Everyone knows I have baby on the brain 24/7 nowadays so I decided to get a basinet that fit in with my bedroom and be comfortable for baby. I finally found the perfect one at CSN Baby—you should see their selection of not only basinets but a huge variety of cribs (next on my list). I just ordered this so it is in the works but I am so exited I just wanted to share! Here is a picture:

The second picture is of the basinet converting into a toy box later. I love that feature because you use a basinet for such a short period of time yet this makes it functional later on too. Not only that this basinet has a large mesh storage bin, includes the bedding set and assembles in minutes! Doesn’t it look so cute AND cozy?

Nature’s Baby

What is the first thing that people think of when they see or think of a baby? How cute they are and how soft every single part of there body is. If you want to keep your baby’s skin and your skin for that matter silky, unbelievably smooth, and healthy try out Face and Body Moisturizer from Nature’s Baby Organics. This product is 100% Vegan. Gluten, Paraben, SLS & Propylene Glycol Free. and Hypoallergenic. The ingredients in this bottle are too long to list but you should visit their website and take a peek for yourself, their ingredients are mainly natural and organic. When using this product it is so gentle and delicate on the skin you won’t even know you are using it.

Safety Should Not Be Negotiable

There is nothing more comforting for a Mother than knowing that your child is going to be safe when growing up. From the time I knew I was pregnant to when my child moves out of the house and has their own life; I will worry about every step they make. But, the worries of making sure they will be safe while they lay their precious head down to sleep every night is lessened when you use a waterproof mattress protector by Naturepedic. Naturepedic products eliminate a lot of the hazardous chemicals found in other baby products that are available for purchase. For example, the waterproof mattress protector does not contain vinyl, PVC, phthalates, or latex (for allergy concerns). The pad is made from natural organic materials which consist of two layers of organic cotton flannel on the top and the bottom of the pad. Using organic cotton makes the pad super soft and plushy and highly absorbent. This pad also has the ability to reduce uneven temperatures, sweating, and clamminess that babies can get at anytime throughout the night. I did mention that this pad was also waterproof (WOOHOO!!!) any mom would be happy about that right? Naturepedic installed an ultra-thin waterproof membrane in the center to protect your mattress (what a lifesaver). You should really take the time to jump onto the Naturepedic website they have many other products available to keep your child safe. THANK YOU NATUREPEDIC!!!!

Tommee Tippee

I love that name! Say it over and over! Not only do I love the name I love the bottles and other great things that they make just for baby! I was able to get the 3 pack 5 oz. Closer to Nature bottle set and get this—I have another set for a lucky reader to win! First, let me go into a little detail about Tommee Tippee, then I will give you the low-down on what you have to do to score your very own bottle set! I know how much my baby as well as your baby will love this set. The bottles are designed for easy transition between bottle and breast with its ultra-soft, extra wide nipple. The Closer to Nature set is designed to be the closest thing to the real thing for your baby and help eliminate colic, gas and general fussiness. All Closer to Nature bottles are BPA and phthalate free. The moment you were waiting for! The details of the giveaway. Here is what you have to do: 1. Visit the Tommee Tippee website and tell me a great fact about the Closer to Nature line that I did not mention.
2. Become a fan of them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tommeetippeeus (this will give you an extra entry.
3. Follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tommeetippeeus (this will also give you an extra entry)
4. Email me at: fitinmilwaukee@live.com-- Make sure you include your fact as well as an extra entries you have earned.
Drawing ends Friday, June 4th. Submit your entries now!
GOOD LUCK!

Organic Valley

The leaders in Organic products are in the top spot for a reason—I am talking about Organic Valley! I love their products and it seems like their offerings are limitless. They have an amazing variety of foods that are produced all while keeping the welfare of humans, animals and the earth in mind. I love their philosophy and their style! They give us such yummy offerings by working with Organic family farmers in every region! Log onto their website to find out six GREAT reasons to always choose Organic! Onto the good stuff—their food! They have the hugest variety of milk (the chocolate is delicious), cream, yogurt, butter, cheese, soy milk, cream cheese, cottage cheese (the creamiest ever), sour cream, eggs, juice, healthy snacks (perfect for on the go) and meat. It seems like every time I go to the store I end up seeing a new or previously overlooked Organic Valley item and it always ends up in my basket. Rest assured that choosing Organic Valley you will get a high quality, healthy and friendly product.

