Fun and Fearless Thoughts...and a Giveaway!

Why hello there readers!  It's been a few days since I last blogged.  Life has certainly been keeping me busy lately and it hasn't left much time for blogging.  I wish I could say that I feel guilty about this but to be honest, I've really been enjoying living life more and worrying about finding time to write and document it all.  I've had conversations about this with some of my blogger pals and I know that we all feel this way sometimes.  I don't know when I'll start blogging regularly again or if I'll ever go back to blogging everyday.  For now, I'm just taking it one day at a time and I'll continue to write whenever the mood strikes.

All that being said, I've got a lot of different thoughts I'd like to share today...but I promise that there is a fun giveaway if you can get through it all!  So, in no particular order....

• A lot of you have been asking about my new job so I thought I'd give a little update.  As many of you know, I don't write a lot of details about work for professional and confidentiality reasons.  So, I'll just say that I'm settling in quite nicely at work.  I'm loving the work that I'm doing.  I feel like I'm constantly learning and being challenged, which is a nice feeling!  My co-workers are all wonderful and they are helping me feel right at home.
• For five years, my commute consisted of a fifteen minute walk to and from work.  I am now working outside of the city, which consists of a half hour drive each way.  I thought I would really mind the commute but I actually really like the "me" time in Jane Fonda everyday.  I'm a safe driver, so this means no chatting, texting, or anything.  It is just me and whatever song or news program I'm listening to.  I never realized how much I needed this quiet time until I started getting it regularly!
• After almost three years of being a Blackberry user, I've finally joined the rest of society and purchased an iPhone!  I got a white iPhone with an adorable Kate Spade cover and I love it!  To be honest, I'm barely using my laptop now that I have my iPhone by my side.  Any suggestions on fun or useful apps?
• Bret is having surgery this morning to fix his deviated septum.  While the surgery seems pretty straightforward, the recovery is intense!  We've purchased a lot of ice cream and fruit bars for the first few days and I'm planning on cooking up a lot of soft foods this weekend.  Bret's surgery gives me an excuse to stay in all weekend in case he needs me, and I'm planning on spending some quality time in the kitchen.  I've pulled recipes for a savory oatmeal, mashed carrots, and roasted parsnips!
• I signed up for another 5K yesterday!  The 5K is in a few weeks and I haven't been running regularly between work, crazy allergies and rainy weather.  I'm going to try to get back out there this weekend so I won't be the hot mess on my 5K team!

Now that you've read through my various thoughts, I'm finally going to get to the giveaway!  As you may already know, this past week, Eversave Boston has been hosting a restaurant week with daily dining out deals in honor of Father's Day! 

The kind folks at Eversave Boston have offered to give one of my lucky readers a complimentary save for today's restaurant deal - Ristorante Pavarotti in Reading ($15 for $30)!

Since I've shared with you a number of different thoughts today, I'll also give you a number of different ways to win:

1.  Tell me what you're doing this weekend.  Are you celebrating Father's Day? Sleeping in?
2.  Follow Eversave Boston on Twitter and leave a comment here that you have done so.
3.  Like Eversave Boston on Facebook and leave a comment here that you have done so.
4.  Tweet: "I want to win today's Father's Day Restaurant Save from @funfearlessbean and @EversaveBOS!" and leave a comment here that you have done so.

You must enter by Friday, June 17, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST and a winner will be picked by Random.org!

A "Sweet" Signature Brands Giveaway

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the fun dessert icing samples I received in the mail.  Well, the folks behind Signature Brands are offering a pretty "sweet" giveaway for one lucky reader!  The giveaway is a package that includes all of the ingredients to make S'mores Whoopie Pies and Oreo Brownie Bites, including a wooden spoon, spatula and recipe card!

To enter this giveaway, just head on over to the Sprinkles N Grins website and leave a comment here telling me which recipe you'd like to try the most!  You must leave a comment by Monday, May 2nd at 11:59 PM EST.  A winner will be selected by Random.org.

