#WellnessWednesday : Gym Bag Swag Giveaway #bandeodorant #AD #totalrefresh #SobeSavvy

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Hi, my name is Leslie. I am a member of a gym (shout out to LifeTime Fitness) and I love going to Zumba!  It’s a fun cardio workout and with any great cardio class comes alot of sweat. That’s why when I heard about Ban products and how they help you stay fresh, I figured I’d add some new swag to my gym bag!

I learned Ban Roll-On Deodorant ($4.99),  offers 24 hours of invisible protection against odor causing sweat! The formula that glides on easily contains Ban’s breakthrough technology, which specifically targets and virtually eliminates (not cover up) stress odor that other
antiperspirant/deodorants may leave behind. I usually opt to use a solid vs a roll on, but
am excited to put Ban to the test!

Did you know that Ban has a product that will help your skin feel smooth and silky, not wet and sticky after a workout? It’s called Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths ($3.29) which work to slick away excess body sweat with just one wipe ! This would be great for after a workout or a touch up throughout the day and fits perfectly in a purse.

 
Thank you Ban for sending some samples to giveaway to some of my Zumba peeps. I put together this Ban gym bag essentials duo and surprised a few ladies with some new gym bag swag of their own!

Like I always say….Friends who sweat together, stay fresh together! 

No matter where you go this season – whether it’s work, running errands or to the gym– Ban products promises to help you stay fresh and smelling clean all day long! Choose from Unscented
for sensitive skin, Regular for a light and clean floral fragrance, Powder
Fresh for a classic powder scent, Satin Breeze for a feminine touch
with green and citrus notes, Fresh Cotton for a refreshing floral heart
with a hint of fruit, and lastly Simply Clean for fresh and powdery
amber notes with hint of peach nectar! 

For a full list of scents and additional information, visit www.feelbanfresh.com.  

@PapasPilar Rum for the Holidays! Try these #PilarRum Recipes

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Holiday cheer comes in many forms. One form of that cheer comes in the form of rum. Not just any rum, but Papas Pilar Rum. Named after Ernest Hemingway’s 38 foot boat, this rum begins aging in American bourbon barrels but finishes up aging in Spanish Sherry casks. These details are just one of many that sets Pilar apart from others. Pilar has two distinctly different types of rum. Dark rum and Blonde rum. During this holiday season, our friends at Pilar Rum gifted SobeSavvy both rums in which I used to make one special cake and a few delicious drinks.

Who doesn’t like eggnog ? Well since no one is the answer, we kicked off a tree trimming party by inviting over a few friends. While hubby was playing Paul Bunyon with a saw on our christmas tree, I made a classic eggnog recipe with a twist. I call it the “Graham Cracker Nog” It starts off as your classic eggnog. Nutmeg, vanilla added to eggnog. Liberal amount of Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum. Take a few whole graham crackers and crush on a flat plate. Rim a martini glass with a lime and place glass upside down on plate to adhere the crust and voila. Pour in eggnog and watch your guest smile from each end of their mouth. ” It’s like the bottom of a pie crust !” Needless to say it was a huge hit !

Next up was a Christmas Rum Cake. I used a butter pecan cake mix and added instant vanilla pudding mix which gives it a moist yummy texture. 4 eggs, 1/2 cup water,1/2 cup canola oil and Use as much or as little Pilar Dark Rum as you please . I used a half cup in the batter. Whisk to smooth. Added crushed pecans to the bottom of my bundt cake pan so the top would be covered in them. In the oven at 350 for 45 mins. a 1/4 cup Pilar Dark, stick of butter, 1/2 cup water, 1 cup of sugar.Bring to a boil. Pour it over when the cake first comes out of the oven. VOILA..Party in a cake !!As guests were leaving, a few were my neighbors who lived within walking distance and they wanted a night cap. I made them a classic rum and coke using Pilar Blonde Rum. Their blonde is rich and creamy with hints of vanilla. It was SUPERB. Guests just assumed I had added other ingredients to the drink. Nope. Blonde is the perfect rum for those kind of cocktails.Thanks to Papas Pilar for sending some holiday cheer in the liquid form. Everyone loved the rum and toasted to the the holidays ! Cheers!

