Giveaway Winner!

I'm so happy to be able to host a giveaway to celebrate reaching 100 Likes on the Nekaro Facebook page! Again I'd like to say...

The winner is...

Renata Sassi

Congratulations Renata!  Thank you for liking Nekaro!  

Renata will have 24 hours to respond to the notification email.  Thanks to ALL who entered the giveaway and to ALL who have pushed the Nekaro FB page likes to 150!  Y'all are awesome!!!!

Who Wants a Giveaway?!

I woke up on Friday morning and discovered that I had surpassed 100 fans on my blog's Facebook page!  It was like Christmas morning!



I decided that I should share my excitement and have a giveaway!  So who wants to win a $25 gift card to Amazon.com?!  It's super easy too!  Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter to Win a Kindle Fire HD!!

There is no doubt that Isabelle Thornton of Le Chateau des Fleurs is talented.  This French-girl-gone-Utah has a wildly popular blog full of interesting DIY posts, photography, giveaways, and great reviews.  Aside from being an awesome blogger, she also creates fun apps for phones.  Previously her "Make Me Skinny" or Bon Bon app has kept many entertained as they edited and adjusted photos on their iPhones, and now I'm excited to announce she's released an entirely new app!  This one is different, and for Android!

Let's face it, sometimes you spend more time with your smart phone than you do with your spouse, friends, coworkers, and family... You sleep with it, eat with it, and admit it-you take it to the bathroom with you!  With Smartphone DNA you are creating a new kind of experience with your Smartphone.

What is Smartphone DNA?  

Smartphone DNA is an app dedicated to Twitter users, and it allows you to collect your Twitter DNA via your Android phone, and then compare it against other twitter users to see how much you match!  This is a great way to locate new Twitter friends that have things in common with you! 

How it works:

1. Smartphone DNA shows you a list of apps you currently have installed.
2. You select the apps you want to share as part of your DNA
3. Smartphone DNA shows you how closely you match the DNA of other users.

Smartphone DNA is 100% secure and controlled by you.

Win a Kindle Fire HD

To celebrate the release of Smartphone DNA, Isabelle is offering one lucky newsletter subscriber  a brand new Kindle Fire HD!  Can you say wow?  This is the reader of all readers-with a 7" full color HD display, exclusive Dolby audio, and ultra-fast WiFi it's top of the line.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to have one for yourself!  Follow the break to enter the giveaway:







Kindle Fire HD Giveaway Rules

Mandatory and Winning Entry will both be checked upon drawing the winner.

Open Worldwide to residents 18 and older. Void where prohibited by law.

Giveaway starts at 12AM on 4/10/13 and ends at 12AM on 4/30/13.

Winner will be chosen at random and will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.

Please read official Terms and Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget for full regulations.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Kindle provided by Isabelle of Le Chateau des Fleurs*

Heads Up! A Giveaway is Coming!

If you're looking to grow your blog or social media following, we have a great and FREE opportunity for you!  Free is good, right?  Well, Free is AMAZING!

Isabelle from Le Chateau des Fleurs recently released a new Android app called Smartphone DNA, and to promote it she is giving away a Kindle Fire HD-which she is sponsoring entirely.  The giveaway will be hosted by My So-Called Chaos, but what we need are other bloggers to share the giveaway on their blogs in order to spread the word! In return, you'll get two of your links in the Rafflecopter to get extra promotion for you in return for posting.  This is entirely free, there is NO buy in, we just need two posts from you.

1. Post this announcement on your blog (code will be given after you request to join) to ensure your readers/followers have the opportunity to be a part of this giveaway too! 
2. Post the actual giveaway (full Rafflecopter and all! People will be able to enter directly from your blog!) 

If you are interested in participating in this FREE promotional opportunity, please email Miss Angie and once accepted into the giveaway you will be given all the information you need for your posts.

Giveaway is set to run from 4/10/13 to 4/30/13.

All requests to join required by 4/5/13!

Time to Start Eating Healthy!

And I have the perfect way to start!

