The Best Bubbly Picks for a BYOB New Year's Bash

When the clock strikes midnight, pop open one of these affordable bottles of bubbly.

 Italian Zardetto Prosecco Brut is a crowd-pleaser. Fresh and lively with just a hint of sweetness, it has a fruity taste and a tangy, slightly mineral finish. It goes as well with prosciutto and oil-cured olives as it does with takeout Thai. To buy: $13, astorwines.com.

 Spanish sparkler Poema Cava Brut has an Old World soul: You can taste the stony soil in its tiny bubbles, but they’re wrapped in green apple, bright lemon, and white peach flavors. Made in the expensive Champagne tradition (the second fermentation that produces the bubbles happens right in the bottle, not a big tank), Cava is the real deal. Serve it with these festive Spanish appetizers. To buy: $11, binnys.com.

When you’re ready to splurge, make it real Champagne. Deutz Brut Classic Champagne is vibrant and creamy―full of gentle lemon blossoms, pears, hints of stone fruit, and a touch of caramel apple. Delicious with crab or shrimp. To buy: $40, binnys.com. 

Gruet Blanc de Noirs, a delicious pale pink wine from New Mexico, dances with the flavors of wild strawberries, bright cherries, and creamy citrus. Grapefruit and intriguing herbs give it a tiny edge, making it a lively match for hors d’oeuvres like chicken skewers and baked Camembert To buy: $14, astorwines.com.

 

Fashionable Holiday Handbags for Busy Moms – Coach Giveaway!

Coach has partnered with The Fashionable Housewife  and Fashionable Gals for an amazing giveaway! These two fabulous blogs are each part of Coach’s 30 favorite bloggers and have partnered with them for their Holiday Blog-a-Day promotion this year!

The Fashionable Housewife blog is so excited to be a part of such an amazing group of bloggers and have the opportunity to show their readers a few pieces from the Coach Holiday collection, and give one lucky reader the chance to win the fabulous Amethyst Texture Metallic Audrey Shoulderbag!!!


  
The winner on  The Fashionable Housewife blog  will receive the Amethyst Texture Metallic Audrey Shoulderbag as shown above ( ARV $398 )



The Fashionable Gals blog is also very excited to be a part of such an amazing group of bloggers and have the opportunity to show their readers a few pieces from the Coach Holiday collection, and give one lucky reader the chance to win the fabulous Poppy Sequins Mini Flap!!!


The winner on Fashionable Gals blog will receive the Poppy Sequins Mini Flap  as shown above     ( ARV $138)


If you visit www.coach.com/holidayblog each day during the promotion, you can read what read what this group of truly talented fashionistas have to say about Coach, including giveaways, reviews, pictorials and more!

The Fashionable Housewife: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza

The Fashionable Housewife

is celebrating the Christmas season

with their first annual

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza!

The first annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza started December 1 and will feature a new giveaway each day until December 12th. You’ll have a chance to enter each giveaway once a day until Dec 20th, 2009.

Dec 1 – Clarisonic Mia ($149 value) Dec 2 – iS Clinical Innovative Skincare Regime ($200 value) Dec 3 – Danielle Nicole Leather Handbag ($195 value) Dec 4 – Emily Elizabeth Jewelry Giveaway ($95 value) Dec 5 – XCVI Cuddle Cape ($150 value) Dec 6 – Kooba Eve Handbag Giveaway ($575 value) Dec 7 – Sears Kmart & Lands’ End Gift Cards (2 winners) Dec 8 – Macy’s $50 Gift Card Giveaway Dec 9 – Sir Alistair Rai Khari Wrap Giveaway ($95 value) Dec 10 – EnviroVogue Shopping Spree ($50 value) Dec 11 – StrapDiva ($50 value) Dec 12 – HP Envy 13 Notebook ($1,899 value)

All giveaways end December 20th at 11:59pm ET. Click on each link and follow the rules to enter each giveaway. You have from now until December 20th to enter all the giveaways listed above on The Fashionable Housewife Blog.

Day 12 – HP Envy 13 Laptop with Windows 7

Sarah-Jean, the fashion forward editor from The Fashionable Housewife blog has partnered with HP for the last and final day of their 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza!

One lucky reader will receive the NEW HP Envy 13 valued at $1,899.99!!




❝The HP Envy 13 is super thin, weighs about 3.74 lbs. and is less than 1″ thin, and features a 13.1″ HD Radiance display with up to 410 nit/82% color gamut which is twice as bright as other notebook displays in its class, BluRay and Beats Audio make it an ideal device for experiencing music and video...❞

To learn more about this fabulous and totally fashionable laptop, visit www.hp.com/go/envy. Click here for more info about Windows 7.  

