Cook'n Recipe Organizer Review and Giveaway 1/27 WW

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Because my mom loved to cook, she attended culinary classes before. Back then, tablets and readers weren't available yet. She has this high pile of printed recipes on paper from her culinary classes. She also have recipes from my grandmothers and she wrote it in pieces of paper.

I sometimes ask her if I can borrow her recipes and she would tell me to find it in her "recipe collection". Sometimes, I would spend almost an hour trying to find the recipe I wanted! LOL. And sometimes, because her recipes are from way, way back, most of them are over 20 years old already!, the printed recipes would be torn on one side or the words have faded out a little bit already.

I tried copying her recipes and typing it on the PC but it took a lot of time to type all the ingredients and directions letter by letter.

I found the perfect solution to my mom's recipes! The Cook'n Recipe Organizer. I can just scan her printed recipes on the scanner and then I can just import it on the Cook'n Recipe Organizer. I don't have to type all the ingredients and directions manually anymore. With just 1 click after scanning, the recipes would be copied to the Cook'n Recipe Organizer and it automatically translates it to text.

I also found out that I can get recipes from Pinterest with just 1 click of a button! Yes it's that easy. I tried copying a whole Pinterest board with 95 recipes on it and some of the recipes were left blank. I only saw the name of the recipe but the ingredients and directions were left blank. So I have to advise that it's better to copy the recipe one by one on Pinterest instead of copying a whole Pinterest board.

I also love that if I wanted to add more servings to make, I just enter the number of people or servings I need and the Cook'n Recipe Organizer automatically computes the amount of each ingredient I need. Now, I don't need to do the math mentally if I wanted to double or triple my recipe.

It took me about 5 minutes to get used to these options of the Cook'n Recipe Organizer and I am still discovering new ways on how I can organize my recipes using this software.

Here are some other things you can do with the Cook'n Recipe Organizer:
• Easily Enter your Personal Recipes
• Get Ideas for What to Make for Dinner
• See a Visual Menu Planner
• Auto-Generate Shopping Lists
• Capture Recipes From Favorite Websites
• Calculate Nutrition of Your Recipes
• Capture & Sync Pinterest Recipes
• Scan Printed Recipes
• Discover New Recipes w/Live Feed
• Print Themed Recipes - Demo
• Use Snip-It to Capture Blog Recipes
• Import recipes from Word - Demo
• Share Recipes with Social Media
• and much more!

Visit the Cook'n Recipe Organizer on Facebook and Pinterest.

You can also visit the Cook'n Recipe Organizer site and watch video tutorials on how to use the Cook'n Recipe Organizer here.

Now onto the giveaway! DVO Enterprises has generously offered a giveaway of a download copy of their Cook'n Recipe Organizer ($80 value) to one of my readers! Please enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win a copy!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLAIMER: 1 Winner will receive (1) Digital Download copy of the Cook'n Recipe Organizer ($80 value). My giveaway would start January 19, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST and will end January 27, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST. This will be open to US residents only. The prize cannot be shipped to a P.O. box address. Winner/s will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. I am not responsible for prize fulfillment. My role is to give the sponsor the information of the winner and they will directly ship the prize to the winner.  I am a member of Tomoson and have received a free copy of the Cook'n Recipe Organizer software to try and review. All opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received.  I do not share or sell information and all information shared with me will solely be used for prize shipment. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong Tissue Paper Review

If budget is not an issue for us, I would always buy the Quilted Northern Ultra Soft and Strong tissue paper. I've tried other tissue papers but for me, nothing compares to Quilted Northern. Softness is the first thing I look for in a tissue paper and among all the tissue paper brands I've tried, Quilted Northern would be the softest for me. It's also strong and thick.

I was super excited because as a member of Smiley 360, I was one of the members chosen to receive 2 free product coupons for a free Quilted Northern Ultra Soft and Strong Tissue Paper, some mints, hand sanitizers and some $2 off coupons. I've used Quilted Northern before and this would be my favorite brand among all the tissues.

The Quilted Northern is definitely thicker than the brand I'm using now considering they're both 2-ply rolls but because of our budget, I couldn't always buy the Quilted Northern. The price difference is too big for me to choose the Quilted Northern tissue paper considering the fact and reality that we just flush it down the toilet. If I see it on sale (which is not quite often), that's the time I pick some up and stock up.

Because we're on a budget, I pick the softest and thickest tissue paper within our budget. I may not always buy the Quilted Northern Ultra Soft and Strong Tissue Paper because of the price but I am definitely hands down on its quality.

