Cooking with Campbell's Soup and Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary

Most of us today are stretched for time in the kitchen and when preparing meals for our families. We want great quality meals that offer a lot of variety, but somehow we just tend to use the same go-to meals during the week. I have found a great way of turning those ho-hum meals into something a little more spectacular just by adding one of the Campbell's condensed soups.

 If you’re cooking dinner, Campbell gives you fresh ways to delight your family. From fresh twists on classic faves to totally new recipes, Campbell will give you inspiration just when you need it at Campbellskitchen.com.

 During the winter months, pot roast is one of those go-to meals at dinner time. Instead of adding water to the roast before it goes into the oven or crock pot, instead add Campbell's Beef Consomme in place of the water for the liquid. The flavor of the roast and vegetables is far superior and has a rich, hearty taste.  Another great addition to ordinary meals is adding the Campbell's Cream of Onion to many baked vegetable dishes, but my favorite is adding it to homemade hamburgers. Again, super easy meal, but not especially unique. However, try the burgers with the added cream of onion soup. The results are super moist and flavorful hamburgers and I promise, you won't go back to the way you were making them in the past.

Your family will thank you for it, and your kids will eat them up and not even know there are added vegetables in their hamburger. Kids’ tastes in food are one of life’s great mysteries. Take green beans, for example. Yesterday they were the only vegetable your son would eat, but today, thanks to his new aversion to green foods, he won’t go near them. If this sounds like dinnertime at your house, you’re in luck. With the help of Campbell's and a little imagination of the cooks part in your household, you can turn out delicious meals every member of the family will enjoy eating. Picky eaters have finally met their match! With the help of The Wisest Kid in the Whole World™, Campbell’s soup is offering delicious recipes your kids won’t be able to refuse:  Find fun, quick meal ideas your kids will love at WisestKid.com 

One of my very favorite recipes to serve my family is Chicken Spaghetti. There are many recipes out there for making this dish, but this one uses Campbell's Cream of Chicken & Mushroom soup and it is truly one of the best Chicken Spaghetti recipes I have ever tried.

Amazing Chicken Spaghetti 
  you will need:
4 chicken breast
1 can Campbell's Creamy Chicken & Mushroom soup
 1 can Rotel Tomatoes, diced
1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
7 oz. spaghetti

how to: Cook chicken and onions in water until done. Take chicken out after cooked and use the same water to cook spaghetti. When noodles are done, drain some of the water out of the pot, leaving just enough to cover the noodles. (do not drain all the water out) Shred the chicken and add back to the pot. Add remaining ingredients into the pot and stir well. Pour into a Casserole dish and add shredded cheddar cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

 Through their recipe destination www.campbellskitchen.com, Campbell gives you a fresh way to delight your family (new, kid-friendly recipes like Mini Chicken Pot Pies, and fun ways for your kids to eat Tomato soup). Likewise, when looking at preparing ordinary dishes, try sprucing the recipe up a bit by adding a can of Campbell's soups made especially for cooking. You will delight everyone with an updated version of old tried and true favorites.

Dove Conditioner Review! 100% Success for Frizzy Hair

There are some things that are just too wonderful not to share! I have had the pleasure to be a part of the review team for Dove Conditioner and this could not have come at a better time. I tried the Dove Nourishing Oil Care Conditioner.

When I read about this conditioner that claims to revives dry, rough and frizzy hair, I was excited. Here is what Dove says about the product:

A unique blend with non-greasy natural almond and mineral oils that are so fine, they are rapidly absorbed to deeply nourish and replenish essential nutrients. It’s next generation nourishment for beautifully smooth, soft, shiny hair.

They use a patented technology to repair & nourish dry hair. They describe the following -

Fiber Active technology penetrates deep inside the hair strand, helping rebind damaged proteins (Intensive Repair and Color Repair only)
Patented Micromoisture Serum targets damage, repairing the surface of hair by sealing lifted cuticles. 

I don't know if you experience having bad hair days every now and again like I do. I myself, have found that my own hair is frizzy, dry and brittle and not very manageable over the last few months. Some of that may have to do with hormonal change and my age, but no matter what the reason behind all of the unruly hair, it is still no laughing matter.

I have tried several products to try and tame these wild tresses, but would you believe many of the products I have tried are still in the cabinet with just a little out of each bottle. I have had a hard time finding things that not only leave my hair soft and easy to manage but does not feel weighted down with product at the same time.

After trying Dove conditioner for just a couple of days, I can already see and feel a difference in the way my hair looks and feels. It is soft and most of the frizz has disappeared. My hair feels and looks like it did about 10 years ago, and I can not be more pleased.

