Giveaway ~ The No Stress Weight Loss Guide

Giveaway ~ The No Stress Weight Loss Guide

Can falling in love help you lose weight?

According to Nancy Bryan, author of Thin is a State of Mind, The No-Stress Weight Loss Guide, the answer is yes!

Easier said then done, and what if you are not looking for love and still want to lose? Then Thin is a State of Mind is a book you will want to read and Author Nancy Brian is offering my readers one to giveaway. Keep reading on how to enter the giveaway.

Thin is a State of Mind is emphatically not a diet book but a problem solving book, thus should be read before attempting any weight loss. The value of the book is that it demonstrates how one solves problems better if one can manage to bypass the anxiety-ridden thoughts produced by the conscious mind.

Anyone who has ever tried and failed at losing weight deserves to be given the mental tools to help achieve success the Thin is a State of Mind offers.

Readers of Thin is a State of Mind will also learn:
• How anxiety can make you fat – and what can be done to prevent this.
• Why it is that falling in love is one of the best weight-loss tricks there is.
• Why happiness makes people thin, not the other way around.
• Why weight loss is a time of learning for the body; how to stop “trying” to lose weight and let the body do its job rather than getting in the way.
• Why focusing on trivia such as obsessively counting calories is counterproductive, as is the application of “willpower.”
• What weight loss has in common with surfing.

Thin is a State of Mind helps readers embark on the path toward these inner, and then outer, changes. It gives readers the minute details of how, exactly, to encourage the body to become healthy from the inside out. It includes methods such as relaxation or meditation, as well as effective approaches to achieving digestive fitness and body awareness.

To enter the giveaway, please share a comment below. It can be anything related to dieting wether you have a great tip to share, how many diets you have tried, what your vice is, (mine is key lime pie) or anything else you would like to share.

Last day to comment to enter the giveaway is Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Winner is chosen in order of comments by random.org. Winner will be notified via email and the book will be shipped directly from the author to the winner.

About Nancy Bryan
Nancy Bryan, Ph.D., author of this revised and updated edition of Thin is a State of Mind (first published in 1980 by Harper & Row, and subsequently by CompCare Publications), has spent her entire working life as an editor:  in the sixties at The Rand Corporation; in the seventies at an ARPANET research institute; in the eighties at a worldwide employee-benefits consulting firm; and in the nineties for the J. Paul Getty Trust.  In addition to Thin is a State of Mind, Bryan has written a doctoral dissertation on the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop, and has ghostwritten a bestselling self-help book.  Her work has appeared in Vogue, Self, Family Health, and various museum and computer-science publications.  She is currently working on a forthcoming title, Metathinking: Working Knowledge for Women.

Giveaway from Larkburger ~ A Fast Casual Concept Perfect for the Whole Family

Giveaway from Larkburger ~ A Fast Casual Concept Perfect for the Whole Family

When Chef Thomas Salamunovch of the fine-dining restaurant Larkspur in Vail, Colorado had a desire to bring fine dining to the masses, the fast-casual concept of Larkburger was born.

Larkburger is a Colorado based fast-casual gourmet burger chain that is quickly expanding beyond it’s borders. Overland Park, Kansas is the first city outside of Colorado to score this restaurant which opened in early 2017.  Another location is in the works for the Missouri side just off of the County Club Plaza in Kansas City.

I recently had the chance to try it out thanks to a couple of “free burger” cards they sent me.

Guess what? They want to give you some too along with some other Larkburger swag. Two winners are eligible for that and details are below, but first here are the details on the menu and some really cool things you should know about Larkbrger.

The menu is diverse and a perfect place to take the whole family. From burgers to kale and a few things in between everyone can get something they like. I think one of my favorite options is the steamed edamame.

Larkburger Edamame. Chicken and Tuna burgers

Although, I am a sucker for fries, which are hand-cut in-house and are amazing, it is nice to have an unfired option when I am trying to cut back on calories.

The day I visited I had to grab a to go order for my son and I. The sweet girl taking my order was so patient with me as I could not decide what salad to get. I finally decided on the kale salad.

I knew my son would go for a burger but being the picky eater he is I knew I had to order it plain. I got him the traditional Larkburger with meat, cheese and bun which means he missed out on the special sauce which is made from scratch and what I think is the best part! All burgers are cooked to order at your desired temperature and of course served however you want it. All of Larkburgers sauces and dressings that accompany their array of burgers, sandwiches and salads are made in-house using only the freshest ingredients.