Win a Free Eversave Voucher to Sibling Rivalry!

There are a lot of exciting reader giveaways here at Fun and Fearless in Beantown!  I love reader giveaways because it is a great way for me to say thank you to my readers  - for their support, comments and readership!

Today, Eversave Boston is offering a $20 for $40 voucher for Sibling Rivalry in the South End.  If you aren't already familiar with Eversave, it is a company that offers local deals (called "saves") on their website everyday!  Eversave Boston also has a Facebook page and a Twitter account, which makes them pretty easy to follow.

The kinds folks at Eversave Boston are offering one reader a free $40 voucher to Sibling Rivalry.  And there are two easy ways to enter:

1.  Since Sibling Rivalry's showcases a "dueling" menu between sibling chefs, leave me a comment telling me whether you have a sibling (or other family member) that is more like a rival or a friend?
2.  For an extra entry, tweet "I want to win today's Save to Sibling Rivalry from @EversaveBOS and @Funfearlessbean!" and leave me a comment telling me that you've done so.

All comments must be left by Friday, April 29, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST and a winner will be selected by Random.org.

Reader Giveaway: West Bend Versatility Cooker

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I'm a huge fan of slow cooker meals.  Don't get me wrong, I like spending time in my kitchen making meals from scratch when I have the time.  But sometimes a slow cooker makes things so much easier when you can just prepare the ingredients, put everything in the slow cooker and let the meal cook itself when you're at work or out running errands.

After my recent blog post about my Slow Cooker Beef Stew, the folks at West Bend reached out to me about doing a giveaway for their six-quart versatility cooker. 

Photo Provided by West Bend

The versatility cooker allows you to use the pot as a slow cooker but also on the stove top and in the oven.  The warming base can also be used to heat the slow cooker, a warming plate or a griddle.  It seems pretty awesome!

Photo Provided by West Bend

I wasn't too familiar with West Bend so I took a look at their products and there were a lot of interesting things.  Since making ice cream is on my 30 by 30 list, I am definitely curious about the canister ice cream maker and will be taking a closer look at it.

So, how can you win this versatility cooker?  There are two different ways to enter the giveaway:

1.  Head over to the West Bend website and leave a comment on this blog telling me which of their products looks the most interesting to you.
2.  For a second chance to win the versatility cooker, "like" West Bend's Facebook page and leave a comment telling me you've done so. 

All blog entries must be entered by Sunday, April 3rd at 11:59 PM EST.  A winner will be selected by Random.org.  This contest is open for U.S. residents only.

30 by 30: Two Month Update...and a Cupcake Giveaway!

Can you already believe that it is already the middle of March?  Two months have gone by since I've started my 30 by 30 list and I'm proud to have made some progress!  In my last update, I wrote about how I had finished 1/10th of my list but hadn't really tackled a lot of my food-related items.  Since then, I've tackled Gordon Hamersley's roast chicken and made gnocchi for the first time (links below).  I have now knocked 1/5th off my list and I'm felling pretty proud!


1. Run a 5K.
2. Go camping, like real camping...overnight...in a tent.
3. Pay off all of my credit card debt.
4. Attend a live WWE event (don't judge).
5. Make Gordon Hamersley's roast chicken. - COMPLETED
6. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
7. Go out to dinner and a movie by myself.
8. Watch all three of the original Star Wars movies.
9. Boil a lobster by myself for the first time.
10. Write my will. - COMPLETED
11. Write a letter of apology to someone that I have wronged and send it.
12. Experiment with molecular gastronomy.
13. Learn to drive stick shift.
14. Learn to make my own kimchi.
15. Learn how to change a car tire.
16. Go to a shooting range.
17. Redesign "Fun and Fearless in Beantown" - COMPLETED.
18. Launch a wedding website. - COMPLETED
19. Cook a three-course vegan dinner for my vegan friends.
20. Make turducken for the first time.
21. Climb a mountain.
22. Complete thirty (30) hours of community service or volunteering.
23. Finish an entire plate of Hell Pasta from East Coast Grill. - COMPLETED
24. Floss every day - So far I've only missed three days of flossing since January 14th!
25. Take a self-defense course.
26. Make homemade ice cream for the first time.
27. Make gnocchi for the first time. - COMPLETED
28. Fly a kite.
29. Milk a cow.
30. Participate in a city dinner crawl, which means having cocktails, appetizer, dinner, dessert and post-dinner cocktails each at a different place in one city in one night.

