Eggface's 5 Year Anniversary Giveaway

June is a BIG month in my world. 5 years ago (June 20th 2006) I made the best decision of my life, to have weight loss surgery.

5 years ago I started this blog The World According to Eggface for my friends and family to follow the amazing life changing journey I was embarking on.

Oh and there might be a 40th birthday this month (June 28th) too. Eeek. I'm trying to forget that one ;)

Protein Ice Cream Birthday Cake

In honor of these BIG events in my world I'll be giving away 5 super cool prizes throughout the month as my way of saying THANK YOU for taking this incredible journey with me.

Prize 1: A variety pack of Sugar Free Torani Syrups. Includes one bottle of each Sugar Free Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel, Chocolate, Raspberry and Irish Cream. I heart these syrups. They are a must have for post weight loss surgery life. I use them in everything from Protein Shakes & Smoothies, Protein Ice Cream, Cakes, Puddings, Donuts, Muffins, Yogurt, Coffee & Tea... the possibilities are endless.

How to enter: Just leave a comment (include your name and an email addy) on this blog posting by Wednesday, June 8th, midnight (Pacific time) and sometime Thursday, June 9th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner of this prize here on the blog! I will also email the winner at the addy posted. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

One COMMENT ENTRY per person. Remember blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours) in seeing your comment/entry post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the United States (48 contiguous, Alaska & Hawaii only, sorry non-US pals.)

***Want extra chances to win?*** Do anything listed below and mention in your comment what you did for up to four more entries per person!

* Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway:

Hey Everyone Enter to Win Prize #1 in the @Eggface 5 Year Anniversary Giveaway! http://bit.ly/lvKMIx

* Follow me on Facebook and share this giveaway on your page

* Blog about this giveaway or post about it on a social networking/support forum you frequent (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)

* Grab my super snazzy code and place it in your blog

<a href="http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/favabean/Lolatini/buttoncleangrad.png" /></a>

Can't wait to see if you win the giveaway to try Sugar Free Torani Syrups? I understand. I'm a little obsessed with them myself ;)

Here's the 411 on them and an online source.

Bariatric Pantsformation Project

Wanted to say thank you to the Bariatric Center at Georgetown Community Hospital, a designated Center of Excellence (COE) by American Society for Bariatric Surgeons. They are an awesome bariatric program with wonderful support resources for their patients. Currently they have a fun and inspirational event taking place called the Bariatric Pantsformation Project and I was honored to be asked to be a part of it.

Here's a link to their June Newsletter. Check out page 1.

I love to see bariatric programs with not only excellent pre-op and surgical services but those that follow through with their patients, continuing to support and help us navigate this incredible new life... because we know weight loss surgery was just the first battle in a life-long war against obesity.

Thank you Georgetown for featuring my Pantsformation.

Weight Loss Surgery Online Q&A Session

I wanted to give readers (especially pre-op and those considering and beginning research on weight loss surgery) a heads up on an upcoming event...

On Monday, June 13th from 7-9 p.m. ET, The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) and Ethicon Endo-Surgery are hosting a live question-and-answer session with bariatric surgeon Dr. Lloyd Stegemann of the Texas Center for Medical and Surgical Weight Loss.

Anyone with questions about obesity or bariatric surgery can join in at www.LetsTalkObesity.com and type their questions to Dr. Stegemann, who will answer questions live during the session.

Weight Loss Surgery is a huge life changing decision. Research is key. This is a nice opportunity to ask some questions and see others questions (you might not have thought of), hear what these experts have to say and then bring those questions to your local medical posse.

Hope you will join in.

Breakfast with a Hottie. Dinner with Ducks

Having a nice weekend so far. Hope everyone is too. I hit the Farmer's Market this morning to pick up a few things. On the list for sure were strawberries and blueberries so I could make a batch of my Red, White & Blueberry Strawberry Cannoli. I also got some zucchini (gonna grill those tomorrow), some Mexican squash (a casserole this week), white peaches (soooo sweet, might grill them but they might not make it to the grill before they get eaten), yellow onions, a huge red onion (chopping up and roasting it tomorrow), not pictured 3 beautiful artichokes and 4 corn I forgot in the car.

I stopped for coffee at Starbucks and made goo-goo eyes at the most gorgeous male specimen I have ever seen. Seriously. Crystal blue eyes. Brown, shiny, rock star locks. Killer smile. I left my laptop open to my web stuff so he could read it. So if you did... email me or I'll be back next Saturday, same time, same bat channel ;)

After hottie rock star left, I did too. I ran a bunch of errands. Post office, bank, Costco (cheapest price on my Silk soy milk and hothouse cucumbers), came home and knocked a couple of things off my to do list then this evening I decided to bring dinner to the lake near my house.

It was a beautiful day today, sunny, breezy, 70's. Lawn chair, reading material, and my super cool bento box dinner...

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Pizza Bean Salad V2
Green Box (top right): Cherries
Blue Box (bottom left): Just the Cheese Crunchy Cheese - Grilled Cheese flavor
Orange Box (bottom right): Shelly's Red, White & Blueberry Strawberry Cannoli

Made a yummy variation on my original Pizza Bean Salad based on what I had on hand...

Shelly's Pizza Bean Salad Version 2

2 (15 oz.) cans Cannelini Beans (White Kidney Beans), drained & rinsed
1/3 cup Pepperoni, chopped (I used mini slices)
2 Mozzarella Cheesesticks, chopped (I had some fresh mozzarella to use up)
1/4 cup Olive Tapenade (find in deli department/olive bar or make it)
1 Cucumber, sliced
3 Roma Tomatoes, chopped
2 Tablespoons Pesto Sauce (storebought or homemade)
1 Tablespoon Fresh Basil, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper
2 Tablespoons Fruity Vinegar (Champagne, Citrus, etc.)

Mix all ingredients together.

The many duck friends that came to check out my bento dinner...



Wishing you all a safe & relaxing Memorial weekend. Thank you to the men & woman serving our country, past and present, for your (and your families) sacrifices.