Conair ExtremeSteam Review

When I travel, it is often for business and my suitcase seems to always been rummaged through by TSA. As a result, my business clothes are a wrinkled mess. I can't stand ironing, particularly at a hotel because every iron works a little differently and those darn ironing boards can require a degree to put back together. So, when I found out about Conair's ExtremeSteam Professional Hand Held Garment Steamer I was more than willing to give it a try.

This handheld steamer is easy to set up and garments can be steamed right on the hanger. It can be used on soft fabrics that are difficult to press, such as jersey or chiffon, and even works on tailored items that can be impossible to iron, like suits and jackets. This steamer is travel-friendly and gets hotter faster than competitive steamers to remove wrinkles better and faster. It comes with three specialty attachments, including a creaser for an extra-sharp look.  It works my turning tap water into microcrystals of steam that won't damage fabrics or burn your skin.

Review: I HATE ironing and will even resort to throwing clothes in the dryer or in my bathroom while I am showering so I was willing to give this a try if it meant saving me the hassle of having to pull out the old ironing board.  The steamer was really easy to fill and it heated up in just a couple of minutes. It has a red light that indicates it is on and a green light to tell you when it is ready to use. 

I used the steamer on two different articles of clothing: a pair of cotton pants and my favorite chiffon layered shirt (that I also hate because it comes out of the dryer wrinkled). Despite the large and somewhat awkward shape of the steamer, it was not too heavy or too difficult to use with one hand.  The steam was not hot too the touch at all but worked pretty good, particularly on my shirt which is very difficult to iron:

Before: So wrinkled I could not even wear it

After: Only minor wrinkles which were fairly hidden by the pleated look of the shirt

It did require that I go over the fabric number of times to get the wrinkles out. I have never owned a steamer before so I was a little disappointed with the directions since there was no explanation as to how to or when to use the attachments. If I would have known why and how to use them, I may have had better results with the pants.  They were not as crisp as they would look with an iron; however, I can still say that  I prefer to use the steamer over the iron.  Unfortunately, I could not get a good picture to illustrate the difference between the before and after, but I can tell you that they are good enough to wear after steaming.

Buy it here: The Conair ExtremeSteam Professional Hand Held Garment Steamer is available for an average retail price of $49.99 at most national and regional retailers around the US as well as www.conair.com and is available at a discounted price on Amazon.

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Free Travel/Activity Apps!

Doing any traveling this summer? Maybe planning a Staycation?  Check out these two cool travel/family fun apps:

1.  Time to Enjoy
How many times have you wished you could find fun things to do in a matter of seconds using your iPhone? Well now you can – ‘Time to Enjoy’ let’s you ‘search the world for fun events’ right from your iPhone! What makes this app different? We search for fun things to do during the exact time you are available.

2. My Explore
Hertz NeverLost is launching a new line of mobile apps that help travelers find offbeat tours and a new way to explore their favorite cities. For example:  the “Bonnie and Clyde” tour in Dallas where I live, or the “Hangover” tour in Las Vegas. In New York travelers can reminisce on the “Beatles” tour or ‘say hello to my little friend’ on the “Scarface” tour in Miami.

The app has other features like “Augmented Reality” which allow you to blend the virtual world with your actual, real-time location in order to find other nearby attractions. Plus, it’s richly populated with special events, niche neighborhood restaurants and other ways to explore a city.The first app is always free from the iTunes store and serves as a “container” app for the other cities which can be purchased for just .99 cents each. I downloaded the Orlando app and hope to use it when I go to Disney this fall!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Here Comes the Bride Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Getting married is, hopefully, one of the most joyous occasions in a woman's life. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Here Comes the Bride is a collection of 101 stories of love, laughter, and family.  The stories are written by real life brides and their families and it covers all aspects of being a bride, from proposal to honeymoon. Like other Chicken Soup for the Soul editions, the stories are meant to entertain and inspire.


