Hodgson Mill Summer Pastabilities Recipe Contest and a Giveaway

This family loves pasta and when I heard about the Hodgson Mill Summer Pastabilities Recipe Contest I knew I wanted to enter my Simply Summer Bow Tie Pasta Salad using Hogson Mill Bow Tie pasta.  It's a recipe I created a couple of years ago for a potluck at work and it's become quite the Summer favorite in our house when temps are just too hot to turn on the stove.  I hope it'll be the big winner in the Hodgson Mill Summer Pastabilities Recipe Contest. *fingers crossed*

To get things started, Hodgson Mill sent us boxes of their whole wheat whole grain pasta shells, bow tie and angel hair pastas.  Whole wheat and whole grain pastas are a great way to sneak in a little nutrition at meal time.  If you have never tried whole wheat and whole grain pastas you will find they are more dense than your typical pasta.  They're perfect for watching your waistline and are a great way to express your creativity at dinnertime.

Okay, without further adieu, here's my Simply Summer Bow Tie Pasta Salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of Hodgson Mill Bow Tie pasta
• 1 dozen grape tomatoes (whole or halved, your choice)
• 1/2 cup of broccoli florets (rinsed)
• 1/2 cup extra-light olive oil
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• Salt, to taste

 Directions:

1. In large pasta pot, bring water to rapid boil and add pinch of salt to season.
2. Add pasta and cook til al dente.
3. Drain and set aside.
4. Rinse and chop broccoli florets into bite size pieces
5. In large bowl pour olive oil and apple cider vinegar.  Mix well.  Add salt to taste. 
6. Stir in 1/2 cooked pasta into large bowl.
7. Toss broccoli florets and grape tomatoes into bowl with pasta and stir
8. Top with remaining cooked pasta and stir
9. Chill.  Serve.

*For a little pizzazz you can add shrimp or chopped chicken.  However, this is a perfect base for any pasta salad and it tastes GREAT*  

 

Buy It:   Hodgson Mill pastas are available at store near you visit  http://www.hodgsonmillstore.com/


Win It:  One lucky Three Boys and an Old Lady blog reader will win a delicious selection of

assorted Hodgson Mill pasta for you to give away to a lucky reader – a $25 value!

* * * G I V E A W A Y * * * 

One lucky Three Boys and an Old Lady blog follower will receive a delicious selection of

assorted Hodgson Mill pasta for you to give away to a lucky reader – a $25 value!

This is a Rafflecopter Giveaway please by patient while page loads 

Click here for instructions on how to enter a Rafflecopter Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Giveaway is open to residents of U.S. ends at 12:01 AM CST on 7/11/12. Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter and will be notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.  Disclaimer: I may have received an item for purposes of facilitating this giveaway. Opinions are my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. Click here for the Disclosure Policy of Three Boys and an Old Lady blog.
 

Eating Healthy and Staying Cool with #GrapesfromCA

Summer's here and temps are blazing in the 100s all across the U.S. and Canada.  When temps rage this hot just the thought of turning on the stove is enough to make me want take out.  *fans self*  Seriously though, I have a few recipes that are cool and perfect for Summer dining.  

One of family faves using my Simply Summer Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe with one addition - a handful of ice, cold, California GRAPES!  DELICIOUS!  I am entering this recipe in all the Summer recipe contests because it's our family fave and it's so easy and healthy too!

Click here to check out my Simply Summer Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe

Adding a handful of grapes makes for a wonderful presentation and even greater taste

Did you know California-grown grapes account for 98% of ALL the grapes sold in the US?  Grapes are low in sodium, contain 0 fat and 0 cholesterol PLUS a 3/4 cup of grapes contains 90 calories.*


Add a few grapes to your Summertime snack or check out Green Black Red for some cool recipes featuring California grapes.  Better yet, if you've got a fab recipe, give it a grape (great) makeover and enter it in the Makeover Your Snack contest on the Grapes from California Facebook Page!  

* Source:  http://www.grapesfromcalifornia.com/nutritionalanalysis.php


Disclosure:  Many thanks to California Table Grapes Commission  and Family Review Network for the opportunity to participate in this campaign.  I received  Green, Black, Red cookbook and a $10 VISA gift card to purchase fresh grapes from California

Jennifer Hudson Teams Up with Pampers! FREE Lullaby Download

Grammy Award-winning recording artist to pay tribute to the revered tradition of the evening time lullaby between mom and baby by recording an original rendition of the bedtime classic “Lullaby and Goodnight.”  Starting this week, this sweet serenade is available for free download exclusively on the Pampers Lullabies app on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Pampers. 

