Friday, May 31, 2013

Crowdtap Kia Optima Basketball Party

Disclaimer:  I received a giftcard and a mini basketball and hoop set complimentary through CrowdTap in order to review and share my opinions.  As always, my opinions are my own.
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How exciting to hear a few weeks ago that Crowdtap and Kia Motors wanted to include me, Glamamama on their team to spread the word about the 2013 Kia Optima!! I thought it would be fun to lace up and hit the court with some friends. I had my Kia Optima themed Basketball Party recently and I didn't forget all the yummy snacks and some grilled goodies either.  I told everyone it would be an exclusive opportunity from Crowdtap and Kia for all of us to unwind, watch our favorite basketball team on TV and have a bunch of fun together.  A few requirements though:  everyone had to wear their fave team jerseys, a silly mascot costume or a Kia-themed outfit. 
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Do you know about the 2013 Kia Optima?  What a great mid-size sedan.  It has a super luxe look and a refined interior.  The 2013 Optima even comes with a choice of three trims, LX, EX and SX...something for every budget. The Kia Optima has tons of convenience and luxury features like an AM/FM/CD/MP3/SAT audio system with SiriusXM Traffic™ Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service.   It also has auxiliary and USB audio input jacks, standard Bluetooth® wireless technology with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls, and Kia's  UVO powered by Microsoft® voice-activated info-tainment system.  Cute right?  You can choose from  3 powerful and fuel-efficient engines, a 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder , a 2.0-liter GDI turbo  or 2.4-liter Optima Hybrid that achieves up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway.  This super stylish and performance-oriented midsize sedan begins at MSRP $21,200  for 2013.  A really great car that I wanted to share with my friends while we had some fun.

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I got my hubby to fire up the grill and we had a fun BBQ with Optima Burgers, Optima Dogs and some great salads. I opened up some wines and cooled some beers. I made some brownie sundaes for desset...very easy.  Meanwhile we had some time to watch the game and play around with the Kia basketball and hoop set.  I set up a little O-P-T-I-M-A tourney for my guests.  The 6 of us faced off until only Liana was left.  She was pretty surprised but excited when she found out she won a $20 gift card! 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

The MoonWalk NYC: Support Breast Cancer & Power Walk at Night in Crazy Bras! #MoonWalkNYC


I participated in this campaign for One2One Network.  By posting, I am eligible for incentives.  As always, all opinions stated are my own. 
It's coming to the USA in a few weeks!  On the evening of July 20, 2013, Walk the Walk is coming to America.  The MoonWalk will be taking place in New York City to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.  Starting at 10 p.m. on July 20, 2013, thousands of women and men will power walk through New York City during the MoonWalk NYC wearing imaginative and crazy decorated bras to inspire and encourage others to get fit, have fun, and raise money for breast cancer charities in New York.  There are two courses to ensure that everyone
can participate no matter their fitness levels or abilities.: Half Moon (13.1 miles) and Full Moon (26.3 miles).
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The MoonWalk New York City is proudly presented by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.  The overnight walk through New York City will begin with a opening ceremony celebration for the participants on Randall’s Island. Walkers will then begin weaving through Manhattan past the city’s most iconic landmarks, all lit up brightly at night.  See the video below to get a better idea of the event.


MoonWalk has engaged over 300,000 participants since it’s inception fifteen years ago in London.  Can you believe it?  They have raised over $126 million dollars to support vital breast cancer causes.  MoonWalk is hoping to raise two million dollars in one night for the New York City event.  The majority of the funds will be granted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, to help support their Breast Examination Center in Harlem (BECH), one of the first free breast screening facilities. 
  
This is a great way to support breast cancer and have fun doing it.  A really great cause! You can learn more by going to the MoonWalk NYC site here and and learn how you can sign up and get involved.  Don't forget to share with friends.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Real Housewives of New Jersey #RHONJinsiders @BravoTV #RHONJ

Disclaimer:  I received a giftcard and and digital party materials complimentary through CrowdTap in order to review and share my opinions.  As always, my opinions are my own.
#RHONJinsiders  #RHONJ

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I was recently selected to host a premiere party for the upcoming season of ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey' SUNDAY, JUNE 2ND AT 8/7C ON BRAVO.  For my party I instructed everyone to dress up like a character from the show! All my guests had to wear something inspired by their favorite RHONJ family member.  Can you imagine how crazy we all looked?  There was A TON of makeup going on at my party this past Sunday.  Okay, so the guys didn't wear makeup but they looked hysterical.  Dan put in a ton of hair gel and wore a muscle shirt.  Gary and Jason looked totally the part as well. Lynn and Paola looked totally the parts in their outfits as well. Of course Glamamama fit in perfectly with a bright pink cocktail dress and lots of bright makeup.  Big hair of course.  Keep reading to hear more about our Housewives Party.
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So just to get you up to speed with the show, Season 5 welcomes back the entire cast as Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo and Kathy Wakile pick up right where last season’s crazy and fun reunion left off. This season they are absolutely on a mission for redemption, scrambling to pick up the pieces of their severely fractured relationships. Are you surprised?  It was sad to see the Housewives shifting through rubble after Superstorm Sandy leaves much of the Jersey Shore in ruins, including some of their beach houses.  It was just devastation down there and it was amazing how it sparked some changes.  