Timeless

What’s more nutritious than lentils, and chickpeas? COOKIES Okay, Okay, I’m just kidding but I had to try and be funny since this is a pretty classy topic. Lentils can be used for all sorts of dishes including meat dishes, chili, baked casseroles, veggie burgers, hearty soups, spiced soups, salads, dips and baked goods. Most of the time lentils need to be cooked anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes or so depending on the type of lentil you’re cooking. Take a look below at the different kinds of lentils I received from Timeless Natural Food not only are the beautiful in color but they are all very different in flavor when cooked properly. On their website they tell you over and over again not to overcook the lentils because they will not turn out right. Well, needless to say my first batch was overcooked and it was not pretty but, my second batch (lentil soup) turned out excellent and the flavor was very powerful and enriched with nutrients. Check out the other great natural products from Timeless including chickpeas, barley, and flax on their web page. Here is a modified recipe that I found online in case you want to try it—it was excellent!

Lentil Soup

Take a big soup pot and add the following:
2 cups dry lentils, rinse well
4 cups broth, 4 cups water

1 can no sodium added corn

1 can carrots

Spices—I did pepper and a no salt added seasoning mix that I had on hand—you can season at the end as well. Let all this boil, then reduce to simmer for about 90 minutes or until your lentils are soft. In the meantime, sauté onions and garlic until the onions are clear—add to the pot. Easy!

Burp Cloths Made from Love!

I have to let all of my readers know that if you ever need to shop for good durable burp cloths; look no further. You really need to look into getting some burp cloths from La Jems. Their cloths are soft, very durable, absorbent, and unbelievably thick. They can be used for more than just burping your little one. La Jems burp cloths are made from 100% soft and absorbent cotton cloth diapers with six layers of cotton weave. These burp cloths are made to go through multiple washings and will not wear out. They will also stay soft and plush for your child’s sensitive skin. You are able to choose from multiple animal designs to be embroidered onto the front of the cloth to add a loving touch!!!

Chicago is RED HOT

Not because of their great city life, beautiful beaches, amazing shopping (I am a little biased being from Chicago myself) but because of their hot dogs. I have great memories of being little and going for a REAL Chicago hot dog – meaning all beef, poppy seed bun and all the fixings! I got my hands on some Red Hot Chicago jumbo beef franks, beef polish sausage and of course the legendary poppy seed buns. The Red Hot Chicago folks sell the real deal, just like I remembered. I fired up a jumbo beef frank just last night and topped with everything as you can see and was in pure heaven. The dog had a little snap to the casing and the inside was juicy and filled with great flavor. The oversized dogs fit perfectly in their soft bakery style buns. I am back to being a hot dog snob—only Red Hot Chicago dogs will do for me!

Top This!

I got some super thin pizza crusts in the mail from Top This this weekend and could not wait to fire up a homemade pizza! The crust was calling my name—it was very thin and had really fire grilled marks right in the hand-made and fully cooked crust! The idea of Top This is to make the crust so great that they take the guess work out of creating a great pizza, it is amazing no matter how you slice it! So all you have to do is top the crust (wheat or white) with your toppings of choice then slide in the oven or even onto your gas grill. They have a ton of pizza recipes/ ideas right there on their website so I used the Portabella Mushroom Pizza recipe below:

Portobello Mushroom Pizza
- 1 Top This pizza crust
- 1 cup loosely packed pizza cheese (3 ounces)
- 1/4 cup diced sautéed Portabella mushrooms
(even better if they are flambéed in brandy at the end)
- 1/4 cup diced fresh plum tomatoes
- 1/4 cup caramelized onions
- Optional: 1/4 cup shredded Fontina Cheese

I had gotten bella’s from the farmers market so they were nice and fresh for my pizza. The only ingredient that I did not have on had was the Fontina cheese which was optional anyways and the pizza was perfect even without it.

Jonesing for some great breakfast?

