Frisch’s New Primetime™ Burgers

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Frisch’s to introduce their new Primetime Burgers.

Last week I was invited to one of my favorite restaurants to try some new items that will be available April 6th!  Frisch’s has always been a family favorite, and the new Primetime burgers doesn’t disappoint.

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The burgers all have a similar start – 100 percent premium hand-crafted beef, fresh ingredients, butter-grilled brioche buns and keeping your taste buds wanting more.

The Classic includes real cheddar cheese, red onion, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and tartar sauce.

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I could of ate the entire thing without coming up for air, but I did have two other burgers to still try. I love the thicker burger vs the big boy burger with the tarter sauce. Frisch’s tarter sauce is my absolute favorite, so no wonder I couldn’t get enough of this one.

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The next burger that was brought out was the Mushroom Swiss. It’s made with real Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms and onions.

Now I’m normally not a mushroom fan – in fact, I pick it off my pizza and even pick the little pieces out of the broccoli casserole that my Grandma uses cream of mushroom soup in. But these mushrooms were delish – and a perfect topping to the burger and swiss cheese.

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Last, but definitely not least was the BLT which comes with real cheddar cheese, hickory-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayonnaise. Who doesn’t love bacon right?!

It’s hard to say which one is my favorite, I really loved all three.. I mean what’s not to love about a hot fresh 1/3 pound burger – with a buttery delicious grilled bun??!
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Something else I learned from Chef Greg Grisanti (besides how awesome he is with burgers) is about Frisch’s onion rings. Now I rarely get onion rings when I order out. I hate biting into an onion ring that is not crisp, or that I get the whole piece of the onion in one bite. Frisch’s uses always fresh, NEVER frozen onions which means the onion is crisper and easier to bite and break, instead of get stringy. (Some of you may have already known this – but I did not and I thought it was a pretty fun fact).

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If you’ve never tried Frisch’s onion rings before – go now! Be sure to get a side of tarter sauce to dip them in (wayy better than ketchup!)

loved the Frischs Primetime Burgers so much – I want to give one of my readers a chance to try one (and some onion rings of course) for themselves. Enter in the rafflecopter below for your chance to win! Contest ends 4/15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in Cincinnati, Reviews/Giveaways | 9 Comments

The BSC Nursing Program – Nurturing Your Nursing Career

As anyone working towards a degree knows, school is hard work. Homework, deadlines and exams are exhausting – but the results of all your late-night cram sessions? A hard-earned degree in a field you can’t wait to dive into.

Earning a degree, especially in the high-demand field of nursing, is an altogether transcendent experience. As a prospective nurse, your well-taught and well-managed BSC (bachelor of science) nursing program has provided you with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to use on a daily—scratch that—on an hourly basis. A nurse’s job is never over, after all.

Perks of the BSC in Nursing
The nursing field is growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the number of nursing positions in the United States alone in 2014 was 2.75 million people. Not only is this a colossal number, but the BLS reports that employment for registered nurses with a BSC in Nursing degree will rise as much as 16 percent by the year 2024. This is a much higher employment rate than the national average for all other occupations.

And with an in-demand career, comfortable salaries abound. The median pay for a registered nurse with a bachelors of science in nursing degree was $66,640 per year. But aside from the growing field and great pay, why is earning a BSC in Nursing in nursing over an Associate Degree in Nursing the better option?

An associate nursing program primarily focuses on the technical skills of nursing, while a BSC Nursing Program focuses on technical skills and theory. For instance, Arizona College’s BSC nursing program claims that its graduates will have a clear advantage over registered nurses without a bachelor’s degree when it comes time to look for jobs. It seems students are catching on, according to AllNursingSchools, 30 percent of students enrolled in an associate nursing program leapfrog to a bachelor’s program.

While an associate nursing program is shorter (two years) than a BSC Program (four years) most employers are looking for registered nurses with a BSC in nursing degree. But why?

How a BSC Nursing Program Works
Yes, a BSC program is a serious commitment, but schools offering these programs prepare their students for the nursing field with in-depth lectures and hands-on lab training. Registered nurses provide patients with quality care and help to educate patients and the community about numerous health conditions. Nurses also have a responsibility to provide emotional support and expert advice to patients and their family members.

As mentioned previously, job prospects for registered nurses with a BSC in nursing degree continues to grow. This is due to the increased importance of preventative care. Chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes are continuing to climb (particularly in the United States with more than 29 million Americans requiring diabetic care), while baby-boomers are beginning to rely more heavily on healthcare services.

As a nursing student working towards your BSC in nursing degree, you will be given intense instruction and high-level training. This includes participating in clinical rotations and simulation laboratories. A BSC nursing program focuses on real-world applications. What sort of instruction do these programs offer? Let’s take a quick look:

o Ethics
o General Studies (English, Humanities, Mathematics, and Social Studies)
o Nursing Science
o Natural Science
o Human Systems
o Research
o Critical Thinking
o Leadership
o Theory

Highly regarded programs also offer their students externships; allowing nursing students to gain on-the-ground experience at hospitals and clinics. This helps students put their learning to work, and to practice their nurse-to-patient interactions.

Your Degree, Your Career
One of the great things about earning a degree? No one can take it from you. Your experience, insight and know-how doesn’t go away, and you’ll only be presented with more opportunities to grow – both as a student and a professional. Pay attention in class and take the time to study. Your education is your link to a gratifying career.

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Join Planet Fitness on April 4 – 1 day, $1 down, $10 a month, no commitment

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Planet Fitness and BlogMeetsBrand.