#FoodieFriday Last Minute Holiday Gifts + Giveaway @gmtgiftbaskets Gourmet Gift Baskets Review

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Disclosure: I received products for review and promotional giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion
​It’s the holiday season. Christmas carols being sung, Celebrating Kwanzaa and Menorah’s being lit. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. No matter your faith, there is one binding force that we all love… GIFTS !! There is only one thing more rewarding and gleeful than receiving a special gift, and that is actually GIVING a unique gift to that special someone. 

Finding that unique gift for that particular person on your list is always a challenge — especially as the clock counts down to the holidays. But given the huge selection of offerings that GourmetGiftBaskets.com and KingOfPOP.com provide for every member of the family, the office, or even the neighborhood, it makes sense to take a good look at their latest and greatest items. Hundreds of choices abound, including: 25 different cheesecake flavors, almost 100 different popcorn flavors, beer buckets, cake pops, wine suitcases, towers, upscale baskets, and more. And there are many new and updated items for the holidays and beyond!

My husband is the King of Brunch as he loves to cook breakfast for me and our daughter. So I thought the perfect gift for my Top Chef would be the Christmas Breakfast Gift Basket . 

This basket defies description. Imagine you wake up one cold morning with a bear’s appetite. Well this basket literally has the making of a breakfast for champions. All the items are what makes this part of our nation so special. Their website describes it as the following: “Inside a gorgeous basket, your recipient will discover delicious foods, like Maine’s juiciest blueberries, New Hampshire’s sweetest maple syrup, and Broadbent’s hickory-smoked pepper bacon, creating a lovely gift that’s guaranteed to make any morning unforgettable. ” The basket also had pancake/waffle mix and coffees, scone mix and jams. Simply incredible. Here is how it looks out the box:

I can’t wait for Christmas morning to unwrap and make a fantabulous Christmas breakfast with my family as my little one shreds gift wrapping all around the living room ! I’ll be sure to share some Christmas Brunch pics via @SobeSavvy !

With Christmas almost here and New Year’s around the corner, the perfect gift for anyone ready to celebrate is bubbly! 

I received this Toasting to the New Year Gift Basket and was impressed by how quick the shipment came and how beautiful the handcrafted basket was.This basket came in a keepsake steel wired basket filled with La Marca Prosecco , gourmet crackers and cheeses and Dolcetto Chocolate Wafer Bites. This would make a great hostess gift and today I am giving one away for 1 luck winner to enjoy!

Simply comment below and share what items you would like to receive in your dream gift basket! Winner selected at random 12/20/16 at noon. Good Luck !

@CarolinaBallet Presents The Nutcracker Review + Giveaway,Win 2 Tix 12/16 show #NC #FamilyFun 

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Photo Credits: Carolina Ballet

On Saturday​ December 10 , SobeSavvy.com joined other ballet lovers in celebrating the 15th anniversary of Carolina Ballet’s version of The Nutcracker. This family friendly show, performed today at DPAC, is totally unique: it’s the only one that features illusions from world-renowned magician Rick Thomas. We got to experience breathtaking ballet, mind blowing illusions and see our favorite characters levitate, disappear, and reappear!

My daughter just had The Nutcracker story read to her at school as well as learned the music in class, so the timing was perfect to introduce her to this holiday classic. Carolina Ballet, under the direction of CEO/Artistic director Robert Weiss, does an outstanding job performing this magical tale of holiday adventure based on a novel by E.T.A. Hoffman. The Nutcracker is one of the most recognizable scores in the ballet repertoire and definitely a performance everyone should see! 

In case you need a refresher of what The Nutcracker is about, here is a quick synopsis:

It begins when young Clara receives a nutcracker from her godfather, a wizardly toymaker named Drosselmeyer. Sneaking downstairs to see the toy after everyone else has gone to bed, she suddenly finds herself caught in the middle of a pitched battle between the toys and an army of mice. After saving the nutcracker with a well-thrown shoe to the Mouse King’s head, Clara and her now-living prince venture into the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets to celebrate. Throughout their adventures, Tchaikovsky’s dazzling inventiveness propels the dances of nimble flowers and regal fairy queens. The “Waltz of the Snowflakes” floats weightlessly whereas the “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” tiptoes to the haunting, music-box chimes of a celesta. A medley of exotic national dances—including a Spanish bolero and Russian Trepak—add to the phantasmagoric celebration before the whole dream ends, as all dreams must. 