A new mom herself,shares that there is no better way to show love to her son than through the power of song.She says:  “I have lulled my little one to sleep many times with a sweet lullaby – and now, I am so excited to team up with Pampers to create a special version of the most famous lullaby of all time.  I hope that other moms and dads will be able to enjoy this song as part of their own night time ritual as they put their baby to sleep.” 

At an exclusive Pampers Lullabies launch event earlier this week in NYC, Pampers also made public their plans to donate $100,000 to Jennifer Hudson’s charity, the Julian D. King Gift Foundation to benefit moms, toddler and babies.  For more info about the event,  Hudson's involvement and more go to http://bit.ly/M9iQQN.








Disclosure:  Many thanks to the PR firm for the opportunity to share this lullaby download and exclusive photos of JHud in the studio booth recording this beautiful lullaby.

BuyGreen.com Helps Do Gooders Do Better

Last month, I wrote to BuyGreen.com asking to review their composting worms.  Yes, worms.  The kiddos were working on an Earth Day project and started a compost bin and thus began my lesson in worm composting.  Worms, dirt, hey it's Science and makes for a wonderful Summer project for the kids.


I will confess I was not looking forward to opening the box when it arrived.  I imagined a ton of slimy, wriggling worms just waiting to escape so thank goodness I have three brave boys.  Yeah right.  They were fine until the box opened and the worms seemed to spring forth.  LOL!  It was quite a sight.  I'm no expert on worms but considering they traveled from Wisconsin via UPS I imagine they were pretty warm cooped inside the box, but they arrived alive.  

We assembled our worm compost bin using an old Rubbermaid bin filled with shredded newspaper, dirt, coffee grounds, fruit and veggie scraps.  When the worms arrived, I just dumped them GENTLY into the bin and put 'em to work.  I didn't think I'd have to worry much about the worms given the warm reception they got when they first arrived, but to my surprise each day was met with tons of questions "Mommy, can we check on the worms?" and whenever we had visitors, "Mommy, can I show so-and-so the worms?"  It was tough explaining to Los Tres Amigos worms aren't really fans of bright light and warm, sunny days.  After a few days they stopped asking and seemed to have more fun dropping scraps into the compost bin and taking turns moving the newspaper around in the compost bin.

Looking for a great Summer learning activity?  Consider worm composting.  It's easy and the compost will make your garden the envy of all your neighbors.  There are ton of websites to help you build a compost bin of your very own, but be sure to use the best quality worms you can find.  BuyGreen.com Red Worms are ideal for vermi-composting (worm composting).  The waste from Red Worms is considered to be a better fertilizer than plain, old composting.


It's taken a while to write this post, but that's only because our crew of Red Worms needs a little time to do their work.  Worm composting is an economical way to cut down on waste.  No more worrying about what to send down the garbage disposal and we've noticed way less flies around the garbage can since we started composting.  Plus the castings have really made a noticeable difference in my garden as of late.  I am, well we are, still learning how to keep our worms healthy during this wicked Summer heat, but this has proved to be quite the Science project.

My kids share with their friends why red worms work better than other worms when it comes to composting and this mommy loves that.  Learning doesn't stop when Summer break begins.


BuyGreen.com has a ton of eco friendly products including clothing, purses, accessories, laundry, personal care and all things gardening!  


Buy It:  BuyGreen.com Red Worms VermiCompost come in a variety of sizes from 1 lb. all the way up to 25 lbs.  Now that's a lotta composting.  Their friendly order department is knowledgeable of their products and can help even the most novice Do Gooder do better.






Disclosure:  Many thanks to BuyGreen.com for the opportunity to review this product and for their patience as our little friends did the dirty work over the course of the past two months. 

Freebie Buy5Hour.Com

Do you ever have that 2:30 feeling?  5-hour Energy FIXES TIRED FAST.  It is for anyone who works hard day or night.  Buy it at everyday low prices Online and receive Free Shipping on every order!  We are the only place on the web where you can try the nations #1 Energy Shot for Free.  Order your free sample today!!

http://www.buy5hour.com/special-guest/

Mirror Mirror Spa Day Party

Mirror Mirror starring Julia Roberts arrived on DVD this week and I am so glad to have the opportunity to host a Mirror Mirror Themed Spa Day/Girls Night In with my girlfriends.  There's so much planning to do but I have the perfect idea on how to make this party a success.