Add some Jones Dairy Farm Maple Pork Sausages to your lineup and you will be totally satisfied. I picked up some of the All Natural Golden Brown Maple Pork Sausage links and paired them with my homemade pancakes this weekend for a better than going out breakfast in my jammies! For all you gluten free eaters—this product is gluten free! The ingredient list is short and the flavor is tall—just pork, water, maple sugar, salt, spices and maple flavor (really makes the link). I loved these sausages and will be making them a regular on the weekend breakfast menu. I would also like to say that even though you see Jones Dairy Farm products in every single grocery store it is just because they are THAT good—they are still a family run and owned operation who still makes their own family recipes. Yum!

A little candy now and then never hurt anyone!

When I want to really indulge in some great chocolate I usually turn to chocolate coated something or another. Recently, I was able to get my hands on some of this Milk Chocolate coated Almond Toffee by Enstroms. Talk about rich, buttery and chocolately! This candy has it ALL and then some—I think it is their attention to detail and using the finest natural ingredients for candy making out there. I love that the ingredient list is so short for their toffee using only: almonds, butter, sugar, milk chocolate and salt. Simple and delicious describes this treat. Another bonus? They have their toffee cut into little portion controlled pieces so you know just when to stop (helpful for people like myself).

The same but different…

Bachman makes tons of traditional type snacks that you are used to like pretzels, tortilla chips, cheese puffs but theirs are different! First off, they have some very original snacking ideas like their amazing pita pretzel squares—I have fallen madly in love with these. They are a cross between a pita chip and a pretzels salted with just a bit of sea salt and baked until crispy. They come in little bags that are only 100 calories, perfect for snacking. Also in 100 calorie bags are their Multigrain Jax which are cheese puffed curls with tons of flavor and not all the fat and calories in the other brands. The Jax will make you feel like you are being super naughty but lighten up—they did! Even down to their multigrain tortilla chips, black bean tortilla chips, thin pretzels and butter pretzels—they are all packed with giant flavor and prepared with health in mind. These snacks are truly above the rest out there.

That is one Smart Chicken!

What makes Smart Chicken so unique? Their mission is to give you the purest fresh chicken on the market while keeping it the safest and best in quality. The taste showed. I am not sure if it was the simple matter of how fresh the meat was or if it is their own method of using air chill technology instead of water immersion. Another great thing is that they handle their chickens with care, raise them without antibiotics, animal by-products or hormones and meet the standards to be Certified Organic and Certified Humane. Whatever made the chicken so good it came down to the fact that it was juicy, plump and just plain tasty. I was able to try the Smart Chicken Frankfurters as well as a Smart Chicken Whole Chicken. I am going to focus on the whole chicken (both are amazing) since it made me smarter in the process. I had never in my life cooked a whole chicken and decided now was the time. After thawing my 3 pound bird I read that I would have to remove the neck and giblets but lucky for me these were already moved making it more cost efficient since this is not added to the weight (and I didn’t have to do it). So the chicken was totally ready for baking. Surprisingly, the roast chicken was super simple to make. Gather your other ingredients and utensils—spices (I used salt, pepper, paprika, hint of garlic powder), high quality olive oil and some onion to stuff the bird with. Preheat your oven to 350F and place your bird breast side up on the roasting pan or rack. Rub olive oil on the bird then sprinkle spices as desired. Stuff bird with onions and stick in your pre-heated oven. You will need a meat thermometer to get your bird to a safe temperature. My cooked for 50 minutes. You then remove from the oven and put tin foil over the pan and let the roasted chicken set for 15 minutes or so. Then cut and serve. Very tender and delicious! Get yourself Smart Chicken for the best outcome possible—it was amazing and easy.

HOTLIPS

HOTLIPS is a carbonated fruit juice soda that contains pulp from the fruit used to produce the drink. How can a drink that contains pulp be any good you ask????? Well it’s not just good it’s spectacular. HOTLIPS Soda is made from the freshest fruits grown in the Pacific Northwest. Once they cook the ripe fruit then they add a bit of sugar to balance the acidity of the fruit and they also add some water, and lemon juice; that’s it!! My favorite flavor is Black Raspberry the rich but yet sweet subtle flavor flows so smooth and the taste is like eating a berry right off the vine. Check out there other flavors pear, apple, blackberry, raspberry, and boysenberry. Thanks HOTLIPS!!!