I give this conditioner 5 out of 5 stars and it is definitely something I will continue to use.

What hair care products have you tried that you are  loving? I really enjoy hearing what has worked for others.  Be sure to head over to BlogHer to enter to win a Spafinder gift certificate. Details below...

Enter to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 9/4/2012 - 9/30/2012

Be sure to visit Dove^®Hair.com to get a coupon for $1.50 off Dove Hair Therapy products.

"The Olden Days" - Share Beauty Tips for Summer and Win a $50.00 Visa Gift Card

Do you remember being a teenager and asking your mom about things that happened in the olden days? Well, imagine if you will, being asked that very question in the present day by your own kids. Talk about an eye opener on many levels, but also a chance to remember the good ole days and share what worked and did not work for you growing up. Below is the transcript of how our little question and answer session went one afternoon between my daughter and myself. Maybe you will remember some of the same things as you read along. Enjoy.



daughter: Mom, what is the most important beauty tip to remember when you are my age for summertime?
me: One of the most important beauty tips for summer is a girl needs to look her best all the time. Wearing makeup is always a plus, but in the summer months you can get by with very little at all. I never wore makeup other than eye makeup during the summer months because I had lots of color from the sun.
daughter: Mom, did you ever lay out in the sun to get a suntan long ago? I mean, you are rather white and never lay out now.
me: Thanks, but nevermind that last comment. I will truthfully say I used to lay out for hours at a time and, believe it or not, I always sported a rather dark tan. Now, honestly, I have to say this is a do as I say, not as I do statement and I would not recommend you do the same thing now.
daughter: Did you use a sunscreen?
me: No. Baby oil and iodine only. Worked like a charm, but not the safest way to get a little color in the summer.
daughter: What is Iodine?
me: They don't make it any more. I'm saying this while I cross my fingers behind my back. Heck, for all I know, they may not make it anymore, so I just left it at that. I did not feel the need to have her going to look for iodine at the store.
daughter: What is the worse thing you ever did to try to make yourself more beautiful during the summer months?
me: When I was in high school, all the rage was spraying a product in your hair called SUN-IN. The commercials showed beautiful blond-haired models sporting tans and they looked just they way I wanted to look during the summer months. I purchased the product, sprayed it in my hair and stayed out in the sun all afternoon.
daughter: Did it work? Did you look like the models on television?
me: Oh, it worked all right. That night I was sporting a red sunburn and fire-bright orange hair. I looked like the orangutan from the zoo. I was not blond by any means and it took weeks to wear off. Luckily, by the time school started, I was back to looking more like myself. That, my dear, was the biggest mishap I can remember.


(Image from google)
daughter: Any other beauty tips or mishaps you remember from summers so long ago?
me: (shaking head) Only one. I was getting ready for a date with a special boy I had a crush on. I wanted everything to be perfect and really tried to make a good impression. As I was getting ready, I wanted to shave my legs again and ran to my parents bathroom and used my dad's shaving cream. Mind you, back in the day we did not have shaving cream for women -- or if we did, my mom did not buy it. So I used the shaving cream and finished getting ready. When he picked me up he commented on the fact that I smelled nice. I was beaming at his words, and then he said he could have swore he got a whiff of his dad's aftershave. I was mortified. I had used my dad's aftershave to shave with instead of shaving cream.
daughter: What did you do? LOL.
me: Well, as soon as we got to the movie theater, I went to the restroom and used paper towels to wipe my legs off, then sprayed perfume on them. It was a very embarrassing moment. You know, you are so lucky that in this day and age you don't have to do things the way we did back in the olden days. For example, I take you to the beauty salon to get your hair highlighted and provide you with plenty of sunscreen when you are poolside. I also buy you great products like Satin Care Passionista Fruit Shave Gel, which has a rich formula, infused with the sparkling scent of juicy, fresh fruit and leaves your skin soft and satiny smooth every time you shave. You also don't have to worry about using your dad's old razor to shave with and you have the opportunity to use great razors like the Venus Embrace which has five blades for a close and comfortable shave and a Ribbon of Moisture for a smooth glide.



Yes, little girl, we sure had it rough in the olden days. You really don't realize that was such a short time ago, and it won't be long before you will be explaining to your own children all the things you did in the olden days of 2012. You might want to keep a journal so you don't forget how primitive things really were.
daughter: (rolling eyes) Okay, thanks mom, I think I will go out to the pool for a bit. Now, where is that baby oil?