Although, I scored a bite of the burger which was tasty even without the sauce, I really enjoyed the kale salad and appreciate the diversity of the menu items Larkburger offers. It makes it super easy for carnivores and vegetarians alike to both order something that will satisfy their appetite. As I mentioned before it is great place to take the whole family. Not only do kids under 12 eat free on Monday’s with an adult purchase, it allows mom who may be watching what she eats get something satisfying when the rest of the family is craving burgers and fries.

I do need to mention that although a burger is going to have more calories then kale, you don’t need to feel as guilty if you indulge in one at Larkburger. The burgers are fresh and made from local Black Angus beef. That in itself is already going to be lower in calories than the average processed fast food burger that is shipped frozen from who know where.

Everything is fresh at Larkburger including the tomatoes which ripen in an in-house cabinet until they are at peak flavor and the house-cut fries are cooked in a trans free canola oil.

The Larkburger with Hand-Cut Fries

 

I recently attend a blogger event they had and got a little swag myself along with some tasty samples.

Larkburger Swag

 

Larkburger Chili

Larkburger Rocket Power Salad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larkburger Salted Caramel Shake

Apart from having great food, Larkburger is also kind to the environment and takes sustainability seriously.  Outside of the condiment packets and juice and milk cartons, everything is compostable. Every napkin, utensil, wrap, cup, bag, box and straw! The size of the restaurant trash can is no larger than a 9×13 baking dish. The space and decor is sleek and clean with the chairs made from recycled materials and the walls are reclaimed cypress wood. In addition, their fry oil is recycled and converted into alternative fuel and 100% of the electricity usage is offset by purchased wind credits.

Larkburger Decor

Larkburger also is committed to supporting local and will source beer and soda from the region the restaurant is in to serve at that location. For a list of all Larkburger location visit their website.

Now in order to get free burgers and swag from Larkburger all you have to do is comment below on how you top your burger!

Two winners will be drawn using random. org from the number of entries. Example first commenter is number on and so on. Contest ends midnight Monday, June 12.  Winners will be notified via email so be sure to leave a valid email with your comment. Good Luck!

 

 

Ticket Giveaway ~ TORUK – The First Flight – Cirque du Soleil Wichita, Kansas Tour Stop

Ticket Giveaway ~ TORUK – The First Flight – Cirque du Soleil Wichita, Kansas Tour Stop

Toruk – The First Flight is Cirque du Soleil’s newest show and will be running January 26-29, 2017 at Intrust Bank Arena and I have tickets to giveaway to the Wichita, Kansas tour stop.

With James Cameron’s input, Toruk – The First Flight is a prequeal to AVATAR, and takes 27 semi trucks full of props and equipment to pull off this visually stunning traveling show.

The show takes place in the majestic land of Pandora, thousands of years prior to AVATAR. This stage production follows two adolescent Omaticaya boys who are courageously trying to save the Tree of Souls from a natural disaster. In order to keep the tree safe they must travel through the Floating Mountains and find the red and orange predator, Toruk, who rules the Pandoran sky.

 

If you have ever experienced a Cirque du Soleil show you know the talent, detail and theatrical phenomenon these shows entail. The majority of the magnificent Cirque du Soleil shows primarily run in Las Vegas with a select few that tour different cities. How Wichita got lucky enough to get a stop on their tour I will never know. How exciting to have such worldwide sensation grace our town.

I am set to check out the show on January 26 and have a giveaway courtesy of the show for two 2-packs for the Jan 26 show as well! I also have a special link that gets you a $10 discount on tickets should you not win the giveaway but still want to go tot he show. This link discounts Scale 1 and 2 lower bowl. Tickets to the show would make a great gift this time of year for the AVATAR fan in your life. Full price and other seat section tickets can be purchased here.

To enter the giveaway for the tickets just comment below if you have ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show. Contest will end midnight December 20.  Two winners will chosen using random.org. Each winner will receive 2 tickets. Winners will be notified via email.  Tickets will be available under winners name at the Intrust Bank Arena will call booth the night of the show.

Good Luck!