Old Fashioned

Some of the BEST old fashioned kettle cooked chips comes from Cape Cod Potato Chips. The Cape Cod creators use only the best premium ingredients from the fresh potatoes that were just picked out of the east coast farmers fields to the way they cook the potato in small kettles which allows for easy access to check the quality and flavor. The Cape Cod Potato Chip company has a very wide variety of flavors including classic (one of my favorites), sea salt and vinegar, sweet and spicy jalapeno, sweet mesquite barbeque, sour cream and green onion, parmesan and roasted garlic, and five cheese just to name a few. I’m also a huge fan of the five cheese flavor this potato chip goes great with all the summer cookouts that I host. If you like cheese even a little bit, you will love the five cheese chip. The five cheese chip is produces with Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese all five of these cheeses blended together is like a party just waiting to happen!!!! If you are a potato chip fan you NEED to try these all natural fresh chips.

Organic, Organic, and more Organic

This weekend I was on my way to the local farmers market in Madison Wisconsin. Milwaukee to Madison it’s a good hour and a half drive. What better to bring as a snack than some Trail Mix!!! Being pregnant I eat all the time and there was no way that I could have made the trip without eating something. So I brought along a bag of Organic Trail Mix from Stolor Organics. Needless to say I polished off the entire bag on the way there, it was so good. The mix included organic raisins (treated with organic canola oil or organic sunflower oil), organic hulled sunflower seeds, organic shelled pumpkin seeds, organic almonds, and organic cashews. What more could a pregnant woman ask for right???? This snack not only filled my stomach but it also gave me the boost of energy I needed to walk around the capital square the rest of the afternoon. So the next time you go on that long car ride to the market don’t forget to bring along your favorite treat!!! Thanks Stolor Organics.

Quinoa

Quinoa from La Yapa is a high in protein grain that comes from the Andes Mountains. La Yapa’s Quinoa can be prepared the same as rice or it can be added to multiple main dishes, salads, desserts, shakes, etc. Quinoa is an organic grain in every sense check this out it grows free of synthetic fertilizers, no chemical engineering, herbicide and pesticide free. I tried the golden royal quinoa which I prepared like rice, the flavor was mild and the texture was just like rice or couscous. You can also add butter and salt to give it a little kick. The Quinoa from La Yapa is a great source of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and magnesium. You really need to check out their website to see there other products and great recipes.

Breakfast with a healthy twist

After recently learning about (and sharing) the amazing benefits of adding spelt to your diet I was so excited to make a breakfast favorite with spelt as a main ingredient! Franferd Farms makes a whole lot of health minded mixes like spelt pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, 7 grain pancakes, corn bread mix and scone mix. After trying the spelt pancakes (pictured) I was awed by how much I loved the nutty taste and grainy texture that the spelt lent to the mix. Frankferd Farms is a family business that works hard to support the health of our planet and its consumers by providing high quality organic food.

Inspired by Chocolate!

There is not a day that goes by that I do not crave or for that matter, indulge in chocolate. That I why I was so happy to get the chance to try Chocolate Inspirations vegan chocolates and their creative pretzel bites. The vegan chocolates were totally amazing and I have to give a very special mention particularly to the Vegan Granola Bark covered in chocolate. I could not have dreamt up a better combination in my wildest dreams. Crunchy granola filled with almonds, walnuts, berries then coated in Swiss dark chocolate. You will not be disappointed with any of their dairy free confections that you decide to try- they have toffees, brittles, caramels and much more. Everything I tasted was heavenly. The pretzel bites are also amazing and in cute little bite size nibs (my fave was the cinnamon sugar).

I feel like Chicken Tonight!

Last night chicken was calling my name. Sadly, it was pouring outside so no grilled chicken for me. Instead, I made some baked chicken drumsticks in the oven. The chicken by Just Bare Chicken is special because it is just natural, healthy chicken all with “a straightforward, honest commitment to respecting our people, animals and planet.” I love that and I love how juicy and fresh this chicken is. I loved biting into the drumstick knowing I was not consuming any strange additives and the taste was so good because it was chicken that is well Just Chicken! The folks at Just Bare Chicken take extra precautions to make sure that the product that you receive is thoroughly inspected, properly stored, safe and fresh. I also love their commitment to their animals—they are certified cage-free and their animals have the freedom to roam, eat/drink on their schedule, interact and stay safe all at the same time.

Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly Soap????

It’s 100% true; there is a company that makes vegetarian and vegan friendly soap!!! That company is Sarva Natural Artisan Soap. The Sarva company makes sure their soaps meet their “natural standards” before shipping out any product to the consumer. They take pride in every batch of soap they make by handcrafting each soap in small maintainable batches. The fragrance and color of their soaps come from all the spices, clays, botanicals, and other natural materials they use. I have had the chance to try out 3 fragrances gentle mint, purity, and oats and honey. Out of the 3 gentle mint was my favorite, it was very rich and soothing. The lather on all 3 soaps was amazing and gentle on any sensitive skin. If you don’t believe me jump on Sarva’s website and take a peek at the ingredients used in each one of their custom handmade soaps. “In the near future, Sarva is introducing soaps made completely from certified vegetable oils, as well as working to eliminate palm oil as much as possible. They will transition to sustainably harvested, RSPO-certified organic palm oil until they have a chance to (a) reformulate some soaps and (b) investigate the legitimacy of RSPO certification and whether it is truly a green choice. Many of their soaps are already palm-free. Palm oil harvesting is a huge concern as it is creating massive tropical deforestation and habitat destruction. Sarva has also adopted an orangutan named Kesi through Orangutan Outreach, and we directly fund her rehabilitation and placement into a new habitat.” WELL DONE SARVA, WELL DONE….

Organic Cotton, Bamboo, and Hemp

Fashionable style with all organic materials, from the cotton used to make the shirt to the ink used to give the shirt some very unique designs. Zavella is an upbeat fashion, and earth friendly company with some flare. Every single piece of apparel produced by Zavella is made from top quality organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp. Using these eco-friendly materials is what makes their apparel so comfortably soft and able to last a lifetime. Check out this long sleeve, even the ink used to stamp the design is a water based ink. I have worn this shirt to the gym for a light workout and also out with my friends on a Friday night. The shirts can be worn pretty much anywhere at any time; they are also a good conversation piece. I have been asked on numerous occasions on where others can purchase the shirt and what the designs on the shirts are as well. Zavella has a variety of different sizes and colors to choose from; check out their website for a look into what I like to call the NEW and UNQUE anytime apparel.

Not Just a Bagel

At Just Bagels they make hands down the best bagels I have ever tasted. Maybe its because they pride themselves on producing the “freshest, tastiest and healthiest of bagels containing no oils, fats, cholesterol, or preservatives” How much do you love that? You will love it even more when you sink your teeth into a chewy, kettle boiled bagel from Just Bagels. Check out my bagel sandwich creation using a Just Bagels Poppy Seed Bagel. I used some Prairie Pride Farms bacon, slice of cheese, scrambled some eggs and voila—I had a perfect breakfast. I usually make these sandwiches on an English muffin but this is my new choice item to stuff with my morning meal. I could not believe just how many flavors Just Bagels has! Wow! You have to get online and check it out, so far I have had the Poppy Seed and Sesame—both equally as delectable.

Ingrid & Isabel to the rescue!

At my stage in pregnancy I am in between full blown maternity clothes and wearing my regular clothes. The trouble was with my work pants and jeans, they have no give so buttoning them was out of the question. Ingrid & Isabel sent me two of their amazing Bella Bands calling it the “most versatile maternity accessory you will ever need” and I have to say I strongly agree. The Bella Band has saved my pocketbook and my work wardrobe as well as my cute jeans! So what exactly is this miracle maternity helper? The Bella Band is a uniquely designed wide band made so that you can keep wearing your favorites longer and help you glide back into regular clothing after pregnancy as well. The design on these Bella Bands has three parts: The Top Hem which helps minimize lines under your shirt, The Main Body which is seamless and made of spandex and nylon to stay formfitting and The Bottom Hem that is double sewn to make sure your pants or skirts stay up and in place.
This might be funny to you but I strongly feel that every woman should have one of these—pregnant or not! When you are bloated, have something that is just a bit too tight or you are pregnant these bands are a lifesaver.

