Improv Electronics Boogie Board Writing Tablet Review and Giveaway

     You all know by now I am an Eco-friendly freak unfortunately my mother is absolutely not.  Her and my father barely recycle ANYTHING.  My mom is a sticky note freak, she uses them religiously.  What a waste!  They are all over her house and office but I have discovered a solution - Boogie Board!!

     Now, when I first heard the name Boogie Board I had assumed this was something totally different.  Boogie Board is an 8.5" LCD screen with a 3v battery that provides over 50,000 erase cycles or "20 erases per day for 6 years!"  This is also made completely from plastic and is shatter proof.  You can also get a Boogie Board in either a 10.5" size or in an 8.5" writing tablet that fits into a binder as well.  There is also a new Boogie Board Rip version that saves written info for future use.

     As soon as we received the Boogie Board from ImprovElectronics, Dane made me open it and wouldn't give it back for anything.  This is not only a great tool for those of us who like to jot down short notes but for the kiddos who like to scribble on every sheet of paper.  OR if your like me, I keep a daily food journal and at the end of each day I transfer it to the computer.  This works perfectly for just about any quick use.

Cost:  $39.95
Available to purchase:  Improv Electronics
Recommendation: This is super awesome at a great price and will save you money in the long run regardless of how much it costs.  This would make a great gift for just about anyone!
Facebook:  Boogie Board
                 Improv Electonics
Twitter:  @Improv_Electron
              @Boogie_Board

Mindware Build it Monster Truck Review

     With Christmas quickly approaching, I have been looking through new stores online so I don't have to fight the crowds to get what little toys are even out at the stores.  I live in a very populated area and during the holiday season traffic is horrendous not to mention the crowds and lack in stock of everything.  Online shopping has become a must for my family.  In saying that I recently discovered through another blogger the company Mindware.

     Wow, you could spend hours on this site and still barely see everything they have to offer!  You can browse around Mindware by age group or category or even by their best sellers/award winners.  After a lot of time spent narrowing down my (several) choices, I decided to get the Build it Monster Truck.  My mom told me a couple weeks ago that these were a hot toy this holiday season so I figured it would make a great early Christmas present for Dane to work on with his Daddy. 

     These are perfect for ages 3 and up since all of the pieces (nuts and bolts included) are extra large.  Not only was it fun for the boys to put together but even after building.  We love cars and trucks in this household

Cost:  $79.95

Available to purchase:  Mindware
Recommendation: This is an expensive toy BUT it kept Dane entertained for quite some time and still going.  This website itself is awesome for just about every age/every toy you can think of.
Facebook:  Mindware
Twitter:  @Mindwaretoys

Happy Feet Massaging Insoles Review and Giveaway

     I have been fortunate to stay at home the last couple years after having my babies but I haven't forgotten what standing on your feet ten hours a day at work can do to your entire body.  Having the right shoes can make or break many common issues and symptoms people often complain of.  Many of these include sore feet, legs and back.  When I workout I get a terrible heal pain which I recently discovered as Plantar Fasciitis. My husband (who does work) stands on his feet ten hours a day and complains of terrible knee pain at the end of the day.  I decided we need to try something different which is how I discovered Happy Feet®

     Happy Feet® is made in the US and "is the only insole company to provide you documented proof that its product works and, what's more, explains in plain language why it works."  I decided my hubby deserved to review these as he is the one standing all day long and he deserves a little "manly" pampering!  There are several benefits to using Happy Feet®.  The insoles are made of highly breathable fabric and are anti-microbial and resist odor and mildew. Bonus!!  My husbands feet stink at the end of the day!!

     They are cost effective as the can easily transfer from shoe to shoe and can be worn in every type of shoe.  Another bonus is that every pair comes with both a one year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.  You wouldn't believe how quickly Kevin goes through insoles so this is a totally perfect guarantee. Kevin loves his Happy Feet®...he says they make my feet happy!!  The insoles were a little hard to get used to at first because of the floating feel of the glycerin.  These massaging insoles helped Kevin feel a lot better after work after wearing them for a couple weeks.
　
Cost: $44.95
Available to purchase: Happy Feet
Recommendation: Well, you all know I'm cheap unless it comes to quality that's well worth it and I have to say Kevin (being the hard critic he is) thinks they are well worth another purchase for myself to have a pair or him to have a 2nd set.  Use promo code 70733 to buy your own pair of Happy Feet insoles
Facebook:  Happy Feet 
Twitter: @HappyFeetToday