 Thanks to The Fashionable Housewife Blog and to HP

and all of the 12 days of Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza Sponsors!

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza

【ツ】8 BlogHers try Tassimo and give you 1 of 8 chances to win your own Tassimo Brewer!

*The following review was excerpted from BlogHer.com for your viewing and winning pleasure. Sadly, I was NOT compensated for this post, but I really like  L❤VE   BlogHer.com & thought you might, too*


When everyone gets what they want, people come together. That’s the thinking behind Tassimo, the only home brewing system that gives everyone the drink they want. From coffees and teas to rich cappuccinos and lattes. Even hot chocolate. Tassimo offers more than 40 beverage and flavor varieties to satisfy everyone—from brands you know, like Gevalia, Maxwell House, Twinings and more. Tassimo even satisfies your premium coffee cravings with a great variety of Starbucks offerings -- including Starbucks Breakfast Blend and House Blend varieties.
Tassimo is able to produce more types of drinks through simple bar code technology. Each T Disc—the little round guys that hold the coffee—has a bar code on its back that tells the brewer the exact temperature, pressure and time it takes to brew a perfect drink. With the press of one button, you can make a whole crowd of people happy. Whether they’re into macchiatos or chai lattes, or just a good cup of joe, it’s that simple to turn your kitchen into the new gathering place.

There's more!  Tassiomo gave 8 BlogHers a brand new brewer and coffee flavors to try.  Read each review below and see what beverages they made.  After you read the reviews, follow the instructions on each blog and enter to win your own Tassimo brewer and variety of beverage flavors!
Tarrant, from Retro Food, considers her Tassimo “very cost efficient when you break it down by cup and consider the no waste, no mess, and no special dishes to wash part.” She’s already ordered refills.

Sheila, from Xiaolin Mama, had “20 guests at a party this past weekend and the Tassimo churned out drinks like a champ.” She was able to offer an array of hot drinks without any waste.

Megan, from Megan’s Minute, is looking forward to using her Tassimo during the holidays “because it'll be nice to be able to offer a variety of coffee blends depending on the tastes of my guests”.


Rhoda, from Southern Hospitality, “always thought having one of these machines around the house would be loads of fun!” She’s looking forward to having her guests “order up a special drink with dessert”.
Stephanie, from A Year of Slow Cooking, loves the simplicity of using her Tassimo and the water filtration system keeps her assured that her kids receive a freshly-purified cup of hot chocolate.
When Kim, from Petroville, made her first cup of cappuccino, she “felt like a barista as the machine steamed” and her milk foamed…see what her Thanksgiving guests thought too.
Grace, from More Women, thought in order to find “another nifty twist for a home appliance,” her Tassimo “would make the perfect gift for the workplace.” See what features her husband enjoyed the most.
Check back next week for one more review and another chance to win!

No purchase required. The sweepstakes runs from December 10, 2009 to December 31, 2009 and is only open to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older; one entry per person and per email address. Please be sure that your email address is up-to-date in your BlogHer profile so that we can contact you if you win! Click here to read the official rules.

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【ツ】BlogHers take the LOFT style challenge and give you 1 of 16 chances to win a $200 LOFT gift card!

*The following review was excerpted from BlogHer.com for your viewing and winning pleasure. Sadly, I was NOT compensated for this post, but I really like  L❤VE   BlogHer.com & thought you might, too*



LOFT is all about stylish advice for everyday, beyond the closet and into real life. We understand how women with a casual lifestyle live, and how you like to dress. We provide you with feminine, versatile, effortless pieces, and offer great style advice and ideas. We want to make your style aspirations attainable.
Live. Love. LOFT.
LOFT invited 14 BlogHers to visit the store for a LOFT shopping party and take a style challenge.  Read each review below and see what holiday looks they loved and how they enjoyed their shopping experience.  After you read each review post, follow instructions and enter to win a $200 LOFT gift card!
LOFT is also giving you two more chances to win.  Visit the LOFT website here.  Then tell us in the comment section below what your favorite look is, or what you would like to give as a holiday gift.  Two winners will be randomly selected, good luck! 
“From the time I stepped in to the store and for the hours after the event that I petted the pretty things I brought home, I was in heaven.” - Said Jessica from Sassafrass.
Serena, from Zip n Tizzy said, “I readily turned myself over to the stylist, Hailey, telling her that I wanted to break out of my “Mom Jeans”  See how it worked out!
Olivia, a confirmed shopaholic, stepped in for Gen Pink to appease her addiction.  Read about all the fun she had during her style challenge.
Steece’s Pieces said,  “I'm tellin' ya, girlfriends---look no further! LOFT is exactly what I was looking for and caters to all the many different aspects of a woman's life.”

