Dorito's Late Night Giveaway!

I know, I know, my last post was on clean eating. But, I love snack foods. Specifically chips. Ok, more specifically, Doritos. I can remember being about 10 years old at our summer cottage, hanging out at movie night with my closest friend, plowing through a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. Ah, those were the days- when chips didn't equal enormous hips:)
I was recently sent (from Heaven, I assume) the most exciting product I've gotten to review- Two NEW flavours of Doritos- All Nighter Cheeseburger and Last Call Jalapeno Poppers. Luckily, I wasn't alone when the Doritos arrived & my good friend was more then helpful in "product testing":

Yummmmy Jalapeno Poppers...

Cheeseburger...delish!!

So, our verdict? Two Words: YUM! YUM! The All Nighter Cheeseburger Doritos were unbelievable, by far my favourite. They tasted like a cheeseburger- seriously, pickles, mustard, cheese, burger meat...it's all there and it's incredible. As a completely non-partying, go-to-bed-early girl, it made even me want to party until 2am and come home starving and ready to rip into this deliciousness!

The Swag:
Now for the best part- a giveaway!!! I couldn't possibly dangle all this Dorito goodness in front of you without letting one of you in on the enjoyment, could I?
One lucky Sleeping Is For Losers reader will be the recipient of an amazing Doritos Late Night Concert Survival Kit containing:

Doritos Late Night Flavours (a bag of each flavour)
Doritos Late Night t-shirts
Ear phones
ITunes gift certificates
Concert swag such as glow sticks, sharpies, autograph pads, disposable cameras
Aquafina Vitamin Water
AMP Energy Drinks

To Enter:
Leave a comment, naming your favourite late night snack (mine is....wait for it....chips). Include your email address and/or twitter name so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extra Entries you say??:
To receive any extra entries, do one (or all) of the following:
1) Tweet: I entered to win a Doritos Late Night Prize Pack from @sarahnewk- enter NOW! http://bit.ly/cU9cT1
2) Follow me on Twitter (@sarahnewk)
3) Follow my Blog (use the "Follow" button at the top of the page)

Contest ends on September 3rd at midnight. Winner will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. Good luck:)

Clean Eating Risotto & A Crush

I tweeted this afternoon that I was making a delicious sweet potato risotto from Tosca Reno's fab book "The Eat-Clean Diet".
A bit of background- I actually pre-ordered the first edition of "The Eat-Clean Diet" (in 2007!!!) and I've been eating clean for years...until I got pregnant and so sick that if it stayed in my stomach, I ate it. Throughout my entire pregnancy and for quite a few months after giving birth, I was too sick to eat much more then carbs. Bread, pasta, rice, fries...they were my staples.

Now, Z is 15 months old and I am back to clean-eating, with the odd cheat of course....I'm human afterall!

The first edition of Tosca Reno's book contains my favourite clean-eating recipe-Sweet Potato Risotto. I'm including MY version of the recipe (see the book if you want the entire original version)

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tiny onion
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2-4 cups bite sized pieces peeled sweet potato
(optional additions include: dried sage, dried thyme, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, 2 cloves garlic)

Instructions:
In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion for 2 minutes. Add rice and saute for 2 minutes. Stir in 3 cups of chicken broth (add additional seasoning here if desired). Bring to a boil.
Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 5 minutes.
Add sweet potato and stir. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Stir in remaining cup of chicken broth. Rice and sweet potato will be nice and creamy.
Serve immediately! (if desired, garnish with parsley & some cheese)

*recipe adapted from The Eat-Clean Diet

My son LOVES the risotto- for him I add in some chopped chicken (actually, I do that for me too!). It's also delicious the next day with some canned tuna mixed into it or served cold on some leafy greens.

Finally- to end my post- my son has developed a mucho crush on the creator of Bootycamp, Sammie Kennedy. I am a huge fan of Bootycamp classes (available throughout Canada), and highly suggest all new moms do at least 8 weeks to help get back into shape post-baby.
Every morning, after breakfast, my son runs to the book shelf beside our tv, grabs my Bootycamp DVD and stares at Sammie and babbles to her. If I was to hazard a guess, I would say that he is trying to say "Mommy, why don't your abs look like that?"

BootyCamp Fitness & an upcoming giveaway!!

Hey you! Gotta minute? Head over to my UrbanMoms blog & check out my latest post! I'll link it, just because I'm that kind of girl: HERE YOU GO:)

In addition, I have an awesome review/giveaway coming up for you!! Interestingly, it is the exact opposite of my last giveaway (which was a weight loss product...hint, hint).

Finally, for my loves out there- Z has found the perfect seat, our recycling box:

underWAY GIVEAWAY!!!!

If you've been reading any of my posts on UrbanMoms, you know that I have been working my booty off (literally!), trying to shed those final baby weight pounds.
Now that Z is 14 months old, I don't feel like I can rely on the good ol "I just had a baby" excuse...wish I could, but am pretty sure people won't be buying it.