The stories are organized into the following chapters:
1. The Proposal
2. The Ring
3. The Dress
4. It's All in the Planning
5. Meet the Parents
6. The Wedding Party
7. Marital Mishaps
8. Bucking Tradition
9. Never Too Late for Love
10. The Honeymoon


Review:  I remember the joy (and stress) of being a bride. My wedding was on my mind 24-7 for months leading up to the wedding. I would have really enjoyed having this book as I was preparing for the big day and I look forward to passing it on to my mom who is getting married next year.  Like always, there is a really nice variety of stories: ones that make you tear up, others that make you laugh, and a lot that remind you to slow down and enjoy the wedding rather than being constantly stressed about it.  I was also glad that there was a chapter for women getting married (or married again) at an older age and I think that my mother will really appreciate it.  There are some cartoons scattered throughout the book which I found to be extremely funny.  This would make a really good engagement or shower gift for the bride who enjoys reading!

Buy it here: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Here Comes the Bride retails for $14.95 and can be purchased from bookstores or from Amazon for a discounted price.

Win it here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Free Simudent Offer!!

Stim-U-Dent Plaque Removers are pliable, wooden cleaning tools with a patented triangular shape designed to fit between teeth and gently stimulate gums to fight gingivitis. They have been shown to work better than floss in reducing plaque, gingivitis and bleeding gums. Stim-U-Dent has beaten floss’ results in comparative clinical tests over the last 50 years; when used as directed, clinical studies support a 52% improvement in gum health.

You can try Stim-U-Dent for FREE until July 1.  LIKE The Natural Dentist Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thenaturaldentist) and sign up for the free Stim-U-Dent rebate offer.

No compensation was received for this post but I will feature a review and giveaway of this product soon!

Ecover Review

Ecover has over 30 years experience making safe, effective cleaners. Their products are made with powerful plant-based and mineral ingredients. They contain no artificial fragrances or perfumes, are septic tank sage, biodegradable, phosphate free, and are not used in animal testing. Even their containers are eco-friendly. Their 100% PlantPlastic bottles are made from sugarcane which means they are not infringing on global food supplies and are reducing their carbon footprint by reducing their dependence on crude oil.

Coming soon, Ecover will offer a Pomegranate and Lime Dishwashing Liquid. It is formulated to clean effectively without producing excessive bubbles. It is suitable for sensitive skin and has fresh, plant-based ingredients.  It is gentle on hands and is safe for septic tanks. It is also, of course, safe for the environment.  Since it is completely biodegradable it has a minimum impact on aquatic life.

Review:  I was very happy with the quality of this product. It took very little soap to wash the dishes.  The scent was very faint and the liquid clear and dye-free. I have sensitive skin but had no problem dipping my hands into a sinkful of this soap. It was easy on the skin and was non-drying. It worked just as well as my usual brand but has the bonus of being earth-friendly. You really can't go wrong!

I was provided with the above mentioned sample in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms Review & Sweeps Announcement

Lehigh Valley Dairy Milk uses a 5-point purity checklist to make sure your family is receiving pure dairy products.  Their purity checklist ensures that farmers are not using artificial growth hormones,  cows are fed a nutritious diet, there are no antibiotics, the products are tested for quality at every key step, and their milk is cold shipped from dairy to store within hours.  They offer a variety of milk products. Of course, my children's favorite is chocolate. Their TrueMoo chocolate milk has lower sugar, fewer calories, and no high fructose corn syrup.

Review: My kids could live on chocolate milk so I have had the pleasure of tasting a wide variety of chocolate milks over the years.   TrueMoo is really delicious. The chocolate flavor is very pronounced, much more so than most other brands.  My kids really loved the taste and I really like the quality assurance that Lehigh Valley  offers. This will definitely be a brand that I will buy again!

Sweepstakes: From now until Labor Day, Lehigh Valley will be giving away one $100 grocery card each week. To enter, simply visit the Lehigh Valley Dairy Facebook page, click "Like" and then fill out all the required fields on the entry form.

