My New Website

Hello Everyone!

Take a look at my website below. You can direct any questions there.

http://www.eastendtaste.com

I will be hosting two giveaways around Memorial Day Weekend!! Be sure to take a look. I will remind you here as well when they are up!

The Cat in the Hat: Safari, So Good Review and Giveaway

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Dear Friends,

In celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd, NCircle Entertainment has provided me with the opportunity to host a book/DVD review and giveaway. One winner will receive the Safari So Good DVD.

Did you know that The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Is based off of the Random House Cat in the Hat Learning Library book series? Each Cat in the Hat episode teaches kids cool science facts, like how whales communicate or why penguins can’t fly.

The newest DVD, Safari So Good, is based off of the book with the same title. Explore the jungle and learn about African wildlife when you and your child read together, and then see the book come to life on DVD! Martin Short is the voice of the Cat, and the DVD is filled with music and funny antics.

Brand-new from The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! comes a jam packed DVD full of adventures to exotic savannas and jungles for some monkeying around! We would love for you to review Safari, So Good! in celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday.

About the DVD and book:

Join the Cat in the Hat on this brand-new safari adventure! Help him find the missing stripes for his hat, swing with silly monkeys and discover how footprints are made!

It's time for safari, so come and explore with the Cat and his friends on adventures galore. We will reach for the treetops and swing through the trees, When we walk like giraffes and swing like monkeys!

 

Featuring the voice of Martin Short, this is a fun and enriching DVD that everyone in the family will enjoy. As an animal lover, I love watching anything to do with adorable and fascinating animals. I even learned a ton of new information from the DVD. There is a great amount of vocabulary that your children will learn as well as many fun and interesting facts.

This DVD includes five delightful stories: Treetop Tom, Stripy Safari, King of Swing, Elephant Walk and Follow the Prints.

SRP: $10.99. This DVD is now available atNCircleEntertainment.com or a retailer near you, including Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us!

 

The Cat takes Sally and Nick to Africa--where they learn how animals are either predators or prey, that elephants tend to favor one tusk over the other, how to tell the difference between a white and black rhino (both of which are gray!), that a leopar'd black spots are called rosettes and much, much more!  

 

This book is packed with fascinating information about animals that you would potentially see in a real-life safari. The book is very well written and engages the audience with its fun, lyrical rhyming. I highly recommend this book as a go-to story for children who want to learn about animals found in the African wilds.

SRP: $12.99. This book is now available at seussville.com, Wal-Mart, and Barnes & Noble.

ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

Mandatory entries:

(1) entry: Follow my blog publicly Google Friend Connect and tell me your favorite Dr. Seuss book. BE SURE TO LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!

Additional entries:
5 entries - Blog about this giveaway. Link back to this post and leave the link to your blog post in your comment.

2 entries - Become a fan of Vanessa's Soda Fountain. Please comment TWICE for this entry.

1 entry - Follow my blog via Network Blogs

1 entry - Follow me on Twitter @EastEndTaste

1 entry (1x daily)- Tweet this giveaway: #win Cat in the Hat  #giveaway @EastEndTaste http://oldfashionedsodafountain.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY ENDS FEBRUARY 15. ONE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN VIA RANDOM.ORG

Groundhog Day: Seattle's Best Coffee offers Free Coffee

Dear Friends,

February is almost upon us. That means that Groundhog Day is only a few days away. We all know the legend behind Groundhog Day: if the groundhog sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter, but if he does not, there will be an early spring. If our weather-predicting friend in Punxsutawney, Pa. sees his shadow on February 2nd, Seattle’s Best Coffee will unlock 10,000 samples of delicious coffee to help lucky Americans get through the brutal, extended winter days.

Seattle’s Best Coffee is eager to ease the sting of six more weeks of winter by offering free coffee to a lucky few if the groundhog sees his shadow. Winter weather watchers can cast their prediction and enter for a chance to win a free cup of coffee by registering on Facebook.

Enter to Win Free Seattle’s Best Coffee® on Facebook!

Those who want to join the festivities can visit Seattle’s Best Coffee’s Facebook page to register to win a free sample of Seattle’s Best Coffee and vote! If the groundhog does, indeed, see his shadow, those who register will be eligible to win one of 10,000 free samples of ground coffee* that brews a 10-cup pot of coffee.

*Sample size is 1.75 oz of ground coffee. Seattle’s Best Coffee reserves the right to substitute coffee sample type.

About Seattle’s Best Coffee:

Seattle’s Best Coffee LLC has been roasting premium coffee since 1970 and today roasts more than 20 million pounds of coffee every year and millions of cups of our coffee are served every day. A freshly-brewed cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee is currently available in more than 50,000 locations including cafes, college campuses, restaurants, hotels, airlines, cruise ships, grocery stores and movie theatres. Seattle’s Best Coffee is a featured brand within Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX). For more information, please visit Seattle’s Best Coffee online at www.seattlesbest.com, become a member of the coffee community at www.facebook.com/SeattlesBestCoffee or follow Seattle’s Best Coffee on Pinterest for unique coffee inspiration at www.pinterest.com/seattlesbest.