This was my first time taking #outandaboutAva to see Carolina Ballet presents The Nutcracker and to share the moment with her will be a holiday memory that I will never forget!

Now I would like to give you the chance to be awed by the magic and choreography of Carolina Ballet and giveaway 2 tickets to see The Nutcracker perform on Friday December 16, 7pm at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. 1 winner will be randomly selected on December 14th at noon. Enter by leaving a comment below sharing why you want to go! 

Good Luck! 

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#Raleigh, Don’t Miss @DisneyonIce #FollowYourHeart this weekend @PNCArena ~Opening Night Review

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​Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to review the show, however any opinions are my own.

Disney fans rejoice and Follow Your Heart to see Disney On Ice! now performing at the PNC Arena until Sunday, December 11, 2016. We got a chance to attend the opening night and see Dory find her way to the ice for the first time ever!

My daughter, fondly referred to as #OutandAboutAva was so excited to see all her favorite characters reunite and loved the show! Since kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Disney character, she was so happy to wear this beautiful Enchanted Ice Princess Dress from JustPretendKids.com in honor of Queen Elsa ! This costume dress is made to impress and simply gorgeous for this family fun event. She said she felt like a pretty princess and wished she could go ice skating too!

Disney on Ice Follow Your Heart is a celebration of true friendship ! New pals Dory and Hank from Finding Dory came out of the sea to dazzle us with their skating skills. 

We got a chance to cheer with the Emotions from Inside Out, The Toy Story gang and see Disney Princesses achieve their dreams ! I was most impressed with Ariel and her aerial performance. I won’t give too much away but her and Rapunzel must moonlight for Cirque du Soleil ! And I didn’t know Princess Tiana from the Princess and the Frog had such amazing skating skills. Check her out!

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Of course you can’t have an ice skating show without the stars of Frozen there. Olaf performed “In Summer” complete with dancing flowers, butterflys and bees. He joined Anna and Elsa for a wonderful performance filled with cold snow, warm hugs and true love.

Speaking of true love, everyone’s favorite couple Mickey and Minnie were there as well as friends Donald and Goofy. Produced by Feld Entertainment, this high quality show was filled with fun thrills and amazing acts. My family and I thought the show was amazing and magical. It definitely was a night to remember and a show you must see ! 

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased here. This show is recommended for all ages, so make your family fun plans NOW and get ready to discover the magic of Disney on Ice ! 

See more fun videos here : https://youtu.be/Q4giHJCmb3M

#TransformationTuesday spotlight on @CB_BrierCreek Premium #IndoorCycling in #Raleigh #CycleBar

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Looking to transform your body into a healthier you and have fun while doing it? Well CycleBar Brier Creek is just the place! I had a chance to check out a few of their spin classes at their premium indoor cycling studio located in the Brier Creek Shopping Center (next to AppleBee’s) and let me tell you it’s like a party on a bike with all the benefits of an awesome workout.

When I started going to CycleBar late November, everyone had the same question: Is it crazy intense ? My reply: it is intense but you would be crazy to not challenge yourself! That’s what a great cardio fitness workout does. Working out shouldn’t be something you dread – it should calm your mind, elevate your mood and revive your senses. That is what they do at CycleBar with fitness classes that feel part sanctuary, part concert.

With spinning, the instructors known as the CycleStars, guide you and suggest how intense you can go. However, you go at your own pace and adjust to what you feel comfortable with. No need to feel intimidated..it’s just you and your bike. The atmosphere is so fun, they want you to enjoy it so you will come back and rock the ride each and every time.  Coming to CycleBar Brier Creek has helped me stay on track with my fitness goals! 
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Here is some background on CycleBar Brier Creek: 

  • It’s fairly new..just opened April 2016. The bikes are state of the art!
  • All ages and skill levels are welcomed.Owner, Christie Meyers and her team of CycleStars go out of their way to provide great customer service. It’s quite the family atmosphere!
  • This premium indoor cycling studio offers a one time 30 min Free Intro session, 50-minute rides and 75-minute rides. They offer special deals and packages at affordable prices.
  • Amenities provided such as locker room and toiletries for riders to use,free shoes, complimentary water bottle and snacks. 
  • This is not your average spin class – they offer different kinds of themed rides such as our Hip Hop/Rap ride, Wine Down Wednesdays, Throwback Thursdays, Happy Hour on Fridays and Sunday Brunch..complete with Mimosas!