Manis and pedis are sure to be on the evening's itinerary, but the highlight of the evening will be watching Mirror Mirror while sipping apple-tinis and munching on apple tarts.  Yes, I know it sounds cliche but apples come to mind when I think of the classic tale of Snow White and I think an apple montage of food and drink will be well appreciated.  


Thanks to 20th Century Entertainment my guests and I will receive spa party packs filled with: 

·  A red organza bag with a Mirror Mirror insert card featuring a photo of

   Lily Collins

·  Branded nail brush

·  Branded apple-shaped mirror

·  Branded nail file

·  Some Mirror Mirror activity sheets and bookmarks for your little one(s)

PLUS Mirror Mirror (Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Copy) to watch after our fabulous makeovers.  So what do you think of my apple-licious plans for the evening?  Did you see the movie?  Do you plan to watch the DVD?  What are some of your fave recipes featuring apples?  Share.  Share!  I'd love to hear your ideas.








Disclosure:  I have been provided with the opportunity to host a Mirror Mirror themed party in exchange for this post.  Click here for the complete Disclosure Policy of Three Boys and an Old Lady blog.  

Evenflo Bebek 3-handle Trainer Cup Review

Babies.  They grow so fast.  Hard to believe the Littlest One is learning to drink from a cup now.  Of course, he's our gem so we make sure to gift him with the finest drinkware a growing toddler could want.  Okay, so the Evenflo Bebek 3-handle Trainer Cup is not made from crystal but it's one of the best constructed trainer cups I've seen in a long time AND it's from Evenflo and Evenflo knows baby products.

For over 90 years, Evenflo has nurtured babies' growth and development. We understand the
importance of the connections developed between parent and baby during feeding time.

• Promotes smooth transition from bottle to cup
• Soft spout is gentle on teeth and gums
• Unique handle is easy to hold from any angle
• Expertly designed not to leak

The soft grip handles are perfectly sized for little fingers to grip and carry along baby's journeys.  And throughout all the Littlest One's journeys thus far, the Evenflo Bebek 3-handle Trainer Cup has not leaked one single drop.  Trust me that's saying a lot as the Littlest One is learning to play catch and he loves to throw everything...including his cup. 

The Evenflo Bebek 3-handle Trainer Cup breaks down into four pieces seen here (plus 1-piece valve and spout seen tucked neatly in the yellow lid pictured below).  

I worry about thoroughly cleaning baby training / sippy cups and I love being able to disassemble the cup to make sure every single nook and cranny gets clean enough for our precious  baby.  Whether I decided to wash the cup by hand or load it into the dishwasher, I trust it's getting thoroughly cleaned.  Yes, it's dishwasher safe so I can load the cup onto the top rack of our dishwasher.  No worries!

The older kids have taken quite a liking to the cup particularly of it's rather unique spaceship-like design. So there you have it, style, purpose and it's Evenflo so two thumbs up for the Evenflo Bebek 3-handle Trainer Cup!

To learn more about the Evenflo Bebek 3-handle Trainer Cup or any of the many other Evenflo products visit Evenflo at www.evenflo.com

Buy it:  Evenflo products may be purchased online at www.evenflo.com/ or at many mass retail stores including:

 

Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom Comes to DVD TODAY!

In this all new magical adventure, Dora and Boots dive deep into the ocean and set out to help the Littlest Mermaid, Mariel, get home to Mermaid Cove. For this fantastical rescue mission, Dora transforms into a mermaid and Boots becomes a sea monkey! International singing sensation Thalia guest stars as the voice of the Littlest Mermaid's Mommy.

Suggested retail value $16.99
Approx. Runtime: 69 minutes
Available in a store near you beginning June 26, 2012. 


Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom Episode Synopses:


Dora’s Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom
Dora and Boots are at the beach when they find Maribel, a little lost mermaid, who needs to get back to her mommy (voiced by Thalia) in the Mermaid Kingdom. Dora uses her mermaid charm necklace to transform into a mermaid and turn Boots into a sea monkey.  Together the three set off on an underwater adventure through the octopus’s garden, past the ocean rocks to Mermaid Cove where Maribel will have to sing to bring all the mermaids together so she can find her mommy.


