AnAppleADay Blogversary!

Thank you everyone for reading my blog and participating in my weekly giveaways. It means so much to me that number of my readers are growing everyday! I absolutely love to make new friends (esp when we have similarities!) so please leave comments or email me about anything!

Also, I want to say SORRY for not posting yesterday. Yesterday was my bestest friend’s birthday so we were out late celebrating! You know how college kids go! heeheehee NIGHT never ends!!! lol I really enjoyed myself and well now it’s time to get back to reality and focus on those never ending papers/research papers… ><;

I’ve already sent emails to the winners of the SODASTREAM and BLVDsOrganics giveaways so PLEASE, winners, email me back asap with your information. If I don’t hear from the winners for a week, then I’ll be picking new winners.

TODAY is my blog’s ONE YEAR! I can’t believe I’ve been writing in my blog for a whole year. I’ve started reading health/nutrition blogs wayyy before that, but November 5th, 2008 marks the FIRST day of AnAppleADay blog. =)

I am happy to say that I’m going to keep going! I just hope I could get better with writing and the whole site managing. I really want to have a nice banner and blog layout but I have no idea how to create it. If anyone is willing to give my blog a makeover PLEASE let me know! I’ll really appreciate your help.

 

To celebrate ONE YEAR, I’m giving away a HUGE gift. You guys have been so wonderful so I really want to pay ya’ll back.

 

Here are some of the things included in the gift:

1. SOLSTICE bars! (2 of each flavor!)

2. Enlyten Strips (2 of your choice)

3. CLIF Mojo bars

4. Pure Bars (2 of each of flavors in new packaging along with very nice veggie/produce carrying bag!)

5. Ecover products

6. 25$ gift certificate to Glass Dharma (handmade straws made out of glass. This is eco-friendly and not to mention PRETTY!)

7. all sorts of SURPRISES from me! (with Love!)

 

I hope ya’ll decide to participate in my blogversary giveaway!

All you have to do is:

1. Leave a comment below letting me know the favorite moment or post you read on my blog. What makes my blog special to you?

2. Leave another comment letting me know what you would like to see in my future posts.

3. Link back! (This will get you extra 3 points!)

4. If you’ve been following my blog, you will automatically get an extra point! (No worries, I definitely remember the names of people who always visit and leave comments even on non-giveaway posts).

5. Tell another friend/blogger about the giveaway. If that person leaves your name or blog name, you’ll get an extra point.

 

GOOD LUCK everyone! This giveaway ends on November 13th, 2009.

 

November 1st Giveaway!

If there is something I cannot stand, it’s the COLD. I just cannot handle cold weather at all. My bones ache and I shiver non-stop. Hence, I wear at least 3-4 layers and bring an extra jacket! Of course, scarves, hats, and gloves are must haves!

In “honor” of cold weather and start of a new month, I’m giving away a can of HOT CHOCOLATES to 5 lucky winners.

This is not just regular hot chocolates at all. They are from Boulevards Organic.

I got to try Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate.

annnnnd Dairy-free & Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate.

Both were delicious but they sure tasted different.

Their dairy-free Sweet-Dark hot chocolate removes the milk from the original mix. It was bitter compared to the sugar-free one, but very tolerable. I love things bitter so this one was definitely a hit for me.

The sugar-free hot chocolate is lightly sweetened with organic erythritol. This one was more smooth and did not have some of chocolates crunched up.

I actually tried them with hot water at first because I enjoy the natural cocoa bitter flavor. The second time, I tried them in warmed up soy milk and brought back childhood memories. My siblings and I used to make them during the winter time to enjoy while watching series of christmas movies!

 

5 lucky winners will receive one can of their choice from Boulevards Organic!

All you have to do is:

1. Comment on this post letting me know how you make your HOT CHOCOLATES. Do you have a special recipe?

2. Link back to this post pretty please~

3. Twitter about the contest!

4. Add me to your blogroll and google reader.

5. You’ll get automatic extra points if you have at least commented 5 times on my past posts.

 

Good luck everyone! This giveaway closes on November 5th of 2009!

Nature’s Path Organic Cereal

I was very lucky to try Nature’s Path’s wonderful CEREALS.

I was actually really interested in trying their puffed grains but I still got to try VERY YUMMY ones including Heritage Bites, Smart Bran, Multigrain Oatbran, and EnviroKidz.

Some of the things I really liked about Nature’s Path:

1. ORGANIC

2. Short ingredient list

3. TASTY!!!!!!

4. Whole Grain

5. Most of them are gluten free

Overall, I enjoyed them very much. I ate them plain, with almond milk, as toppings for oatbrans/oatmeals. with soyogurts, and mixed in raw whipped bananas.

They were very versatile. Yes, cereals are usually considered as “breakfast” but I see them more as snacks and add-ons to meals. Although the nutritional stats for these products are great (with low sugar content and higher fiber/protein compared to other companies), cereals really don’t keep me full for very long. Perhaps for 15mins? Haha, it’s true. I cannot just eat cereal for brekkie.

What are some of your favorite ways to eat cereal? Do you eat them for breakfast?

Sodastream Giveaway!!!

What I received in the mail was PURE Starter Kit that included Soda Maker, 60-Liter Licensed Carbonator & Two Carbonating Bottles. I was also sent various soda mixes as well!

I’m not a soda or carbonated water drinker at all. I always stick with water or teas but the idea of “creating” soda intrigued me so much! I always wondered how soda was made as a kid so I really wanted to experiment.

Being not a fan of sodas at all, I didn’t try them. I had my sister try all the different variety and the result? SHE LOVED THEM. She loved the fact that she could choose whatever flavor that she wanted.

I also love the style of the soda maker. The Pure Soda Maker received an honorable mention at the Red Dot Design Award (2008). Its design compliments elegance and practicality and is offered in a unique color variety. Each Pure Soda Maker is made with attention to detail and utilizes high quality plastics finished with a brushed stainless steel exterior. (from the website).

 

Do you want to try it yourself?

Erin from Sodastream has graciously offered to giveaway their FOUNTAIN JET STARTER KIT valued at 100 dollars!!!!

The winner will receive:

1. Fountain Jet Soda Maker in choice of either black/silver, white, or red/silver

2. CO2 to make over 100 liters of soda

3. 2 reusable carbonating bottles

4. sample pack of flavors

5. 3 full-sized flavors of choice!

 

All you have to do is:

1. comment on this post letting me know what kind of soda you like the best. If you are not a soda drinker like me, let me know what kind of beverages you enjoy and your reason for wanting to try this maker esp when you’re not a soda drinker.

2. Link back to this post!!!

3. Twitter~

4. Add me to your blogroll and google reader.

 

Opened to US/CANADA residents only.

 

This giveaway ends next Thursday, November 5th! Good luck!

 

Winner of TSP spices giveaway

The winner of last week’s giveaway is:

 

June K.! Congrats!!! Please send me your mailing address.

 

Thanks everyone for participating. Don’t forget to enter this week’s giveaway too!