Small Talk Six - The Strange Things I Have Eaten

It's time for Small Talk Six and this week it took a second to figure out what on earth I was going to list for my 6 of the most exotic or the strangest things you’ve ever eaten.  I really do not feel that I have eaten that many strange or crazy things but once you read my list - you can let me know.

1.  Eel Soup - I went to a Japanese restaurant with several friends (while I was still single) and no one wanted to try the eclectic things on the list.  I am not afraid to try new things so I gave it a try.  While it was strange looking, it was actually quite good. 

2. Toad in the Hole - I think the name is stranger than the actual food.  I have quite a few relatives that live in England because that was where my mom was born and raised.  I was also born there so when I go back there, I have the opportunity to try many yummy but eclectic sounding dishes. 

3.  Raw Calamari - my Uncle Sean dared me to eat this with him when we were in Brighton, England.  Always up for the challenge - I tried it.  It was bad but I had braces on so I literally chewed the calamari for hours as it is very much like a rubber band and kept getting stuck in my braces. 

4.  Beans on Toast - another very yummy while not so good sounding English dish.

5.  French Fries in Mayonnaise - this is delicious.  If you haven't tried, you really should but it must be Real Mayonnaise.

6.  Ants - my dad came back from Survival School with the Air Force and taught us bugs can actually be eaten when you are starving.  He dared me to try one and I never turn done a dare.  (Just so you know, if you are thinking of daring me to do something - I am now a mother.  It is not wimpy or weak of me to turn them down.)  Ants really aren't that bad.

Do you have any strange or exotic foods that you have tried?

Bloghopping Saturday - Make Some One's Day With a Comment

Please forgive me!  Last week due to a funeral, sickness, and returning home - I did not comment on anyone's post.  I hope that you all still received comments from one another.  I promise to comment this week!  
 
It's time to spread a little comment love around the blogosphere.  If you have a special post, review, or giveaway that you would like some comments on, feel free to link up.  Every Saturday night, I blog hop and leave comments on other's blogs.  It is always nice to know who wants them and what ones they need the most.  Feel free to link up as many posts as you would like.  Please do not link to your whole blog - direct link to the post you would like comments on. 

Have a great Saturday and let's spread some love.  :-)

Staying Hydrated with U-Turn 2 Tap

April is Earth month and I love how we are all being more conscious of how some products are really not good for us to use.  While they aren't great for the Earth, they really aren't good for us either. BPA, plastics, chemicals, and a lot of other things make up the products we use and these things are quite bad for us.

As my family prepares for summer day trips, camping, and other summer activities - I am looking for ways to reduce our plastic water bottle purchases.  Plastic water bottles are the most convenient but they are expensive and really do just fill our garage dumps with unnecessary plastics.

I was introduced to U-Turn 2 Tap just this week and fell in love with these adorable stainless steel water bottles.  The graphics on the 12 oz "Stitch Heart U" bottle that we were sent are really cute and perfect for my 2 year old daughter.  The bottle, as she gets bigger, will remind her that mommy and daddy love her and that recycling is fun.

Each U-Turn 2 Tap bottle comes with stainless steel loop top and a BPA free sport cap.  I have never seen a sport cap on a stainless steel water bottle before but love it.  I have actually stayed away from them because I didn't like that they didn't have the sports cap.  The 12 oz bottle was the perfect size for Gracie to use and with the sport cap, easy for her to drink from without it getting it all over her.

While you may think these bottles are cute, you may be wondering why you should switch from plastic to stainless steel. I decided to share a few things from U-Turn 2 Tap's website that I really loved and that explains the benefits of switching to their water bottles and what makes them unique.

Benefiting the body: U-Turn 2 Tap's stainless steel water bottles are made from 304 grade 18/8 stainless steel that is always BPA and Phthalate free. The bottles are a safe, healthy alternative to the dangers of plastic toxins.

Benefiting the community: U-Turn 2 Tap contributes to programs that offer children the tools they need to create and experience art in all forms. With funding rapidly being stripped from the education system, it is our goal to ensure that programs for art and art therapy are supported.

Benefiting the community: U-Turn 2 Tap contributes to programs that offer children the tools they need to create and experience art in all forms. With funding rapidly being stripped from the education system, it is our goal to ensure that programs for art and art therapy are supported.

You can purchase these adorable stainless steel water bottles from U-Turn 2 Tap starting at $12.95.  

Disclosure: This review is based on my own honest unbiased opinion of this product. You may or may not agree with my opinion. I was sent product free of charge to review. No one from the U-Turn 2 Tap was involved in the writing of this post. I was not paid to write this review.