Photo: Errisson Lawrence Costumes: Kym Barrett © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

New Winter Menu and $25 to try it at Bonefish Grill

New Winter Menu and $25 to try it at Bonefish Grill

bonefish6

The New Winter Menu is now available at Bonefish Grill and I’ve got $25 towards your meal to giveaway for you to try it!

bonefish5

I recently had the chance to use one of the $25 Bonefish cards to check out the new menu and I have to say that although it is only usable on food items, I recommend you splurge a little and get the new Winter White Cosmo! It is so delicious.  My girlfriend and I met for lunch and started the meal with a couple of these beauties.

The white cranberry juice cocktail is studded with real red cranberries that add a festive touch for the holidays.  Not to mention those little gems soak up some of the drinks goodness which makes the entire cocktail edible.

bonefish2

When it came time to decide to have another or not, my girlfriend admitted that if she did it would most likely turn her into a day drinker so we decided to move on to the main course.

With the both of us not being huge seafood fans we went for salads.

I chose the Florida Cobb Salad with wood-grilled chicken, avocado, mango, tomatoes, Blue cheese and citrus herb vinaigrette. My girlfriend ordered the Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad  with roasted corn, black beans, Feta, grape tomatoes, red onion and cilantro lime vinaigrette. When she asked the waitress if chicken could be used instead of shrimp the answer was an astounding yes.

bonefish4

The salads were fresh and delicious.  I loved how the mango on the Florida Cobb is sweet and pairs nicely with the salty blue cheese.

I am also pleased to tell you that the amazing Swordfish and Pumpkin Ravioli is still available. We got an order of this to share, sans the swordfish. You can read about how amazingly delicious it is here.

bonefish7

The staff, food and service at Bonefish Grill is spot on and the is the perfect place to meet for ladies who lunch or really just anybody wanting a great lunch or dinner!

In addition to that fabulous Winter White Cosmo, the New Winter Menu features delights like NEW Lobster, Crab & Artichoke Dip with sweet lobster, lump crab and house-made tortilla chips and succulent Fresh Oscar Mahi Mahi. The wood-grilled fresh Mahi Mahi is topped with jumbo lump crab, freshly steamed asparagus and lemon butter.

bonefish1

With dishes indulgent enough to make any celebration spectacular, Bonefish Grill’s Winter Menu also includes Misoyaki Chilean Sea Bass grilled over oak, then topped with misoyaki marinade and pickled ginger relish, on a bed of sautéed spinach, mushrooms and jasmine rice.

Enjoy pairing these dishes with the tasty Wiinter White Cosmo, featuring Reyka Vodka, Cointreau, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, white cranberry juice and fresh lime juice – handcrafted to order.

bonefish3

Guests can end their meal on a sweet note with seasonal Chocolate Crème Brulé, an indulgent twist on a classic dessert made in-house with a splash of delicious Grand Marnier.

chocolate creme brulee

If your looking for holiday gifts in addition to a great meal, receive a $10 Bonus Card for every $50 purchased in gift cards now through December 31. Plus, enjoy Free Gift Card Personalization with a greeting card and Free Standard Shipping when you purchase online, or pick them up at your local Bonefish Grill.

To score the $25 towards your meal at Bonefish Grill, just comment below on what New Winter Menu item you want to try.  Is is the Winter White Cosmo, The Mahi Mahi, Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster, Crab and Artichoke Dip or Chocolate Crème Brulé?

Contest is open for one week and will end Midnight, Sunday, December 18. Winner will be chosen using random.org and notified via email.

 

Giveaway ~ Two Ways to Win a Famous Tippin’s Pie

Giveaway ~ Two Ways to Win a Famous Tippin’s Pie

 

If you were around the Kansas City area from 1980 to 2004, then you should be quite familiar with Tippin’s and are going to love this giveaway for two ways to win a fabulous Tippin’s pie. If you are not familiar with Tippin’s, here is a little history for you.

Tippin’s restaurants were sprinkled throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas and were a staple to those areas being famous for pie, in about every flavor you could imagine. The last Tippin’s closed in the summer of 2004 and although the restaurants have been closed for quite some time, the pies live on.

Ball’s Food Stores rescued a piece of the Kansas City pie legend, by buying the brand and creating Tippin’s Gourmet Pies. The pies are made fresh all day long locally in Kansas City, Kansas. The pies are available at grocery stores in the Kansas City metro and beyond including St.Louis, Tulsa, Wichita and more.

