【ツ】7 BlogHers try Arbor Mist and give you 1 of 8 chances 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*

Arbor Mist was inspired to create new Sparkling Wine, to bring friends and family together for any occasion.  That's why Arbor Mist asked 7 BlogHers to try the sparkling wine and create a themed party basket for one of their occasions.  Read each review below and see what BlogHers created.  Next, follow instructions on each blog to enter for 1 of 7 chances to win a $100 gift card.
For one more chance to win a $100 gift card, tell us how you bring friends and family together.  Enter in the comment section at the bottom of this page.  You must also include your DOB (day/month/year) in your comment to be eligible for this sweepstakes.
Update 12/10 New Bonus Review:  Michelle Woo put the fun in wedding planning by creating “The Ultimate Wedding Stuff Making Party”- Read the review for entry instructions and rules.

Arbor mist inspired Yvonne from Joy Unexpected to create a “girls night in” basket to unwind from her busy holiday schedule.
To help friends get through a rough time, Oh! How Lovely created the “Breakup Survival Party” basket. Check out the feel good items she included. 
Janet from Slice of Pink created a Parisian themed basket for a day of fun with her girlfriends.  Check out what she included.
Megan’s Minute created her themed basket around game night.  Find out what she included and get some ideas for your own game night!


“I knew right away I wanted my party to center around the idea of being a rock star. So I set off to create a box full of rock star worthy treats and décor” said Monique of Your Style Star.

Cat from Wishbone Clover loves to spend her winter with TV, her friends, and some sparkling wine.  See what she put in her “ready to celebrate anytime” basket.

Turn an everyday occasion into something extraordinary – pop open a bottle of new Arbor Mist Sparkling Wine with natural fruit flavors.  Available now in Peach Sparkle and Raspberry Sparkle. Learn more.
Nine winners (one per each review post, and one on this page), 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 4, 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 21 years or older; one entry per person and per email address. You must enter your DOB (day/month/year) in your comment to be eligible.  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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Easy Peasy?! This cookbook is it! Make It fast, Cook It Slow

Author Stephanie O’Dea, the author of the foodie blog A Year of Slow Cooking, really used her crock pot every single day in 2008 just for the practical purpose and creative driving force behind her new cookbook, Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking, published by Hyperion. I have been reading and enjoying Stephanie's blog for quite some time. Her recipes are creative, innovative and interestingly palate pleasing. This is a great guide for those hurried and harried Moms like me who might have been fresh out of ideas for dinner. Admittedly, I was in a rut and our meals were getting redundant and boring.  The variety and versatility of the recipes and everything that one can effortlessly create with a Crock Pot is functionally fantastic! Stephanie's fun and creative recipes really convey a strong message that "your crockpot is not your mother's crock-pot anymore."
This book enlightens and enriches the reader in tried and true crock-pot favorites like; delicious soups, meats, side dishes, appetizers, dips, and desserts. I am actually beyond excited about using the crockpot for holiday appetizers, like the buffalo chicken dip described on page 25. It would provide a nice bite of competition in regards to the same old salad dressing dip. I love how this cookbook kind of breathes life into the Crockpot, and even family fun activities like creating Crock Pot caramel apples would make any Mom the coolest mom ever!  There is even a recipe for recycling old candles to make new ones. Yes, candles, in the crock-pot!
Stephanie's wit and her willingness to try anything are what initially drew me in to her website in the first place. I was vapidly searching for Gluten-free recipes as my kids fare well on this type of diet. Stephanie also has a child with Celiac Disease, so all of her recipes are Gluten-free or have been tastefully adapted to be gluten-free.Well many of you might be thinking, What is Gluten? Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley. Therefore, it is found in most types of cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family, however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans, and sunflower seeds. Gluten essentially helps make bread elastic, providing it with that chewy texture it has when eaten.
Celiac disease is an incurable but manageable disease which impedes the digestion of gluten. This autoimmune disorder affects adults as well as children. Individuals with Celiac disease must eat foods that do not contain gluten in order to prevent severe illness, which causes a severe immune system reaction. Celiac disease, is a chronic inherited digestive disorder, which can cause damage to the small intestine. It is estimated that one in 133 Americans suffer from Celiac disease – 3 million adults and children are living undiagnosed with this autoimmune disorder, that can be effectively managed by adhering to a gluten-free diet.
I also think that one of the best parts of her blog are the verdicts, and she incorporates them into her book as well. It's nice to know all the recipes have really been authenticated--tried and tested. This is an extremely useful tool in helping the reader easily pick out which recipes will work for their family. Some cookbooks have fancy and eye appealing photos, but it's difficult to discern whether or not its actually going to taste good.
I have been sending people to her website ever since I stumbled across it, and will highly recommend this book to friends and family.  I plan on ordering multiple copies to give as Christmas gifts. Out of the vast conglomeration of slow cooker cookbooks that I own, this one is clearly a cut above the rest. IMHO, its the only one you'll ever need.


* The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not endorsed, compensated, or provided a product or service for my opinions stated herein*