Living Consciously

Instead of using those not so safe, not so environmentally friendly, not so kid friendly plastic dishes. CHECK THIS OUT the Stainless Steel Anyware collection by Untangled. This box set is stylish, unique, and drum roll please, it’s environmentally friendly and very safe to use. The Untangled box set includes one bowl, one cup, one plate, one spoon, and one fork. You have an option to choose from a gecko or butterfly design, which is neatly engraved into the stainless steel. This set will last you a life time and your great grandchildren’s lifetime as well. I remember when I was young and my parents had multiple stainless steel dinnerware items and to this day when we have family events those same bowls and plates are used time and time again. The great thing about the Untangled set is that it is dishwasher safe, stackable, and 100% durable. If you have never used Stainless Steel kitchenware before, there is no time like the present to start; I guarantee you will like it. The stainless steel items may be a little bit more expensive than the plastic bowls and plates but after awhile plastic gets worn out and old and has to be thrown out and replaced with a new set. If you put a little bit more financially into the stainless steel products up front you are saving money in the long run because they will last you a lifetime.

Soft and Stretchy

Becoming a mother is going to be the most wonderful experience in my entire life. With all the high’s and low’s of the entire process it’s nice to know that there are companies out there making sure are children are safe and comfortable at the same time; so we as mothers don’t have to be stressed out about that as well. Happygreenbee was started by an environmentally friendly family that cares a lot about the land we live on, the air we breathe, and the clothing our children wear. They produce there clothing line for kids with old fashioned hard work and a lot of love. Every single piece of clothing that the happygreenbee company has to offer is made with ORGANIC COTTON meaning pesticide-free for at least three years, and the cotton cannot be genetically modified cottonseed. Take a peek at these extremely soft, durable, and gender neutral green leggings. The leggings DO NOT retain toxic residues like non organic cotton; it is a pure, natural, and breathable fiber. These leggings are great for your little one that is a crawler; they are super stretchy and very comfortable for any occasion.

Inspire Yourself

If you’re an athlete, exerciser, jogger, or you just like to get out and walk from time to time; you may need a little inspiration every once in awhile. Lift Your Sole is here to help push you in the right direction for your healthy living goals. Lift Your Sole has a variety of different encouraging phrases and words that are engraved into their products. They have everything including: charm bracelets, rings, handbags, necklaces, and apparel. Check out this burnout crew style shirt with bright vibrant colors and lettering. This shirt is great for pushing people to get off the couch and run that extra minute, block, or mile more to push harder than you did the day before. The phrase on the shirt says: I do not run to add days to my life. I run to add life to my days. Who wouldn’t want to run more after reading that??? Thanks LIFT YOUR SOLE!!

Karmic Krunch

I’m not sure how most of you feel about this but, I’m the type of person that NEEDS a healthy snack in between breakfast and lunch and/or lunch and dinner. Karmic Krunch by Karmic Health is a great example of one of those snacks that I have throughout the long work day. This snack mix DOES NOT contain any gluten, wheat, casein, dairy, soy and DOES NOT contain any added sugar as well. This snack is full of organic ingredients and my favorite a very wholesome mixture of nuts and dried fruits. This snacks flavor comes from the agave nectar which gives every bite a sweetened burst of taste.

Dinner Fully Cooked

How can chicken sausage get any better than what it already is? Well if you dare ask Al Fresco all natural has come up with some excellent choices in flavors to add to the already wonderful original chicken sausage. Al fresco was nice enough to let me sample the Chipotle Chorizo with Mango and Adobo and the Sweet Apple with pure Vermont Maple Syrup. Both sausages believe it or not are 160 calories or less!! That’s right you heard me 160 calories or less…I grilled the Chipotle Chorizo on Wednesday night for dinner it was so tasty and it had a sweet and sour flavor going on, but boy was it good. I was so excited about the taste of the first sausage Thursday night I had to try the Sweet Apple. I also cooked the Sweet Apple Sausage on the grill and to my surprise my neighbor could smell the Maple smell pouring out of the grill and asked me if I was making breakfast. I said “no but I am grilling Chicken Sausage with Sweet Apple and Maple Syrup” he had to come over and take a peek. He asked if he could try one as well; so my other half grilled up another. No surprise to me we all enjoyed the rich flavor of the syrup and the sweet added flavor from the apple. Needless to say my neighbor is going to the store to get both of us more. THANKS AL Fresco!!!!!. PS. you might want to take a look at their website to see what other great flavors they sell.

