Keurig Brew Over Ice review and *Giveaway*

It's no secret I LOVE coffee. Not a day goes by that I don't drink a cup (or two, or ten) of the stuff. I especially love iced coffee, so when I heard about Keurig's Brew Over Ice blogger program, I knew I'd have to jump on board!

I was sent 3 different kcups to try: Snapple Peach Iced Tea, Iced Coffee, and Vitamin Burst.

It's SO easy to whip up any of these drinks on a hot summer day. I have a Keurig mini, so only mugs fit under my machine, however, I brewed these as I normally would any Kcup, then poured them into a larger cup with ice to enjoy! I really loved all three, but the Vitamin Burst was my favorite. I found it to be very comparable to the popular vitamin drinks (like Vitamin Water), but of course, for a fraction of the price you pay for those bottles! The iced coffee already contains both creamer and sweetener, so if you're used to drinking your coffee without (or with sugar substitutes), this might come off a little sweet for your tastebuds. It was very tasty though! The Snapple peach tea did not disappoint. In fact I felt as though I was drinking it right out of the glass bottle from a grocery store. Delish!

 

Want to win the same sample pack I received from Keurig PLUS an additional regular Kcups sample pack from Orangespoken? Enter using Rafflecopter below for a chance to win some Keurig swag right to your doorstep! 

In addition, enter for a chance to win $10,000 from Keurig through their sweepstakes!
And while you wait, download a $2 coupon and check out all the ways you can Brew Over Ice!
If you're on Twitter, check out #LoveBrewOverIce for much more!

Check back over the weekend to see if you've won!!! :)

Steph :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

You better Run for Your Lives!

It's no secret I'm a bit zombie-obsessed these days.
Remember our Dirty Girl Adventure?
So when I heard about the Run for Your Lives zombie infested obstacle 5k earlier this year, I dragged my legs in excitement! When I found out the race would be coming back to Florida for its second year, I gurgled with glee. When the race production crew contacted me about being a Run for Your Lives official blogger as part of the Zombie Preparedness Team, my head practically fell off. #spon

From the website:
Anyone can run. But everything changes when you’re running for your life. Test your speed, strength and endurance through miles of man-made and natural obstacles—all while being chased by hungry, merciless zombies. This obstacle course race is like nothing you've ever experienced before. And hopefully, it won’t be your last. Waiting at the end of this zombie infected 5k—aside from a possible brain craving—is an apocalypse party to die for. Celebrate your survival or imminent zombie transformation at this one-of-a-kind festival complete with food, live bands, a DJ, and of course beer.

Sounds incredibly kick-ass, huh? Basically you'll be running (or walking) around 3.1 miles of zombie infested obstacles in which you are going to try to overcome AND survive. How does one survive? As you go through the course you'll be wearing flags around your waist (think middle school flag football!). Zombies, and all their horror, will be trying to rip your flags off your waist (don't worry- that's all they will do. No grabbing or biting. Darn). If you lose all of your flags before you cross the finish line, you'll be considered INFECTED, and will receive an infected medal to commemorate your new life as a walker. IF you cross the finish line with at least one of your flags, you'll be congratulated with a SURVIVOR medal and can bask in the glory of your awesomeness! Ah, sweet victory!

This year's event will be on November 16th in Clermont, about 25 miles west of Orlando, and about an hour from Tampa. Currently registration is $87 (but look below for a discount from me!), and you can choose to participate in starting waves ranging from 8:00am until 3:00pm. As we get closer to the end, the price will increase, so keep this in mind and register early!

Your registration includes your race bib, entry to the Apocalypse party (food! beer!), and a finisher's medal (yes, even if you become infected, remember?).

So, have I convinced you yet? Do you want to band together and kick some zombie ass with me? (Disclaimer- we won't be doing any actual ass kicking, but it sounds much more fabulous when I put it that way). I'm registering for the 12pm wave, so when you choose your time, feel free to join me if it works for you! You can still join our team and use my discount code even if you decide to choose a different wave. The discount code you'll enter in upon checkout is ZPTD6! 
Run for Your Lives Discount Code

 

If you have any other questions about the race, let me know! While we wait for race day, keep up with the happenings of other infected cities through Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! LET'S DO THIS!!
Run For Your Lives, the original zombie 5K, has invited me to be a brand ambassador on their Zombie Preparedness Team. Because of your love for my blog, you can take full advantage of my relationship with Run For Your Lives and receive 15% off when registering for any of their races in the United States.
Steph :)

*Winner Announced* & Nutrition S'mart Review

I love supporting smaller stores around the Tampa Bay area. Especially when the managers of theses establishments are near and dear to my heart.