Bonus Recipe: Cookies and Cream Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms whole or 1 percent milk

1 cup fat-free or low-fat chocolate frozen yogurt

Directions

Blend until smooth. Crumble in 2 reduced-fat or regular sandwich cookies (like Oreos) and blend. Serve and enjoy.

I received a complimentary Lehigh Valley Dairy product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Dry Idea Review, Sweeps Announcement, and GIVEAWAY!!

It is summer, which means increased perspiration and body odor (eek!). Dry Idea Advanced Dry deodorant is available in roll-on, clear gel, and invisible solid options.  The roll-on provides 24-hour protection thanks to it's fast drying MicroCotton formula. It is hypo-allergenic and contains Vitamin E. You can purchase it in one of three scents: unscented, powder fresh, and cotton dry.

Review: I have never been a fan of roll-on deodorants because I always found them to take too long to dry and I never liked the feeling of wetness under my arms. Dry Idea Advanced Dry, however, dried really quickly! It rolled on smoothly and had a very pleasant scent (I received the powder fresh).   Did I stay dry and odor-free all day? I sure did!!  I never even considered purchasing roll-on deodorant, but this product has really helped me change my mind.

Sweepstakes Announcement: Dry Idea is holding a Sweepstakes with $1000 in prizes! There is a $500 1st place prize and 10 $50 2nd place prizes!

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Dry Idea provided a free sample of their Advanced Dry Roll-On so I could review them. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own. 

Hydro Bone Review

Hydro Bone, available at Petco, is the chew and fetch toy for your pet...with a twist. The molded rubber bone has a foam core which absorbs and holds liquid. You soak the Hydro Bone in water, and it then releases the water through specially designed holes as it's chewed on by your pet allowing it to quench your dog's thirst during play. It can be frozen for even cooler fun on the hottest of days. 

Butch hoarding both bones

Review: I received two Hydro Bones to review, one for each of my dogs: Butch (Boxer) and Buttercup (Bulldog).   There were no directions on how to get the water inside the bone but I finally realized you had to soak the bone in water to get it to absorb.  Both Butch and Buttercup needed a bit of coaxing before they would play with it, but it did not take long before they were fighting over both of them. 

I liked the hydration aspect of the bone and the freezing worked well. Bulldogs are not supposed to be in extreme heat and it is really important to keep them hydrated. This bone allows my dogs to keep hydrated and play at the same time.  One of the bones is still going strong a week and a half after receiving it; however, the other bone was torn to shreds the very first day.  The bone is a nice size for a larger dog; however, they may not be sturdy enough for such strong jaws/teeth. 

Buttercup licking the water off the holes

 Buy it here: Hydro Bones are available at Petco for $9.99.

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Orchard Bar Review

The all-natural, vegan and gluten free Orchard Bars are loaded with nuts and fruit, sunflower and flax seeds. Their bars are rich in antioxidants (vitamins A & C), low in sodium, high in Omega-3 and a good source of protein. And with no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, and zero cholesterol and saturated fat, they are a great healthy snack.  Orchard Bars are available in the following popular flavors: Blueberry Pomegranate & Almond, Pineapple Coconut & Macadamia, Cherry Almond Crunch (new), Banana Mango & Macadamia (new), and Strawberry Raspberry & Walnut.
  

Review: I received one of each flavor of Orchard Bar to review: 

Banana Mango & Macadamia: This bar is a delicious blend of the fruits and nuts. The first bite literally made me say "Mmmm".  The bananas and mangoes taste incredibly fresh. This is one of the most flavor-packed bars I have ever tasted.

Strawberry Raspberry and Walnut: The first thing that struck me about this bar was the delicious smell! Like the other bars, the berry was a very fresh taste. I am not a huge fan of walnuts but I could tolerate them mixed in with the berries. I would have preferred smaller bits of walnuts, but this is just a personal preference. 

Pineapple Coconut & Macadamia:  If you could somehow taste an island getaway, I think this would be it. It was extremely tasty!