Yoga by the Dozen DVD Review and Giveaway

     Ok we all know that children this day and age have more technology than any other generation combined. I know I say this frequently and I've heard others say the same thing but when I was little we used spend every waking moment outside riding bikes and playing sports or doing WHATEVER just to be outside. Now because of cell phones, computers, and video games it almost seems like you have to add play/exercise time outside to the chore list. Which is yet another reason why the child obesity rate is so out of control. You will more than likely see this paragraph in another review coming up here soon since I have been trying to find new ways to interest my children in keeping active. I have a husband who is a huge gamer and unfortunately it is already rubbing off on my youngest two boys. I am not happy so anything that helps deter them I am going to be very much into.

     Yoga by the Dozen is designed for ages2 to 6 to get children up and moving. I especially liked how the children in the DVD were all wearing tshirts with your bodies organs printed on them. They frequently referenced stretching your heart or putting your hands on your kidneys. This is great because it helps children learn about their bodies as well as being active. Dane unfortunately didn't keep as interested in this DVD as long he had with the last childrens yoga DVD that I reviewed. Alana and myself loved it and thought it was a great way to teach the boys. Even Declan is now at the age where he was copying moves off the TV too.

     The woman teaching the class was very pleasant and kept Dane interactive throughout most of Yoga by the Dozen! I believe the interest ending the first time we watched it was a fluke and more my fault since this was the second DVD we tried to watch in a row and you know how quickly kids can get bored and loose focus. The next attempt we finished the whole exercise. You can also buy the T-shirts you see the children wearing in the video as well as the mats with the foot and handprints and other yoga supplies for children.

Cost: $17.99 DVD or $36.53 DVD/T-Shirt Set
Available to purchase: Yoga by the Dozen
Recommendation:  A little on the expensive side for me for such a short DVD even if it gets the kids moving although I did like this one much more than the others I have seen. Very creative and educational!
Facebook: Yoga by the Dozen
Twitter: @YogabytheDozen

My Little Doc Childrens Lab Coat Review and Giveaway

     Now, I know Halloween just passed but if you have kids you know that really means nothing as far as dress up and pretend play goes.  We have several costumes that stay out all year long for the kids to play pretend with.  We recently had the opportunity to review a lab coat from My Little Doc which was more fitting in our family than just any costume.

     Dane already has a dentist play dough set in which he pretends to be grandma pulling teeth or fixing holes (cavities).  A lab coat was just the thing he was missing to complete the package and look just like grandma.  As you can see in my picture, Dane loves to wear this around as much as he can.  It seems as though he thinks its a permanent robe or coat.  Honestly, grandma is his life and he would be with her 24/7 if he could.  Now when he's not, he can pretend to be just like her!

     My Little Doc is such a cute company for your little ones.  They produce everything medical related for your children of all ages from scrubs and lab coats to doctor bags and medical ID bracelets.  My lab coat seems to be made as good as the real scrubs and coats if not better.

Cost:  $19.99
Available to purchase:  My Little Doc

Recommendation: This is a very cute site with SO much stuff for all ages.  If you have a little one aspiring to be in the medical field or possibly know someone who is in the same career path then I would recommend giving the site a look!
Facebook:  My Little Doc

Twitter:  @MyLittleDoc

Biokleen Citrus All-Temperature Citrus Laundry Liquid Review and Giveaway

　 I've already told you all of my allergy to Tide detergent.  I have been since birth or at least as far as I remember.  My father and sister are also allergic.  If I wear clothes that have been washed in Tide I break out in hives or worse if I sleep in a bed that has been washed in Tide I have a severely hard time breathing throughout the night and into the next day on top of the hives.  So for the majority of my life I have been very picky about the types of detergents I choose to use.  Five years ago I bought my first front loader which initially proposed an issue since Tide was the main supplier of HE Detergent.  I was forced to explore other brands as well as stock up when I found them to avoid having a reaction.  Over the course of the last couple years I have tried to transition my family into a much greener world and one of those ways meant making my own cleaners at home (laundry detergent most specifically).  I know first hand how harmful some of the every day chemicals we use in our homes can be.  Biokleen is a well known name in the green friendly world which is why I was anxious to give it a try.
　