If your local grocery store happens to be a Dillons or Hen House, now is your chance to win one just in time for the holidays.

Tippin's 9in Pumpkin pie HH 1113

Tippin’s Pumpkin pie

Details on winning the pie will come in a bit but first I have to tell you that if you were a fan of the pies, they are as good now as they were back then.

How do I know? My sister and I recently got together and since this opportunity came up for me to write about their pies, we decided we had better try one for old time sake as she used to work there in high school.

Not all pies are available at every store and some carry only the cream, some just fruit and others both. You can check the pie finder on the Tippin’s website for the closest store near you. If you find there is no store close to you, fear not as you can order them online and they will be shipped right to your door! My store happen to be Dillons in Wichita, Kansas where I found the beloved and classic French silk.

French-Silk

If you end up browsing the Tippin’s website, you will find a page with stories from devoted fans sharing their memories of the beloved restaurant and pie! So in addition to the giveaway, I must share my beloved memories with you, so, back to the French silk pie…

It looked just like we remembered with the fancy lattice design of fresh whip cream topped with hand-made chocolate curls. Although, it looked the same, the question was, did it taste the same?

french silk at home

Tippin’s French Silk

It did! And wow, how that first bite brought back a flood of memories. The chocolate filling was decadent, rich and smooth and there is no mistaking the taste of the real whip cream topping. The combination of the crust which is slightly salty and crunchy paired with creaminess of the sweet pie filling is one reason why this pie is their most popular seller.

I certainly had my share of Tippin’s food and their pies growing up as both of my sisters worked there in high school. After every shift worked, they got to bring a piece of pie home and many times being the little sister, they let me choose the flavor. Between the two of them working we literally had pie everyday!

Tippin’s peanut butter merengue pie was one of my favorites! I also loved the Boston cream pie, coconut cream, key lime, pecan, fresh strawberry when it was in season, German chocolate and of course the classic French silk. Really, I never met one I did not like.

Tippin’s was our families go to place for pretty much every occasion. My mom always gave her parents Tippin’s gift certificates when gift giving was in order and they loved it. When they passed and we were cleaning out their things, we found a stack of the old gift certificates in a cabinet which gave us a good laugh at that much needed time.

In addition to pie, their cornbread and frisco burger was my go to meal. I have mastered the corn bread recipe and still make it to this day for our family.

Years ago, my husbands grandpa was visiting us from out of town and whatever meal I was making included the cornbread. He was a sweet man who was just a little rough around the edges and leaned over to my husband and said, “God damn that woman makes good cornbread.” I can still hear him saying that to this day and is one of my fondest memories. One of these days I will get the cornbread recipe up on the blog for you. If you cannot wait for it just email me and I will send it your way.

Now that I have taken a walk down memory lane, we can get back to business on that giveaway!

If your local grocery store is a Dillons or Hen House you can enter to win! Hen House is offering a gift certificate, good for one Tippin’s Pie and Dillon’s, a gift card for $20.

To enter just leave comment of you favorite Tippin’s memory, favorite Tippin’s pie flavor or if you are not familiar with Tippin’s, your favorite pie flavor in general. Also please specify if your store is Hen House or Dillons.

Contest will be open for one week and close midnight Wednesday, November 16. Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will be notified via email and the certificate or gift card will be sent to you to use on your favorite pie, just in time for the holidays.

TippinsHolidayPies

If you do not have a Hen House or Dillons close to you but know someone who does, please feel free to share this giveaway with them.

Thanks for entering and while you are at it feel free to like and follow all of my social media channels:
Facebook: Discover Finer Living
Twitter: @SharminMeadows
Instagram:sharminmeadows
Pinterest: Sharmin Meadows

Happy Eating and Good Luck!

Giveaway ~ $25 Gift Card to Bonefish Grill and New Fall Menu Review

Giveaway ~ $25 Gift Card to Bonefish Grill and New Fall Menu Review

bonefish

If your a seafood lover, then you will love the giveaway for a $25 gift card to Bonefish Grill to try their new fall menu. Heck, even if you don’t care much for seafood, like myself you will still want this gift card to try out the new Fall Apple Martini and Pumpkin Cream Brûlée along with other menu items that feature chicken, pork and steak.

