All Good Things Have to End... even when they are my favorite things

If you have been participating in my birthday giveaway the last couple of weeks I really want to thank you. If you have won something then yay! I'm so very glad. (if you're a winner and you haven't done so then please send me your name, address, email address and phone number for shipping).

If you have played and have not won then I really truly am so sorry. That is the one thing I really hate about doing a giveaway - that not everyone can win. There are some of you that I really wanted to win but didn't (as of yet). That's not saying, of course, that I'm not happy for those that did win! I just really wish that everyone could win.

I did say that there would be 13 giveaways since the number 13 has been a favorite number with my kiddos and myself. It was always their number when they played sports. Well today is number 13. Yep. The end.

Merriam-Webster defines Smorgasbord as a large mixture of many different things. That's what this giveaway is. A mixture of many different things.

How many of you remember those grab bags you used to be able to get when you were a child? You'd pay an amount - when I was really young I could grab one for 25 cents, then 50 cents and then I remember them getting up to a dollar. Anyway, you would pay the price written on the brown paper bag that was stapled shut. You never knew what you were going to get but that was part of the fun. The mystery. The suspense. The hope.

Oh what fun it was to rip open that bag and dump the contents out. Candy bar? Hard Candy? Bounce ball? Bubble gum? The fun was the unknown.

Well, this giveaway is a Smorgasbord Grab Box. :-) The winner of this giveaway will receive a box with various items. Samples that I have collected from events and well... just whatever else I may feel like throwing in there.

Since this is the last giveaway and my Momma taught us manners I wanted to be sure that we thanked those that helped make this possible. Appreciation is always a nice sentiment. :)

You all know the drill by now. Just use the rafflecopter entry form below and be sure to get the extra entries allowed!

Good luck everyone and thank you so very much for playing along.

xoxo
Toni


a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Few of My Favorite Things 2014 Birthday Giveaway #12 is really Clickin'

Did you all think that I forgot all about blogging about the last two giveaways? Nope. I said that there would be 13 and there will be. :)

Sometimes life gets in the way of plans though so I am running a bit behind.

Now if you know me and you know that I am blogging about my favorite things then you just had to know that I would eventually get to this product.

For months and months I tried so many protein drinks with the same results. Blech. Didn't matter what I did to them, all the hints I was given about adding this or adding that, I had the same results. Blech.

Until the wonderful day that I tried Click. Well okay, not the first try to be honest. The first try was Click Mocha and I tried it cold. I didn't care for it that much but it wasn't blech so there was hope. With the thought in my mind that that I didn't immediately want to scrape my tongue after tasting it, I knew that there was hope.

I was given some great advice when I was told to try to mix one scoop of Click with one scoop of unflavored protein powder. So off to experiment I went. Now for the last 3 years I have been drinking and enjoying the same protein drink made exactly the same way. One scoop Click Vanilla Latte, one scoop Any Whey Unflavored protein powder added to 12-14 ounces of water in a shaker cup. Shake, pour into a mug and then nuke for about a minute and a half. Add one Splenda and a splash of SF French Vanilla then drink in the pure yummiliciousness of the best hot protein drink that I have ever had. :)

I drink between 1-3 cups a day. I really love that stuff.

I think it may be psychological but when I'm stressed or upset I immediately make myself a cup and it relaxes me. ;)

What about you? Are you  a Click'er as well? Want a chance to win some of that awesome yumminess yourself?


a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you've missed the giveaways so far let me explain what I'm doing.

I have been blessed in so many aspects of my life so instead of receiving gifts for my birthday I wanted to share some of my favorite things with you, hoping that you may feel a bit of that blessing.

I did this last year and had a blast. It turned out that I actually did receive something. Giving to someone else and seeing or hearing their excitement is such a wonderful feeling. My blessings just continue. :)

Be sure to enter for a chance to win. The giveaways are awesome because, well, because they are some of my very favorite things! There will be a total of 13 of them because 13 was the number my children always had in sports they played so it became a family lucky number. Hope it ends up being yours as well! 

A Few of My Favorite Things 2014 Birthday Giveaway

This is the 11th giveaway!! Can you believe that? 11!