That’s the case with Nutrition S’mart. Currently Rudy and Maruchi manage two locations here in Tampa: Carrollwood and Wesley Chapel and I’ve known them, well let’s say they’ve known me since I was a just a little baby. We lived in the same neighborhood, and we were all the best of friends. I use the word “all” because Rudy and Maruchi have 3 children, and I have the fondest of memories growing up with them. Dozens of play dates, beach trips, fishing adventures, Halloween parties and so much more.
Eventually the family moved away, we grew older, and went off to college leaving those fun adventures in our childhood, however our families never lost contact. In fact, they remained very close to my mom and dad, especially throughout my mom’s illness and passing. They have supported Team Judy and our fundraising endeavors, and even walked by our side at our inaugural Miles for Moffitt, Jogging for Judy event. I’ve also reconnected with their daughter, Lauren, and her fabulous blog Gluten Free with Lauren Marie. She shows you how delicious and satisfying gluten free cooking can be!

Rudy and Maruchi are the real deal. They are genuine, kind, giving and two of the most positive people you’ll ever meet. In my opinion, when you manage a business, qualities like this mirror in an establishment. Walk into one of their stores and you’ll feel that vibe.

Nutrition S’mart is staffed with friendly and knowledgeable employees who are willing to help you navigate the over 10,000 natural and organic vitamins, groceries, produce and beauty supplies they carry. Their motto “organic, doesn’t mean expensive” rings true. Their prices are truly amazing, and they offer a variety of weekly BOGO specials. When I was in the store last weekend, the BOGO specials were a-plenty! Everything from Zevia soda and Almond Breeze to coconut water and Alexia frozen potato products! They even featured Kind Bars BOGO! These specials aren’t advertised, so each week you walk into a Nutrition S’mart you will definitely be in for a surprise!

They have an extensive and exclusive Gluten Free section of the store, and a vitamin aisle that literally stretches as far as the eye can see!

Their 100% organic produce section is impressive, and so are the prices! Each week they feature sales on different items. While I was there organic avocados were $.99 each! That is one of the best prices I’ve seen!

The Carrollwood location carries vast selection of craft beer and wine, and great variety of dry goods in bulk bins. Even some of their wines were BOGO!

 

In addition to the awesome BOGO specials sprinkled around the store, I also noticed amazing deals on some of the products I love.

The shopping experience doesn’t stop at the prices though. Both of the Nutrition S’mart locations in the Bay area offer classes on cooking, and health, in addition to weight loss challenges, product demos, samples and more! Oh, and if you bring your own shopping bag, they’ll give you a nickel off your purchase for every bag you use!

 

If you haven’t visited a Nutrition S’mart, I definitely suggest you stop by and see what it’s all about! Visit their website for more details, store hours, directions and more!

Shall I sweeten the deal for you? Maruchi has offered a $10 gift certificate to Nutrition S’mart for 3 lucky Orangespoken readers! All you have to do win is leave me a comment below telling me what your favorite fruit or vegetable is! I will choose 3 random comments on Monday so check back and see if you’ve won! This giveaway has ended. 8/13

I’m more than happy to support local businesses in the area, especially those who are dedicated to quality, healthy living and are looking out for the customer. Hoping you’ll stop by and visit Rudy and Maruchi! Tell them Steph sent you! 

**WINNERS**

 

Please make sure you contact me so that I can get your gift cards to you!

Restaurant review: Sate Southeast Asian Grill

I love the idea of build-your-own style restaurants. You know, places like Chipotle and the now deceased Dish (let's have a moment of silence, please).

When I found out about Sate Southeast Asian Grill, I knew I would be a fan. Not only because of the creative concept, but because of the fresh options I had heard about through some friends.

 

(from the website)
And fresh they are! When you first walk in, the aroma from the grill hits your nostrils, making your mouth water. In fact, the first thing you see as you walk up to the counter is a hot, flaming grill going to town on chicken skewers and grilled steak. Sorry, vegetarians, but the smell of meat on the grill makes my heart go pitter patter. Never to fear, though, there are plenty of vegetarian options here at Sate!