Benny the Castaway
Dora and Boots are getting ready to have a beach picnic with all of their friends when suddenly a bottle rolls in with a wave. Inside the bottle, Dora and Boots find a note from Benny.  His balloon ran out of air on the way to the picnic and he’s stuck on Coconut Island.  It’s Dora and Boots to the rescue!


Dora’s Moonlight Adventure
Dora’s taking care of Abuela’s three kitties: Pico, Mónica and Lucky.  At Dora’s house, Mami reads Dora and the kitties a story and they all cuddle around their ball of string and fall asleep.  When the ball of string rolls out the window and Lucky chases after it, the kitties wake Dora up so she can help find Lucky.

Buy It:  Dora's Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom is coming to a store near you beginning June 26 or online at

Don't forget to enter to win a Nick Jr. 2-pack Summer-themed DVDs featuring Dora the Explorer and Max & Ruby.  Click here to be taken to giveaway!

Disclosure:  Many thanks to Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution for providing a copy of Dora's Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom for review purposes.  The views expressed above are mine.  Click here for the Disclosure Policy of Three Boys and an Old Lady blog.

KIWI's Next Great Young Chef Contest

KIWI magazine is looking for the next generation of culinary experts, and we need YOUR help! Help us spread the word about KIWI's Next Great Young Chef contest on your blog. The winning kid chefs will receive thousands of dollars in prizes, plus be featured in an upcoming issue of KIWI!

To enter, parents can send KIWI a video of their child (ages 4 to 14) making his or her favorite original recipe using the contest sponsors' products, OR send a photo of their child with the finished recipe. This summer, our panel of prestigious judges will pick their favorites. Learn more about the contest at kiwimagonline.com/chef2012.

Finlandia Bacon and Cheese Biscuits

Check out this delicious recipe from the Finlandia website.  I can't wait to try it!

Be sure to visit Finlandia cheese online at http://www.finlandiacheese.com/tasty.htm for more delicious recipes and don't forget to enter to my giveaway for your chance to win a coupon for free Finlandia cheese.  Click here to be taken to giveaway.

Disney / Pixar's BRAVE Comes to Theaters June 22, 2012

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. From Disney and Pixar, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida(voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her fate.

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor that audiences of all ages around the world have come to eagerly expect. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

A grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor, “Brave” uncovers a new tale in the mysterious Highlands of Scotland where the headstrong Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) defies an age-old custom and inadvertently unleashes chaos, forcing her to discover the meaning of true bravery before it’s too late. Opens June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

CHECK OUT THIS PREVIEW 

 

Disclosure:  Many thanks to Disney for providing promotional images and video!  I received no compensation in exchange for this post.  Click here for the Disclosure Policy of Three Boys and an Old Lady blog

Disney / Pixar's Brave Movie Review and Special Thanks @MedlinnieI and @RedCarpetCrash

3D!  Disney!! Pixar!!!  What more do you need in a Summer movie?  In this latest addition to the Summer movie lineup, Merida, the Scottish female heroine, is disgusted at the life of a princess.  She's an adventurous spirit who hates the rigid royal life path her mother has in mind for her.  One day things come to a head and Merida runs away.  She happens upon a witch who grants her wish to change her fate.  Her wish comes with consequences which change not only her fate but the fate of family as well.  

The 3D effects are minimal.  I appreciate it this as the story is so well written the 3D effects are just an added bonus.  The princess storyline is akin to Disney's latest in which princesses are no longer damsels in distress waiting on some prince to come and save them.  Plus it's Pixar which means amazing animation.  Merida's brilliantly red hair, the distinct features of the animated animals throughout the flick and the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands are sure to conjure up tons of "oohs" and "aahs" as your family watches. 

My family's experience was courtesy of my Twitter friends @RedCarpetCrash and @Medlinniel.  I've been a fan of RedCarpetCrash.com for several months now as they are a great resource for finding movie premieres in your area.  I saw a tweet mentioning a premiere while on vacation and sent a tweet to both asking if either still had passes.  My kids anxiously awaited to see if mommy received passes checking my phone and laptop until finally both emailed a pass for two.  Their random act of kindness was the start of a wonder-filled evening.

