I love Ranch. Maybe not as much as my friend Christie who has stated she'd put "Ranch on ice cream", but I love Ranch.
I've obviously been living under a rock though, because I never realized you could do more with Ranch than put it on a salad or dip things in it.
I never knew there were Ranch packets you could make yourself. I just thought Ranch came in the salad dressing aisle of the supermarket.
Boy was I wrong.
I got this awesome BzzKit in the mail with a couple of Ranch packets and a bottle of Ranch dressing, and we went to town. Well...that's not completely true. I donated the bottle of Ranch to a work function, but we went to town with the packets.
First up...Ranch dip. Just follow the directions on the packet (sour cream and package of Hidden Valley Ranch mix) and add dill for some kick. Yummy!
Another night, we tried the recipe that came with my BzzKit for Original Ranch Broiled Chicken. Boy was this a tasty meal!
I'm a big fan of easy to use, practical tools. I've found that in Screencast-o-matic.com. This excellent, easy web-browser based screen recorder makes recording your screen a snap.
You can use headphones or a webcam to record, and you can easily choose the area of monitor to capture. In one easy step, you can record up to 15 minutes. In addition to being a wonderful resource for flipped classroom lessons, this tool can easily help teachers make tutorials, videos for substitutes to show whenever they have a planned absence, or demo videos so the teacher can rotate around the classroom instead of being tied to their desk.
It allows pausing and some rerecording as well. It works on PCs (in Internet Explorer) and on Macs.
When you are finished with your film, you can upload your movie to YouTube, the Screencast-o-matic website, or download it as a movie file.
(Click on photo to see larger image.)
If you choose to download your screencast as a movie file, you can actually download it as an .avi, .mp4, flash .flv, or an animated gif.
To test out the animated .gif, I made this short .gif file of my niece.
I adore BzzAgent. What other way can you try new stuff for free?
The latest of my lucky BzzCampaigns is the Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles for Women.
I honestly didn't even know these existed before this campaign. I travel a lot (see my other blog) and think they will be perfect for me. While I haven't put them in for a long walk yet (saving them for the perfect trip), I have squeezed the gel insoles quite a bit and put them in my shoes. They didn't work with one of the pairs of my shoes - you could see the insole, but they work great with closed toe shoes.
They really do feel as though they will deliver on the package's promises of:
gel waves massage foot's most sensitive areas
ultra soft blue gel waves provide superior shock absorption
firmer dark blue gel provides added support
And, Dr. Scholl's even offers a money back guarantee if you don't love the product.
I was needing something that offered more support on the balls of my feet for the hiking boots I own. I went looking for other Dr. Scholl's products for women at the local Target. I was able to find Dr. Scholl's for Her Ball of Foot cushions. While not made of the same smooshy blue gel, they do seem like they will be comfortable. I have some $5 off coupons if you are interested.
I love reading. I just do. Imagine my utter delight when my latest BzzAgent campaign was to get to read two books for free.
The Hangman's Daughter and The Dark Monk were both written by Oliver Pötzsch. I've got them downloaded and ready to read on my upcoming trip to Scotland. The Dark Monk doesn't even get released until June 12th! You can buy The Hangman's Daughter now.
As I spoke with a librarian friend about BzzAgent and these books, she quickly did a search on her GoodReads account and found a friend who'd read and strongly recommended The Hangman's Daughter.
Synopsis from Amazon.com of The Hangman's Daughter:
"Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play. So begins The Hangman's Daughter--the chillingly detailed, fast-paced historical thriller from German television screenwriter, Oliver Pötzsch--a descendent of the Kuisls, a famous Bavarian executioner clan."
Synopsis from Amazon.com of The Dark Monk:
"1660: Winter has settled thick over a sleepy village in the Bavarian Alps, ensuring every farmer and servant is indoors the night a parish priest discovers he's been poisoned. As numbness creeps up his body, he summons the last of his strength to scratch a cryptic sign in the frost.
Following a trail of riddles, hangman Jakob Kuisl; his headstrong daughter Magdalena; and the town physician’s son team up with the priest’s aristocratic sister to investigate. What they uncover will lead them back to the Crusades, unlocking a troubled history of internal church politics and sending them on a chase for a treasure of the Knights Templar.
But they’re not the only ones after the legendary fortune. A team of dangerous and mysterious monks is always close behind, tracking their every move, speaking Latin in the shadows, giving off a strange, intoxicating scent. And to throw the hangman off their trail, they have ensured he is tasked with capturing a band of thieves roving the countryside attacking solitary travelers and spreading panic.
Delivering on the promise of his international best seller The Hangman’s Daughter, Oliver Pötzsch takes us on a whirlwind tour--once again based on prodigious historical research into his own family tree--through the occult hiding places of Bavaria’s ancient monasteries, bringing to life an unforgettable compassionate hangman and his tenacious daughter, painting a robust tableau of a 17th-century Bavaria still negotiating the lasting impacts of war, and quickening our pulses with a gripping, mesmerizing mystery."