Cherry Almond Crunch: Again, this was a very flavorful and enjoyable bar.  It reminded me of an all-natural fruit stick I have eaten before. It was a nice blend of tart and sweet and satisfied my hunger.

 

Blueberry Pomegranate & Almond: Yet another flavorful bar. Not a single one disappointed me! 

Buy it here: Orchard Bars can be found in retailers nationwide and online at www.OrchardBar.com. 


I received samples in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Most people think it is the 4-letter words that are the most offensive, but it is really a 6-letter word that is the cause and result of many medical problems, relationship issues, and unhappiness in our life: S-T-R-E-S-S.  Stressors (i.e. the external forces in our lives that cause an internal feeling of stress) are part of life, but what we do with those stressors is within our control. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress provides advice to manage your problems so you can be at your healthiest (mind and body).

The chapters are as follows:
1. Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy
2. Triumph Over Tragedy
3. Killer Jobs - Stress and the Workplace
4. Home is Where the Heart Is
5. Preventing Monetary Meltdown
6. Emotions and Thoughts
7. Mind Your Senses
8. De-Stress Your Lifestyle

Review: Although the format of this book shares similarities to other Chicken Soup for the Soul editions, it is designed to be a bit less about reading other people's inspirational stories and more on using some stories as well as practical information as a self-help tool so the reader can apply strategies to lower stress in his/her life.  I liked the format. After reading a couple of real-life stories, the author, Dr. Jeff Brown, reflected on the themes present in the stories and provided tips for reducing stress.

As a therapist, I was pretty pleased with the information provided in the book. Not only was there a nice amount of information, there were some really great evidence-based tools and strategies for identifying and reducing stress.  There are tips for focusing on changing unhelpful thinking patterns and taking control over situations.  The book helps empower the reader to realize that you do have control over how you react to situations which help instill hope and empowerment.

Buy it here:

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress: Manage Your Problems, Big and Small, Every Day is available for $9.95 at bookstores and on Amazon. 

Win it here: 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway  

I was provided with a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Molecule Clothing Review

Molecule Clothing is located in Bangkok and their designers draw their inspiration from the energy of the city.  The designers represent the most promising talent of Thailand's creative explosion.  They describe their clothing as "global traveler chic" with clothes that are specifically designed to look good in a wide range of settings and be durable enough to survive through whatever life throws at them.

The Molecule line of clothing includes shorts, pants, skirts, shirts, and accessories.  Their styles are functionable and fashionable at the same time and feature earth-tones and camo prints. They have products for both men and women.

Review: I received a pair of Molecule Panama Parachute Pants to review.  The pants are rip cord-waisted half-khakis with cam material on the inside of the pocket flaps. They are machine washable and tumble dry friendly. They feature double stitched seams for strength, locker loops, leg-bottom toes, and a strong metal zip fly with fabric comfort-pull. Sizes are available small-extra large and they are available in coal black, desert khaki cream, sunset shadow grey, and field green.

I liked the casual design of the pant. I was surprised at how durable they were made. They are a bit heavy and are designed for standing up to tough conditions so they are a pant you would choose for activities such as camping or hiking rather than hanging outside on a hot summer day.  I would encourage buyers to take their measurements before choosing a size as the size I chose was a bit tight (which gave me motivation to lose a couple of pounds before having my picture taken in them)! 

Buy it here: You can purchase the Molecule Panama Parachute Pants from Molecule Asia for $45.99.

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Back to Roots: Grow Your Own Mushroom Kit Giveaway!

Back to the Roots is a home grown food-focused start up in Oakland, CA.  They make mushroom kits with which you can grow oyster mushrooms from recycled coffee grounds right on your kitchen counter! Their mission is to make food local and personal again. 