     When I first received the Citrus All-Temperature Citrus Laundry Liquid from Biokleen, the first thing I did was open it up and give it a sniff. Wow, what an awesome smell...it almost made my mouth water!!  I love the fact that this is 3x the concentration so I barely have to use any for each load.  My clothes and especially the towel came out feeling very soft and smelling amazing!  I experienced no reaction to any of the clothes that I've washed so far so I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of this product!

     Biokleen's laundry formula is Phosphate and Chlorine free, made with Grapefruit Seed & Orange Peel Extracts.  "Biokleen All-Temperature Citrus Laundry Liquid removes the toughest dirt, grease, stains and odors, yet is gentle enough for cloth diapers, delicate fabrics and hand-washables.  It will rinse clean, without leaving residue on clothes that can irritate skin or ruin fabrics."  The All-Temperature Citrus Laundry Liquid can also be used as a pre-treat and is safe for high-efficiency washers.

Cost: $6.56 32oz./32 loads
Available to purchase: Biokleen or you can bring up a store locator to find the nearest store to you where the products are available.
Recommendation:  The cost isn't bad for such a safe and healthy product for both the environment and your family.  There are also coupons available here for several of their products. I love this company and their beliefs.
Facebook: Biokleen
Twitter: @BiokleenInc

Crockpot Steak Marsala w/ Mushrooms

Ingredients Needed:
4 - 6oz steaks/roast
1 can cream of mushroom
1 med. can of sliced mushrooms
1 packet auju gravy mix
1 small bag of baby carrots

Pour all contents plus water as directed on gravy packet into crockpot.  Set on high and cook for at least 5 hours.  Meat should fall apart when done.

Serves 4 people
Prep time - 5 minutes
Cook time - 5 hours

Perplexus Original by Plasmart Review and Giveaway

     We all know the holiday season is coming up and the older our children get the harder it is to buy gifts for them.  Dane is at the perfect age for Christmas since he has a full understanding of Santa and honestly I could get him just about anything and he would be happy.  My other two are the difficult ones.  Alana
being 13 is in between the "older" girlie things and the "little" kids toys.  Declan already has everything
he could need because of Dane plus, he hasn't a clue whats happening and would probably have more fun
playing with the empty boxes than the actual toys.  I honestly don't know who I had in mind when I
discovered Perplexus and decided to review this intriguing game.

    "Perplexus is a maze game where players maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a transparent sphere." This single path maze/obstacle course is designed for 6 and up .  Dane actually
understood the concept at almost 4 years old but got bored easily as it wasn't interactive enough for him. 
Alana enjoyed working on the maze for quite some time but even she struggled in certain areas and got a

little frustrated.

     "PERPLEXUS assists in child development allowing children to exercise their motor and dexterity skills, as well as improve their hand-eye coordination. Its small size makes it easily portable."

Cost:  $24 Perplexus

Available to purchase: Perplexus website has a list of stores local to you on their site.
Recommendation:  I wish I could tell you if this toy was worth the cost but I have no clue how much it actually costs.  I've looked all over and can't seem to find the price.  Although, I will tell you this keeps the kids busy and seemed pretty fun in a challenging way!
Facebook: Plasmart  www.facebook.com/plasmart
Twitter:  @Plasmart

Full Circle Grunge Buster, Suds Up, and Flip Review and Giveaway

     I honestly couldn't wait very long to write about this next company because of all the neat products

they have with of course an environmentally friendly twist.  Full Circle is a company that prides itself

on frequently changing and updating their products to be used in the most "green friendly" manner

possible.  I was given three products to review: The Grunge Buster Grout & Tile Brush, Flip Loofah

Sponges, and Suds Up Dish Brush.

     Grunge Buster is one of their newest products made from Bamboo and recycled plastic.  This has an iron shape to easily hang and grip on to while scrubbing away.  The outer softer bristles clean tile, while the

tough narrow middle bristles do a killer job on grout.  My favorite part of the design is this stands easily for quick drying and bacteria build-up prevention.  I am always cleaning my shower while in the shower so I leave my "tools" inside while not in use which doesn't always work out very well.  Everything else I have used always collects mold or mildew and has to be thrown away.  Not anymore!!