A sense of communal rebuilding from Superstorm Sandy encourages Teresa to rise above the past drama with her brother and sister-in-law, Melissa, and mend her family for good. Jacqueline struggles to cope with her son’s autism diagnosis while tensions from her fallout with Teresa push her towards her breaking point. As Caroline fights to improve her reputation and Melissa strives to break free from the weight of her husband Joe’s family drama, Kathy attempts to step out of her husband’s shadow to find her own voice and launch her career.  You can only imagine what is coming next! You will have to watch it to find out...I am not spoiling the fun. It was a great show and I think this will be an interesting season.


I made a few little recipes for my Housewives Premiere Party which I will share for everyone to enjoy compliments of Teresa! They are all from Teresa’s “Skinny Italian” cookbook.  They actually turned out well. Some of them you can see I added my own little touches.

TERESA’S GORGEOUS GARLIC SHRIMP
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 pounds of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
“Heat the oil and garlic together in a large skillet over med-high heat, stirring occasionally, until oil is hot & garlic is softened, about  1 to 2
minutes. “Add shrimp and season with the salt and pepper.” Continuously stir shrimp until it turns opaque (about four minutes). Sprinkle a little lemon juice, parsley and stir. T recommends serving over rice and steamed asparagus.




TERESA’S CHICKEN BRUSCHETTA
3 ripe plum (Roma) tomatoes, seeded & cut into 1/2-inch dice
1cup finely chopped onion
1 medium celery rib, cut into-inch dice
1/4cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the pan
2 garlic cloves, minced
teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1
pounds)
teaspoon salt
teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 450ºF. Lightly oil a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Combine the tomatoes, onion, celery,wine, parsley, oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Set aside while the oven is preheating,” Teresa instructs. Next, turn your culinary attention to the chicken. “One at a time, place a chicken breast half between 2 plastic storage bags. Using a flat meat pounder or a rolling pin, pound the chicken until it is 1/2 -inch thick. Season with the salt and black pepper.” Then simply distribute the tomato mixture evenly across the chicken breasts and bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 450 degrees.

BERRY-RICOTTA TIRAMISU
Follow this recipe for Teresa’s heart-healthy take on an Italian classic. Healthy dessert has never tasted this good! I made a larger one and adapted the recipe a little instead of doing individual ones...it came out really nicely.
3/4 cup low fat ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons 1 percent milk
3 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar, divided
1/4 up cold brewed French or Italian roast coffee
1 tablespoon dark or golden rum
8 savoiardi (dry ladyfingers) crushed into crumbs in a plastic
bag with a rolling pin
2//3 cup fresh raspberries, or about half of a 6-ounce container
1/2 ounce, or 1/2 square, semisweet chocolate
Set aside four 4-ounce parfait glasses (try a cocktail glass or custard cup), and then “mash the ricotta, milk and 2 tablespoons of confectioner’s sugar together in a small bowl with a rubber spatula until the mixture is smooth. Mix the coffee, rum, and remaining tablespoon confectioner’s sugar together in another small bowl.” In each glass or cup, “put the equivalent of one cookie, or about 2 tablespoons of crumbs, in the bottom of a parfait glass,” the New York Times Best Seller instructs. “Sprinkle with a scant 2 teaspoons of the coffee mixture. Top with a scant 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture. Repeat with
the cookie crumbs, coffee mixture, and ricotta mixture.”


We played a fun game based on all the one-liners and zingers the ladies threw out to one another from last season.  I challenged my guests to match the Housewife to the quote:


1) “Oh my god! Freakin’ Hekyll and Jyde!”
2)“I love everything about the Shore -- ripped bodies, coconuts. That just does it for me.”
3)“Maybe I’m just being a bitch... I’m going through menopause.”
4)“I wasted a good night that I could have been with my children at this trash party.”
5)“I lost a best friend tonight.

Paola was the big winner, she got 4/5 of them right.  Lynn was a close second....she got three right!  We had some fun with the game and everyone was laughing.

You can follow more of The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Facebook and on Twitter. Let me know what you think about the latest episode.  Season 5 Episode 1 is here.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Magazine Subscription to Sound & Vision FREE!

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I have been getting free magazine subscriptions through Mercury Magazines for so long now. Different titles come up from time to time and I wanted to share a recent one:  Sound & Vision Magazine free-totally free one year subscription too.  If you are into all the newest high tech stuff out there Sound & Vision magazine is for you.  Here is the link!