From now through Feb. 1, winter weather watchers can visit the Seattle’s Best Coffee Facebook page to register for the chance to win free coffee. No purchase is necessary.

Oscar de la Renta Scarf Winner

Congratulations to Clenna E., you won the beautiful Oscar de La Renta Scarf. Enjoy! Thank you for everyone who entered my giveaway. I will be hosting many more giveaways in the near future! Be sure to check them out!

Best,

Vanessa's Soda Fountain

Univision’​s Lourdes Stephen Helps Latina Cancer Patients Look Good, Feel Better® and GIVEAWAY

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED. WILL ANNOUNCE WINNER SOON

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday, January 16 at 2PM, Univision’s Lourdes Stephen will host Spanish-language “Virtual Workshop” for Look Good Feel Better®. LGF is a program dedicated to boosting cancer patients’ self-esteem and confidence through lessons on how to manage the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment .

The event will be streaming live here. You may register in advance for the event at this site.

Ms. Stephen will be joined by beauty experts Lilly Rivera, makeup artist, and Petra Belen, hair stylist and Louanne Roark, Look Good Feel Better Executive Director, who will offer instruction, tips and advice – tailored to Latina women - for dealing with hair loss, changes in skin, complexion and nails during your cancer treatment, taken straight from the live LGFB community based group workshop program. Register now for this virtual seminar.

LGFB also offers free workshops and educational resources that address skin changes and concerns, and offers lessons on cosmetics, wigs, turbans, nail care, and accessories, and wardrobe styling. Workshops are facilitated by 14,000 volunteer beauty professionals in more than 3,000 locations nationwide.

During the past 23 years, the program has served more than 800,000 people with cancer in the U.S. and more than 1.2 million people with cancer around the world. The program is made possible in the U.S. through a collaboration of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Professional Beauty Association.

STATISTICS:
* 59,200 Latinas will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in 2012.
* 1 in 3 Latinas will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime.
* Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Latinas, followed by colorectal cancer and thyroid cancer.
* Even though Latinas have lower breast cancer rates than white women, they are more likely than whites to be diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer is more advanced and harder to treat.
* According to a recent survey, one-third of women with cancer said that their altered -appearance during treatment negatively impacted relationships with their friends, their spouse and their kids
* 37% of women in the same survey said that they avoided leaving the house because of the way that they looked during cancer treatment.


Please spread the word about this amazing program. Telling someone you know about this program now or in the future could certainly be a breath of fresh air for them. Sometimes it is very difficult to have confidence or to feel beautiful when you are going through chemo or certain side effects of cancer. This eye-opening seminar and workshops that are offered will certainly be very helpful and comforting.

Please register for the virtual seminar that will be held on January 16. Or, go to the site and learn how it can help you or someone you know. Tell your friends and family as well!

Read more: http://www.theartofrandomwillynillyness.com/2013/01/virtual-seminar-with-univisions-lourdes.html#ixzz2HaQkJcnF

One winner will win a beautiful, limited edition Oscar De La Renta scarf.

 

ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

Mandatory entries:

(1) entry: Follow my blog publicly Google Friend Connect and tell me how you have raised awareness of cancer. BE SURE TO LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!

(1) entry: Register your email address to get more info about LGFB over at: http://redsocialww.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14e50c66160cf480879c0ead4&id=d416bee2a2&e=0eed7dec03
 Additional entries:
5 entries - Blog about this giveaway. Link back to this post and leave the link to your blog post in your comment.

2 entries - Become a fan of Vanessa's Soda Fountain. Please comment TWICE for this entry.

1 entry - Follow my blog via Network Blogs

1 entry - Follow me on Twitter @EastEndTaste

1 entry (1x daily)- Tweet this giveaway: #win Oscar De La Renta scarf  #giveaway @EastEndTaste http://oldfashionedsodafountain.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY ENDS JANUARY 20. ONE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN VIA RANDOM.ORG

Buon Italia's Ricetta Risotto ai Quattro Formaggi

Dear Friends,

 

I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year celebration. I relaxed this year and visited my family in New England and then came home with my husband to spend a quiet weekend at home with our cat Abby. I was very happy to see my cats Puffy and Tigger at my family's home. We opened up presents there, cooked together, and watched movies for about four days.

 

One of the places I shop at annually for gifts for my family is at Buon Italia in New York City located in Chelsea Market on the west side. They have so many wonderful shops there for everyone on your list! Everything from stylish apparel to delicious grocery items baked goods. Buon Italia offers a vast array of fine, imported Italian grocery items, from olive oil and caviar to coffee, tea and cookies. It is sometimes so difficult to choose what you'd like to purchase, if only you had a wheel barrel to wheel everything you'd like home!

 

Below is a recipe I found on their website that I'd like to share with you. It looks so delicious to make as a side dish for dinner. I'll be making it myself very soon!

 

Try it at home and tell me how you like it.