    

      Suds Up is made from bamboo, natural bristles, recycled plastic bristles, plastic, biodegradable Bonterra™ (a plant-based plastic).  I love the stylish design of this product; it doesn't just look like every other dirty sink scrub brush!  Its stand up design keeps the bristles off the counter and sink as well as hold your soap discretely.  You can also purchase brush head replacements to reduce waste and save money!

     Flip is a sponge and scrubber all in one with tough natural loofah on one side and a soft cellulose sponge on the other.   This expands to twice its size when wet, dries completely back to original size and completely biodegrades when composted.  I have to be honest I decided not to use Flip in the kitchen.  As strange as it may sound I took this product into the shower to use on myself.  The loofah is gentle enough for the boys skin as well as my own and helps exfoliate gently.  Weird?  Yes, but it has worked and lasted!

     This statement on their website is what has made a difference in how I think about the products I use:

"At Full Circle, we believe in constantly striving to do things better. Because while there may be a
finite number of resources in the world, there’s an infinite number of ways to use them more wisely. And
figuring out how to do that is what gets us up every morning."  Awesome, right?!  Full Circle’s line of
products are made from sustainable and renewable resources.  All scraps are recycled and products are
made and packaged as close to the raw material sources as possible to keep transportation to a minimum.

Cost:  $9.99 Suds Up
         $5.99 Flip/3 Sponges
         $5.99 Grunge Buster
Available to purchase:  Full Circle.  There is a full list here of online retailers and by state.
Recommendation:  These are environmentally safe products, made by a an eco-friendly company all for fantastic prices that you'd pay the same for anywhere else.  You would probably even have to replace the "name brand" products more frequently because of how cheaply they are made!
Facebook:  Full Circle
Twitter:  @FullCircleHome

Italian Crockpot Chicken Dinner

So this is by far the simplest recipe EVER!
This is a crockpot recipe for an even easier dinner than the already easy crockpot recipes you find elsewhere.

Ingredients:
4-8 Boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 1 per person you are trying to feed)
1-2 Bottles of Italian dressing (depending on how many chicken breasts you are using)

Optional:
Baby Carrots
Corn and/or Peas (frozen or canned)
Redskin Potatoes

Add chicken (frozen is acceptable) and enough italian dressing to cover chicken.  Cook on High for at least 5 hours.  The longer this cooks the better!  Meat should fall apart and be almost a brown color.
*If you choose to add the veges or potatoes I would suggest adding 1 cup of water to each bottle of dressing used.

I usually pour everything together literally as I'm walking out the door and come home to a complete meal that taste as if I had slaved over it for hours!

Prep Time: 5 minutes, Cook Time: 5+ hours

Natural House / Planet Earth Giveaway Winners and other Low Entry Giveaways

Congrats to Susan  - Natural House Giveaway Winner

Congrats to Melissa  - Planet Earth Giveaway Winner

I also have several low entry GREAT giveaways going on right now.  Here are the direct links for more info.  There are more coming next week as well!!

ChildUp (ends 11/27)

Mooney Farms (ends 11/27)

Ayala Herbal Water (11/23)

Little Miss Creations (ends 11/21)

Fresh Baby (ends 11/17)

Yala Designs (ends 11/15)

CIRÉ BY GRANDOE® Leto Women's Knit Texting Gloves Review

     I'm guessing there are not many of my readers who do not have a touch screen device by now.  If you are one of the few you are living in a thing of the past.  There aren't many electronic devices available anymore to the public that do not have the touch screen technology.  Which brings me to an issue going into the winter monthes that I'm sure many of you have experienced:  How do you keep warm AND stay in touch?  Of course you can wait 20 minutes here and there until your inside and all your layers are peeled off or you can just pull off your gloves in the cold to quickly text someone (while your hand potentially starts to freeze, haha).  Though, if you are like me, you just want to use your phone right away without any extra effort or discomfort!  There is a solution to today's problem.

     "CIRÉ BY GRANDOE® is introducing their newest innovation; Sensor-Touch™ gloves designed to help people stay warm and stay connected. Sensor-Touch gloves are built to be touch screen compatible and fashionable. They will activate all touch screen devices including Smartphones, E-Readers, Tablets, MP3 Players, ATM’s, Fuel Pumps and GPS Devices."

     I was given the opportunity to try out the Leto Women's Texting Knit Gloves.  These are powered by Knit Fingertip Technology which allows connectivity on the index finger and thumb through Nano Technology.  These gloves have conductive material (which mimics the touch of the human hand) weaved through the finger tips and thumb for connectivity.  These are available in s/m or lg/xl and come in either black, red, or grey knit.