I love olive oil (and I don't mean the skinny love interest of the spinach eating Popeye).
I was ecstatic when I got selected to be in the BzzAgent Filippo Berio Olive Oil campaign. Try out a new, wonderful olive oil? Yes please.
Let me tell you, this olive oil has made my mouth very happy.
The Bzz Kit for this olive oil was wonderful. Inside I found a guide to understanding the different types of olive oil and got a great substitution chart magnet for my fridge. (Get your own copy here.)
I had no idea that you could take a recipe calling for butter and put in healthier olive oil instead.
Nifty substitution chart fridge magnet
Many a tasty meal has been made with this EVOO, but here are some photos of my favorite grilled chicken with sauteed broccoli slaw and squash using the Filippo Berio EVOO.
I know I've mentioned how much I love BzzAgent. I've written about it in an earlier post, so I won't pester you with that information again.
I got to enroll in the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner campaign a few months ago. I have been using this shampoo and conditioner religiously since I received it in the mail.
At first, I didn't really love the smell. It has apricot in it (I just don't love apricot) and smells heavily of apricot, but the smell has grown on me. The shampoo lathers really well, and my hair always feels really clean after I've used the shampoo/conditioner combo.
My rather used bottle of Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo
I have naturally sort of wavy (but mostly just frizzy) hair. I am always looking for that perfect product.
I was really excited to try this shampoo & conditioner's 3 day sleek challenge. Unfortunately, even though I really like this shampoo and conditioner, I just didn't notice a difference in my hair from my previous shampoo and conditioner. (I'd been using Aveeno Nourish & Moisturize Shampoo & Conditioner.)
The back of the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Conditioner bottle
In defense of the Sleek & Shine challenge, it states, "In a combing test and a frizz test when using Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine System of Shampoo, Conditioner, and Anti-Frizz Serum, compared to a non-conditioning shampoo."
I wasn't using the anti-frizz serum, and I didn't switch from just a non-conditioning shampoo. I was using a conditioning shampoo and conditioner before the challenge.
Anyway, a photo is worth 1000 words, so here is a before and after of my hair. The before is when using Aveeno Nourish & Moisturize Shampoo & Conditioner and letting my hair drip dry then brushed. The after is when I've used the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner and let my hair drip dry then brushed.
Honestly...after seeing the Before and After, I think my hair as gotten a bit dull. I have never colored my hair, so it isn't hair dye. Hmmm...still love trying new things for free.
I adore AirBnb. I can't help it. I've stayed at two different apartments now and have had such a fantastic experience it's hard not to shout it from the rooftops.
What's not to love? Authentic experiences abound when you can stay somewhere the locals dwell. I love getting to stay in the heart of these charming neighborhoods at such discounted rates. Plus, you really can't beat the amenities...I just love a fridge, stove, and washer/dryer.
We've booked all of our upcoming Hawaii trip lodgings from AirBnb too.
One of the best features of the company is the perk they give to spread the word. All customers get a referral link to share. New customers who use the referral link save $25 off of their first booking of $75 or more with AirBnb. The person who refers also gets a $25 credit to be used on a future trip.
I love trying new products. I especially love trying new products when it's free to do so.
BzzAgent gives me the opportunity to do just that...try new stuff for free. The caveat...you have to tell people about it. No problem for me...I talk all of the time. :)
I've gotten to try Take 5 candy bars, bathroom cleaner, Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, websites (like Smarterer), Kroger's Truly Awesome Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies, and, most recently, Science Diet Ideal Balance Grain Free cat food. (Okay...I didn't try it, but my kitty-majiggers did.)
Doesn't the kitty on the bag look just like my Pawsitano?
When you give me something new to try that is good for my cats...well, you make me very happy. I love that this hard cat food has all natural ingredients and no grains. When SCat got diabetes, we learned very quickly how important it is that cats have enough protein in their diets.
The nutrition facts: chicken, pea protein from concentrate, potato starch, dried egg product, chicken fat, dried potato, chicken meal, meat protein isolate, and dried beet pulp are the first few ingredients. This cat food is free of corn, wheat, soy, dairy, beef, artificial colors, and preservatives.
It's also guaranteed to improve your cat's skin and coat or your money back.
I got to try this product for free for spreading the bzzz, but I truly believe this is a great cat food to keep our kitties happy and healthy. If you don't pick this food...make sure to pick a food where protein is the first ingredient. Hills has even created a comparison tool for you to compare your current cat food and their cat foods: http://www.hillspet.com/ideal-balance/ideal-balance-home.html
Normally I wouldn't blog a product review unless I got something out of it, but I adore Downy Unstopables! You add these little pellets to your wash, and it boosts the scent. The amazing scent stays in the fabric long after it's washed too. My sheets smelled so fresh for days after washing.
Just one of my new favorite things. I believe this to be truly scentsational!
