Romy Raves

If you are anything like me, I steer clear of the Black Friday shopping frenzy because NOTHING is worth waking up at 4am and fighting the crowds for–plus personally I think the whole concept is a psychological marketing trick of more hype than substance. However, I must admit that I was curious this year, so I did venture out at 11am to shop, and honestly there were no great bargains to be had and the crowds were minimal.

In contrast to Black Friday, Cyber Monday has tremendous appeal. From the comfort of your own home, you can scour cyberspace for the best deals around, no crowds, no lines, and no nonsense. You might fare better if you are tech savvy, but there are plenty of bargains to be found.

So in honor of this special day, I would like to share a few special offers from some of my favorite brands that are definitely worth checking out:

• Senna Cosmetics: Cyber Monday Deal, November 30th ONLY. Romy Raves Readers receive 20% off all regular priced items as well as FREE shipping with the code BEAUTY20. Offer only valid 11/30/09. All new customers will also get 11 skincare samples with their 1st order. I LOVE their Form-A-Brow Kit, read my review of this fabulous product HERE

• Skin 2 Skin Care I am a huge fan of this advanced, anti-aging, certified organic skincare line. Read my rave review of this amazing line HERE. And now through December 2009, they are offering my loyal readers 20% off their entire skin care line with the code Romy20

• Sarah Horowitz Parfums This is a fragrance line I adore! The parfums are very unique, artisanal, and the kind of scents that people stop you and ask what you are wearing. To learn more about why I love this line, read my review HERE And now through December 2009, Romy Raves readers will receive a 20% discount on their yummy Perfect Bliss fragrance on either a Perfect Bliss 1.7 oz. eau de parfum or a Perfect Bliss Body Creme when you use the coupon code BLISSOUT09

• Bobbi Brown Cosmetics This is definitely one of my all time favorite cosmetic lines because they always have amazing wearable colors that catch my eye, and their beautiful collections are timeless–LOVE the holiday collections. And here’s an added incentive to check out the current holiday offerings: Bobbi Brown Friends and Family Offer of 20% off any order on BobbiBrown.com from November 30^{th –} December 2^nd

• Jeune d’ age Organics (To Better Skin) This is a wonderful new skin care line that I have been trying out and loving! It is a beautifully made and uses high grade antioxidants and certified organic ingredients that make your skin glow. I am especially loving the Hydrating, Firming Anti-Aging Serum that makes my skin supple and comes in an inspired environmentally friendly recyclable box made of flower seed paper that you can plant and watch it grow, love that! And Romy Raves readers will get 25% off all purchases now through December 7, 2009 by using code RomyRaves.

Happy Shopping!!

Tags: Bobbi Brown, Cyber Monday, Deals, Sarah Horowitz Parfums, Senna, Skin 2 Skin Care

In honor of this important holiday of harvest, diversity and gratitude, I thought I would write a post to make you pause and reflect. Instead of food, lifestyle and beauty, I am going deep. . . I am asking you to take a moment and reflect about your life and appreciate all that you have.

Today, I am posing some questions to you in hopes that it will make you think, appreciate and perhaps get some new perspective on your life. Take a moment to write down your responses to these questions so that you can reflect on them at a later date. In my day job, I am a professional question asker (moderator and previously a therapist), so now I have decided to flex this muscle in my blog, so here goes:

• What are you most thankful for this year? List at least 5 things

• Other than thanksgiving, do you regularly take the time to appreciate all the gifts in your life?

• Have you taken the time lately to thank the people who make your life better? If not, use this post as a gentle reminder to reach out and say thank you

• Have you ever made a gratitude list? If not, every night before you go to bed reflect on three things that you are grateful for and see how it makes you feel in the morning

• Consider making a gratitude collage in honor of Thanksgiving, filled with everything that fills your heart and makes you smile–and use it during those stressful times

• If you have faced any challenges this year, what pulled you through it? Take a moment to be thankful for overcoming hardship

• In terms of being thankful and coming from a place of gratitude, what is the one thing that you want to make sure that you always appreciate and acknowledge not matter what?

