This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My family is very fortunate with our current insurance plan we have practically no out of pocket which is unheard of for most Americans. Right now I can go to any pharmacy I want to and it’s the same cost to me. I do remember one year when we were told that our pharmacies no longer accepted our insurance and it was odd because we were so used to every taking it. But no, not all pharmacies are alike, just like insurance companies.

Next year we’re going to go through some changes and although I think they will have little affect on where we can go, knowing pharmacy policies will help us make the decision on where to go to get our prescription filled. Walgreens was in negotiations with Express Scripts to keep the prescription cost to consumers down (Walgreens and Express Script), however negotiations failed and Walgreens decided to drop Express Scripts. This decision wasn’t taken lightly and they tried many different ways to stay with Express Scripts. Military families are going to be strongly affected by this as many of them have to use Express Scripts through their military insurance company Tricare. Walgreens tried to create a contract just for the military families but even these negotiations failed.

For now this has no affect on someone like me and probably won’t affect me in the future either. I’ve never been part of the Express Scripts network, if I have a maintenance medication I have to send it through my insurance anyway not the pharmacy and when I was a kid I remember my dad’s insurance being the same way. I had no idea there were such programs like Express Scripts. Actually, that’s not true it sounds like Medco who is what we have to use for all of our maintenance medications. We don’t even have the option of getting them through a pharmacy. I do hate having to go through a middle man to get my medicine. It’s a pain in the rear, so I understand why Walgreens can’t work with them anymore and I feel bad for those affected.

There is a benefit with Walgreens choosing to create the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club though. By spending only $10 a year, a family membership will cover everyone in the immediate family. This includes a spouse, dependents 22 years and younger and pets. WOW! PETS!. Individuals may also join for $5. Join and receive discount prices on your prescriptions and savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications. You will also receive discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies. Even more bonuses occur when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photo finishing services. Be sure to follow Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook to stay up to date on their policies and promotions.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Avocados from Mexico for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wish I was hosting this fabulous giveaway with Avocados from Mexico but I’m not which means I can enter it if I want to and so can you. That football game that most red blooded Americans watch every year is going to come on soon and you need recipe ideas right? Maybe you already have a good one and you want to share it with all those looking for recipes. That’s what Avocados From Mexico is looking for. They are looking for your favorite guacamole recipes. Here’s how to enter the Guac Off Recipe Contest.

Submit your favorite guacamole recipe along with a photo to the Avocados from Mexico Facebook page at Avocados from Mexico on Facebook.

10 qualified entries will be posted on the Avocados from Mexico Facebook page.

There will be a grand prize winner in the following three categories in the:Avocados from Mexico Guac Off Recipe Contest

Most Popular

Best Recipe

Most Creative

Avocados from Mexico Chef Roberto Santibanez will choose the best recipe and most creative while Facebook votes will account for the most popular recipe. Entries are accepted from January 5th to January 15th. The Prizes are really cool in this giveaway. You could win an iPad 2, the three grand prize winners will all receive an iPad 2 and an autographed cookbook by Chef Roberto Santibanez. There will be 7 Runners Up that will receive a $200 grocery gift card and autographed cookbook signed by Celebrity Chef Roberto Santibanez. And last but not least 10 winners will get $100 gift cards just for entering.

To Get you the in the Avocado Mood…..

Try This Fabulous Recipe by Avocados From Mexico

Layered Guacamole & White Bean Dip

Serves: Serves 8 to 10
Prep time: 25 min.
Cook time: 25 min.

Ingredients:

1 can (15-ounces) cannellini beans, drained
1-1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
3/4 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt, divided
2 cups chopped red onion
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup sour cream
2 cups chopped tomato
3 avocados from Mexico, halved, pitted, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon (about 5 slices)
1/4 cup crumbled Romano or feta cheese

Directions

In food processor, combine beans, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt; whirl until smooth.

In a 9x7x2-1/2-inch baking dish, spread white bean dip evenly on bottom. In a small bowl, combine red onions, 1 tablespoon of the lime juice, cilantro and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt; mix well. Arrange onion mixture over the white bean dip.

Season sour cream with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt; spread over onions. Season tomatoes with 1 teaspoon of the salt; arrange over sour cream. In a medium bowl, combine avocados, remaining 3 tablespoons of lime juice and 1 teaspoon of salt. Gently spread avocado mixture over tomatoes.

Sprinkle with bacon and cheese. Serve with chips, pita wedges or raw veggies.

I have another fun trip to offer you guys. Check out this fabulous prize!

