I love the taste of fresh berries in the summer! When I was young and went to day camp we picked wild raspberries in the woods near the camp and I remember eating so many of them right from the vine – so yummy! I frequently buy raspberries, strawberries and blueberries especially in the summer when the prices are more reasonable and love to have a simple dish of berries for dessert or make something more elaborate using the berries!

Family owned for over 100 years, Driscoll’s is passionate about growing premium fresh berries. Our strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and organic berries are sweet, juicy and naturally wholesome. Packed with antioxidants, fiber and vitamins, they’re a healthy treat for any time of the day. Driscoll’s offers exclusive berry recipes, including healthy berry recipes, for all your menu needs. Trust Driscoll’s to provide the highest quality and best tasting fresh berries.

My family loves berries and the Driscoll’s site has a HUGE selection of delicious sounding recipes! I loved looking through them to pick out something delicious! I wanted to use the berries to make a main course since I think it’s a different way to use the berries than for dessert.  I made these sweet and spicy raspberry wings - the picture is from Driscoll’s (theirs came out prettier than mine did!).  The recipe was easy and these wings were really good – everyone scarfed them down in my house right away and asked for seconds!

I received samples to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Vitacost is my go-to website for vitamins and all things healthy and natural! I recently got to choose a bunch of items to try out and my choices will show you that Vitacost has a HUGE selection of all kinds of items for the home!

Welcome to Vitacost.com! You are one smart cookie. Why? Because you’ve decided to take your shopping list to Vitacost.com and take the cost out of healthy living! Best prices – no, really! If you’re tired of deciding between a good bargain and a good product, you’ll be happy to know that Vitacost.com offers savings up to 50% off retail on the healthy products you want and need, including vitamins, supplements, health foods, sports nutrition products, bath & beauty favorites, even home and pet products!

Vitacost.com carries nearly 40,000 different healthy products. OK, so that’s not really endless, but it sure seems that way. Those products come from nearly 2,000 leading brands, including high-quality Vitacost brand products. And if there’s something we don’t carry, you can always send a request and we’ll do whatever we can to bring it to you – for less, of course. Enjoy FREE shipping on orders over $49 within the contiguous U.S.! For other orders within the 48 states, shipping is just $4.99. We also offer international shipping to more than 100 countries. Have a question about your order, or about the healthy products we sell? You can rely on our friendly, award-winning customer service staff to help you out. Simply visit our online Help Center or call toll free (800) 381-0759 during our convenient hours 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Eastern time (Monday – Friday), 9a.m. – 6p.m. Eastern time (Saturday – Sunday). Great prices, selection, shipping, service – shopping at Vitacost.com is the smart thing to do!

So here is what I ordered:

• Cloud Star Salmon Dog Treats
• Kong Peanut Butter Paste
• Crest Complete with Scope
• Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste
• Tide Pods
• Seventh Generation Paper Towels
• Charmin Toilet Paper
• Canned Organic Pumpkin
• Seventh Generation Napkins

These were all products I am familiar with and I love the large variety I can get.  My order after this one was vitamins for my family and for my dogs! Chester takes a few adult products such as melatonin and flax hulls and I am able to get everything for him at Vitacost.  Shipping is always quick and the quality of the items offered is excellent!

Enter the Giveaway!

You can win a $25 Vitacost giftcode! Please enter the giveaway on the widget below.  Email and feed subscribers will need to click over to my actual site to enter.

I received the same prize as the winner.  All opinions remain my own.

Yummy! I was excited to try these DelGrosso’s sauces! We got a 3 pack of the sauces and I thought my favorite would be the vodka sauce but it was actually the fireworks sauce! I loved the spicy flavor.  These sauces were all very flavorful and rich and seriously tasted like I had spent all day making them instead of opening a jar and heating it up!

Marianna Pulcino immigrated to America in 1911, bringing with her an old-world recipe for pasta sauce. She established Mom’s Cafe on Walton Avenue in Altoona, Pennsylvania where she served up her classic dishes to the delight of hungry patrons. In 1936, Marianna’s daughter Mafalda was waiting tables at the cafe when Ferdinand DelGrosso, a handsome young railroader, walked through the door and sat at her table. They fell in love instantly. “Fred” and “Murf” would later be married, and in 1943 they bought a small restaurant on 17th Street and called it DelGrosso’s Cafe. With the help of Marianna’s original sauce recipe, the restaurant soon became famous for the “best spaghetti dinner in town.”

