Tag Archives: Giveaways

fitness tips + an albion fit giveaway …

November 10, 2014

I’m very excited to partner with Albion Fit again for a fun giveaway!
I’ve been loving and wearing their fitness clothing and swimsuits for a while now, and I feel like they just keep getting better and better!
I’ve always been a huge fan of their cropped leggings made out of high quality compression fabric, they suck you in right where they need to, and you can tell just by the feel of the clothing that it is high quality fabric.  I’m wearing their go capri in turquoise.
I also loved this go long crew grey and white striped super soft top with thumb holes.
I have always enjoyed having an exercise routine.  It all started back in high school when I got my first gym membership, I enjoyed working out at least 3-5 times per week.  I continued to stay active, better at times than others doing a lot of yoga, and running.  Fast forward to three kids, and lots and lots to do I still try to stay active.  I haven’t been a member of a gym in years, but here are a few things I like to do to stay in shape at home. 
  • Sign up for a race.  I ran my first half marathon last year, and boy was it a motivator to get out there and train.  I don’t think I’m the type of person to be signing up for races all the time, but I think maybe once a year or every other year will keep me motivated.  Training for a race can be a big commitment for time, and I also started having some knee issues, but it really helped me achieve some running goals, and I loved training and accomplishing a big fitness task.
  • You Tube-  There are so many free workout videos on You Tube!  I love the Jillian Michaels videos, Be fit Yoga, Fitness Blender Tabata, and my favorite is the ten minute arm workout by Tracy Anderson.  So many good choices, for free!  If you have ten minutes to an hour, you can fit one of them in!
  • Playground workouts.  I usually always have to workout with my kids around, so I discovered that I could workout at the park while my kids were playing.  I walk or run to a nearby park, and while the kids are playing I’ll do squats, push ups, crunches, bring my fitness bands and wrap them around the park equipment for stability and you could even do pull ups on the monkey bars. (I’m too big of a wimp for that.)  You may look a little funny, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.
  • Run, hike, bike, or walk!  I know I mention running above, but there is nothing like being outside!  When the weather is nice, and you can get your exercise while enjoying nature, there isn’t much better than that!  I think that I’ve made some of my biggest decisions in my life lately on a run.  I get a chance to clear my head and really focus and think!  It sounds funny, but we are always distracted with devices in front of our faces, and an open road or trail in front of you can do wanders.  Hey, cheaper than therapy right?
I know I feel better when I stay active and eat healthy.  I have had one too many sweets this fall, and boy and I feeling it, better get back on it. Wink.  We all have our struggles with finding the time, but when we do, I think we know it’s worth all the hard work and effort.
So, let’s do this giveaway!
Albion Fit was nice enough to provide a $100 gift card for one of my readers!

Feel free to enter below!  Leave a comment after you browse Albion Fit, and tell me what your favorite item is.  There are a lot of opportunities for bonus entries below as well!  You can enter until Friday November 14th at midnight, and I’ll announce the winner November 15th!  Good Luck!

Also, feel free to use coupon code: armelle15 for 15% off your next order at Albion Fit!  Expires 11/20/14

fleur de sel vanilla caramels + a giveaway from harmon’s grocery …

December 13, 2012

I love this time of year! So many great holiday treats to eat and to make!

I am teaming up with Harmons grocery stores today to bring you an amazing recipe for salted fleur de sel vanilla caramels!

I was able to tour the downtown Salt Lake City Creek Harmons!  If you haven’t been in this store, it is amazing!  Unlike any grocery store I have been in!

We were able to tour many areas of the store, and learn about Harmons amazing products from their happy employees along with owners Bob and Randy!