Bubble Chocolate????

Aerated Chocolate??? If you want to experience a great piece of chocolate with a unique style, then you need to try Bubble Chocolate. This highly tasteful chocolate bar has bubbles throughout the entire bar. When you take a bite its not like eating a regular chocolate bar this bar melts in your mouth with a creamy texture to it as it melts. You have the choice of either Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate. Which is better you will need to find out for yourself…………………….

Creamy Applesauce?!

I don’t know how exactly to explain the consistency of Vermont Village Applesauce… it was like no other applesauce I have had before. It almost had a creamy consistency to it and was so thick and delicious I logged onto their website after seeing their simple, organic ingredients to try and figure out just how they did it! They add no water or sugars and cook the WHOLE apples in small kettles, the old fashioned way. Not only does Vermont Village have unsweetened applesauce (which is perfect), they also have cinnamon and other fruity flavors like Peach, Strawberry Banana, Mixed Berry, Raspberry and Tropical Mango. Considering how great the Original and Cinnamon varieties are the other are sure to be a fruity treat! PS- You can get your Vermont Village Applesauce in jars or in little cups for easy transport.

My Biscotti!

Hands off! I love this biscotti! Now typically biscotti is enjoyed dunked in a nice hot cup of coffee but since I can not have coffee right now I tried this biscotti without a dunking and boy was it delicious! I was happily surprised how great this biscotti was without my usual procedure but the gourmet nature of this creation made it a pleasure to eat. Each biscotti slice looked like it was hand coated, smothered in deliciousness and they were beautiful. Just check out the picture. The Twist Biscotti Company’s promise is simple—to provide all of us with a unique and delicious treat using only the best ingredients all while keeping the cost down. Who doesn’t love that. It really is more like a cookie, which I really love—I am positive you will too!

Crunchtastic!

Have you tried the unique popcorn flavors by Oogie’s yet? Oogie’s makes the finest gourmet popcorn that you can find in a bag packed with unique flavors. I am so impressed with the flavors like White Cheddar, Movie Theater, Chili Con Queso, Sun Dried Tomato, Romano & Pesto, Gouda—and I know you will love them too. The best part about these one-of-a-kind kernels? The popcorn is all natural using only the finest kernels, all natural cheeses and oils to give you a healthy treat without a bunch of artificial fillers. Keeping their pops as low fat as possible helps your waistline and your heart—not to mention all their goodies are trans-fat and cholesterol free! You can pickup some by using the store locator on their website or simply click on the shopping cart!

Smart Juice

100% organic juice that has a great taste and a long lasting effect. When was the last time you said antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals tasted so good you wanted more? If it’s been awhile you will need to grab a bottle, or two, or three, or four, of Smart Juice. Smart Juice is made from only the best sun-ripened fruits with no added concentrates and the fields of the fruits used are pesticide free as well. I have tried just about every flavor Smart Juice has to offer and I cannot and will not choose a favorite, they are all so good and good for you, I choose all of them as my FAVORITE (Pomegranate, Grape, Fig, Apricot, Peach, etc.) If you don’t believe me that I can’t pick a favorite try them for yourself and you will soon find out that you cannot pick a favorite either.

Smokehouse Taste

I love food grilled on a coal grill rather than a gas grill, it always tastes better. You get that smoked taste especially if you have the scented coals. If you like the smoked taste like I do you need to try Western’s Smokehouse smoked snack sticks. The sticks are like beef jerky but moist instead of dry. Every piece of Western’s Smokehouse sticks are made from lean cuts of tender beef and pork, then they add their secret ingredient of herbs and spices to make the sticks POP!!! They have a WIDE variety of flavors as well including: Bar-B-Que, Cajun, Jalapeno, and Sweet just to name a few. If you like Sweet and Spicy try eating the Jalapeno and Sweet sticks at the same time you will soon find out after the flavor hits your pallet that its one of the most flavorful and tasty afternoon treats.