I remember the first time I stepped into a gym – I didn’t make it past the locker room full of fit women in their sports bras and workout pants that hugged their perfect curves, with their matching shoes and perfect hair – watching me with my oversize t-shirt that I borrowed from my husband, since after having my daughter none of my normal clothes fit.

A photo posted by Krissy Higgins (@krissyar) on

It took me quite a few years to brave the doors of a gym again – but I found a Judgement Free Zone® at Planet Fitness. At Planet Fitness there aren’t fitness fanatics and body builders – there are everyday people, like you and me, who want a ‘judgement free’ zone to be able to get a distraction-free work out in.

Being a busy working Mom, I need a gym that can fit into my schedule – our local club, like many other Planet Fitness locations, is open and staffed 24/7. (Which really helps with my late night workouts!) With treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, weight machines and even two circuits that help you get a full strength and cardio workout in 12 to 30 minutes, Planet Fitness has something for everyone.

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The PF Black Card® membership for $19.99 a month includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to all 1,000+ Planet Fitness locations, use of massage chairs and beds, and more.  The membership comes with unlimited fitness training, spacious locker rooms, and friendly staff – something you won’t get at other gyms.

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Planet Fitness provides all its members with an opportunity to connect and support each other with the “Planet of Triumphs” an online community that celebrates all accomplishments, and inspirational stories of Planet Fitness members. Join the Judgement Free Zone and share your triumphs both big and small, encourage each other and realize that YOU BELONG at http://planetoftriumphs.com,

So come join me in the place where everyone belongs, and join Planet Fitness on April 4. They’re having a “1 day, $1 sale” where anyone can join that day for just $1 down and then $10 a month for the standard membership with no commitment. Or if you prefer the PF Black Card, you can take advantage of that membership and its additional perks for $1 down and then $19.99 per month.

 

They’ve made a special link for my followers, so click here to enter your email for a reminder!

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Posted in Deals, Fitness/Health | 1 Comment

The Benefits of Water Softeners

If you are curious about water softeners, but you’re not sure if you need one or not – well you do. Water softeners have a lot of benefits that will save you time, money, and make you feel your best.

We moved from a home that didn’t have a water softener, to one that did – and I can’t even begin to tell you what a huge difference it makes in every day living from cleaner hair to better coffee!

Hair & Skin. Soft water is wayy better for your hair and skin than hard water. Hard water can cause mineral build-up on your body, which causes interference with soap so you don’t get as clean – not to mention its a lot nicer to shower in.

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Appliances Last a Lot Longer. Hard water can be rough on your appliances. Hard water forms deposits on the inside of your appliances like your washer, dishwasher, and anywhere you use it. The deposits clog up your appliances and causes them to break down; when you use a water softening system it extends the life of your appliances (which means you aren’t replacing them as often). It also prevents limescale from building up on your shower head and faucets.

Clothes Stay Newer Longer. You’re clothes get the same effect as your skin does when you continuously use hard water. Without a water softening system your clothes will be stiff and dingy.

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Energy Saving. Hard water makes your water heater work harder (just like your appliances) A new softener can actually pay for itself in energy savings cost since your hot water heater isn’t working as hard!

Your Dishes Get Cleaner. Hard water can cause your dishes and glasses to be spotty or cloudy – a simple switch to soft water can make your dishes cleaner and spotless!

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I picked up a bag of Morton Salt at Walmart, and it’s a perfect salt to use in your water softener.

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Want to find out if you indeed do have hard water in your home? Just by visiting Morton Salt and filling out a form, they will send you a free water test strip to determine if you have any hard water issues.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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The Perfect Gift for Your Favorite Grad

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Motherhood and Church Hills Classics.

Graduation season is almost upon us – so much excitement, and such an emotional time for parents and family members (trust me, I know from experience). All these years of planning in high school, and then years of hard work and sacrifice to make it through college – it’s finally time to celebrate.

Graduates look forward to moving on in life, starting their careers and officially becoming an adult. When they look back at their time in college, they look back at the good ol’ days, the fun, and of course the pride in accomplishing their dreams and plans.

My cousin Stephanie recently graduated from Miami University – and we couldn’t be more proud. Not only did she finish top in her class, but she had decided to become a teacher. Could we be any more proud?

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She worked very hard to finish and invested a lot of money and time into earning her diploma. There have only been a handful of college graduates in our family, so I knew when I was searching for her graduation gift that I wanted to give her something she could enjoy for years to come.

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I decided that purchasing a quality diploma frame as a graduation gift would let her know how proud I was of her, and that would help remind her of all her accomplishments she achieved.

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Church Hill Classics is a professional framing company that helps graduates and families preserve and showcase their hard-earned diplomas with an officially licensed frame. All of the diploma frames are handcrafted in the USA. Church Hill Classics offer an extensive collection of custom frame styles for more than 1,500 colleges and universities, including  Miami University diploma frames.

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Church Hill Classics stands behind their high-quality frames – in fact, they are so confident that they offer the best guarantee in the industry. They provide 120-Day Return Policy so you can shop with no worries – and have confidence that if you don’t love your frame, they will work with you to make it right!

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Church Hill Classics’ 25th Anniversary Giveaway: Church Hill Classics is celebrating its 25th anniversary! As part of the celebration, they’re offering 25 winners the chance to win a $100 eGift card. You can enter once per day, starting now! Each week (starting March 28, 2016), five winners will be notified by email and posted on Facebook. Sweepstakes ends April 29, 2016 at 11:00 AM EST. Total of 25 winners. Visit this link for more information and to enter: http://on.fb.me/24z0Y7K

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