A few of the highlights for me:

  •  Everything from the Harmons Deli and Bakery is freshly made from scratch in store.  It never comes frozen.  Even the salad dressing in their salad bar is made from scratch!
  • The bakery is top notch!  I’ve never seen such beautiful pastries come out of a grocery store! All made from scratch, even their dough!
  • Their meat department is amazing!  They fly in their fish fresh, and their meat is never frozen, it is local and fresh!
  • They sell ready cut, ready made items made from scratch for convenience and to keep your family healthy on-the-go.
  • All of their employees take pride in their work, and you can see it when they explain their job to you, they are passionate about fresh quality food!
  • The cheese island is an island I would like to be stranded on!  Amazing cheese local, and from all over the world.  They even went to Italy to scout out the best parmigiano reggiano source!
  • Harmons supports local businesses and features as many local products as they can.  Even their flour and salt they use for the bakery is from local sources!
So, let’s talk about the amazing selection of gourmet salts they sell at Harmons near their cheese island.
I’ve never seen such an array of different kinds of salt.  They sell everything from fleur de sel sea salt, to Himalayan pink salt, to lavendar salt.
I love how they sell smaller containers of their gourmet salts.  Since gourmet salts can be pricey, and you may only need a little for your recipe, it is nice to have them sold in several different sizes.
Now, let’s get back to the amazing fleur de sel sea salt vanilla caramels!
These amazing caramels have real vanilla pods scraped with fresh vanilla beans that give them amazing flavor!
You will need a few items, I was able to pick all of these items up at Harmons Grocery:
Vanilla Caramels with Fleur de Sel
adapted from Ina Garten

1 cup heavy cream
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean pod, sliced lengthwise and scraped of vanilla beans
1 tsp fleur de sel sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1) Line the bottom and sides of a 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper
2) Mix cream, butter, vanilla, vanilla bean pod and vanilla beans, and fleur de sel in a small saucepan over medium high heat.  Bring to a boil until just bubbling, then remove from heat and set aside.
3) Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat.  After sugar is dissolved, gently hold the pan by the handle and swirl the pan occasionally.  Try not to stir with a spoon as it may cause sugar crystals to form.  Once the mixture turns a golden brown after about 3-5 minutes of boiling.  Remove from heat.  
4) Remove the vanilla pods from the cream mixture, and carefully mix the cream mixture into the saucepan with the sugar corn syrup mixture.  Stir quickly with a wooden spoon.  The mixture will spit and spat, but be sure to combine them quickly. Place the saucepan back on the heat over medium low, and continue to simmer undisturbed until it registers about 230 degrees F on the candy thermometer for a soft chewy caramel or to 248 degrees F for a little firmer chewy caramel.  (About 7-10 minutes) Once it reaches your desired temperature.  Immediately remove from the heat and pour into your prepared 8×8 pan and allow to cool for 15 minutes, then sprinkle with a little fleur de sel on top.  Then, continue to let it cool until completely set and cooled.
5) Carefully remove the caramel from the pan holding the edges of the parchment paper, and peel off the parchment paper.  Place the caramel on a cutting board, and cut them with a buttered knife or pizza slicer into 1×1 inch squares.  
Wrap individually in cellophane or wax paper, and package them up for your loved ones and neighbors this holiday season!
Now for the fun part!
Harmons is giving away $50 gift cards to their grocery stores! (Utah residents only)
You have 5 chances to win a $50 gift card!  Enter by Dec 14th!!
Enter below by using rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!!

Pop on over to see what recipes these bloggers are sharing with their goods from Harmons:
Brassy Apple
One Charming Party
Oh Sweet Basil
Tatertots and Jello

{Disclosure: All photos by me, Caroline Armelle Drake.  This is a sponsored post by Harmons Grocery.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.}

modernthread pillow cover winner …

April 12, 2012

i am excited to announce the winner today of the giveaway for the pillow cover from modernthread.

and, the winner is?!!   comment #31,  nicole choules!

please email me your mailing address, and i will have modernthread send over your new pillow cover valued at $65!!

and, for the rest of you, be sure to take advantage of 20% off your entire purchase in the modernthread shop!  just type ‘ armelleblog ‘ at checkout.  expires april 30th.