Banana Bread

This week's recipe is a great Banana Bread Recipe. I love Banana Bread. I heat my slice back up just a little or cut it before it has completely cooled so that my butter will melt. I make this bread a lot during the fall months because to me there is just something soothing about it. ENJOY!

 

Ingredients

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Method

 Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Still Adding Book Reviewers

I am still adding Book Reviewers to my blog. If you would like to join us you can do so by filling out this quick form. I have more than 20 unassigned books that I need to get assigned and reviewed. While this is unpaid you do get some great books and a link back to your site. I will be adding more benefits as we go including a Rewards Program for reviewers to get gift cards and such.

Neat Buns with Whirl-a-Style

I wear my hair pulled back into ta bun a lot. Every morning I get up and pull out that rubber band and back the hair goes. It is just easier to keep it pulled out of my face. Usually what happens is the mass of curls gets tangled and I send an hour at night trying to untangle them. Whirl-a-Style changed all that for me. Now instead of the rubber band (that pulls out my hair) or that horrible claw clip (that gives me a headache) I use one simple small styler.

From Whirl-s-Style Website:
The inspiration and motivation for starting Whirl-a-Style was quite a serendipitous event. It took ingenuity and creativity to introduce Sonstegard’s next two innovative hairstyling product lines. The strength of Whirl-a-Style is in the actual device. This useful and easy-to-use tool allows the hair to be quickly pulled back into a French twist or a beautiful round bun shape without the use of any unsightly bobby pins or claw clips. Her next two haircare product lines; Klicinz and Poppi, were created to give upstyle hair designs an extra special touch by adding accessories, These were inspired by her clientele. Trademarked and patented, Whirl-a-Style remains the original, while all products are tools used to create various upstyle hairstyles for bridal parties, special events, dance recitals, ballet and festive occasions.

TESTING Whirl-a-Style:

I was sent the Jumbo Medium Whirl-a-Style which is designed for shoulder length hair. I started using right out of the package. I will say that it was a little tight at first but after I got the hang of it I was able to adjust my hair a little so it was snug without pulling on my hair. Using it was very simple. I use mine for buns only but there are a dozen different ways to use it. You can create any style you want with this little thing. I really like that I don't need a mirror to pull my hair back. this way when I am out and about in 100 degree weather and have to pull up my hair I don't look like I just got out of the bed.

PROS of Whirl-a-Style:

• Comes in 5 different sizes so there is one for every hair type
• Available in 12 colors so you can match it to your outfit
• Doesn't tangle your hair
• You can combine two or three. What ever it takes to achieve the hairstyle you are looking for.

CONS of Whirl-a-Style:

• NONE. I throw this thing in my purse and it doesn't get bent out of shape or anything. I honestly haven't found a flaw yet.

SHOP Whirl-a-Style:

Shop online or find a store near you.

Get Custom Hairstyles:

Need a little help finding the right style? Well Whirl-a-Style has Zaina the Fashion Wizard to help you.

New NurturMe Flavors

NURTURME ADDS TWO NEW FLAVORS TO ITS

AWARD-WINNING LINE OF CERTIFIED ORGANIC BABY FOODS:

“Sweet Bananas” and “Crunchy Carrots”

AUSTIN, TEXAS,  September 2011—As Moms and CelebriMoms like Selma Blair, Tiffani Thiessen and Laila Ali continue to go gaga over NurturMe, the first and only certified-organic baby food made from quick-dried fruits and vegetables, the company has announced the introduction of two yummy new flavors: “Sweet Bananas” and “Crunchy Carrots.” 

By quick-drying, rather than cooking, its ingredients, NurturMe preserves the vital nutrients and phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables, making it one of the healthiest and most nutritious baby foods on the market. 

Like NurturMe’s four original flavors—Plump Peas, Scrumptious Squash, Crisp Apples and Hearty Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Bananas and Crunchy Carrots are all-natural, gluten-free and have no added salts, sugars, colors or preservatives.  In addition, the fruits and vegetables used in NurturMe come from certified organic farms in the United States.

A revolution in feeding little ones, NurturMe is one of the most convenient and versatile baby foods available. Simply mix one of the palm-sized packets of NurturMe with breast milk, whole milk, formula or water – in any amount or combination – to get a meal that’s healthy, delicious and meets the nutrition and lifestyle needs of baby and mother. Designed for little ones from four months to four years of age, NurturMe packets may also be sprinkled (sneaked!) into foods like rice cereal, grains, purees, yogurts, apple sauce and macaroni and cheese to give them a delicious and nutritious boost. Recipe demonstrations may be found on NurturMe TV.

With each packet weighing less than an ounce, NurturMe provides a great way to lighten the diaper bag load, eliminating (finally!) the need to carry around heavy, inconvenient and wasteful jars of baby food.  Travel friendly, each NurturMe packet has a shelf life of 24 months. 

NurturMe is as great for Mother Earth as it is for mom:  NurturMe’s packaging, which includes a carton made using wind energy, is recyclable, eliminating the need to worry about how to properly dispose of wasteful glass jars and metal or plastic jar tops.

NurturMe’s new Sweet Bananas and Crunchy Carrots flavors may be purchased at nurturme.com, Amazon.com, Diapers.com, BabiesRUs.com, Target.com, Babies “R” Us stores nationwide and select Whole Foods and Central Market stores. Each box of eight meal pouches sells for a suggested retail price of $9.49.