You can also sign-up to become a Smiley360 member and receive free products to try. Sign-up here to try it. It's free! :)

DISCLAIMER:  I am a member of Smiley360 and have received a complimentary free Quilted Northern tissue paper to try and review however, all opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

My daughters sang what?!

Whenever we ride the car, I would turn on the radio and listen to music. Sometimes, the lyrics and/or words of the song might be similar to another word so it's not uncommon when I hear my daughters singing to the song but with the wrong lyrics.


Here are some of the songs they sing but with the wrong lyrics:

1. Song: Secrets
    Artist: One Republic
    Supposed to be: I'm gonna give all my secrets away
    My 5 year old daughter: I'm gonna give all my sisters away

2. Song: Holy Grail
    Artist: Jay-Z
    Supposed to be: Holy Grail!
    My 5 year old daughter: Holy Gram!

3. Song: Just Give Me a Reason
    Artist: Pink
    Supposed to be: Right from the start, you were a thief
    My 5 year old daughter: Ready from the start, you were a thief


I will update and add on to this post if I hear them singing songs with the wrong lyrics. :)

Purex The New Year, New You Sweepstakes 1/31 US

 

Is losing weight and staying fit one of your resolutions this New Year? Then you should enter the Purex New Year, New You Sweepstakes where you can win a Fitness Tracker + A Year's Supply of Purex Crystals! What are you waiting for? Click the link below!

Purex New Year, New You Sweepstakes

Don't forget you can enter daily! :)

Here is something about the Sweepstakes from Purex:

The Sweepstakes

Stay fit & fresh this year with help from Purex. Enter to WIN a Basis Fitness Tracker & a year’s supply of Purex Crystals! Purex Crystals do not interfere with moisture wicking fabrics, they work great for all your sportswear! Let Purex help you stick to your resolution this year, enter below for your chance to WIN!

Please read their complete Terms and Conditions


Disclosure: I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Today, I'm REALLY starting my resolution to lose weight

You know when every New Year's Eve you make a resolution, do it a couple of weeks and then forget about it? That's exactly what I've been through for 3 years now.

I was 135 lbs when I got pregnant with my 2nd daughter. I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight after 3 months because I breastfed her exclusively. I kept putting off exercising because I kept telling myself to let my C-Section scar heal first. That was 2011.

2012, I made a resolution that I'll start exercising because my C-Section scar has healed. I was at 135 lbs. and I wanted to lose about 10 more lbs at least. I started doing the Hip Hop Abs workout for about a month and my weight dropped to 132 lbs. After a month, I stopped doing Hip Hop Abs.

2013, I made another resolution that I'll REALLY start exercising. I gradually gained weight throughout 2012 but I evaded the weighing scale and even if I KNOW and FEEL that I've gained weight, I didn't step on the scale until the end of December 2012. I weighed 140 lbs then. I failed my resolution again.

2014, Now I am making another resolution. That I'll really stick to my Hip Hop Abs workout. I am currently at 144.6 lbs. For 3 years I've been making the resolution to lose weight and this year, I plan to reach my goal.

I will try hard to cut down the food (sweets and chips) and drinks (Starbucks and Soda) I love little by little.

I am writing this so that everyone can see my journey to reach my goal and to get support from my readers and to other people as well.

I am writing this so I have a reminder not to slack off and discontinue my resolution.

I am writing this for myself.
 

Here are photos of me on my 1st week to losing weight. I am 5'2" and currently weigh 144.6 lbs. I will write a post every Monday to update you on my weight loss journey.

Do you have any New Year's Eve Resolution? Share yours too. :)

Enter the Purex Get A Clean Start Swepstakes and you can #win a $1000 Shopping Spree from Purex! 1/31 US

How about winning a $1000 Shopping Spree from Purex? How about a year's supply of Purex detergent? Sounds nice? You can win both but you'll have to enter here for a chance to win! You can also enter daily to gain more entries! :) Hurry because this is only until January 31, 2014!

Here's more information about the sweepstakes:

Let Purex start your new year off in style! We’ll take care of your new wardrobe and detergent needs for all of 2014. Enter to WIN $1,000 towards a new wardrobe and a year’s supply of Purex detergent!

 This sweepstakes is for U.S. Residents 18 and older only.

Click the link below to enter!

Purex Get A Clean Start Sweepstakes

Please read their complete Terms and Conditions


Disclosure: I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Gallstones while pregnant and Gallbladder removal at 20?!

My 1st pregnancy with my daughter who is 5 years old now was a very complicated one. I was 20 then but until now, I can still remember the pain I've gone through with my 1st pregnancy.

