corrected, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about getting them at that exact moment. At the time, most people got their braces in high school (The American Association of Orthodontists actually recommends your child come in for a check-up no later than the age of seven), so you can imagine my mixed feelings about getting braces. I tried to get them postponed—but my dentist and my orthodontist insisted it was the right time. So I complied, and the braces came. I got the day off from school, so that was a nice treat.

That first week got some getting used to, with the list of things not to eat, or to eat in a special way… a special type of floss along with a special way to brush. The aforementioned boy noticed there was something new about me— so, of course, I agonized whether or not this was entirely positive. But at least he noticed, right?

Along with the new oral hygiene routine, I had to get used to how I looked. I had one of those friends who touted a disposable camera all the time. At first, I didn’t want to show my teeth as much when smiling for pictures. I had this irrational fear that the metal was too bright for the flash. But when I saw my ho-hum smile compared to my wide, bright, brace-wearing smile, I quickly got over that complex and got used to smiling normally.

In any case, I had bigger issues looming. I had to figure out a way to turn my friend-turned-crush into a crush-turned-date. Imagine my surprise when, just a couple months after I got my braces, he showed up to school donning his own! It gave us a new subject to talk about—I liked getting navy blue rubber bands and he enjoyed black ones. Basically, it was a sign we were soul mates.

It made me wonder if we went to the dance together, whether that would be the night of my first kiss. And it made me wonder if having braces was going to be a problem. (A popular myth about braces is that they can lock together during kissing—not true, so kiss away!) In any case, the end-of-the-year dance was fast approaching and he still hadn’t asked me. A different kid asked if I would go with him as a friend… but I was holding out hope for my special crush.
One day, a week before junior high graduation, I found out my crush had a new girlfriend. The news was devastating. And because of my idealism, I was probably going to the dance date-less.
So how did it all turn out? There isn’t an ideal ending here (it’s real life junior high, after all). I got a cute outfit and went to the dance on my own. And I didn’t get my first kiss that night.
But in the end, I had a great night and lots of memories to look back on. I had a lot more fun dancing with my girlfriends rather than worrying over what to say to my date. And I even got the chance to dance with him. And what about the braces? As planned, I got them off a couple years later in high school, and couldn’t believe how beautiful my teeth turned out—just in time for formal and prom photos, too! I guess you could say out of dances, boys and braces, my braces turned out to be the only thing that didn’t let me down. I have the smile to prove it!

BRACE FACE - Let's Get Cookin'!

Where were these cookbooks when I had braces? (Remember, you can WIN these cookbooks by participating in the "Brace Face" discussion series...all comments will be entered to win...so comment, comment, comment!)

I'm sure there was some sort of brace-friendly menu plan out there, but (of course) I had braces in the late 1980s - early 1990s so my fate succumbed to chicken noodle soup (a la Campbell's, no doubt) and any other mushy substance I could sink my sore jaws into on the days that my wires/bands were tightened. I get lockjaw just reminiscing about it all.

Anyways, wearing braces isn't so nerdy anymore and neither is the cuisine when it comes to wearing braces thanks to Pamela Waterman and Chef Amee Hoge. The pair teamed up to put together not just one, but TWO, cookbooks showcasing different (dare I say, gourmet?) recipes that can be fixed easily and LOVED by those in braces and even those who are not in braces. Ms. Waterman was not only inspired by her own daughter who was in braces, but she spent some time as an adult in braces, too.

I don't know about you, but I am a cookbook junkie so these two books are on my "wanted" list - all of the recipes look so yummy & tasty! And, as a parent who will quite possibly have two children in braces one day in the near future, I think that having these two resources on my kitchen bookshelf will be a lifesaver!

Here are some tidbits recipes from the books:

CORNBREAD PIZZA (from the Braces Cookbook 2)

This braces-friendly pizza is delicious, distinctive and oh-so satisfying. Try it tonight! Made with cornbread mix and a dash of Parmesan, it’s just the thing when you’re craving something different. You can even get your kids in on the fun by asking them to help with the toppings.

Ingredients:
2 (8½-ounce) boxes dry cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 jar or can (about 26 ounces) spaghetti sauce, any flavor
1 tablespoon oregano
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Toppings of your choice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 30-to-35 minutes total.

In a large bowl, stir together the 2 boxes of dry cornbread mix, 2 eggs, milk and Parmesan cheese. Grease a 9” x 13” pan, and also grease 6 muffin-pan cups (or line them with cupcake papers). Spoon batter into the 6 muffin cups, about halfway, as this is extra batter. (You’ll have muffins for another meal – they’re great with chili.) Then spread the remaining batter into the 9” x 13” pan and spread the spaghetti sauce over the top. Sprinkle with oregano.