I was giddy with excitement when Ashley from Applegate contacted me again! Back in July I had the opportunity to try and then review their Super Natural Beef Hot Dogs.  I was not disappointed.  I'll never eat another brand of hot dog.

But this isn't about hot dogs.  Or beef.  This is about BACON people.  Yummy bacon goodness.  

Applegate's Sunday Bacon was all that I expected it to be.  Hickory smoked with just the right ratio of contents.  Let's begin by what you get with the pork Sunday Bacon.

• Casein Free
• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• Antibiotic Free (Applegate's family of farms never use antibiotics with their animals!)
• No Nitrites or Nitrates added
• 2 pan fried slices yield about 60 calories
• Ingredients: Pork, Water, Sea Salt and less than 2% of Evaporated Cane Syrup and Celery Powder.

Take another look at those ingredients.  Five.  Five ingredients, all of which we can pronounce.  All of which we know what they are.  I feel you can tell this in the flavor.  Everyone in the house must have felt the same way because I could barely keep it cooked fast enough!

I like to slice the bacon in half because it allows it to cook more evenly.

Now let's take a look at their Natural Turkey Bacon.  I've tried several brands of turkey bacon in the past.  I'm supposed to be on a low cholesterol diet and that just doesn't include bacon, but like most other people, I cheat.  I've been forced to cheat because all the other turkey bacons are quite frankly gross.  The consistency and flavor just isn't comparable.  This is NOT the case with this turkey bacon. 

Let's take a look at what you get with this product.

• Casein Free
• Dairy Free
• Gluten Free
• No Nitrites or Nitrates added
• Antibiotic Free (Applegate's family of farms never use antibiotics with their animals!)
• One slice yields about 35 calories
• Ingredients:  Turkey, Water and contains less than 2% of Sea Salt, Celery Powder, Maple Sugar, Onion Powder, and Spices (cayenne pepper).

Just seven ingredients!  Now I will admit that this isn't pork bacon.  There really is no substitute for that.  HOWEVER, I could definitely see myself eating this turkey bacon on a regular basis.  It has a wonderful flavor and the consistency is more like "regular" bacon.  Everyone agreed that it was better than we expected.  The lone hold out was my 11 year old daughter.  I won't put much behind that though because she's picky, that one is... but still the turkey bacon gets a 4 out of 5 in our house!

Aren't sure if Applegate products are sold in your area? Click here for their store locator. In addition to bacon, Applegate also has hot dogs, sausage, chicken, cold cuts, and cheeses!  I highly encourage you to try out this brand!  You will not be disappointed!

What a great way to start your new year off by eating healthier!  To give you an extra incentive, Applegate is giving three lucky readers free product coupons!  Just enter the giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I was given a sample of this product for review. All opinions are my own.

Win an iPad2 or Kindle Fire!

Have you heard?  Rafflecopter is having a Launch Party Giveaway!  It couldn't be easier to enter using Rafflecopter's all new interface.  You could win an Apple iPad 2 (16gb) or one of several Amazon Kindle Fires.  AND if you refer the winner... you could win a Kindle Fire for yourself!  Just enter using the Rafflecopter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

And the Winner is...

Congratulations Susan!! I've sent you an email!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! Don't fret if you didn't win! You can still get $3 off tickets by using the code ERNIE during check out.

Sesame Street Live {Giveaway}

One!  Ah ah ah ah!  Two!  Ah ah ah ah!  Oh how I loved The Count when I was a kid!  And I always thought because Oscar lived in a trash can, why couldn't my room be messy too!  However, my all time favorite will always be Grover.  Without him, I would never have been able to tell what was near and what was far!

I'm happy to be able to share Sesame Street with my own kids.  I was even happier to learn that Sesame Street Live - "Elmo Makes Music" is coming to RiverPark Center in Owensboro, KY!  This larger-than-life, musical touring stage production features Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie... and more.  Each performance is 90 minutes of singing, dancing, and audience participation, including an intermission of 15 minutes.  A perfect length for even young children!