 

I brought my friend Monica, from Sweetbites to check out Sate with me. The staff immediately greeted and welcomed us as we started to browse the menu and the area behind the counter, mentally constructing our bowls. As you begin to build your meal, you start by choosing a base. Sate offers rice, noodles, salad or a bread (sandwich) base. I kept it simple for my first visit and went with the rice, but I cannot wait to return to try a sandwich! Once you choose your base, it's time to decide on your protein. You can choose between grilled chicken strips, grilled steak, chicken Satay (chicken skewers), tofu, shredded pork and sesame bbq pork.

I decided that the chicken Satay looked much too delicious to pass up, so I went with that, while Monica went with the shredded pork. The gentleman creating my order went straight to the grill and pulled 2 skewers right off of it, and straight onto my bowl. Like I said, FRESH! The pork looked fork tender and was drenched in a broth that would probably be good enough to drink.

 

Once you've chosen your protein, then the fun really begins. Sate has a cornucopia of fresh vegetables, sauces and toppings to add some pizzazz to your creation. I added grilled onions, bean sprouts, fresh cilantro, corn, jalapenos and topped it with Sate's signature fish sauce. As you watch your creation slide down the counter to the cash register, you momentarily become distracted with, what Sate calls, "side kicks". Beautifully wrapped spring rolls, hot soups, and crispy egg rolls tempt your taste buds as you wait to cash out. Today I stuck with just my bowl, but I have to say, I will be back for a soup sampling!

 

To wash it all down, you can choose Thai Lemonade, Thai Iced Coffee, Thai Iced Tea, Vietnamese coffee, soft drinks, water and/or regular iced tea. I knew I had to try the iced coffee, as it's one of my all time favorite drinks. For $2.00 with unlimited refills, these people had me at hello.
For around $8-9, you get a HUGE bowl filled with fresh ingredients, that you created yourself, plus unlimited gourmet iced beverages. That, my friends, is a steal.

 

I didn't know how to tackle my meal, so I started by trying one of the chicken satay. Moist and flavorful with a nice char on the outside, and a smokiness on the inside. Dipped in the fish sauce took it over the top with flavor. I then began to combine my rice and veggies with the remaining chicken from the second skewer creating a rich and fresh bowl that I found difficult to not feel guilty eating! I had to keep reminding myself that nothing was fried or drenched in cheese or butter, but it was still just as satisfying as any comfort food I've eaten.  The Thai iced coffee was earthy and rich, and with refills being free, I took one for the road. Monica agreed that her bowl was equally amazing, and could not get over how farm fresh everything tasted.

Although it's set up cafeteria style, and the drink areas are self serve, we were approached by staff twice to see how our meals were and if we needed anything. One of those visits was by a member of management who talked to us a little about how everything is made in house, and how we must come back to try some side kicks and the Vietnamese coffee.

The next time you're looking for something different, check out Sate. It's a Asian fusion, casual dining and quick service restaurant that you'll feel good about eating at. Happen to be a USF student? Sate offers a discount with a valid student ID! Yelper? Check in at Sate for 15% off your meal. Even better... bring 6 or more guests with you at check-in and your meal will be free! Gotta love Yelp deals! :)

 

Have you tried Sate Southeast Asian Grill? What do you think of these fast casual dining options popping up everywhere?
Steph

Disclosure: I was invited to try Sate Souteast Asian Grill for free in exchange for my review. Yum.

Restaurant review: Little Greek

Last Thursday I was fortunate enough to be invited to a blogger party over at the new Little Greek in South Tampa. When I saw Carlos, from Carlos Eats, post about it on our Tampa Bay Bloggers website, I knew I would have to attend.

I. Love. Greek food.
In fact, in the world of cultural dishes, Greek is at the top of my list. But apparently, from what I learned from Sigrid Bratic, the creator of the Little Greek restaurants, is that the food they serve has been Americanized; making original Greek flavors more accessible to anyone wanting something.
So let me rephrase: it's Americanized Greek food that is on the top of my list!

When I travel to Greece and try the food from the source, I may include authentic Greek as well, but for now, I'm OK with enjoying the food that places like the Little Greek serves up. Why? Because it's scrumptious, satisfying and crave-able.

Little Greek is located in off of South Dale Mabry, a little south of Hesperides Avenue, right across the street from Grillsmith. If you're native, do you remember the Blockbuster Video across from the Publix on Neptune? Well, the Little Greek is in the same shopping plaza; right where the Wingstop used to be. In fact, all of their restaurants are located in existing establishments. Restaurant recycling at it's finest. Their other Tampa location is located where the McDonald's used to be in Westshore Mall.
Best. Switch. Ever.

