Say Good-Bye to Cavities & Hello to a Happier & Healthier Smile with Colgate Total Advanced

By Erin

Ever since I was a little girl, I did whatever I could to keep my teeth clean to prevent cavities and unnecessary visits to the dentist. How ironic was it then that I spent many days and missed quite a bit of school during my childhood going to the orthodontist and other specialists to be poked and prodded,  and had all sorts of stuff poured into my mouth to make molds for this and that. My mouth was too small for all my adult teeth coming in, I even had to have surgery so that the specialist could dig under my gums to get a couple of adult teeth out.

Once I was finally done with all of that mess during the first half of my high school years, you can bet I wanted to do whatever I could in regard to tooth protection, preventing cavities, and keeping an overall clean mouth and clean happy teeth to not have to go back to the dentist, orthodontist or other specialist unless it was just for a check-up and quick cleaning!

It is so important to have a clean mouth and for tooth protection, to prevent cavities since if your teeth are hurting you, then that pretty much affects everything else you do. It’s no fun at all and hard to get anything done when you have severe pain throbbing in your mouth!  I brush and floss my teeth as well as use mouthwash twice daily  in an effort to improve my oral health and prevent additional cavities. I just started a 2 week regimen to help create a happy and healthy smile with Colgate Total Advanced Products including Colgate 360 Total Advanced Toothbrush, Total Advanced Toothpaste for Whitening  and Total Advanced Mouthwash in Spearmint Surge flavor. I’m excited about using the Colgate Total Advanced products to improve my oral health.

To get my special Colgate goodies I went off to Walgreens and I was happy to see that Spearmint was available for the mouthwash flavor in addition to Peppermint.  If you don’t see the Colgate Total Advanced Mouthwash make sure to ask an associate as the mouthwash was in low supply on the shelves when I went. There were only a few on the display and a couple left in the oral health isle with all of the other mouthwashes. You can view my entire shopping trip here in my Google + Album

The Colgate 360 Toothbrush, Total Advanced Toothpaste and Total Advanced Mouthwash are on sale this week at Walgreen’s if you use your Balance Rewards Card. Through June 22nd they on sale for $3 each and you will also receive a $2.50 Register Reward good to use on your next purchase! When I went they were on sale 2 for $6 and I got a $1 reward to use on my next purchase, so this current deal is even better than what I got! Still you can see I saved quite a bit on my shopping trip by using my Balance Rewards Card!

For the next two weeks I will be using the Colgate Total Advanced products twice daily and I’m excited to see the results. On July 1st I will be sharing a before and after picture, so make sure to stop by to see the results. So be sure to join me on Instagram as that is where I’ll be posting my before and after photos side by side!  Let’s see how Colgate Total Advanced can change that smile. Will you join me? I’d love to see your smiles!

You can also connect with Colgate on Twitter @ColgateSmile  and Facebook

Horsing Around In LA

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Eat. Live. Love. At the Olive Pit Grill!

By Erin

If you love a good Mediterranean/Greek meal, have I found the place for you! Nestled off of Bolsa Chica Street in Huntington Beach (they also have a location in Brea, CA as well) there is a true hidden gem,  the Olive Pit Grill .  This place is a tasty delight for your taste buds. The best part is how fresh the food is and that it is all homemade in-house, which shows in the quality and flavor of every bite. The prices can’t be beat either! We were invited out to try many of their delectable items that they have to offer. I must say, I have been back a handful of times already as I can’t get enough of the stuff!

Their slogan is Eat. Live. Love. It is very evident as when you are here, you are like family, everyone is so warm and friendly. You definitely eat well here. The love and passion for the food can be seen in  everything as well, as everything is homemade daily and made from scratch! You will find many items here that are NOT on their regular menu. They offer many specialty items you will want to check out and try out for yourself! So make sure to ask about them the next time you go!

The first thing we tried was the Frappe “Greek Style” Ice Coffee ($2.25) and the Three Dip Combo ($8.85) which comes with three homemade dips and pita bread. For ours we had the Spicy Cheese, Hummus, & Melitzanosalata (eggplant) dips.

The Ice Coffee was amazing, mine didn’t last long. It was just sweet, smooth, and Frappe enough for my liking. The pita bread was extremely warm, soft and fresh out of the oven! It was tempting to just fill up on the pita bread alone the dips were all so flavorful and tasty!