What's the best beauty tip you have shared with your daughter to prepare her for the summer or share your funniest beauty mishap for the chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!
I know for sure I am not the only one who remembers those olden days of only a few years ago. (FYI, Venus has some great tips for first-time shavers over here.)
Rules: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 7/26 - 8/23.
Be sure to visit the Venus brand feature page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Have you checked out the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com? There are some great tips and expert posts on everything from Looking Your Best to Getting Happy and Getting Organized!

Dove Visiblecare Creme Body Wash Review: Ladies it is time to throw out that bar soap!

When I was asked to do a product review for Dove Visiblecare body wash, I was excited to try this new product. It is totally new to me as I always use bar soap when showering and thought it would be a nice change to try something new.

Here in Texas, the summers are brutal. It is hot and muggy and the extreme weather conditions takes a toll on my skin, leaving it dry and looking rather haggard. After using Dove Visiblecare body wash for two weeks straight, I began to see a difference in not only the way my skin felt but how it looked too.

My skin seems more softer and more supple and looks wonderful. I notice that my skin has a more youthful appearance and at my age, that is short of a miracle. The dry spots that normally give me issues during the summer months are all but gone and now my skin feels smooth and soft.

It could be the ‘NutriumMoisture’ that the product touts that sets this product apart from just bar soap. Whatever it is, it has impressed me and I am loving the way my skin feels soft and smooth and not dry.

Another thing I have noticed since I have been using Dove Visiblecare creme body wash is the fact I have been about to cut back on the amount of moisturizer and lotions I normally use after a bath. I still use some other moisturizing products, but not nearly as much as I normally use during the dry months.

This body wash is available in three variants, according to the website.

1. VisibleCare Toning Crème Body Wash – helps to promote skin’s elasticity and strength.
2. Renewing Body Wash – nourishes and replenishes skin.
3. Softening Body Wash – softens skin and dry spots.

The lather is rich and has a light fresh scent and leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft. Dove’s VisibleCare Toning Crème Body Wash is from a revolutionary line of premium body washes and was designed to promote your skin’s elasticity. It contains the highest concentration of NutriumMoisture technology in their line of products and is available at WalMart, and Amazon, among others.

I have always been a soap bar kind of girl, now I can honestly say not so much. What about you? Do you use bar soap in the shower or body wash? Inquiring minds want to know. If you'd like to try this great product for yourself see below to get a coupon for $1 off for this product PLUS information on winning a Spafinder gift certificate worth $500.

Introducing Dove^® VisibleCare^® Crème Body Wash. Built on the brand’s heritage in cleansing and caring for skin, Dove VisibleCare combines the best of Dove technology into a luxurious experience for beauty seekers. With the highest concentration of NutriumMoisture technology across the Dove portfolio, Dove VisibleCare Crème Body Wash actually improves the look of skin over time. Visit Dove^® VisibleCare^® to get a coupon for $1 off!

Enter to win one of two $500 Spafinder gift certificates!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age

18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/18/2012 - 8/22/2012
Be sure to visit the Dove^® VisibleCare™ Crème Body Wash brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Giveaway: Share a Technique to win and check out Venus Embrace Razor and Satin Care Shaving Cream

For many parents, there is a certain dread when facing new situations with preteens and teens. The warning signs are usually there when first experiences are about to take place. I have found it most comforting to face these situations head on and talk about whatever is on the horizon.

Young girls of today start shaving a lot sooner than most moms want. I am sure you will agree that wanting it to take a back seat instead of front and center at such an early age will not prolong this experience. Most girls will display signs of curiosity and start asking questions.

That is the cue for moms to decide what main points need to be covered on the topic and plan on initiating the conversation in advance. By taking this approach, it will make the transition of the first experience so much easier and that a pleasant experience is had for everyone involved.

When sitting down to talk about important aspects of a first experience such as shaving, it is important to decide what is the main point of safety you'd like to get across to your teen. Safety and knowledge on staying safe is of the utmost importance in many parents minds.

It is also important to suggest certain products that have been tried and tested and known to deliver the results you are after. When suggesting a razor, it is important to have a product that not only leaves you feeling incredible with a super-smooth shave but leaves you with amazing-looking skin.

The Venus Embrace is just that type of razor, with its 5 blades plus a Ribbon of Moisture for a comfortable shave and with fewer nicks and cuts than Venus Divine. Another feature important from a mom's standpoint is that the Venus Embrace has a soft grip handle for great control.

One of the questions that came up in the talk I had with my own daughter was how to get a silky feel after shaving and not a rough feel to the skin. It was an easy decision to suggest she not use her dad's shaving cream but instead try Satin Care when shaving.