The kits are a great way to teach kids about growing their own natural, fresh food and eating locally (you can't get more local than your kitchen counter!). The mushrooms start growing 10 days after opening the kits. For some cool visuals of how they grow, check out the time lapse video:

Features include:

• Grow up to 1 1/2 lbs of tasty pearl oyster mushrooms per box
• Multiple crops (at least 2, though some have got up to 4!)
• Grow your first crop in as little as 10 days!
• Just 3 Easy Steps - Open, Mist, and Harvest (spray mister included).
• All indoors - just set on a kitchen window sill and mist twice a day (mister included)
• The soil inside is 100% recycled coffee grounds - safe & sustainable
• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Buy it here:  You can purchase a mushroom kit from Back to Roots for $19.95. 

 Win it here:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not compensated for this post. All information was provided by the  company.

Update on My Hubby

My husband went in for his rotator cuff surgery and we were amazed to find out there was not a tear, but rather a bad case of bursitis and a bone spur. This means rather than 6-8 month recovery, he will be feeling better in a day or two!! Looks like summer will be great after all! Thanks to all of you who commented on my last post and who emailed me. I so appreciate your support.

Lot 26 Studio Discount Code

If you’re looking for a simple way to decorate or redesign any room this summer, Lot 26 Studio has the perfect solution! And, through June 30^th, you can save 10% off all orders with promo code SUNNY10! Here are some of my absolute favorite items:

Make your walls take flight with these 3D white Pop Up Birds. Just remove from the sheet and pop out or fold on the creases to create unique birds in assorted shapes and sizes. The Garden Reflections wall decal and mirror set combines the beauty of nature with the artistry of design. These decorative wall panels will surely be a focal point in any room. Simply peel, stick and marvel at your own creativity! These adorable Baby Blue Dots wall decals are the perfect touch for any baby or little boy's room. Multi-sized dots in shades of blue and brown are the colors "du jour" adding just the right combination to his special room. Apply in minutes and enjoy!

I was compensated for this post.

Going to Slow Down a Bit...

My husband is having shoulder surgery so you may notice the posts slow down a bit while I play nurse.   I will keep posting but they will be a little less frequent while I get things in order and then care for him post-op. Please keep him in your thoughts!!

Fix-It and Forget-It Vegetarian Cookbook Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Featuring slow-cooker, stove-top, and oven recipes, Fix-It and Forget-It Vegetarian Cookbook is packed with 500 easy-to-prepare recipes from home cooks for all parts of a meal. The goal of the book is to make meatless manageable with easy-to-follow instructions and easy-to-find ingredients. The cookbook features icons for each recipe to indicate "Slow cooker Recipe" or "Stove-top/Oven Recipe", cooking tips from home cooks, and three separate indexes so you can search by slow-cooker recipe, stove-top/oven recipe, or type of food.

Review: Although I am far from a vegetarian, I found some really great looking recipes in this book. They have a really nice selection of pastas which I am sure I will frequently reference and, of course, I was immediately drawn right to their desserts. I had to make cookies for my daughter's Kindergarten graduation so I decided to make "Can't-Leave-These-Alone Bars" from the recipe book.

They were really quite delicious, soft, and flavorful. The only way to fit so many recipes into one book is to not include pictures, which is a bit of a bummer because I was questioning part of the instructions and would have liked to see the finished product; however, I would much rather have hundreds more recipes than pictures any day.

Buy it here:  The book is available for purchase from online retailers, including Amazon, and at stores.  It is available in paperback ($15.95), plastic comb binding ($18.95) and hardcover gift edition ($24.95).

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

 

Lucky Leaf Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Lucky Leaf got their start by selling fresh applesauce, but soon began making ready-to-use pie filling when American women became busy with more than just housewife duties! Today, they offer a wide selection of ready-to-use pie fillings including Premium Cherry, Apple, Peach, Blueberry, Lemon, Red Raspberry, Lite, and Crème.

I love working with Lucky Leaf and trying out their fabulous recipes. This time, I got to make some yummy summer treats!! They sent me a sweet gift package that included three flavors of Lucky Leaf Pie filling, recipe cards, and a really cook ice pop mold.