    These are great and really work!  Not only are they comfortable and warm gloves but they worked on all of the devices we tried them on including a kindle, smartphone, and iPod.  My daughter said she thought it was a little weird at first because you don't expect it to work through the gloves but now she asked for a pair for herself for Christmas.  In saying that, these would definitely make a great gift for anyone in your family who either lives where it get pretty cold or for the technology lover in the group!

Check out these YouTube Videos for a little more technology info:
Embroidered Fingertips
TouchTec Leather
InfiKnit (Fingertip and Thumb only)
            ( Entire hand)

Cost:  $40
Available to purchase:  Cire Store
Recommendation:  Super cool product and totally worth the cost when you think about what you would be paying for a good pair of gloves anyway!
Discount: Good thru end of year receive 15% off any full priced luxury handwear purchase from Cire by Grandoe Use Promo Code: SLELEVEN

ChildUp Early Learning Cards Math and Logic / Early Zoo App for the iPhone Review and Giveaway

     Being that Dane is almost four now, I have been spending more and more time working with him on
early educational lessons.  I've told you all Dane has always been way ahead of all the milestones and
thats not me just bragging about my child.  As proud as I am I also think thats not a good thing.  You
then have children who don't know what to do with themselves because they are too little to get into the
things that they are smart enough to.  After searching the internet for early education tools I discover
ChildUp which has "practical and efficient solutions to raise successful and happy children".

     I was given the opportunity to review the ChildUp Early Learning Game Cards Math and Logic #1
(count to 10) and #2 (count to 20).  The ChildUp Early Learning Game Cards are a series of interactive
and educational tools for parents, caregivers, and early teachers who intend to develop, by playing in an
interactive way, the learning, cognitive and social skills of their children – boys and girls from 1 to 5
years old – and to best prepare them for school and future academic excellence.  These were great! 
Almost immediately Alana opened the flash cards and begun working with Dane on his adding.  We were
already past the counting to ten but these helped with our addition.  This also helped move Dane quickly
through twenty.

     I was also asked to review their EarlyZoo Application which was created for the iPhone.  I don't
have an iPhone so my close friend Chantel downloaded the app for her 2.5 year old (I usually ask her to
help me in reviewing certain products). 

Written by Chantel:
     Early Zoo is a fantastic app that teaches basic information about animals to toddlers. The main
feature that my little monster liked the best was the animal sounds. They feature 80 animals for your
child to learn about and play with. Anything from basic domestic animals, like dogs, cats and pigs to
exotic animals like flamingos, iguanas, and hyenas. The actual interface is pretty basic, you can view
them in 'left to right' swipe lists or in their normal environment landscape. The chicken & cow are in a
barnyard, the African mammals are on the Sahara and the reptiles are in a marshy pond.
Chase absolutely loves this app, constantly asking for 'Moo' because he loves the barnyard landscape
right now.  His animal sound vocabulary has tripled in the 3 short weeks that we've had the app.  Only
down side is that sometimes you have to press on the animal several times in the landscape section to
actually hear the sound. Not ideal for little fingers who are just learning how to use a touch screen with
so-so hand eye coordination.

Cost:  Child Up Early Zoo iPhone app - $0.99
         Early Learning Game Cards Math and Logic #1 and #2 - $9.99 ea
Available to purchase: 
Recommendation:  I thought the flash cards were a great tool to use with pictures for a child of Dane's
age although a little costly.  I would love to see both sets for $9.99 together not separately.  Though, I
am very excited to get more products from ChildUp to further our education along as early as we can!
"There was a slight confusion in the app store; It is marketed as a free app with 80 animals.  In reality,
you only get 20 animals and you are then asked to do an in app purchase of the additional 60 for the
$0.99 price.  All in all we love this app and it is definitely worth your dollar!" Chantel
Facebook:  ChildUp
Twitter: @ChildUp

Playful Planet's Storyland Yoga DVD Review

     Ok we all know that children this day and age have more technology than any other generation combined.  I know I say this frequently and I've heard other say the same thing but when I was little we used spend every waking moment outside riding bikes and playing sports or doing WHATEVER just to be outside.  Now because of cell phones, computers, and video games it almost seems like you have to add play/exercise time outside to the chore list.  Which is yet another reason why the child obesity rate is so out of control.  You will more than likely see this paragraph in another review coming up here soon since I have been trying to find new ways to interest my children in keeping active.  I have a husband who is a huge gamer and unfortunately it is already rubbing off on my youngest two boys.  I am not happy so anything that helps deter them I am going to be very much into.