Since I'm feeling pretty proud of what I've accomplished thus far, I want to "treat" one of my readers with a gift certificate for one free make-your-own-cupcake at Treat Cupcake Bar!  To enter, just leave a comment telling me how you like to treat yourself when you've accomplished something - whether big or small!  All comments must be entered by Sunday, March 20, 2011 by 11:59 PM EST and a winner will be chosen by Random.org!

b.good Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for complimentary sides of sweet potato and regular fries at b.good.  According to Random.org, the winner is #10!

Congratulations to Emily at the Three Bite Rule!  Emily, please email me your mailing address and I'll get these gift certificates out to you as soon as possible. 

Thanks again to everyone for entering!

Lemon Pepper Panko-Crusted Cod and a Giveaway!

Last month, I was really excited to be the winner of my friend Bridget's giveaway.  I won two great items - a Michael Chiarello cookbook and lemon pepper panko!

It has been awhile since I've cooked fish (despite my resolve to cook and eat more fish this year) and I thought it was time to get back into it.  I had some beautiful cod fillets in the fridge and this was a perfect reason to give the lemon pepper panko a try.  I trimmed down the cod and did a simple dredging in a flour, black pepper and salt mixture, dipped it in a bowl with two beaten eggs, and crusted it with the lemon pepper panko.  I baked the fish in the oven at 375 degrees for five minutes on the top rack of the oven before turning the fish over and baking it for another ten minutes on the lower rack.

I served the fish with roasted carrots and broccoli, which I simply tossed in butter-infused olive oil, salt, and pepper before roasting it in the oven.  This made for a really flavorful dinner that was so easy to prepare.  The panko had lots of flavor and the fish had a nice crunchy texture. 

I of course have to thank Bridget for helping create this dinner.  Since one good deed deserves another, I thought I'd offer up a reader giveaway.  I still have a lot of great gift certificates from the Boston Food Bloggers launch party and I'd like to give one reader a free side of sweet potato fries and a free side of regular fries from b.good.  To enter, just leave one comment about one good deed you've done lately.  All comments must be entered Friday (March 11, 2011) by 11:59 PM EST and a winner will be chosen by Random.org!

Being Prepared...and Another Giveaway!

Even though it has been less than a month, I've slowly been plugging away at my 30 By 30 list.  After I made the list, I realized that a lot of the activity-based items are ones that need to be done in warmer months.  So I decided to plug away at some of the others that don't require sunshine, warmth or good weather since that doesn't seem to be happening in New England anytime soon.

Item #10 on my 30 By 30 list is to write my own will.  I know, it sounds pretty morbid but I think we all need to prepare ahead for our future.  As an attorney, I'm actually disappointed in myself for not doing this sooner.  I've drafted some estate planning documents for clients and I can't believe it has taken me so long to do one for myself.  Of course, these documents will slightly change once Bret and I get married and when we hopefully have kids someday, but for now, I'm happy that these documents are signed, sealed and notarized just in case.