“Everyone should shop at LOFT because it will make you feel good about yourself (and more than a dozen chocolate doughnuts ever could)” - Said Leah from A Girl and A Boy.
See what looks the fabulous stylist helped Kari from The Karianna Spectrum come up with!
Holly, from Caleigh's Corner said, “I had an amazing time at LOFT. The stylists were wonderful and they totally helped little 'ole me out of a fashion funk.”  Check out her new looks!
Michelle, from Honest and Truly, loved the star treatment she received “I got to dress up in my perfect party outfit”.
During her shopping challenge, Sheila from Xiaolin Mama, picked up several shopping tips.  Check them out!
Julie from The Calm Before The Stork, stepped out of her comfort zone and tried the LOFT skinny jeans.  Check out what other new trendy looks she tried.

“Nothing pleased me more than when I came out of my dressing room in a look that I had styled and the stylist exclaimed “Look at her- she doesn’t even need me!” -Said Slynnro.
Kelly, from Mocha Momma said,  “Thanks to a personal stylist, I got to mix and match and use jewelry and scarves and belts and things that normally I wouldn’t pick up.”
“My first outfit was chosen as a holiday casual look, with the winter white color scheme offset by the shimmery gold blouse and faux fur neck warmer.”  See how it looked on Devin, from Mom’s Happy Handful.

New to LOFT, Jamie from Oh! How Lovely was drawn to all of the colors and was hooked as soon as she walked into the store.


Wait there is more, exclusively for BlogHer readers, save 20% off your next full-price purchase at LOFT! Click here for the coupon!
^{Winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. You must be registered at BlogHer, and be logged in to the site, to enter this promotion. If you are not registered, it's free and easy! Simply click on the "Join Us" button in the box at the top right of this page, then come back to this page to enter your comment.
This sweepstakes runs from December 10, 2009 to December 25, 2009 and is only open to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older; one entry per person and per email address. Please be sure that your email address is up-to-date in your BlogHer profile so that we can contact you if you win! Click here to read the official rules. Good luck!}

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【ツ】Have a funny holiday road trip story? Tell us for 1 of 9 chances to win $200!

*The following review was excerpted from BlogHer.com for your viewing and winning pleasure. Sadly, I was NOT compensated for this post, but I really like  L❤VE   BlogHer.com & thought you might, too*


Ever thought to yourself, in the midst of a family road trip, “maybe one day I will look back on this and laugh?” Sprint recently asked 8 BlogHers to share their unforgettable family road trip experiences. Check out each of their posts below to read the horrifyingly funny stories they shared.
Now is your chance to share a memorable road trip story. Read on to find out how you can win 1 of 9 $200 Visa gift cards!

See how chaos ensues during Meg, from Muses of Megret, childhood road trip from Louisiana to South Carolina when she coaxed her parents to let her bring a pet Betta fish along.”
Despite the family car being so packed there was, “no room for carry-ons or personal bags, barely any room for snacks, and shoulders squeezed together so hard I could barely move my arms,” Julia, from Sweet as Punkin Pie, scherishes the time her family spent together on long family road trips. 
Read how Janet's, from Slice of Pink, impromptu travels plans and spontaneity left her standing in velvet loafers at the starting line of a 5K race on New Year’s Eve!
Busy Mom recounts how she and her family endured the worst of luck when they traveled to Christmas at her brother-in-law’s bachelor pad…needless to say Christmas is now celebrated at her house!
Recalling her first post-college attempt to make it home in time for Christmas, Michelle, from Honest & Truly learned to overcome her stubborn independent youth along with some valuable lessons in traveling.
Dara's, from CookinCanuck, family dog was able to provide a little comic relief during the annual 18 hour family road trip which included several treacherous mountain passes, a 1 1/2 hour ferry ride, and a pummeling snowstorm.
Barbara, from Long Hollow, made a family wedding in Mexico a perfect excuse to expose her children to a different culture allowing them to experience a different landscape, language, and cuisine.  
Find out how the perfect cabin rental, close vicinity to a water park, and cheap price left Kristi, from Stepford Stories, husband asking, “did you know there was a train?!”

The BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 from Sprint can help insure that your next road trip goes a bit smoother. With GPS to guide you right to your destination, this sleek and performance-driven device is designed to help you do all the things you need to do. It is music, email and web browsing capable, and also features voice activated dialing and Bluetooth® Wireless. Learn more about the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 from Sprint!
Sprint is also sponsoring BlogHer's Family Connections Group, where you can join BlogHer's community journalism project on digital parenting by talking about how you and your family interact with technology. Check it out!
After entering each of the BlogHers’ sweepstakes above, tell us about that wild family road trip that makes you look back and laugh. By sharing in the comments area below, you will be entered for a chance to win $200!
^{Each sweepstakes runs from December 9, 2009 through December 31, 2009 and is only open to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older; one entry per person and per email address. For Official Sweepstakes rules click here>>}

【ツ】HERSHEY’S® KISSES® Chocolates Holiday Recipe Sweepstakes with 8 ways to win $100!