I'll go ahead and let you know now, 13 is our lucky number so I've decided that there will be a total of 13 giveaways. :)

I know most people don't like that number but it was my sons number when at the age of 5 he played micro-soccer. My daughter at the time was playing softball so she asked for the same number. It then became a thing with all the sports that they played. They always both requested number 13. So that became the lucky number for our family. Who knows - maybe it'll be YOUR lucky number. :)

For number 11 though we are going to hop back to vitamins. Because really when it all comes down to it you all know that vitamins are so important to all of us. Especially for anyone that has altered guts.

Although over the counter grown up vitamins can work just fine I always feel just a bit more secure if I take a vitamin that is specially formulated for bariatric patients. That is just my personal opinion of course. However please do notice that I did say grown up vitamins. Because if you are taking children vitamins and you are an adult with altered guts...really?? Again, my opinion but with this one I'm backed up with the research done by ASMBS - American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. I use their guidelines for the RDA of vitamins that I should have. I recommend that everyone do the same. After all, it's all about your health.

This leads right in to giveaway #11 -- courtesy of Bariatric Advantage! Yay!!

Want to win a bag of Caramel Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites? Yes? Well how about a bag of Caramel Calcium Chewy Bites AND one other item? What's the other item you may be wondering? Well the winner will get to pick the other item from three choices. That way the winner will be able to pick what they will gain the most benefit from.

So get to it. Come on y'all... this is the 11th giveaway, I'm sure I don't need to tell you what to do any longer. Follow the directions below and good luck to each of you!





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo... Watch out for that Big Train pulling in to join the Birthday Giveaways!!

You know, this has been fun. Having the opportunity to give away a few of my favorite things.

I'm going to be sad when it all ends. But you know it does have to end sometime, right? I figure that since my birthday was Monday the 27th then the perfect time to wrap all of this up will be the end of this month. So. Today and tomorrow. Keep an eye out for the final giveaways.

Right now though? Well right now someone that enters will be lucky enough to win a bottle of DaVinci Gourmet Sugar Free (Zero Calorie) syrup, Fit Frappe and a Fit Frappe blender bottle to mix it all up in!

Oh yumminess. Just think of the delicious drinks you can make. A special treat just for you!









Big Train carries so very many products that are awesome. Not just the protein powders, but mixes for low carb cookies, pancakes, real fruit smoothies and oh so much more!! Be sure to check out their Facebook page - they are always offering contests to win free products as well as sharing great recipes and hints.

Matter of fact, go ahead and enter my giveaway to get started. :) Just do the below - and be sure to use the extra entries for additional chances to win!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone!!

Part 9!! Yep, "A Few of My Favorite Things" is STILL continuing!

perky 

adjective \ˈpər-kē\  lively in manner or appearance

That is the definition of perky as found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. 

perky as defined by me ;)

Tender, moist, natural, preservative free, flavorful, soft, yummy and best of all? Healthy!! Woo hoo! Total winner by my definition!

Of course I'm referring to the best jerky I've found yet. Perky Jerky.

Oh my goodness. I tasted the beef first and thought it was really good. Then, well then, I tasted the turkey and my mouth was having a party. Love that stuff. When I found out that my local Walmart had some I rushed over and stocked right up.

Okay, in full disclosure I didn't rush right over but I did stock up when I next went.

Perky Jerky is the perfect food to toss in your drawer at work, your purse, your car, your well... your anything so that you will have access to it next time you have the urge to munch on something.

The wonderful people at the world of Perky Jerky have graciously given me 4 bags (one of each flavor) for my birthday giveaways. It makes sense, of course, since this IS a birthday giveaway of my favorite things. :)

Wanna have a chance to win? Wanna have more than one entry? Y'all should know by now on what to do but just in case - all you have to do is follow the directions on the rafflecopter entry below. 

I wish you all much luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Few of My Favorite Things 2014 - Part 8!!