But, let's be honest, losing that baby weight is HARD. I'm lucky if I get three healthy meals in one day, let alone fit in a good workout. Enter underWAY...

underWay is a drink supplement that naturally suppresses your appetite and quenches your thirst at the same time. underWay is available in three flavors; Açai-Pomegranate, Grape and Orange. Each 8 ounce bottle has 2 servings of just 10 calories each and consists of vitamins and HeroFiber™ which includes Fortefiber™ Soluble Dietary Fiber which helps to maintain cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels that are already within normal range.

The benefits in each bottle of underWay:

• Sodium free
• Caffeine free
• No preservatives
• Naturally flavored
• Super Fiber (HeroFiber™)
• 2 grams of carbs
• Great taste

So, how does it work??
underWAY™ CURBS YOUR HUNGER TWO WAYS. Its special formulation not only takes longer to be absorbed by the stomach, it also slows the absorption of what's already there - making you feel fuller, longer. What's more, its unique ingredients stimulate your stomach, telling your brain you've consumed more calories than you really have! Please visit their Site for more detailed information.

My thoughts??
underWAY is delicious. No, really! I was skeptical, only because I hate the aftertaste of most "diet" drinks and loathe the thickness of most protein shakes. underWAY had neither. My personal favourite was the Açai-Pomegranate. It tasted like drinking yummy juice. I can't honestly say if I felt more full after drinking it...but I felt satisfied. It tasted good, satisfied my desire for a sweet drink, and didn't leave me hungry (which often happens after drinking juice).

In addition...
I was given the opportunity to try Smart For Life products (creators of the popular "Cookie Diet"). They were suprisingly good and, while I'm not one to advocate substituting diet products for real food, were excellent as meal replacements when in a pinch. To learn more about Smart For Life products, please visit their site.

NOW...
The Giveaway:

In conjunction with Mom Central and underWay, I have 10 prize packages up for grabs (Canadian Readers only) consisting of the following:

• 8 bottles of underWAY Supplement Drink
  
• an assortment of Smart for Life products
  

Mandatory Entry:
Visit underWay and Smart For Life. Have a look around and then come back here and let me know why you would love to try out these products!! It's just that easy!

BONUS Entries?? Don't mind if I do...

• Follow my blog (and tell me!)
• Follow me on Twitter (@sarahnewk) (and tell me!)
  
• Tweet the following message on Twitter (1 per day): "I just entered to win an underWay prize pack from @sarahnewk: http://bit.ly/c5nwgU ENTER NOW! #giveaway

That's it!! Good luck!

****Please note: Readers may enter this contest on my blog as well as this same contest on numerous other blogs participating in the underWay Blog Tour. However, a reader is only eligible to win 1 prize package.****


This contest is open to residents of Canada only. Contest starts July 28, 2010 and ends August 04, 2010 at 11:59 pm (EST) 10 Winners will be drawn using Random.org. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen. **PLEASE ENSURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT**


Disclosure - I am participating in the underWAY program by Mom Central on behalf of Better Health Beverage, LLC. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

The Best Investment For Allergies- Sharp Air Purifier

I grew up with allergies. Yes, I went to the doctor EVERY WEEK for allergy shots. I'm not nearly as afflicted as I once was, but every spring my eyes water, my nose runs, and I spend a few weeks in allergy hell, completely overtaken by pollen, dust, and the like.
Enter my son...at 12 months, as spring began, I noticed his runny nose, his increased sneezing, his red, watering puffy eyes. After ruling out any type of medical issue, the doctor suggested that he may be suffering from seasonal allergies- the same type of allergies that have afflicted me for years.
We live in the smoggy Toronto area and, while he is too young to technically diagnose, I knew that we had to do something to help give him some relief. Enter the Sharp Air Purifier KC-C100U. A perfect sized air purifier, with a built in humidifying function, it effectively removes dust and allergens from the air in your home, while deodorizing and bringing relief for dry eyes, nose or throat.

The Sharp Air Purifier is highly effective against:
-Mold and plant spores
- Pollen, Pet dander
- House dust mites and debris
- Lung damaging dust
- Bird feather dust
- Asbestos dust
- Cuisine odors
- Tobacco and cigarette smoke
- Over 4000 regular chemicals
- Microbes, Bacteria, Viruses

The best part?? It WORKS! It works amazingly and has made such a difference in my house.




The Good:
-my son & I have seen a significant decrease in allergy symptoms since using the Sharp Air Purifier in our home
-it really does neutralize odours (especially those poopy diaper smells)
-it is not huge, cumbersome or difficult to move
-it was extremely quick and easy to put together
-multiple touch button settings (including air purifying with or without the humidifier)

The Bad:
-I felt the included booklet could have further explained all of the functions and their uses. Luckily, I have used an air purifier before so I had a bit of an idea about cleaning the air in your home from airborne spores, etc... but I think the average consumer could use further explanation

Overall:
A. MAZ. ING. It is one of the best investments you could make for your family if even one of you suffers from airborne allergies.