     Playful Planet has created their Storyland Yoga DVD for ages 3 to 8 to get children up and moving in a very creative way.  Instead of just focusing on exercising with your children, this is almost an interactive movie.  Dane loved playing along to save the whale.  Each pose represented a different action in the storyline.  I thought the guy in the video was a little weird but I think most of the grown men in children's shows are very creepy.  Maybe that comes from the Pee Wee Herman of my time.  But overall it was very cute.

 

Cost:  $14.99
Available to purchase:  Amazon
Recommendation: I thought this was very cute and kept Dane into it every moment.  I wish it was a little longer than only two short clips and if it were I would say the 15 bucks was totally worth it. 
Facebook:  Playful Planet
Twitter:  @PlayfulPlanet

ChefShop.com Hawkshead Sticky Toffee Sauce Review

     I used to be a Training Restaurant General Manager so I consider myself to be quite the foodie.  I am always updating my kitchen and trying out the newest gadgets I can find or cooking up my own creations.  I love being that contact for my friends, family, and followers when they are looking into anything kitchen.  I had the most difficult time deciding what to get from this company.  I could have honestly bought half the site with how much I love to cook (and eat)!  This is a website you can spend hours on (believe me I have).  ChefShop is more than just a local store that you can purchase ingredients and foods from, they also provide recipes made from their products and tested by their chefs.  If you can imagine it, they have found it and can bring it to you in the best form possible.  They also offer cooking classes if you live in or are ever in the Seattle area.

     I had the opportunity to review the sticky toffee sauce.  Now there are of course recipe suggestions to go along with the sauce but within the first 24 hours of receiving this jar we just had to heat it up and pour over ice cream.  A-MA-ZING!!!  Wow, my mouth is just watering talking about this creamy goodness!  Both kids loved it as well and so now I am going to have to get at least one more jar since I didn't have the opportunity to bake anything with it.

     "ChefShop.com offers a seasonal selection of the very best artisan-produced foods and fresh products from around the world.  The majority of the products are handmade using pure, natural ingredients, and traditional, often centuries-old, techniques and recipes.  We have been supporting small family owned and artisan food producers who both preserve old and create new traditions, since 1997.  At ChefShop, we live by the purity and freshness of our ingredients.  we care about sustaining small purveyors by bringing their hand-crafted, hand-grown products to market.  When you buy from ChefShop.com, you are getting the purest foods made by family producers whom we’ve individually selected for the quality of their ingredients and their adherence to tradition. It’s mouth-watering food born from passion and commitment. "

Cost:  $13.59 Hawkshead Sticky Toffee Sauce
Available to purchase:  Chef Shop

Recommendation: You'd be crazy not to go shopping around for something to cook with or even just for entertaining guests.  I wish I had gotten more items to review!  Most of the products are pricey but you are getting honestly getting fresh, rare, or amazing quality foods.
Facebook:  ChefShop
Twitter:  @ChefShop

Mooney Farms / Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatos Review and Giveaway

     Somehow we decide as children that we just don't like some foods for no reason in particular.  My son tells me all the time when I ask him to eat certain foods, "Mommy I don't like that.  I don't need to try it, I know I just don't like it."  We've all been this way at one point and time in our lives.  I have been lucky enough to work in restaurants for most of my adult life which opened me up to a whole new world of foods and cooking.  Tomatoes were one of "those" foods for me.  My mother loved them in every form and I despised them.  That was until I discovered sun dried tomatoes.  I was hesitant to give them a try but I had no choice working where I was working.  It was part of my job and boy am I glad it was.  I fell in love and began to try tomatoes on everything.  To my surprise, they were great. 

     Along my most recent Internet search I came across Mooney Farms, a family owned company since 1987.  "Mooney Farms began in 1987 as a family owned kiwi farming operation. Products were sold at the farmer’s markets in Northern California by the family members.   With the addition of sun dried tomatoes, their first sale to Price Club South San Francisco changed everything. The family’s Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs sold out in a record 4 hours!"  I was given several AMAZING products to review:  Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta with Italian Basil, California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut with Italian Basil, Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs, Sun Dried Tomato Pesto with whole pinenuts, and Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs Halves.

