Category Archives: Giveaway

My First Massage – and One for You!

Unfortunately my host is under a bot attack that is targeting WordPress sites, so the blog has been down off and on since yesterday afternoon. I hope it gets resolved soon! In case you missed yesterday’s post about a paella cooking class I attended at my favorite restaurant for events, Barcelona in West Hartford, be sure to do so to learn about paella, pick up some cooking tips, and check out photos of both commonly and unusually delicious foods!

Despite my self-proclaimed addiction to daily deal sites, where  discounted massages are available on the reg, I have never had a massage! That is until I was contacted by Randi Plake, on behalf of Kellie Dunne and Brilliant Options Wellness in Plantsville, CT. Kellie is a Licensed Massage Therapist, as well as a Certified Health Coach and Occupational Therapist.

The radiant Kellie! (Source)

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It’s Only Natural Vegetarian Restaurant Giveaway!

A huge thanks to all my supports who helped my blog’s FB page hit – and surpass – the 600 like milestone yesterday! My next milestone goal is 4,000 followers on Twitter and I am currently at 3,917 – so close! So if you’d like to throw a follow (or 83) my way, I wouldn’t object ;-) I’m so thankful for all of those that continue to support me!

I’ve been to It’s Only Natural – a popular vegetarian restaurant in downtown Middletown, CT – many times. My area does not have many vegetarian/vegan restaurants, so every meal there feels special. The food is always unique and fresh.

My last visit was unfortunately, while delicious, also slow and sullen thanks to a waitress who was overstaffed but also making no effort to apologize for the speed of service or make customers feel welcome. I was there with Kaitlin, who elaborated on that negative part of our visit on her blog.

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Fashion Friday: HealthyChic Giveaway!

Happy Fashion Friday (but more importantly Happy Friday) to you all! I did not do this post last week in light of the manhunt going on in Boston. I felt inappropriate blogging given the fact that all eyes that day were turned to other more important media sources on the Internet. Of course this post could wait a week, and it has, and now here it is! I’ll stop rambling and cut to the chase.

What’s HealthyChic?

Marni of HealthyChic contacted me awhile back to introduce me to the website, which I would call RueLaLa for fitness! Some websites claim to offer deals from premium brands – and then customers never see those premium brands come around. But I myself have seen Lululemon and Lucy activewear offered on HealthyChic, at QUITE the discount. Alas, I saw too late and my favorite pieces already were sold out in my size. But HealthyChic doesn’t just offer active wear – I died over these adorable Yummy Yogi cookie cutters!

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Judging Crazy Concoctions at CHS Cookoff

I can’t wait to attend Taste of the Nation Hartford tonight with my blends Kaitlin & Kelly! You can still get tickets at the door – general admission is $75, but I’ve been to this event before and it is WORTH IT. Best food tasting event I’ve ever experienced!

I’m so excited to share my experience judging the Connecticut Historical Society‘s first Community Cookoff! Held last Friday from 5:30-7:30pm (nice and early!), the event attracted a good crowd and had the work day craaaaawling by as I anxiously waited for the clock to hit 5 so I could hit the road for Hartford.

I wore my latest splurge – a Lilly Pulitzer top that I got on sale in FL – for such an important event! Little did I know Lilly herself would pass away in a couple of days.

I walked into CHS and was greeted by the smiling, excited faces of Jenny Steadman and Ed Main. They are the ones who came up with this idea, included me, and even planned the event’s timing around my vacation schedule. I couldn’t have felt any more special thanks to them!

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Wordless Wednesday: Las Vetas Lounge

First thing’s first…thanks to all who entered the giveaway for a free Lendperk dress rental! The winning comment was from Stephanie!

lendperkwinner

Congrats and I will contact you about getting your dress rental. For those who did not win, remember you can sign up for Lendperk for just $20/month and get a 9 day trial period during which you can cancel your subscription – no penalty!