CycleBar is expanding throughout the Triangle and getting a new studio in Cary, NC. The Alston location will be giving away free rides and has some fun Grand Opening things planned. Be sure to sign up here to stay in the know! Follow @CB_ BrierCreek on Twitter/Instagram, hashtag #cyclebarbriercreek to see what the CB Nation is up to and stay informed at CycleBar.com ! 


Although Brier Creek is not that close to me, I like the convenient schedule they offer every day of the week and that there are no memberships…you just pay as you go. Now that you know what to expect, why not sign up HERE for a First time ride free 30 min session or use promo code “FreeRide” and get one 50 min complimentary ride. Be sure to stop by their CB boutique where they have plenty of Cycle Bar fitness apparel for you to rock your ride in style! 

PS ~You still have until the end of today, midnight EST to enter my giveaway for a 3 ride pass to take 3 free spin classes at Cycle Bar Brier Creek ! 

Dont’t wait…Get your resolutions and transformations started now. Good luck! 

Have you ever been to a spin/indoor cycling class ? Share your experience and Comment below if you would like to MEET ME at THE BAR..Cycle Bar that is! 

#RudolphTheMusical goes down in history thru 12/24 @DECRaleigh @BroadwaySouth

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​You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer..

We all know and love the song that goes along with the animated television story of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” ! Now is your chance to fall in love all over again with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical, now playing at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts as part of Broadway Series South. My lil one wore her antlers gleefully and we were on our way to A.J.Fletcher Opera Theater to see this all time favorite holiday classic brought to life on stage! 

Before the show, we checked the adorable gifts and plush toys that were for sale and also took the opportunity to take photos with the larger than life characters from the special including Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and, of course, Rudolph!

We all grew up watching this all time favorite cartoon special every single year at Christmas time. Now you can experience it live on stage ! This broadway caliber performance transported the audience all the way to the North Pole to Santa’s workshop . This is where all the drama on stage takes place. Kids of all ages were in the audience this afternoon to experience the wonder that this story truly is.

There was plenty of dancing and singing. All of your favorite characters from the cartoon were there. From the abominable snowman to the Elf who wants to be dentist were well represented ! This musical truly brought the cartoon to life. My 5 yr old laughed with delight every single time Rudolph’s nose lit up crimson red ! The show was 75 min with a 10 min intermission. My favorite scene was on the island of misfit toys. It had a deeper message that there is no such things as misfits, there are just some people that are just different than others.

The play hit a crescendo when it appeared that due to dangerous weather conditions, Santa was gong to have to cancel Christmas..but you know the rest !!

The last scene actually had REAL snow falling on the audience and suffice to say,my little girl LOVED,LOVED, LOVED that special effect.

Grab mom, grab Grandma {Or Nana} and ALL the kids and adults and buy your tickets now to Rudolph The Musical. It is the absolute must do for this holiday season !!

Now thru Dec 24, grab your family, young and old to see the greatest Christmas tale ever told ! Come dressed in your holiday pjs or wear a Santa’s hat to this family fun show filled with singing, dancing and great acting! Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and Rudolph all came to life !

Celebrate #NationalCookieDay with @NocciolataUSA @RigoniAsiagoUSA Dairy Free Hazelnut Spread Recipe

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​December 4th is National Cookie Day and with the holidays upon us and cookie swaps quickly approaching, I thought I’d share this recipe for Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies ! The star of these cookies is a brand-new dairy-free (and 100% vegan) organic chocolate hazelnut spread called Nocciolata Dairy Free.

Each batch of Nocciolata Dairy Free takes 36 hours of artisanal preparation, which combines top-quality hazelnuts, cocoa and cocoa butter, environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil, natural vanilla extract, and raw cane sugar. It contains no palm oil (which is high in saturated fat and whose cultivation devastates the environment), hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, aromas or additives. This product is USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Dairy Free, Vegan and Kosher Certified, Gluten Free, and full of flavor ! 

I  whipped up a batch of these cookies using the following recipe:                

 Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut  Sandwich Cookies

Makes about 10 large cookie sandwiches

Ingredients
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer natural but you can use Dutch process)
large pinch salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
3 large egg whites, at room temperature

Jar of Nocciolata Dairy Free

Instructions

1.       Preheat oven to 325°F.

2.       Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake for two minutes. Add the almonds to the tray and bake for 3-4 minutes more until the nuts are fragrant and just barely golden. Transfer to a bowl to cool. When cool enough to handle, break the walnut halves unevenly into smaller pieces.