     I was so overwhelmed with all the choices, I wasn't even sure where to start!!  So far I have blended the halves and julienne cut with various other ingredients to make a fantastic dip/spread with amazing flavor!  I have also added the halves and julienne cut with Italian basil to my spaghetti sauce recipe for my most recent canning batch.  I obviously tested these before canning but I cannot wait to open a jar for dinner one night after it has had a chance to let even more flavor soak into it!  I have to say these are some of the best sun dried tomatoes I have ever tasted in my life!

Cost:  California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut with Italian Basil
3.5oz bag $2.99 ea. | Case of 12 - $33.00
Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs Halves
$4.99 ea. | Case of 12 - $57.00
Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs - Julienne Cut
$4.99 ea. | Case of 12 - $57.00
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto with whole pinenuts
$4.99 ea. | Case of 12 - $57.00
Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta with Italian Basil |
$4.99 ea, Case of 12 - $57.00
Available to purchase:  Mooney Farms
Recommendation: When you look at the cost per bag or even per case, this is a great price for the quality of product you are receiving.  If you cook anything from scratch with tomatoes of any kind you will want to give these a try!
Facebook:  Bella Sun Luci  **Like them on facebook for a chance to win a gift basket as well!!!
Twitter:  @BellaSunLuci

Ayala Herbal Water Review and Giveaway

     Going through all this dieting lately to just try to get back to a healthy and normal body weight/shape I have been forced to not only drink more water and less of the bad things but to try new things.  One of my most recent experiments is the Ayala Herbal Water line of products.  These were suggested to me by a friend so I thought what the heck they are worth a shot.

     Well, this line of water has some pretty funky sounding flavors to offer that I've never seen before
which is why I was a little hesitant to give these a try at first.  These include Ginger lemon peel,
Lemongrass mint vanilla, Lavender mint, Lemon verbena geranium, Cloves cardamom cinnamon,  and
Cinnamon orange peel.  You all know how honest I am and I have a hard time not being extremely blunt
with my opinion and reviews.  These all sounded disgusting to me and I was honestly afraid to try them. 
This past weekend I had another family over for a get together and we decided to make it a group
experiment.

     Each and every one had an amazing smell when you first opened each of the bottles but the tastes
were not as near as strong.  We were afraid that because of the smell the flavors might be over
powering and that wasn't quite the case.  They each had a hint of flavor making the water like any other
flavored water (but with a twist).  The favorite of the group was the cinnamon orange peel and the least
favorite was the lemon verbena geranium.  I would definitely recommend chilling your water before
drinking.

     Ayala Herbal Water is free of artificial sweeteners and artificial ingredients as well as zero

calories  and zero preservatives.  "Ayala Herbal Water is the first nationally available organically

certified enhanced flavored water made with all organic ingredients infused with the finest natural

herbs from around the world.  Herbs contain antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins, and other nutrients,

and many studies suggest that herbs possess healing and relaxing properties."

Cost:  $24 Case/12 Bottles
Available to purchase:  Ayala Herbal Water
Recommendation: At $2/bottle I would be buying these again because of how picky I am.  If you grab
up some coupons or find these on sale then they are worth a try especially if you are feeling
adventurous!
Facebook:  Ayala Herbal Water 
Twitter:  @HerbalWater

My Messy Moment

Spending time with friends and family can lead to fun and memorable moments, but also some very messy ones. Tell us about the messiest moments that you’ll always remember!

      Well, I can honestly say I use bleach for everything!  Not only am I a clean freak but I love the smell of bleach (reminds me of the pool since I used to be a swimmer).  The first "messiest moment" that comes to mind is one from back in college.  I had been dying my hair a dark red color and left the bottle (still apparently with dye left in it) in my trash can.  I then showered, got ready and left for the night.  Upon returning home with my sweet mate we found disaster!  I was completely unaware that because of the chemical reaction, hair dye continues foaming (or expanding) thus exploding out of the bottle.  This looked like nothing you would be able to imagine.  In fact I wish I had the time to sort through my picture boxes to pull the picture out for everyone to see.  It looked like something out of a horror movie where someone had been slaughtered.  The red dye was splattered across my walls, fridge and carpet!  I of course after several pictures pulled out my bleach and began wiping everything clean.  My sweet mate swore up and down though that I wouldn't get it all out especially out of the carpet but she was wrong!  Because of the power of Clorox (and of course my scrubbing powers), not only did the dye clean off of everything, but it also cleaned the floor WITHOUT leaving bleach marks.  Needless to say thanks to Clorox I was still able to earn my room deposit back at the end of the semester.