• Save these questions and your responses, and reflect on your growth year after year

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit today. I wanted you to know that I am very thankful for this blog, my dedicated readers and the freedom to share my passions with you.

Have a wonderful day and make sure to take the time to absorb the moments,

Romy

The Gratitude Goddess

Tags: gratitude, reflection, Thankful, Thanksgiving

You will be SO glad you came back for my final recipe because it so insanely good! You can serve it as a side dish or even dessert because it’s THAT decadent. But, however you eat it and whenever you eat it, you are going to love it! And it is even good for you too because of the beautiful orange beta carotene in the sweet potatoes, so eat up and know that while you are amusing your palate you are also nourishing your soul. Enjoy and please post and share your fav Thanksgiving recipes too!

Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole

Cooking Light, November 2002

14 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled sweet potato/yams (about 5 pounds)
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Add 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper if you want to add a bit of heat to this sweet dish

Preheat oven to 375° Place potato in a Dutch oven, and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Combine the half-and-half and next 4 ingredients (half-and-half through egg) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add potato to egg mixture; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Spoon potato mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine flour and sugar in a food processor; pulse to combine. Add chilled butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans; sprinkle over potato mixture.

Cover and bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 25 minutes or until the topping is browned and the potatoes are thoroughly heated. Yield: 18 servings (serving size: about 1/2 cup)

Notes: Assemble the potato mixture and sprinkle with the streusel, then freeze the casserole up to 2 weeks ahead of Thanksgiving. Thaw in refrigerator and bake as directed. Or cook just the potatoes a day ahead, mash and refrigerate and proceed with the recipe as directed (starting with the addition of half-and-half) the day you’re serving the dish.

Tags: Cooking Light, Sweet Potato Casserole, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Recipes

Thank you for coming back for the second installment of Romy’s Fav Turkey Day Recipes. All of you foodies (and food lovers) will appreciate the yumminess of this next hearty cold weather appetizer–even the kids LOVE this one! It is savory, tasty, and a wonderful starter to your feast. I love to serve it with eggnog spiked with a little rum-DEELISH! Make sure to come back tomorrow for one final divine Thanksgiving side dish recipe–Enjoy & Bon Appetit!

 

Cheddar Cheese Balls

from Bon Appetit Magazine

 

2 cups all purpose flour

1 pound coarsely grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) chilled unsalted butter, diced

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons chilled whipping cream

Assorted garnishes (such as celery seeds, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and pecan halves; optional)

 

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine flour, cheese, butter, and salt in a processor. Blend until cheese is finely chopped. Add cream; blend until moist clumps form. Roll dough into balls, using 1 level tablespoon for each. Place balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Sprinkle cheese balls with celery seeds, poppy seeds or sesame seeds or press 1 pecan half into each, if desired.

 

Bake cheese balls until cooked through and golden brown on bottom, reversing sheets halfway through baking, about 22 minutes. Cool completely on sheets. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)

Tags: Cheddar Cheese, Eggnog, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Recipes

Monique C., Heather L., Rondah, Tanya, Eva and Nicole L.!

Congratulations Ladies! The six of you are the lucky winners of the Chic-Flic toGo Teeth Whitening Pens & Lip Shine Plumpers Giveaway (a $40 value!)

If you missed my original post, you can read all about this fabulous RAVE worthy product here: http://romyraves.com/2009/11/05/a-chic-whitening-smile-brightening-duo/

Ladies, I hope you enjoy this fun and inspired tooth whitening product! Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway contest.

Please stay tuned for more great giveaway contests of my new fav Raves coming soon! Tell your friends to sign up for Romy Raves so they don’t miss out on these awesome giveaways.

Tags: Chic-Flic, Contest Winners, giveaway, Tooth Whitener