*The following review was excerpted from BlogHer.com for your viewing and winning pleasure. Sadly, I was NOT compensated for this post, but I really like  L❤VE   BlogHer.com & thought you might, too*


HERSHEY recently invited 8 lucky BlogHer Reviewers to try out some of their HERSHEY KISSES holiday recipes. Once the bloggers were well stocked with not only the HERSHEY’S KISSES Milk Chocolate that we all know and love, but also KISSES Brand Candy Cane Mint Candies and KISSES Meltaway Milk Chocolates, they headed over to Hersheys.com to find the perfect recipes to share with family and friends for the holidays.

Look for HERSHEY’S KISSES in the new red bag this Holiday season!

Check out each of the 8 KISSES recipe reviews listed below to see which recipes each blogger chose, and enter each bloggers’ sweepstakes for a chance to win a $100 Visa® gift card!

For the first time, Gen from Quadville was able to include all four of her 3 ½ year olds during her holiday sweets baking!  See how this mom and her young brood made a new family tradition.
Find out which peanut-free cookies were a hit with DeeDee, from Fiddledeedee, and her daughter to share during their holiday family dinner.
“When I told my mom we were going to bake Forgotten Kisses Cookies, she jumped right in. Suddenly, we had three generations of Puddings with whipped egg whites on their hands.”  Check out all the recipes Angela, from Fluid Pudding, got her family to create!
“As an experiment I made some of the cookies with Meltaway Kisses---and I preferred them. The Meltaway Kiss had a softer texture even when the cookie was completely cool.” See what other cookie baking tips Kristen, from Swistle, dishes out for this holiday season!

Amie, from Life With The Boys, is sharing treats this holiday by making goodie plates for friends and neighbors.  Luckily, she’s got a new “Go To Cookie” to wow them with this year!
When making the KISSES Macaroon Cookies, Jessica, from Oh The Joys, said, “it was only after I finished the actual baking part when I read that the recipe was supposed to yield four dozen cookies. I had made seventeen. [No wonder my jeans are getting tight.]”
Discover along with M3, from Salsa in China, which HERSHEY’S cookie recipes were an "easypeasy treat" for her girls to make.
"Once the house is decorated we get to the good stuff, the baking…if I could bottle the smell of Christmas it would be fresh baked treats mixed with eau de Christmas tree." See which HERSEY’S KISSES recipes Melanie, from Big Mama, whipped up to evoke the smells of Christmases past.

After reading about all those delicious holiday treats and entering each sweepstakes, head on over to Hersheys.com to find  that must have recipe. You can also check out Hersheys.com/holidays for some holiday crafts that make great gifts, Holiday screensavers so even your computer is decorated for the holiday, and also Christmas cards and gift tags that you can personalize and print!
HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates even has a Cookie Exchange!
Celebrate the holiday season this year with HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates by letting us help you plan the ultimate cookie exchange. All holiday hosts are invited to become members of the HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates Cookie Exchange Web site, www.kissescookies.com; a social networking site for cookie exchange enthusiasts and a resource for party planning tips and delicious recipes!  Browse HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates cookie recipes like the classic Peanut Butter Blossoms, ask other members for recipe suggestions, share and discover ideas for party games, decorations and more!  Visit HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates Cookie Exchange at www.kissescookies.com, your one stop-shop for holiday entertaining!


^{NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. Ends 12/31/09 at 11:59:59 a.m. ET. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., 18 or older at the time of entry. Void in PR and where prohibited. To enter go to www.BlogHer.com (the "Web Site") and follow the online instructions to log in or register. Followers of participating Bloggers should then link to any of the eight (8) individual Blogger’s pages to post a comment (“Entry”) on the Blogger’s page regarding HERSHEY®’S KISSES® Chocolates to receive one (1) entry per Blogger’s site, into the Blogger’s Sweepstakes, during the Sweepstakes Entry Period. All comments must comply with BlogHer.com Editorial Standards and the Sweepstakes Entry Guidelines. Entries must be written in English and must be at least 10 characters. Limit one (1) online Entry per name/e-mail address. For prizes and full Official Rules click here.
SPONSOR: The Hershey Company, 100 Crystal A Drive, Hershey, PA.
© 2009 The Hershey Company.} 

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