American VS Australian Marshmallows you be the judge!! Giveaway

I once believed that everything was better in the USA. As a kid I watched countless american sitcoms, cartoons, and movies and dreamed of one day going to American and eating all the things I watched on the idiot box (TV) because it looked and sounded awesome and must be better than what we had in Australia. Now that I have grown up and a lot has change in the Australian food industry and also since I went to American and actually tasted a lot of these foods, my opinions have changed. Two things that always come to mind when I have this discussion with friends and strangers from north america are bacon and marshmallows. There are many more, but for some reaon, these are the two that come to mind.
Bacon in America is exactly what you see it being in the movies, cartoons, sitcoms etc. It is this weird skinny piece of predominantly fat and a bit of meat thrown in for good will! I am not sure how it can really be called bacon at all. When it was first presented to me, it had been zapped in the microwave, so it was shrivelled and rather chewy, not so much crispy but it tasted like bacon, it just didn't look like it nor did it have that superb rich bacon flavour I am so used to.
Here in Australia, we have actual bacon! You can get a whole strip which is called middle bacon, which is a bit fattier or you can get short cut, which is what I usually get. Short cut is predominantly meat and with a tiny strip of fat for taste/flavour  and easy cooking. It can be pan fried(which is best), grilled, or zapped in the microwave too, it also shrivels, but you still have meat!! So whenever I have this discourse, I have to say that Aussie bacon truly is the best bacon in comparison to the American stuff.

Marshmallows also come up often, because of those infamous SMores!You can't call yourself american if you have no idea what one is! As for aussies, we don't really know what one is unless we have American friends, seen it on TV or movies. Due to this favourite camping treat, one would believe that the marshmallows Americans grew up loving would be the best in the world, right? Sure, of course, why not, if you know no better! I tried these well loved American marshmallows, and sorry but they are crap! They don't even compare to our Pascall marshmallows. Ours are softer, melt better and are so good in recipes.
Anyway, maybe I am a little too passionate? Maybe, but I love good food and good sweets and I have to say when something is not good so that others don't waist time and money on the not so good food. I will let two lucky people be the judge. I have two packets of American Campfire Mashmallows to giveaway. Taste them and if you want to add them to a recipe and tell me what you think in comparison to the Pascall marshmallows. If you happen to live in America, I am going to be kind and give away 2 packets of our Aussie marshmallows so you can taste them for yourself.

Marshmallows are a great food storage item. They store well and have a reasonable shelf life. They are good on their own for a energy boost, or in cooking with other shelf items like rice bubbles, biscuits, popcorn, or cornflakes to make tastey slices and treats. They are awesome toasted over the campfire too. Stock up when they go on special!

Giveaway details:
1. Follow if you want
2. Leave a comment stating if you are Aussie, so I know to put you in the draw for the American marshmallows and vice versa if you are a non-aussie resident.
3. Also state what are your favourite marshmallows, if they aren't the above mentioned and how you like to eat your marshmallows.
4. Spread the word, it won't get you extra entries but I'd appreciate it :o)
5.Entries close Thurs 12th May  9pm AEST.
6. I will post winners here, but please leave me a way to get in touch with you,otherwise I will redraw for another winner.
Good Luck and have fun:)

PS. I found my camera!!!

i can't find me camera!!

im so bummed! I can't seem to find my camera anywhere! I had it about a week ago when we had friends over and I used it to video my hubby and his mates dancing using the Wii DanceParty2 - i think that is what's called, but not seen it since. Hubby has not hidden it on purpose, I already asked him. I hope I find it soon, because I have put off a lot of my posts because the pics I need are on the camera. Please say a prayer for my that I find it!! It has to be somewhere here in my house!

WINNERS OF TRON AND YOU AGAIN DVD

Congratulations to Tracy who won the TRON dvd and to Felicity who won the "You Again" dvd. If you can get in touch with me by the end of next week so I can get the DVDs posted out to you. Thanks:)

Disney Tron Legacy and You Again DVD reviews and Giveaways!

Tron: Legacy
Heard of Tron Legacy? I can't say that I knew much about it personally, I didn't know of a Tron made in 1982 either. When I got the opportunity to see it the cover was intriging enough! I am not big on Sci-Fi, but because I could watch it with my boys, (PG rating) and it is a Disney film, I wanted to give it a go.

The movie is about a scientist (Jeff Bridges) who creates an advanced parallel world that he has not returned from. The son (Garret Hedland) he left behind has grown up and now a virtual world designer, discovers the portal is this world and decides to rescue his father. On this quest he meets his father's creation, a younger looking clone who has turned bad and who he must destroy. It is very much a sci-fi battle of good versus evil and with a good mixture of romance which is executed by Quorra (Olivia Wilde - from House MD).