Bonefish Grill Apple Martini

Bonefish Grill Apple Martini

I was graciously sent a gift card courtesy of Bonefish Grill to try the new menu and the timing could not have been any better. My parents were in visiting from out of town and my daughter was home for the weekend from college so it was a lovely night out and also gave us a chance to try a variety of the dishes.

My husband went for the new swordfish and pumpkin ravioli dish which was quite good. I rarely eat seafood but knew I had to try a bite and to my surprise it was quite mild and almost reminded me of a pork chop. While one bite of the swordfish was enough for me, I could have eaten all of the pumpkin ravioli that was on the plate! The ravioli are filled with a tasty pumpkin filling and topped with crispy onions, crumbled feta and butter. The filling was slightly sweet and paired quite nicely with the salty feta.

Bonefish Grill Swordfish Pumpkin Ravioli

Bonefish Grill Swordfish Pumpkin Ravioli

Never having salmon as a child growing up in a household where mom does not cook fish, my daughter has learned through having it elsewhere that she really likes salmon. So whenever she gets the chance to order salmon, she is thrilled and the new cedar plank bourbon salmon dish did not disappoint her.  I cannot comment on how it tasted as I did not have any but the presentation looked great. The maple and bourbon glaze on top of the fish was perfectly caramelized and I would love to create that glaze for some chicken sometime.

Bonefish Grill Bourbon Cedar Plank Salmon

Bonefish Grill Cedar Plank Bourbon Salmon

I went for the lamb chops. Although, I love lamb I rarely cook it at home so it is always a treat to get it when I see it on a menu.  The lamb was tender and the garlic mashed potatoes paired perfectly. One thing I really like about Bonefish Grill is the ability to choose the sides you want. If your watching carbs it is nice to have quite a few vegetable choices like asparagus, steamed broccoli, sautéed spinach and green beans or if you happen to be carb loading you can go for both the au-gratin potatoes and garlic mash and maybe even some fries!

Bonefish Grill Lamp Chops

Bonefish Grill Lamp Chops

Speaking of au-gratin potatoes, my dad ordered the pork chop and got those yummy cheesy potatoes along side. Being the foodie that I am and of course wanting to tell you about the dishes it is my job to try a bite of everyones dish and I have to say the pork chop was tender and juicy.

Bonefish Grill Pork Chop

Bonefish Grill Pork Chop

My mom ordered Lily’s chicken which is a tender chicken breast with goat cheese, spinach, artichoke hearts and a lemon basil sauce. I don’t know who Lily is but I am glad she shares my love of goat cheese. This dish was my second choice if I had not got the lamb chops, so I was glad that my mom ordered it. iI was tasty as well and the creamy goat cheese paired with the spinach and artichoke reminded me of an elevated version of a spinach and artichoke dip.

Bonefish Grill Lily's Chicken

Bonefish Grill Lily’s Chicken

My husband and daughter took advantage of the Dine and Discover menu where two can dine for $50 which is a special going on right now. This includes an appetizer of their famous bang bang shrimp to share, 2 entrees off of the new fall menu and dessert! I do not know what they put in the creamy spicy sauce that tops the bang bang shrimp but I like it!

Dessert included their new pumpkin creme brûlée, which is perfectly fitting for the season. The filling is comparable to that of the classic pumpkin pie and the toasted sugar crust  and house-made whip cream adds just the right amount of sweetness. And although, it is now fall, I cannot help myself when it comes to key lime pie and will order it year around.  All of the desserts at Bonefish Grill are house-made and the key lime filling is creamy and balanced with being sweet and tart at the same time.

Bonefish Grill Pumpkin Cream Brûlée

Bonefish Grill Pumpkin Cream Brûlée

Well hopefully I have made you hungry and now is your chance to try Bonefish Grill for yourself by entering to win the $25 gift card! To enter just comment below if you have ever been to Bonefish Grill and what your favorite dish is there. If you can’t wait for the gift card giveaway and want to make a reservation to try the new menu now, visit the Bonefish Grill website.

Contest will end midnight Friday, November 4 and winner will be chosen using random.org. Please be sure to include a valid email with your entry as that is how the winner will be notified. The folks over at Bonefish Grill will then mail out the gift card to the winner.  Good luck and Enjoy!

In Good Taste,

Sharm