The idea to commercially manufacture pasta sauce took root when Fred noticed restaurant customers offering to pay extra to take home a small portion of the sauce. Fred immediately saw the potential to market and sell their quality Italian sauces, and in 1946 he sold DelGrosso’s Cafe and bought nearby Bland’s Amusement Park. From the park kitchen, Fred and Murf worked 10-hour days to make one “batch” of five cases, using four 10-gallon pots and a hand sealer, which took 24 revolutions to seal one can. Fred and two long-time friends from Altoona formed a small sales force and gradually increased distribution by “pounding the pavement.” Now in its third generation, DelGrosso Foods has taken its place among the most highly-regarded producers of fine sauces anywhere. It continues as the oldest major family-owned manufacturer of pasta sauce in the United States. It is through tireless effort, continued commitment, and the closest attention to detail from family members at every level that DelGrosso remains “The Finest Sauce Made.”

Enter the Giveaway!

You can win a giftpack of 3 of La Familigia DelGrosso’s sauces! Please enter the giveaway on the widget below.  Email and feed subscribers will need to click over to my actual site to enter.

I received the same prize as the winner.  All opinions remain my own.

Nicole’s post:

I am so excited to announce that I am a Nutrisystem Nation Blogger!

Nicole’s weight loss this week: lost .9 lbs.

Nicole’s Total weight loss since start of program: 27.8 lbs.

This week I concentrated on water.  It is so critical for me when losing weight or trying to lose weight to consume a huge quantity of water.  I feel better physically and always have a lot of energy when I drink a lot of water.  I have started bringing a huge bottle of water to work with me and carrying it wherever I go.  I am able to get in at least 64 oz daily when I do this and I found that I actually prefer room temperature water over really cold water!

I have also started keeping fresh veggies in the office.  I really like the grape tomatoes and can eat them like candy! I like them with a little salt which I am sure isn’t great for me but it really enhances the flavor of the tomatoes.  I also enjoy fresh sugar snap peas which I had never had raw before I started Nutrisystem.  I love the crunch and the flavor! It is amazing how much better I feel when I stay on the program 100%, I just know how good it is for me based on how it makes me feel!

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Jamie’s this Week’s weight loss: lost 1.2 lbs.

Jamie’s Weight Loss: 37.6lbs

Holding steady here! Nicole brings a water bottle to work and fills it up and I usually bring a gallon of water to work and just drink from the container.  The kitchen where I work has been VERY hot these past few weeks and so I have been drinking probably 2 full gallons during the day which has been helping with the weight loss for sure.

This week I have been showing Nicole how the presentation of your food is so important.  For instance if I eat the Nutrisystem entree out of the container it feels small to me even if I have a huge salad on the side.  This week we started removing the entree from the container and plating it, adding veggies and then a salad as well.  The portions look bigger this way and I know it helps my psyche think this is a bigger meal and makes me fuller! It’s all about our crazy minds!

Disclaimer: Nutrisystem is sending us 4 months of products in return to share our experience. All opinions are 100% ours and are not altered in any way.

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

I found the cutest gifts and keepsakes for new moms on Totsy this week! These sales only last a few days so make sure to check it out! This adorable first piggy bank is super reasonably priced!

Families are memory-making machines, and this sale is designed to give every special moment the display it deserves. A revolving selection of ready-to-ship baby keepsakes and gifts, these pieces are perfect for any new mom and newborn. You’ll find heirloom-quality frames, organizers for Mom, money banks, layette gift sets, and so much more right here in this one-stop new-mom shop! Hurry, though — quantities are limited and you don’t want to miss out!

The doorknocker and the watch me grow frame are both great gifts for a new mom and baby! I love personalized and custom gifts like this, they are very thoughtful and always appreciated!

Make sure to sign up for a Totsy account today. It’s FREE to sign up but it’s by invite only and I just so happen to have invitations for all of you! Just click here to sign up and then you can opt to get emails every day letting you know about their new sales. You’ll want to access the site as soon as possible after the sale starts to get the best selection of sizes, colors and styles! PLUS you’ll get FREE shipping with your first order!

About Totsy:
Totsy offers moms on-the-go and moms-to-be access to brand-specific sales, up to 90% off retail, just for them and the kids, ages 0-8. Prenatal care products, baby gear, travel accessories, bedding and bath, children’s clothing, toys, DVDs, and educational materials are just a sampling of a selection that promises only the best in quality and designer brands. Membership is by invitation or request only. But the sooner you join, the better. Each sale lasts only 48 to 72 hours. Totsy is the first company in private sales to take on sustainable and socially responsible initiatives in all areas of business. Totsy plants one tree in honor of your child when you make your first purchase. And, every time you shop with us – we’ll keep it watered for you! Who says shopping can’t save the world?

This has been a sponsored post as part of my work as a Totsy Shopping Star. All opinions are my own.

Yoplait Greek 100 is my go-to as far as yogurt goes and I was so happy when my local Publix started to carry it! My favorite flavors are the lime and the lemon and Jamie likes the black cherry the best! They are packed with protein and calcium and are big on delicious flavor!