About NurturMe

A revolution in feeding little ones, NurturMe is the first and only certified-organic, all-natural and gluten-free baby food made from nutrient-rich, quick-dried fruits and vegetables. By quick-drying its ingredients, NurturMe preserves the essential nutrients and phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables, making it one of the most natural and nutritious baby foods on the market. Good for baby, mother and Mother Earth, NurturMe uses fruits and vegetables sourced from certified-organic U.S. farms and features recyclable packaging, including a carton made using wind energy. NurturMe allows feedings to be customized to baby and mother’s needs since pouches of NurturMe may be mixed with breast milk, whole milk, formula or water in any amount and combination. Perfect for little ones from four months to four years of age, NurturMe, which has no added salts, sugars, colors or preservatives, may also be added to foods like grains, homemade purees, apple sauce, yogurt and macaroni & cheese to significantly boost their nutritional value.  Available in six baby-favorite flavors—Sweet Bananas (new), Crunchy Carrots (new), Plump Peas, Scrumptious Squash, Crisp Apples and Hearty Sweet Potatoes, NurturMe may be purchased at nurturme.com , Amazon.com, Diapers.com, BabiesRUs.com, Target.com, Babies “R” Us stores nationwide and select Whole Foods and Central Market stores. A box of eight meal pouches sells for a suggested retail price of $9.49. A diaper bag and purse must-have, each travel-friendly, palm-sized pouch of NurturMe weighs less than one ounce and has a shelf life of 24 months. For more information, visit www.nurturme.com

Elliott Lucca on HSN

Tune in TONIGHT at  7pm to Elliott Lucca on HSN!  Shop exclusive bags from the Fall 2011 collection. Check your local listings for channel.

Like us on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/elliottlucca

Romanicos Chocolate Review with Giveaway

YES!! More Chocolate, I seem to be on a chocolate kick here lately. I just can't seem to help myself. Romanicos Chocolate however is grown-up chocolate. It is not the standard milk or dark with a little something added. This is the chocolate that your kids will not eat because the flavors are more complex and require an older palate.

From Romanicos Website:

Romanicos brings you a well balance treasure with the rare combination of eye catching presentation with a delicious confections. The perfect combination for a memorable gift! We make a product totally by hand, not only with the finest ingredients available around the world but with a lot of care, everything in small batches so it gives us the opportunity to check each piece closely and watch all the details.

TESTING Romanicos Chocolate:

We received several items to tantalize our taste buds with. The first was a mixed cube that included 12 each of their Truffles, Chocolate Art, and Truffle Bites. The assorted flavors include everything from Passion Carmel and Tipsy Almond (Truffles) to Caramel Bliss and Hazlenut Joy (Truffle Bites) to Nutella Milk and Dulce De Leche Dark (Chocolate Art.) They were all so beautiful that I didn't want to take the out and eat them but in the end I justified by telling myself  that it was all in a good cause.

We also received some of their wonderful chocolate bars. We received two sizes: 40 gr and 80 gr bars. The flavors ranged from Mission Figs to Walnuts and Honey to Sea Salt and Soy Beans. Surprisingly the Sea Salt and Soy Beans was my favorite. There was just something about that perfect blend of chocolate with a little salt that made everything come together.


PROS of Romanicos Chocolate:

• The chocolate is handmade and truly beautiful works of art
• The taste is like nothing you have ever had before
• You may want to dress up just to eat this chocolate. The quality is 

CONS of Romanicos Chocolate:

    Your children may like it and therefore you should most likely hide this.

SHOP Romanicos Chocolate

WIN 


Enter below to win a Mixed Cube just like the one I reviewed.

Ends October 20, 2011

Lazoo Books Review with Giveaway

My kids love activity books. I love activity books that help them learn as much as keep them busy. Lazoo has just the kind of books we are all looking for. Lazoo is originally based on a series of best-selling Japanese children’s books. It has since evolved into a comprehensive lifestyle children’s brand and media property emphasizing novel design, individual expression, creativity, and above all, FUN!


TESTING Lazoo:

Color the holes that look like baseball caps

We received three books to try out and the kids fell in love. First up was Holes. Holes is a coloring book that has you color various areas and holes on each page. When you color the holes and then turn the page what you colored becomes a new item. For small children this is such an enjoyment. They get so amazed when they turn the page and find what they helped create. For example you color some tires on a car but when you turn the page the tires have become ice cream on top of cones.

The baseball caps become cars

The next book was Squiggles. Squiggles is a drawing book where kids can give sheep soft wool, make cars go faster, and add icing to a cake. They do all of this by drawing squiggles, any way they want to. The learn there is no wrong way to draw a squiggle.

He wants curls too!

The third book we tested was Stickers. Stickers is an activity books that is filled with, you guessed it STICKERS! My daughter loves stickers so getting her to put them where they go in the book was a little hard. She likes to put them every where else. She puts them on the fridge, the mirror in the bathroom you name it. I really liked this book as well. It wasn't that same old put this sticker here and that sticker there book. You got to decide what "outfits" to create and stick.

PROS of Lazoo:

• They have a unique selection of books for children. 
• The books are truly wonderful.
• Your children will love doing the acitivites in the books and learn at the same time
• Lazoo also has clothing and other items.

CONS of Lazoo:

• NONE

SHOP Lazoo

WIN

Enter below for your chance to win a set of 3 activity books.

Ends October 20, 2011