Next up were three of my many favorites here, the Crispy Asparagus Spears ($6.85), the Grilled Octopus ($9.85), and Calamari ($6.85).

I could seriously eat the Crispy Asparagus Spears all day if I could. Served with a lemon and garlic sauce it’s perfect on a nice summer day (or any day for that matter). The Asparagus was perfectly cooked with a nice crispy, crunch on the outside. The Octopus was also grilled to perfection. If you have not yet tried Octopus before, you are in for a real treat here! You should give it a try. Then the Calamari, which was also a delight to the senses.  Nice and crispy on the outside, but tender and tasty on the inside as well.

Our next set of delectable delights on our Mediterranean tour included some entre items. We ordered the Village Salad “Horiatiki,” the  original Greek salad ($7); which includes tomato, cucumber, feta, kalamata olive,  red onion, sweet pepper, caper, extra virgin olive oil & oregano. The Lamb Chops with Dandelion Greens “Horta” and the Steamed Basmati Rice ($18). We also had an extra side of Roasted Artichoke Hearts ($3.85) and some Mythos- A Greek Lager Beer. ($3.85)

The Lamb Chops were mouth-watering, the best I’ve ever had. Flavorful, tender, finger-licking goodness and it didn’t last long. It didn’t take the Basmati Rice long to disappear either, being very fresh and orgasmic. The Roasted Artichoke Hearts and Dandelion Greens were both firsts for me and were also enjoyable. If you are looking for a nice, light, crisp,  salad without all the lettuce filler in it, then the Village Salad will be a must for you on your visit! I loved how healthy and tasty this salad was, you could taste each ingredient in it and it all blended well together. Mythos was the perfect beverage to wash it all down with as it was very light, smooth, and refreshing.

Then of course, you can’t forget about dessert! Hot Greek Coffee ($1.85), Baklava Ice Cream ($4.85), & Homemade Yogurt with wildflower honey, sour cherries, and toasted walnuts ($4.85).

I am a total sucker for pretty much all things sweet, so I was in heaven with these two choices. I love Baklava, but had never had it with ice cream before. After trying it this way, it left me wondering why I hadn’t thought of having it that way before. A sweet, crispy, crunchy, creamy, treat? Ummm, yes please! Both of these sweet treats provided this sensation. The yogurt is homemade, and the consistency of it was heavenly as it was smooth and left you wanting to lick the plate afterwards. Paired with the wildflower honey, sour cherries, and walnuts this would make a lovely breakfast or afternoon snack too. The portions were all so marvelously large, a true value.

The next time you are in either Huntington Beach or Brea, in Southern California you will definitely want to check this place out. I know I will be back for sure!

Chef Yianni, the mastermind of the Olive Pit Grill. A Southern California native; born in Long Beach, CA and raised in Yorba Linda, CA he has worked with other great award-winning chefs such as Wolfgang Puck, before venturing on his own to create the beloved Olive Pit Grill.

Disclosure: I was given a complimentary meal for purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own. I highly recommend this place if you are in the Southern California area and I have been here quite a few times on my own since this because I love this place so much!

Horsing Around In LA

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Wordless Wednesday: Disney Days

By: Erin

Disney Days are so much fun! The day of Club 33, I got to enjoy a little bit of time in the park. It was in the 90′s on this day, so it was hot hot hot! We spent much of that time just trying to cool off in the shade, people watching and just shooting pictures of whatever caught our eyes. We tried to look for unique things at Disney to take pictures of that we have never taken pictures of before. So hopefully you will see some new things here, even if you are a seasoned Disneyland goer! These are some of my favorites from this very hot, but exciting day! Enjoy!

As the sun set we started to make our way over to Club 33!! Until the next Disney Day….. What are some of your favorite things to photograph while you are visiting the happiest place on earth? Any requests? I can try to get some shots of it the next time I am there for you.

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Disney Dreams DO Come True: The Adventures at Club 33!

By: Erin

Last week, I gave you a little teaser for my upcoming birthday trip to Club 33 that is a hidden jewel inside of Disneyland. Some of you may know what a treat it is to be able to walk into this most magical place. If not, here is a little bit of history on the beloved Club 33. This is one Disney Dream I can now check off my list, but I would go back in a heartbeat if I could! It was a very magical experience. My most magical birthday by far!

If you are a true Disney fan, then Club 33 will be a tremendous, once in a lifetime (or hopefully more than once if you are lucky!) experience. It does have a hefty price-tag along with it, but it is SO worth it for the amazing dining experience and special Disney ambiance, and the food is beyond amazing!