Along with being gentle and for ladies, I knew she would enjoy the sparkling, fruity scent of this shaving gel, and she would certainly get the silky legs she was wanting by adding this to her shaving routine.

The answer to addressing the firsts that are sure to come with preteens is that it is important to be aware these situations are coming. It is also important to be pro-active in discussing issues and important facts in each situation.
By being pro-active it is easier to suggest trusted brands and products you know will make the situation a more pleasant experience and the transition a little less stressful....at least for the moms!
The Venus Embrace razor and the Passionista Fruit Satin Care shaving gel are two products that help take the worry out of teens who are shaving for the first time.
When you notice your own daughter starting to pay more attention to her appearance, you want to make sure she's getting the right information, and it is coming from you and not others. If you need some more great tips for  first-time shavers, check out the Venus website.
What are some of the ways you tackle conversations like shaving (and other "firsts") with your daughter? Leave a comment and share tips that have worked for you when tackling first conversations with your teens to be entered for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card, courtesy of BlogHer and Venus.

The rules for the $50 Visa gift card are stated below:

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/21 - 6/30.

Be sure to visit the Venus Brand feature page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!



I am looking forward to reading all of your suggestions you share in the comment section. Good Luck.

For Home, Weddings, or the Beach....Environmentally Friendly Products

This past week, there was a lot of talk here at The Coloradolady about wedding showers and decor. So I decided to share a few wonderful products with you while we are on the subject of weddings. However, be aware....not only are these perfect ideas for an upcoming wedding, but they fit so well into everyday life I promise you will be as impressed as I have been.

Wedding planning should include a lot of thought about gifts for attendants, parents, out of town guests and anyone who makes your wedding magical. This bag is a perfect example of an amazing gift for out of town guest or attendants. These Eco-friendly bags are amazing. They are lightweight, durable and I have to say, the size is impressive. Fill these bags with area maps, goodies, water or flip-flops and a beach towel if you are having a beach wedding, and your guest will be impressed. These bags could not be more perfect.

Are you a family who does a lot of outdoors activities? This is perfect for packing a lunch, beach towels, and maybe a bottle of wine and you are all set for a great picnic afternoon with everything in one bag. Simply-Bags offers all types of bags, including Beach bags that can be monogrammed, perfect for any occasion. My personal favorite is my Stylish Beach Tote, not only is it beautiful, it is functional and will be put to good use in just a few weeks for our trip to the mountains. Be sure to check them out if you are looking for bags for guest at your wedding or for yourself, you won't be disappointed in the quality, I can assure you of that.

With summer right at our back doors, there will be lots of grilling, cookouts, family reunions, weddings, and gatherings with friends and family. I myself, am always in the kitchen washing dishes from such events. If I chose to use paper plates....frankly they are just as much trouble due to the lack of durability of what the grocery store offers.

I am so excited to share with you a product that is simply amazing for someone who is environmentally concerned about paper and plastic plates in our landfills, but more so about the fantastic products I have had the pleasure to try. These are just amazing and beautiful for any occasion.


Marx Foods offers plates which are made from Palm leaves and are 100% biodegradable and compostable. They are a sustainable non-timber resource which means no trees were cut to make these, the leaves were harvested from the forest floor.

They are lightweight, yet extremely durable. No sagging plates to worry about here. I served lasagna, meatloaf, roast and mashed potatoes in these plates and they did not get soggy or sag from normal food items. I was very impressed.

These are made from discarded Adaka palm leaves that are gathered from the forest floor and washed. Then they are hand-stretched, flattened and heat pressed into shapes. Multiple shapes and sizes are cut from each leaf to reduce waste. Finally, the plates are dried in the sun and ready for use.


From a very casual setting to a formal wedding these are a wonderful product to use in place of washing dishes or buying paper products. Once your event is over, these can be gathered and composted or thrown away with a clear conscious that these will be eco-friendly in land fills. I like the idea of spending more time with guest and less time in the kitchen cleaning up, these are wonderful for any occasion.

These come in multiple styles and shapes. Dinner plates and dessert or salad plates can be mixed and matched is you prefer a less matched look. I love these plates, they are natural yet fit into any decor or setting. I myself, after trying these will never buy plastic or paper plates again. These are very moderately priced yet the quality is by far greater than anything my local market carries.

From backyard gatherings to wedding reception halls, these are a wonderful option I had no idea was available for use! I hope you too will take the time to look at these products and see for yourself how much simpler life can be with a few great environmentally friendly products which are not only functional, but beautiful.