3.       Spread the coconut on the baking sheet and toast it for 3-4 minutes until slightly golden. Add it to the bowl of nuts.

4.       Whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt.

5.       Add the walnut-almond-coconut mixture and the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

6.       Add the egg whites and stir just enough to moisten all the dry ingredients.

7.       Spoon about two tablespoons of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving several inches between cookies.

8.       Bake for 12-14 minutes, turning the baking sheet once.

9.       Once cooled, spread Nocciolata Dairy Free chocolate hazelnut spread between two cookies and assemble the sandwiches. 

These cookies were a tasty treat for me and my little one! I was happy to try the dairy free option but I am a huge fan of the Rigoni Di Asiago Nocciolata Organic  Hazelnut spread made with cocoa and milk ! (I like to add it to oatmeal drizzled on strawberries, rasberries or bananas..so good!) I also have been known to tie a ribbon around a gourmet jar of this rich creamy chocolate hazelnut spread. Whether its the Dairy Free spread or  this one, they both make a lovely hostess gift!  

Win 3 Ride Pass to #SpinClass @CB_BrierCreek #GivingTuesday #SobeSavvyGiveaway 

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This #GivingTuesday, SobeSavvy.com is kicking off the giving season by giving away a free 3 ride pass to spin class at Cycle Bar Brier Creek. Tis’ the season to give back and get back to a healthier you!

I have been able to go check out CycleBar for myself and can’t wait to give my full review soon but before I do, I am hosting this giveaway for 1 lucky reader to win a 3 ride pass to attend any of their classes! That’s three spin classes to burn off that Thanksgiving feast and get you into gear for the New Year.

Here’s what you can expect at CycleBar Brier Creek:

  •       CycleBar is a low-impact and high-intensity exercise method, offering an intoxicating sense of community in state-of-the-art studios with concierge-level service, premium amenities and pay-per-class options.
  • ·         The dynamic cycling classes offer a multi-sensory workout in a concert-like atmosphere, where experienced instructors take participants through a 50-minute high-energy ride.

  • ·        The studio features tiers for the bikes plus LED lighting, wide-screen graphics and state-of-the-art audio with a DJ booth.

  • ·         CycleBar classes are invigorating and fun, with themed rides for charity fundraising, Throwback Thursdays, Happy Hour on Fridays, artist-specific playlists and more.

  • ·         After a class, riders cool down with complimentary fresh fruit, water, and if its Sunday, free mimosas after the Brunch themed ride!

  • ·         Riders can also easily track performance data via CycleStats and download music used in the class session. 

    To learn more about CycleBar in Brier Creek, visit briercreek.cyclebar.com 

         See below to enter today for this awesome giveaway! Winner will be chosen at random on 12/6/16 ..Good Luck!

    ENTER HERE

    #HipHopNutcracker Performs @DPAC ~It’s a Must-See Holiday Classic with a Modern Twist! 

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    On Saturday, November 26, 2016 , The Hip Hop Nutcracker blazed the stage at the Durham Performing Arts Center and entertained a sold-out crowd! Just like Hamilton is doing so well on Broadway, it is no surprise that this show is appealing to the masses.In the spirit of Hip Hop, I decided to give you my recap of this evening’s performance in a non-traditional way. I thought I would have a little fun giving you a poetic review. Enjoy!

    Headed to the DPAC to see a show

    With Special guest MC Kurtis Blow

    You know him as a trail blazing rapper

    Tonight he opened for The Hip Hop Nutcracker

    A holiday mash-up for the whole family

    Combined Tchaikovsky’s Music with Hip Hop choreography

    Classic, Comtemporary, Timeless ,Cool

    The Hip Hop Nutcracker nicely blends old & new school

    Choreographed by Jennifer Weber, who also directed
    A supercharged cast of dancers , who all perfected

    Transporting the audience to NYC on NYE

    With superb production and digital scenery

    It’s a love story, a celebration

    A magical classic for this generation

    A DJ and a Violinist also made an appearance

    Everyone should go see this one of a kind experience!