It’s almost swimsuit season, and Publix® invites you to dive in with a little help from Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt. New Yoplait Greek 100 is a tasty way to approach swimsuit season. It’s everything you adore about Greek yogurt, with just 100 calories. Come into Publix® May 11th – 31st to save on irresistible flavors like Black Cherry, Lemon, Mixed Berry, Peach, Tropical and more – 10 for just $10! Sample all the delicious flavors of Yoplait Greek 100 at Publix®.

Enter the Giveaway!

You can win a $25 Publix giftcard and 4 VIP coupons to try the Yoplait Greek 100! Please enter the giveaway on the widget below.  Email and feed subscribers will need to click over to my actual site to enter.

I received the same prize as the winner.  All opinions remain my own.

Don’t forget to enter my current giveaways:

1. American Greetings Taylor Swift Giveaway (Ends May 20)
2. Publix’s Running Out Running In and $25 Publix Giftcard Giveaway (Ends May 20)
3. Cooking for Spring with Fisher Nuts and Giveaway (Ends May 20)
4. New Dial Body Washes Giveaway (Ends May 20)
5. Josh Groban Tickets Giveaway (Ends May 20)
6. Delicious Southern Eating with Glory Foods and Giveaway (Ends May 20)
7. Mexican at Home with Red Baron’s Classic Crust Mexican Style Pizza and Giveaway (Ends May 20)
8. Great Smelling Laundry with Downy Unstopables and Giveaway (Ends May 20)
9. Clean and Safe with SafeHands and Giveaway (Ends May 20)

Here are this week’s top 10 giveaways.  Please be sure to read each blogger’s giveaway post carefully as they all have different rules.  Good luck!

1. Life Unsweetened - Jose Eber Infrared Blow Dryer Review & Giveaway (Ends May 20)
2. More Than Mommies - Firehouse Subs $20 G.C.  Giveaway (Ends May 20)
3. The Penny Horder - iPad Mini Giveaway (Ends May 20)
4. BrideBird - Dainty Champagne Flutes Giveaway (Ends May 22)
5. Peace Love Organic Mom - Real Kids Shades: Sunglasses for Baby and Kids Giveaway (Ends May 22)
6. Palecek Design - Designer Inspiration Chair Giveaway (Ends May 26)
7. Kate and Kaboodle - $200 Toys R Us G.C. or PayPal Giveaway (Ends May 26)
8. Confessions of a Frugal Mind – Pillsbury Artisan Prize Pack Giveaway (Ends May 26)
9. Kate and Kaboodle - Schwinn Windwood Women’s Cruiser Bike Giveaway (Ends May 30)
10. Great Wild OutDoors - Camping Kiddos $25 G.C. Giveaway (Ends May 31)

Amanda at A Few Shortcuts has such a cheery looking dish this week. Makes me want to have it just for the colors! The recipe, Fiesta Stuffed Mini Peppers has all the ingredients that will get my son-in-law to eat it: cheese, cheese and garlic salt; is quick and easy to put together and is sweet peppers so I’ll like it.  That just leaves my daughter.  She has a “thing” about cilantro.  A dish can have some, but not “too much” and that sketchy line is somewhere in her head and as yet undefined to the rest of the world.  So, I wonder if I could substitute red pepper flakes or something else to give it a zing.  Any ideas?  Anyway, I will be trying this soon!

Each week I will highlight one of Amanda’s fabulous recipes. If you don’t have the ingredients or they’re not on sale near you, you could easily print and save the recipes for later use!

This week’s (May 17-18) theme for Girls Night In is: BOGO 40% Off!

All $39.95 styles are eligible for the promotion!

Here are details for this week’s Girls’ Night In (May 17-18):

Buy 1 item for $39.95, and get 2nd $39.95 item for 40% off when you use the Promo Code: GNIBOGO40

• Promo Starts: 05/17, 10:00am PST
• Promo Ends:  05/18, 11:59pm PST
• While Supplies Last; No Rainchecks
• Discount eligible on multiple item purchases
• Styles must be $39.95
• Membership credit may be applied

The Good Cook Hunt is still on! Make sure to check out my previous post that explains how the hunt works and act quickly because it ends May 21, 2013!

I wanted to tell you about the Good Cook Flex Silicone Turner that I got as part of my participation in the Hunt.  I got an assortment of products but have been using this turner nonstop since I received it! It has so many great uses like as a spatula or as a turner when you sautee!

My favorite way to use it is when I roast vegetables to turn them so they roast evenly.  I buy those bags of precut and washed broccoli, carrots and cauliflower and put on foil in my toaster oven.  I sprinkle with olive oil, coarse salt and pepper and roast at 400 degrees for 30 minute or until the veggies start to turn brown.  I love the caramelized flavor on the veggies and turn them halfway through using this silicone flex turner.  It’s super easy to clean and works great!

I received samples to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.