It's Official

I am pregnant! I am so excited and can not wait the baby’s arrival. December 5th is my due date so I plan on blogging through every step of the way. So far the excitement has been overwhelming along with all the first time mother doubts and questions. My blog might shift focus a bit but I plan on reviewing more baby items and mom geared products. This works out great since I get tons of inquires about children’s food, clothing and gear but had previously been in the dark about these kinds of items. I look forward to the journey and can not wait to read all your comments, tips and wisdom!

Sunshiny Day!

These are simply the best vegetarian burgers I have ever prepared at home. I have to tell you about them. I went to the store Friday night and picked up a box of the Original Sunshine Burgers. The description sounded amazing—not a beef imitation but a combination of healthy ingredients that make up these delicious patties. The list was simple: Raw sunflower seeds, brown rice, carrots, herbs and sea salt. I love that their burgers contain no soy or wheat so great for those with allergies and for me keeps the bloating away. Being so impressed with their Original Burger, I went to the store on Sunday to pick up some fresh produce for the week when I spotted their Falafel Patty variety. I am a Falafel FREAK! Normally, the Falafel that you get at restaurants is deep fried but these are baked which I just love. Carol, the founder of Sunshine Burger, even has her own Falafel Sauce recipe right there on the website—I didn’t have time to make the sauce but even without it these were magnificent. I could not believe how great these burgers were and how complex the flavor was with so little ingredients. Get online and check these out—then RUN to the store (freezer section) to pick these up!

Do your Happy Dance!

Rice Crispy treats coated in candy, chocolate and other goodies definitely make me do a happy dance! At Happy Dance Artisian Treats they make just about every creation of this old fashioned classic that you can think of, just super amped up with great toppings that make it much more gourmet. I was able to try their candy bar treats—butterfinger, snickers and reeses. Then their chocolate Peanut Butter treats and their chocolate drizzled treats—they have white, milk and dark. Since I always have candy on the brain these were my favorites! Just the right amount of candy you got a good bite each time. Each treat had a great base of rice crispy with the perfect marshmallow- cereal ratio.

Kozy Shack broadens their line!

I love sugar-free Kozy Shack pudding cups! I have a few of their varieties in my regular packed lunch rotation. That is why I was THRILLED to have the chance to try some of their new sugar-free pudding creations. First up—Chocolate Mint (think Thin Mints) a rich, very thick chocolate pudding with just the right amount of sweetness and mint to make this perfect new treat. Next up—Strawberry! Yum! What a summery, fun flavor. The side of the container said pudding and pie filling and my wheels are spinning. I can make a low calorie pie with this great new pudding. I sampled it and loved the fresh strawberry flavor but am saving the rest to fill a homemade pie crust and top with whipped cream and real berries. Delish!

Comfort Food

What is your comfort food? I have many from rich desserts to fresh fruit to nuts and trail mixes. That is why I was so excited when I stumbled upon Comfort Crunch. The taste is incredible with four great mixes available to choose from: Original, Pepita Pick Me Up, Toffee Talk and I can not forget—Ginger in a Snap! Each flavor is bursting with goodness and great nutrition. Comfort Crunch is so dedicated to health that they donate five percent of their net sales to cancer research—you can feel good about buying these awesome mixes (you can read their personal cancer story online). My favorite part? I loved how simple the ingredients are without added oils, salts or sugars—they are mixed just right to have so much flavor that additives are not needed at all.

The Flavor of Quality

Award winning, top quality meat comes from generations of quality and tradition. That is just what Nueske’s Meats gives you. Smoked bacon, sausage, turkeys, hams and poultry Applewood smoked for delicious flavor and tenderness. The Applewood Smoked Chicken Breast is amazingly delicious—boneless and fully pre-cooked for easy prep. This healthy choice tasted so great and did not need any dressing up. During the week, I really appreciated the short time it made to have a restaurant quality breast of chicken. The other Nueske meat that you have to get your hands on (you can do this on their online retail store) is their Canadian Bacon. It is also Applewood smoked for a fantastic flavor, hand trimmed (very lean), fully cooked and perfect for eggs benedict, breakfast sandwiches or a breakfast side.