My 1st trimester was very hard for me because every night, I would have super painful cramps in my abdomen. This happened every single night. It would last until about 5 in the morning and for the whole day I'll be fine. I will have to tell this story in another post since it's a pretty long one.

The abdominal cramps gradually decreased and on my 3rd month of pregnancy, the pain finally subsided. IT STOPPED. Just like that.

I started eating and before I know it, I am "naglilihi" (a word in Tagalog which means craving for a specific food while you're pregnant). Do you know what that specific food is? BACON. Oh yes. Sweet, sweet bacon. I craved for bacon and satisfied my cravings because if I didn't I felt bad for myself.

5th month into my 1st pregnancy with hubby

In the beginning of my 3rd trimester, I started having stomach aches. I thought my "gastritis" was acting up again (I've had it since I was in highschool). I drank Maalox and then I noticed that sometimes it worked and a lot of times it didn't. After a week, I would throw up everything I ate. When there's nothing more to throw up, I would throw up green-colored liquid. Sometimes the pain subsided but a lot of times it was there. We went to my doctor and she referred us to her husband who is a GI specialist. That's when he told me I have gallstones and one of them was impacted on my common bile duct. That's causing my pain. I was like WHAT?! I can't believe it. They can't remove it since I was in my early third trimester already. If I was diagnosed when I was in my second trimester, they could've removed it.

I was admitted for 2 days and given a Demerol shot round the clock for the pain. I craved for the shot of Demerol. The shot brought me pure bliss. No pain. I felt guilty. Like an addict I waited for the Demerol shot. I was worried for my baby on what the effect for her will be but it's just so painful.

I got admitted 2x during my 3rd trimester due to the pain and on the 3rd time, the doctor decided to place a tube on my gallbladder to drain out the bile. I came out of the hospital with a big tummy and a tube hanging down my stomach. A disposable latex rubber glove was attached to the outside tube to hold out the bile drainage (he improvised a bit and told me to use the gloves for the bile).

The pain from the impacted gallbladder was gone but the tube felt uncomfortable for the first few days. It sometimes hurt specially when I lean a bit on my right (that's where the tube is) but my muscles seem to adjust a few days after.

I've had to change the gloves about 6 times a day! I can't believe my gallbladder produces THAT MUCH bile in a day! The bile is dark green, a bit slimy and has a bit of a slimy smell. I've learned to live with the tube and the gloves for about 3 weeks. After about 3 weeks, the bile just stopped coming out. I found out that it got dislocated. So the doctor went ahead and pulled the tube out. Don't worry it didn't hurt a bit. :)

My due date is coming out so my doctor (the OB-GYNE one) went ahead and scheduled my C-Section. I gave birth to my daughter on July 28, 2008. I was so happy and thankful for such a beautiful little girl. :)

My gallbladder removal or "cholecystectomy" in medical terms was scheduled in a month. I was too afraid to have an impacted gallbladder again and feel the pain that I ate like a bird. I ate so little food that after a month, I weigh less than my pre-pregnancy weight. I know it's not healthy but my fear of the pain is greater than my desire to eat. That's how painful it is.

A month after I gave birth to my daughter. A few days before my supposed to be laparoscopy surgery turned to laparotomy surgery.

On the day of my gallbladder removal, my doctor said that it's only going to be a simple laparoscopy surgery. That means I can go home the next day because he'll only cut 3 small incisions on my stomach. When I woke up from the general anesthesia, I panicked because I felt pain. IT HURTS. I soon learned that the doctor had to do a traditional laparotomy surgery because he couldn't get 1 gallstone out. It had lodged in my common bile duct and he had to cut me open to get it. I had to stay in the hospital for 3 days and again, I went out of the hospital with a second tube in my stomach. Just to make sure everything is alright. The doctor removed 7 gallstones in total. After 3 days, I went back to the doctor and he removed the tube.

I wish I could have taken pictures when I had the tube but it was too painful and gross to see that I didn't do it. I am thankful for my supportive husband who was there for me through my worst pains and for my mom who helped me a lot too.

I call my gallbladder-related scars my "battle scars" and they are a reminder to me that I should be conscious of my health because no matter how young or healthy I am, anything can happen.

 

 

My 1st tube scar when I was pregnant

My laparotomy surgery scar (the line) and the scar from my 2nd tube (scar below)

I am now gallbladder-free and had my 2nd daughter almost 3 years ago. I had gained weight since then but I will never forget my 1st pregnancy. I am very thankful for my daughter and how everything turned out to be alright. All the pain I went through is very worth it when I see her smile and laugh.