Album Review: Holiday Wishes by Idina Menzel

It's November which means holiday albums are coming out from many artists. Idina Menzel is a Broadway star. You might know her from Rent or Wicked. And unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard her voice many times singing "Let it Go" from Frozen.

I first heard about Holiday Wishes when the music video (embedded below) for Baby It's Cold Outside went viral because of the cute kids. The album version of the song is not as modified as the video version but the song still sounds amazing.

Many of the classics on Menzel's album have a jazz edge to them. It's nice because while they're the same old songs we hear every year, they have a fresh sound. My favorite classic on the album is Menzel's version of All I Want For Christmas Is You. I also like that she included When You Wish Upon A Star which isn't normally considered a holiday tune.

There is one original song, December Prayer, on the album. It's a very simple song with minimal instrumental sounds behind. I could clearly hear piano, harp, and oboe before more instruments filled the chords and bass. The lyrics are touching and while I don't see it reaching the "classic" level of other holiday music, I think it's a wonderful song that will touch everyone's heart.

Chorus:
Hear the song within the silence,
See the beauty when there's nothing there,
Sing a song within a silence that hope and love are everywhere,
And when the quiet night is falling watch an angel dancing in the air
To the song, the song within the silence a December Prayer,
A December Prayer. (Source: Metro Lyrics)

Disclaimer:I participated in the Idina Menzel Holiday Wishes album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.

Giveaway: Onion Crunch

Last month I posted a product review for Onion Crunch. I had to delay the attached giveaway because of technical problems but I figured it out now. This giveaway will end on February 17, 2013 at midnight (est).

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Disclaimer: Onion Crunch sent me a sample of their product along with an additional sample to give a reader. All opinions are 100% mine.

Product Review: Onion Crunch

Back in November I posted about discounts for green bean casserole. At the time, I mentioned a specific brand of onion because it was the most common and had a coupon available. After making that post, I was contacted by Onion Crunch that told me about their great product and offered me a sample to try and a second bottle to give a lucky reader.

Onion Crunch is a different brand of crunchy onion and I was intrigued when they arrived. The bits look more like real onion pieces than the other brand. Since I only really make casserole for the holidays, I decided to try one of the other suggestions that Onion Crunch offers. I put their onions on a hamburger. I've been known to put sauteed onions on a burger and I've been known to put potato chips in sandwiches (don't laugh) but this crunchy onion was a nice addition to my burger. It added both that onion flavor and that crunchy texture.

I can't really compare the prices because Onion Crunch is only sold at one chain of grocery stores near me and it's not one I frequent unless they're hosting a really good sale. When I compared pricing on Amazon, the Onion Crunch is $3 cheaper for a 12oz package than the other brand.

A giveaway to go along with this review will be coming soon. I had some trouble with Rafflecopter on the last giveaway so I'm trying to decide if I will use it again or go back to comments with random.org selecting a winner. Keep an eye out for the giveaway very soon.

Disclaimer: Onion Crunch sent me a sample of their product along with an additional sample to give a reader. All opinions are 100% mine.

Music Review: Red

Taylor Swift has continued in her career with another album of songs full of bubbly country tunes about exs, relationships, and dreams of finding the right guy. I must admit that I feel bad for any guy that dates Taylor Swift. While leading to some interesting songs, they seem to go down in pop culture fame for the break-up.

This twelve track album will be an instant hit with Swift fans. I personally liked "Stay, Stay, Stay" the best. This song is the exact opposite of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" which was the first single off the new album. "Stay, Stay, Stay" has some catchy beats. The lyrics are about a possible dramatic break-up and the girl begging him to stay. She continues by discussing every reason she wants the guy to make it work.

Another good track from the album is "22". This song is about a group of friends having a great night out. It also has a fun beat which will keep you dancing.

I know that Taylor Swift is still technically classified as country, but this album had a much more pop feel to it. She is trying to cross genres and I feel that she lost her country roots a little. That being said, I really enjoyed the entire album. Swift is a great story teller through her music.

The digital album is currently available on iTunes and Amazon. Hard copies of the album are available at most retailers. Some stores, such as Target, are offering a deluxe version which includes additional remixes.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Red by Taylor Swift to write this album review. I did not receive any additional compensation. All opinions are 100% mine.

Product Review and Giveaway: Nestle Coffee-mate Natural Bliss

Lots of people like good creamers for their coffee, but I don't know anyone that says "I want to add hydrated oil and corn syrup to my coffee this morning." Enter the newest line of creamers from Coffee-mate, Natural Bliss. Each 16oz bottle of Natural Bliss has only natural ingredients and I promise you can pronounce all of them: nonfat milk, heavy cream, sugar, and all-natural flavor.

“Coffee-mate has been the coffee creamer brand of choice for generations, and millions of people can choose from more than twenty flavors to personalize their cup of coffee,” said Vilma Livas, Marketing Manager, Nestlé Coffee-mate. “Now with Natural Bliss we’re giving people who whiten their coffee with dairy an opportunity to experience the delicious flavor that Coffee-mate is known for in a brand new, all-natural way.” (Source: Natural Bliss Press Release)

I recently tried the new line of natural creamers and was really impressed. I tasted the caramel flavored Natural Bliss. It complemented the flavor of the coffee and didn't leave an after taste. It took me three stores to find the caramel flavoring but I did see the vanilla and sweet cream at all the local grocery stores. I'm not sure if this is because caramel is a newer flavor or because it's less popular.

