The Illinois Nut and Fantasia Chocolate Company is offering a ½ box of assorted Sugar Free Chocolates for one of our readers! Entering is easy! And make sure to check out my review, where I praised the Sugar Free Peanut Butter cups and the Sugar Free Caramel Squares.

- Giveaway ends on February 13 2012

We’re trying out rafflecopter! It should make it loads easier for you to enter this giveaway. This way you only have to be logged into facebook and twitter, and then you can complete the entries just with simple clicks that don’t take you off the page until you’re done.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Side Note – Celebrities Who Don’t Eat Sugar:

1. Selma Blair (nor gluten)
2. Gwyneth Paltrow
3. Kelly Osbourne
4. Yvonne Strahovski (though she had a birthday at the Sugar Factory)
5. Jessica Biel (while working)
6. Jewel

Leaving sugar behind is sad, so opt for high-quality stuff. I got to sample the Sugar Free Mixed box of Sugar Free Chocolates. And there were several strong winners in this box according to my reputable taste buds.

Here is what there was:

• Sugar Free Chocolate Peppermint Patties
• Sugar Free Chocolate Truffles
• Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups
• Sugar Free Peanut Butter Squares
• Sugar Free Amaretto Truffles
• Sugar Free Caramel Squares

By and far, I loved the Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups and Sugar Free Caramel Squares the most. The PB cups were the perfect shape, size and texture and I would gladly eat a box of these. There are also Peanut Butter squares, which are not quite as good and who knows why! The Caramel Squares have a different constancy than most caramel that you know, but they are chewy (a little softer than you’d think) and really good. There was the addition of salt on the bottom, which was really delicious. (Salty + Sweet is a good combo and you know it – or are you going to pretend you have never mixed peanuts with a bag of M&M’s?! Now that’s what I call gourmet baking! …Oh, maybe not? Heh!)

I didn’t love the peppermint patties because I don’t like any kind of peppermint patty. The chocolate truffles were okay, but I also don’t like the taste of amaretto so the green striped dessert was really pretty but also not for me.

This was a great way to taste an assortment. I definietly recommend the sugar free peanut butter cups and the sugar free caramel squares. If you like those other flavors, you’d likely enjoy them too.

Illinois Nut and Fantasia Chocolate makes gluten free candy, kosher candy, vegan, sugar free candy and organic candy. Whatever you’re voluntarily or not so voluntarily avoiding in your food, they’ve found a way to get it to you anyway.

And we have a giveaway!

Disclaimer: The chocolate box provided for an honest review.

So, let’s begin! I had the chance to review the Christmas Gift Basket Classic™ from Gourmet Gift Baskets. It retails for $59.99.

General Impression

People love gift baskets, and this one is no exception because it’s sent in a very nice basket with festive decoration (including a fake red poinsettia flower to top it all off. I let Posie play with it for hours.) Everything is always stacked up so great that this is always an impressive gift to give.

By far the best part of this basket is the Marich chocolate covered cherries. NOM NOM NOM. Delicious. No lying. I’m going to buy some off of Amazon today to include in Christmas presents, I think. I really wish that Gourmet Gift Baskets would do an entire basket devoted to the different Marich products! And then I also wish they’d send me that basket to review.

One of my other favorite parts of the basket was the Chocolate bar by Lake Champlain because I love this company and they make dark chocolate that I find completely edible. And since dark chocolate is better for you than other kinds of chocolate, this is a real treat.

There was only one thing that I hated in the basket, which is the raspberry honey mustard dipping sauce.

The entire basket provides a nice, well-rounded mix of treats that I suggest sharing with your significant other while you watch some classic Christmas movies. The entire thing adds up to a unique type of dinner. It would also be nice to have waiting at home for you after you go out and party on New Years Eve.

The reason I suggest this more for couples than families is that this basket does have some items with nuts (peanuts and pecans) and it just seems more like something I’d share with a boyfriend than my family. That said, the chocolate cookies and crunchy popcorn would probably please just about any palate.

Tip: If you have a cat, they love the ribbons that come with this basket (just please make sure you watch your cat/s so they don’t try to  swallow any of the ribbon.) But your Mom will probably tell you to save the beautiful ribbon bundle and re-use it for someone else’s gift. And this is when you start telling your Mom, ever so casually, to watch the show “Hoarders”… Cough.