I received information about Clorox’s Bleach It Away campaign and am sharing my messy moment for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls. To learn more about the messy moment program, check out www.BleachItAway.com.  Sharing your story on the Clorox fan page gets you entered for the chance to win $25,000 and daily prizes, and you can grab a coupon for Clorox® Regular Bleach.

Little Miss Creations Bougie Bourgeosie Breast Cancer Awareness Gift Bag Review and Giveaway

     Etsy is of course a great place to find some really creative self starters!  I love browsing through all the products and finding new and extremely creative shop owners.  If you haven't checked out all the products I really suggest you do when you have some free time.  In my most recent search online I discovered The Bougie Bourgeoisie's Shop.  In working with Holly we decided I would review the Breast Cancer Awareness Gift Bag being that it was October.  Also, it seemed fitting since I have been dealing with my mother-in-law finishing up treatments for breast cancer and a mother who went through severe colon cancer only two years ago.

     The first thing I noticed when opening this review product was the AMAZING smell! So sweet! these
products are great! Included in my gift bag was a 4 oz. tin container of body scrub, a small creme wax candle, a 3 oz. bar of shea butter soap, a 4oz. bottle of organic lotion, and an informational postcard.  The lotion and bodyscrub made my skin feel amazing and smelled so great!  I did expect a little more with the Breast Cancer Ribbon Logo on it but this was a perfect little combination of all handmade products.  People don't always realize how or what to do when something as personal as cancer affects someone you care about.  This gift bag would make a perfect little thinking of you gift for someone. 

Little Miss Creations also donates a portion of all sales to help several organizations.  They are also focusing on domestic violence awareness this month as well!

Cost:  $25
Available to purchase: Etsy

Recommendation:  This is a company owned and operated by family; it's a hobby turned into some really cute products filled with inspiration and love and is worth a looksy to see what nice items they have going on at that time.

Silver Tails Bamboo Charcoal Mat Review

     We have discussed this in previous posts but I believe my pets are my family.  One of the hardest things I have had to deal with is pets getting old but it happens to everyone.  With senior pets being approximately 50% of the US pet population, the health care of these loved ones is a growing concern of us pet lovers.  Silver Tails (Quaker Pet Group) is the first-ever line of pet care products specifically devoted to senior pets, which now constitutes about 50% of the US pet population.  The line includes mobility aids, massage therapy tools, sensitive dental care, supplements, toys, and holistic therapies for improved circulation. 

     I received the Bamboo-Charcoal Mat to review. "This holistic material reacts with the pet’s own body heat and effectively eliminates odor, absorbs moisture, and promotes improved blood circulation."  They can be used on the floor, furniture, current dog beds, and in vehicles.  These "have a non-skid bottom for added traction, and includes sturdy integrated handles for lifting and moving older pets; Machine washable cover and hand-washable inner lining."

     This is a very difficult review to complete because my product (unfortunately) did not last more than a month.  Now I do have one puppy who is about to be a year old and a senior pet who is about to be seven years old so there is quite a difference between their behaviors.  When I first received the dog mat I thought it looked great!  The charcoal was a great idea and I'm not quite sure what happened with the mat but within a week it was leaking "stuff" all over my kitchen.  This could have really been Rayne (the puppy) BUT I will say this I could not find any chew marks or frayed areas that would have allowed the charcoal to fall out but yet it was everywhere in my kitchen.  The dogs loved it while it lasted especially Capone but it was only around for about two weeks.  I think this was again mostly our fault.  Had I used it as a cover on a current dog bed it may have worked out much better.

Cost:  $39.99
Available to purchase: Petco

Recommendation:  I probably wouldn't buy the charcoal mat again (because of the mess) but as far as the whole Silver Tails product line, I think it is amazing and can do some wonderful things for your pet.  Especially the older pets with joint issues, check the other products out.  Plus, I love Petco and they have great prices on everything!