Over all the movie was enjoyed more so by my two sons, ages 5 and 8. They loved the action and the motorbikes and I think the suits/costumes.  I personally found it boring in parts but I still watched because, as cliche as it sounds, I wanted the good guys to win and the son to get the girl!!

The DVD is also available on Blue Ray and I have one to giveaway to a lucky reader!

You Again 

I loved, loved,loved this movie!! I watched it with my daughter (9years, almost 10!!) and she literally watched it another 3 times after we watched it! You will 'get' this movie if you were ever bullied in High School by the gorgeous and popular girl in school. A line of up of some of my most favourite actresses ever and also a great introduction, for me at least, of two young actresses. Kristen Bell who plays the main character, Marni, and Odette Yustman( is now on Brothers and Sisters she plays the nurse who is also the love interest of the youngest Walker - can't think of his name!) who plays Joanna, her nemesis.

Marni is a bit of a nerd in highschool and was brutally bullied by Joanna, who was the popular {wench} girl and used it her popularity for bad instead of good. With the help of her older brother, Marni decides to not let herself down anymore and rediscovers herself and her inner and outer beauty.

Later in her life, when Marni is a successful PR consultant, she is on her way home to attend her brother's wedding to a girl she has not met before. When her mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) reveals to her that her future sister-in-law is 'the' Joanna who treated her so badly in highschool, she flips out and is determined to seek her revenge on Joanna for making her teenage years miserable by revealing her true colors.

The plot thickens when Joanna's aunty(Sigorney Weaver) is Marni's mother's old best friend from school. They had a falling out over a boy and their relationship shows that time does not heal all wounds!

Marni's family is full of quirky characters that you can't help but love, for me the highlight of the family and the film is Marni's grandmother who is played by Betty White. She is full of comedy and also wisdom for Marni which helps her see through her past and finding out that Joanna can be a nice person.

I loved this film. It's bursting at the seams with laughs and its a great 'feel good' film. The cast was chosen well and each character  has their own traits that make you want to be part their world! One to watch with the girls.  I highly recommend this DVD to all.

Giveaways

1. Follow if you don't already:)
2. Leave a 'brief' comment on which DVD you prefer and what highschool was like for you.
3. I will pick a winner via random.org
4. There will be two different winners, and I will post winners here.
5. If winners don't respond or i can't get in contact with in 3 days, i will redraw.
6. Draw closes Monday 18th April 9pm AEST.

Good Luck!

Have you made the Switch??

I was a very loyal ALDI shopper a couple of years ago. 90% of my shopping would be done there, but about then I decided i didn't like it anymore. Why? Well there were a few reasons.

1. I didn't like the opening and closing time when I went back to work. I much prefer not to shop on a Saturday or Sunday. Its a personal choice but shopping on weekends in crowded grocery stores or malls for that matter doesn't agree with me!

2. I found I was still going to Woollies or Coles to get other things and would still impulse buy and spend more than I intended to.

3. I had two kiddies with me which made it hard, especially when it came to putting the grocceries back into the trolley from the cashier. They go so fast and seem to get annoyed when I couldn't keep up with them!!

4. I had put my back out at that time and found the whole process of getting through the checkout and then packing grocceries into bags at my car too much.

5. I was also getting 15c fuel discounts shopping at Woollies and Frequestn Flyer points with my Everyday rewards card, so I felt more inclined to shop at there.

With these things in mind, I walked away from ALDI and didn't look back until just recently. I realised that my groccery bills were getting bigger and bigger and I didn't think I was getting more in my trolley. I would do a small shop and found that about 10 to 12 items would cost me up to $70. So I sat down and try to sort it out. I didn't really want to go back to ALDI but I also didn't want to keep spending big and getting less. So I decided to make the time to go to ALDI and see if I really would save money. Of course, I did and I realised that I didn't feel like I was missing out on much not going to the other stores. I also realised that what I was saving in my groccery bills would fill up my car for a week, so I didn't have to worry too much about fuel discounts, but I still stock up on things that can't be purchased at ALDI and get a discount voucher anyway. That being said, I have to give props to myself for being so much more controlled than I used to be and I don't impulse purchase like I used to when I go to the other stores!!

So I have made the switch and I am happy for it and I will continue to shop this way until my new BFF arrives in June!!Who is this you may ask? COSTCO, of course!!!

20% OFF SALE

I am feeling in such a good mood that I thought I would have a sale on my hand made goodies! I currently sell both at Etsy.com and Madeit.com.au. So this is how it will go, check out my two stores, decide on what you would like then e-mail me, cascadebeads@hotmail.com with your orders.   Everything is 20% off the listed price. Here is taste of what I sell:)

The sale will run for 2 weeks. I post worldwide and accept PAYPAL and direct deposit for Australian transactions. Postage is applicable, see the postage amounts for each item online. Any questions, just leave me a comment or e-mail me:)
Etsy Shop: CASCADEBEADS
Madeit Shop: CRAZYCHICKENS