My In-Depth Review

Almond Pecan-dy Crunch by Morley Candy Makers – I’m a major, major fan of this stuff. I’m not a huge lover of pecans, but I still loved this. The caramel over the popcorn gives you a really sweet/salty taste and crunch. It comes in a large container, too.
Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies by J&M Foods -  – Because these area crunchy, hard cookie I found they are best devoured with a large mug of milk (I prefer skim but do what you have to do!) Dunk them in, let them literally absorb the milk in their delicious little cookie crevices and then munch. They’re tiny cookies making them perfect bite sizes.
Dipping Pretzels by East Shore Specialty Foods – Unsalted pretzels aren’t really all that interesting, but it’s nice to have them around in this size and sans salt for use in dips.
Robert Rothschild Farm Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip – Because I have to be honest with you guys, I personally hated this dip. Something about the combination of honey mustard with raspberry didn’t work for me. I suspect that Robert Rothschild Farm makes other dips, and would suggest a different dip be included if possible. … Just something with more mass appeal? Or maybe the masses really do like this dip and I’m in the other end of the pond.
Salted Peanuts in Box by Feridie’s – You can’t go wrong with peanuts, especially not when they’re so fancily packaged. The package it yellow and white and it’s just really pretty.

Signature Dark Chocolate Bar by Lake Champlain – Okay, Lake Champlain is another company that I’m a major champion of. And because they do things so well, they actually produce dark chocolate that I find enjoyable and melty and creamy to eat. (Most dark chocolate I shy away from.) SO CREAMY.  Related: lake champlain chocolates reviews
Buttered Peanut Crunch by Old Dominion Peanut Company – Someone stole this from me before I could taste it, which I believe is a good sign. There was none left for me to taste. Ha!
Metropolitan Trail Mix by GourmetGiftBaskets.com – This is nice, although I could see improvement done to this with maybe a slightly larger bag. The contents of the bag were good, though. And it’s nice to have something that seems healthy in the mix!
Parmesan Artichoke & Garlic Cheese Biscuits by Salem Baking Company – Not my most favorite biscuits ever, but also not horrible. They’re kind of hard on the outside and more crumbly/soft inside. They’re also very small. The packaging keeps them super fresh. I tasted more of the garlic and the cheese than the artichoke.
Chocolate Covered Cherries by Marich -  These are heavenly. You’ll love them. You’ll want boxes of them delivered to your door for Christmas morning. Whatever they’ve done, Marich has fond the perfect compliment of cherry to chocolate (and type of cherry and type of chocolate) ratio. And on behalf of Gourmet Gift Baskets I will mention that they do include several Marich products, along with Lake Champlain products. So they aren’t shy about including some of the best stuff. Related: marich chocolate reviews

Remember it’s who you’re with, not what you have or where you are. XO!

Disclaimer: This basket was sent to be reviewed, but all opinions are 100% my own and not influenced in any way.

I believe Peggy Li jewelry contains edgy twists on classic designs. They are all timeless and elegant with that bit of edge that makes them feel very “now.” …Now, let’s explore!

These Paradox Earrings made of blue chalcedony and coral are going to cheer up any outfit.

These are some great chevron earrings with a Long Drop!

These spiritual necklaces are called the Tiny Beaded Om Necklace and look really fun.

My Personal Peggy Li Jewelry Review

I received two items. They were shipped in a bubble package, but oddly without boxes. However, because I am always trying to be mindful of going green, I’m actually glad for this. Unless you are using the jewelry item as a gift, you don’t need an extra box that you’re just going to throw out. Moreover, the bubble packaging keeps everything super safe. If you are ordering something for a gift, you can probably e-mail Peggy to see if she has any gift wrapping options, or just re-use one of the million little white boxes you have shoved in your closet. (I hope to see more jewelry makers sending their wares in soft cloth pouches instead of just boxes.)

Gold Lotus Earrings

The first item is a basic, everyday kind of hoop that has been giving a bit of a boho twist. The Small Lotus Hoop Earrings were worn by Kadee Strickland on Private Practice. These are a small hoops that measure 1″ down so they’re not too imposing.

Handmade in Bali, they are available in gold vermeil or sterling silver. I had gone with the gold vermeil, however I feel like they’re so matte that the sterilng silver would have been a better choice. The gold earrings kind of fade away by themselves, unless you wear some other gold-tone jewelry. And that way, it allows the Small Lotus earrings to compliment a larger piece of jewelry.

The way they’ve been formed allows them to hang forward a bit, which is a very thoughtful allocation in this jewelry design. The closure is a bit tricky to master at first, and you do have to be gentle with them as you take them on and off.

Unique Necklaces – Carved Cross Necklace

This is a knockout piece. Why choose between exotic or romantic? Get them both in this Carved Cross Necklace from Peggy Li. I choose the 24″ chain, because I like wearing necklaces long. The white cross is actually bone and carved n both sides. Some 24k gold overlay outlines the modern cross shape, and a little drop of sparkling amethyst is added on the chain above. When paired with the small gold lotus earrings in the gold vermeil the combination was perfect. These are one of those unique necklaces you just fall in love with, you know?

For more, visit Peggy Li Creations

Peggy Li on Facebook

Peggy Li on Twitter

Disclaimer: Items sent for review, and the opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced in any direction.