The premiere was sponsored by Radio Disney and hubby was selected as one of the dads to come on stage and participate in an activity.  My kids giggled as their dad donned a curly, red wig similar to Merida's, and danced on stage.  It was hilarious!  Each of the dads was able to keep his wig as a prize.  First thought was to keep it but there was a little girl seated a couple of seats down who's eyes beamed with excitement when my husband sat down with his wig still atop his head.  He leaned over and whispered to the little girl's dad and next thing you know the little girl comes over and says "Thank You" to my husband and shakes his hand.  Another random act of kindness.  

My eyes were already welling up with tears and then Pixar graced the screen with one of the best animated shorts I've seen in a long time, La Luna.  By the end of the short, tears were falling down my cheeks.  La Luna is a cute animation sure to tug at your heartstrings.

Fate smiled on us all night long much like fate shone upon Merida during her magical journey.   So what are you waiting on, follow @RedCarpetCrash on Twitter for upcoming movie premieres in your area and be sure to catch Disney / Pixar's Brave in theaters tomorrow.

"Like" BRAVE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PixarBrave 













Disclosure:  I received nothing in exchange for this review.  The tickets were as fate would have it became  available less than 2 hours before the movie premiere courtesy of some friends on Twitter.  The review, well it was a great movie and I just wanted to share my thoughts. 

Brave Coming to Theater Near You June 22

Disney's Brave Coming to Theater Near You on June 22!  Check out this preview!!!

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. From Disney and Pixar, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida(voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her fate.

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor that audiences of all ages around the world have come to eagerly expect. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

A grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor, “Brave” uncovers a new tale in the mysterious Highlands of Scotland where the headstrong Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) defies an age-old custom and inadvertently unleashes chaos, forcing her to discover the meaning of true bravery before it’s too late. Opens June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Happy Father's Day from @Disney and @3Boys_OldLady

Your Words Hold a Miracle by John Osteen Book Review

At some point in every person's life, we will need a miracle from God. It may be for us, a family member, or a troubled child. It might be a mountain of family or financial trouble, or some unseen force that fills us with fear.

The late John Osteen has good news for us. We can have a miracle from God, for God is a miracle worker. And He has recorded many of His miracles in His Word, the Bible. 

Rather than running around searching for needed miracles, Osteen shows us how to put the power of God's Word into daily practice. When we agree with, believe in, and confess the Word of God, miracles reveal themselves.

My Thoughts:   Your Words Hold a Miracle, written by John Osteen, the patriarch of the Osteen family, is a wonderful reminder of God's word and how applying Biblical principles to our daily lives can give us strength.  The conversational text may be a great read for those new to Bible reading or someone who may need a little spiritual lift. The chapters present positive messages despite troubling times.

I especially enjoyed reading Chapter 6, A Declaration of Deliverance.  The scriptural references were truly inspirational and tied in perfectly with the text.  

Read It:

Buy It:  Click here to purchase this book or click the Amazon logo below

Disclosure: Many thanks to Faith Words, a division of Hatchette Book Group, for providing a complimentary product for purpose of facilitating this review. Click here for the Disclosure Policy of Three Boys and an Old Lady blog.

éclos Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit Review and #EclosBeauty Giveaway

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of éclos Skin Care. All opinions are 100% mine.

An apple a day keeps the _____ away.  Well in the case of éclos Anti-Aging Skin Care, apple stem cells help keep dry skin away.  There are so many things to love about éclos Skin Care

éclos Skin Care is perfect:

• If you travel a lot, you will appreciate the products are travel size.  No more hold ups at airport security
• If you have long hair, you will love the headband that neatly swoops your hair off your face so you can apply the products to your face and NOT your hair
• If your budget doesn't allow for fancy ooh la la spa treatments, you will love the $19.99 price of the éclos Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit
• If your skin is in need of a little TLC, you are in for a treat.  The éclos Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit contains moisturizers that will leave your skin feeling soft and supple

éclos Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit containing sample sizes of our complete product line. The kit is valued at $19.99.