WAR HORSE wants to send you on a journey home for the holidays! Jingle your way home by entering now through Sunday, December 11th. Just tweet a holiday message to your loved ones with #WarHorseMovieAD for a chance to win and you could ring in the New Year with family and friends!

Not on Twitter? You can still enter! Send a holiday greeting to WarHorseSweeps@thainteractive.com along with your first and last name and a daytime telephone number.

For the official Journey Home Sweepstakes rules

WAR HORSE rides into theatres this Christmas!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Avocados from Mexico for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
When it comes to using Avocados I’m not very creative. I think of them as an addition to a salad or sandwiches. I’m also very fond of using them on tacos and in guacamole. I hardly ever think of using them in anything else but they are actually quite versatile in recipes. I’ve seen recipes for soup, and recipes for fried avocado fingers, both sound very appetizing if you ask me.

Why should you use avocados when cooking? Because they’re so good for you. Avocados are full of vitamins and fat that’s good for you. The good fat is what we call it in our house. They also have potassium, fiber, folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and some B Complex vitamins that support brain function and good memory, which reminds me, I should be eating some avocados. Want your kids to eat them too, then get them in the kitchen with you. Letting kids participate in cooking inspires them to try new things, even green squishy things. Plus you could enter them into a contest to win prizes. The Mini Chef video contest! Ten finalists will be chosen by a panel of food and entertainment experts based on the chef’s personality and the presence of avocados. So enter the Mini Chef Video Contest now.

Here is my simple Avocado recipe:

Ingredients:

7 Eggs

2 Avocados

1/4 Milk

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese

Sour Cream

Salsa

Tortillas

Directions:

Microwave the tortillas for 10 to 15 seconds

Mix eggs, milk, salt to make scrambled eggs. The quantity depends on how many people you are feeding. Scramble the eggs on a skillet and top with cheese just as they finish cooking.

Peel and cut the avocados

Place eggs and avocados in the tortilla and wrap them up like a burrito

Dip in Salsa and or Sour Cream.

Now if you think you have what it takes to win the The Mini Chef video contest and your children are age 5 to 15 then here’s how to enter. You need to upload a 1-3 minute video of your child preparing a kid-friendly avocado recipe. You could win $1000 cash, an HD camcorder, a Nintendo 3D with 2 games and be featured.  All video entries must be submitted by December 4^th, 2011.  Public voting will begin on December 6^th and contest finalists will be notified by December 12^th.  For regular updates about the contest, follow @guacgrl on Twitter.

If you’ve ever seen the movie Fast Food Nation, you probably have a good understanding of how deplorable the condition our meat is. Underpaid immigrants are harassed in processing plants, livestock are treated like non-living beings, and scientists in labs concoct special hormone injections to make the animals bigger and preservative agents to make it taste and look like chemicals. The boys on Madison Avenue know that we know our meat is treated like this, but they keep us buying with catchy advertisements during Two and a Half Men.

Finding a purveyor of the butchering arts is as easy as pulling out one of your prepaid phones, conducting a Google search, and driving to the part of town where all of the hipsters live. Cutting up steaks and chops has become a unique art form that resides on the same level as a graphic designer or a guitar player for an indie rock band; except your local butcher is actually doing something good for your diet.

Visiting a local butcher shop can be a great way to show your kids how meat is supposed to be prepared. If you’re worried about exposing them to the blood and perceived violence associated with the craft of butchering, maybe you should consider turning vegan. Butchers are skilled craftsmen who know their trade like a doctor knows surgery or a lawyer knows the court system. Taking your children to see a master meatsmith in practice is like going to an MLB game; you get to see a professional in action.

With all of the fuss over antibiotics and hormones in beef products, consumers are still hesitant to visit local butcher shops. Local ranchers in Canada are finding it difficult to penetrate the market with their free-range, grass-fed beef. The price for this natural and organic beef is a little bit higher because there is not enough demand for it.

Consider purchasing meat from skilled butchers and ranchers as an investment to keep them in practice for when the trend catches on. A good way to save money when visiting the local butcher is by purchasing an animal in bulk. I like to buy half of a pig or half of a cow and store it in the freezer. This allows me to have quality hamburgers, porterhouse steaks, and porkchops any time I want them.

The problem of processed and tainted beef has become so widespread that the Mexican soccer team for the Pan-Am games is afraid to eat beef or tacos for fear of having a positive drug test for anabolic steroids. It is good to know that there are people who take their meat very seriously and want to provide the best food for the community.

If you want to teach your kids a lesson about what they are eating, you should visit your local meat market. They will receive an educational experience that no school could teach in a nutrition class.