Perfectly Peach Cinnacake

Ingredients

One 18.25 oz package dry yellow cake mix

one 21 oz can Lucky Leaf Premium Peach Pie Filling

3 Eggs

6 Tbsp. sugar

2tsp ground cinnamon

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350

Blend together dry cake mix, 1/2 can of the Lucky Leaf Peach Pie Filling and eggs in large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in remaining pie filling until well mixed.

In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Spread half the batter in greased 13x9 baking pan; sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar mixture. Repeat with the remaining batter and cinnamon sugar mixture. 

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool.

Makes 12 servings.

Results:  I wasted no time after making this incredible easy dessert and put the recipe right in my recipe book.  My daughter helped me prepare the cake as part of our Kids Can Cook Too experiment and the whole family went bananas (or should I say peaches) over this delicious and moist desert. It is perfect for a summer event or just to enjoy after a family meal.  I loved getting the occasional chunk of peach in my cake and it tasted perfect with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Frozen Pie Pops 

Ingredients

1/2  21 oz can of any flavor Lucky Leaf Premium Pie Filling

1 cup milk

1/2 lemon, squeezed  

Preparation

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth and pour blended mixture into ice pop molds. Freeze. Serve as ice pops. Pour any remaining mixture into a freezable container and serve as a frozen pie treat.  Remaining filling can also be used on pancakes ,waffles, or mixed into yogurts. Once we got used the removing the silicone molds and realized they needed to freeze longer, they looked much nicer than the one before (but they kept tearing into them before I could take a good picture!)

Results:  These were another fun and easy dessert/treat that kids can totally make.  They reminded me of a hardened frozen yogurt. My kids really liked the taste and they are the perfect treat for a warm summer day.  

Buy it here: You can purchase Lucky Leaf in your local grocer's baking aisle.

Win it here:   

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 

Announcement: Tea Contests

I thought you may be interested to learn about the following tea contests:

1.  Good Earth Tea’s “Tag You’re It” tea tag contest.  Everyone has some words of wisdom- their own mantras or mottos.  Good Earth Tea, makers of the unique Sweet & Spicy blend, are asking consumers to submit their original quotes for the chance to have them printed on the tea bag tags of Good Earth’s teas.

The company is looking for inspirational, thought-provoking, creative quotes that are 50 characters or less and will choose 50 finalists to be voted on by the public, with the top 25 getting their quote and their name printed on Good Earth tea tags, along with a year supply of tea.  You can enter by visiting GoodEarthTea.com or at Facebook.com/goodearthtea.

2.  Tetley Tea, one of the country’s best-known tea brands is celebrating National Iced Tea Month this month by searching for the best iced tea recipes!  From Mom’s fresh fruit-infusion to an old family recipe for perfect sweet tea, from June 4, 2012 through June 30, 2012, Tetley is looking for consumers to submit their recipes for the best ways to enjoy their Iced Tea Blend.  

The winning recipe will win a year supply of Tetley’s Iced Tea Blend- complete with a beautiful iced tea pitcher and glass set to serve their winning brew.  To submit their recipes, consumers can email the brand at TetleyIcedTeaRecipes@gmail.com with their name, contact information and the full ingredient list and methodology for their iced tea recipe. The winner will be announced July 9th, 2012.  This giveaway is limited to US residents only.

Good luck and let me know if you win!!!

eFoodsDirect Review

eFoodsDirect offers a variety of meals in easy-to-prepare pouches. Making meals with their products is simple - just add to boiling water, simmer, and serve. While other companies promote a meal size as 1 cup, eFoodsDirect's meal sizes are a more realistic 2 cup serving.

Do you have food in case of emergency? In remembrance of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan a year ago, eFoodsDirect created special family preparedness offers.  eFoodDirect's mission is to empower every family to have food security in the case of storms, natural disasters, or even financial crises like shrinking income or the loss of a job.

Review: I was given three meal packets to review.