Club 33 is located within Disneyland, quietly hiding above the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square. It is a very exclusive club with a limited membership of only 487. Club 33 is not open to the public. Members may however arrange for their friends and associates to experience the club. Which is how I was able to get a reservation, through a Club 33 member who was so kind enough to make me a reservation for this special occasion! Thanks BL!

Walt Disney felt the need for a special place where he could entertain others in a quiet, serene atmosphere where amazing cuisine and magical decor would meet for the most unique and delightful experience for his guests. Artist Dorothea Redmond was asked to produce watercolor creations of what such a magical place might look like. Walt and his wife then traveled to New Orleans to select many of the beautiful antiques that are on display here at Club 33 today. After years of planning, Club 33 became a reality in May of 1967. Sadly though, it was never seen by Walt himself because of his unfortunate death five months earlier.

Club 33 is named after its address, 33 Royal Street. There are two dining rooms and several adjoining areas. Club 33 is filled with an abundance of magical and magnificent antiques and original works of art that were hand-picked for this very special place. Upon entering you will be swept away into the majestic lobby where you will soon be ascending in the French lift to the second floor. As you enter, it’s like you are entering a totally different time and place.

As we entered into The Gallery, we found many interesting items such as an oak telephone booth (seen here, where I was taking a special Happy Birthday call from none other than the Mouse himself) In The Gallery and around Club 33 you will find many original works by Disney artists and sketches done of New Orleans Square and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

Now, I’m sure you are more than ready to see what this magical place looks like and what it has to offer? I have so many pics, I am only going to put a small sampling up for now. Over the next few weeks I will put more detailed pics up as I show you in more detail the amazing food, decor, and the magical views of Fantasmic that you can enjoy out on the balcony from Club 33! Enjoy! I hope everyone gets to visit this special place at some point in their lives.

While we were at Disneyland that day, it occurred to me that I was turning 32 going to Club 33, but I REALLY should be going to Club 33 when I turn 33, right? That would make sense would it not? So we shall see… maybe there will be a Part 2 of my Club 33 fun in the not so far away future? What do you think? Club 33 for the big 3-3 birthday? Have you been to Club 33 before? What did you think of it?

Here’s to dreaming for a part two for Club 33 when turning 33 in 2014!

Horsing Around In LA

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The Taste of Huntington Beach Raises over $40,000 for Children’s Library!

By: Erin

Food, Wine, good music? Sound good to you? Well that’s what the Taste of Huntington Beach had to offer, all for a wonderful cause! If you remember my earlier post about the Taste of HB then you have some idea of what a great event this was and I hope many more of you will be able to attend next year!

I had the opportunity to attend this and was very kindly given two press passes to come and enjoy and explore what the Taste of Huntington Beach has to offer everyone. This wonderful event took place the other Sunday, on April 28, 2013. We had such a fabulous time sampling from local restaurants & bakeries from the city of Huntington Beach as well as the many breweries and wineries that were in attendance from all over in California. I was very impressed with how organized and how smoothly everything was being run. The only thing I wish that was different, that I heard others say as well, is that it needs to be longer! Ending at 4pm is much too early as everyone is just getting started and comfortable.  Some time is needed to just sit back, relax and let all the delicious food and wine settle while listening to some awesome music and enjoying loved ones company.

The Taste of Huntington Beach was held for a charity to support the Children’s Department of the Huntington Beach Library and it was a raging success. Over $40,000 was raised by this one day event that was attended by over 2000 people.

Now onto the fun part! Here are some fun photos of what you can experience for yourself at next years taste!

The Event Chairman said, “Our hats are off to our generous sponsors, our supportive vendors, our community minded volunteers and the finest restaurants, wineries and breweries of the region that supported the 2013 Taste. We are very grateful to the Taste Committee who worked tirelessly for most of the year to put together The Taste of Huntington Beach.”

Major sponsors for the Taste of Huntington Beach were the Huntington Beach Auto Dealers Association, The Local News, AAA of Southern California, and the Orange County Register.  The Taste of Huntington Beach was a wonderful time and I cannot wait to attend the Taste of Huntington Beach next year and in many more years to come!

Disclosure: I was given two press passes to go out and enjoy the Taste of Huntington Beach. All thoughts and opinions remain my own. Special thanks to Matt H. for use of some of his photos for this post.

Horsing Around In LA

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