Bake the pizza and the muffins at 375 degrees for 15 minutes and remove both from oven. Sprinkle the pizza with the mozzarella cheese and any other toppings, then bake it at an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Cut into squares.

Chef Amee’s Gourmet Touch:
To make two specialty “soft” pizzas, bake them in two round cake pans and top with your favorite toppings. Add 1 tablespoon of dried Italian herbs to the pizza crust along with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for added flavor.

CHERRY-CHICKEN SALAD BITES (from the Braces Cookbook 2)

Ingredients:
1 (12.5-ounce) can (or 1¼ cups) cooked chicken
½ cup (about 3 ounces) dried cherries, presoaked in hot water for 10 minutes, then drained
½ cup (4 ounces) black-cherry yogurt
1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise

Directions:
Drain the chicken and break it up into a medium-sized bowl. Add cherries, yogurt and mayonnaise. Stir together well. If you have time, let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for an hour to absorb the moisture and flavors.
This serves up nicely in tiny scoopfuls on ruffled red-leaf lettuce and is also excellent as a filling inside sliced miniature croissant rolls.

What’s so cool about this dish? Dried cherries are now as easy to find in the grocery store as raisins, a trend that makes this variation on the regular chicken salad a simple yet delicious change of pace. Plus, when it’s time for those braces to come off, you can add ¼ cup of slivered almonds to give the dish some extra pizazz. Need a gourmet touch? Chef Amee likes to add ¼ cup ground almonds and 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried mint leaves to add more color and texture to this scrumptious meal.


MOROCCAN SWEET-PEPPER CHICKEN (from the Braces Cookbook)
Ingredients:
3 boneless chicken breast halves, boiled
3 cups (fresh or frozen, unthawed) sweet peppers, diced (any color)

For the sauce:
1/3 cup orange juice
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ teaspoon ginger
1 Tablespoon sherry
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
(Optional: ¼ cup sliced almonds)

In a large pot, boil the chicken breasts until very tender, about 1 hour. (This is a great task to do ahead of time while getting other things done in your life.) Shred the chicken on a cutting board and set aside.

In a Dutch oven or large covered frying pan, simmer the peppers in ½ cup water for 15 minutes. Add shredded chicken and keep on low heat.In a small bowl, use a whisk to stir together all the sauce ingredients except the almonds. Pour the sauce over the chicken and pepper mixture and simmer the combination, covered, for 10 minutes. Serve over rice and, if desired, add the almonds on top for non-braces eaters. This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings.

FABULOUS FRUIT SMOOTHIES
For a quick, soothing breakfast or afternoon snack, put together the ingredients ahead of time. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator ready to whip together in a blender.

Ingredients:
2 bananas1 cup of milk1 cup of other fruit (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges – fresh or thawed from frozen)2 tablespoons of protein powder (optional)

Directions:
Cut bananas into 1-inch slices. Add all ingredients to a blender, and mix for 10 seconds on a low setting. Makes two servings.

TWISTY SOFT PRETZELS
These twisty soft pretzels are tasty with a dash of salt – or sweet with a shake of sugar and cinnamon. Plus, they’re easy to make. Pop a batch in the oven today!

Ingredients:
¾ cup warm water
½ envelope yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
Pinches of salt or cinnamon-sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, stir together warm water, yeast and sugar. In a large mixing bowl, mix salt and flour with a large spoon. After 5 minutes, stir yeast mix into flour mix.

With well-floured hands, shape dough into 6-inch rods, initials, animals or traditional twisted pretzel shapes. Brush with the beaten egg and place on a greased cookie sheet. If desired, sprinkle with extra salt or cinnamon-sugar.

Bake for 12 minutes at 425°.

Now you tell me...do you really need braces to enjoy these recipes? NO! But, if you ARE in braces, I bet these recipes (as well as the many others featured in the cookbooks) are a welcome change to what you thought you were limited to, right?

Psst...

A giveaway is coming!

A giveaway is coming!

A giveaway is coming!

A giveaway is coming!

Yes, FOUR giveaways...completely UNRELATED to my blog's birthday bash. So, if any of you are parents or have a niece or nephew or just really want to win something cool, then stay tuned. I will be giving away some really neat TOYS by Hasbro (those ladies at Litzky have done it again!) fit for any boy or girl!

Stay tuned...