The Story:  Jenny, the new music teacher, moves into town, but all of her instruments have gotten lost!  The Sesame Street characters come to her rescue and discover "instruments" they didn't know existed... rubber duckies, trash can lids, even their own laps!

There will be three (3) performances!  On Tuesday, November 15th at 7:00PM and on Wednesday, November 16th at 10:30AM and 7:00PM.  Ticket prices start at just $11, and are also offered at $14, $10, $25 (Gold Circle) and $50 (Sunny Seats**).  The "Kid's Matinee" (Wednesday, November 16th, 10:30AM) -- all seats are $8 for School/Daycare GROUPS of 10 or more (excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats).  There are additional group discounts available.  If you have a group of 10 or more, or would like to charge by phone, call 1-270-687-2787.

**The Sunny Seats Package includes a VIP seat and a pre-show Meet & Greet photo opportunity with two Sesame Street Live friends. Additional fees/surcharges may apply.

Are you going to be in the Owensboro area?  Would you like to share the joy of Sesame Street with your kids?  Good news!!  I'm giving away a 4 pack of tickets to see them live!  All you have to do to enter is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below!  

Don't be discouraged if you don't win.  Pssst... I've got a super secret code that will get you $3 off per ticket... just enter ERNIE online at RiverPark Center to receive the discount. NOTE: Discount excludes Gold Circle and Sunny Seats.  Not valid on previously purchased tickets.  Discount cannot be combined with any other offer.

Finally Friday!

Random thoughts:

*Woooooooooo!!!!  I'm so excited that it's finally the weekend!  I had no idea just how lazy I had become until I decided to work/volunteer at the school Book Fair all this week (except for today).  I'm so worn out and tired!  But I had a ton of fun and I really enjoyed helping the kids find the books they wanted.

*I have been so lax in my updating of the Project 365.  I bow my head in shame.  I think in the last week I've missed 3 or 4 days.  I did update the page this morning, but there were more entries of "D'OH!" then I cared for.  I really have to get back into the groove of taking photos.

*I've been really bummed by the fact that the winner of the giveaway hasn't contacted me in any way, shape, or form.  I know from her blog that her mother has been hospitalized and not doing well, however, she has had time to email another blogger to tell her how excited she was (and I ended up having to get her address from that blogger because she didn't return my emails), comment, and write her own posts.  I even extended the contact time because I knew her mom had been in the hospital.  I haven't even been contacted to confirm delivery of the item though I know it was delivered on the 7th.  It's just not been a good experience with my first giveaway.  I know I sound like a bitch.  I feel like I'm being a bitch, but a simple "thank you" would have made all the difference.

*I found the cutest humidifiers at Target.com!  Made by Crane, they are in the shape of colorful animals.  There is an elephant, duck, dragon, cow, even Hello Kitty and others.  If you need to buy one, these are super cute and I'm excited about getting one for the baby's room.

*Speaking of baby... I'm officially HALFWAY there!  She's really starting to move around a lot now.  The kids have both been able to see and fell her kicking and moving.  I've only gained around 5-6 pounds so far, but the doctor seems to be ok with that number.  I have a check up next week.

*Today would have been a friend's 32nd birthday.  She passed away 12 years ago and there are not too many days that I don't think of her.

*The school board has decided to take two of the Spring Break days to use as "make up days" for all the school we missed due to snow/ice.  Bummer!  We hadn't really made any plans yet, but if I hadn't been working at the school for the Book Fair, I still wouldn't know about this.  The original dates for their break were April 4th - 8th.  That is only 3 weeks away.  I know several people who have already made plans (and paid for them too) so I'm concerned about the attendance for those two days.  I thought of just keeping my kids home out of principal that the school board should have made this decision sooner, but I'll probably end up sending them anyway.

*So.....  what's been going on with you guys??  =)

And the winner is...

Thanks to all who entered the Federal Grove Pure Maple Syrup giveaway!  

The entries!

Some entries were not counted because I could not find them on Facebook or Twitter.  =(

All the entries in a jar!

*drumroll please!!!*

Congratulations to Caregiving Daughter!

I've sent you an email!  Thanks again to everyone that entered the giveaway!