The kit contains:

•  Facial Cleanser Skin Prep
•  Cellular Activator Face Serum
•  Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream
•  Restorative Eye Cream
•  Instant Radiance Facial Scrub
•  Skin Renewal Clay Mask
•  éclos Terry Cloth Head Band

 

My Thoughts:   I received an éclos Skin Care for review and after using it for a week and left my skin feeling great!  I haven't really noticed a major difference in the appearance of my skin...yet.  Yes, it feels soft and smooth, but I did notice less bagginess beneath my eyes after using the Restorative Eye Cream this past week.  My typical daily facial cleansing regimen didn't include products designed specifically for the fine lines that appear around my eyes.  I never really paid much attention to those tiny little lines until Hubby snapped the before pics.  After I looked the first one, I asked him to retake it because I couldn't believe I had lines around my eyes.  OMG!  I'm getting older.  However, after our second pic, I didn't feel AS bad.  Yes, I am getting older, so my skin care needs are changing and I need to change my skin care routine.  No more one or two products (cleanser and moisturizer).  

 

 

 

 

* * * G I V E A W A Y * * 

One lucky Three Boys and an Old Lady blog follower receive an éclos Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit of their very own.  Giveaway ends June 30 at 12:01 CST.

 

 

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below telling me which product you are most excited to try.

 

Extra entries:

• Follow @3Boys_OldLady on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/3Boys_OldLady .
• Click here to “Like” Three Boys and an Old Lady on Facebook .
• Sign up for my blog via Feedburner email subscription [see Enter Your Email here box on right sidebar] and confirm your subscription! Leave a comment below to tell that you have signed up.
• Share this contest on your Facebook page using the button at the bottom of this post and leave comment below with URL location.
• Retweet this giveaway using the Tweet This button at the bottom of the post.  Be sure to leave me a comment with a link to your retweet.
• Retweet daily and leave a comment daily that you have done this.
• Extra entry for leaving a comment on a non-giveaway post – you must leave a comment here as well to tell me that you have done so to get the entry.
• Follow this blog via Google friend connect on the blog and leave me a comment to tell me that you have done so!

 

You must leave a separate comment in the comments field for each entry.

 

 

Giveaway is open to residents of U.S. Giveaway ends midnight, June 30, 2012.  Winner will be selected using Random.org and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.  

 

 

 

Better Than Alright by @Ledisi Book Review

When I heard Ledisi was penning a book I immediately put this on my MUST READ radar.  She is a very talented songstress and I have been a fan for nearly a decade.  My sole regret is never seeing this raw talent in her early days performing at venues in the San Francisco and the East Bay.

"Over the past four decades ESSENCE introduced our readers to inspirational voices such as Susan L. Taylor (In theSpirit; Lessons in Living; All About Love); and New York Times Best-Sellers Iyanla Vanzant ("In the Meantime," and "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up"), Juanita Bynum ("Matters of the Heart"), and Bishop T.D. Jakes ("Before You Do" and "Reposition Yourself"). Now, ESSENCE is pleased to share an incredible new uplifting and empowering voice with its 7.5 million readers and book lovers everywhere. In the tradition of Iyanla Vanzant's blockbuster 1993 book Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color, ESSENCE is pleased to collaborate with powerhouse musician Ledisi for a soulful and enlightening collection of the singer's inspiring meditations, quotes, and anecdotes charting her astonishing transformation as a woman and an artist.

Ledisi, who has been described as having a mix of Tina Turner's energy, Nina Simone's brilliance, and Ella Fitzgerald's range, is a multiple Grammy nominee who has quickly connected with ESSENCE readers because of her authenticity and tenacity to strive for success on her own terms."

My Thoughts:   Faith. Beauty. Forgiveness.  Authentic.  Words yes, but these are some of the chapter titles in Ledisi's book Better Than Alright.  The book is riddled with stories, quotes, photos, and insights with a sprinkling of poetry.  Ledisi's writing prowess shines in this book and I absolutely inhaled the book in one sitting.  The book was interactive in that spots were left blank allowing readers to connect with topics presented.  Ledisi writes the joy of discovering oneself amidst the watchful eyes of others.  Her poems reminded me of the works of noted poets Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes.  I was able to feel her pain, her strength and was captivated by her pen as much as her music.  She is truly a dynamic lyricist and many thanks for gifting us with her talents.  

Truly an inspirational read for such a time as this.

Buy It:  Ledisi's Better Than Alright is available at bookstores nationwide beginning June 5 or you may click the Amazon logo below to purchase your copy of Ledisi's Better Than Alright

Disclosure:  From time to time publishers provide me with complimentary or advanced reading copies of books for review.  However, I received no compensation nor was I provided with a copy, complimentary or advanced reading, of this book.  The opinions expressed above are mine.