Remember Shari Lewis and Lambchops? Oy. Probably most of you are to young to know what I'm talking about. lol

Anyway, there's a song that Lampchops sings "This is the song that never ends" - Google it, you'll be glad you did. Really. It won't be an earworm for you. ;)

My point is that I kind of feel like this Unbirthday Favorite Things giveaway is never going to end. I started it with the intention of Monday the 27th (my birthday) to be the last drawing. But a funny thing happened on the way to the 27th... more opportunities for more giveaways came in. Yay. Can never say no for a chance to share something with you all!

There will be a couple today. The first one is a sweet deal. Sweet as Candi. Nope. I didn't spell that wrong. Because you see, the next giveaway is from...

Yay!! Candi Sweetenough is offering any one of her designed necklaces from her site as a giveaway.

I spent a little bit of time looking through her album and thinking I want this and this and this. Oh yeah. And I want that. :)

However, that decision is one that the winner of this giveaway will have to make. Can't wait to see what you chose!

Do the following below and to receive extra entries:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things Birthday Giveaway 2014 - Part 7

Squeeee!! 

Okay, you all know that I'm really big on vitamins right? There are so many vitamin companies that I love but I have to admit to having a special place in my heart (mouth?) for my very favorite calcium bites. 

Chocolate? Lemon? Lemon? Chocolate? Decisions, decisions. Both are so very awesome and like a mini dessert when it hits my taste buds. :)

Most of you also know that I'm a huge supporter of getting the proper labs and paying attention to them.

Hopefully you know what I say about your labs in regards to your calcium level. Your blood work can still show that your calcium level is fine, even when it's not. Think of it like a bank. You have a supply of calcium in your bones and teeth so when you need a "withdrawal" and you haven't "deposited" then that's where the calcium will be coming from. Which is why your blood levels may show that everything is okay. But what happens when you have "withdrawn" calcium from your bones and teeth? Not good.

My lab work has always shown that my calcium levels are good. Then I had a bone density scan (DXA) and to my surprise I have osteopenia (low bone density) although as I said, my calcium levels are good when viewed only through my blood work.

My plan to turn this diagnosis around include weight bearing exercises and an increase in my calcium citrate and vitamin D3. 

The weight bearing exercises? Well, being honest here I haven't really done what I need to do with that but my birthday resolutions include changing that. However, the extra calcium citrate and D3? Well... that almost feels like a reward. :) 

Why? This is why

Oh my goodness! Have you had these yet? Yummy deliciousness in my mouth!

Now comes the fun part. Want a chance to win some of this scrumdiddlyumptious calcium for yourself? 

Just enter below - and don't forget to do the items that will give you extra entries. Creamy bites are worth it!! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you've missed the giveaways so far let me explain what I'm doing.

I have been blessed in so many aspects of my life so instead of receiving gifts for my birthday I wanted to share some of my favorite things with you, hoping that you may feel a bit of that blessing.

I did this last year and had a blast. It turned out that I actually did receive something. Giving to someone else and seeing or hearing their excitement is such a wonderful feeling. My blessings just continue. :)

Be sure to enter for a chance to win. The giveaways are awesome because, well, because they are some of my very favorite things! 

Good luck!

A Few of My Favorite Things Birthday giveaway 2014 - Part 6!

Protein shakes.

Are you cursing them or loving the pure yumminess?

There are so many reasons for drinking protein shakes. There are some people that have to drink protein drinks due to medical issues, such as altered guts, in order to keep up with their protein levels. Then there are those that drink protein shakes for meal replacements, post workouts, weight loss - whatever the reason a lot of people run into the same quandary. Taste.

How to make those powdered protein scoops turn in to something that you love? I know just where to steer you for the answers! Whether you like your protein shakes thick, creamy, smooth, chunky, sweet or savory, or don't even know what you like yet because you haven't been able to find it, then you need to turn to the book that will help you find the perfect protein shake for you.

. 

Wait! You might be thinking I don't need this book. I didn't have weight loss surgery. But if you ever drink protein shakes you DO need this book (in my humble opinion). Who better to help guide you to discovering the best protein shake for you than someone who has had to drink uncountable protein shakes and has learned (and encourages others) to play with their food in order to make it healthier for you?