I've promised to document as much of my 30 By 30 accomplishments on this blog.  There really wasn't much to this one except signing some documents so I decided to liven it up by doing a fun giveaway!  As part of my Boston Food Bloggers Launch Party swag bag, I received a free bowling pass to Kings at Legacy Place in Dedham, MA.  I love bowling, even though I am terrible at it!  Here is a photo of me and some friends at the Boston location of Kings a few years ago:

I'm offering up this free bowling pass to one lucky reader.  To enter, you just need to leave a comment on this blog about one thing you've accomplished lately.  It doesn't matter if it was a big accomplishment (like a promotion) or something small (like getting your sock drawer organized).  Just share with me one accomplishment by Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 11:59 PM.  Per usual, a winner will be selected by Random.org.

Free Coffee With SeamlessWeb...and Two Giveaways!

As much as I love cooking and trying out new restaurants, there are some nights where you just want to order some take-out and curl up on the couch with a good movie and a bottle of wine.  So when a promotion specialist contacted me about SeamlessWeb (a new website where you can order takeout) and their upcoming promotions in Boston, I wanted to share it with my readers.  

According to SeamlessWeb:

• After two successful years in New York City, SeamlessWeb is bringing its Free Coffee Days promotion to Boston!  From February 1st – 4th, the online food delivery and takeout ordering service will hand out over 10,000 free cups of coffee all around the city from a SeamlessWeb branded truck.
• To coincide with this promotion, SeamlessWeb is launching a social media photo sweepstakes where people can Tweet or post to Facebook a photo of their free coffee to win $100 in food. In addition, SeamlessWeb is offering new customers $5 off by using the code FREECOFFEE ($10 minimum purchase). Visit the Free Coffee Days site to find the locations to receive your complimentary cup of joe and the full details about the photo sweepstakes.  
• Besides handing out free coffee, SeamlessWeb is always available for people to order delivery and takeout from over 380 restaurants in the Boston metro area.

SeamlessWeb is not only handing out 10,000 free cups of coffee and offering new customers a $5 off discount code, but they are also offering two of my readers a $25 SeamlessWeb online gift card to order food delivery and takeout.  Sweet, right?

I'm going to give you two different ways to enter:
1.  Leave a comment telling me the strangest (or most interesting) thing you've ever eaten with a cup of coffee.
2.  Tweet "I want to win a @SeamlessWeb gift card from @Funfearlessbean http://bit.ly/gXFGra" and leave a comment telling me  you've done so.

All entries must be submitted by January 31, 2011 at 11:59 PM (EST) and two winners will be picked by Random.org.


All the ideas and opinions expressed are my own.  No monetary compensation was received for doing this post, however, I was provided with the opportunity to present this reader giveaway.

Lea & Perrins Giveaway

Sometimes it is the little things in life that can put a smile on your face.  Last night, I was lucky enough to come home from the gym to the smell of dinner cooking in the kitchen.  I typically do most of the cooking in our household so I am always appreciative when Bret takes it upon himself to cook dinner for us. 

Bret made a really hearty dinner of steak and potatoes.  The potatoes were twice-baked and seasoned with butter, caramelized shallots and paprika.  Because Bret had some extra caramelized shallots, he made a simple compound butter and I put a generous slice of the butter on my steak.

Bret and I also used a little bit of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce with our steak.  I recently received a complimentary bottle via Foodbuzz and we hadn't yet used it.  I have faithfully used Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce for years and I was definitely excited to receive a free bottle of it.

Even better, Foodbuzz and Lea & Perrins is providing a complimentary bottle of any Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce (10 oz or smaller) to one of my readers.  There are two ways to enter:

1.  Leave me a comment telling me how you typically use Worcestershire sauce.  Do you use it as a marinade? As an ingredient in a dish? As a sauce?
2.  In a shameless act of bribery, vote for me as Boston's Best Local Blogger here and leave me a comment telling me that you voted.

Voting ends on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 11 PM EST.  A winner will be drawn via Random.org.

Fun and Fearless August Giveaway!

There are some definite perks to being a food and lifestyle blogger.  Not only have I had the pleasure to attend some fabulous blogger and social media events, I've also had the opportunity to try out some new food and food-related products.  Whenever I get the opportunity, I like to share the wealth to my wonderful, responsive and interactive readers.