 

RICETTA RISO AI QUATTRO FORMAGGI

(Rice with Four Types of Cheese)

 

 

Ingredients

 

300gr rice

 

200gr soft cheese

 

1 oz (30g) mozzarella cheese—cubed

 

80gr butter

 

1/2lt meat broth

 

Salt

 

1 oz (30g) Provolone cheese—cubed

 

pepper

 

3 tbs grated parmesan cheese

 

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

 

Butter

 

Directions

 

Slice thinly onion, sear with a bit butter using a medium-pan.

When brown pour rice, stir some minutes with a wooden cookware and let rice brown; cook rice adding hot broth.

Add all cheese and mix together.

Season with salt, when rice is tender take away from heat, add butter and grated parmesan.

Mix well and serve.

 

Original recipe is found here on Buon Italia's website.

Fun Fitness Survey

Happy Christmas Eve Everyone!

I hope all is well for you this holiday season. I would like to wish all of my readers and their families a happy holidays and New Year. I saw this survey on Carrots ‘N’ Cake a few weeks ago. Please copy this survey to fill out for yourself if you would like.

Five Fitness Things I Can’t Live Without:

• Kettle bell
• Yoga mat
• Combat 1lb weight gloves
• Medicine ball
• Jump rope

Most Embarrassing Song I Listen to While Working Out:

Backstreet Boys "Everybody" among other similar 90's songs *_*

Favorite Pre-Workout Snack or Meal:

Some granola with 1% milk and some 100% juice.

On My Fitness Bucket List:

• Become a certified personal trainer
• Get certified to teach yoga with a focus on Ashtanga, Bikram and Essential Oils

Must Have Tech Tools:

• iPod
• Heart monitor

Favorite Workouts

• Zumba
• Ashtanga yoga
• Silks and lyra
• Indoor cycling
• Weight training

Top Exercise Gear:

• Lululemon black yoga pants
• Nike crop pants
• AE sports bra
• Mika Yoga wear Bikram shorts
• Lululemon cycling shorts

Motivational Mantras:

• One more (rep) can never hurt!
• Just keep on going!
• (Good) Pain is gain.
• Nobody better, nobody.

Favorite Cardio Exercise:

• Interval treadmill workouts
• Circuit workouts

Favorite Strength Moves:

• Pull-ups
• Squats with weights
• Plank pose
• Push-ups

Food Survey: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today I have a fun little meal survey I have seen floating around on a few other blogs, and as you know, I love my surveys. Here we go!

BREAKFAST

1. Favorite cereal as a child?

Either Peanut Butter Captain crunch or Frosted Cheerios. They are still some of my favorites. I ate a lot of hot cereal as a child, such as Cream of Wheat, Maypo or Wheatina.

2. Coffee or Tea? With milk or without?

Tea. I am also very strict with my tea. I have high tea at least four times a month when I can on the weekends. I prefer black tea with steamed milk and honey (if it is a fruit flavor) but if it is an earl or lady grey, I prefer brown sugar cubes with cold milk. If it is green or white tea, it should be unsweetened or with a touch of lemon.

3. The one food you eat most often at breakfast?

Figs, granola or soft boiled eggs. I change my breakfast on a regular basis and usually eat eggs four times a week for added protein.

LUNCH

1. Sandwiches are generally considered a “lunch food.” If you had to choose between a grilled cheese and a peanut butter and jelly, which would you pick?

Grilled cheese! My favorite? Three cheese- Monterrey, cheddar and pepper jack on white bread or tomato, cheddar, gorganzola with vegetarian "bacon."

2. You can only put four ingredients in your salad (not including greens); what do you throw in the mix? Additionally, which greens and dressing do you pick?

Ah, this is easy for me: goat cheese, craisins, candied walnuts and avocado. Honey mustard for dressing.

3. One food you can’t live without at lunch?

A hearty soup like split pea with croutons, cream of red pepper, or chicken rice and vegetables.

DINNER

1. It’s the end of the day. You’re tired, hungry, and your fridge is empty. If a fast food (from a chain) is your only option, where do you go and what do you order?

Hale and Hearty or Pret A Manger. Some of my favorites when I attended school and worked in NYC.

2. TV/computer on or off while you’re eating?

Off. I prefer conversation, otherwise if I am eating a snack or having something to drink. TV or computer is fine.

3. The one food you eat most often at dinner?

Crab cakes or pasta with shrimp and peas. Also a salad with avocado. Some of my favorites!

DESSERT

1. Choose between these two American desserts: cheesecake or apple pie?

Apple crisp or butterfinger, peanut butter cup or oreo cheesecake. I also love the red velevet cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.

2. Choose between these two foreign desserts: tiramisu (Italy) or flan (Spain)?

Neither, but if I had to choose it would be Tiramisu, but very light.

3. Ice cream: cone or cup?

Cup if it is a sundae (cookie dough with Reese's pieces, peanut butter sauce, hot fudge and crushed oreo), or a cone if it is straight ice cream (cookie dough or soft serve vanilla or twist).