In my little world I see her as the expert on protein shakes. I don't think I'm alone on that opinion. I just looked at the reviews on Amazon and out of 114 reviews 108 of them are 5 star!! 

The first part of the book starts with a quiz to help you determine what kind of protein drink you would like best. From there it just gets better as you read recipes and learn tricks like the Triple X method. 

So for giveaway #6 - one winner will receive a copy (your choice of paperback or kindle version) of Nikki's Guide to the Perfect Protein Shake! Lucky you!! 

UPDATE: BARIATRIC FOODIE HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THERE TO NOW BE THREE WINNERS!!! 

To enter just do the following:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

A Few of My Favorite Things Birthday Giveaway 2014 - Part 5

Do you sometimes catch yourself out running around doing errands and then the hunger strikes?

Lots of choices out there, huh? You can swing through any fast food place and grab something - although I hesitate to do that for numerous reasons. One, the smell of old grease just really hits me after avoiding fast food for so long. It stinks. Two, spending the money. Three, the calories and fat choices and four, just not knowing for sure what is in that food I'd be putting in my mouth. blech.

Of course, to be honest, that doesn't completely stop me. When hunger hits if I don't have something to help curb it then I will end up falling for a fast food choice.

One way to combat that? Carry something with you that will help you avoid that fast food fail.

How about apple pie, cinnamon roll, chocolate brownie, strawberry cheesecake, or chocolate chip cookie dough?

Rubbing your head and wondering just how the heck these are better choices? Here's how -

Want to win a sample box of 15 different Quest Protein bars? Well, all you have to do is enter below for a chance to win. Want extra entries? Just do the additional options with rafflecopter and come back daily until the drawing.

Oh wait! Did I mention that there will be TWO winners for this? Yep. Quest has offered to giveaway two boxes with 15 different protein bars! Woo hoo!!

Enter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Few of My Favorite Things Birthday Giveaway - Part 4 - Wellesse puts the "well" in, well possibly YOU :)

Continuing on with the theme of A Few of My Favorite Things Birthday giveaway. If you've missed it so far let me explain what I'm doing.

I have been blessed in so many aspects of my life so instead of receiving gifts I wanted to share some of my favorite things with you, hoping that you may feel a bit of that blessing.

I did this last year and had a blast. It turned out that I actually did receive something. Giving to someone else and seeing or hearing their excitement is such a wonderful feeling. My blessings just continue. :)

I call it A Few of My Favorite Things because, well, because I'm sharing some of my favorite things and because every time I see the title I start singing A Few of My Favorite Things from Sound of Music. One of my favorite movies.

So how does this work? I will post different giveaways until Sunday the 26th. You can enter daily, giving you even more chances. The winners will all be drawn via rafflecopter on my birthday, Monday the 27th.

Now that we've covered that, let's get on to one of my favorite things - VITAMINS! :) Not just vitamins but vitamins from one of my favorite companies. It's wonderful when you find a business that has a heart. I happen to know from personal experience that Wellesse is one of those companies. They do a lot to support the wls community, some of it behind the scenes.

This is a vitamin line for anyone. They are fast absorbing liquid vitamins that are sugar free and gluten free. They are also easily accessible - sold at many retail stores. Be sure to read more about them on their website. There you can find things like coupons, locations near you where they are sold, their product line and all the medical info you would need. I can just tell you my personal opinion about them as I'm not in the medical field, but if you have any questions you can find your answers through their Facebook page or web site.

Oh and the prize that you can enter for a chance to win? $100 worth of Wellesse vitamins!! Now that is an awesome prize!

If I could play and win I think I'd load my Momma and Mother-in-law up with their Joint Movement Glucosamine. :) Hmmm, come to think of it that would probably come in handy for both John and I as well. I sometimes forget that we are now the age that I thought was very old when I was a pre-teen. Of course now that I've reached it I do believe that 50's are the new 30's. And if I keep saying that enough maybe my body will hear and act accordingly. lol

Okay, so what do you have to do to have a chance to win? Just follow the directions on the steps listed below on the rafflecopter entry form. You can have more than one entry and you can enter every day until the giveaway is over!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!