The blogging party was so much more than I expected. Sigrid Bratic (the creator of Little Greek) and NickVojnovic (the president of Little Greek), and Jennifer Bujalski (the marketing manager) were all there to greet us as we arrived. There was an area set up where we could mingle with the other bloggers, sample dish after dish and enjoy complimentary wine and beer.

There was about 15 of us in all, and I saw some familiar faces in the crowd like Denise from RunDMT, Crystal from Thrifty and Frugal Living, Monica from SweetBites and Sarah from A Spoonful of Sarcasm. Along with our blogger invites, we were encouraged to bring a guest. Liz from She Will Be Starting A Blog Soon Because I said So was my guest. ;)

 

In the hour and a half that we were there, we sampled an amazing array of the Little Greek's menu. Here's what was served:
-Grilled and Fried Pita Bread -absolutely delicious, dusted with Parmesan cheese.
-Homemade Hummus- smooth, creamy and light, topped with salty Greek olives.

 

-Homemade Falafel- The best I've had! Try it with the spicy Tzatziki!
-Tzatziki- Cool, fresh and full of flavor.
-Spicy Tzatziki (test item)- Made with their hot sauce with the base ingredient: carrots!

 

-Spinach Pie- To die for. My favorite Greek dish and the Little Greek's did not disappoint.
-Dolmades- We actually got to see how these are made in house. Tender, and flavorful.

 

-Homemade Avgolemono Soup- Fresh, lemony, and light. A perfect summertime soup.
-Greek Sausage (test item)- With just a hint of spice, these sausages are scrumptious!
-Signature Hand-cut French Fries- Dusted with a bit of spice and reminiscent of Fair fries!
-Grilled Chicken- Tender, juicy grilled chicken was one of my favorites of the sampling.
-Gyro Meat- Melt in your mouth cuts of lamb and beef.

 

-Gyro Pita- A combination of the warm pita, Tzatziki sauce, veggies and gyro meat= heaven!
-Greek Salad- The potato salad on top did not disappoint!

 

-Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken

 

-Chicken Souvlaki Platter

 

-Homemade Mousaka- I didn't get to try this but Denise said it was fantastic!
-Baklava- Made locally at a Greek bakery in Tarpon Springs. My all time favorite dessert!

 

-Homemade Rice Pudding- Creamy, light and comforting. As all rice pudding should be.

 

Sigrid, Nick, Jennifer and the Little Greek crew continued to bring out sampling platter after sampling platter, giving us the background and history of each dish and how it's prepared, and refilling our glasses (or replacing our bottles) when our drinks got low. They were remarkably welcoming and hospitable, which is definitely an indication of how they interact and treat their customers on a day to day basis. When you enter this fast casual restaurant (think Panera and Chipolte), it's comfortable and inviting like a full service restaurant, without the time commitment, which makes the Little Greek great for a quick bite that is healthier than the drive thru options that fast food establishments bring.

 

It was really neat being able to provide feedback to both the president and creator of Little Greek, as well as trying potential menu items and giving our opinions on those. As we left, we were handed a bottle of their Greek dressing and a bottle of their hot sauce to take home, with a free gyro and baklava coupon attached to the bottles.

Like I said. We were treated like royalty!
If you haven't checked out Little Greek I urge you to! Like go, right now! And if you're in market for catering, you're in luck! All of their locations offer catering and delivery in some cases. Check out their website for details!

And if you'd like to make your visit even sweeter, leave me a comment below and you'll be entered to win a free meal on the house! You'll be able to choose from a traditional gyro or chicken pita, fries and a drink. Just leave me a comment below telling me what your favorite Greek dish is (or any dish for that matter!) and I'll choose a comment on Tuesday afternoon. I'll announce the winner on Twitter, Facebook and of course below under the comments, so check back and see if you've won!

The even better news? If you don't win my giveaway, you can still pop in for a heck of a deal! Little Greek Restaurant opened its doors on June 1, 2004, at 320 East Lake Road in Palm Harbor, Fla., and began a loyal relationship with restaurant guests. To celebrate their 9^th Anniversary, Little Greek Restaurant is offering one of their favorite combo meals for $6.99. During the week of June 9-15, 2013, customers may choose either a traditional gyro or chicken pita, each served with our Signature Hand-Cut Fries and a Drink. You can't beat that!

Thank you to the Little Greek team for an awesome blogger event! I cannot wait to go back and bring a friend!
Steph

*Disclosure: I was invited to the Little Greek blogger event in exchange for my honest review on my experience. All feta-filled opinions are deliciously my own.