Brooke Mosher is the Canadian jewelry designer behind Brooklyn Designs. Do you love jewelry seen on TV shows? Her jewelry has been seen on popular shows like The Secret Circle and Hart of Dixie.

“…you can look like you’re a celebrity who has casually and effortlessly put together a stunning look that subtly matches without the aide of a stylist.” – Jessica Rae

My Personal Experiences / Brooklyn Designs Review: I received a pair of earrings to review, the Silver Night Swarovski Gold-filled Drop Hoops. They’re from the Fall 2011 collection. Super sparkly, these are so elegant and long (measuring in at 3 inches) so they’re sure to make a statement. Even the gold on these earring is really shiny and that’s because Brooklyn Designs uses 14k gold-filled elements. It makes a huge difference! The earrings are also made with Golden Shadow Swarvorski Crystals (basically clear) that have a checkerboard cut on them so they are dynamic when the light hits them. There are also Silver Night Swarvorski crystals. For me, those are the real stunners! They are such an interesting color of kind of a dark gray violet… they almost change color like a mood ring. They remind me of hematite a little bit. The image on the website does not do these justice at all, and I’m not just saying that – I hate cliches! I highly recommend these earrings.

CLICK HERE for super cute graphics I made, myself! The Secret Circle Jewelry – Spotlight on Brooklyn Designs

The earrings come with a discount for your next purchase, info on what you’ve purchased and a cute little box that make them perfect for gifting. These were going to be given to my one sister for Christmas, but I tell ya… I really want to keep them and buy her something else! Maybe these Brushed Vermeil Hoops with Amethyst & Quartz. I love that they’re big and that they give you a pop of color. I don’t have a ton of earrings with colors in them, you know? Oh, wait, this was what I was going to buy as a present, right, right!

“I feel like there’s a lot of nature, spirituality and romance in her inspirations, which is translated into the jewelry.” – Jessica Rae

Brooke was completely sweet to work with in setting up this review. And I really love her taste level. The jewelry mixes a lot of crystals, 14k gold plated pieces, and pops of aqua and turquoise. Of course, there’s more than just that. I feel like there’s a lot of nature, spirituality and romance in her inspirations, which is translated into the jewelry. I feel like any of these pieces are all going to make you happy to have them in your jewelry box. And what’s more, a lot of the pieces really match up well together so you can look like you’re a celebrity who has casually and effortlessly put together a stunning look that subtly matches without the aide of a stylist.

Something I love about the website is that plenty of the pieces of jewelry will have an image not just of the item, but of the item being worn by someone. This is so important for me when trying to purchase something – I want to see what it looks like when a pair of earrings hangs from an ear lobe, or how much of an impact the size of a pendant has, you know? Most of the jewelry gives you two different views, plus an additional image with someone wearing the piece. It also has zoom functions. Very nice.

The jewelry on the site can be viewed by type (earrings, bracelets, necklaces) or as the Botanical, Bridal, Fancy, Hoops or Classics collections.

Share the Love and Show your Support! (Pretty please?)

Visit: www.brooklyndesigns.ca
Follow: Brooklyn Designs on Twitter
Like: Brooklyn Designs on Facebook

Disclaimer: An item was sent for review but the opinions here are 100% my own and not influenced.

It’s a super long pendant piece you can wear over anything – sweaters, tank tops, etc. Very flexible in terms of how you want to style it. And it’ll work for those who are plus sized or have a large chest, since it’s so long and the pendant is large and has big impact.

I bought the P.F. Changs Orange Chicken Frozen Meal. It requires that you make rice on the side. But rice isn’t hard to make. And, I’m not sure if you’ll believe me, this Orange Chicken Meal was so good that it’s better than when I order my local Chinese food. The chicken was unbelievably tender, the vegetables were good, and the orange sauce was really sweet. I’m planning on buying this in the future for sure. I like to be a lazy cook, and frozen meals are easy for me.

Easy + Delicious is math I can get behind.

View all the frozen meals here. I think I would like to try the Sweet and Sour Chicken, too. Heat, stir, EAT. Yum.

Thanks to P.F. Changs for supporting Chuck.

“Your online access to exquisite fashion jewelry- classic style, new trends & exclusive designer accessories- all at prices you can afford. Looking great isn’t as expensive as you think! There’s no mistaking a woman of style…she makes an entrance. Turns heads. Gets compliments. All without any apparent effort. She knows she doesn’t need to spend a million to look like a million. That’s what style is.” Big name designers carried on the site include Kenneth Jay Lane and Betty Carre.

This Jade necklace is a very nice piece that walks the line of bold and soft. The soft green color keeps it looking classic, while the size of the necklace is exactly what you want – it’s not too small that it fades into your skin but it’s not so large that you feel self-conscious trying to pull it off. I love that it matches a lot of things, has a 2 inch extender chain for varying length, and people notice it right away when I’m wearing it. That’s what you want from a good piece of jewelry! You want that reaction of “that’s so pretty, where did you get that?” and that’s what I’ve experienced. It’s not too fussy but the oval link chain gives it a bit of detail and a stronger presence. The green shows up against my skin, and I ave very fair/pale skin.

