Julie's Journal

A couple weeks ago I got the chance to review a new book, thanks to One2One Network. They sent me a copy of Eileen Goudge’s new book Once In A Blue Moon, and I also have a copy of the book to giveaway to one of my readers!

Lindsay and Kerrie Ann are sisters who have known hardship from an early age. Without guidance from their neglectful mother, their only aid came from an unlikely source, a retired exotic dancer by the name of Miss Honi Love. When the girls’ mother was sent to prison, Miss Honi tried unsuccessfully to save them from being separated and sent into foster care.

Neither sister’s expectations are met when they’re finally reunited. But as the two sisters engage in the fiercest battles of their lives, they are at last drawn together despite their differences, restoring belief in the unshakable bond of family.

Once In A Blue Moon isn’t normally the type of books I read, but I found myself really enjoying it and getting attached to the characters. It’s very well written and easy to read. If it sounds like the type of book that you enjoy then enter my contest to win a copy!

How To Enter the Once In A Blue Moon Giveaway
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Leave a comment on my blog about this book. Why you’d like to read it, or if you’ve read any other Eileen Goudge’s before.
2. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
3. Follow @EileenGoudge on Twitter.
4. Become a fan of Eileen Goudge on Facebook
5. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: Enter to win the book Once In a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge from @JustJulie http://tinyurl.com/yho9eda

Contest ends Wednesday November 4, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email. You have 36 hours to respond.

I’ve got another giveaway for you guys, and this one is sponsored by UPrinting. They are giving me a coupon code for 100 free postcards for one of my lucky readers. They also gave me 100 free postcards to host this giveaway, so we both win! If you own your own business, postcards are a inexpensive way to get the word out to potential clients. You can also use them for birthdays, holiday greetings, etc. Get creative!

Postcard Giveaway from UPrinting.com

• 100 Postcards for One Lucky Winner (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)
• Sizes: 4″x6″
• Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss
• Printing: Full color both sides
• Specifications: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US (Canadian residents pay shipping and taxes. Offer not available to residents outside of the US and Canada)

How To Enter the Postcard Giveaway from UPrinting.com
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Leave a comment on my blog about how you will use the 100 Free Postcards if you are the winner.
2. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post and to UPrinting.com
3. Follow @UPrinting on Twitter.
4. Become a fan of UPrinting on Facebook
5. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
6. Subscribe to receive Julie’s Journal in your email
7. Tweet: Enter to win the 100 Free Postcards Giveaway from @JustJulie and @UPrinting http://tinyurl.com/yf8o97o #giveaway

Contest ends Thursday October 29, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose one random winner from all the entries and notify you by email with your coupon code on November 6, 2009.

Restriction: Free UPS Ground Shipping in the USA. Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes. Residents of other countries are not eligible.

We are taking a day off today from Blog World Expo today to make room for our new bed! Last month I won a Labor Day Twitter contest (Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite) which included a TempurPedic Celebrity Bed from Mattress Firm, a Premium Mattress Protector, Allerzip Mattress and box spring encasement, and four Allerzip pillow protectors from Protect A Bed.

They are delivering it next Friday morning, and I’m so excited! The thing is our bedroom is really small, and we currently have a queen size bed, so we need to clean up and rearrange a little to make the king size bed fit. My side of the bed is always neat and tidy, but I can’t say the same thing for my husbands side. He’s such a pack rat, and has more books stacked up over there than your local library has in their whole building.

So I’ve got him cleaning up his mess, while I am sitting on the bed supervising the project. Maybe I’ll let him take a break and make me breakfast too? LOL!

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. I have a weird hang-up about Hamburger Helper, but this was pretty tasty. I was surprised.

Latricia (1stopmom), Lisa (Growing Up Mo), Jennifer (J. Leigh Designz) and Jeri (Pink and Posh)

Garden-Fresh Lasagna
Prep Time: 35 Min
Start to Finish: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
• 2 1/2 cups hot water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 box Hamburger Helper® lasagna
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 small tomato, coarsely chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 small bell pepper, coarsely chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced (1 cup)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)

1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.
2. Stir in hot water, milk, uncooked pasta and sauce mix (from Hamburger Helper box), oregano and garlic powder. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
3. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato, bell pepper, zucchini and cheese. Cover; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; uncover (sauce will thicken as it stands). Stir before serving.

Nutrition Information:
5 servings
1 Serving: Calories 370 (Calories from Fat 140)
Total Fat 16g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 1g)
Cholesterol 70mg
Sodium 1020mg
Total Carbohydrate 31g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 8g)
Protein 26g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 10%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 20%; Iron 15%
Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 3 Medium-Fat Meat
Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. This was really tasty, and I don’t normally like skillet dinners.

Kate (Mom Trends), Amanda (Gourmet Mom on the Go), and Jill (Musings from Me)

Amanda from Gourmet Mom on the Go made her’s extra special so the kids would like it. Great presentation Amanda! You are safe from elimination this week

Spicy Skillet Chicken
Prep Time: 25 Min
Start to Finish: 25 Min

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 can (15 oz) Progresso® black beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 can (11 oz) Green Giant® Mexicorn® whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, undrained. Or 2 cans (11 oz) Green Giant® Southwestern style corn, undrained.
• 1/3 cup Old El Paso® Thick ‘n Chunky salsa
• 2 cups hot cooked rice

1. In small bowl, mix chili powder, salt and pepper; sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken breasts.
2. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).
3. Stir in beans, corn and salsa. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are hot. Serve with rice.

Nutrition Information:
4 servings
1 Serving: Calories 510 (Calories from Fat 80)
Total Fat 9g (Saturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0g)
Cholesterol 85mg
Sodium 1070mg
Total Carbohydrate 63g (Dietary Fiber 11g, Sugars 5g)
Protein 43g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 8%; Iron 25%
Exchanges: 3 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 4 1/2 Very Lean Meat, 1 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 4