Yoplait YoPlus - 50 Free Coupons for Free Yogurt!

I love Yoplait Yoplus yogurt and love to start my day with it. I love that it contains the natural Probiotics that I need and isn't overloaded with sugars. 

Yoplait has generously offered to allow the first 50 EmpoweringMommy.com readers to receive their own free coupon for Yoplait YoPlus yogurt.  You will need to click Free Yogurt in the image above.  Complete the information in the form that shows up (Blogger Name, URL, and Twitter are not required.)  and Yoplait will mail you the coupon.  I'm guessing these will go fast so you'll want to fill in the form quickly. 

If you do not get the free coupon, you can always click on the $1/1 printable coupon in the image above. 

About Yoplait YoPlus yogurt:

• The newly reformulated Yoplait YoPlus yogurt provides important health benefits in every cup, with the great taste consumers expect from Yoplait

• Now, with 20 percent of the Daily Value of antioxidant vitamins A and E, a blend of special probiotic cultures and fiber for digestive health, as well as calcium and vitamin D for bone health, YoPlus offers a delicious way to get three steps closer to healthy, balanced living

• YoPlus Flavors include Blackberry Pomegranate, Blueberry Acai, Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach and Cherry

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post.  Yoplait provided me with the information to write this post.  All writings and opinions are my own. 

Adorable Boy Fashions From The Baby's Bundle

Cute boy fashions are hard to come by so when I find them - it's hard not to fall in love.  The Baby's Bundle is one of those places that is not hard to spend a fortune on.  This adorable Tiny Tie onesie is the perfect addition to Gabriel's wardrobe because he can wear it both for play and even to church on a Wednesday night.

I just love cute and high quality it is.  He look like a little man but be all boy at the same time.  The high quality material was a life saver because he worn it one time and had a major blow out.  I put a little Oxiclean on the stain and the shirt came out looking brand new.

You can take a look at all the adorable Tiny Tie onesies and shirts, The Baby's Bundle has to offer here.  I love them and she has so many other wonderful products to love.  

Collecting Your Coupons For CVS Deals!

Print, gather, or order your coupons this week so you don't miss the great deals coming next week at CVS:

Dial NutriSkin, $5.49 (Limit 1)
Get $4.50 ECBs
$1/1 Dial NutriSkin printable (IE) or printable (FF)
FREE after coupon

John Frieda Collection Shampoo or Conditioner, $4.99 (Limit 1)
Get $5 ECBs wyb 3
$3/1 John Frieda Shampoo or Conditioner from the SS 03/07/10 insert
$0.33 each after 3 coupons and ECBs!

Also make sure that you scan your CVS card at CVS this week for a possible $1/1 CVS toilet paper coupon.  It will be 2 for $1 next week - making it free!  

I just love free.  How about you?

Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!

Looking for extra coupons, visit My Coupon Hunter to purchase them!  I buy coupons every week and this is how we stock on items that I either don't get the coupons for or need more of.  

Starting A Blog: Linky Etiquette

Do you participate in MeMes and link up at as many blogs as have Simply Linked or MrLinky widgets?  If you don't, you should - it does help drive traffic to your site.  It draws in new readers and some may even stay awhile to check out your blog. 

I offer two link ups a week - one on Wednesday for Wordless Wednesday and one on Saturday for Bloghopping Saturday.  I have quite a few people link up and I love visiting the blogs that link up.  I do not expect comments in return - I just do it because I love it. 

However, for those that use these link up times or others that are placed all over the blogosphere, did you know that there is proper etiquette for using these widgets?  Here it is:  Always comment on the post that you link up on. 

Why? 

1.  In a small way, it thanks the blogger who has provided a way for you to get free traffic to your site.  That blogger has basically given you free advertising to your site when they really didn't have to do so. 

2.  The blogger who provided the widget for you is more than likely to visit the sites that commented on her site.  She might skip the links that didn't comment because she may feel it is a waste of her time as you didn't take the time to acknowledge her post.  Some link ups like giveaways and Bloghopping Saturday are harder to comment on and do not necessarily need a comment; however, Wordless Wednesdays and memes like that should be commented on.  These bloggers love the comments like you do. 

3.  Commenting on other blogs can build your Google Page Rank as well as cause others to visit your site.  Commenting is an important part of networking your blog so the more you comment the better off you are. 

What are your thoughts?  Are you more likely to visit a blogger who has visited you and commented on your site?