I would recommend the Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss to anyone that likes a sweet addition to their coffee without the guilt of artificial ingredients.

Are you interested in trying Nestle Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss yourself? Enter the giveaway to win some coupons for a free 16oz bottle. The coupons will expire on December 31, 2012.


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Disclaimer: I was given a free coupon for a free container of Coffee-mate Natural Bliss to review. I also received additional coupons for a giveaway.  There was no compensation for this review and all opinions are mine. Any facts regarding the products were provided by Coffee-mate.

Giveaway: Hillshire Farm

Did you read my review of Hillshire Farm's gourmet creations? Now it's time to enter the giveaway for a coupon that's good for any Hillshire Farm product.

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Disclaimer: I was given a free coupon for a free Hillshire Farm's Gourmet Creation to review. I also received additional coupons for a giveaway which will be featured on an independent post.  There was no compensation for this review and all opinions are mine. Any facts regarding the products were provided by Hillshire Farm.

Product Review: Hillshire Farm Gourmet Creations

Remember this delicious looking creation I tweeted from BlogHer'12?

After the conference, I received an email from Hillshire Farm asking me to review their products and host a giveaway on Making Cents of It. Of course I immediately said yes because I had already gone out searching for the Gourmet Creations Chicken Apple with Gouda Cheese which I had a few times at the conference (it was yummier than the lunch being served so I went back). As a new product it's not easy to find yet. I went to Shoprite, Pathmark, and Acme before finally finding it on the shelf at Giant. That's right, I went to four different stores searching for this product but that's how much I enjoyed the sample.

While apple doesn't sound like something you'd want in your sausage, it gives it an amazing flavor. It was sweet, but not too sweet. I cooked it up in the morning to pair with my eggs for a simple breakfast. The sweet flavor complemented, but didn't overpower the rest of the breakfast.

The new Gourmet Creations come in a total of four varieties. I also tasted the Beef & Jalapeno with Monterey Jack Cheese but it was too hot for me. As a point of reference, I'm not a fan of spicy food and even find mild wings to be too hot at most places. Therefore, if you like a kick you can't go by my opinion of the food.

Don't forget to check out the Hillshire Farm's website for recipe ideas. The Gourmet Creations were even featured on Rachel Ray.

Disclaimer: I was given coupons for free Hillshire Farm's products to review. I also received additional coupons for a giveaway which will be featured on an independent post. There was no compensation for this review and all opinions are mine.

Giveaway: Nescafe Memento

Nescafe has recently come out with an instant cappuccino product, Memento. All you need to enjoy the beverage is 8 ounces of hot water. The best part is Memento is guilt free because it's only 100 calories per cup. As part of my product review, I received a box of the Cappuccino flavor for a lucky reader.

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Disclaimer: I was given a free sample of Nescafe Memento to review. I also received a box of Nescafe Memento Cappuccino for a giveaway which will be featured on an independent post.  There was no compensation for this review and all opinions are mine. Any facts regarding the products were provided by Nescafe.

Product Review: Nescafe Memento

Nescafe has recently come out with an instant cappuccino product, Memento. All you need to enjoy the beverage is 8 ounces of hot water. The best part is Memento is guilt free because it's only 100 calories per cup.

Memento comes in three flavors: cappuccino, mocha, and caramel latte. I received a sample of each flavor to try for this review. I found the beverages to be similar to convenient store cappuccinos. It had flavor and foam but you could tell it was made from a powder and not fresh. Similar to other coffee beverages, you might need to customize your beverage to taste with sugar or cream but you might not.

• Cappuccino - After taking a sip, I added a single packet of sweetener to the mug. The flavor was good but I like my drinks sweet.

• Caramel Latte - The caramel flavor was mild but good. I didn't need to add anything to this flavor sweetness wise and I enjoyed it.

• Mocha -The mocha was my favorite of the three flavors but I needed to add a sweetener to this flavor as well. It tasted good plain, but I just like a sweeter chocolate taste. I prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate any day for that reason. Just like the caramel, the mocha flavor was muted but you could still taste it. I did notice that the mocha, unlike the other flavors, had a layer of powder on the bottom of the mug so the muted flavor might have been because I didn't stir enough.

Coffee is one of those amazing drinks that everyone will take differently. That's why there are so many types of strengths, flavors, and add-ins. Your tastes may differ from mine so I recommend trying these drinks. In fact, Nescafe believes the same thing and is currently offering free samples of Nescafe Memento on their website. The sample will come with two packets but the site doesn't state which flavors.

Nescafe Memento also told me about the upcoming feature on the NescafeUSA Facebook page. Starting in September 2012, you can read the unprofessional opinions of a celebrity coach. I'm not sure exactly what that means but it sounds like something funny for your coffee break.

Disclaimer: I was given a free sample of Nescafe Memento to review. I also received additional samples for a giveaway which will be featured on an independent post.  There was no compensation for this review and all opinions are mine. Any facts regarding the products were provided by Nescafe.