The Tortilla Soup was absolutely incredible! My husband, son, and I absolutely loved it and my husband has already made a request to order more. It had just the right amount of seasoning and it was totally packed with flavor.  It tasted great by itself but we also garnished it with cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips which took it from a side dish to an appetizing main course!

The Creamy Potato Soup was a bit more of a chunky soup but it was also very delicious. It tasted good on its own; however, I added a little bit of shredded cheddar and it was out of this world amazing!  It even tasted really delicious reheated the next day.

The final meal I was given to review was Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole. I found it to be good (maybe I was a bit biased since it was much easier to prepare than other casseroles I have made) but my family was not overly thrilled with this meal.  It would have tasted better with larger chunks of chicken but I am not sure that this would even be possible with the way the mixes are bagged.

Overall, I would say that I am very happy with the foods from eFoodsDirect. The only thing I would like to see then offer is a way to buy your favorite meals in smaller quantities. They offer weeks worth of meals or more or certain foods by the case. Granted, the expiration dates are a decade or more into the future, but I just don't have the storage capability to order a case of tortilla soup (though it is really tempting to find room!)  If you have storage space, need to have a pantry of emergency food, or tend to stock up on foods because you don't like close to a grocery store, then I would recommend giving this company a try. You probably won't be disappointed.

Buy it here: efoodsdirect.com

Check out the eFoods discounts:
6 free meals
Save $25 or 50% - 7 day pantry pack - code: Food50
Save $10 or 40% - Soup and Entre' Pack - code: Food40

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

The Confident Mom Review and Discount Code

The Confident Mom 2012 Summer Survival Calendar offers boredom-blasting activities, creative craft projects, kid-friendly recipes, and more! This colorful summer calendar features at least one suggested activity each day from May 15 to August 31—from making your own kite, ice cream in a bag, hopscotch, and solar s’mores to sandpaper painted T-shirts, driveway baseball, pajama day, and pepperoni pizza cups; there are over 100 engaging activities the whole family can enjoy. This digital PDF document includes clickable links for most projects with directions/supplies needed for easy planning.

This calendar keeps kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days—moms will find it to be a lifesaver when kids exhibit symptoms of the “boredom blues.” Contents of the calendar pack include:

• Summer goals worksheet
• Ideas for summer fun checklist
• 10 strategies for your best ever summer action guide
• Your best summer ever audio workshop
• Quiet time activities and worksheet
• Weekly menu planner/grocery list
• Summer weekly planner
• Be summer organized checklist

Review:  The calendar's design is very beautiful.  I printed out a copy and had no problem displaying it because it was so attractive.  Printing it out allowed my family and I to browse through it for ideas and when we found something we wanted to try, we went onto my saved version on the computer and clicked on the link to learn more or find the instructions to the activity.   There was a nice variety of activities to choose from including cooking (a favorite in our house), crafts, games, and more.  In addition to daily activities, there are some nice guides that you can fill in and lists of suggested activities to help you keep organized and active throughout the summer.  There was also a nice meal planner which my kids enjoyed since they have been helping out in the kitchen lately.

The audio workshop was a nice reminder that it is important to balance activities with rest and relaxation. While it is important for your children to keep entertained and busy, it is also important that they have time to decompress. I thought the tips on the audio were great and certainly fit my family's needs. Overall, I would say that this is a really nice planner for a mom with young kids and you would have a lot to gain my giving it a try!

Discount Code: You can purchase the Summer Survival Calendar for $9 or a calendar bundle that includes the 2010 and 2011 calendars along with the current one for $14.  You can save 20% off the price of the Summer Survival Calendar with the exclusive Cake Mom code: JAM9 or 20% off the bundle with the coupon code JAM14!

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Big Fish Games Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Games aren't just for kids and just because you are a grown up doesn't mean you can't have a little fun! Since your children are probably fans of gaming, why not try doing it with them some time. They will be thrilled that you show some interest in one of your hobbies and you may find yourself having a really good time.  Big Fish Games has a huge selection of downloadable computer games in the following categories:  puzzle, hidden object, time management, adventure, match 3, strategy, arcade and more.  Their games can be immediately downloaded upon purchase and their prices are really affordable.

