Get your Groupon on . ..

If you've been living under a rock for awhile and haven't heard about GROUPON, here's your chance to learn and save some big green bucks; on great entertainment, dining, and  activities.

     Launched in November 2008, Groupon features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in 48 countries, and soon beyond.

Their  company philosophy is pretty simple: we treat our customers the way we like to be treated. That boils down to a few key things:They sell stuff we want to buy. A great price is only half the battle - it's also got to be a great product or service. Between their top-rated business partners and unbeatable prices, you should feel comfortable venturing out and trying something new - just because it's featured on Groupon. Groupon is an addiction you can feel good about.

If anyone loves MEXICAN as much as I do, you will love this quick, easy, DELICIOUS recipe!!

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

½ cup chicken broth

2 cups milk

1 can (15 ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14.5 ounce) Rotel diced tomatoes and jalapenos

1 package (10 ounce) frozen corn

½ cup onion, chopped

½ cup bell pepper, diced

1 can (10 ounce) Enchilada sauce

2 whole chicken breasts

1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

What you’ll do:

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in flour; keep stirring until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat and add the chicken broth and ½ cup milk, a little at a time, stirring to keep smooth. Return to heat. Bring sauce to a gentle boil; cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens. In a large bowl, whisk together the enchilada sauce and chicken broth mixture . Gradually whisk in remaining milk until smooth. Set aside.

In a crockpot, combine drained beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, and bell pepper. Place the chicken breasts on top of the mixture. Pour sauce mixture over ingredients in cooker. Cover; cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. When you are ready to serve, remove chicken and cut or shred into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken back into the soup, mix together. Top with cheese and serve. I topped ours with slices of avocado, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips.

Source: So Tasty, So Yummy

Quinoa is Good for you, But Chocolate makes it Sweeter.

 

Most folks call quinoa (pronounced "keen-whah") a grain, but it's actually a seed — one that originated thousands of years ago in the Andes Mountains. Dubbed "the gold of the Incas," it's treasured because of it's nutritive value (more protein than any other grain or seed!). I love it for its yummy nutty flavor.

Why You Should Try It
As I said, quinoa actually has more protein than any other grain or seed and offers a complete protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids our bodies can't make on their own. It's also a great source of calcium and is high in lysine, the B vitamins and iron. Better still, the seed is easy to digest and gluten free.

Take it one step Further
Enjoy all the benefits of quinoa in delicious dark chocolate, and feel good about it knowing you support fair trade, and quality goods in this great bar.
 http://www.alterecofoods.com/products/chocolate/dark-quinoa

6 Fun Spring Break Ideas

 

Are you finding it nearly impossible to avoid SPF warnings and bathing suit ads? Even though it might seem like everyone and their mom is heading to the beach for spring break, there are plenty of other ways to have a good time that don't involve tropical waters and pink sunsets.

You can turn your non-traditional vacation into a fun time, without all the bells and whistles of a beach getaway. Here are six ways you can have a fun spring break without needing to spend it getting sun-kissed.

1. Have a movie or TV marathon with your friends. There's nothing wrong with wanting to turn your brain off for a night (or two) and catch up on a new TV series everyone's raving about, or even re-watch a bunch of your favorite flicks. The best kind of marathons are the ones when you and your friends can quote each movie, line by line.

2. Explore a local treasure you normally don't have time for. Whether you're from a major city with lots of attractions or a small town where there isn't always a major buzz, there are hidden gems worthy of discovering in everyone's hometown. Some may be more interesting than others, but taking the time to find out more about where you're from may end up being beneficial... and a good time!

3. Go on a spontaneous adventure. Sometimes the best memories and most fun times you look back on aren't the ones you plan for in the first place. Don't hesitate to jump in the car with a couple of friends and decide randomly where you're headed or just pick somewhere different. As long as you stay safe, being spontaneous and thinking outside of the box usually makes for a fun experience.

4. Invent something. If you feel yourself getting a little stir crazy, try your hand at combining the thing you're most passionate about with something you've always wanted to see come to life. Put your free time to good use and brainstorm a unique idea to make something that's of interest to you -- no one ever said vacations can't be a little bit productive.

5. Read that trashy, non-academic book you've been dying to get your hands on. Required reading for school takes up enough time as it is, don't stress about getting ahead or reading anything academic while you're on vacation. It is, however, the ideal time to catch up on a less serious work of fiction that you can enjoy simply for the fun and pleasure in reading.

6. Get involved in the new Hadouken Internet meme. The Harlem Shake videos are now a thing of the past, since the Hadouken memehas started to spread around the Internet. Even though these photos are becoming increasingly better known, they haven't yet reached their height of popularity. It's not too late to throw your hat in the ring and make your own Hadouken meme before it picks up too much ground.