So when the folks at CSN Stores offered to sponsor a giveaway to my readers, I of course jumped at the chance.  CSN Stores has some really fantastic items for your home at really great prices but what stood out to me the most was their selection of Le Creuset cookware.  

So, here's the giveaway.  CSN Stores is offering one of my lucky readers an $80 gift certificate to any of the CSN Stores.  I took a look online to see what I would buy if I had $80 to spend and I'd probably choose something like this practical set of Le Creuset baking dishes.  

And with money left over, I'd get this gorgeous mortar and pestle for all of my spices!

So how can you be the lucky winner of this $80 gift certificate? Take a look at the CSN Stores website and leave me a comment telling me what you'd like to purchase if you had $80 to spend at CSN Stores.  You must leave me a comment by 11:59 PM (EST) on August 15, 2010.    

Contest Rules: This contest is open only to U.S. and Canada residents and additional shipping costs may apply to Canadian residents.  A winner will be drawn (via Random.org) on August 16th and announced later that day. 

Olivia's Organics Single Salad to Go

If you read my blog, you know that I am a faithful consumer of Olivia's Organics products.  I first started using Olivia's Organics products when I discovered that they are a local company located in Chelsea, Massachusetts.  Massachusetts pride aside, my real devotion to Olivia's Organics comes from their great products.  I've tried lots of different packaged greens and none come and stay fresh like Olivia's Organics.  I use Olivia's Organics a lot to make easy and simple salads to go along with just about any dinner and this makes Olivia's Organics an obvious staple in my kitchen.

So when Olivia's Organics reached out to me to try out some of their newest products, I was definitely thrilled to receive a huge package of different salads at my office last Friday.  I used the Asian Salad mix as a side for my beet green and bacon pizza, and I brought the Arugula salad to a pool party on Saturday to make a side salad for my spicy chicken tacos.  But the products I was most excited to try out are Olivia's Organics new single salads for one person.

If you're like me, I like to save money by bringing in leftovers from the previous night's dinner for lunch.  Not only is it more economical, but I also think that a home-cooked meal often tastes better than most takeout lunches.  However, there are times where I don't have any leftovers or I didn't cook dinner the night before, and I'll often run out to grab a salad or a healthy wrap for lunch.  But now, Olivia's Organics is offering another solution to my lunchtime dilemma by offering single serve salads for one person.

After entertaining a houseguest all weekend and indulging a bit over the long holiday weekend, I found myself without leftovers for lunch on Tuesday and I was looking forward to trying this single serve salad out.  I started out with the Caesar Salad with fresh romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing and delicious croutons. 

The single serve salad is approximately 5.5 ounces and I found it to be the perfect size for lunch.  I did wish I had a bit of protein with the salad like grilled chicken or tuna but it was still filling on its own.  The croutons added a nice crunch and the dressing was one of the better Caesar dressings I've tried.  Best of all the packaging served as a great bowl for my salad to eat at my desk, which I sadly do more often than I'd like to work through lunch.  It made clean up very easy although I do like to re-use the packaging from time to time in my kitchen.

Since then, I've had the opportunity to try out their Baby Spinach with Ranch Dressing, which I topped with leftover chicken breast from the previous night's dinner.  Again, I found the packaging to be convenient with fresh greens and an equally tasty dressing.

In addition to letting me try out some of their new products, Olivia's Organics is generously giving this opportunity to one of my readers by offering a $30 gift certificate for any Olivia's Organics products.  To win this gift certificate, just answer this question -  During this hot summer weather, what Olivia's Organics salad mix would you like to try and what you would top the salad with to help you cool down?

• To enter, leave a comment with your response no later than Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Since Olivia's Organics isn't sold in all states, you must be a New England resident to enter this reader giveaway.

Good luck! I can't wait to hear what salad creations you are all craving this summer!