Each piece of jewelry gets a “moment” when you receive it. The necklace comes in a little silver/gray pouch with the SusanB emblem which is inside a matching (very nice) box. I love how it’s perfectly gift wrapped and you can easily give these pieces as gifts without having to worry about how to wrap/present them to anyone. And all of that is great.

Update: You do pay for return shipping if you are returning an item, but in my case where an item was sent to me incorrectly the company sent me a way to send it back to them free of charge. I think this is fair.

Visit: Susan B See what you like.
Visit: Details on the Jade Necklace Under $60.
Visit: Susan B Facebook
Visit: Susan B Twitter

Susan b jewelry reviews

Disclaimer: Necklace provided for review.

Here is her BEFORE smile:

Here is her AFTER smile:

I did not purposefully intend for her to have no makeup on in the first picture and then have it on in the second, that’s just how it worked out when I was there to photograph her. As you can see, her teeth aren’t dramatically whiter in the after shot. I like Crest as a brand, but the results speak for themselves, sadly.

Crest 3D 2 Hour Express Whitestrips Review Thoughts

• She has had her teeth whitened before. She says she prefers this way more. Her method is done by a dentist, with a mold of her teeth and a whitening compound. She says it’s easier to use, and it fits her teeth perfectly
• In 2 hours, her teeth were a little whiter, but not very noticeably so. She was disappointed by Crest.
• She felt like there was a lot of gunk on her teeth when she removed the strips
• She felt like the instructions were unclear in terms of which strip went where

I did a 2 hour treatment to review these, too.

My Crest 3D Hour Express Whitestrips Review Thoughts

• These are super easy to use. The instructions are simple. And for the price, it’s fair. Would I buy these again? Yes, but only for a big event that I wanted to impress people for.
• These didn’t give me a lot of whitening. If you say you’d expect/want about 3 levels of whitening, I feel like I only got 1.
• They were comfortable. However I kept wanting to fuss with them. I am a perfectionist and never felt like they were fitting tightly enough. And as the 2 hours wore on I felt like the strips were getting air pockets.
• You can talk while you wear these, but it feels a bit awkward. I spent the time showering and watching Project Runway.
• I would see if I could do two of the two hour treatments in a day, and maybe that would give me enough whitening power. It’s not magic, and I do hope Crest keeps working on making these better.
• My tip would be to apply the strips super, super slowly – even slower than the instructions say to. That way you can insure they’re as tightly against your teeth as possible.

What life event would you whiten for in just two hours with Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips?

Check out 3DWhitening.com, the Crest Whitestrips Facebook page (“like” them, I did!)… and here are even some Crest COUPONS! A box is $59.99 for 4 treatments that will last you a year.

Disclosure: I am participating in a Crest 3D White 2-Hour Express Whitestripes campaign hosted by One2One Network. This is a sponsored post with a product to review submitted. All opinions are 100% my own

And whitening her teeth is something she likes to do, because she drinks lots of coffee and can get self conscious about her smile. So, when I got a package of these whitestrips to sample, I told her she could be the first one to try them out. And I’m going to post her Crest 3d white strips review for you guys.

What makes these new white strips better is that they’re supposed to grip to your teeth in a tighter way (there are “notches that wrap and conform to teeth”), and they have a thicker layer of ingredients which is why these only take 2 hours.

Here is her “before” smile:

What we’re expecting from the Crest 3D 2 Hour Express Whitestrips

• Just 2 hours of time to a whiter smile, 1 treatment should only need 2 hours
• Tooth stains under surface should be removed
• A whiter smile that lasts for 3 months
• For the white strips to fit better than previous strips
• No gunk when the strips are removed

Times When I Might Whiten my Teeth aka some Suggestions for You

• During a 2 hour road trip to the world’s best custard. Hey, you go the distance if it’s good enough, okay?
• Catching up on Project Runway season 9 episodes (That Bert is such a jerk!)
• Spending a Saturday tweeting that I’m doing chores and laundry, but really just watching more Project Runway

What life event would you whiten for in just two hours with Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips? A blind date where you hope the guy looks like a distant relative of Jon Hamm? Last minute hail mary job interview? Tell me!

Check out 3DWhitening.com, the Crest Whitestrips Facebook page (“like” them, I did!)… and here are even some Crest COUPONS! A box is $59.99 for 4 treatments that will last you a year.

Disclosure: I am participating in a Crest 3D White 2-Hour Express Whitestripes campaign hosted by One2One Network. This is a sponsored post with a product to review submitted. All opinions are 100% my own.