I was given the opportunity to try one of the hidden object games and there were so many great looking titles to choose from I had a hard time selecting just one. I was ultimately drawn to the game, "Mystery Case Files: Escape From Ravenhearst". The game is a sequel to another game, though beside fully understanding  some storyline elements, can be easily played even you have never played the previous game.  It is a psychological thriller and you play as a detective trying to explain the disappearances in the town who is then captured by a psychopath.   

Rather than having to shoot off bad guys as in a typical video game, the point of the game is to find hidden objects that can help you complete puzzles and open up additional clues and levels.  There is a nice mix of fairly simple puzzles and ones that really have you using your brain to figure it out. There were some that I just could not figure out no matter how hard I tried so I was glad that Big Fish Games offers a walk-through blog that provides you with the answers and can be referred to as needed.

The game itself is really fun and addicting. I played it with both of my children who are horror movie fanatics, but I would not recommend it for younger children who are easily spooked. There are some haunting scenes and the graphics are pretty amazing for a PC game.   The only downfall is the size of the file which took me hours to download and would probably work better on a system that is capable of handling detailed video games. Mine ran a bit slow because my laptop is an old model that has the basic functions for business, but not for gaming. It did, however, work well considering.  If you are unsure if you would like the game or if your system can handle it, then Big Fish Games has an awesome feature where you can play the game for 1 hour before you determine if you want to make the purchase or not.  Now, I have to run....I am getting close to beating a level and this blog post is distracting me!! 

Buy it here: You can purchase this game as well as many other from Big Fish Games.

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

I was compensated for this review and was given a complimentary game in order to facilitate the review.  All views expressed are my own.

Carmex 75 Years with 750,000 Carmex Fans Promotion

Carmex is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year. As a way to thank their customers and fans for supporting them through nearly a century, they are hosting a promotion on Facebook: 75 years with 750,000 Carmex Fans . Their hope is to reach 750,000 Carmex Fans to celebrate their monumental anniversary. Once they unlock certain fan milestones they will be giving away great Carmex prizes as well as CASH!!! 

Robby Wash Ball Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Raise your hand if you like spending money on laundry detergent. I know, it is one of those necessary purchases but what if there was a more cost effective way to wash your clothes?  The Robby Wash Ball is a ball that you toss into your washing machine and use again and again.  It has a high efficiency laundry solution and you do not need to add any detergent. 

The Robby Wash Ball is hypoallergenic and is safe to use even on baby clothing.  It does not pollute the environment like standard laundry detergents and it is easy to refill so you can keep the ball for 2-3 years. It can be used on both front loading high efficiency washing machines as well as standard top loading machines.  Just like detergent, it maintains softness in your laundry while removing odor and stains.  Each pack will clean on average for 12 months (10 ounces of Robby Wash ball replaces 75 lbs. of traditional laundry detergent). Each package includes three refill packets of macromolecules that are placed inside the ball and a free stain stick.   Did I mention that each Robby Wash Ball can save you over $100 in detergent costs! 

Review:  Laundry is definitely not one of my favorite chores so I am willing to try any product that will make it quicker and easier.  If the product is environmentally-friendly and cost-saving then it is a real bonus! I am really happy with the Robby Wash Ball. I just keep it in my front loading washer and don't have to worry about measuring (and spilling) detergent.  I have very sensitive skin and have to use dye-free detergents so I was thrilled that the product was hypoallergenic.  My skin had absolutely no reaction at all and my clothes came out odorless and clean. Since the ball can stay right in my washer in between uses, it also saves me shelf space.  There is truly not anything that I don't like about this ball and I am happy to keep using it again and again. If you like saving time, space, money, and the environment then you will probably love the Robby Wash Ball as much as I do!

Buy it here: One Robby Ball can be purchased from Oransi for $32.95. Each box includes 2 refills and it is good for one year of clothes washing.

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.