Nose Picker

People. He picks his nose. All. The. Time. Just jams his finger up there and the more I tell him not to, the more he does. Seriously. My child is a nose picker (or a nose jammer because I don't think he really "picks" for anything).

I'm now trying to ignore him doing it because I think he likes the attention it gets him.

That's what I get for having a boy...

Edit: Here are the pictures of my gold digger. You're Welcome:)

The First Haircut!!!

Z is a big boy now!! 14 months, acting like a much older toddler.
But the hair, oh the hair. His curly mop was getting out of control. I was doing it about 3 times a day (minimum), which meant I was spending more time doing his hair then mine. Not ok. So, I called up my hairdresser (aka: bro-in-laws girlfriend) and asked her for a haircut...here are the results:
THE BEFORE!!

THE DURING

Um, Thanks but I'll comb my own hair- I know where it parts

The Cleanup- such a good boy

THE REVEAL!!! Such a handsome boy!!

And one more for good measure- cuteness!!

Under Construction

Hey all!!!
Please bear with us here at Sleeping Is For Losers- we're currently revamping our look!
Of course, we'll be continuing to post during the revamp! I've got some awesome product reviews and posts coming up:)

In the meantime, having you been missing Z updates?
Well, check out my latest UrbanMoms.ca post about disciplining Z now that he's testing boundaries.

And for your viewing enjoyment- some sprinkler fun!! My brave little 13 month old is totally into sticking his face right in the water and running away laughing the whole time. So awesome, he is!

A New Commitment to Food Safety and Quality

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a round table discussion with Maple Leaf Foods CEO Michael McCain and Sharon Beals, Sr. VP of Food Safety & Quality Assurance.

As most Canadians know, the Maple Leaf Food brand has suffered over the past years. In 2008, a listeria outbreak in Maple Leaf pre-packaged deli meats caused the death of 22 people. I was pregnant when that happened. I remember, distinctly, not buying Maple Leaf products during this time. I was scared and I was distrustful. I had a child to worry about now, and there was no way that I was going to allow him to be harmed by any food products on my watch.

I've started buying Maple Leaf food products again. Even before attending this roundtable, I came back to a brand that I previously supported and often purchased on my shopping trips. Why? Well, for a few reasons, but mostly because I wanted to support a Canadian company that had promised, over and over, to do better & to be better. And, following this roundtable with Michael McCain, I believe that my decision to purchase Maple Leaf Foods again was correct.

Michael McCain is a CEO for a reason. He is well spoken, he knows his company, and he is well versed in potential issues/questions/PR-friendly moves. He knows what he's doing. However, and this is what struck me and really got me listening, he didn't have to meet with the twenty parenting bloggers at Maple Leaf Food headquarters. But he did and I really respect that. So, yes, it was PR move. Yes, both McCain and Beals were well versed in dancing around some questions (nitrates? eco-friendly packaging? quality control beginning at the farm level?), but they didn't have to be there and they were. They took responsibility (huge pat on the back- we teach our kids to take responsibility for their actions, so should they) and did it without a "but" or "however".

What did I learn? Maple Leaf Foods is truly working to make food safety a top priority. They have introduced a leading Food Safety expert into their team, they are doing consistent and serious testing for listeria and review those tests every single morning at 8:30am, and they are making significant changes in their workforce by creating better training/testing for their employees.

Listeria is everywhere and in everything. We do our part in our kitchens to make sure that listeria doesn't make it into our children's consumable food. Following the 2008 listeria outbreak, I believe that Maple Leaf Foods is now seriously taking steps to ensure that listeria doesn't appear in their products as well. Visit their site to receive more indepth information regarding food safety and Maple Leaf's commitment to it.

So, to Maple Leaf Foods & those other companies out there that all parents trust, thank you in advance for taking your job seriously. Thank you in advance for knowing that no matter how great your ads, how PR savvy you are, how big your profit margins grow, your consumers come first. As one of the parenting bloggers said at our roundtable discussion- we trust you. Don't let that trust be in vain.

Disclaimer: I was invited as a blogger to attend this rountable by Matchstick & Maple Leaf Foods. I received a gift bag for my participation. The thoughts in my post are all my own and not influenced in any manner.

New Posts!

I feel like I haven't been giving this blog enough attention recently. Wanna know why? Well, I started back at work (full time) AND Z turned ONE!!! YES:)

Of course, I also have another blog, where I write about life as a new mom...pop over there to check out some of my latest posts including:

• Why Won't You Cry A Little (about my first day back at work)
• Whew! Congrats To Me! I Made It One Whole Year (about Z's first birthday)
• My Booty Camp Fitness reviews (about my experiences trying to fit working out back into my life- that's a tough one!!)

I promise to post up pics of Z's first birthday very soon.

In the meantime, can I just say that Z has decided that fruit is the best thing ever and veggies suck. Seriously. I mean, fruit is great for you and I'm so glad that he likes it, but I really want him to enjoy his veggies just as much. Guess I'm going to have to start hiding them?