Okay, I just started a Wordless Wednesday post with a whole bunch of words. But now I’ll stay true to my title’s words, because recent developments at work have led to me being busier than ever, and online classes mean my free time is more studious than blog-ious. I’ve been dying to share the pics I took of the charming interior (sadly, the employees were less charming) of Las Vetas Lounge in Fairfield, CT. Kaitlin brought me there when I went to visit her, and she hit the nose on the head – I fell in love with the decor. This place seemed like a cafe out of Gilmore Girls! Enjoy the photos!

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Marvelous Podcasting!

Thanks to all who entered my giveaway for two tickets to see Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) this Thursday 3/28 (7:30PM) at The Bushnell! If you didn’t win and still want to go, tickets are still available and start at $34.75. Congrats to Robin! I will be contacting you about receiving your prize.

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OK guys, I’ve been MIA. I know. But I have two MARVELOUS excuses. First: birthday (which was this past Friday 3/22). Second: vacation (which started on my birthday and shall extend until this coming Saturday). I went to North Carolina for a wedding and am now at our condo in Florida, typing this at lightening speed so I can get the heck outside and…do HW. Hey, at least I’ll be outside!

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Barefoot Contessa at the Bushnell: Giveaway!

I’m gearing up to leave for vacation this Friday (a week off work, what a perfect birthday present!) so work has been CRAZY. School too. Therefore I’m keeping it light again on the blog today and just popping in to do a giveaway!

Living just outside of Hartford gives me easy access to The Bushnell Center for Performing Arts, where fantastic musicals, plays, panels, and more are held year-round. The Bushnell seriously offers something for everyone! I’ve seen Wicked there twice, and took my Nana Connie to see The Addams Family Musical in 2011. You may recall that I attended the CT Forum’s Vision & Brilliance panel in December as well. I’ve sat on the floor and in the balcony, and I’m serious – every seat is a good seat. After all, the theater was designed so that every single patron could sit back and enjoy the arts, and that involves actually being able to SEE them!

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Judgment Day is April 5 at CT Cookoff!

Ah, the moment I know many of you have been waiting for…the giveaway winner of the Albion Go Long Crew tee! I wore mine again last night to Group Power!

Hot pink, ball out.

Thank you for your enthusiastic, thumbhole-lovin participation. The winner (chosen by random.org) is…

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Fitness Fashion Friday: Albion Giveaway!

My dear blend (and in-person friend!) Rachel of Healthy Chicks featured me as the 7th Healthy Chick in the Community on her blog’s series. I just adore the title she picked for the post too..be sure to check it out! Thanks for featuring me Rachel! This girl is a beautiful friend both inside and out :)

First I want to give myself a high five on High Five Friday for having a guest post published today on the second healthy living blog I EVER found several years ago…MizFit Online! Carla wrote a cool post yesterday about why she DOESN’T consider herself a foodie, and I am following up with a “rebuttal” of sorts – though not really because I love all my friends, foodie or not! If you’d told me when I first found Carla’s blog that I’d one day have a post published on it (and meet her, which I did at the Fitness Meet & Tweet), I’d have laughed at you. But here I am, published on her amazing blog, and already getting some great feedback on the post! Thanks to my #fishfriend Meg for inspiring me to give myself props every day – not just Friday!

Now, on to the main event. Happy Fashion Friday everyone! We’re getting Fitfluential again this week with another review and giveaway that I know many of you are going to be VERY interested in.

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Fashion Friday: BAMR Bands Giveaway!

HAPPY FASHION FRIDAY! I’m SO SO SO excited about today’s giveaway but first, I have to give myself a high-five for continuing to do a good job with my gastro-goals! So far I have not missed a day of taking probiotics and I only missed one day of drinking my ACV. That’s pretty good! I honestly sometimes consider skipping the ACV in the morning (best time for me to drink it) but then I remember my blog post and it really does keep me accountable! After all, I don’t want to drink it after work when I’d much rather be drinking my wine – and it’d clash terribly with the taste of dinner and my nighttime snack. So go me for keeping up with my goals!

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